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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ꒱


❝ WILL YOU GO TO THE
DANCE WITH ME? ❞

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"Turnaround?" Juliet read with interest as she and Topanga watched a teacher hang the sign.

"Girls ask the guys," her friend nodded.

"You gonna ask Cory?"

"No," came Topanga's definitive answer, causing the redhead to raise her eyebrows in surprise. "It's a protest," she explained. "The concept of a turnaround dance implies that all the other times only the boys can do the asking. That's destructive, gender-biased thinking and we have to get beyond that."

Juliet gave the other girl an awed look. "Have I ever told you how amazing you are?"

"No, but you could start," she suggested. "Besides, my daddy's taking me to New York for Christmas shopping. Are you gonna ask Shawn?"

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Please, Panga, how much growth would it show if I simply asked the same guy out that I've asked to every dance since kindergarten?"

"You gonna ask him the next time you see him?"

Juliet sighed. "Yeah, figured I would. It might help determine these dumb feelings I have or don't have for him."

The long-haired girl gave her a sympathetic look. "Still have them, then?"

"Yep. I think hanging out with Jack's helped but I don't think they're ever gonna go away fully, which sucks."

"Well, there they are now." She pointed to the two boys in the main part of the hall.

Cory was hopping from foot to foot in the middle of the open space while Shawn leaned against a locker, looking amused. Juliet said goodbye to Topanga before heading over to the dark-haired boy.

"Hey," Juliet greeted him as she chewed on her bottom lip nervously.

"What's up, Julie?" he replied with a grin.

"Nothing," she replied before she paused. "Uh, actually—" She hesitated, looking at some place about his shoulders as she was unable to actually meet his eyes. "I wanted to know if you— if we're gonna go to the dance like we usually do."

Shawn froze and his amused look slid off his face as he frowned regretfully. "Uh, Julie, someone's already asked me and I said yes. I'm sorry."

The girl's head jerked up to finally meet the boy's eyes. "What?" she exclaimed. The dance had only been posted this morning!

"Uh, yeah. Becky Shotlz."

"Oh." Her voice suddenly sounded very far away. "Oh, right. Of— of course."

"You okay, Julie?"

The redhead blinked past her unexpectedly blurry vision to look up into the concerned face of her best friend. "Yeah, totally," she answered with a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Perfectly fine, Shawnie. No need to worry about me. It was quite stupid of me to think that we'd go to every single dance together." She gave a forced laugh.

The sound only caused Shawn to look more worried and he reached forward to grab her wrist to give it a gentle squeeze. "I really am sorry, Julie," he told her sincerely. "I probably should've asked you before saying yes, I wasn't thinking. I can cancel it if you want."

Juliet swallowed thickly past the now-present lump in her throat. "No, no, that's okay. You already said yes." She tried coughing to cover the unusually shaky pitch of her voice. "I'll be fine, I swear."

"I can save you the last dance," he offered. The redhead hardly dared to believe that his tone held a note of hope in it.

"Uh, whatever you want is fine, Shawnie. I-I've got class, I'll see you later." The redhead darted off as Cory returned from his disappointment over Topanga's absence from the dance.

"Where's she going?" he wanted to know.

"Class," the dark-haired boy stated absently.

Cory frowned, knowing that the girl's schedule was similar to their own. "But she doesn't have class right now." He paused and looked up to see Shawn's guilty expression. "She asked you to the dance, didn't she?" he guessed, his observation skills suddenly quite sharp.

"Yeah. How'd you know?" Shawn wondered, surprised.

"You look like a kicked puppy," the other boy informed him. "It's 'cause you said yes to the third-coolest girl in our grade, isn't it?"

"Yeah," the dark-haired boy sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I didn't really think when I said yes. I think she's upset now."

"Why don't you just cancel Becky?"

"I offered but Julie said that she was fine," the boy responded.

Cory glanced after the way the redhead left. His hands clenched into fists in an effort to keep both of his best friend's secrets from spilling out. It was extremely frustrating to know that Juliet like-liked Shawn and had a crush on him while also knowing that Shawn still like-liked Juliet but didn't want to push his feelings onto her anymore. He was glad, at least, that he could talk to Topanga about it seeing as she now knew both sides as well which made the probability of him expelling the secrets much lower.

Still, it was in moments like these that made him want to shake both of them to get their senses back in order. He didn't want either Shawn's or Juliet's crushes on each other to become, well. . . crushed.

