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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪɴᴋ ғʟᴀᴍɪɴɢᴏ ᴋɪᴅ ꒱


❝ YOU GUYS ARE MY FAMILY ❞

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Cory had taken an interest in reporting which was something that surprised Juliet in a good way. He'd never had an interest in much so she was glad that something had caught his attention. He was a little too into it, though, since he carried the camera everywhere (including to Mr. Turner's apartment.)

Their teacher gave them a confused look when he opened the door. "Capelwood, Matthews. What's with the camera?"

"Well, Mr. Williams says a good newsman's always gotta have his camera ready. You don't mind if I keep on shooting, do you?" Cory asked.

"No, go ahead."

"Alright," the boy said, only to have the door closed in their faces.

"Hey!" Juliet exclaimed, "I don't have a camera!"

"Turn that thing off and I'll let you back in."

The redhead gave her best friend a look. "Turn it off, Cor."

"Oh, come on. What are you hiding?" he complained, though he complied.

"My disdain for you," Mr. Turner answered, allowing them in.

"You're not hiding that very well," Juliet remarked, earning a look from her teacher.

"Shawn!" Cory exclaimed as the boy came downstairs. "Shawn!"

"On the phone, Cor. Hey, Julie," Shawn answered, "so, dad, how are you gonna celebrate your birthday? Oh, that's great," he lowered the phone. "He's going to the dog track with President Clinton." He turned back to his father, "so, are you coming home soon?" There was a pause. "Yeah, yeah, I understand. Oh. Well, I really miss you."

"Where's Shawn's dad calling from?" Cory asked.

"He said aboard the Air Force One but I kinda have my doubts. I heard people yelling in Spanish," Mr. Turner answered.

Shawn continued to talk to his dad: "well, I'm glad to hear you're doing so well. . . What? Oh, you gotta go? Oh, the president needs the phone." He turned to them and explained, "Yeltsin's on call waiting," before he said goodbye. He sighed after he hung up the phone. "I didn't even get a chance to sing him Happy Birthday."

The redhead joined him on the couch and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You miss him, huh, Shawnie?"

"Yeah," the boy admitted softly to her before he added in a louder tone: "family's really important to the Hunters. You know, my dad always said 'where there's family, there's a place to hide.'"

"Did he say when he's coming back?" Cory asked.

"No, but he did say he can't wait to see me. I bet it'd make him really happy to see how well I'm doing."

"Hey, well, he can," Mr. Turner said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Matthews has his video camera. You could put yourself on tape."

"Yeah. Shawn, you know, we could go down to your old trailer park and get all your relatives on tape. I'll shoot it," Cory offered.

"That's actually a really good idea," Juliet agreed. Maybe the camera came with extra braincells that made Cory smarter.

"Putting the Hunter family on tape. It'd be great, like Court TV without the Court," Shawn said.

🌎🌎🌎

After school the next day, Juliet stood with Shawn as the boy packed up his things. She'd been spending a lot of time over at Mr. Turner's recently to "avoid" Barron. She still couldn't call him her father despite the fact that she'd finally sat down with her parents and they'd explained how Barron had found them. The man had promised he had no plans for meddling in his daughter's existing life but would just like to get to know her, if she was willing. He wasn't wishing for much seeing as he hadn't been there for her while she was growing up but he hoped he wasn't too late.

According to Juliet, things were very awkward at home with her mother hanging around more often and Barron making unscheduled appearances. To avoid the whole mess, she preferred to spend time with her best friend who always was able to make her feel comfortable. Thankfully, things weren't awkward with them despite the fact that she'd eventually realized she'd sat on Shawn's lap; Juliet just made sure to never mention that to Topanga and Shawn definitely didn't discuss it with Cory.

The curly-haired boy joined the pair at Shawn's locker, his arms filled with equipment. "Shawn, I got a light, camera, video, everything we need to film your family."

