Connor managed to get into school at around break time, and headed towards his locker partly to organize what books he might need, and partly to regain his confidence, which had been dashed slightly by the realisation that he'd have to be holed up in the PRU for the whole day instead of being in class. Just as he was about to head towards Mr Byrne's office to find out what would be happening, he saw Kevin walking briskly down the hall, looking slightly out of sorts
"Oi, Kevin," he grabbed his arm and called him over.
"You're in!" his frown grew to a small smile.
"What's up? You seem-"
"I... I found files on Chalky's laptop while using it for the robot," he stared down towards the floor. "He isn't who he says he is. He changed his whole identity- and... I'm just-"
"Connor, my office," their conversation was interrupted by Mr Byrne, who just so happened to be walking past.
It was all beginning to set in and seem real now, and now that he really thought about it, he really didn't want to be going into the Pupil Referral Unit. In all fairness, it was partly down to his understandable hatred of the one and only Barry Barry, but it was also down to his growing doubt in his ability to handle situations without turning his life into a complete and utter shambles.
"How are you feeling?" Michael noticed the shakiness in the boy's stance, although he didn't know whether this was associated with nerves. "Your mother sounded very worried on the phone this morning."
"I'm okay," he nodded.
"I hope you know that if the PRU doesn't work out, and you slip up in any way, shape or form, I'll be contacting the police to say that you confessed."
"I know."
"I'm only doing this because I believe in second chances, and I believe that you deserve one. Nikki will be up to-...Looks like she's right on time," he welcomed her into the office as she arrived.
"Come on," she tilted her head to signal for him to leave the room. "I'm glad you decided to come in."
"Sorry about that," he sighed as they headed down the corridor.
"I've organised some work from each of your teachers, and I'd like you to work individually today on completing a chunk of it. I'll be there to help of course, but I know you're more than capable. I understand from speaking to Michael, that distractions within class are responsible for the fall in grades, so hopefully being removed from that environment for a while will help," Connor just nodded sheepishly. "If they get a free period, some of your teachers may drop in to speak with you, but don't bet on it, Although Mr Clarkson will definitely show his face, I think."
"Ok," he nodded, fidgeting with the strap of his bag on his shoulder anxiously.
He was met with the curious eyes of the other pupils as he stepped into the unit, before taking a seat at one of the completely empty tables in the corner. He noticed Scout furrowing her brow in his direction, trying to decipher exactly why he'd been placed in the PRU. Jade also looked slightly concerned, but the same couldn't be said about the two Barry's, who both took one look at him and smirked in unison; fresh meat to mess with.
"Miss what's he doing here?" Barry's voice was loud and intimidating. "I thought this place was for the numpties like us?"
"First things first, none of you are stupid or 'numpties' as you've put it- I've said before that you're here because we feel like you'd perform better here instead of in mainstream classes. And secondly, Connor is here for that exact same reason, so would you all please get back to work!"
Connor zoned out a little as he started working through the pile of work he'd been given from his class teachers, as Nikki taught some other lesson to the other pupils. A while later as it neared lunch, he was thankful that Mr Clarkson had arrived. He took him back through to his empty classroom to fill him in on what the class would be doing while he was in the PRU.
"I don't quite understand Mr Byrne's reasoning for putting you in the PRU," Mr Clarkson admitted, standing in front of his desk. "But I want you to take a look at this essay you handed in for your folio, and try and tell me that the standard of your work hasn't been slipping."
He held the piece of paper in his hand. It was the discursive essay he'd written the week that school started back up again. He'd written it in such a hurry having spent so much time thinking about the fire and Imogen rather than school, the night before he finally found the courage to show his face. He could barely even remember what he'd written about, let alone whether it was any good, but as he sat there, wincing with embarrassment at the clumsy expressions and unfathomable spelling mistakes and the general messiness of his words, he was now sure he had a pretty good idea.
"I know," he placed the essay down on the desk in front of him and clasped his hands together. "I'm sorry."
"You're better than this, Connor," Tom's tone softened slightly. "You need to start working harder if you want to pass your A-Levels."
"I understand."
"Is there something in particular that is distracting you? I understand your situation at home hasn't been the best, but you can't let that affect your school work-"
"You have no idea, do you?" Connor's voice became much louder, and he sounded much hastier than the mousy, quietness he'd adopted before. "It's not as easy as just working through it, or shoving it all under the carpet and not letting it get to you!"
"Connor-"
"No! Can't I just go back to the PRU now?"
"I need to give you the notes on Macbeth-"
"Then give me them, and let me go instead of giving me a stupid lecture about stuff I have already been told a million times!"
"Connor, I don't know what is responsible for your change in attitude recently, but I am not happy with your behaviour," his reply was nothing but a shrug. "Mr Byrne appointed me as your mentor throughout your time in the PRU, but I feel like you would get along better with another teacher."
"I guess so," Connor retracted back, slowly becoming reserved and subdued again. "Sorry, sir."
"I'll speak with Mr Byrne over lunch. You take the notes on Macbeth, and then head off to get something to eat."
...
"I'm such an idiot," as he waited in the lunch line, Connor turned to find a distraught looking Kevin. "Chalky's not dodgy- he's so not dodgy... I just assumed-"
"Hey, calm down," he sighed, smiling gently towards his friend. "You've not done anything wrong."
"How am I going to make it up to him? I feel awful about how I treated him this morning... And the social worker is coming tonight and I... I don't want it to go badly like it usually does."
"You've found a good foster parent in Chalky- all you need to do is prove to that social worker tonight."
"But what am I going to do about Chalk-"
"You need to speak to him, Kev. Make sure he knows that you understand."
"Thanks, mate. I'll go find him after lunch..."
