Life went on for Conner. Another 3 years passed, until he was 13. A lot happened in that time.
First, after another year, the show Conner got his start on ended. It had had a decent run, but it was time, everyone agreed. But Conner had been offered the lead role in a new series, as a middle school boy who was secretly a superhero. Now that show had been running for a while. He had also branched out in movies. He'd been in a horror movie, a comedy, even a musical.
Conner was growing into a new role, and not a screen one: he was becoming the next teen heartthrob. His good looks had only increased with the years, and even at his age he had worked out to maintain a lean but toned physique. The fact that he dressed stylishly and could sing, too, added to the picture. In just a couple years, Conner had gone from America's little brother to America's crush.
But in his home, things weren't peaceful. His parents had divorced, and he chose his dad. Kate was 18, soon to graduate high school, while Gage was a freshman football star. Conner's relationships with both had lapsed into decline.
Conner's friends were still around. Noah, the genius, had graduated college and was now a teacher at their school. Ian, the athlete, had only improved his performance, but now the buff young boy had a girlfriend he didn't know how to handle. Myra took up more and more of Conner's thoughts, but he couldn't work himself up to ask her out.
Conner was the most popular boy at school, but sometimes he felt like no one knew him. He was lonely. And with the onset of puberty, he really needed someone to confide in.