The Secret Life // A Shawn Hunter fanfic

Forty-one ➵ S. H

Three weeks later.
It's been nearly a month since I've seen my father and mother. Every rising moment in the Matthew's place I couldn't stand it.
Yes I had a place here to stay, but everything has changed. No staying up past curfew, and when trimming my toenails at the dinner table, I received all these glaring, disgusted looks.
Not to mention Jasmine and I couldn't go out as much. It was like a restriction here on this place.
School was ending in only one day. I was debating wether or not if I should be thankful. I didn't know how many more weeks I would be spending with the Matthew's place. Maybe even months.
My dad hasn't called me or written anything; no reports of him.
I doubted to myself he was coming back.
I hoped he would, with my mom, and for it to be happier. Just like how it was before. Jasmine, my parents, and me.
I needed to get out of here, and fast. I don't know how much longer I can take it here.
:::
I was in the bathroom shaving my sprouting facials, with Jasmine taking a shower in here.
On the other side of the door, I could hear Eric and Cory arguing. I couldn't make it out clearly since it was muffled due to the water running.
However I did hear Cory call my name.
"Come on Shawn, you've been here three weeks and you've been in the bathroom two and a half of them."
I stepped out, whipped cream still piled on my face in a shape of a beard.
"Almost done, just doing my burns." I informed them, with Eric and Cory's mouths gaped open, astounded.
"Woah, you shave?"
"See. Facial hair sprouts early in my family, especially on my mom's side." I stated.
"Shawn!" Jasmine called.
"Yeah?" I asked, heading into the bathroom. She popped her head out of the shower curtain, preparing to say something to me.
"I forgot my outfit, can you go get it for me? It's on the bed in the guest bedroom."
"Yeah, sure." I headed out, closing the door behind me. Cory continued to wait impatiently as well when I went to go get the clothes.
Laying scattered on the bed was her only dress she's been wearing for these past weeks. Sure, she's borrowed clothes from Topanga, but this was her only one. Since my mom took off with the wardrobe as well, these were the only outfits we had to wear.
Cory offered me to wear his, but it was way too small. Plus, his style wasn't my kind of fashion sense to begin with.
I went back to the bathroom and handed her outfit to her, then continued to shave. As Jasmine was changing, I stared into the bathroom the mirror the entire time, although it was hard not catching a peek.
Afterwards she headed out of the bathroom, with me slipping on my regular outfit. I left as well with her.
At the same time, I was cleaning out my ears.
"Hey, Hunter, what the heck do you think you're doing?" Eric demanded me.
"Uh, cleaning out my ears?" I remarked.
"Yeah, with Towelie? My lucky towel? Are you insane?" He snagged the towel away from me, holding it close to him.
"One of us is." I said, with an awkward grin.
"All right, look, Hunter, if you're gonna live here, there's a few rules you're gonna have to follow." Eric ordered, managing to reach his sharpened glare
with mine. Suddenly Cory, who was sheepish about our encounter wrapped both arms around our shoulders, squeezing us together along with Jasmine.
We wouldn't stop glaring at Eric, who's glare was boiled with anger.
"Guys, guys, guys! Happy faces, huh? We can live together. It's only temporary,"Cory assured us, pretending our argument was all but a fable,"and all things considered, I think we're doing pretty darn well, huh?" "Yeah. I think I'll get a little peace and quiet in here, huh? Jeez." Before seconds, Eric took big steps towards the bathroom followed by him accidentally slipping on a bar of soap.
He screamed when he came across it, not knowing it was there. I might of put it there for a reason.
"Think he just found Slippy, his lucky soap." I joked to Cory and Jasmine.
:::
Still getting mad at me for every little thing I was doing, Eric even blamed his lucky air on me. Who even has lucky air?
Jasmine followed me downstairs when I halted to a stop, yelling up back at him.
"Well, pardon me, Eric, for breathing your lucky air!"
"Morning, Shawn. Would you like some breakfast?" Mrs. Matthews offered.
"No, thanks. I'll help myself." I declined, pulling out a carton of milk from the fridge. Taking a big slurp from it, I relieved a disgusted glare from the Matthew's. Jasmine on the other hand made a plate full of blueberry pancakes, sitting at the dinner table to scorch them up.
