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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴄʜᴀsɪɴɢ ᴊᴜʟɪᴇᴛ ꒱


❝ SHAWN'S IN THE CLOSET ❞

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Cory and Topanga were sitting at their usual table in Chubbie's as they watched Shawn on a date with another girl. A few booths over, Juliet read the book of Shakespeare sonnets by herself. As Shawn's date enthusiastically finished her cheer, Cory's patience ran out. "I got to tell him."

"Shawn told you not to interfere with his personal life," Topanga reminded him.

"But Topanga, this is the woman of his dreams, okay? The woman he could spend the rest of his life with. I don't consider that personal," Cory told her. He stood and walked over to where Shawn was kissing his date. "Shawn, Shawn, let the nice lady breathe. I need to talk to you about Juliet."

The boy stood and moved away from the booth. "This better be important."

"Do you consider the purse girl important?"

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

"Everything that was in that purse, okay? The books of poetry, the Vivaldi, the Van Damme ticket stub, it was all her."

"Who?"

"Juliet. All that stuff belongs to Juliet."

"The purse belonged to Beth," Shawn corrected him, hardly allowing himself to believe his words. It was impossible, wasn't it, that the items he'd grown attached to belonged to the same girl he'd loved all his life? That he might have a chance to have what Cory and Topanga had?

"No," Topanga said as she joined them. "Juliet borrowed Angela's purse who borrowed it from Beth. But that's none of our business now is it, Cory?"

"No, it's not our business at all," Cory replied. "What are you going to do about it, mister?"

"Nothing," Shawn said. "Juliet and I went out for two weeks. You'd think I would know if those items belonged to my best friend."

"Shawn, listen. Juliet's everything you've ever wanted in a girl, okay? Just look into her eyes," the curly-haired boy suggested.

As much as he wanted to believe his best friend (because wouldn't that just be perfect?) nothing in his life had ever worked out like that. Still, he made his way over to his best friend's booth but started suddenly when he noticed the novel she was holding. "Is this. . . is this a book of sonnets?"

Juliet's eyes flicked away from the page to look at him and she sighed. "Great, now you know what I'm getting you for Christmas." She paused. "Why are you giggling?"

"Am I?"

"What's the matter with you?" the redhead asked with concern.

Shawn turned away from her to look at the couple, smiling like crazy. Cory nodded to the girl. "Look into her eyes."

Shawn faced her again and did as he was told, blue meeting blue. Juliet tilted her head slightly in confusion. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I've always looked at you like this," he replied softly.

🌎🌎🌎

Shawn met up with Cory the next day at school after having successfully avoided Juliet for most of the morning. The curly-haired boy greeted him cheerfully: "hey, Shawn's in love. You call her?"

"No, I'm way too nervous. I wouldn't know where to start."

"Shawn, she's your best friend. You've probably had about a thousand conversations. Just say hello," Cory said, amused.

"That's way too risky, Cory," Shawn replied. "It would probably come out 'I want to have your children!'"

The other boy laughed. "And on what planet is that news? Everyone knows you've been in love with her since kindergarten. I can't believe you're afraid to call her."

"How dare you? Our family comes from Cossacks. I fear nothing!"

A flash of red caught Cory's attention. "Good, here she comes."

Shawn's eyes widened and he ran into the janitor closet as Juliet approached. The curly-haired boy moved in front of the door. "Hi, Jules."

"Hi Cory."

"Shawn's in the closet."

An amused smile curled on her lips as she stood in front of the door. "Hey, Shawnie, do you want to come out?"

"Hi, Julie! No thanks, I'm good in here!" Shawn called from his hiding place.

The redhead rolled her eyes as she walked away and passed Topanga as the blonde met up with her boyfriend. Cory stepped away from the door to talk to her. "Hey, I made us reservations at Barelli's for our anniversary."

"Wasn't our anniversary last month?"

"No, no, no. We were just doubling with my parents."

"So when's ours?"

"It's Wednesday!" Shawn answered from the closet.

"How come Janitor Bud knows our anniversary?"

"Oh, no, that's Shawn," Cory explained as the boy appeared. "He's hiding from Juliet."

