𝑬𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑴í𝒂 | ᴮᵒʸ ᴹᵉᵉᵗˢ ᵂᵒʳˡᵈ

43: Fight For Your Right

Shawn, Cory, and I were hanging out by the lockers when Topanga walked over, holding a notepad.

"Okay, guys. Yearbook time," She read from the notepad. "As you look back on your first year at John Adams, what would you consider your greatest accomplishment and why?" She asked.

"For me, probably getting my own radio show for a very short amount of time." I answered. She wrote it down in her notebook.

"And why?" She asked. "Because it was fun to get out of my comfort zone." "Alright, how about you two?" She asked Shawn and Cory.

"Let's see. I mean there's so many." Cory said.

"It's hard to pick just one." Shawn said. "There was the time we–" "No. No, that wasn't us." "Well, what about the time we–" "Also, not us." Shawn said.

"You guys are the two most pathetic students in this school." Topanga said before walking away. "That's technically an accomplishment." I told them.

"She's right. I mean, the year's almost over, and I haven't made a name for myself." Cory said. "And you know who's fault it is?" "Your own?" Shawn asked.

"No, why should I take the fall? I blame..." He turned around. "The jocks!" He exclaimed. "Why?" I asked. "Because they were those stupid jackets and therefore get all the girls." He answered as the jocks came walking over.

"What chance do I have?" Cory asked. One of the jocks picked up Shawn. "Whoa." He said. "Major growth spurt." The jock put Shawn down.

"Too heavy." He said. "Please don't, please don't." Cory pleaded. "I had a fat, heavy breakfast." One jock covered Cory's mouth while the one who lifted Shawn lifted him.

"We've got an opening in the hundred and eight pounds superconfetti heavy weight division on the wrestling team. Savage?" The one covering Cory's mouth said.

He shook Cory around a bit. "Perfect." He answered before dropping Cory. "Congratulations, kid. You're on the wrestling team."

Cory brushed it off. "Yeah, like there's a chance in the universe I'd ever wanna be on your stupid wrestling team." He said.

"Here's your jacket." The blonde boy said. "Ooh," He took it and held it in his hands. "Look, guys, my jacket." He said.

"Here's your uniform." "My uniform. This is like Christmas, you know?" "Here's your candy." "Candy?"

I expected them to hand Cory some big lollipop or a bag of gummy bear. What I didn't expect was a blonde haired girl in a backward baseball cap to walk over and put her arm around Cory.

"Hi, I'm Candy." She introduced. Cory was grinning ear to ear. "Sweet." He said.

♥

The next day, Shawn and I were at lunch witnessing Cory and the other wrestlers chug cans of soda before crushing the empty can against their heads.

Cory got up, holding his head, and wandered over to Shawn and I. "Hey, hey, you okay?" Shawn asked.

"Yes, Pat... but I'd like to solve the puzzle." Cory answered. "If your white light is Wheel of Fortune, there's something else wrong with you right now, Cory." I said.

"Cory?" Shawn said. "What?" "Why are you doing this to yourself?" "So, I'll finally have cool stuff to put in the yearbook, and this jacket is a babe magnet." He said.

Candy walked over. "Matthews, look. Two cans." She crushed the can against her head. "Let's get out of here before she reloads." Shawn muttered.

Shawn and I began to walk away. "What is he thinking?" "Well, like the Beastie Boys said, "You gotta fight for your right to party." I said.