"Yeah, Dad has this saying: 'A cup? Who are you trying to impress?'" I excused for myself, then taking a permeant marker, she got a hold of the milk carton from me.
"Well, then, we'll just make that your carton," she decides, marking a bolded letter "S" on it then putting it back into the refrigerator along with all of the other cartons I profusely gulped down.
Jasmine and I exchanged an awkward gaze with each other, only being interrupted by Mrs. Matthews again.
"Oh, by the way, I bought you some pants." She said, heading over to the table to get ready to pull out some out.
"You bought him clothes?" Mr. Matthews wondered.
"Well, Alan, he can't just wear the same thing every day." She instigated.
"I do."
Mrs. Matthews flashed her husband a profound glare, then reluctantly turned her attention to the clothes.
"You know those jeans with all the holes in them?"
"You didn't chuck them did you..." I assumed. She's been known to do that to Cory's clothes and let's just say: it wasn't pretty.
"Oh, no, of course not! No, I patched them." She pulled them out, revealing them. It was horrible. Both Jasmine and I gaped our mouths open in astonishment. I turned it around and turned it back again.
Placed on it was a huge purple S stitched to the butt pocket of them. I thought this was the only cringed looking item I would receive, but I was wrong.
"And to go with them-" She retrieved a white shirt with a bright yellow sweatshirt.
"This is for me?" I asked, feeling awkward again. I didn't wanna sound harsh or anything to her.
"Yeah! What do you think?"" She responded with a warm smile on her face. Since she appeared to be exacted as can be to offer me these welcoming gifts, I didn't give her a negative review.
"Wow. It's really...yellow."
Standing up from her table was Jasmine putting her empty plate with scraps of left over syrup on it.
She headed back to the table to gaze over at the outfit.
"Very yellow." She agreed, studying it.
"Oh, don't think I left you out either Jasmine," she pointed out, reaching into the bag,"I got you new shoes."
"You didn't have to do that Mrs. Matthews-"
"Nonsense! I mean, look at how cute these are. You can't just keep walking around in the same shoes Jasmine. They are sandals. They could break."
The shoes she pulled them out revealed to be wedges, which would actually go with her outfit.
"These are cute," she admitted,"but I don't really wear wedges."
She took off her shoes and slipped them on, fitting into them. As she  practiced walking around in them, Cory trailed down the stairs, wearing the same outfit Mrs. Matthews had given me. Definitely not wearing it.
"Cool, we've got the same shirt."
:::
Heading to school was painful.
Having to go out in public wearing this outfit only to please Cory, with laughs embarrassing me as well as Jasmine nearly falling as she was walking in her wedges. I had to eventually pick her up and throw her over my shoulder to carry her to school so she wouldn't break an ankle or something.
First thing when we showed up to school, I was getting teased about this lame outfit.
"Hey Hunter, having a nice day out in Shawnie land?" One of the preppies teased.
That's it.
I rushed to the restroom to go change, which fortunately for me, I stuffed my previous outfit in my backpack.
After I dressed into it, I remembered Cory was going to flip when he saw it.
So?
I decided to cut the shirt into a vest later and left the pants out of it.
After coming out of the restroom, everyone stopped teasing me.
Thank god.
I headed over to Jasmine since Cory was no longer around. She was sitting
at the bench, so I went to go take a seat next to her.
"Hey," I greeted her with a passionate kiss located on the lips,"how are you feeling?"
"My feet feel terrible! I already have blisters. I don't care if my other ones are breaking, I'll walk barefoot for all I care."
"Jasmine, you still need shoes." I pointed out to her, lingering my fingers with hers only to hold onto her hand.
"I know. Maybe I can borrow some from Topanga?" She suggested.
Realizing I only had a milk to drink and nothing to eat for breakfast, I was thirsty. I galloped up to the water fountain, slurping tremendously from the angled faucet.
"Shawn, is that the new shirt my mom gave you?" Cory asked, and I turned around, facing him. He wasn't too pleased as I suspected him to.
"Yeah. Looks all right now, huh?"
"Do you know what she's gonna do when she sees that?" He continued to rambled on. Honestly, I didn't care.
I could care less about anything right now.