🌎🌎🌎

Once Shawn was out of sight, the redhead immediately leaned against the next available locker and buried her face in her hands. The absolutely gut-wrenching feeling of being rejected by her best friend (even if it hadn't been done intentionally) was the worst possible feeling. She didn't even know if she'd ever been so disappointed in her entire life and it was all over some stupid dance. She felt incredibly foolish for crying over something so inconsequential but there was nothing she could do about the tears that were currently running down her face.

"Hey! Juliet—" a familiar voice started before the tone changed abruptly. "Whoa, Ocean Eyes. What's wrong?"

The redhead lifted her blurry vision to blink Jack into focus as she sniffled slightly. "Nothin'," she mumbled. "Just somethin' stupid." She wiped hastily at her eyes but it didn't help.

The blond boy put a gentle hand on her shoulder as his blue eyes gave her a concerned look. "Hey— whatever it is, it isn't stupid," he supported her firmly. "And if it's a boy I'll kill him."

That made the girl give him a watery smile. "That won't do much for your wooing efforts." She tried for a teasing tone but her voice cracked on the 'wooing.'

"Jesus, Jules, I don't think I've ever seen you this upset. It's not Keiner, is it?"

The girl shook her head. "He doesn't really bother me. It's just— it's just this stupid dance." She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks again. "I tried asking someone but—"

"Hunter already had a date, didn't he?" Jack guessed and he sighed when she nodded. "That boy doesn't know a good thing when he has it. I can still kill him even if it wrecks anything wooing might do, if you want," he offered.

That earned him a more genuine smile. "I kinda still like him," the redhead admitted softly. "I'd miss that stupid boy too much." 

She'd almost stopped crying by now and was feeling marginally better. Still devastatingly disappointed, but better.

"The killing doesn't have to be physical," Jack proposed. "We can do it emotionally."

"How?"

"I can take you to the dance and see if it makes him jealous. I can promise I'm much cooler than whoever he's taking."

Juliet gave him a weak laugh. "He would never be jealous, Jack. He doesn't get jealous, least of all when it comes to me. Besides, he's taking Becky Sholtz. That's pretty stiff competition."

The boy shot her a charming grin and ran his hands through his blond hair in a move similar to the one Shawn did. "Sholtz? She's got nothin' on this!"

The redhead broke into a fit of giggles at the series of random poses the boy made to show off his 'coolness' that truly made him look more dorky. "Hey, and aren't I supposed to be the one asking you?" she questioned him.

"Yeah, well, you didn't look to be in a fit state to ask anyone anything so I tried to help out. You can still ask me if you'd like, or you can take someone else. Although, I do have to say that they probably wouldn't take you for ice cream after."

"Ice cream after?" The girl hummed thoughtfully. "You drive a hard bargain, Montacute, but I think I may just be convinced. Alright." She turned her blue eyes up to meet the boy's. "Jack Montacute, would you do me the honor of attending the turnaround dance with me?"

The boy gave her a grin. "I would be honored, milady Juliet."

🌎🌎🌎

Mr. Turner was talking at the front of the class when a note landed on Juliet's desk. Watching their teacher carefully, she opened it to reveal Cory's messy handwriting: you got a date to the dance yet? You could take me to make Shawn jealous!

The redhead rolled her eyes and scribbled back: yes, I've got a date. Why's everyone concerned with me making Shawn jealous? He wouldn't care if I took the President of the U.S. to the dance! she tossed it back to Cory as Shawn commented, "I'd have a shot at an A."

"How you speak, how you look, affects people's perceptions of who you are." The bell rang to signal the end of class. "Read Pygmalion, people! Don't make me do this tomorrow!"

As they left class, Cory grabbed the redhead's wrist and pulled her off to the side. "Please, Jules, you've gotta save me from my date."

The girl gave him a very unimpressed look. "And why is that?"

"She's a total nerd! My status is completely ruined," he complained.

"You never had status anyway," Juliet stated bluntly, "and that's rude to your date. It's one dance not marriage, Cory. Suck it up."

"Hey! You're only being mean 'cause you're upset with Shawn!"

The girl's eyes flashed angrily. "No, I'm telling the truth," she snapped at him. "And while I might be disappointed about Shawn, that gives you no reason to be so mean to whoever you're taking to the dace. You're pretty dorky yourself, Cory. My feelings about Shawn have no influence over what I'm saying right now."

"What about Shawn?" Shawn echoed from behind her.

