▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɢᴏ
ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ꒱


❝ HE'S NOT EVEN YOUR
BOYFRIEND, PEACHES ❞

▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

It was only with some regret that Juliet packed her bags the night before they were due to leave. While she'd had an amazing vacation (she'd even go so far as to say it was the best one ever) she missed her friends (Shawn especially) and was ready to see them again.

She'd learned a lot about her family over the past few months and Barron had answered any questions she'd had about his past or his past with her mom. She'd even spoken more to her mom this summer than she could ever remember and it was nice that they were starting to feel like a real family. Of course, she wasn't so naïve to think that her mother would immediately even want to date him again, but at least the second thought wasn't as out-of-the-question as it had been a year ago. 

A knock sounded at her door and drew her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Barron leaning in the doorway, smiling softly at her as she packed. "Almost ready to go?" he asked, noticing the progress she'd made.

"Yeah," the redhead confirmed as she folded the dress she'd worn to her first dinner with him.

He pushed off the door and gestured to her bed, requesting to sit. When she nodded, he did so and placed his hands in his lap. It was then that she saw he had a small, neatly-wrapped square object in his hands and she perked up slightly. "Is that a present?"

The dark-haired man chuckled. "Do you think it's for you?"

She gave him a hopeful look and put down a pair of socks she'd been folding to come to his side of the bed. "Maybe?"

"Well, you'd be right," he conceded, his tone teasing as he winked at her.

Juliet scoffed jokingly. "I'm always right. Anyway, what is it?"

"Remember the week we went to Venice," he started, "and on the first night I took you to a live performance of a Vivaldi concert?"

The redhead's expression brightened. "Of course I do! It was a surprisingly good concert. I've never heard such beautiful violin music."

Barron cleared his throat slightly, both pleased that she'd enjoyed the night so much and uncertain as to weather she'd actually like the gift. "Well, I thought I'd get you something to commemorate the experience." 

Without further preamble, he handed her the wrapped package. Excitedly, she pulled the paper off the gift to reveal a CD displaying a cover advertising a recording of Vivaldi's Spring. When she didn't respond to the present right away, Barron began to explain it further: "I thought that this was your favorite movement from the performance since I remember you being so enthusiastic about it after and, well, I thought you might like to have your own copy—"

His words stumbled to a halt as the girl threw her arms around him in a tight hug as she whispered, "thank you."

🌎🌎🌎

Late the next day, Daly and Juliet arrived back home. After spending two and a half months in the (mostly) sunny Italian countryside, their apartment seemed even smaller and duller than it ever had before. Still, it was the same place she'd lived in for her entire life and it was important to Juliet that whatever new experiences she had didn't change who she was as a person.

"I'm gonna go unpack," she told the red-haired woman, who nodded as she dragged her suitcase to her room.

As Daly went to unpack her own items, she paused as a knock sounded at the door. Surprised to have visitors so soon after returning home, she turned around and retraced her steps to answer it. However, when she saw who was on the other side, she realized she should've expected it. "Hello, Shawn. Topanga," she greeted the two teens.

"Hi Miss Capelwood," Topanga said while Shawn was too busy trying to look around the woman to answer.

"Hello, Shawn," Daly addressed him pointedly, though she couldn't keep the amused look off her face. "Are you looking for someone?"

Topanga elbowed him, causing the boy to yelp slightly and rub his side. "Sorry, Miss—" he began, though at the woman's stern look, he quickly changed it. "Daly. Is Juliet here?" he wondered, his tone turning eager.

The red-haired woman tried to hide her smile as she replied, "sorry, she's a bit busy right now. Maybe you should come back later." It was hard to keep a straight face as the boy's expression visibly fell and she couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "I'm just messing with you, Shawn. Of course you can come in. She's in her room."

She moved aside so Topanga and Shawn could enter as the boy stated happily, "I can't wait to see my best friend."

On her way by, Topanga caught Daly's eye and rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Daly took that to mean that the summer break separation hadn't encouraged Shawn to change his mind about being just friends with Juliet.

"Only second to me, of course," the blonde countered as they approached their friend's room. "I am her only girl best friend."

"Well, I happen to be her oldest best friend," he responded proudly. "I bet she's missed me as much as I've missed her."

"Yeah, well, she's spent the last half of the school year at my house so that's why she won't have time for you and will go straight to me."

"We'll just have to see about that, won't we?" Shawn taunted her.

"Yes, we will," Topanga agreed before she knocked on the door. After hearing an inviting "come in," the blonde opened the door slowly to reveal Juliet in the middle of a clothes-explosion as she unpacked.

The redhead looked up to see who her visitor was and her expression brightened as she smiled. "Topanga!" she exclaimed excitedly. She dropped the shirt she'd been holding and made her way around the bed.

"Juliet!" the blonde cheered with equal enthusiasm, though when Juliet got close enough to see her second visitor, she ducked past the other girl to stand in front of Shawn.

Looking up at him, she hardly dared to believe he was actually there as she breathed out, "hi."

He looked down at her, his expression soft as he greeted her quietly in return, "hi."

After only a moment's hesitation, Juliet threw her arms around the boy's neck and hugged him tightly, feeling the familiar warmth explode in her chest as his arms wrapped comfortably around her waist. She buried her face against his shoulder and closed her eyes. She knew she missed him over the break but she hadn't realized exactly how much until she could see him again.

