Home [Shawn Hunter]

not so fun bummer summer

"I'll meet you at Cory's tonight." Shawn whispers into my ear, "What time is it?" I groan, barely opening my eyes. "It's five but I don't want your folks to find me in your bed. I'll see you later." He reminds me, kissing my temple. "Wait, do you want something to eat first?" I ask, tiredly sitting up and rubbing my eyes. "No, I'm okay." He reassures me, "Go back to sleep, babe." He says, kissing my forehead. "I love you, Shawny." I say tiredly as I lay back down. "I love you too, see you later." He says before climbing out of my window.

++

I get dressed in a black long sleeve skin tight shirt, accompanied by medium wash mom jeans and my black converse after giving myself a nice blowout hairstyle. I admire myself in my mirror by my door, the sunlight bounces off my shiny, voluminous dirty blonde hair just when my door flings open, hitting my arm. "Why are you standing here?" My dad asks, "My mirror, daddy." I answer, pointing to the mirror. "Where are you going?" "Eric Matthews is graduating and Mrs. Matthews invited me." I answer honestly. "So if I call the Matthews that's what they will tell me?" I nod, "You know what?" My dad says, grabbing my upper arm and taking me downstairs. "We'll go ask them together." He says, slipping on his shoes then walking outside over to the Matthews.

He knocks on the door and Cory answers, "Hey Cass, Hi Mr. Young, what can I do for you?" "Where are your parents?" "In the kitchen, come on it." Cory says, stepping aside. "Don't tell him Shawn is coming." I mouth to him as I follow my dad into the kitchen. "Good Morning Alan, Amy." My dad greets, "Oh hello, James. What can we do for you?" Amy asks, sipping her coffee. "I just wanted to talk about your boy's party, he's graduating?" My dad asks, "Yup, our Eric. We're just having a small get together at Chubbies this evening. You're more than welcome to come with Cassie." She invites him and my eyes widen, "Ah, I can't. I am jam packed with meetings today and we have a few deliveries I need to be there for but thank you. Have a good day." My dad says, leaving through their backdoor. "I better go." I say, pointing towards the door. "See you later, Cassie." Amy says to me as I hurry out the backdoor, jogging to catch up to my dad.

"We'll talk when you get home. I'll be waiting." My dad says as we walk into the house, shoving me away from him. Oh no.

++

"If I may, I have more to say!" Feeny says while clanking a glass with a spoon which makes Cory finally let Shawn and Topanga go from his death grip he has around both of their shoulders. "Thanks for my boyfriend back." I tease. "Eric, earlier this year it was doubtful that you would graduate but you responded to the pressure, applied yourself, and not only grew as a student but as a person." Feeny compliments Eric, "And I for one, couldn't be happier." He finishes, "Thank you, Mr. Feeny." Eric says softly, "Also, I brought a little gift!" Feeny gets excited; I've never seen this side of him, it's so weird. "I took the liberty to pull this and got it framed; your high school diploma!" He exclaims and shows everyone Eric Matthews' diploma like a kid showing their mom an A they got on a spelling quiz. Everyone claps except for Cory; he looks so sad.

"Thank you, Mr. Feeny." Eric says, gently taking the frame from him, "I know how much you hate to be touched but let me just get this one." Eric says before hugging Feeny. Feeny quickly pats his back and pushes him away gently. "Hey buddy, you gonna say something?" Alan comes up to Cory and whispers. "No, that's okay." Cory mopes, "Come on, Cory he's your brother." Topanga encourages, "I don't have anything planned." He continues to be glum.