"Oh, great," the dark-haired boy answered, "hey, Cory, remember when you're around my Aunt Lorena, keep your hands were she can see 'em and don't reach for anything quickly in your pockets."

"She's definitely sensitive about the pockets," Juliet agreed.

"Hey, Matthews," Mr. Williaams greeted the boy as he approached.

"Hey, Williams." At their teacher's look, he added, "comma, Mister."

"Glad to see you signed out all this video equipment. I guess you're entering that news contest Channel Five's running."

"No, actually," Shawn replied for him, "Cory's just shooting a video for me."

"Wait, wait. What contest is this?" Cory asked.

"Well, it's open to high school kids all across Philly and they're running the best story on the air. I think you got a shot."

"Maybe that camera really does come with braincells if Cory's got skills," Juliet mused, earning a glare from her best friend.

"Why Mr. Williams, you flatter me."

"You're pretty good with that camera but you'd better get on it. It's due in two days," Mr. Williams told him.

"Cory, what about the trailer park?" Shawn asked.

"Uh, thanks Mr. Williams," the curly-haired boy said, "but you know, I already promised Shawn."

"Alright, it's your call— but I'm telling you. If you get inspired and win a contest like this you're on your way, my man," Mr. Williams told him.

"Well, I hear you. Hey, slap me some!" Cory exclaimed as he held out his hand for a high five.

Their teacher laughed. "You gotta be kidding."

🌎🌎🌎

After dropping their school things off at Mr. Turners, the trio went over to Shawn's trailer park. The three approached a trailer. "Well, let's start with my Uncle Mike. You'll love him," Shawn decided, "of all my relatives, he's easily warmest and friendliest."

Juliet smiled slightly, remembering how Uncle Mike had found her distraught in the snow and had (perhaps unintentionally) helped her feel better. Still, she was pretty sure he had meant to help her seeing as most of Shawn's family knew who she was thanks to growing up right behind the trailer park. 

"Yeah," she agreed, "Uncle Mike is pretty cool." Cory shot her a pointed look and she glared at him. "Shut up, Cory. I've known him almost as long as I've known Shawn so I can call him Uncle Mike."

Meanwhile, Shawn had knocked on the door to receive a harsh reply: "get lost, scum!"

"Shawn, maybe we shouldn't bother your uncle," Cory suggested, making sure to push the redhead in front of him.

"I think that's my aunt," Shawn answered, "Uncle Mike, open up!"

"There is no Uncle Mike. I'm an old shut-in living on my pension. Go away!" Uncle Mike shouted back.

"It's me, your nephew, Shawn," the dark-haired boy replied. The door opened. 

"Shawn? Shawnie!" The man's eyes landed on the redhead. "Shawnie's wife!"

"Hi, Uncle Mike," Juliet greeted him with a faint grin.

Neither Shawn nor Juliet corrected him (something which did not go unnoticed by Mike after hearing the girl deny it for so long) but he didn't mention it. Instead, the camera caught his attention, "what's with the camera? Shawn, are you setting me up?"

"No. No, no, no, no, no. Uncle Mike, do you remember that video letter I told you about?" Shawn explained quickly, "well, this is my buddy Cory."

"How are you doing Uncle Mike?" Cory asked.

"What do you know?" Mike asked suspiciously.

"Nothing!"

The man smiled instantly. "Then I'm doing great."

"Hey, Uncle Mike, I really appreciate you doing this for me," the dark-haired boy told his uncle.

Mike patted Shawn on the shoulder. "Hey, I know how much family means to you, Shawnie. And besides, everybody here at the old Pink Flamingo Trailer Park is real excited about being a part of it. Well, except for Grandpa Lewis. Last week he got picked up."

Juliet frowned. "Police?" she guessed, knowing how many of the Hunters tried to evade the law.

"Tornado," Mike answered.

"Well, Uncle Mike, why don't you call everyone together and we can get started?" Cory asked.