She hadn't even realized he'd lowered his head to bury it in her hair until she heard him murmur, "I missed you."

She hid her smile against his shirt as she whispered back, "I missed you too."

Topanga waited awkwardly for them to part but as the seconds dragged on, the two seemed reluctant to pull away from each other. Deciding it was her turn now, she tried for conversation: "um, how was your trip?"

"Great," Juliet replied, though the sound was muffled as she didn't lift her head.

"It's nice to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Panga," she remarked, though Topanga doubted whether she'd been seen at all.

"Cory's supposed to come back soon," she tried again. "We should go see if he's here."

"Right now?" the redhead whined slightly.

"Right now, yes. Come on, he's not even your boyfriend, Peaches."

That caused Juliet to pull away from the dark-haired boy and her face turned pink as she glared at her friend accusingly. Topanga smiled innocently at her and shrugged as Shawn looked back and forth between them. "Peaches?"

"Never you mind," Juliet dismissed him quickly, heading out the door in hopes of avoiding the conversation. "Let's go."

🌎🌎🌎

When they arrived at the Matthews' residence, Topanga pushed open the door as Shawn and Juliet followed her. The boy's arm was casually thrown over the redhead's shoulders in its usual position. Cory's parents were by the door, preparing to leave as Topanga acknowledged them, "hi, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. Is Cory home yet?"

"Nope but soon enough," Mrs. Matthews answered.

"I know. According to tape fifty-six he should be home tonight."

"Late tonight," Mrs. Matthews corrected her.

"So is it okay if we wait?" Shawn asked.

"Well, actually, we were on our way out," Mr. Matthews informed him.

"That's okay. I'm just going to take a hot bath." When he received odd looks, he added, "what? There's seepage at the trailer park."

Juliet ducked out from his arm and grimaced slightly. "I didn't smell anything but yuck anyway."

"Shawn, I'd prefer that my son's friends didn't bathe in my home when I wasn't here. Or ever."

"Still in a bad mood, huh, Mr. M?" the boy inquired.

"What bad mood?"

"Well, me and my dad noticed it when we were last at the market. You know, we were eating our free samples like we always do. . ."

"Whoa— hay, hey, hey!" Mr. Matthews interrupted him. "Sticking your own toothpicks in our turkey and steak does not make them free samples."

"Fine! We'll just take our business elsewhere," Shawn scoffed.

🌎🌎🌎

Topanga and Juliet sat on the steps waiting for Shawn to get out of the bathtub. The blonde could only stay a little longer to keep her company but eventually bid her goodnight, leaving the redhead by herself. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews returned not too long after that, though Juliet didn't pay attention to their conversation and only tuned back in when she heard Mr. Matthews say, "ah, I just want to take a hot bath."

She could hear Shawn's reply as he came down the stairs. "You don't want to get in that tub. It's disgusting."

She stood as he passed by her on the steps. "Can we get food now? I'm hungry."

"As long as we can stop by the trailer so I can get dressed," he agreed.

"Excuse me," Mr. Matthews stopped them sternly. "Could I have my robe back?"

"Hey, I'm naked under here," Shawn protested.

"Enjoy."

Juliet's face warmed to nearly match her hair as she heard Shawn's response, her eyes going wide as the single sentence caused her to think about other things. Unfortunately for her, the boy noticed her red face and gave her a concerned look. "Alright, Julie?"

Her voice was slightly squeakier than she intended as she insisted, "just fine!" She cleared her throat. "Let-let's go."

🌎🌎🌎

The next day, the trio went to see if Cory was back yet since he hadn't returned home the previous night. As they waited in the kitchen, Morgan bounded down the stairs as she announced: "they're up and on their way down. I told them you made blueberry pancakes."

"I didn't make blueberry pancakes," Mrs. Matthews stated.

"Oh, they're lucky we let them live here." She shrugged as she sat down at the table. "Topanga, are you and Cory going to kiss?"

The blonde bent to the girl's level. "Morgan, I think that's very personal and we shouldn't talk about it."

"Come on, just between us girls."

"Right on the lips," Topanga confirmed, making her giggle.

"Topanga, he's not going to have time for you. The man has been gone for two months and we have so much catching up to do, he's not even going to know you exist," Shawn said.

"Shawnie?"

"Yeah?"

"When have you ever been right about anything?" Juliet asked.

He couldn't help but smile goofily at her. "I was right about you."

The girl's face warmed again and she cleared her throat. "I meant in general."

Before he could respond, Cory came downstairs. "Shawn!"

"Cory!" he exclaimed, opening his arms.

The curly-haired boy ducked under them and made his way to Topanga to kiss her immediately. Juliet couldn't help but grin. "Told you."

"Good summer?" he wondered as he parted from his girlfriend.

"Great summer," Shawn answered.

"Lots of stories?"

"Lots of stories."

"You miss me?"

"I missed you."

"We still best friends?"

"The best there ever were."

"Good," Cory said as he continued to kiss Topanga.

"You see? You see?" Shawn tried to get the blonde's attention by tapping her shoulder. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"










A/n: Enjoy these memes that I made (both for Ocean Eyes and Boy Meets World in general):

[written mar. 2021]
[edited may 2022]