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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴛᴏʀɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴡᴏ
ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs ꒱


❝ HEY, OCEAN EYES ❞

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"You and Topanga can't be apart like this," Shawn complained. "It's giving me a heart attack."

"Well, maybe they wouldn't be in this position if you didn't give Cory such ruddy advice," Juliet shot back as her boyfriend huffed at her words.

"I didn't even do anything, okay?" Cory told them. "I meet one other girl, I talk to her and I get a little thank-you note."

"Cory, she wrote you the most passionate love letter I've ever read that didn't start with 'dear Shawn.'" The boy flinched away from the redhead as she aimed a swat at his arm. "What? It's true."

"I can't control what another person puts in a letter, Shawn. Topanga knows that."

The couple followed their friend over to the couch in the school's hallway. The trio occupied the three seats as Shawn gave him a pointed look. "Okay, it's been raining for seven days. How do you explain that?"

"Warm air meets a low pressure system?"

"Wow, you actually listened in our Weather and Climate class?" Juliet asked snarkily, earning a glare from the boy.

"Wrong," Shawn said, ignoring them both. "It's raining because God is crying and he's crying because he created you and Topanga to be the role model of the perfect couple for this entire planet."

"And what does that make us?"

Her boyfriend turned to her with wide eyes as he tried to stammer out a response, causing her to laugh. Juliet reached over to take his hand. "Relax, I was just teasing. We're obviously the most perfect couple in all of existence which includes this little crummy planet."

The dark-haired boy gave her a dreamy look. "Yeah, yeah we are." The bell rang and Shawn brought his attention back to Cory as the boy stood. "You know, guys, Topanga's angry at me. What are you so upset about?"

"Julie and I have always been the slow burn of you and Topanga," Shawn explained. "If the most perfect couple in the world can't work out, what does that mean for us? You have to get back together with her so our relationship doesn't end."

While the redhead didn't think that Cory and Topanga's relationship necessarily translated to hers and Shawn's, she gave her boyfriend's hand a reassuring squeeze anyway and made a mental note to ask him about it later.

"Shawn, I didn't do anything, okay? I fell off a bus. I sat on a couch. I talked to some girl. I didn't write that letter and she kissed me," the boy said firmly.

"But did you pull away?"

"What?" Cory asked with a confused expression.

"When she kissed you, did you stop her?"

"Well—"

Shawn interrupted Cory's hesitation. "Cory, a guy can do no better than Topanga Lawrence." As if remembering her previous teasing, he hastily added, "and Juliet Capelwood."

"Yeah, I know that."

"Then be at Chubbie's after school," he replied simply.

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet had decided to support Topanga and let Shawn wait with Cory while the two girls made their way into Chubbie's that night. Her eyes widened at the sight of the girl from the lodge— Lauren— standing in their restaurant. They approached the boys as Cory tried to send the brunette away. "Lauren, I'm meeting Topanga here, okay? I don't want her to see us together."

"Can't always get what you want," Topanga spoke from behind him. She turned to Shawn. "Strike three."

The redhead cast Cory a disappointed look before she followed the blonde out of the restaurant. The curly-haired boy tried to call after her in a last-ditch attempt to stop her from leaving: "Topanga, I'm sorry. It didn't mean what it sounded like, okay? I had no idea she was gonna be here."

Topanga paused and faced him. "She came all this way to talk to you and. . . if you feel that you need to talk t other, then that's what you should do."

"It's a trap," Shawn said to the other boy. "Take Topanga and go. Trap."

"I couldn't be with somebody who wasn't one hundred percent sure so if you need some time then yeah, take it."

Juliet met Shawn's eyes across the restaurant for a moment and his expression read help me fix this. She sighed and shook her head in response. You were part of the reason this happened. Fix it yourself.

She turned and followed the blonde out of Chubbie's.

🌎🌎🌎

The next day, Topanga startled slightly at the sound of tapping at her window. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself off her bed and made her way curiously over to the sound. A faint smile formed on her face as she pushed it open to see the redhead perched on the ledge. "You know, I think you're spending too much time with Shawn. Normal people use the door."

Juliet slid inside and straightened her clothes (which, yes, included a leather jacket— but it was hers, not Shawn's.) "There's no such thing as spending too much time with Shawn," she countered with a grin. "Besides, I like the danger."

The blonde gave her a pointed look. "Now that's definitely something he's said."

"Uh-huh," the redhead said dismissively. She grasped her friend by the wrist and gently pulled her over to the bed. They sat down together with their backs against the headboard as Topanga leaned over to rest her head on the other girl's shoulder. "How're you holding up, Panga?"

"I wish I wasn't mad at him," she admitted with a sigh. "I wish I knew what was going through his head."

"You know him better than anyone except maybe Shawn," Juliet told her. "I'm sure you could figure it out."

"I thought I would be able to," she agreed, "but the last thing I expected was for him to be interested in another girl. Now I just don't know."

"Oh, Panga," the other girl murmured softly. She reached over to grasp the blonde's hand and give her a reassuring squeeze as she rested her cheek against the girl's hair. "You know Cory would never want to hurt you."

