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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ʀɪsᴋʏ ʙᴜsɪɴᴇss ꒱


❝ SO, HOW ABOUT A KISS? ❞

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"Topanga and I invested our imaginary one thousand dollars in the stock market," Minkus said as the girl drew their charts on the whiteboard.

"And how did you do?" Mr. Feeny asked.

"We kicked Wall Street butt!" Minkus exclaimed proudly.

"Yet none of the companies we invested in discriminate on the basis of race, sex or bad karma," Topanga added as she drew a smiley face on the board.

"You gotta love her," Juliet said, watching the presentation. She definitely had a healthy amount of respect for the curly-haired girl and they probably would've been really good friends had it not been for Cory and Shawn.

Speaking of which: "you gotta lock her up," Shawn muttered.

"Well thought out, Mr. Minkus. Very politically correct, Miss Lawrence."

The two smiled happily and made their way back to their seats.

"Which company is next?" Mr. Feeny asked as Cory shifted in his seat.

"Mr. Feeny, this project wasn't due for another week," he protested.

"It's the project report, idiot," Juliet said as she slowly got to her feet.

"Miss Capelwood is correct," their teacher agreed. "Those companies who've made progress should have no problem."

"We have a problem," Shawn whispered to them. Instead of showing it though, the trio smiled confidently as Shawn picked up the marker.

Juliet leaned against the whiteboard and crossed her arms in front of her chest while Cory began: "our investment is proceeding. We are pleased to report that we have absolutely no losses and we haven't fired anybody and nobody's quit."

Shawn drew straight lines on their makeshift charts.

"They haven't even started yet," Minkus laughed. "My sweet, we always have a high-ranking, open position for you if you're interested," he told the redhead hopefully.

She wrinkled her nose. "Sorry, Minkus. Our company may be flatlining but a good captain goes down with the ship."

As the bell rang, she threw Mr. Feeny an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry. I know you put me with them so they'd do the work but I don't even have that influence."

"It's alright, Miss Capelwood," Mr. Feeny sighed. "It's about what I was expecting. Mr. Minkus was correct in offering you the chance to switch if you wish."

Juliet shook her head. "I'm not ready to give up yet, but thank you."

He nodded. "I guessed that would be your answer. Very well. Have a good day, Miss Capelwood."

"'Bye Mr. Feeny."

🌎🌎🌎

"I'm glad our company is making money because as the future mother of my children, you're going to live in the lap of luxury because I'm a provider, babe," Minkus said to Juliet as she left the classroom.

"Minkus, Minkus, Minkus," the redhead said, imitating Shawn. "Have I ever told you that I want to run my own company? There won't be any time for children when I do that, so perhaps Topanga would be a better future wife."

The boy smiled at her. "I do love an ambitious woman. Don't worry, babe, there'll be plenty of time for you to do whatever that pretty little head can dream up and have my children."

Juliet opened her mouth to try and shut him down again but was saved by Cory. "Minkus, anyone can draw lines on a chart and say they're making money."

"You know, you guys are big talk because you're bigger than me but when it comes to using your brains, how confident are you?"

"I—" the redhead started.

"You weren't included in that, babe."

Instantly, she felt a familiar arm wrap around her shoulders. "Don't call her babe." The boy glared at the blond.

She turned to her best friend and patted him gently. "Easy there, Shawnie."

"Besides," he scoffed, "I'm more confidenter than you."

Juliet smacked her hand to her forehead. Idiots. She was friends with idiots.

"Let me and Jules handle the negotiations, Mongo," Cory told their friend before he turned to the duo. "What d'you have in mind?"

"I say instead of using Feeny's fake money we use real money and see who comes out on top."

"I don't have one thousand dollars!" Cory said.

"What about your allowance?" Juliet suggested.

"That five bucks is sacred. That's my snack money."

"If you do well you'll have more than just five bucks."

"Make it ten," Shawn cut in.

"Are you nuts?" Cory demanded.

"Fifteen," the redhead added.

"Apparently I'm invisible," the curly-haired boy said with a sigh.

