Problem Child. ((Riley))

[Connor Coxen]

“And so why can’t you go to Hogsmeade with me?” Jayci asked as she kicked around in the deep green water of the lake. Connor said on the shore with his feet splashing in the waves. “I told you.” Connor said in a mock-annoyed tone. “I’m meeting with Riley.” Jayci sighed deeply. “Great. Now I have to go alone as you talk to that ball full of issues.” “Jacyi..” Connor warned. “Sorry, sorry.” She apologized. Riley was Connor’s favorite sister. Well, considering that Cora was his only other sister, it wasn’t a contest really. And Connor loved his sister of course, but it was hard to talk to her. Riley just like the other members of the Coxen clan loved to dump problems on Connor. He was like the family’s personal shrink. What Riley and the other didn’t know was how much this affected Connor. He didn’t like to hear about his sibling’s in pain, but he didn’t tell them this. He never wanted to see them hurt. Connor just wanted to be a good little brother and being there for his siblings was the only way he knew how. And no matter what Connor would always love Riley for who she was. This was simply Connor and it wasn’t about to change.

“Come in!” Jayci shrieked as she tugged on Connor’s hand. “No Jace. I have to meet Riley in oh..” He eyed his watch. “Like ten minutes.” Jayci shook her head. “Come on Con. She won’t care if you’re late.” Jayci barely knew Riley so it wasn’t like she really knew, but Connor did feel bad for upsetting his friend. He shook his head finally. “Sorry.” “Oh okay.” Jayci said swimming away and trying to act all her. “Psyche!” She swam back, hurled herself at Connor and grabbed his hand. She pushed him into the water with her. “Jayci!” He exclaimed. “I’m sorry did I do that?” Connor laughed. He could never be mad at his friend. “Oh you asked for it now!” He exclaimed swimming at her as she tried to get away. Jayci laughed hysterically as she tried to get away from her friend but she finally stopped and Connor listed her up and dumped her into the water as lightly as he could. Jayci resurfaced and laughed as normal and then took Connor’s hand and dragged him under the surface with her where she swam to the bottom and then back up. Connor did the same. Oh well. Riley would understand. Maybe.

“Oh jeez!” Connor exclaimed as he got out of the water finally and glanced at his watch. “I’m like ten minutes late!” Jayci was still in the water. She rolled her eyes. “It will be fine. Come on Connor it isn’t like a big deal. You were just meeting up with her to talk. She isn’t dying for Pete’s sake!” Connor started to walk away. “You know I don’t like to hurt people!” He jogged away. Connor hadn’t even told Jayci all of the truth, but she knew that Connor wanted to help everyone he could. He wanted to help people. Connor hated seeing anyone cry. He shook his head. Jayci understood but she still acted like a little kid. She didn’t know how much of an affect other people’s problems had on Connor and she wasn’t going to know. No one knew and that was the way that Connor wanted it. If he stopped being the family’s personal shrink than things would just get worse before they got better. They needed him and Connor wasn’t about to let them down. Connor ran up to his sister who was sitting on a bench. He was completely drenched, but he didn’t care. He would still listen to whatever she had to say. “Hey. I’m here and wet, but I’m here.” He smiled. Sure he looked ridiculous, but he didn’t care. “So, how’s it going?” He knew acting casual wasn’t about to help and she was probably going why he was wet. But he wanted to play it casual for a second just for the fun of it. Connor eyed Riley and waited for her reaction.

[Riley Coxen G7]

Riley tapped her feet against the pavement in a rhythmic pattern. What in the hell was taking Connor so damn long? Riley really needed to talk to her little brother. Connor was always there for Riley, and she couldn’t wait for the day she’d be able to be there for him. Somehow though, Riley doubted that day would ever come. Connor seemed so on top of things, so in control. He was cool with everyone and did everything in his power to help other people while still managing a normal lifestyle. Riley had no idea how her brother did it, but somehow it worked for him. Despite all the problems she dumped on his shoulders, Connor was still a pretty decent (not to mention somewhat normal) child.

Riley sighed as she crossed her arms, wondering what had happened to him. Maybe he was being picked on? Riley knew what it was like for those in Hufflepuff. To most, they were considered the leftovers, those who didn’t have enough bravery, brains, or downright snootiness to be in any of the other houses. The Hufflepuffs were constantly picked on, especially by the Slytherins, though sometimes the Ravenclaws or the Gryffindors joined in on the action. But Riley didn’t care what house they were in. Chances are, if they were picking on Riley’s little brother, they’d be dead before they could blink no matter what their house.