"I know." She hesitated. "Do you think he's going to fall for it?"

Juliet knew she was referring to the "trap." She thought for a moment. "He's every inch an idiot and I don't want to lie to you so yes, I think he is. I don't think it's a reflection of how much he loves you, though. I just. . . I just think that he's forgotten what it's like to be without you and has to realize that for himself again."

"What would you do if Shawn wanted to be with another girl?"

"Tie him up," the redhead answered immediately in an attempt to lighten her friend's mood. When she only received a flicker of amusement in response, she became serious again. "I really don't know. I suppose I'd let him go because I'd rather him be happy with someone else than miserable with me. It's kind of a scary thought. Us breaking up, I mean."

"It won't happen," Topanga said firmly. "He's been in love with you since forever."

"So has Cory," Juliet pointed out, "with you, obviously. Why are boys so stupid?"

The blonde gave a faint chuckle. "Now that's an answer I'd like to know."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment before the redhead suddenly sat up with a gasp. She turned wide, excited eyes on her confused friend. "I just had the best idea!"

"Yeah?"

"There's more to life than boys, Panga. We should have a girl's day! It'll take your mind off things at least for a few hours. Why don't we go to the mall and go shopping?"

A more genuine smile appeared on Topanga's face. "That does sound nice," she agreed.

Juliet scrambled off the bed, her sudden enthusiasm for the idea lending her a burst of energy as she tugged at the girl's arm. "C'mon, I think this situation requires me to pull the rich girl card, so everything's on me."

Unable to fight the infectious excitement, Topanga allowed herself to be pulled off the bed. "Alright, alright, I'm coming."

🌎🌎🌎

In what would've been a wonderful mall montage, Juliet and Topanga left The Limited with more than a few bags in each hand several hours later. Both girls had bright smiles on their faces as the weeks' past events far from their minds while they wandered the busy avenues of the mall.

"I'm starving," the redhead announced. "You wanna go to the food court?"

"Definitely," Topanga agreed while she shifted a few bags in her hands for better balance. "I could use a smoothie right about now."

As they made their way to their destination, the other girl wrinkled her nose. "A smoothie? Gross."

"What's gross about a smoothie?" Topanga asked. "Most of them taste great."

"If you want to drink your food, that's on you. All those things mixed together? No thanks."

"You just haven't had a smoothie you liked. Give it a chance, Peaches."

"I already have," Juliet argued playfully. "It was a nasty green color and tasted like grass."

"There's fruit smoothies too," the blonde informed her. "Sometimes they're pink and sweet, nothing like grass."

"Fine," the redhead grumbled. "I'll consider it."

When the two girls entered the crowded area, they made sure to keep close together so they wouldn't lose each other in the throng of people. As they stood in line at Jamba Juice, Juliet suddenly went very tense and she turned around before she stood on her toes to try and see above the heads of the crowd.

Noticing her change in behavior, Topanga frowned. "What is it?"

The redhead turned back to face the front of the queue. "It's nothing."

"He's not here, is he?"

"What? No," she replied. "I just thought I sensed. . . never mind."

Giving her a concerned look, the blonde tried to distract her by describing her favorite flavor to get at Jamba. When it was finally their turn, the two girls stepped up to the counter and Topanga gave her usual order before she added, "and a chocolate peanut butter smoothie as well."

Juliet grimaced. "That sounds worse than grass and I know for sure that won't be pink."

"Trust me on this, Peaches," she promised and the redhead paid for their items.

"Fine," she allowed again, "but only because you're as right as I am most of the time so you have credibility."

When their names were called, the girls accepted the drinks and moved away to find a table in a less crowded part of the area, slightly off to the side. Giving her drink a wary look the redhead waited for the other girl to try hers before she even considered taking a sip. Tentatively, she put the straw in her mouth to taste her drink. Her eyes widened. "Oh."

"Oh?" the blonde asked with a grin. "Good oh or bad oh?"

"Um, undecided. Not terrible," she reported as she tried her drink again. "Definitely not grass."

As she continued to take hesitant sips of her smoothie, the redhead's eyes moved around the food court while she tried to figure out why she'd felt a prickle of unease earlier. The girls finished their treats and stood, collecting their bags from the floor. They discarded their cups and made their way to retrace their steps until Juliet froze. Her eyes widened. "Oh shit."

At the sound of the expletive leaving her friend's mouth, Topanga turned to give her a confused look. "What—"

"Shit, shit, shit," she chanted, her eyes fixed on a point further away from them.

Trying to find what had caught the girl's attention, the blonde strained to see through the crowd. "Juliet, what—"

"Go, go, go," Juliet cut her off again as she pushed her friend forward. "Questions later, run now."

Following her demand, Topanga allowed herself to be guided rather forcefully through the crowd. Behind her, the redhead hissed instructions like "faster" or "keep your head down" before she felt herself being yanked down behind a setup of fake potted plants. She turned to the other girl. "What on earth—"

Juliet's eyes were wide and her face was slowly turning pink as she panted slightly from their quick escape through the press of people. "It was him."

"Him? Him, Cory?" the blonde asked as her own eyes widened.

"No. Him Jack."