Not only did I have to worry about my place at the Matthew's, but the fact my dad promised he would keep contact with me. It's been three weeks. He promised me he would be back. We wouldn't have to live through this, Jasmine and me. To feel completely unsettled in a new home with different traditions and a whole set of rules that aren't even applicable to follow at my trailer.
"My guess is - clean it, sew it back together, and put an 'S' on it." I remarked.
"Look, she's just trying to be nice to you."
"And I'm just trying to get through this thing without making any waves."
I headed to my next class, not wanting to hear anymore about it. They couldn't stand me living at their house, nor Jasmine.
We had to leave. I wasn't so sure how long I could handle it, but we had to leave.
When?
I don't know.
How?
I don't know.
Where?
I don't know.
I did know, that I would figure it out. For Jasmine. For me.
Just for us.
:::
Later that night.
When we came home from school later that night, I woke up with a lot of things on my mind. About everything with what's been going on.
I heard a door creak, and I already knew who it was from the moment it was opening.
It was Jasmine.
When she trudged in, walking in baby steps to head over to me.
"Oh, you're awake?" She asked. She appeared to be relieved.
"Yeah, you okay?"
She shrugged.
"I could be better, I guess."
I sighed, both of us being in the same mood.
I got a hold of her by the waist, settling her on top of my lap. Once she was fully secure, we both gazed together out the window.
Not to mention with Chip, he had been tied to outside. He was too much for Mrs. Matthews to handle. He had been barking all night ever since, screaming for us to come outside.
I was on the edge of my barrier of leaving.
"We need to leave." I whispered. Jasmine glanced at me, simple getting what I was saying.
We were placed like that for a while until the barking woke up Cory from his slumber.
"What's with that dog," he groaned sheepishly, then propped himself up the bed since I didn't answer,"Shawn?"
He noticed how Jasmine and I were both awake with deep looks on our faces that could easily be read interpretably.
"It's a very cool dog. I see it down by the corner. No leash, no collar just having a great time barking at the moon." I said, referring to Chip and there was another stray.
"No, wait. I know that dog. It's a stray. It's probably barking because it doesn't have a home." He said, clasping his hands together and heading up to us. He placed a seat next to Jasmine, her in between us now.
"He doesn't need a home." I disagreed.
"That's what he's saying - 'I need a home.'" Cory howled, mimicking the dogs. It caused me to form a sly smile, with Jasmine grinning at Cory slightly.
"No, you didn't hear him right. He's happy out there because he's free.
No one's rubbing his nose in a carpet and saying, 'Don't do that!'" I argued with his acclaimed statement.
"You know, he looks lonely to me. And cold. And looks like he doesn't have a friend in the world." He pointed out. I knew that preference was to Jasmine and me. Staring at the window, I felt it begging and calling my name.
It's time to go now, Shawnie, I heard it call.
"He's got one now." I reached over to open the window, with Jasmine standing up.
She knew the cue.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?" Cory demanded.
"I got to get out." I sighed, resting a hand on my pant leg since I was technically sitting on the cushion surrounding the window.
"You can't go out. It's a school night. We have a 9:00 curfew."
Cory reminded me of this strict parent already. I could already picture him being this unnecessary, overprotective father of his daughter in twenty years.
At this rate maybe even ten.
"I don't do curfews, I don't do bedtimes," I got into his face, standing in front of him, hovering over him since I was taller than him,"and if I want to clip my toenails at the dinner table, I don't appreciate all the dirty looks."
"We were just covering our food." He excused, then I quickly got a hold of my leather jacket then onto Jasmine's hand.
"All right, look, Shawn, my parents make the rules around here, okay-"
"I didn't ask to live her man, and I don't need to ask your permission to leave." I snapped at him, appointing emphasis on ask.
As the dogs began to bark again, Cory spoke again.
"What do you think I'm supposed to tell my parents?" He demanded.
"Tell them I took Jasmine out for a walk." I offered him the excuse. Since Jasmine wasn't good at climbing windows still, like I was, she hopped on top of my back.
We climbed out of the window together, the rustling of the leaves motioning in the breeze as we climbed down the tree carefully, and headed out into the streets of Philly.
:::
Strolling around Philly at night wasn't so bad honestly. The only thing I worried about was any vicious predators seeking to lurk out at Jasmine.
We all know how that would end up if that did happen. Technically although it was the month of May, nearly June, it was still a chilly night outside.
