Daisy slapped her forehead repeatedly after rushing into her bedroom and dropping her schoolbag onto the floor. Shawn's words whirled like a tornado, and she cringed at her idiotic response.

She had thrown an 'I thought we already were friends' at him and had bolted from him like a crazy person, tripping on the porch steps and slamming into the front door. She had frantically told him she was fine and fled inside.

She was such an idiot.

She should have let him explain, and she should never have asked him about Luke in the first place. The last thing she wanted or needed was to mess up her friendship with Shawn. They were still in the early stages, and despite all the doubts about normal things, she liked him.

She really liked him.

How did things get so weird so quickly?

*

Shawn parked his truck in his parent's driveway and slowly walked down the side of the house to the backyard. His mind was a mess. He still couldn't believe he had blurted that he liked Daisy and should have just told her about everything.

He sighed as he climbed the narrow stairs to the apartment above the garage. He unlocked the door and stepped inside. He chucked his schoolbag against the wall and headed for his bed, centered in the middle of the only window in the one-room space.

He flopped backward onto the bed, removing his glasses to cover his eyes with his arm.

His conversation with Luke had not gone the way he had intended. Shawn clenched his jaw. Had he honestly ever expected it would? Luke had been wrong. He will never be able to forget last year. And not because of Anne.

"Hey! Mom is looking for you!"

Shawn sat up, returning his glasses to their perch to see his younger brother, Michael, standing in the doorway.

"Tell her I will be there in a few min- "

"Nope, I'm not going back down. She's in one of her moods again." Michael shook his head, grimacing, and came into the room to plop down on the two-seater brown couch against the wall. He reached for the TV remote and switched it on.

"Great," Shawn mumbled, standing up.

"She's in the kitchen," Michael said as Shawn headed out the door.

*

Shawn stood in the hallway listening to his mother's rapid thumping of the dough against the kitchen table, which she was kneading. The old wooden table creaked and stuttered beneath her hands. His mother baked only when she argued with his father. And they only ever argued about his older brother, Daniel, or him.

He took a deep breath and entered the kitchen. His heart sank when he saw the tear-streaked cheeks.

"Mom?"

The kneading stopped and Miranda looked at her son.
"Did you know?"

Shawn frowned, surprised at the question.
"Know what, Mom?"

The brief glint of disbelief reflected in Miranda's eyes did not go unnoticed before she turned her attention back to her hands.

"Mom? Did something happen?" Shawn's chest tightened. The assumption about an argument might have been premature. "Is Daniel, okay?"

"Your brother is not coming back." Miranda began kneading the dough roughly again. "He has met a girl he wants to marry and wants to immigrate to Australia."

"Wait, what?"

Miranda stopped. "You really didn't know?"

"No, of course not. I haven't spoken to Daniel since just before Christmas." Shawn moved to stand next to his mother and placed an arm around her shoulders. "I knew he was seeing someone, but didn't know it was that serious. Is it really that bad that he wants to stay in Perth? I mean, if he is happy- "

Miranda shrugged off Shawn's arm. "He promised to come back! He said he would serve with your father, here in Shelly Cove, where he belongs."

"Mom- "

"If he wants to get married, he can find someone here, or bring the girl here. We only allowed this nonsense to go overseas because he said he would return and take over from your father."

"Mom, is Daniel happy?"

"What?"

"Is Daniel happy?"

Miranda blinked and turned to Shawn. "I-I guess so, but- "

"Isn't that the important thing? If Daniel is happy, we should support that right?"

"Shawn- "

"I am sure Daniel will pop over and introduce the future Mrs. Harrison, right?"

"Yes, but- "

Shawn took his mother into his arms for a hug. "You still have me and Michael to drive you crazy, anyway."

Miranda returned her son's hug tightly. "You will never leave, Shawn, right?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Shawn sighed, "so, need any help with this mess?"

"I was going to make cookies for Sunday's church service."

"Cookies!" Shawn grinned, untangling himself, and reached for the dough.

*

John Harrison closed his eyes in a silent prayer of relief as he stood in the hallway. Shawn has always been the one who could soothe Miranda, even as a child he had been the calm after every storm. But he would be lying if he did not admit he was worried about Shawn.

On several occasions, he has heard Shawn hitting the punching bag in the garage late at night, and he was sorrowfully aware it was more than just exercise.

Calmness can't last forever.

*

Friday

Daisy hesitated before she opened the front door. Her heart was still pounding madly from excitement after hearing Shawn's truck pulling into the driveway. She had expected him not to show up this morning.

He was, surprisingly, waiting for her at the bottom of the porch stairs.

"Hi," he greeted, reaching for her schoolbag which she reluctantly relinquished.

"I thought I said I would walk to school," Daisy raised an eyebrow with a half-smile.

"Really? Guess I didn't hear you," Shawn responded, walking towards the truck.

"You should have your ears tested," she teased, following him happily.

"What?"

"I said, you should have your ears- "she broke off when she heard him chuckle.

"I really am sorry, Daisy," Shawn apologized as he helped her into the truck.

'I know, I'm sorry too."

"How's the hand?"

Daisy waved her hand with the supportive wrist bandage. "Better, doesn't hurt as much as more."

"Good," he smiled, reaching over her for the seat buckle. Daisy stopped breathing, inhaling the lemony scent of his shampoo. She closed her eyes tightly, trying not to concentrate on where his hands were. She exhaled when she heard the soft click as the belt locked and opened her eyes, only to find Shawn staring at her intently.

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" he asked.

"What?" She breathed. Why was he still so close and had his lashes always been so thick and beautiful?

"Did I hurt you, is your hand okay?" he repeated, and Daisy could have sworn he moved closer.

"I-I-uh-no, I mean yes, my-my hand is f-fine."

Shawn's glasses slipped slightly down, and his hand came up to push them back into place. Daisy's eyes darted to his hand and for a maddening moment, she wanted to grab it and hold it tightly against her.

"We should get going." Shawn cleared his throat and hurriedly moved away, closing her door.

*

The drive to school was quick, and Daisy was thankful that Shawn had not lingered after helping her out of the truck. She watched as he quickly crossed the schoolyard and disappeared.

"Hey, Bloom. Shawn ditch you again?"

"No, he went to fetch something at the school's office."

"And why are you not tagging along?"

Daisy swirled around to face Luke behind her. "Tagging along? What am I? A dog?"

"Whoa!" Luke held up his hands in a defensive wave. "Just wondered why you didn't go with him."

"Well, it's none of your business."

Luke rolled his eyes and started to walk away.

Daisy pulled on her lip and resignedly fell into step next to him
"It's just- "she shook her head, "never mind."

"How's your hand?"

Daisy blinked. "Oh, it's better. Thanks."

"So, there is a party tonight- "

"I heard."

"Yeah? Are you and Shawn going?"

"No."

"Oh."

Daisy smiled, "you sound disappointed."

Luke snorted. "I don't even think I'm going."

"Maybe I should go. Anne did invite me after all."

"Anne?" Luke stopped, a deep frown burrowing between his brows. "You do know Anne and Shawn used to - "

"Date? Yes, I know. But what does that have to do with anything? Shawn and I are just friends, at least I hope we still are."

"Did something happen between you?" Luke asked, ignoring the sudden rapid beating of his heart.

"Daisy!"

Daisy twisted away from Luke and saw Stacy standing on the steps of the school building.
"Gotta go, see you in class." She threw over her shoulder as she hurried away.

"Yeah, sure."

*