"Shawn's brother? Why—"

"My ex-boyfriend," she interrupted her friend impatiently. "I saw him."

"Are you sure? There's tons of people here, Peaches," Topanga looked doubtful.

"Positive," the redhead answered. "I know it was him."

Rising to her knees, Topanga peered out between the plant leaves as Juliet mirrored her position to look for the once-familiar head of blond hair. The blonde's eyes scanned the room. "I don't see him."

"You don't see who?"

"Jack," Juliet answered without a thought before she whirled around. Her eyes grew impossibly larger as she raised a hand to point at him, gasping, "Jack!"

"Hey, Ocean Eyes."

The redhead stared at him speechlessly as he greeted the other girl, suddenly understanding what an outer-body experience was like. It didn't feel real that she was seeing him here in this mall, especially after not seeing hide nor hair of him for years.

The boy hadn't changed much as he was still dressed more smartly than any other teenager she knew with bright blue eyes and sunny blond hair. The only things that had changed were that he'd grown taller and his floppy hair had been cut short so it stood in spikes instead of smooth and soft.

She rose, still looking at him unblinkingly as Topanga stood with her. Jack slid his hands into his pockets. "It's nice to see you."

"It's-it's— uh, nice to see you too," Juliet stammered, slightly surprised by the fact that this was true. "Uh, how've you been?"

"Pretty good," he replied. "I'm actually here to pick a few things up for a trip around the world."

She smiled slightly, remembering how much he'd longed to travel. "So you won't be a banker, then?"

"Not so long as I can help it," the boy replied with a nod. "Even if my dad disinherits me I'm going to take it. I've learned not to let him push me around."

"Good for you," she told him happily. "Where'd you go after we, y'know— uh—"

"Broke up?" Jack asked. "My dad transferred me out of John Adams, said it wasn't doing me any favors. I've been here and there ever since. What about you?"

"Still at Johnny A," she answered before she immediately cringed. "Sorry, that was dorky. It's our last year, though I guess you know that since it's yours too. Uh—"

"You could tell him you're dating Shawn," Topanga cut in with a knowing look.

"Topanga—" Juliet started, only to be cut off by the boy.

"He finally asked you out, then?"

She gave him a slightly embarrassed smile. "Uh, yeah. We've been dating for a few months now."

Jack looked genuinely happy for her. "It's about time, Ocean Eyes. I bet you're the it couple along with Topanga and Matthews, of course."

The two girls exchanged looks before the redhead gave an awkward nod. "Uh, yeah. Totally."

He seemed oblivious to her discomfort and sent her an affectionate look— a look that one might give to a long lost friend or, perhaps, a once-lover— and nodded to Topanga. "Well, I better finish my errands. I'm glad we ran into each other." He hesitated. "Uh, good luck. Y'know, with everything."

"Me too," she called after him as he turned away, giving her a parting wave. "I mean, you too— uh, I meant—" She sighed and slapped her hand to her forehead. "God that was embarrassing." Topanga gave her an amused look that became knowing and she glanced at the blonde. "What?"

"Are you going to tell Shawn you saw Jack?"

🌎🌎🌎

Shawn and Juliet were sitting on the couch in the apartment that the Hunters and Eric shared. The boy's arm was wrapped around her as she leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder. The redhead's feet were folded on the cushions underneath her while her boyfriend's were stretched out, propped up against the coffee table. They'd been sitting in a companionable silence for some time as Juliet understood that the boy needed time to process their friends' formal breakup.

It was as her thoughts turned to the whole situation, though, that she finally spoke: "Shawnie?"

"Mmm?"

"You know how Cory didn't tell Topanga the truth about Lauren?"

He turned to her with a frown. "Yeah?"

"I don't want that to happen to us," she said slowly. "There's something I have to tell you."

"I'm not sure that I like where this is going."

The redhead tried to give him a comforting smile. "It's not bad. It's just— well, Topanga and I went to the mall today and we, uh, saw someone."

"Someone? Who's someone?"

"Jack."

Shawn looked confused. "My brother?"

She huffed. "Why is that everyone's first guess? No. Jack, as in Jack Montacute. My ex-boyfriend."

He stilled. "oh."

"I was trying to avoid him," she explained. "I guess he saw us and decided it would be funny to sneak up behind us as a surprise. I even hid behind a display of potted plants. It was very awkward." 

Juliet looked up and tried to decipher the expression on his face. She was relieved when he finally spoke: "isn't it a little weird that Jack showed up when Lauren did?"

"Maybe it's a test," the redhead suggested. "It's the universe trying to see how much we can take."

The dark-haired boy sighed but his tone was determined. "I may be known for failing tests but I'm not going to flunk this one." With a great amount of effort, he pushed aside the jealousy and misgivings that had immediately risen to the surface at the mention of the other boy's name and instead pulled his girlfriend closer. He looked down to meet her eyes. "All you did was talk?"

There was no hesitation in her answer when she replied with a definitive "yes."

He leaned sideways and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Then I believe you."

"If it helps," Juliet added, "something tells me that I'm not going to see him again for a long time." 

[written may 2021]
[edited jun. 2022]