"You know, I don't think I could've done this without everyone in this room believing in me. Which is why this diploma, which signifies my intelligence, belongs as much to you as it does to I." Eric announces, "Me." Feeny corrects, "I included you." Eric quickly responds with a smile, "Oh, dear." Mr. Feeny mutters, making me giggle. "Hold on, I do have a toast to make." Cory says, grabbing a glass from behind him and standing up, "Attention everybody!" he stands next to Eric, Eric grows a smile on his face and looks at Cory, genuinely looks Cory right in the eyes. I've never seen him so intimate with someone who wasn't a girl. "To my brother Eric, who's moving out and not just for four years, probably forever; and I don't even know him–and now I probably never will. 15 years in the same room Eric. 15 years." Cory chokes up then holds his hand out for a handshake, "Goodbye." Cory says before walking out of Chubbies.

Once again, Cory has to ruin everything on a day that wasn't his. Just when I start to like him, he ruins it. He always ruins it.

++

"Do you guys have to go?" I complain as I hug Topanga, "Itty, I'll be back." "Not for me for him." I mutter and point to a sad Cory who talks to Shawn. "Take care of him for me?" She asks, chuckling. "I'll do my best." I laugh then the boys walk over. "Trade ya?" I make a light joke to Cory as I walk over to Shawn and he to Topanga. "Call me when you can, right?" I ask, "And write to you everyday. I got all my stamps." He smiles, showing me sixty stamps. "I'll see you in sixty days." I say, holding his hands, "You're the first person I'm running to." He smiles and rests his forehead against mine before we kiss softly. "I'll miss you." I say once his dad beeps his horn, "I'll be back before you know. I love you, I love you, I love you." Shawn repeats, "I love you. Go have fun." I say and he jogs over to his dad's truck and their trailer.

I huff and stand next to Cory as we both watch our people leave for the summer, "You okay, Cor?" I ask, "Of course." He grabs the basketball and begins to dribble, "Cory Matthews, dribbles at the top of the key. He looks for an open man it's; Cory Matthews!" He talks to himself as he passes the ball to himself, "He passes to Matthews. Matthews sees Matthews set up for the three, he feeds Matthews, Matthews shoots." "He misses!" I tease as the ball goes way over the hoop. "Terribly." Eric's voice emerges from behind, "You haven't left yet?" Cory asks, "I was but then I realized I'm going to college and didn't even get a proper goodbye from my brother." Eric says, "So that's why you came back? To say goodbye." "Yeah." "Listen, Eric I'm glad you're here too because I never got to tell you I'm sorry for the way I've been acting." "Ah, no biggie, we're brothers, brothers fight." "Yeah but I don't like it when we fight you know," Cory says while reaching into his pocket, "I also hate when I do things like this." he hands Eric an envelope. "My letter from NorthSouthWestern?" "I took it from the mailbox yesterday." Cory confesses. Eric skims over his letter and his face slowly drops, "You okay, Eric?" I ask over Cory's banter about getting to know his brother. "I didn't get in." He says and I can hear his heart in his throat. "What?" Cory asks, "They rejected me." Eric looks defeated. "Eric, so many people take years off and get their GPA up and then reapply for other schools." I try to help him feel better, "No point, Cass." He sighs, "Eric, take some courses over the summer and reapply. I'll help you study if that's what you need." I offer my help, "You'll get into an even better school." Cory adds, "You think so?" "Hey, you're my brother and well Cass is smart so with her help you'd get into a great school." Eric's face slightly drops, "Even without my help, you'd get into a great school. You've stepped up so much and I know you have the potential to study hard all on your own." I reassure him and he smiles again, "Still gonna help me right?" "Of course." I chuckle softly. "Well, go think about that on your trip." Cory pats Eric's back, "What trip?" "You going across the country." "Nah, that trip was to celebrate, nothing to celebrate." Eric shrugs it off. "Oh come on, that's a trip you never forget just go, you already had it planned." Cory encourages him. "You know what, you're right. I'm gonna leave first thing in the morning." "Why wait?" Cory asks, "I have to wait for you to pack." Eric says with a cheeky smile walking away.

"Solo summer." I say, "You gonna be okay?" "Totally, go enjoy your brother." I smile and pat his back before walking back home. Sixty days.

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