"Okay," Mike said before he raised his voice. "All Hunters, out now!"

"We didn't do it," came the unison answer.

"That's our family motto."

🌎🌎🌎

Once they assembled the order of filming, Cory set up the camera while Shawn stood behind his grandma and her lawyer. When everything was ready, Cory said, "and go!"

"Hi, Dad. It's me, standing here with Grandma Hunter and her attorney," Shawn began, "now, since grandma's under a gag order and medication, her attorney's prepared the following statement." He read off the paper: "'to my alleged son, Chet. Happy birthday. These loving words are in no way an admission of guilt in the trial of The People versus Gertie Hunter.'"

"Any woman that can give birth to me is one tough broad," Mike stated.

"Hey, Cory, thanks again for doing this. Man, I have never seen my family open up like this," Shawn said.

"Shawn, nobody's said anything!" Cory protested.

"Maybe the problem lies inside you, outsider," Mike told him.

"That's food for thought, sir."

The man looked down at the curly-haired boy. "I could take you."

"Uncle Mike, I could take him and trust me— some days I want to," Juliet told the older man.

He cracked a smile at the redhead. "Glad to see you're feeling better, Shawnie's wife."

Thankfully, the boys were too far away to hear him so she nodded in response. They returned after a moment as Cory was saying, "look, I just think the tape would be better if we got the family, you know, to talk a little more.

"Hey, you want a Hunter to talk, put 'em in a situation where they're not afraid to talk."

🌎🌎🌎

"Action!" Cory said.

The camera was pointed towards a shadowy group of people. Their voices were disguised as they said, "happy birthday, Chet, from all the Hunters here at this undisclosed location."

"Okay," Cory started as he raised his hands, "I'm gonna turn the camera off, alright? I'm not going for my pockets."

Shawn looked at his uncle. "You know, Uncle Mike, Dad's really gonna get a kick out of this."

"Yeah, it was nice to have the family together," he agreed.

"Yeah, I'll be sure to send you a copy."

Mike turned to the curly-haired boy. "Why would you make copies?" he asked, towering over him.

"You're a tall, tall man."

"Thanks," Mike said with a smile as he patted the boy on the back. "You know, Shawnie, you got a good friend and good wife here."

"Uncle Mike—" Juliet started, but he only shook his head.

"Don't fight a losing battle, girl."

The redhead quieted as Shawn gave the man a pointed look. "Uncle Mike."

"Hey, it fell out," his uncle defended himself before he handed Cory back his wallet.

"So, anybody else we gotta talk to?" the curly-haired boy asked once Mike had left.

"No, that's pretty much it," Shawn answered.

Juliet stiffened at the sight of a group of four boys. Almost immediately, Shawn positioned himself in front of her as the leader said, "look who's slumming it. It's Shawn."

"Eddie," Shawn greeted him coldly. He did his best not to startle when he felt Juliet's hand grasp his, her fingers intertwining as she stepped up closer to him.

Juliet had meant to grab on to the boy's arm at the very least, knowing that Shawn might do something rash. Instead, she'd reached down and grabbed his hand, only feeling a brief moment of embarrassment before she tightened her grip. While very few things made her uncomfortable— thanks to growing up with boys— but Eddie and his "gang" were people she liked to avoid at all costs.

"Oh look, you still have your stupid girlfriend," he added, seeing the redheaded girl step up next to the boy. "How's it goin', carrots?"

She flushed. "Don't call me that," though her words were quieter than she meant them to be.

"Sorry, what was that?"

"Eddie, leave her alone," Shawn said sharply, urging the redhead to stand behind him more.

"Whatever," Eddie replied indifferently, "I guess this is the part where you wise up and move back to the trailer park. You know, we missed you."

"No. I'm real happy living where I am," the boy answered firmly.

"Oh, yeah. Out in the suburbs where the there are fancy homes built into the ground," the older boy stated before he turned to Cory. "Hey, built-in."