Minkus gave her a starry-eyed look. "I do love a girl with brains."

Shawn's arm tightened around her shoulders. "Yeah, well, so do I. Twenty," he challenged.

"Twenty-five."

"Topanga, make them stop talking!" Cory panicked.

"As equal partners in our corporation, I'd like to have a voice in this," the girl said and Minkus nodded.

"Fine, let me set it up for you: it's me against them in a battle of wits."

"Three hundred thousand dollars," Topanga decided firmly.

Cory's eyes widened and he hastily stuck out his hand. "Ten bucks it is."

"There's sucker born every minute," Minkus commented smugly.

Topanga looked at the trio then nodded to the boys. "Two that minute."

🌎🌎🌎

"We bet our whole week's allowance on a horse. I can't breathe, my lungs can't take it. I got—" Cory was panicking again as they sat at the kitchen table. "I've got gastritis!"

Juliet rolled her eyes. "Relax, Cor. You do stupid stuff like this all the time."

The boy calmed down for a moment to glare at her. "I don't see you sacrificing your allowance for the project."

She shrugged. "'Cause I don't get one. Besides, I'll do all the work last minute if we fail."

"We're not going to fail," Shawn interrupted them easily as he reached over the redhead to pick up a piece of paper on the table. "Hey, who sent you a valentine? 'Dear Boom-Boom,'" he began.

"That's what my dad calls my mom when he thinks no one's listening."

"Boom-Boom?" Shawn asked.

Juliet wrinkled her nose. "Cute."

"Yeah, it makes me sick too."

She leaned against Shawn's arm to read the rest of the note: "'roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine's Monday, let's rendezvous.'"

"They're always leaving goofy notes for each other, secret meetings, romantic weekends. When you're a parent it's all you have left," Cory explained with mock sympathy.

"Yeah, my folks are romantic like that. Last year for Valentine's Day my dad rotated my mom's tires."

Juliet huffed. "Valentine's Day is just a concept made up by society to get people to buy more stuff. Why d'you need a special day to show someone you love them?"

Cory gave her a look. "You've been hanging out with Topanga, haven't you?"

"So what? Valentine's Day is garbage."

Shawn shot her a worried look, knowing that she was sensitive about family relations. The redhead's attention was focused on the radio, though, which was announcing: "'the winner is Tuna Melt by a neck followed by Hot Wax and Jacob's Ladder. Tuna Melt paid nineteen-eighty to win and five-forty to show.'"

"The things people name their horses," the redhead commented as Shawn screamed excitedly.

"What?!" Cory cried with his hands clamped over his ears.

"We won!" the boy exclaimed, shaking Cory.

"How much?"

"This times this!" he shoved the paper toward the other boy.

"That's ninety-nine dollars!" Cory exclaimed as he typed rapidly into a calculator.

"I think that's the only time I've ever seen you do math," Juliet observed, still sitting in her seat as the two boys nearly lost their heads.

"What's the matter?" Mrs. Matthews asked as she entered the kitchen.

"We won!" her son exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down.

"He means the Flyers," Shawn quickly covered for him. "Sudden death overtime goal."

"Very exciting," Juliet said flatly. "I love sports."

"You guys act like you had money on the game," Mrs. Matthews observed.

"Oh, mom."

"What is this?" she picked up the note.

Shawn leaned casually on Cory's shoulder. "Breath in," he murmured.

"You okay, Mrs. Matthews?" Juliet asked the older woman, watching as she read the card.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking I got to get a sitter for Monday night."

"Breath out," Shawn said quietly.

"I started babysitting when I was around twelve and you're almost twelve," Mrs. Matthews looked at Cory. "Maybe you could stay with Morgan. The job pays two dollars an hour."

"Whew, two bucks. That's a lot of money. Mom, you know what? Keep the two bucks and buy a nice dress."

"Gee thanks, Cor. Okay, Monday night. I'll take a chance on you," she said, walking out.

"And that would be a mistake," Juliet commented as Shawn sighed with relief.