"It's like everything I've ever known about her has been completely erased from by brain," Shawn said, before he added, "hi, sir" as a girl passed by. "See? Even basic information has been forgotten. I know that was wrong."

"Shawn, pull yourself together."

"I just— I-I really want her to like me."

"She already likes you," Topanga said patiently.

"Not like a friend," Shawn insisted. "Romantically."

"Well, here she comes again," Cory announced. "Why don't you talk to her?"

"I can't!" the dark-haired boy exclaimed. He turned to make a dash for the closet.

Topanga stopped him. "I don't think so."

"Hi, Shawn," Juliet greeted him. "Do you want to go out and get something to eat later?"

"I'd like that," he answered.

She hesitated for a moment before she held her hand out. He opened his own hand and felt something drop into it. He didn't even know what it was as he couldn't look away from her as she said, "I saw this and thought of you."

It was only once Juliet had walked away that he looked down as Cory asked, "what'd she give you?"

"It's a pretty rock," he replied, looking at the sparkling inside.

"Do you like rocks?"

"I like this one."

🌎🌎🌎

Juliet looked up in surprise as Vivaldi began playing on Chubbie's jukebox. "You know this song?"

"It's Vivaldi, isn't it?" Shawn replied as he took a seat next to her.

"Yeah. I love his Four Seasons, especially spring."

"So do I," he agreed, surprising her further.

"I thought you hated classical music."

"I never gave it a chance." He repeated his earlier words.

"It's so beautiful," Juliet commented happily. "If you close your eyes, you can actually see the seasons change."

"I said that! I said the exact same thing," Shawn exclaimed.

The redhead gave him a beaming smile that made his heart skip a beat, only to do so again at her next question: "maybe we could see a movie later on this week?"

"I hear there's a new Van Damme movie opening."

She rolled her eyes. "Shawnie, you know I'll fall asleep."

"That's why you're watching it with me so I can be your pillow." Juliet felt her face warm and she quickly took a sip of her drink in an effort to distract herself. The expression on Shawn's face didn't help either: the one that always made her feel like she was some kind of angel. She was glad when he spoke again: "so, how about Friday night?"

"Oh, I promised the Matthews I'd watch Morgan that night," she said regretfully.

"I could watch her with you," he suggested, clearly hopeful.

"Not in a million years. Shawn, you're terrible with children," Juliet told him sternly. "Remember when you and Cory lost Morgan when we were in sixth grade?"

"Yeah, but that was sixth grade. I'm older now and if I remember correctly you went with us to get those autographs."

"Only because you made me," she grumbled. "The answer is still no."

His expression fell slightly. "Oh." She didn't trust him. "I'm, um— I'd better go check on our food."

The redhead gave him a confused look as he stood and made his way over to where Cory was sitting at the counter. After exchanging a few words, he returned with their orders. "Well, here we go."

"Great," Juliet said as she began to eat her fries.

"Can I ask you something?" Shawn questioned her suddenly.

"You can ask me anything. You know that, Shawnie."

"What do you think of Cory and Topanga?"

"I think they're a great couple. They're very cute together," she answered. "Why?"

"Did you ever think that maybe we can have what they have? We've known each other as long as they have and you should know by now that I care about you just as much," Shawn said.

Juliet sighed, though she was unable to hide the longing note in her voice. "Shawn, we're not even dating."

"What do you call what we're doing right now? You asked me on a date, right?"

"I asked you to hang out like we always do," the redhead responded.

"You gave me a pretty rock."

"A geode," she corrected him. "And sometimes a geode is just a geode."

And sometimes it wasn't.

"Look, Julie, I want to be with you more than anybody in this entire world. I always have. Why can't we be Cory and Topanga?"

Juliet listened to him with wide eyes. She was strongly reminded of the time when he used to chase her and how often she'd wished they could return to that point in their relationship. Now that they were here, though, she wasn't sure how to respond. Everything she'd always wanted was within her reach yet she couldn't seem to be able to lift her hand up and grab it.

Instead, she stood and said, "I'm sorry, I've got to go," before she left quickly.

🌎🌎🌎

At school the next day, Cory passed by Shawn as he banged his head against the locker, exclaiming, "stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" repeatedly.