"Me?"

"You got a name?"

"Uh, it's Cory," he answered, "but my karate students refer to me as Dr. Pain."

A younger boy stepped forward. "I could take you."

"What you? Twelve?" Cory asked.

"Eleven, and I can make you bark," he snapped.

"This is a nice camera," Eddie said.

"It's mine," Cory answered quickly, grabbing it to keep the device from harm.

"What are you doing with it here?"

"We're just filming some video of, you know, old friends and family," Shawn answered. His grip on Juliet's hand tightened slightly. The redhead squeezed back instantly, desperately hoping he wouldn't do anything impulsive.

"And you didn't ask me to be in it?" the older boy asked, "should I be insulted?"

"Shawn, I got plenty of tape," the curly-haired boy offered.

"No!" The word was louder than Juliet had anticipated and she winced, ducking her head to avoid Eddie's sudden attention.

"Cory, no," Shawn replied more calmly, though his tone clearly had an edge to it. "Look. Eddie, I'm not bothering anybody so why don't you and your friends just get lost?"

He shook his head. "No. No, no, no, no. See, we still live here. You don't. So the way I see it, you, your stupid wife and your friend Corky Dorky here should get lost. At least carrots lives nearby."

"Hey!" Cory exclaimed.

"Hey, what?"

"Hey. . . what's the fastest way out of here?" Cory finished, losing his bravery.

Eddie pointed, causing the boy to run in that direction. Shawn glared after the older boy before he pushed Juliet gently in front of him to make sure that she was never directly in Eddie's way.

🌎🌎🌎

The trio returned to Mr. Turner's apartment to watch Shawn's video. Juliet thought it came out surprisingly well as Cory's usual lack of talent was absent from the film.

"'So happy birthday, dad,'" Shawn-on-the-screen finished, "'and as they say here at the Pink Flamingo trailer park: "hey, your house is on my lawn!"'"

Cory stopped the tape. "Shawn, sorry about that but that guy Eddie walked through the shot. You know, I didn't say anything seeing how that scary little eleven year old was with him."

Juliet and Shawn exchanged a look that went unnoticed by the other boy. Shawn finally answered, "it's no big deal."

"Hey, look," the curly-haired boy pointed out, "Eddie's carrying a computer. What do you know? The guy's a closet nerd."

"Um, Cor," Juliet started hesitantly, "he's— he's not a nerd."

"Or maybe it's not his," Shawn added casually.

"Well, if it's not his then that would mean. . ." realization hit him, "oh my God, it's stolen, and I have it on tape! This is great!" he exclaimed as he stood.

"Why is it great?" Juliet asked hesitantly.

"You know, that news contest on Channel Five. How could a story like this not win?"

Shawn stood as well. "Wait, Cory. We went there to film my family, not win you some news award."

Watching the curly-haired boy warily, Juliet stood and removed the tape from the VCR as Cory said, "look, Shawn, you got your video, right? And I got my hot story."

"Cory—" she began.

"Look, do me a favor, okay? Just forget about the tape."

"Oh, come on. Give me a reason," Cory said.

"I don't have to," Shawn answered, "why don't you just drop it and go home?"

Juliet handed Shawn the tape and took the hint. "C'mon, Cor."

"No. I'm not going anywhere without my tape."

"You want it?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah."

"Fine, here," he answered, pulling the film out.

"Shawn, what are you doing?" Cory exclaimed, "you had no right to do that!"

"It's my family, I can do whatever I want."

"He had every right, Cory," the redhead agreed.

The curly-haired boy glared at her. "Why are you supporting him?"

"Maybe because you don't know everything you think you do," she answered, "it's best to just leave it. C'mon."

The boy scoffed. "Fine. That's the last time I do you a favor, Hunter."

"Cory—" Juliet tried, though he ignored her and closed the door behind him.

