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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇs ꒱


❝ I THINK I JUST FELL IN
LOVE WITH YOU AGAIN ❞

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"I have graded last week's geography exam," Mr. Feeny announced from his desk before he moved from behind it to pass the papers back. "And the highest score goes to—"

"Minkus. Was it achieved by Minkus? It went to Minkus, right?" Cory interrupted him loudly.

"Mr. Minkus," their teacher finished.

"That's a shock."

Juliet laughed with the rest of the class as Shawn pulled a crumpled piece of paper— probably his math homework— from his backpack.

"Thank you, Mr. Feeny," Minkus said. "Your bonus question was a real stumper."

Shawn hurled the ball at the back of the boy's head, which prompted an 'ow' from him. Juliet leaned over and poked his side more lightly than usual, earning an eyeroll from the boy next to her. He'd take her scolding over being nice to Minkus any day.

Mr. Feeny ignored the interaction and continued to hand back papers. "Miss Owens, great improvement. Mr. Baker, very nice. Miss Capelwood, excellent work as always."

Juliet grinned at the teacher and accepted her test, pleased with the red A that marked the top of the page.

"Mr. Matthews, well— there it is," he said with a sigh.

His eyes widened in shock. "A C? But I actually studied for this test! Why'd I get a C?"

"Let's see, where to begin?" he asked as he took the test from Cory. "Well, for one Mr. Matthews, this section of the map isn't East Germany."

"It's not?"

"Perhaps you've heard of a little incident called the Berlin Wall?"

"Was that during baseball season?" Juliet laughed at Cory's question. With her larger knowledge of history and limited understanding of baseball, she probably found it funnier than it really was.

"There is no East Germany anymore."

"But the textbook says it's right next to West Germany!"

"Yes, well, your textbook also says that Alaska and Hawaii would make great states one day," Mr. Feeny pointed out. "Things change, Mr. Matthews. Unfortunately, the board of education doesn't have the funds to keep up."

"Then how am I supposed to keep up?" he protested.

Next to her, Shawn was turning his test into a paper airplane. Juliet sighed. "Shawn."

"What?"

"What did you get?"

He shrugged. "Another F. Nothin' new." He shifted under her gaze. "Don't look at me like that, Julie. You know this stuff doesn't stick in my head."

"Only because you don't try," she argued. "I've asked you to study with me before—"

"—and I have. You're just too smart for me." He threw the paper airplane at the back of Minkus' head, prompting another 'ow' from the boy.

🌎🌎🌎
[One Year Ago]

"Okay," Juliet said as she looked at the history papers spread out in front of her. "If George Washington was the first US president and John Adams was the second, who's the third, Shawnie?"

The dark-haired boy sat next to her and was supposed to be looking at the same papers but his mind was clearly elsewhere as his glassy gaze was focused on her face, not the table in front of him. She sighed. "Shawn, the third president?"

"Your freckles are really cute," he said with a little sigh. "Like stars."

She rolled her eyes. "Focus, you goof. The third president?"

"Your eyes are really pretty too."

The only other response she received from him was a gentle tug on one of her braids. The redhead frowned for a moment before she lit up with an idea. She stood and quickly moved to her fridge where there was some leftover cake stored from her mom's birthday. Pulling the cake she'd made out of the fridge, Juliet cut a slice and put it on a plate before she brought it over to the study table.

"Okay Shawnie. I know you like cake, so for each answer you get right I'll give you a bite. How does that sound?"

"I'd rather have a kiss."

She tried to ignore the pink that colored her face. "Cake or no deal."

He made a visible effort to bring his gaze to focus on her. "Fine, I'll try. What's the question?" Juliet repeated herself only to earn a disheartened look from the boy. "I dunno. They're all dead, aren't they?"

"Just because they're dead doesn't mean they're not important. They helped shape our country! George Washington was one of the Founding Fathers. He fought in the Revolutionary War and helped free America from Britain. If he hadn't, we'd still be a colony and probably would have a very different system of government than we do today."

The redhead sighed again as she saw Shawn's dreamy look. "I love it when you talk smart," he said.

