Connor didn't expect the email to come so soon.
It was late afternoon, sunlight filtering in through half-closed blinds, when his mom called him from the kitchen. Her voice had that careful tone, calm, steady the one she used when she wasn't sure how he'd respond.
"Connor, can you come here for a second?"
He walked in, phone still in hand. She was sitting at the table with her laptop open, glasses perched low on her nose. The glow from the screen lit her face softly.
"I just got something from the school," she said. "It's about a counseling session you scheduled."
Connor froze for a beat. "Oh. Yeah, I did that."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "You didn't mention you were thinking about that."
He shrugged, trying to play it off, though his chest felt a little tight. "I just thought… it might help to talk to someone."
She tilted her head. "About the move?"
"Not just that," he said quietly. "I've been thinking about maybe… going back to volleyball. Not sure yet. I just figured I should talk to someone about everything first."
Something in her expression softened immediately surprise fading into quiet understanding. She reached out, brushing her thumb over his hand.
"Oh, honey." Her voice was warm, not sad. "That's really good. I'm proud of you for taking that step."
He smiled faintly. "Thanks."
"Do you want me to go with you?" she asked gently.
He shook his head quickly. "No, it's fine. I think I should do this one on my own."
She hesitated, just a heartbeat, then nodded. "Alright. But if you change your mind, I'll be there. Okay?"
"Okay."
She stood and kissed the top of his head before walking away, muttering something about dinner. He stood there for a moment longer, feeling lighter than he expected. It wasn't a big conversation, but it mattered.
The next morning came too quickly. Sophie was humming in the backseat, swinging her legs against the seat, while Connor sat quietly, watching the town drift past the window.
His mom looked at him in the rearview mirror. "Nervous?"
"A little," he admitted.
"That's fine," she said. "Being nervous means you care."
He smiled a little. That was one of her lines something she always said before a big test or a doctor's appointment. It sounded simple, but it always worked.
When they pulled up to the school, Sophie leaned forward and grinned. "Bye, Connor! Don't trip!"
"Thanks for the confidence, Soph," he said, laughing as he opened the door.
His mom gave him a reassuring look. "You'll do great, sweetheart. Just be honest."
"Yeah," he said, closing the door behind him. "I'll try."
The counselor's office was tucked away at the end of a quiet hallway. A small plaque read Ms. Porter – School Counselor.
He knocked, and a calm voice answered, "Come in."
The office was smaller than he expected ,cozy even. The walls had framed quotes and pictures of forests and beaches. A shelf overflowed with self-help books, and a small mug on the desk read World's Okayest Therapist.
Ms. Porter looked up and smiled when he stepped in. "You must be Connor Blake."
He nodded. "Yeah. Hi."
"Hi," she said. "Have a seat. And don't worry, there's no test involved."
He smiled faintly and sat down. The chair was surprisingly comfortable.
"So," she began, "how's your first week at Ridgefield been?"
"It's good," he said after a pause. "Still getting used to everything. New people, new classes. Feels different, but not bad."
"Different can be a lot sometimes," she said. "How's the move been at home?"
"Fine," he said. "My mom's settling in. My dad's busy with work. My sister's… six, so she's pretty much energy all day."
Ms. Porter smiled. "That sounds about right for six."
Connor relaxed a little. "Yeah. She's good for keeping everyone awake."
They talked like that for a while small things, harmless things. Ms. Porter had a way of letting silences breathe without making them uncomfortable.
When she finally asked, "So what made you decide to come in?" he took a slow breath before answering.
"I just… thought maybe talking might help. I've been thinking about starting something again. Something I used to love doing. But I'm not sure if I should."
"That's a brave thing to say," she replied. "You don't have to know the answer yet. Sometimes the first step is just admitting you're not sure."
He nodded. "I guess."
She gave him a small card with her name and schedule printed neatly on it. "Would you like to come back next week? Same time?"
He looked up and smiled. "Yeah. I think I would."
When the session ended, the hallway felt brighter. The buzz of students returning from lunch filled the air, but it didn't feel overwhelming. It felt… normal.
As he walked, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
[Milestone Complete: Emotional Calibration – Step 1]
[Reward Unlocked: Elixir Assist Active]
[Note: Stability increases with openness.]
He blinked at the glowing text. For the first time, he didn't roll his eyes. There was a strange warmth spreading through his right knee faint, but noticeable.
At lunch, Noah waved him over from across the cafeteria. Dylan and Harper were already there.
"You disappeared after third period," Noah said, raising an eyebrow.
"Counselor," Connor said simply, setting his tray down.
"Oh, Ms. Porter?" Harper asked. "I heard she's really nice. My homeroom teacher said she's been with Ridgefield for years."
"Yeah, she's… nice," Connor said, smiling a little.
Dylan leaned forward. "You know, there's a rumor going around that you signed up for volleyball tryouts."
Connor froze mid-bite. "Who told you that?"
Noah grinned. "The list's up. You're on it."
"Wow, word travels fast," Harper said with mock seriousness. "You've been here five minutes and you're already making moves."
He laughed softly, shaking his head. "It's just tryouts. Doesn't mean I'll make it."
Dylan shrugged. "Still, man… that's awesome."
The conversation drifted to lighter things, a new math teacher everyone was scared of, a rumor about a vending machine that ate money, the usual noise of a new school day.
But for the first time, Connor didn't feel like the new kid. He felt… like part of something.
That night, his mom knocked on his door.
"Hey," she said softly, leaning against the frame. "How was it?"
He knew she meant the session. "It was good," he said. "Not weird at all."
She smiled. "I'm really glad you went."
"Thanks," he said. "It helped."
"That's what it's for," she replied. "Just take things slow, okay?"
"I will."
When she left, he sat back on his bed, staring at the faint blue glow of his phone.
[Next Session Scheduled: Confirmed]
[Training Suggestion: Light Drills – Confidence Building]
He turned it face down and sighed. For tonight, talking felt like enough.