"You almost spilled the beans to Boom-Boom."

"Hey," Cory realized. "We just won a hundred bucks."

The redhead rolled her eyes as the two boys did their (in)famous handshake. The door slammed towards the end to announce Eric's arrival. He gestured for them to sit down as he began: "now, would this bother you? Your name is Brianna Henshaw and you're the best-looking girl in school. So, one day you see me accidentally stumble into your best friend Debbie and inadvertently French-kiss her. Now you won't go out with me. Why won't you go out with me?"

There was a scraping noise as Juliet pushed back her chair and stood. "You're an idiot," she told the older boy bluntly, "and I'm outta here. See ya." She gave him a mocking salute before she left through the kitchen door.

🌎🌎🌎

At school the next day, Cory, Shawn and Juliet were giving an update of their company with the curly-haired boy giving the presentation. "After careful market analysis, product testing and strategic planning, we bet on Tuna Melt to win."

"You gambled your ten dollars?" Minkus asked in shock.

"It's one thousand dollars," their teacher corrected him.

"Oh, right. Right."

"You invested your money on a racehorse?" Mr. Feeny asked.

"And we won," Shawn answered confidently.

"Call the police, Mr. Feeny," Minkus said. "It's illegal for minors to bet."

Juliet uncapped a whiteboard pen and threw the top at the boy to hit him on the shoulder.

"Well, now he has a point Mr. Matthews," Mr. Feeny admitted.

"Yes, yes he does. Good point, little nerdling," Cory agreed. "Except in this assignment we're supposed to be businessmen and businesswomen and as we all know, it's perfectly legal for men and women to play the ponies."

Mr. Feeny gave the redhead a questioning look and she raised her hands. "Hey, they're actually doing the assignment, Mr. Feeny. I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Although I don't condone gambling in any form, Mr. Matthews and Mr. Hunter have demonstrated a basic tenet of American free enterprise. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward."

"Risk, risk, risk," Cory boasted.

"Reward, reward, reward," Shawn finished.

"I think they were very bold," Topanga commented.

"Gold digger."

🌎🌎🌎

The next day, Juliet entered Cory's house through the back door but was greeted with an empty kitchen.

"Cory?" she called. "Cory!"

The sound of feet came down the stairs but it wasn't the boy she was looking for. "Hey, Eric, where's Cory?"

"How should I know?" he scoffed. "Probably in his room with Shawn. Hey— are you any good at writing poetry?"

"Why, just 'cause I'm a girl?" she shot back. "Nope." The redhead brushed past him to head up the stairs.

"Hey! I just helped you!"

She rolled her eyes. "You're on your own, loser!"

Eric rolled his own eyes as the girl disappeared up the stairs. Why was Valentine's Day so much work?

Juliet opened the door to Cory's room and saw the two boys kneeling in front of his bed. "What's up, guys?" They both turned and let out startled yells, causing her to raise her hands to appease them. "It's just me, geez."

Shawn jumped up and ran to the girl, grabbing both of her hands to pull her to the bed. "We just won six hundred eighty bucks!" he exclaimed excitedly as he pushed her down next to Cory.

The redhead's eyes widened at the sight of all the money. "What the heck have I missed?"

"We bet our one hundred dollars on Neck Flap and won!" Cory explained. "We've counted it twelve times. I'm glad you could be here for lucky number thirteen, Jules."

"What the heck?"

"Can you say anything besides that?" Shawn asked.

"Holy crap!"

Cory rolled his eyes. "I think we broke her, Shawnie."

"Here, I'll take her with me to get pizza. Maybe that'll fix her." He pulled the girl back up and took in her wide, unblinking blue eyes and shocked face. He couldn't help but grin. And Minkus said he was the provider, he thought, scoffing slightly.

"Fine, go— but get a receipt" Cory said. "This is a business dinner."

Shawn picked up enough money for the pizza and guided the frozen redhead out of the room to try and get her out of the shocked state.

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet had recovered from seeing more money than she'd ever witnessed in her life and was now rolling her eyes so hard she was half-afraid they'd fall out. Cory and Shawn were absolute idiots.

