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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐎𝐍𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇsᴛ sʜᴏᴡ
ᴏɴ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ꒱


❝ I FEEL SO ATTACKED
RIGHT NOW ❞

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"You called her Topanga?" Shawn asked Cory incredulously.

"Even I know that's a terrible move," Juliet exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Now, Shawn, Jules, it's so obvious what's going on here," Cory told them.

"Yeah, you're really bad with names," the redhead answered sassily.

"Piece of advice," Shawn added, "write their names of the palm of your hand like I do, Cory."

"No, no. The problem is no matter how many girls I go out with, I still end up thinking about Topanga."

"So why did you break up with her in the first place?" the dark-haired boy asked.

"I don't know. I mean, I made a mistake. I thought we could be friends like we are. But, you know, when I see Topanga, I want to hug her, hold her, kiss her. When I see you guys I have no interest in any of those things," Cory explained.

"Thanks, Cor," Juliet huffed (referring to the hug part, of course.)

"Well, so how do you think she feels about you?"

"I'll ask," the curly-haired boy answered as Topanga walked by. "Hey, Topanga."

"Hi, Cory," she greeted him cheerfully before she sat down.

"She wants me back," he informed them.

Mr. Turner called the class to order by announcing: "alright, you guys. Remember the papers for the Environmental Essay Awards I had you write at the beginning of the year?"

Shawn stood up with his assignment. "Oh yeah. I finished mine last night, Mr. Turner. Enter this puppy."

Once it was in their teacher's possession, he tossed it behind him and continued, "and here are the winners. On their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando are the following students. Kristen Hoffman."

Cory turned to face his best friends. "That's good for her, y'know? A week in Florida, a little sun, a little color, a little ocean air could help her get over me."

"Ronnie Waterman," Mr. Turner added.

"Well, she'll get over you quickly enough with Lips Waterman on the same trip," Shawn observed.

"Perfect. Kristen with Lips in Florida and me free to spend the next week romancing Topanga. You know what, Shawn? Sometimes everything in my life just seems to go my way," the curly-haired boy stated happily.

Juliet rolled her eyes. "And when does that ever happen?" she asked, pointing her finger towards their teacher as he read the last name.

"And finally, Topanga Lawrence."

The boy groaned. "I hate my stinking life."

🌎🌎🌎

Cory had apparently been struck by inspiration the previous night and was telling Shawn and Juliet about his plan to win back Topanga. Juliet wasn't surprised with the crazy scheme her best friend had come up with but it didn't seem too dangerous, so she didn't protest.

"Hey, Eric," Shawn greeted the eldest Matthews when the pair walked up to the brothers. He turned next to Cory's dummy. Without missing a beat, he added, "hey, Cory," before he yelped in surprise when he saw the real Cory.

"Boy, you really went to a lot of trouble for me," Cory told his brother.

"Well, I figured you're my only brother. It's not gonna kill me to show a little. . ." he paused to look around before he finished in a whisper: "affection."

As he walked away, Cory turned to his best friends. "Alright. Now, all I gotta do is spend all the money I have and buy a plane ticket."

"Oh, I got tickets from my Uncle Nicky," Shawn told him, pulling out three plane tickets.

"Wait. Your uncle who's in the 'gaming industry?'" Cory questioned him.

"Yeah, yeah, and from the sound of it, there's a slight chance we may have to break someone's knees while we're there," he said.

"Wait, 'we?'" Cory asked, "you guys are coming too?"

"Of course," Juliet answered, "you know I have to come to keep you from doing something more stupid."

"Besides, I figured all the times you've been there for me, I at least owe you one," Shawn agreed.

"And it's Florida," the redhead finished, grumbling slightly, "I totally should've won."

Shawn gave her an amused, sympathetic look as Cory looked between them and said, "thanks." He glanced at Topanga, who was across the hall. "Maybe if I tell Topanga how I feel before she leaves we won't have to do this whole thing."

He handed the tickets back to the dark-haired boy before he walked over to Topanga. Juliet watched them with mild curiosity. "Do you really think he'll do it?"