Riley sighed, blowing a strand of loose blonde hair out of her face with one quick breath. Riley was rarely ever seen with her hair loose, as she normally had it tied in a messy bun or a ponytail. Today though, it hung loose and straight (thanks to a cool charm she’d heard some girl use in her dorm) covered by a large green baseball cap. She was wearing a t-shirt that was tied up to expose just a bit of her stomach and a pair of Riley’s signature old ripped jeans. The jeans had once belonged to Riley’s older sister Cora, but they had been passed down to Riley just a year or so ago. When Riley had received the pants, they were practically brand new. Cora always had a knack for taking good care of her belongings, something Riley’s damned father never let her forget. Riley had only had these jeans for a year or so, and already they were faded and ripped in various places. Riley sighed looking down at the jeans.

That pair of pants had already done an excellent job of reminding Riley of the exact reason she had asked to speak with Connor today. Summer was inching ever closer, and Riley simply wasn’t ready to go home for the summer holidays. She just wasn’t up to spending two and a half straight months of Cora, Riley’s father, and all the other madness that involved being home with the family. Her father would simply spend the entire time ragging on Riley, telling her about how much of a screwup she was compared to Cora. Her mother would simply be bossing her around and telling her to shape up for her father all the time (when was she going to get that Riley simply wasn’t made to please people?) and Cora….well Cora would be just like having the devil’s daughter in your house. Though, considering wo her father was, Riley wasn’t sure she was too far from the truth with that little analogy. Riley sneered at the little joke she had made, and at that very moment, Connor appeared at the park bench, soaking wet. Riley stood up immediately and offered Connor the large black sweater that was sitting beside her. “Connor, are you alright? No one pushed you in, right? Just tell me who it is…I’ll butcher them..” Riley snarled under her breath as she scooted over to ensure Connor had a place to sit.

[Connor Coxen]

Connor smiled gently to his sister. Riley babied him. She always had and Connor was used to it. Actually, it would be weird any other way. Connor was used to his mum and Riley always taking care of him and making sure he was alright. The truth was, Connor didn’t need it. Maybe when he was younger, but now he was fourteen years old and about to be a fourth year. He wasn’t a baby anymore and Yasmin and Riley would have to get used to it. So maybe Connor was picked one every now and then, but with Jayci by his side, the group was sure to run away. Jayci was adorable but she could certainly unleash her crazy side and pretend to be mentally insane. Yep that was Jayci for you. She could scare anyone away so Connor never really had to worry. Besides, even with out her, Connor was getting better and better at talking himself out of bad situations. But he usually didn’t need his talking skills. His loyal Hufflepuff friends were usually at his side to defend him. So, he didn’t really need Riley or Oz, but it did make him the slightest bit happy that Riley cared so much to stand up for him. She always had. Riley wasn’t afraid to speak her mind to Bruce or Cora and Connor loved that about her. She would always stand up for Connor to them and usually, this was needed. Actually, it was always needed.

“No, I’m fine.” He insisted. He took the sweater and dried off his face. He knew that simple excuse wouldn’t work and he would have to go into detail, but that could wait for a moment. Riley was so different from Cora and boy did Connor notice. And wasn’t even that Connor hated Cora. He couldn’t hate her. She was family, but she wasn’t easy to deal with. She hadn’t bonded with any of her siblings. You would think that she would be close to Chace because of the age, but she wasn’t. Cora was only close with Bruce and for this Connor felt bad for her just a little bit. After all, she was only close with one member of her large family while the rest were like a little group. True, maybe as a whole the four weren’t extremely close, but it was better than Cora being all alone except for Bruce. Connor was glad that he had his older siblings no matter what. He needed them from time to time and Connor knew they needed him. Well, they did, didn’t they?

Connor took a seat next to Riley. “Well, yea someone pushed me it, but it was a friend. She was just joking around.” He nodded hoping that Riley would understand. Maybe she would. Then again, Riley and Yasmin could go over-protective every now and then. When would they see that Connor didn’t need it? Probably never. “Where’s Oz?” He asked. That was a stupid question. He was probably with Oliver. Riley hated Oliver. She just did. She hated him ever since Oz started to cling to him instead of Riley. Yes, Riley and Oz were very close, but Oz and Oliver were best buds. This was one thing that Riley couldn’t be to Oz. “Oh and what do you want to talk about? I hear I’m a pretty good listener.” He smiled. Connor actually wanted to hear what Riley had to say for the moment. And he would feel that way until she said something that saddened him. Then, he would fake being supportive and feel alone inside. Connor hated seeing his family hurt and he always would. He knew he had to learn to deal with it, but he couldn’t. And maybe he would never learn to.