"Shawn!" Cory said, trying to get him to stop.

"Cory, you should have seen it. Crash and burn. Nuns should never fly planes," the dark-haired boy told him. "I'm just going back to the way things were."

"No, no you don't, okay? You can't go back."

"Look, I gave it a shot, okay? I opened myself up and I got hurt. Obviously Juliet doesn't want what I want," Shawn stated.

"No, she doesn't know what she wants, okay? I know what she wants." He led his best friend over to the couch. "Here, I want to remind you of a story. Now, do you remember in first grade when Juliet told you to save her seat on the bus for our field trip but Elizabeth Martin got there first and wouldn't listen when you asked her to move? And then Juliet thought you let her sit there? You remember how that felt."

"We were six."

"Yes, but you don't have to be seven to know what it feels like not to be trusted. You got her back by 'accidentally' pushing Elizabeth into a puddle and made her cry. Then you told Juliet that she was your best friend and she forgave you. She's trusted you to save her seat ever since."

"This is different," Shawn insisted. "If she doesn't trust me with your baby sister then what chance do I have of her trusting me in a relationship?"

"This is different," Cory agreed. "Show her how much you care about her feelings. You're her best friend, she'll listen."

🌎🌎🌎

Shawn followed Cory's advice and went to Chubbie's Friday night to intercept Juliet's babysitting time. He saw the two girls sitting across from each other in their usual booth as they talked easily with together. He approached their table and slid onto Morgan's side. "Hey, Morgan, you don't mind if I interrupt, do you?"

"No, go ahead," the blonde said, though he barely paid attention to her.

"Julie, hear me out. It will just take a minute."

"Fine, Shawn, what is it?"

"Do you remember in first grade when you thought I let Elizabeth Martin take your seat on the bus?"

"Uh, yeah?" she asked slowly.

"And then I thought you didn't trust me so to win you back I pushed her into a puddle and you forgave me?"

"I forgave you because you're my best friend and I thought you were just being careless," the redhead replied. "You pushed her into a puddle?"

"Yeah, but that's besides the point. What is the point was that I wasn't being careless and-and it really hurt when you told me you wouldn't trust me with something like that again. If you won't trust me with helping you take care of Morgan does that mean you wouldn't trust me in a relationship?"

"Shawn," Juliet began patiently, "I know your history. Don't you think I have a good reason to be cautious?"

Shawn sighed. "When I did date all those girls I was just trying to find someone to fill your place but no one ever could. These aren't just words to me, Julie. You've always been the only girl for me."

"Then why was it so easy for you to give me up for the purse girl?"

"It wasn't!" he exclaimed. "Do you know how terrible I felt being torn between what I thought was two people? The girl I've loved my entire life and this new one who I'd never even met?"

"Wait, back up. Did you say love?"

"I did," he admitted, "though I don't know why you're surprised. I told you that every day until high school."

The redhead stared at him, shocked that he could just say that word so easily. "But if you really do love me then why was it so easy for you to say so? Shouldn't the things that mean the most be the hardest ones to say?"

"Look, Julie, I know you're scared. I am too. We're both scared but we've been best friends for years. Even if something did go wrong, we have a strong enough bond that I'd like to make it think we'd make it through. Don't you trust me enough to know that I would never want to hurt you?"

"Do you trust yourself enough?" Juliet asked.

It was a moment before Shawn answered, "with this I do. Give me a chance, Julie. I just want to be with you."

🌎🌎🌎

Saturday evening found Juliet outside of the Italian restaurant where Shawn had said he'd meet her. The apprehensive butterflies in her stomach wouldn't disappear, especially when she saw how upscale the restaurant was. Wearing a dress didn't help either and she shifted uncomfortably as she waited for her best friend (boyfriend?) to show up. When he did, it took a moment for her words to function before she greeted him. "Hi."

"Hey," he said softly as he looked down at her, his expression full of unconcealed affection.

They stared at each other in silence for a minute before she cleared her throat. "Uh, we should head inside."

"Yeah, yeah. Good idea," he agreed, though he still made no effort to move.

"Shawn."