"I think he's gotten better than the start of the year," Shawn commented.

"But do you think—"

Topanga's angry exclamation cut her off: "Cory Matthews, you're a playboy!"

The curly-haired boy returned to them and Shawn asked, "window or aisle seat?"

🌎🌎🌎

"Didn't I tell you my Uncle Nicky would take care of our travel arrangements?" Shawn asked as the trio walked through Disney World.

"We took a cargo plane, Shawn," Cory complained, "I sat next to a crate of live chickens. You see this? Peck marks."

"Oh, come on, Cor. We're here. The Happiest Place on Earth."

"Yeah? Then why am I so miserable?"

Juliet rested a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "Cor, you gotta do what you came here for. Find Topanga and tell her you still love her."

"I know. I mean, she's the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. How can I not have her in my life?" The boy looked around. "Guys, there's tens of thousands of people, y'know? I mean, we got this much chance of finding her," he said, demonstrating by pinching his fingers together. "Well, we better get started. It could take days."

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet sighed and leaned against Shawn despite the heat, tired of standing in the line. He smiled happily and (unlike Cory) didn't complain as the boy did so loudly: "Shawn, we've been standing in this line for over half an hour. Now, Topanga better be on this ride."

"Who said anything about a ride?" Shawn asked, gently prodding the girl to stand up so they could step forward. He handed money over to the vendor before he took the purchased item. "Churro?"

The redhead smiled excitedly. "Yes, please!"

Chuckling slightly at her enthusiasm, he handed the treat over without hesitation. His expression softened as he watched her bite off the top, causing her to close her eyes in enjoyment. Cory huffed. 

"Are you kidding me? Come on, let's go," he grumbled, in no mood for his friend's romanticizing.

Juliet handed the dessert back to Shawn and rolled her eyes. "He's such a grump."

The boy gave her an amused look and reached out to grab the girl's wrist. "Hey— Julie, wait—" she turned to him, confused. He pointed to a point next to his lips. "You've got sugar— there."

The redhead reached up to brush the spot with her free hand. "Did I get it?"

She had, but he shook his head. "Here, let me get it," he told her, releasing her wrist for a moment to reach up and gently brush the spot next to her lips with his finger.

Juliet hardly dared to breathe as his fingers left her face. The spot where he'd brushed her skin tingled pleasantly as she stared at him rather dumbfounded. Shawn wasn't much different, his expression soft as he stared at her in a dreamy trance (the Florida sun did wonders for her red hair.) It was only Cory's annoyed shout that brought them back to reality. 

"Guys!"

🌎🌎🌎

After enduring more of Cory's irritated mumbling, the trio arrived at the Living Seas exhibit. Thankfully, he didn't seem interested in complaining anymore. "Guys, I have a feeling Topanga's here."

"Why?" Shawn asked.

"Because we've looked everywhere else."

Juliet looked around and spotted the familiar blonde hair. "Hey, there she is."

Cory's expression— which had been unpleasant for most of the day— softened immediately as he stared at her with starry eyes. "Look at her. She's so beautiful. You know what? I'm just gonna go over there and tell her that I love her. I mean, that I've loved her since the day our eyes met and that I will love her 'till the day I die, and what do you think she's going to say to that?"

"I love you too, Cory," a voice that was definitely not Topanga's responded.

"Exactly," the curly-haired boy agreed.

Juliet and Shawn exchanged a look before the redhead pointed behind the boy. "Turn around, Cor."

"Kristen," he greeted her once he had.

"Coming all the way to Florida for me, that's so romantic!" She pecked him on the lips.

"No, you don't understand," he protested.

"Oh, but I do," Topanga said, annoyed.

"Oh boy," Cory sighed.

🌎🌎🌎

The next morning, Cory sat up first in the log ride that the three of them had slept in. "Oh. Ow, my back. Every disk out of whack. Major pain. Oh!"

Shawn sat up next and stretched. "Best night's sleep I ever had. You think they sell these at the gift shop?"