The redhead whirled around, her sudden anger vanishing rapidly as she became tongue-tied. "Oh, uh, nothing," she tried quickly. "I was just saying that I had a date, just like Shawn."

"Oh, who?" the boy's tone was borderline uncaring but Cory could tell that he was tense despite it.

"Jack," the redhead answered easily.

"Montacute?" Shawn repeated, frowning. "I don't like him."

"Well, too bad. I do," she shot back defensively. "Get used to it." She turned and stalked off with her head held high.

"What's her problem?" Shawn mused.

"What do I know? Nothin', that's what!" the curly-haired boy insisted immediately. "I know nothin', zero, nada, zip—"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Shawn assured him, giving the boy a weirded-out look. "Anyway, about your date. . ."

🌎🌎🌎

"Have you heard the rumors about the new girl, Ingrid?" Jack inquired as he walked to class with Juliet.

"New girl? Nope."

"Apparently she's Swedish. People are saying that she's from Switzerland but I bet that's the part of the rumor that got messed up. You can't be Swedish from Switzerland." The redhead let out a groan. "What?"

"It's a ploy made up by Cory and Shawn. I can just smell the stupidity on it," she explained, exasperated. "I bet Ingrid isn't even new and she's the date Cory wanted to get out of."

Jack looked puzzled. "They would really do something like this?"

"Please, Jack, you have no idea the levels of stupidity they can reach." He gave her a look and she raised her hands. "Hey, I can say that since they're my best friends. If anyone else were to, I'd have to beat the crap out of them. I put up with enough to earn the right."

The boy laughed. "I'd say so if this is the kind of stuff they come up with. This happens all the time?"

"Unfortunately, yeah."

🌎🌎🌎

"Hey, Ocean Eyes," Jack greeted her as he leaned against the locker next to hers.

"Hey, Jack." She pulled her head out from the dark space and smiled at him before she continued to shuffle her books around.

"So, you want me to pick you up for the dance or should we meet here? I realized we never got the details finalized."

The redhead shrugged. "Whatever you'd— oh wait, it's my choice, isn't it?" She paused to think. "Uh, I can meet you here. I'll probably come with Cory, Shawn and their dates and it would probably be best to avoid confrontation for as long as possible."

"Confrontation?"

"Yeah, you and Shawn don't exactly get along," she pointed out.

"That's a Hunter problem," Jack told her. "I like him just fine."

"Still, he's gonna make a big deal about you being my date and I'd rather have it in a public setting where he's forced to be polite due to social norms," she explained.

The boy's expression softened. "Has anyone ever told you how brilliant you are?"

The girl turned the familiar shade of pink as she zipped up her bag and shut her locker. "Well, it doesn't hurt to hear it."

As she and Jack walked down the hall, the redhead tuned in to the murmurs as they passed other students. Her expression suddenly morphed into one of interest before it became sympathetic. "Cory doesn't have a date to the dance," she told the boy next to her.

"What?" He looked around cluelessly. "How did you hear that? Weren't they just going together?"

"Well yeah, but now Ingrid's going with a popular guy and she ditched Cory." She paused as her eyes widened. "And now Allison's asked him to the dance. Oh, that's not going to end well," she commented quietly.

"Where on earth are you hearing this?" Jack wondered, bemused, before sudden realization hit him. "The girl's network, right?"

"Smart boy," Juliet praised him with a grin. "Yep, it's everywhere if you've got the right frequency."

"I've only heard of it— my mom does it at parties. She's normally one of the workers of the rumor mill but I don't usually pay attention."

"I can try and tap you in if you'd like," the redhead offered.

Jack looked around the hall at the clumps of students. "Nah, I'd rather hear it from you," he decided. "This way I get it with commentary."

Juliet laughed at the boy's words. "Come on, we've got class."

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet joined Jack at the front doors of the gym where the dance was being held. The blond boy— who was usually a sharp dresser— had worn something even more formal than he usually did.

"Oh, wow," the redhead breathed out with wide eyes.

The boy grinned. "I could say the same for you, Ocean Eyes."

For once, Juliet had forgone her usual jeans, t-shirt and jean jacket in favor of an emerald knee-length dress (one of the few she owned.) Her hair had been pulled up into a pony tail and she wore a nice pair of black shoes.

She mirrored his expression. "Yeah, when I went over to Cory's Shawn forgot how to speak, which was a first. Neither of them have ever seen me in a dress."

A knowing look flickered over the boy's face as he glanced at the dark-haired boy. "Hunter forgot how to speak, huh?"

