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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ꒱


❝ JULIET. SHE LIKES YOU ❞

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[1991]

After dinner on school nights were one of Juliet's favorite times. At this age, she often ate with Shawn and his family because her mom was busy at work and she needed adult supervision so Chet and Virna happily had her over. Shawn's father always called her 'Shawnie's wife' while Virna treated her like her own daughter.

When they finished making dinner and eating together as, well, a family, Juliet would run over to the TV at seven fifteen exactly to turn it on and tune in to Jeopardy!, her favorite show. Shawn didn't particularly care about it and would have much rather watched cartoons, but since his best friend was so good at it he didn't mind watching it with her. Besides, it was nice to see her so excited about something and he was very proud of how smart she was. The popcorn they got to eat during the show was also a bonus.

They sat in their usual positions with Juliet lying stomach-down on the floor. Her head was propped up by her hands and her feet kicked at the air behind her. Shawn sat with his back against the couch, also on the floor, and was eating popcorn by the handful. The girl's gaze was glued to the screen as she waited eagerly for the show to start while the boy's was stuck on the excited redhead next to him.

The popular theme for Jeopardy! sounded at exactly seven-thirty and the announcer, Johnny Gilbert, gave the candidates' names. Then Alex Trebek announced the categories and the game began. The first contestant, Luke Perry, selected The '70s.

"'The two reporters at the Washington Post who blew the whistle on Watergate.'"

"Oh! I know this!" the red-haired girl cheered. "Woodward and Bernstein!"

Luke Perry also knew the answer and selected again, the next clue being: "'she went to court in 1972 to get an injunction to keep photographer Ron Galella away from her.'"

Juliet frowned at the unfamiliar name and let the TV answer the question as the second contestant, Beau Bridges, went for a different category. "'In chronological order, this book of the Bible comes first.'"

"Oh, that's easy," the girl scoffed. "Everyone knows it's Genesis."

The red-haired girl continued to answer most of the questions, earning adoring looks from the dark-haired boy who watched her. One of the things he liked most about his best friend (and future wife) was that, unlike Minkus, she never showed off her smarts in an annoying way. She never made anyone feel stupid (unless they were on a game show) and she always made an effort to explain anything that confused him.

Virna and Chet watched the pair from the table in the kitchen. There was a soft smile on the older woman's face as she observed them. "They'll get married someday, mark my words," she told her husband.

"You won't hear an argument from me, Virn," Chet agreed. "Shawnie's wife will be Shawnie's wife."

🌎🌎🌎
[1992]

Summer vacation was Shawn's favorite time of year. There was no school, no homework, and he got to be outside all day long— not to mention spend hours on end with his best friends. This year, however, summer felt different. Juliet had been quieter than normal and often stuttered when he spoke to her, which confused him since she'd never been nervous around him before.

Nothing was different with Cory, though, which was a relief and lead him to spending more time with the boy. He'd also been doing a lot of thinking— a rarity for him, but it still wasn't about his schoolwork. He'd been thinking about his favorite redheaded girl who'd been noticeably absent for most of the summer and what that might mean. As he and Cory played basketball in Cory's driveway, he finally decided to talk about his theory. "Hey, Cor?"

"Yeah?"

"D'you think Julie's been acting. . . weird?" he asked as he passed the ball to his friend.

"Uh, no?"

"Well, doesn't it seem like she's been. . . avoiding us? And have you seen how nervous she gets around me?" He caught Cory's pass and bounced the ball around his legs.

"I thought that was just Jules." 

The curly-haired boy held his hands out for a pass. As Shawn threw him the ball, he answered, "it's not. And I've been thinking—" He paused to roll his eyes at the boy's dramatic gasp. "—that maybe it's 'cause I've spent so long hovering over her that she's gotten fed up and doesn't know how to tell me, so I'm gonna back off."

Cory gave him a surprised look and almost missed the next pass. "Are you sure? You've been pushing her since before we met."

"Exactly. I'm thinking that if I pretend not to like-like her then maybe she'll change her mind and realize she likes-likes me. Then, I can surprise her and say my feelings had never changed. She called this sort of thing something. . . uh, reverse psychosis I think?" He shot the ball which swished into the net. The curly-haired boy caught it and began to bounce it again. 

"What if you don't notice that she likes-likes you?"

"Impossible," Shawn scoffed. "I know her better that she knows herself, just like she does for me. I'll know if she changes her mind— but you have to promise not to meddle."

"Me? Meddle?" Cory asked innocently as he passed the ball to his friend.

"Yeah, you better not tell her my plan 'cause if you do, I'll knock your head off."

🌎🌎🌎

[1993]
[November]

Cory and Shawn sat in the high school cafeteria, slightly uncomfortable at being just a duo. Their third member was sitting at nearly the other side with her new friend, Jack. The blond boy had waved her over and she'd joined him eagerly. Now, the two of them had their heads bent together to talk about what was probably a book as the redhead had just started The Tale of Two Cities.

Shawn leaned his head on his hand as he watched the girl longingly while intermittently glaring at the blond boy fiercely. Cory sighed for what seemed to be the umpteenth time as his best friend continued to ignore him as he preferred to stare at Juliet and Jack.

"You could go join them, y'know," Cory told him.

"I know nothing about The Story of Three Towns or whatever they're reading," Shawn said grumpily. "Look at them over there, being all smart and good-looking. It's not fair."

The curly-haired boy rolled his eyes, again reminded of the weight of his own two secrets he was keeping, but the threats from his best friends kept him silent. "Well, it's not like you're hideous, Shawnie."