Juliet pushed herself up from the bench in front of Cory's. "You could say that I slept like a log," she joked, earning an irritated look from the curly-haired boy.

"Yes, because you're shorter than both Shawn and me so you fit better."

She huffed and crossed her arms. "I feel so attacked right now."

The boy ignored her. "A thousand miles away from home, I didn't get the girl I came for and I slept in a log."

Shawn climbed over Cory's log and into Juliet's. He laid his arm over the back and turned to face his best friend as the boy continued: "you know what that makes me? A log-sleeping loser. You know, I was just fooling myself, thinking there's still a spark between me and Topanga. Come on, let's go home."

"Okay," the dark-haired boy agreed, flinching slightly as Juliet poked him in the side. "What?"

"Shawn!" Cory exclaimed, "my heart's been skewered and you're not gonna talk me into staying?"

"Well, why? You gave it your best shot. Clearly she's more interested in Ronnie Waterman." The boy winced again as Juliet's finger repeated the motion.

"Juliet?" Cory questioned his other best friend, hoping for better encouragement.

"I'll support you in whatever you decide, Cor, but ultimately it's your decision," the redhead told him. She knew that despite what her best friend was saying there was no way he'd leave Topanga.

"Wait a second," the boy started, true to form. "I have something to offer her. Passion. Deep passion and a history. Jules, I came her to woo her and by gum, woo her I will."

"So we're staying?" the girl questioned him, smug about her correct guess.

"Of course we're staying!" Cory paused, "oh, I see what you guys just did. Reverse psychology. You let me think I was a loser to show me I'm really not a loser."

"Of course you're a loser, Cor, but you're Topanga's loser," Juliet told him, "you wouldn't leave without her."

"Hey!" the boy protested, reaching over to flick her gently. Shawn immediately lifted his hand from the back of the bench to slap Cory's away.

"No," he said as he put his hand back down, "I just think she and Ronnie would make a really cute couple."

"Shawn!" Juliet scolded him, fixing the boy with a stern look.

He gave her a sheepish smile before he added, "but not as cute as you and Topanga."

"Look, all I know is it's a new day and when I sweep Topanga off her feet, I want to be clean and fresh."

"Cory, where are we gonna find a shower?" Shawn asked.

As soon as the boy finished speaking, the log ride started rolling forward, sliding towards the impending drop. Before they were sent careening downwards, Juliet turned against the dark-haired boy and wrapped her arms around him as she tucked her face against his shoulder to protect it from the spray. Shawn's arms wrapped around her as they plummeted and the boys screamed in surprise as they got soaked to the bone.

As the ride evened out, Juliet pulled away from the boy and pushed the wet strands of hair out of her face. "Guess we found one."

"Now, where do we find a towel?" Shawn asked.

🌎🌎🌎

After the trio changed into dry clothes, they spent the rest of the day running around the park asking any of the characters if they'd seen Topanga. Juliet was glad that she'd brought her Polaroid camera, though, since she got several good shots with them and a few of her and Shawn as well. Even if Cory was miserable, she could at least have a good time. The next day, though, Juliet was tired of Cory's bad attitude.

She gazed longingly at the rides as they passed them in Cory's efforts to look for Topanga. As they waited for him to finish talking to one of the vendors, Shawn nudged her. "C'mon."

Her gaze jerked away from the ride. "What?"

"Let's go," he repeated, nodding to the short line.

"But we're here for Cory," she protested dutifully, not wanting to abandon her friend.

"And we are, if he needs us. That shouldn't stop us from having fun, though. The line's not that long. We'll be in and out before he notices we're gone."

"But—"

"C'mon, Julie. It'll be fun," the boy pleaded, giving her a puppy-eyed look that instantly made her cave.

"Oh, alright," she sighed before she paused. "Can we go on any ride?"

He gave her a curious look. "What did you have in mind?"

"The Animal Kingdom one. Oh, Shawn, please!" she whined, quickly cottoning on to the idea of ditching Cory.

He couldn't help but laugh at her sudden burst of enthusiasm. "'Course, Julie. Let's go."