The redhead turned to Shawn with an apologetic expression on her face. "I'm—"

He shook his head, hesitating a moment before he rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to apologize, Julie. It's not your fault."

Still, she couldn't help but feel partially responsible for the argument seeing as how she knew that Eddie was Shawn's half-brother and Cory didn't.

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet and Shawn joined Cory at his locker as the boy was finishing up telling her about his most recent phone call from his dad. "Hey, my dad called from the White House this morning. He got to use the Oval toilet."

The redhead's expression softened. While she highly doubted Chet was actually there, she'd never say otherwise. "Cool."

"Look, Shawn, the only thing I want to hear from you right now is an explanation, alright?" Cory asked.

"What, is this about the tape?" Shawn questioned him, "look, I'm sorry."

"That's not an explanation."

"Cory there's a reason—"

"You don't have to excuse it, Julie," Shawn interrupted her softly.

"Why did you rip up my tape?"

"It just happened, okay?" the dark-haired boy answered in a much shorter tone as he addressed the other boy.

"Shawn, I caught those guys on tape stealing computers, alright? I could have won an award or something."

"Maybe he was doing you a favor," the redhead put in quietly.

Cory ignored the girl and gripped Shawn's arm tightly. "No, no. You know what I think, Shawn? I think it bothers you that I've finally found something I'm good at."

"I think you should shut up and let go of me right now," the dark-haired boy warned him.

"Shawn, why are you acting like I did something to you?"

"I said let go of me," Shawn snapped.

"Fine," Cory retorted. He shoved the other boy, causing him to push back. "Alright, let's see what you got, Hunter."

"No Cory—" Juliet started, lurching forward to try and intercept him.

"Stay out of this, Julie," Shawn told her sternly before he addressed the other boy. "No, no. Look, Cory, you don't want to do this."

"Yeah, I do," he replied as he shoved Shawn again.

As the two boys began to push each other more aggressively, Juliet did her best to stay out of the way while also trying to talk sense into them. "Shawn— Shawn— stop— Cory—"

Students gathered around them, cheering for a fight while the redhead sent them furious glares. Finally, Mr. Turner and Mr. Williams arrived and pulled the two boys apart. "Hey, come on! Come on! Break it up, break it up!"

Mr. Turner glanced at the students. "Get back to class now. All of you. Get back to class." He paused, finally taking in the boys. "Hunter? Matthews?"

"Did you guys know you were fighting each other?" Mr. Williams asked.

"I couldn't stop it—"

"It's alright, Capelwood," Mr. Turner reassured her.

Shawn pulled away from Mr. Williams. "I'm outta here."

Mr. Turner stopped him by the sleeve. "No, no, no. I don't think so, Shawn. Not until somebody tells me why you guys were going at it."

"What do you want me to say? I'm good with a camera and this guy's jealous," Cory explained.

"Yeah, you know when I'll be jealous of you, Cory? When you can do this," Shawn answered as he pushed his hair back. Juliet's stomach somersaulted at the action and she had to glance away to compose herself.

"Hey, hey, watch it," Mr. Williams cut in, "I can't do that either."

The curly-haired boy turned to their teacher. "Look, Mr. Williams. I've been inspired, alright? I want you to enter me in that news contest."

Mr. Feeny joined them. "I don't think you'll have the time, Mr. Matthews."

"Detention?"

"Let's not call it detention. I prefer Hooked on Feeny."

🌎🌎🌎

Cory was quite clearly surprised when he saw Juliet waiting for him at the entrance to Shawn's old trailer park. "What are you doing here, Jules?"

She avoided meeting his eyes. "I knew you'd try to do somethin' stupid and I know I can't stop you. . . so I thought I'd at least prevent you from making it worse."

The boy studied her. "I thought you agreed with Shawn."

"I do, but I also think he should tell you the truth seeing as you're family, too."

He was surprised by her answer. "He clearly doesn't feel that way."

