Hearts of trouble (under development)

Health Class Awkwardness

The bell rang, signaling the start of health class, and the students slowly filed in, taking their seats. Lily walked in with Cory and Topanga, settling into her usual spot. Andrea, her mom, was already at the front of the classroom, preparing her materials. Ever since Andrea had started working at their school as the health coach, things had been... complicated, to say the least. Lily tried to keep her personal life and school life separate, but having her mom as a teacher blurred that line in frustrating ways.

As Andrea began her lecture on managing stress, Lily couldn't help but feel her face heat up. She glanced over at Shawn, who was seated a few rows behind, watching her with a sympathetic look. He knew better than anyone how awkward it was for Lily, especially given everything going on at home.

"Stress can affect all areas of your life," Andrea explained, her voice calm and measured. "If you don't address it, it builds up. And everyone has their own ways of dealing with it-healthy or not." Her gaze lingered on Lily for a split second, something only a few people noticed.

Topanga leaned over, whispering to Lily. "How's it feel having your mom teach this stuff? I mean, after... everything?"

Lily shrugged, trying to play it off. "It's just weird. But I guess she's trying to, you know, show she's got herself together. It's fine."

Just then, Andrea asked the class to break into groups to discuss stress-coping techniques. Naturally, Lily's group included Shawn, Cory, and Nate, who had joined them with a relaxed grin. They started sharing how they each dealt with stress-Cory with his usual humor, Shawn with his habit of writing, and Nate mentioning sports as his go-to outlet.

When it came to Lily's turn, she hesitated, aware of her mom's presence just a few steps away. "I... try to keep busy, I guess," she said quietly, avoiding her mom's gaze. "Sometimes I take walks, or I... change things up." She gestured to her streaked hair as if to emphasize her point.

Shawn gave her a small smile. "And you're always good at adapting, Lil. That's a strength."

Nate nodded, patting her on the shoulder. "Yeah, don't sell yourself short. You're tough."

Andrea seemed to catch the tail end of the conversation, nodding with a faint smile. "Exactly. Finding what works for you, as Lily said, can make all the difference."

As the class wrapped up, Lily felt a mixture of relief and frustration. While she appreciated her mom's effort, having Andrea as the teacher only highlighted the tension between her two worlds. But as she glanced at her friends surrounding her-especially Shawn and Nate-she realized she wasn't facing this alone. And for now, that would be enough.

After school, Shawn, Cory, Topanga, Nate, and Angela all decided to head over to Lily's house to hang out. Shawn had been eager to spend more time with her, and the whole group was buzzing with energy as they made their way up the walkway.

Lily opened the front door with a welcoming smile, but as soon as she saw the scene behind her in the living room, her expression froze. Abigail and Eric were on the couch, locked in a passionate kiss, completely oblivious to their audience.

Cory's jaw dropped, and he looked at Shawn, wide-eyed. "Uh... are we interrupting something?"

Shawn smirked, unable to hide his amusement. "Looks like someone's getting cozy."

Topanga covered her mouth to keep from laughing, while Angela raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Nate just stood there, grinning.

Lily finally found her voice. "Abigail! Eric!" she exclaimed, both embarrassed and slightly annoyed.

At the sound of her voice, Abigail and Eric pulled apart, their faces flushed as they realized they had an audience. Abigail quickly straightened up, adjusting her hair as she tried to play it cool. "Oh, uh... hey, guys," she said, glancing at Eric, who looked equally flustered.

Eric cleared his throat, giving a sheepish wave. "Hey... didn't know you were all coming over."

Lily rolled her eyes, trying to cover her own laughter. "Clearly."

Shawn chuckled, nudging Lily. "Well, now we know why you didn't answer the door right away."

Abigail shot him a look, but it was playful. "Alright, alright, you guys can stop staring now. We were just... uh, talking."

Angela smirked, crossing her arms. "Talking, sure. Looked like a pretty intense conversation."

Abigail and Eric both laughed, finally relaxing as the initial awkwardness faded. They scooted over on the couch to make room for the group, who settled in around them, the air still charged with amusement.

As everyone got comfortable, Lily looked around at her friends, feeling a warmth in her heart despite the unexpected sight. Her family and friends were all here, gathered in one place. And, in that moment, the chaos felt a little more like home.