"I hate him," the boy grumbled, heedless of his best friend. "His stupid, perfect hair. Those dumb blue eyes. If Julie liked blue-eyed people why couldn't she like me? He's too charming for his own good. And he's apparently rich. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was an improved version of me."

Cory considered the sentence with surprise as he took in Jack's floppy hair, which the boy pushed out of his face in a move similar to Shawn's. Jack had nearly the same blue eyes Shawn had. The only difference was the way the boys dressed and the backgrounds they came from. Was this Jules' way of coping with her crush on Shawn? To find a near-replacement? He glanced at his best friend and, in a moment of uncharacteristic genius, saw the resemblance.

🌎🌎🌎

[1994]
[February]

"'Hello?'" a man's voice
answered the call.

"'Yes, is this
Barron Capelwood?'"

"'How did you get this
number? Who are you?'"

"'I am. . .a friend,'" the
woman responded.

"'I don't have friends.'"

"'You do have a family.'"

"'No, I don't. You must
be mistaken. I am a very
busy man without
time for anyone else.'"

"'Does the name Daly
Capelwood mean
anything to you?'"

The man's blood ran
 cold and his voice
 turned chilly. "'What have
you done with her?
Whatever it is you want,
I'll give it to you.'"

The woman chuckled.
"'I have everything 
I need. However,
her daughter doesn't.'"

"'. . .daughter?'"

"'Juliet Capelwood.
She's a very
bright girl. You'd
be proud of her.
She needs a
proper family.'"

Now, his voice took
on a sad note.
"'Whoever this girl is,
I'm afraid that's
impossible.'"

"'I have her
direct address.
It's been years
since you've left.
I think it's time
for you to see
them again.

It's entirely your
choice, of course.
Just know that
your daughter
longs for a
proper family. I
think it would be
doing a wonderful
girl a great
disservice if you
choose to ignore 
her. I will send
her address so 
you can make the
decision for yourself.'"

There was a click and the line went dead.

🌎🌎🌎

[1994]
[June]

Shawn and Cory stood in the main hallway near their lockers watching (again) as Juliet hung out with Jack instead of them. Well, Shawn was watching them. Cory was making a visible effort not to spill the beans because this was really getting on his nerves. He'd put up with one of his best friends pining after the other, but when both of them did so blindly? He'd rather be disemboweled and headless than put up with this for the whole next year.

He glanced at Shawn as the boy's expression darkened, his gaze darting back to where the redhead was giggling with Jack. The blond boy was gently tucking a piece of bright hair behind the girl's ear. Then, he wrapped an arm around her and led her away. Shawn finally turned back to his open locker and slammed it shut as his jealousy got the better of him. The sound was Cory's breaking point. 

"She likes you," he blurted out.

"What are you talking about?" Shawn asked grouchily.

"Juliet. She likes you."

The boy rolled his eyes. "Of course she likes me. I'm her best friend."

The curly-haired boy gave a frustrated groan. "No, she likes-likes you. I can't believe you haven't seen it! She's been mooning over you all year."

Shawn turned to narrow his eyes at his other best friend. "Are you pulling my leg? If she told you there's no way you could've kept it a secret."

Cory straightened. "I would never joke about this," he promised. "She told me at the beginning of this year and promised that if I told you, I wouldn't be able to have any children. Not that I want them, of course—" he began to ramble. Shawn's eyes widened and he dropped his books on the ground to place his hands on the other boy's shoulders to get him to stop. 

"You're telling me Juliet likes-likes me as in romantically?"

Cory nodded. "And you thought you'd notice if her feelings changed."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Shawn all but yelled at him, attracting stares from other people in the hall.

"I was a little afraid of being disemboweled!"

Shawn scoffed and released the curly-haired boy, dropping his bag next to his books as he began to run off, but Cory caught his wrist. "Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?!"

Cory let him go, and the dark-haired boy raced through the halls in an effort to find the red-haired girl as his heart pounded in anticipation. He'd finally be able to tell her! He couldn't believe he'd missed whatever signs she'd sent him but he trusted Cory and knew his friend wouldn't lie about something so important. He rounded the next corner and his feet skidded to a halt at the sight of familiar red hair. He paused for breath, not wanting to be panting when he finally confessed his feelings to the girl he. . . well, he wasn't quite sure what the word was for what he felt for Juliet, but everything would work out.

As he opened his mouth to call out her name, he finally took in the fact that she wasn't alone. Jack's blond hair was visible in front of the shorter girl and her head was tilted up towards his. The boy's hands seemed to be cupping her face and then— almost inexplicably— she rose on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around the boy's neck.

Shawn felt the world go silent around him as he watched the two kiss. That was all they could be doing; he knew the set up too well for it to be anything else. His heart dropped past his toes and spilled out somewhere on the floor as he forgot how to breathe. All he wanted was for the kiss to end, for Juliet to turn around and say 'April fools!,' for Cory to be right more than anything, but as usual, he was wrong about all of those things.

The redhead seemed to kiss the blond boy for an inordinate amount of time. 

It was June, not April. 

Cory was never right. 

Shawn swallowed against the lump that had formed in his throat as his disappointment swelled up in his chest, his heart aching as if a thousand thumbtacks were piercing it.

His feelings had only grown stronger and it seemed like, if Cory had ever been right, Juliet's had vanished completely. 










The second miss.

[written dec. 2020]
[edited may 2022]