Mᴏʀᴇ Tʜᴀɴ Jᴜsᴛ Fʀɪᴇɴᴅs

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟♧︎︎︎𝑇𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒

It took everything in her to avoid Shawn, seeing his hurt face after every class, Janette's heart broke a bit more. But she couldn't find it in her to contact him or reciprocate his feelings. There was that, she wasn't even sure if Shawn even had feelings for her in real. Maybe he just wanted to give her a flower as friends.

But Janette was no fool, infact she was quite smart and could read the blush on his cheeks, the shakiness of his hands and everything started to click, falling into place and she thought back to all the times when Shawn had behaved differently around her. How had she missed the signs till now?

Even if the situation wasn't good between them, Janette never failed to look after Shawn in the hallways, making sure no one bullied him, or dared to hurt him. Like a shadow, guarding him, being his secret protector. When it was herself that hurt Shawn the most.

---------

Like the past week, Shawn returned home in a gloomy mood and after he changed out of his clothes, he made himself a warm cup of ginger tea and went outside to sit by the back porch stairs, to hope and enjoy the quietude and the scenary that surrounded their home.

"Hey." He didn't realize anyone was home, he didn't really feel like talking to anyone now.

"Please, Ollie. I wanna be alone."

Oliver still plopped down next to him on the stair top, elbows resting on his knees as he stared up ahead. "I'm really sorry that didn't work out." He said softly, not out of pity. The sincerity was evident in the way he spoke and Shawn sighed, sipping from his cup of tea.

"But I have an idea," He started only for Shawn to sigh exasperatedly and glare at him.

"Oliver, stop. I don't need any more of your stupid ideas." He sneered.

"Bro, please. Just listen once." The younger pleaded, grabbing his arm to force his words. "I think Janette's just in dilemma. I mean it's no news she's different around you and protects you like a hawk! So, I'm definitely sure she's just confused and maybe scared to ruin your friendship, and her first instinct is to run away. But that doesn't have to mean anything!"

Shawn's brows knitted close as he thought deeply, somehow getting the aspect and bit his lip.

"What do you mean?"

Oliver's eyes sparkled dangerously and Shawn couldn't deny, he was a bit scared of his enthusiasm.

Oliver scooted close and turned all serious as he began to form his plan,

"So, what I think is she really likes you but never thought about it much and when you proposed, she just reacted. Not expecting such thing from you. But I'm sure now that you've stayed away for long, she misses you. To ensure her feelings all you gotta do is befriend another girl and show her that you've moved on and she's free to be your friend again."

Shawn immediately shook his head, putting away his cup of tea to shake his hands as well, emphasizing his reluctance to do such absurd thing! It's for a reason that he had no other friend except Janette in his school. He sucked at being social or making friends.

"Come on, Damy." Oliver rolled his eyes at his brother. "Do you wanna know her real feelings or not?" He arched a brow.

Shawn gulped, finding himself at such a condradictory border that his head hurt.
Then he weakly nodded.

"Good! Now tell me do you know anyone who can be your friend without hurting you? Someone who maybe interested in you."

The older might laugh at that, he wondered if anyone was even born to be interested in him, yet he thought hard. Then his eyes lit up as he remembered something.

"Bree! Janette's friend." He chirped.

"Perfect." Oliver clapped his hands excitedly, "So you're gonna become close to this Bree girl and that's surely gonna get a reaction out of Janette if she really likes you."

"But that'd be betraying Bree." Shawn said meekly, hanging his head low. "She's a nice girl, I don't wanna hurt her."

Oliver sometimes wondered how naive his brother actually was.

"It's beneficial in both ways. If you end up liking her and we both turn wrong about Janette, you can just be happy with Bree, but if it does work out, you can find your true love and that won't be betraying Bree because you were true with her all the time."

Thinking deeply about it, Oliver did have a point and it sounded too tempting to not try. Shawn wanted Janette enough to not give up without a try, he must try his luck too, right? One more time. This time, he would come out winning either way.

But he really hopes, this time Oliver's plan would work out and Janette would unfurl just like he had said she should.

---------

Vote & comment.