John saw her struggling and took the bag, shaking his head when she tried to take it back. He wasn't exactly up on chivalry, but he knew how to treat girls.... kinda. Oh, whatever, he was only fifteen.
"It's a long story," he said after a beat, sighing and looking at the ground. "Where are you headed? Any chance I could walk you there?"
That'll give me time to figure out what the hell I'm going to do...