The redhead gave a happy, uncharacteristic squeal of excitement and grabbed his hand to intertwine their fingers for better grip before she pulled him into motion. Shawn allowed her to lead him through the park and did the best he could to keep up with the eager girl. And, if someone had asked him how he'd felt, he wouldn't have denied the way his heart skipped a beat when she looked back at him, with her blue eyes bright with happiness and a genuine, dazzling smile on her lips as she checked to make sure he was keeping up with her lively pace.

🌎🌎🌎

Cory and Topanga were the only two who could throw a damper on Shawn and Juliet's enjoyment and they were quite successful on that front. They'd followed Cory to the underwater restaurant where Topanga was having dinner that night and met up with blonde (thankfully) outside of the tank.

"Topanga," Shawn greeted her.

"You know, what is it with your friend?" the girl demanded.

"He's just showing how much he loves you," Juliet explained, pointedly keeping her gaze focused on her irritated friend rather than the boy next to her.

"This one was my idea," the dark-haired boy told her.

That was not the correct answer as Topanga reached over and grabbed a cup of water to splash it on the boy before she huffed and stalked out. Juliet reached over to the table and picked up a napkin, handing it to him as she tried to joke, "there's your towel."

🌎🌎🌎

"Shawnie?"

"Hmm?"

Juliet looked up from the ice cream she was currently eating (Mint Chocolate Chip, of course) to the dark-haired boy next to her. After their. . . altercation with Topanga, they had decided ice cream was in order. Now they were sitting on one of Disney's many park benches and were feeling much better about themselves.

"There's supposed to be a fireworks show tonight," the girl ventured hesitantly, more focused than necessary on catching the drips from her cone.

"Oh?" Shawn did his best to keep his voice nonchalant, though that was hard enough with her sitting so close.

"D'you want to go see it with me?"

"Sure, Julie."

🌎🌎🌎

Later that night, the two made their way to Cinderella's castle along with the other audience members. Juliet stopped before they even approached the throng of other viewers, not wanting to get swept up in the crowd. Shawn turned when he felt she wasn't following anymore. "Julie?"

"Let's watch them here," she suggested, "it'll feel less claustrophobic. Besides, they're in the sky. It's not like we'll miss them."

He gave her an amused look and stepped next to her. His hand was still clasped in hers, though both made a point not to bring it up.

"You think they'll be better than Philly fireworks?" he asked to fill up the silence.

"Oh, definitely," was the girl's immediate agreement. Her eyes trained on the sky for— despite her previous statement— she didn't want to miss the show.

Shawn felt her hand slip from his and for a moment, he was disappointed until he saw her cross her arms across her chest. "Cold?"

"The temperature dropped faster than I thought it would," Juliet admitted sheepishly, "I always forget the nights are cooler in warmer climates."

"Here," he said at once, shrugging off the green jacket he wore to drape it around the girl's shoulders. He tried (and failed) to hide how pleased he was at the turn of events.

Juliet smiled at him with uncharacteristic shyness as she pulled the opening of the jacket tighter. It was still warm from when he'd been wearing it. She tried to fight the urge to turn her nose into the collar but caved in the end, closing her eyes as she did so. She had it so bad. A part of her wished that she liked him less but she knew if given the option, she'd never chose it.

"Better?" the boy asked, concerned.

"Oh— um," she was about to say yes, but an idea sparked in her head. "Maybe I'm still a little cold."

The crowd cheered at the first sight of fireworks lighting up the sky, but neither Shawn nor Juliet were paying attention. Instead, the boy gently grasped the jacket she wore and used it to pull her closer. Once she was close enough, he looped his arm around the girl's shoulders to pull her against him. The action caused her to feel bold enough to reciprocate the gesture. She wrapped her arm around his waist— there was no way she could reach his shoulders— and she felt him stiffen for a moment.

Juliet was about to pull away and explain, but she felt him relax a moment later so she let her arm stay put as her gaze turned up to the sky to watch the fireworks.

(She missed the extremely smug look on the boy's face.) 

[written feb. 2021]
[edited may 2022]