"Shawn."

"I'm sorry, Julie. I can't remember any of this stuff."

"Yes you can, Shawnie. You're selling yourself short. Let's see, who's the first president?"

"George Clooney," he answered promptly.

"George Washington. You know the capital of the US, right? Washington D.C.? Maybe you can remember it like that. Try again. Who's the first president?"

"George Washington," he answered dutifully, causing her to smile brightly at him.

"See? I told you you could do it!" The redhead cut off a piece of cake and handed it to him.

Shawn took it but didn't eat it. "I only know 'cause you just told me. Ask me in five minutes and I'll say George Burns."

"At least you've got his first name right," she encouraged him. "Just remember the capital of the US. What about the second president?" He gave her a blank stare as he continued to hold the fork with the cake on it. "John Adams. He was a baseball player, wasn't he?" she prompted him. "In the Philadelphia Phillies. You can remember it like that."

"Cory could remember it like that if you told him. I just can't do school. You can even remember stuff you don't care about, what am I supposed to do? You're just too smart for me."

Juliet shook her head. "If I was too smart for you I'd hang out with Minkus but I'm here, with you, and there's no place else I'd rather be. We're gonna solve this together, Shawnie. I won't let you fail," there was so much determination in her voice that it even surprised him. "We'll figure out a way for you to remember stuff."

His expression softened and the hand holding the cake lowered. "I think I just fell in love with you again."

🌎🌎🌎
[Present day]

"Lincoln got off easy," Mr. Feeny was saying. "Alright, heads up. In these last few moments of class, I want to make an announcement about this year's regional geography tournament. As some of you may know, for the past five years I have always fielded a champion and I expect to do the same this year. So, based on his outstanding scholastic achievement—"

"Minkus, have you selected Minkus?" Cory asked loudly again.

"Mr. Minkus," he agreed. "And this year's prize will be—"

"A Mercator pull-down projection map?" the boy spoke up excitedly.

Juliet's mouth curved into a small smile; his easy enthusiasm was adorable, like a puppy.

"No. Uh, this year's winner will be bat boy at the opening game of the World Series."

"Oh," Minkus grumbled as he slumped with disappointment.

"Did you hear that?" Cory asked in a whisper, turning around to face them.

"Yeah, so?"

"Bat boy, Shawnie. Baseball. Cory," Juliet translated.

He caught on but scoffed. "Yeah, right. Like Feeny's gonna take you over Minkus. You didn't even know they took down the Berlitz Wall."

"Berlin Wall," she corrected him quickly, which went ignored.

As they stood to go, Juliet caught Shawn's arm as Cory approached Mr. Feeny.

"What?"

"Cory, remember?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So we're gonna help him."

"Not me, I'm out."

"Shawn," Juliet whined slightly. "C'mon."

Their friend joined them at the door. "Guys, I need your help. Specifically yours, Jules."

"Knew it!" she cheered, causing both of them to roll their eyes. "Even if you're only using me 'cause I'm smart."

"And pretty," Shawn added, causing her to roll her eyes.

"And my best friend," Cory put in as they left the classroom.

"Yeah, yeah," she said, laughing slightly. "Flattery will get you anywhere."

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet walked into the Matthews' home, ignoring Shawn's glare as she kept an arm around Minkus' shoulders. The blond boy was mostly relaxed against her but his gaze was still wary as Cory said cheerfully, "mom, have you met my good friend Minkus?"

"Hi Minkus," Mrs. Matthews said curiously.

"Call my mother," he pleaded.

"What?"

"He's a little nervous Mrs. Matthews," Juliet said lightly. "C'mon, Stuart. You're fine."

At the use of his first name, the boy relaxed a little more.

"We're gonna take him upstairs now," Cory informed his mother.

"Two-seven-eight-four-two! It's the only Minkus in the book!" he called back as they led him upstairs. It appeared that even Juliet's charm couldn't save the day.

"I'm glad you could come over, Minkus," Cory said as the boy sat on his bed.

"Real glad to be here. Can I go now?"