She finally met his eyes to give him an exasperated look. "Yeah he does, Cor. Just because you're in an argument doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. Boys, honestly. Let's go."

The redhead took the lead as she wove through the winding maze of trailers before the pair reached the place where they'd last seen Eddie. She tried to ignore the apprehension of seeing him again, especially when they were trying to get him on film. There was just something about the older guy that made her uncomfortable and anxious.

Eddie finally arrived with his "gang" holding a computer in his hands. "Alright. Now, for a little magic. Let's make some serial numbers disappear."

Cory, who was crouching behind a bush, inched towards them. "This is great. I gotta— I gotta get closer."

"Cory—" Juliet hissed. He ignored her. 

"Wait. I gotta get closer." He looked back into his camera and gasped, "too close!"

Eddie pulled the boy up and pushed him forward to the other boys. "What the heck is going on here?"

Steeling herself, Juliet rose from her hiding place. "Leave him alone, Eddie."

The boy's attention turned to her and she instantly shrank. "Well, if it isn't carrots-the-mouse. I remember you," he added, addressing Cory, "you're Shawn's friend."

"Yeah, and he was filming us," the elven year old added.

The redhead forced herself to approach the group to try to stand in front of Cory, but the boy nudged her out of the way as Eddie said, "you have no idea how much trouble you're in."

"Well, I-I think I have a pretty good idea, you know," Cory disagreed nervously.

Eddie grabbed the camera from the boy. "Let me see that camera," he demanded before he slammed it to the ground and stepped on it.

"Oh, well, now you've done it. That is property of John Adams High, my friend. I'm gonna need some names and addresses."

"Cory, no," Juliet hissed as she tugged on his arm.

"My name is You're Dead and I live on the corner of Fist and Face. You'd do well to listen to carrots-the-mouse," he said before he grabbed Cory and shoved him to the ground.

Anger filled her and washed over the discomfort she always felt in the face of Shawn's half-brother. She stepped in front of him as her eyes snapped angrily. "Leave him alone, Eddie. I won't tell you again."

The boy gave her a biting grin. "Well, if the mouse isn't a lion all along! Your boyfriend's not here to protect you, you know. I wonder how you're gonna manage without him."

"Oh, I can manage just fine on my own," Juliet answered icily as she raised her hand. "Like this."

The slap stung her palm and she did her best not to wince. The pride she felt from standing up for herself and Cory made her straighten. Eddie's expression turned malicious. "You're not as smart as everyone says, carrots," he sneered. His hand flashed out to grab her still-raised wrist and his grip tightened painfully.

She tried to pull away, her brief satisfaction turning cold as she struggled against his firm hold. Eddie looked down at Cory. "Coming here was a big, big mistake."

"Look, Eddie— Eddie, you made your point, alright? Now just let me and Jules go, okay?" Cory asked as he half-rose off the ground.

"Maybe they've had enough," the eleven year old suggested.

"Yeah, yeah. The little guy's right."

"Who are you callin' little?" the boy snapped, forcing Cory back on the ground.

He groaned. "I gotta stop thinking out loud."

"It's alright, Cor," the redhead told him, her voice turning quiet again.

"Here's my problem. I can't let you leave because I can't trust you. So what do I do? Maybe I keep pounding your face into the ground until you forget everything that happened tonight," Eddie said.

"I told you not to—" the girl started, only to be cut off.

"I don't listen to mice, carrots," Eddie interrupted her. He tightened his grip, causing her to wince.

Suddenly, there was a loud thump as another person joined their group and— "Shawn!" Cory exclaimed in surprise.

The boy's gaze was focused solely on his half-brother. His expression was stony as he demanded, "get your hands off my—" He caught himself before he said girlfriend. "Friend." Eddie scoffed and released the redhead, who scrambled back to stand next to Shawn. "Back off, Eddie," he warned, gently grasping the girl's arm and tugging her behind him.

"Shawn, you got no business here," the older boy said.