"I hold in my hand one dozen freshly signed, mint-condition Lenny Dykstra rookie cards," Shawn boasted as they walked into Cory's house.

"Getting more valuable every second. They're more valuable now, now, now," Cory added.

"Ka-ching!" they both exclaimed.

"Wait a minute," Cory froze. "I didn't leave the front door open. "They looked around and noticed the potted plant smashed through the glass door and the doll on the ground, "Morgan!"

The boy ran upstairs calling his sister's name. When there was no response, he returned. "Shawn, Jules, Morgan's gone. Oh, this is bad, this is bad—" he chanted as he grabbed the doll off the floor.

The redhead frowned in concern. "Shawnie, look outside. I'll double check she isn't upstairs." The boy nodded in agreement and the girl took the steps two at a time, calling for Cory's sister.

Her worry increased as each room turned up empty, but she relaxed as soon as she rejoined the boys seeing that Morgan had been found in Cory's treehouse.

🌎🌎🌎

"Well, based on performance figures to date, it seems as though the Matthews-Hunter-Capelwood Consortium is our most profitable corporation," Mr. Feeny said. "So, gentlemen and lady, do you have any business tips for our other young entrepreneurs?"

Shawn raised his hand. "Yeah, some people bet on a jockey. I say 'give me a horse that can run in the mud.'"

Juliet sighed and buried her face in her hands as Mr. Feeny clapped sarcastically. "Oh, bravo. Anything to add, Mr. Matthews and Miss Capelwood?"

"Yes," Cory admitted. "The greater the risk, the greater the potential profit— just like you told us, Mr. Feeny."

"Yes, but sometimes the glitter of the profit makes one lose sight of the risk."

"And you should never gamble anything that you can't afford to lose," Cory added.

"I didn't teach you that."

"No, you didn't. I kind of managed to trip over that one myself."

Mr. Feeny turned to redhead. "Miss Capelwood? I'm sure you learned something from this endeavor."

Juliet frowned thoughtfully for a moment before she answered, "you should create a company around something that's important to you. At the beginning of the project we weren't very interested in our investments. Once we got a shared interest, though, we wanted to do everything possible to make the company succeed."

"A very interesting outlook, Miss Capelwood. I believe that would be an example of the phrase 'do what you love?'"

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet startled slightly when she opened her locker and a scrap of paper fell out. After picking it up, she opened the paper to reveal a short note written in familiar, messy handwriting.

Julie,

I know how you feel about Valentine's Day so I won't wish you one and you know I don't need a special day to tell you how much I care about you. Instead, I wanted to say thanks. Thanks for putting up with me and Cory and for sticking with us even though we're not as obviously smart as you. Thanks for letting us learn from our mistakes and being there whenever we (often) fail. 

Thanks for being my girl friend (hopefully next year there won't be a space.)

The redhead couldn't help but roll her eyes at the last bit even though the rest of the note made her smile. Sometimes she did worry that her 'I told you so's' got annoying, but she was glad they weren't enough to make Cory and Shawn stop being friends with her.

Tucking the note into her pocket, the girl finished packing up and closed her locker. During their walk home, Juliet didn't mention the note and Shawn didn't ask about it except for when they paused in front of her door.

"So, how about a kiss?" he asked hopefully.

With a little smirk, she nodded. "Alright."

His expression brightened and his mouth dropped open in shock while she dug around in her pockets for something that Minkus had given her earlier. Juliet reached for the boy's wrist and flipped his hand so it was open and held flat. She dropped the chocolate piece into his palm with a grin. 

"A kiss," she explained. Shawn visibly deflated as he stared at the chocolate in his hand. Juliet's smiled widened as she gently wrapped her hands around his arm to better push herself to her toes. "A distraction," she added quietly before she pressed her lips to his cheek. "Thank you, Shawnie."

Even after the girl disappeared into her apartment Shawn stayed frozen on the spot, staring wide-eyed at the Hershey's kiss that she'd placed on his palm. 

[edited may 2022]