The slight hint of impatience finally set him into motion and he opened the door for her before following the girl inside. They were shown to a table and their first appetizer arrived— something neither of them really knew what it was. Unlike their first date, most of their time was spent in silence until Juliet broke it hesitantly: "Shawn, this is really fancy."

"You think this is fancy?" the boy asked. "I don't think it's that fancy."

They both took a drink from their waters, which were immediately replaced by new glasses. Before they could say anything else, Topanga and Cory walked by their table. "Shawn and Juliet! What a surprise, huh?"

"Hi guys," Juliet said.

"Talk about coincidences," the curly-haired boy remarked. "Of all the restaurants in town."

"Yeah, and all the suits," Shawn said.

The couple sat down at their own table as their waiter returned. "I've come to take your order. You have not touched the paté. It's not good?"

"I really don't know what it is," Shawn admitted.

"Uh, it's, uh, come si dice? Um, goose liver," the man explained. Shawn and Juliet exchanged disgusted looks as he continued: "you requested it when you telephoned this afternoon."

"When I called, did I sound like I had curly hair and was ninety?"

"Sì."

Once he left, Juliet turned to the boy. "Shawn, we've been best friends for years. Why did you think I'd like this place?"

"Because I have no idea what I'm doing," he said. "I-I really wanted this to work. I really want you to like me, Julie."

The redhead stared at him. "I already like you, you idiot."

"So then why is this so hard?"

"It doesn't have to be," she replied. "I do trust you, you know. We should just be ourselves." She gestured to the restaurant. "This isn't being ourselves."

"Hey, Eduardo!" Shawn called to their waiter.

"Sì?"

"Could you get rid of this and just bring us a couple of burgers?"

"You no like?" he asked.

"No," Juliet said apologetically. "We like burgers."

"Barelli's is a place where all your dreams come true. Two burgers!" He lifted their pâté and handed it to another server.

"Fries," the redhead added.

"Oh, yeah, and get some ketchup, too." Shawn faced the girl again. "Do you mind if I take this tie off?"

She reached forward and helped loosen it. "I don't mind it when you dress up, but you don't have to do it for me. Why are you wearing that anyway? It looks like Cory's."

He grinned. "That's because it is his. He just wants us to have what he and Topanga have."

At that moment, Topanga stood. "That's it! That's it! I have had it! I don't want to put the Sweet 'n' Low in my purse!"

Cory attempted to shush her. "You're going to get us in trouble in our place."

"I don't want this to be our place!" she exclaimed.

"You're ruining our anniversary!"

"What anniversary is it anyway? Is this the first time we kissed, the first time we went out? The first time we met? What? What is it?"

"The anniversary of the first time we ate at Barelli's," Cory answered. "How could you forget?"

"Because I hate Barelli's! I am fifty years away from going to Barelli's. Can't we just go down and grab a pretzel from a cart?"

"Fine. I'm not making you happy. Go!" the curly-haired boy huffed. "You think you're going to find somebody else at your age?"

"Signora Topanga," the waiter put in quickly as he interrupted them, "I must request that you keep your voice down." She turned and growled at him, causing his eyes to widen. "Thank you so much."

Juliet leaned towards Shawn. "How much do you want to bet they'll end up making out on the table?"

He grinned at her. "You're on. Five bucks?"

They turned back to watch the couple. "Cory, look at us! I am yelling at you and you're not even getting mad at me!" Cory attempted to growl like his girlfriend had, though it came out more of a soft vibration than anything remotely threatening. She softened. "You call that a growl? That was pathetic."

"Well, I could never really get mad at you."

"Oh. Cory, I just don't want to celebrate any more occasions."

"I was just doing it 'cause I thought that's what you wanted," he explained.

"No, I just want to be seventeen."

"Me too," Cory agreed before he pushed the table cloth (including their place settings) to the floor.

The waiter returned and looked at the scene and stared at the couple, clearly horrified. He watched helplessly as Cory leaned Topanga down on the table and began making out with her. In all of the commotion, no one noticed that Shawn handed Juliet five dollars, nor the couple lean towards each other to exchange a sweet kiss. 

[written apr. 2021]
[edited may 2022]