Choosing 2

Chapter 10 - Connor

I have officially come to the conclusion that I am a hopeless eejit. 

For the past three days, I have waited in the sixth year common room, sitting in my chair, waiting for Talia to show up. She hasn't. 

I realize by now that she only came here early on the first day because she was nervous and wanted to know her way around the school, but a secret part of me was hoping that she would show up early again to talk to me. 

Regardless, I haven't given up in talking to her. Of course, I let her pay attention in class, but  every moment I get, I try to get some sort of reaction from her. I feel like I'm a puppy begging for attention when it comes to her. 

Accepting defeat at the sound of first bell, I walk into maths, ready to start my day with Talia there. Except when I walk in, she isn't there. Johnny is sitting at his seat with no Talia. 

Where is she? 

I'm gotten out of Johnny that she is driven to school by either Joey and Aoife or him and Shannon every day. So her not being here immediately raises alarms in my head. 

"Where's Talia?" I demand once I reach Johnny. 

"Good morning, Connor. Did you have a good practice on the pitch this morning?" 

I roll my eyes. "Skip the pleasantries, Kavanagh. Where is she?" 

"Not here. Obviously," he clips out. 

"Why are you doing this?" I fume. 

The spineless eejit laughs. "Because I love getting a rise out of you?" 

That's it. I go for the jugular. 

"How would you feel if I knew where Shannon was and you didn't know, and you have absolutely no idea what to..." 

Kav cuts me off. "Never speak to your captain that way." 

I just shrug. "You deserved it." 

Johnny glares at me. 

"Where is she?" I try again. 

"She's sick." 

My heart sinks to the bottom of my chest. "Sick?" 

"Yeah, lad, but she'll be okay." 

"How do you know?" 

"She's strong." 

I nod, knowing he's right. Still, I have my reservations. "What exactly did she say about being sick?" 

"You don't know the definition of privacy, do you?" 

I don't respond. 

Johnny sighs before continuing. "She didn't actually. She got in the car ready to go, and Alex stopped us before she left with us." 

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. 

"She still wanted to go to school," Johnny explained. "But then Alex informed us she literally threw up five minutes beforehand." 

"Shit," I mumble. "How bad did she look?" 

"Like I said," Johnny tells me calmly. "She'll be grand." 

"That doesn't answer my question," I growl out. 

"She's a little in a bad way, but she was clearly able to function. She hid it from us the five minutes she was in the car." 

A shiver of unease passes through me. I hate to admit it, but I think I understand Talia in this situation. She seems to be as hard as a worker as me. She wouldn't want to miss school, especially because she is still getting used to her bearings. Still, just because I would feel the same doesn't make me feel content about what she tried to do. She should have someone to take care of her and let her take the load off a little, and I want it to be me. 

"Where does she live?" I sit down next to Johnny and ask him. 

He laughs. "Yeah. Not gonna happen." 

Fuck. Looks like I'll have to go above Cap on this one and go to the one person in this school he sees as superior. His girlfriend. 

>>>>

I muster up every last ounce of confidence as I finally make my way over to the rugby table. I see Gibsie excited, waving me over. 

"About time, lad," he says to me as I approach. I ignore him, beelining for one of the few females at the table. 

"Shannon," I grin. "Hi." 

"What the hell are you doing, Connor?" Johnny seethes as he wraps a protective arm around his girlfriend. 

"Johnny," she chastises, "be nice." 

"Thank you, Shannon," I say, grinning ear to ear before I look over at Johnny and glare at him. "I was wondering if you could help me out with a little something." 

"What's that?" 

"I need to know where Talia lives." 

Her gaze immediately turns skeptical. 

"You don't understand," I plead. "I heard she was sick, and I just want to make sure she's okay." 

She raises an eyebrow. 

"Plus, I texted my mom and begged her to make chicken soup to bring to her. It's literally the cure for all illnesses. Ask anyone in my family." 

A smile smile rises in Shannon's cheeks. 

"You know I would love to help you out... it's just," she pauses. 

"What?" I press. 

"Darren may turn you away just for being a boy who's interested in her." 

"Damn straight," Johnny agrees. 

"Excuse me?" I ask, confused. 

Johnnys eyes light up with fire. "He used to be so hesitant letting me around Shannon. He has since processed his trauma and has gotten better at making assumptions, but he still has some work to do."  

"I mean, he is trying really hard," Shannon adds thoughtfully.

"I don't give two shits about that," I tell them. "I'll probably do it regardless. 

Now that finally brings a grin to Johnny's face. 

"I mean, he may not even be home, and Alex is on team falling in love always, so the odds may actually be in your favorite the more that I think about it," Shannon says. 

"I can't believe you are doing this," Johnny tells his girlfriend. 

"What?" she shrugs. "He seems to have the same determination you did. I just want to return the favor, but Connor," 

"Yes?"

"If she doesn't want you there, don't overstep your boundaries." 

I nod. "Obviously." 

She smiles. "Good." And then she proceeds to give me the address that will lead me right home to my girl.