"Yeah, it was really funny." Juliet smiled. "He was like a fish!" She mimed opening and closing her mouth.

Jack gave her an amused look and looped an arm around her shoulders before he lead her over to her friends. "Matthews, Hunter," he greeted them.

"Montacute," both boys responded coolly.

"Idiots," Juliet murmured.

The redhead didn't think she could have so much fun at a dance where she wasn't making fun of awkward people with Shawn. Jack was quite good at dancing, though, and that made it even more enjoyable. Juliet finally excused herself after awhile and Jack promised he would return in a minute.

She made her way over to her friends who were still sitting at the same table from when the dance had begun. She waved a hand in front of her face in an effort to cool down. "It's quite warm in here, isn't it? Jack's just gone to get us some drinks. What's up?"

Shawn gave her a dark look. "You'd know what's up if you were here an not spending so much time with Jackie," he sneered the name.

"What's you're problem?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," he dismissed with a false smile. "Didn't I tell you not to fraternize with the enemy?"

"Excuse me?" Juliet exclaimed, unable to believe her ears.

Shawn stood and made his way over to her. "You heard me. You're spending time with the enemy."

"I don't know what you're talking about but Jack's not the enemy. He has no problem with you, but you have one with him which I don't understand," she huffed.

"Oh, I have a problem with him?" Shawn demanded. "Have you looked at him? With his perfect golden hair and stupid blue eyes and mega-watt smile? He's gonna ditch you for sure!"

"What, are you saying I'm not good enough for him?" Juliet scoffed, unable to stop the hurt from creeping into her voice.

"Yeah, exactly!"

"You're ridiculous!" the redhead retorted. "I don't get why you don't like him! Jack's a nice person, he wouldn't just ditch me. It's not my fault your plans never work!"

The dark-haired boy stepped forward. "You know what—" he started, but was interrupted by Cory.

The curly-haired boy threw his arms around both of his best friends. "Shawnie, Jules, how's it goin'?"

"Tell Shawn he's being ridiculous," the girl ordered him as she crossed her arms against her chest while she glared at the boy.

"Shawn, you're being ridiculous," Cory recited before he turned to Juliet. "Now, why'd I say that?"

"Because he's making a big deal about Jack being my date! I don't even know why he's so worked up about it in the first place."

Cory glanced at the other boy a sharp look. "Shawn's not very good at hiding his feelings when it comes to people he cares about. Are you, Shawn?"

Shawn was copied Juliet's stance and had matched her glare. "I'm fine, Cor."

"You don't look fine," he remarked. "C'mon, let's get you some cookies. I'm sure that will help with your. . . very obvious jealousy problem," he finished in a loud whisper.

As the two walked away, Jack returned and handed the girl her drink. "Everything alright?" he questioned her, concerned.

Juliet rolled her eyes and forced herself to relax. "Shawn's being an idiot, as usual."

🌎🌎🌎

Towards the end of the dance, Jack excused himself to get some air outside so the redhead returned to the boy's table. She flopped down in one of the seats and sighed heavily.

"That doesn't sound good," Shawn commented.

"No, it's good. I'm just tired," Juliet replied flatly, still wary of their argument from before.

When she didn't turn to look at him, the dark-haired boy rose and moved to stand in front of her. "I'm sorry, Julie. You're right, I was being ridiculous," he apologized. "I just, well, you know that I don't want you to get hurt and he seems like the type of guy who would do it without a thought and. . ." he trailed off uncertainly.

The redhead looked up at him. "I get it, Shawnie, I really do, but you should trust me more. Don't forget that I was always the one claiming to be an independent woman. I'm not about to get a boyfriend so easily," she reminded him.

"I know," he told her. "Are we good?"

She nodded. "Yeah, we're good."

He held out his hand. "Dance? I did ask you for the last one."

The girl straightened and gave him a bright smile as she placed her hand in his. She tried to ignore the sudden arrival of butterflies in her stomach or the flip-flop feeling that came with it as Shawn pulled her to the dance floor. The last song— as cliché as it was— turned out to be a slow dance.

The two stepped closer to each other with Juliet wrapping her arms around Shawn's neck and the boy placing his hands carefully on her waist. The redhead turned pink at the action and tried not to think about it or the song too much as they began to move together. It didn't escape either of them that it was Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling in Love.

A/n: did anyone get my Harry Potter reference? I channeled Ron's feelings at the Yule Ball for Shawn's reaction in the second-to-last scene. 

[edited may 2022]