Juliet sat down next to him, close enough that she was crowding his personal space. "What's the rush, Stuart?" she asked easily. "We're just getting started."

"Yeah Minkus, just chill," Shawn told him as his own voice edged on very not chill.

"I-I don't understand what that means," he stuttered slightly as his gaze moved to the redhead's next to him.

"It means that one out of every four people is a nerd and if you don't see one, that means he's you," Shawn continued.

"But we can help you change," Cory said.

"Maybe I like how I am?"

"You like everyone always making fun of you, Stuart?" Juliet asked in a concerned tone.

"N-no," he admitted, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You always like being picked last for teams?" Cory questioned him.

"No."

"You like everyone pulling your underwear up your butt all the time?" Shawn added.

He hesitated before he admitted, "it's not so bad."

Juliet hid her grimace of disgust before she offered, "Stuart, let us help you."

"Yeah, we're here for you," Cory added.

"It's early in the year, you can change your image."

Minkus gave the redhead girl a hopeful look. "What do I do?"

"The geography tournament, you don't want to do it," Cory said firmly.

"It'll brand you for life," Shawn agreed.

"But I love geography!" he protested. "I'm drawn by the adventure and exoticism of it. Hey— maybe you guys would like to join the Future Cartographers of America club with me."

Juliet shook her head. "Sorry, Stuart."

He sighed. "If I don't do the tournament will you guys like me?"

"No," Shawn answered immediately.

"Then I don't see what's in it for me," he stated simply.

"Alright, name your price you little creep," Shawn said.

The blond boy glanced toward the redhead, his eyes meeting hers. "You have ocean eyes, did you know that?" he announced suddenly in a soft voice.

Juliet was surprised. As much as Minkus quoted Romeo and Juliet at her, he'd never actually said anything original like that. It was kind of nice even if she didn't think of him as anything other than a very cute puppy.

"Alright, that's enough," Shawn said as he reached forward to yank the boy off the bed. "He's making moves on my wife!"

Cory pushed his friend back. "What do you want, Minkus?"

"A kiss?" he asked hopefully.

The redhead's eyes widened and she stood quickly. "No way!" She hadn't even kissed Shawn and she'd rather kiss her best friend than Minkus. She didn't hate the boy as her friends seemed to but she was in no way ever going to have a crush on him. Shawn grabbed her wrist and tugged her behind him protectively as he glared at the boy.

He sighed. "Fine. When you guys play Bombardment, can you not aim the ball at my head?"

"Deal," Cory said.

"What's the point of playing if we can't throw the ball at his head?" Shawn asked, still looking furiously at Minkus. (He didn't get an answer.)

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet and Shawn made their way to Cory's backyard to pick him up to hang out except he was sitting in a chair with a large book propped open in front of him.

"I thought we were going to the park!" she complained as she leaned against the back of his seat to look over her friend's shoulder.

"C'mon man, you're studying too much. The teachers are gonna notice," Shawn added.

"Oh, like that would be a bad thing," Juliet commented sarcastically.

"Thank you!" her best friend said, not picking up on her tone. "They're saying he has potential."

"So do you," she said, but her encouragement went ignored.

"Wow! The highest and lowest points in the continental US are only fifty miles apart— Death Valley and Mount Whitney. I find that extraordinary!"

Her eyes widened at the 'nerd' tone his voice had taken on.

"Extraordinary?" Shawn asked.

"Who are you and what have you done with Cory?" Juliet demanded. Even though she'd always encouraged her best friends to do better in school she hadn't wanted them to turn out like this.

"He's mutating, man," Shawn said. He tossed the ball at the back of Cory's head like he did with Minkus and earned the same response.

"Oh no," Juliet murmured just as they were joined by a fourth person.

"Hey dudes and Juliet," Minkus greeted them.

Her eyes widened at the sight of his clothes. "Uh, Minkus—" she started, back on a last-name basis. "Whatcha wearin'?"

"We're outta here," the dark-haired boy said and he grabbed the girl's wrist to pull her with him.

As they turned to go, Juliet glanced up at him. "Park time?"

He nodded, "park time." 

[edited apr. 2022]