Mᴏʀᴇ Tʜᴀɴ Jᴜsᴛ Fʀɪᴇɴᴅs

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟♧︎︎︎𝑆𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑛

"I can't believe I almost dated your boy." Bree huffed the next day when they all gathered for lunch at the backyard of their college. "Like that's how far this poor boy had to go for your dumb head to start working?"

Janette glared at her, "Fuck off."

"Come on, we all could see it from the beginning. Only you were the oblivious one." Su Yeon piped in, rolling her eyes.

Next to Janette, Shawn was turning tomato from all the attention thrown his way and the mention of their pining stage. He attempted to leave with the excuse of getting water, but his girlfriend had only held onto his waist tighter and offered him her own water bottle.

"I know I haven't been the sharpest tool in the box, but I'm just glad we're here now." She finally said, releasing a breath and smiling down at the boy pressed close to her.

"Yeah, thank God. Otherwise we were closer to plucking our eyes out while seeing you two being so freaking sap."

Without responding to that, Janette threw a french fry at their friend which quickly initiated a food fight between the childish two. While Su Yeon and Shawn only rolled their eyes and smiled fondly.

They had decided to go on a date after college tonight. So, Janette had asked Shawn to be prepared and she'd get him around 7. Shawn was way too excited and couldn't stop smiling during the last class of the day.

Only did his smile falter when a familiar face came in his view. His stomach dropped.

"Jean." He muttered, packing his stuff into his bag to get a dash out of the class as soon as possible.

"Hey, mama's boy."

"Uhm, class's over. I should go." He tried to sneak past only to have Jean's boyfriend push him back by the chest. He stumbled backwards. "What the hell, man?!"

"Hey!" Jean raised her voice, "Watch your tone, pretty boy."

Despite the rumbling of his heart, Shawn tried desperately to keep his cool.

"What do you want?" He asked.

An obnoxious smirk took over the girl's face as she stuffed her hands in her pockets, eyes glowering with mischief.

"Nothing, we were just curious what made the mama's boy so smiley. Care to share?" She clicked her tongue and her boyfriend snickered from behind. Fucking dog, Shawn thought.

"I believe that's none of your business." He responded politely, not sure where did this sudden burst of confidence came from.

From the darkening of her eyes, Jean did not appreciate his confidence.

"When I say it's my business, it is my business. You hear me?"

Shawn had to resist rolling his eyes but he held his ground, not averting eye contact and that seemed to get under her nerve some more.

"I see whatever happened has got your bravado up, ain't it?" She suddenly stepped into his personal space and gripped a fistful of his hair in her grip.

"Fuck! Jean! Let go!" Shawn winced, grabbing at her wrist to pry it off. While doing do, he scratched her skin and marks formed there.

"The fuck!" Jean screamed, releasing his hair and staring wide eyed at the mark on her arm. "You dirty mouse dare hurt me! Fucking good for nothing spoiled brat." Without giving the boy a second to brace himself, her fist came in contact with his lips and he felt a sharp metal object touch his mouth and it hurt so fucking bad. She had several rings on her fingers.

Stumbling back and holding his mouth, Shawn discovered in horror that his lips had busted open and he was bleeding.

"You fucking-"

Jean's boyfriend began with steps closer to him, but then the whistle saved him. The janitor was here to close the doors for the day.

Shawn didn't wait another moment, grabbed his backpack and sprinted out of his classroom, heart beating loudly and lips hurt so bad. He thought Janette must have already left because he was late but to his relief, she was still at the parking lot, leaning against her car.

She straightened, immediately on alert, seeing Shawn's disheleved condition running to her. Only when he was close enough did she notice the busted lip and her eyes darkened like an oncoming storm.

"Who the fuck did this to you?!"

Let's just say Jean and her boyfriend didn't exactly know who they were messing with and lost the chance to complete their degree in one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

Well, not before receiving matching busted lips and eyes though.

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Since Shawn's mouth hurt even while talking, they postponed their date. For which the boy was utterly upset about.

"I's fine." He could barely form words without touching his swollen lips. "Wa-"

"Shh," Janette hushed him, pulling him close as they cuddled on her bed, her arms circled around his waist protectively. "We have our whole lives to go on dates. Just relax and get well soon. I don't want you to put any pressure on those pretty lips." She pecked his swollen ones and Shawn blushed, ducking his head in the crook of her neck.

As they settled in the silence, something anxious and guilt-like choked the red head from the inside. She took deep breaths in to steady herself but the tense lines of her body didn't go unnoticed by the brunette glued almost on her lap.

Shawn lifted his head up and peered at her, tilting his head to ask her what was wrong. Shaking her head, Janette smiled sadly and stroked his hair, eyes flickering to his lips and her heart ached all over again.

When the boy squeezed her arm in a stubborn manner, she finally gave in to her inner turmoil.

"I just wish I stayed outside your class like always. Then I could have protected you and kept you from getting hurt like this. I feel so fucking guilty that I wasn't there when you needed me the most." Her eyes downcasted and voice sounded so broken, Shawn's heart clenched.

Since he couldn't assure her with words, the boy slowly crawled over her lap, straddling her thighs and held her face between his palms.

He firmly shook his head, conveying all the appreciation and love he has in his heart through his dazzling gaze and Janette succumbed into them. Her hands squeezing on his hips and their lips met, just a small touch yet providing both with all the assurances and unspoken words of comfort they needed at that moment.

And that was more than enough.

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