7

          THE ladies—and they were all ladies—at #87 Mystic Lane all liked to throw the word "fate" around. They believed so much in these things—from their cards, to the world's energies, angels, and power animals (his was a bear)—that Shawn couldn't help himself but believe, too.

          There was magic in believing. They took him in like he was family, never questioning his presence, always doling out advice. Though they usually charged for their abilities, he got his cards read for free, for reasons he doesn't quite understand. He has, however, an underlying suspicion that it has something to do with Aurora and Fleur.

          Once, while getting his angel cards read, Myrtle (a tall, skinny lady with bushy brown hair and round frame glasses) pointed at one of three cards spread out on the table. It was the one with faeries playing instruments in a meadow.

          "Do you live in a house with a garden?" she'd asked.

          "Um, no," Shawn said. "Used to, back when I lived with my mum."

          Myrtle frowned. "You moved?"

          Shawn nodded. "Had to," he said. "Uni and stuff." What he left out, however, was that he couldn't stand seeing the disappointment in her face, every time she peeked into his room to check up on him. Those were dark times.

          Myrtle nodded herself, too. "The faeries miss you," she said. "Go for a visit, whenever you can. Your angel is telling me you are in your element the most around nature."

          Shawn spent most of his days there now, helping around, napping on the couch, practicing Yoga in the backyard. He almost never wants to leave, until Fleur takes him aside.

          "Hey," she says, "how are you feeling?"

          He grins. "Never been better."

          "Good, good," she says. "So listen. You should really call your mum. I read your cards and—"

          "You read my cards?" he gasps. "Without my permission?"

          Fleur looks like a deer caught in the headlights. That was a rule in #87 Mystic Lane: you do not read anyone's cards or fortune without their consent. Her cheeks burn red.

          "I know," she mumbles, "I'm sorry. I just—"

          "You just what?" Shawn snaps. "Wanted to be nosy?" His blood boils at the idea of her finding out things about him that he'd rather not have her know; there were secrets better left unsaid, and he didn't want her to think badly of him!

          And his mum... What about his mum?

          "Just—" Fleur shuts her eyes and inhales a deep breath. "She misses you. She's worried about you."

          "And how'd you know this?" he scoffs. "I don't suppose there's another modality to find out what my friends and family are thinking? Let me save you the trouble: they think I'm an asshole. There, I said it."

          Fleur furrows her eyebrows. "Shawn, chill out," she says.

          "I can't chill out!" he yells exasperatedly. "You read my cards, and you didn't ask! I don't care how shallow that seems; I thought I could trust you!"

          "Shawn, you could!" she yells back. "I mean—you still can. Will you please just listen?"

          He breathes heavily, but remains quiet. Fleur sighs. "The cards only told me that you had some unfinished business with someone. For some reason, I thought of your mum because you said—you told me the last time you spoke to her was ages ago. And it's a girl who misses you, so it seems only right. I'm not going to force you to do anything, but if you feel it's right to make amends..." she trails off.

          Shawn blinks at her. Unfinished business. A girl. It's not his mother. He knows who it is.

          Shawn backs away from Fleur. "Uh, okay," he mumbles, his head reeling. He pats her on the arm and says, "Thanks," before turning away. He knows where he has to go; the girl who had put him in this slump is missing him. Maybe he has to get her back.

          "Wait, Shawn," Fleur says, and when he turns around, he sees that she's biting her lip.

          "Yes?"

          "The cards also said that I might never have you if you say the wrong thing. It said I might lose you if you make the wrong decision." She pinches her thumb and clenches her jaw. "Please be careful out there. It's not your mum now, is it?"

          Shawn hates how gifted she had to be; she just made this whole thing that much harder.

          But maybe she knew from the beginning; maybe she just wanted to see his reaction.

          Maybe.

          Shawn shakes his head. "No," he says, then she nods.

          "Okay. Be careful," she says. "I just... I can't stand to lose you now."

          Shawn's so stunned by this confession that he lingers for a moment, wishing again—just for a moment—that he never had to leave. But he's got unfinished business with the girl who put him in this slump, and he has to get it over with. Once and for all, he has to face his monsters.

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A/N: "The spirit of the bear is a strong source of support in times of difficulty. It provides courage and a stable foundation to face challenges. When the bear shows up as a spirit guide in your life, it's perhaps time to stand for your beliefs or your truth. This power animal will provide for support and strength." — spiritanimal.info :-)