"You're late," Mr Byrne glared sternly as Christine wandered into the staff room just as break was about to begin.
"Excellent deduction, Sherlock," Christine smirked. "I didn't have a class this morning."
"That doesn't mean you can go skiving Christine! It's not first period any more- Tom had to cover for your class..."
"Well I'm sorry that my son was ill-"
"He really needs to work on his attendance if he actually wants to pass these exams-"
"Well aren't you delightful this morning?"
"I'm only stating the truth. This better have nothing to do with-"
"Before you say it, it's got nothing to do with what happened yesterday," Christine sighed. "And I thought we were on good terms."
"This has nothing to do with us. This is to do with work, and quite frankly I'm just a little annoyed that you've shown up late, and that your son is clearly displaying signs of apathy towards his school work-"
"He'll be in tomorrow, alright?"
"Did you manage to get him an appointment with a counsellor? Tom said-" Michael was cut of by the ring of Christine's phone.
"I need to answer this Michael," her eyes widened with worry at the sight of her mum's name on the caller ID.
She wandered over, hoping to get some privacy, but Michael wandered over curiously, obviously noticing that the call had something to do with Connor. Christine ignored him, not seeing the point in starting another argument over something stupid.
"Mum?" her voice was fast, desperate for an answer.
"I thought I'd just say Connor isn't doing too well. He..." her mother's voice was hesitant, unsure about how to handle the situation. "He's not feeling great at all."
"Is he okay?" Christine's fears were confirmed.
"He's panicking... Panic attack kind of panicking."
"Everything alright?" Michael's initial attitude had changed, noticing the authenticity of the look upon her face.
"Not really," she sighed. "But I've got a class in fifteen minutes so I really need to go. I'll just have to deal with it at lunch, seeing as you're under the impression that work comes first."
"Don't be like that Christine-... I'm just saying that these children are in the middle of preparing for important exams and if they don't have a committed teacher-"
"I've told you I'm not going to run off back home Michael, so just hold the lecture would you?"
"Christine, a word?" a sympathetic looking Tom appeared by the door just as the bell for break rang, signalling for her to come with him.
She followed him towards the English block and he opened the door of his classroom.
"Sorry for not being here, and you having to cover my class," Christine sighed, leaning against one of the tables.
"It was no bother," Tom responded calmly. "Your son was the main priority- is he alright?"
"He's not good at all. But Michael won't exactly be too happy if I leave."
"And I though you and Michael got on well... If I didn't have a class next I'd drive down and check. Maybe you could ask Audrey-"
"And have her snooping around my house? I called my mother over this morning so it's not as if he's alone...- But I think he gave in, Tom."
"What class have you got next?"
"Um...Year Twelve's," she sighed, flustered by the situation. "Connor's class for a double period."
"Run home at lunch. I'll find someone to cover your class if you don't get back on time."
"Thank you, Tom."
...
"Where is everyone?" Christine sighed, when she realised that only a few people had turned up to the lesson.
"Geography trip," Kevin smiled, having swapped his usual seat to sit beside Imogen whilst Dynasty sat beside Jack and the other remaining classmates scattered throughout the room. "Where's Connor, miss?"
"He's not well," she looked down, pretending to be looking at something on her desk. "Anyway, there's no point going ahead with the lesson I was going to do... Go ahead and use this period to study for the upcoming exam. Kevin, could I speak to you for a second?"
"Uh sure miss," he shrugged, following her outside the door.
"Don't worry you're not in trouble," she laughed at the apprehension in his gait. "It's about Connor."
"He's alright isn't he? He's not exactly been himself recently-"
"He's struggling, Kevin. Really struggling."
"I thought so."
"Right now, what he needs is people he can turn to."
"I'm way ahead of you miss. We're all here for him. We know he's not doing great..."
"Thank you Kevin. I appreciate it."
The class passed quickly, and she left so abruptly that she didn't stop to say goodbye to any of the students. She darted straight towards her car, almost dropping her bag in the rush and pulled out her mobile, just to check that her mother hadn't sent a text to update her on what was happening. She drove as fast as she could without breaking the law.
Before she'd even opened the door, she could see Connor sitting by the door frame, clutching a pillow to his chest while her mother stood about a foot away, watching worriedly. She was all too reminded of the time when he hadn't the guts to face Imogen not too long after the initial incident, and the stark similarity made her heart ache.
"Connor..."
"I messed up today."
"Connor I know what happened," she sighed.
"I'm sorry. I just couldn't hold back any longer," his voice was hoarse, and as he spoke the tears fell even harder.
"All that matters is that you're okay," she soothed. "It's going to be fine. We're going to get you help and all of the teachers are going to be there to support you. We'll get through this okay?"
"I'm sorry," he spoke again, his breaths getting even faster as another sob overcame him.
"Come here," his head dived into her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him. "How about we go through and watch a film eh?"