GOLD RUSH- Shawn Hunter

00

"In conclusion, some products we use every day cause algae to grow in lakes..." A friend of Jackie was saying. Ines. Her and Betty were presenting their assignment to the class. The brunette put a dead fish into the container filled with some kind of boiling acid inside.
"Cutting off oxygen and disrupting the ecosystem."

"So... What we've learned is that we must choose biodegradable products to help protect our environment." Betty pulled the fish, which was now only bones out.

"Excellent report. Inspired visuals. Next team." Mr. Feeny said proudly.

Next were Cory Matthews and Shawn Hunter. Jackie liked Cory. Shawn, not so much. She found the latter boy arrogant, mean and self centered. Though she has the very same characteristics, she doesn't realize it. The two boys gave each other a high five before walking to the front of the classroom. Shawn pulled down the map by the chalkboard and Cory started to speak up, "How air pollution affects our everyday life."

"Excellent topic." Mr. Feeny commented. He should've known better than to let them choose their own partners and think that'll work just fine. The next minute or so was filled with both boys pointing to random places whilst talking about other ones- with little to no talk about how the air pollution affects their everyday life. Because it apparently affects sports more than them.

"And win every home game. The end." They finished their presentation. "So, how'd you like our report?" The curly headed boy asked.

"Stinks."

"Stinks! How'd you like my half?" Cory leaned down to the teacher.

"Relax, Mr. Matthews. I blame myself." Mr. Feeny stood up from his seat.

"You do? Cool." Cory said, thinking he was off the hook. Him and Shawn made their way back to their seats.

"Yes. I let you choose your own partner. An astounding lapse of judgment for someone of my experience. I'm going to let you try again, but this time I'll choose the teams." The man in front of the class said. Jackie was hoping that she wouldn't get picked, nor Topanga because she partnered up with her. But as if Mr. Feeny could read her mind he decided to have a laugh for himself, "Mr. Hunter, you'll work woth Mr. Minkus."

"Oh, no." Both boys chorused and slapped their own forheads in sync. Jackie sighed in relief at first, atleast even if she did get picked now it wouldn't be with him.

"And Mr. Matthews—"

"Yeah, I'll hook up with Mr. Sullivan." Cory nodded.

"No, no. That's worse. You'll work with Miss Lawrence." Mr. Feeny finished. Jackie's eyes widend in confusion, now she'd be doing the project alone.

"Topanga?" Cory questioned.

"Um, Mr. Feeny, I was partnered up with Topanga, with who will I be doing the project now?" Jackie raised her hand before speaking up.

"I see." The man looked down to his papers scanning the names, "I guess that there'll be a group of three then." Jackie smiled thinking she'll just get sorted in the group with Topanga and Cory, but she couldn't have been more wrong. "Miss Saint Claire, you'll be in the group with Mr. Hunter and Mr. Minkus then."

Jackie's eyes widend in shock and fear. "Oh, no." She slapped her hand on her forehead.
After the bell rang she went direclty to Mr. Feeny's desk to ask him to reconsider his decision. Apparently she wasn't the only one when she saw a disappointed Cory leave his desk. "Mr.Feeny." Jackie gave the man a charming smile in the voice she always uses when she wants something.

"Miss Saint Claire, how can I help you?"

"I was thinking if you might reconsider the groups which you chose. Because I think that I'd be a better fit if I was in the group with Topanga and Cory." The girl spoke.

But before Mr. Feeny could answer her, Shawn Hunter ran into the classroom and to the desk. He stood next to the girl but didn't seem to have noticed her yet. "Mr. Feeny. Mr. Feeny. Please, please, don't let me be in a group with Minkus and Jackie. No wait, forget that, please don't let me be in a group with Jackie." The boy begged. Jackie couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was already asking that, but why was he asking that. The girl scoffed and that seemed to have caught Shawn's attention. The boy turned around and when he saw her standing there the whole time next to him with a glare on her face he shrieked in fear.

"Well, Mr. Hunter, as I was about to tell Miss Saint Claire here, I will not be changing the groups anymore. And, personally, I think that this project will help the two of you sort out your problems." He gazed between the two kids.

"Problems? We don't have a promblem. I have a problem with him." Jackie said before taking her bag and leaving the classroom. She could hear Shawn mimic her words in an annoying squeaky voice.

"Cory." Topanga said whilst walking towards the boy and his friend at their table. Jackie was standing next to Topanga. She was there to get them to sign the petition on some lady. Truthfully she didn't know what it was about, but she did know that Topanga cared about it so she'd support her and get people to sign.
When the curly headed boy didn't responde Topanga repeated herself, "Cory... I got Jedidiah to drive me to your house after school."

"Who's Jedidiah?" Cory questionend confused.

"My Father." Topanga answered as if it were nothing. Jackie didn't mind these "unusual"
things about her best friend, infact she loves them.

"Wait. You call your father Jedidiah?" Cory asked.

"That's his name. What do you call your father?"

"Well, like a lot of normal people, I refer to him as "dad"." Cory glanced towards Shawn.

"Then how do you tell him apart from all the other dads?" Topanga had a confused expression on her face. Cory send Jackie a look which said 'help'. The dark haired girl just shrugged.

"Look, Topanga, is there any way we can do this assignment on the phone or by telepathy?" Cory hopefully suggested.

"It concerns our environment. I think it deserves more direct attention." Topanga reminded him.

"Ok, ok. I'll see you at my house after school."

"Before we leave, we'd like you to sign a petition to save Mrs. Rosemead's job." Topanga held up the paper.

"Who's Mrs. Rosemead?" Shawn questionend confused. Jackie had to admit that the first ten times Topanga told her about her, the name didn't ring a bell either.

"Our librarian." Jackie replied the first time in this conversation, having finally found something she knew about so she could speak up.

"They're forcing her to retire It's blatant ageism."

"Maybe because she's blatantly old." Shawn commented.

"Maybe you could stop being so blatantly annoying." Jackie told the boy a smirk playing on her face. He rolled his eyes.

Though before Shawn could reply to her, Cory spoke up again, "Look, can we talk about this later? We're real, real busy here."

"Fine. I'll respect your space." Topanga said, she then walked away with Jackie. "Don't you have to talk with Shawn to set a time and place to do the project?" Topanga turned to Jackie.

"Probably not. Minkus doesn't like, nor respect Shawn so he'd do it without him, and he told me that he'd do it for me, for some reason." Jackie shrugged. She had a hinch that Minkus had a crush on her but wasn't too sure since she also thinks that he has a crush on Topanga.

"Lucky you, then." Topanga smiled and Jackie shrugged. She made her way to her seat. Even though the two were bestfriends they didn't sit at the same table. Jackie had a girls clique that she sat with, the girls' dad's were all work friends. Though every now and then, it's just her and Topanga sitting together.