It's My Life • Shawn Hunter

1| Pilot

At Jefferson Elementary, best friends are like family, the people you trust with your deepest secrets and your loudest laughs. They share inside jokes, create memories together and offer support through both the good times and the hard ones.

For Zoey Francis, Shawn Hunter and Cory Matthews, that bond was unbreakable. Despite their differences, their friendship was a testament to the importance of loyalty, humor, and honesty.

Zoey was always the kind of person who kept things real. She had a sarcastic sense of humor and a laid-back attitude, but beneath that exterior was someone who would stand by her friends no matter what. Her sharp wit was often the glue that held the group together. Whether it was a funny remark or a moment of pure sincerity, Zoey's friendship was something her friends could always rely on.

Shawn, on the other hand, was more sensitive than he let on. He had his walls up, thanks to years of feeling betrayed by those in positions of authority. Trust didn't come easily for him, but with Zoey and Cory, he found solace.

Cory, who was always the clown and the one to lighten the mood with his goofy remarks, had an uncanny ability to make everyone laugh, even in the most serious of situations. He was loyal, generous with his time, and always had his friends' backs.

On this particular morning in the school cafeteria, their usual camaraderie was in full swing.

Zoey took a bite of her sandwich, her gaze casually shifting across the room to the vending machine where Cory was standing. He was the type of person who could turn a simple trip to grab a snack into a mini adventure, often filled with sarcastic commentary and playful banter.

As Cory walked back to the table, he found himself face to face with Mr. Feeny, their wise, somewhat stern teacher.

Mr. Feeny was the embodiment of professionalism. At sixty years old, his presence was a quiet force, commanding respect without needing to raise his voice. His role as a teacher went beyond the classroom; he was a mentor, a guide and often, a surrogate parent to his students.

His wisdom was unmatched and the lessons he imparted were far more than academic - they were lessons about life, integrity and character. It was clear to anyone who spent even a few minutes with him that Mr. Feeny didn't just teach because it was his job. He taught because he genuinely cared about shaping the future of those around him.

After chatting with Mr. Feeny for a while, Cory made his way back to the cafeteria table where his friends were waiting. He plopped down beside Shawn, who wasted no time in commenting on the interaction.

"He's a teacher, man." Shawn said, his voice laced with a mix of amusement and caution. "Keep raggin' on him, he's gonna make your whole sixth-grade year miserable."

Cory shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm gonna be miserable anyhow. At least this way, I'm taking him with me."

Zoey smirked at the exchange, knowing full well that Cory and Mr. Feeny's dynamic, though full of back-and-forth banter, was rooted in mutual respect.

Her attention soon drifted to the conversation taking place across the room. Mr. Feeny was speaking with an elderly woman they didn't recognize. The mystery of the situation caught her curiosity.

"Hey, who's that?" She asked, her voice just loud enough for her friends to hear.

Shawn, Cory and Nicholas all turned in their seats, squinting to get a better look.

"I think she's new." Nicholas offered, trying to peer over the crowd of students between them and the teacher.

Shawn raised an eyebrow and grinned. "She must be new, she's talking to Feeny."