unbreak the broken ✘ shawn hunter (BMW)

T W E N T Y F O U R

The words on the page in front of me blur together. I'm not sure if it's the lack of sleep, or the lack of concentration, but this may be the hardest page that I've had to read in my entire academic career.

Keith has been at the trailer every day, so to avoid any altercations I spend a lot of time at the Student Union when I'm off duty. That means staying until closing and losing vital hours of beauty sleep.

"Please tell me you're not busy right now," one of my favorite voices comes from behind me.

Topanga walks around the couch and sits next to me, taking her gloves and hat off in the process. It's the second week in December and all that means is the temperature is so brutally cold here in Pennsylvania, nobody wants to go outside. This is quite a plus for me though because no students come to the SU, including those I'm trying to avoid.

I close my intuitive writing textbook and throw it beside me, thankful that I no longer have to pretend to read the same page over and over again. "Nope, not busy. Why?"

"Hear me out," Topanga says, causing a groan to escape me. This never means anything good for me. "No really, listen! Cory's so against real Christmas trees that he doesn't want to come, but Jack and Eric were convinced by Jane to go get a real tree for their apartment, and I really wanna go, but I don't want to third wheel," Topanga rambles on.

"What about Jack? He's third wheeling, too," I point out.

"Jack doesn't count because he makes the relationship a throuple with the way him and Eric are," Topanga jokes.

"Yeah, I'll go. Gives me an excuse not to study, and I want to get to know Jane better. I only met her the one time," I begin to pack my books up.

"Great, can you drive?" Topanga flashes me an award winning Topanga smile.

I laugh and agree. We quickly make our way to my car after buying some hot chocolate. Our conversation on the way includes Topanga giving me directions, talking about what we want to do in the next 5 years, and how school is going currently.

"Eric, Jane, and Jack should be getting there now. They left a few minutes before us," Topanga says once we have 5 minutes left.

The parking lot is easy to find because of the big "Christmas Tree Farm parking here" sign that acts as an entrance. Because I'm a dumbass and I left my gloves in my room, I shove my hands in my pocket immediately after exiting the warm vehicle.

Topanga leads me through the gate and towards a group of people. A group of people that has more than 3 people.

"Cory!" Topanga squeals as she runs to him, "You came!"

Cory hugs his girlfriend and spins her around while laughing, "I wouldn't want to disappoint you."

I smile at them before I go greet the others. I hug Jack first, asking him how he's been before letting go, and do the same for Jane and Eric. They all assure me they've been well and that they're missing my presence at the apartment.

I guess when I walked up, Shawn took the opportunity to walk around and "look" at some trees near us. I ignore him and make small talk with Jack. After catching up, we begin the hunt for the nicest tree.

Going our separate ways, we all try to be the champion of the day. The tree can't be too tall but MUST have sturdy branches, according to Topanga, A.K.A. The Tree Expert.

I'm exploring the Canadian import section when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn and meet Shawn Hunter's eyes, ripping my shoulder away from him as soon as I realize it's him.

Pain flashes in his face, "Hey, Ophelia."

"Hey."

I turn my attention to possibly the crappiest tree on the lot and decide to move on to the next one.