unbreak the broken ✘ shawn hunter (BMW)

T W E N T Y

"Please come with me!"

"I don't know that I really want to, Topanga," I sigh and wipe up a spill on the counter.

"You still haven't told me why," Topanga follows me as I move behind the counter. "Did I do something?"

She bombarded me today with the news of a "welcome home" party that someone's throwing. I've been avoiding seeing Shawn and Eric since my- well whatever it was that happened between Shawn and I. An argument maybe? Shawn kicking me out? Whatever you want to call it, it was cause enough for me to duck my head every time I saw him across campus.

Classes start again in two days, ending our short break altogether. At least we have Christmas break in a couple of weeks.

I shake my head, "You didn't do anything, T. I just don't feel like seeing a couple of people right now."

Shawn because he was a dick the last time I saw him without giving any reason for attacking me. Eric because I'm still embarrassed that I asked to stay in his room, and he said no.

I see Topanga doesn't necessarily believe me, and that's my fault. Avoiding those two comes with avoiding everyone else, even Topanga.

"Was it something with Cory?" Topanga asks, slightly afraid of what the answer will be.

"No, of course not," I almost laugh, "Why would I ever avoid Cory? He does nothing wrong, ever."

Topanga breathes a sigh of relief, "Then who? Shawn? Eric?"

I let out a little sigh, silent enough so that Topanga doesn't hear it. I guess there's no harm in telling Topanga what happened, she is my best friend after all (even if I'm not hers).

"I'm not sure why I'm avoiding Eric, he didn't do anything really," I walk around the counter and sit on the couch with Topanga, signifying to my coworker that I'm taking my break. "As you probably know, I went over to their apartment after Keith had a fit. Everything was fine between us and so I showed up at the apartment. Long story short, I assumed that I would be staying in Eric's room, and he told me I had to stay on the couch. And so I got embarrassed and felt- I don't know- rejected? And I understand, he has a girl now and doesn't want to mess it up, but then why did he call me the other night during his breakdown and not her? And why didn't he tell me about her in the first place? Friends normally tell their friends when they get into a new relationship."

Topanga sat there quiet for a second, taking in what I had said. She finally speaks, "Because he trusts you more than anyone."

I never thought about it like that. He trusts me.

"But he could've called Cory."

"No, he couldn't," Topanga laughs. "You've never actually met their dad. Cory doesn't see it like Eric does, but Eric has always been treated like dirt by him. I've seen it, Cory just doesn't understand that his dad could be like that."

I nod, trying to remove the thought that he called me because my own father's a dick. I just try to keep in my head, he trusts you. He didn't care if I saw him at his worst - he trusts me.

"So now, you'll come to the party?" Topanga smiles slightly.

"Well, that's not the only person I was avoiding," I brush my hair out of my face, "Shawn, too."

"Shawn's been acting very weird lately. He was getting annoyed at the stupidest things at Thanksgiving," Topanga informs me, probably trying to figure out what his problem is as well.

"Yeah, well when he came back early, I was still at the apartment. He basically told me I always run to them to be rescued after I'm, and I quote from the Shawn Hunter himself, knocked around by my father. Then he said something along the lines of I'm invading the apartment, and then I left," I let the story out, "Funniest thing is, I haven't seen him since Eric called me over. Then I finally see him, and he's an ass. And I have no idea what happened between now and then to warrant that."

"What an ass," Topanga whispered.

I nod in agreement. An ass, indeed.

"When Eric got to the Matthew's house, he pulled Cory, Shawn, and I aside and told us that you were staying at the apartment while we were gone. Shawn started going insane, asking why you were there, concerned what happened to you. He was going to leave to come back that moment, but we convinced him to stay a couple of days, to let you have space," Topanga explained, "The entire ride home he was being a dick, complaining about it being too cold, or Cory driving too slow. And the day before Eric got home, he would ignore everyone. Not speak, and if he did it was to tell people to leave him alone."

"What is his issue?" I ask, more a question to myself. "Did something happen with Angela?"

"Last I heard, they aren't speaking. Apparently Shawn mentioned another girl to her, saying how she's a pain but he can't help but like her," Topanga gives me a sly smile, "Sound familiar?"

"He wasn't talking about me, Topanga. He hasn't shown any signs of liking me," I responded, even though I was hoping I was wrong. Even if he is an ass, I still have a crush on him.

She shrugs, "I don't know, I saw a lot of signs on Halloween when he was flirting with you all night."

I think back to the picture of us that I left with him. We did look extremely good together. But he was drunk flirting, that's all.

"Back to the party," Topanga reminds me why she was here in the first place, "I can help you avoid both of them! I'll protect you. Please, please, please come."

I eventually give in, telling her that I will be at her house tonight, ready to go party.