"Yeah, well, it looks like I do. You touch my—" He swallowed back the girl part again. "Friend and this guy again and you've got me to deal with."

"What? You're gonna take a swing at me?"

Juliet knew he was tempted due to the brief hesitation before he answered, "no."

"Then what are you gonna do?"

"I'll call the cops. Let them figure it out."

"Police. You would do that to family?" Eddie asked in a soft tone.

"Yeah."

Cory looked confused. "Shawn, what's he talking—"

Juliet kicked him gently in the shin. "Stay out of it, Cor," she warned him quietly, "we'll explain later."

"Look, Eddie. I'm serious. I'll turn you in."

"Come on, man. I'm your brother," Eddie pleaded.

"I'll do it if I have to," Shawn said evenly.

"Like you're so much better than me," he scoffed.

Shawn's grip on her arm tightened, though it was far more welcome— and gentler— than Eddie's had been. "I'm on my way to be."

"Okay. Okay. Go pretend. Play the hero. But you'll be back. This is who you are."

"Just get outta here," the boy said.

Once they'd left, Shawn immediately turned to the redhead. His wore a concerned expression as he looked her over. "Julie, are you okay?"

"A brother? You have a brother?" Cory asked before she could say anything.

"A half-brother," the dark-haired boy answered, though his eyes never left Juliet's.

"Sh-Shawn, what else have you been hiding? A wife? Are you and Jules secretly dating?"

Juliet felt her face warm and she turned to glare at the boy who yelped and stumbled back slightly, his nerves shot from the evening's events. Shawn was glad that it was mostly dark so neither of them could see his own slightly pink face as he answered, "sorry, Cor. It just didn't seem worth talking about."

"Then why did Jules—"

"Shawn and I grew up together, Cor. Even more than you guys did. We've had run-ins with Eddie before," Juliet explained.

"Oh," the curly-haired boy was quiet for a moment before he realized something else: "so that's why you didn't want me to hand in my story. You were protecting family."

"I guess. They broke your camera," Shawn answered as he picked up the broken device. "Sorry about that."

"They didn't get the tape," Cory replied smugly, pulling it out of his jacket.

"You know, Mr. Williams was right. You are a pretty good reporter," the redhead told him.

The boy looked pleased. "Thanks, Jules." It wasn't every day she complimented him. He held out the tape. "Take it. It's your family."

"No, no, you take it," Shawn protested, "go win that contest."

"What about protecting your family?" Cory asked.

"I just did," he answered, "Eddie's only blood. You guys are my family."

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet gave Shawn a slightly exasperated glance as he handed her an ice pack almost as soon as they returned to Mr. Turner's apartment. "Shawnie, I'm okay."

"No, you're not," he objected as he adjusted the ice pack to his liking.

She huffed, but almost immediately brightened. "You wanna know what I did tonight?"

"What's that?" he asked, still fidgeting with her wrist.

"I slapped him," she answered proudly.

"Slapped—" Shawn's eyes widened as they met hers. "Eddie? No wonder why he was so angry. Jesus, Julie."

"It felt good," she admitted, "I'd say it was worth it."

He shook his head— both in admiration and exasperation— and his expression softened as he looked down at her. "I should've gotten there sooner—"

"Shawnie," she interrupted him gently, reaching forward to grab his hand so he would stop messing with the ice pack. "It's alright. Everything worked out. I'm okay."

There was no darkness to hide the rush of pink that filled his face at their joined hands, though he was glad— or at least he hoped—she couldn't hear the rapid beat of his heart. "Still—" he started, only to be cut off when she squeezed his hand gently.

Juliet was surprised at the light color that showed on his face— she wasn't sure what he was embarrassed about— but seeing him flustered woke the butterflies in her stomach and she had to swallow back the breathlessness in her voice (god, she liked him so much.) "It's not your fault, Shawnie." 

[written jan. 2021]
[edited may 2022]