A cool breeze swept over us as if it was intending too. For Jasmine, she was warm and it was all that mattered to me. Wrapped around her was my leather jacket, warming her up again.
"We need to run away, Jas." I whispered, taking her by both hands, embracing them with mine.
"Where would we go?" She asked me. Our foreheads were leaning against each other, both thinking the same question. It took me a while to fully respond with an answer as I was focused on kissing those beautiful, full lips.
"Anywhere, gorgeous." I promised her, in between a breath taking, enchanted  kiss. I wasn't sure what made this simple night romantic, wether if it was the night sky surrounded by mists of clouds fallowing on purpose. The moon dimmed directly on us, providing that midst of comfort.
It was like some sort of guide, not just a light that reflected on us.
I pulled away from Jasmine, locking our gaze.
"Listen. No matter what we face, in these next upcoming events, I know we just need to stay together. And live through it. No matter what. I know the next person I don't wanna lose is you. If I lose you, literally lose you, I would probably die. I can't live without you, Jasmine."
I received a everlasting, passionate kiss on the lips from her, feeling those sparks. Sparks that were severely filled with intimacy to the touch and warm embrace of our relationship.
We toured around the neighborhood, hand in hand. Too bad everything at night was closed, nor did I have money on me. I would buy us something.
We stopped in our tracks at an abandoned back way of a store. I held onto Jasmine tightly, overprotective.
Maybe we should go to Mr. Turner's.
As we were about to, stopping us was a group of guys who held cans of spray paint.
"Well well well, if it isn't Shawn." I peered over in the distance, narrowing my eyes to get a good look at the lingering shadow who called my name.
I realized who it was, who happened to be an old friend I used to hang out with at the trailer park.
"Trevor?" I asked, trying to disfigure him.
"Yep, you remember me! What are you doing out here late at night?" He asked. His voice resembled Eddie's, but personality wise he was more so the nice one obviously.
"Just hanging around with my girl." I pointed out. Although Trevor was an old buddy of mine, I still held onto her arm. I didn't know what could happen. He had a group of gang members.
"Wanna hang out with us? We came to speak our minds. I know the old Shawn Hunter would be up to that, right Shawnie?" He propped himself against mine, wrapping an arm around my neck. By my side still stood Jasmine, who's eyes were lingering with mine.
"Shawn.." she whispered. Jasmine was too innocent to do anything like this.
Considering what it was, an act of crime, it was a part of vandalizing.
But my voice was craving a scream to let out. To revolt, after what's been done.
This was my chance to speak out.
"I have to do this." I whispered to her.
Her eyes were still hopeful that I would change my mind, but I didn't. I still had her beside me as I did this. I picked up one of cans of spray paint, being influenced to do this. But it was still a remaining part of me that intended to do this as well.
I sprayed all over, the paint, yet powdery substance voiced its power, imprinting itself over the walls.
I wrote out small phrases, such as
Art is not a crime, sorry about your wall, and we all bleed the same color.
Standing nearby me was Jasmine, with crossed arms. I could tell she was furious with me.
"Jasmine, please don't be mad," I insisted, dropping the can of spray paint,"please."
"I'm not mad." She lied faintly to me.
Thinking of something, I picked up the can of spray paint again, dedicating one to her.
I wrote out, Soulmates NEVER die, in bold so it could indicate to her how much this one meant to me. After I was done, I looked over at her, who formed a slight smile on her face. Suddenly I threw myself into her arms, wanting to hold her. Continue this warm and tender embrace forever.
I never wanted to let go.
"I love you so much." I said muffled through her shoulder, as I stroked some tendrils of her hair.
I swear feeling the softness of every strand of her strawberry cream scented hair was what I lived for.
"I love you too." She said. The sound of sirens interrupted us, and there was a police car in our alley. I noticed there was no longer Trevor and his gang anymore.
Fucking shit.
Stepping out of the door was a black male police officer with arms on his hips, frustration hovering his expression.
"You are under a warrant juvenile arrest. Come with me." As he took a hold of my arm.
"But I'm only a teenager!" I shouted at him, trying to pull away. Jasmine headed over to grab a hold of my arm, tugging at me.
"Please let go. He didn't do anything wrong. Just please." She begged him.
"Alright, alright. Fine. But take me to your parents house. Now."
:::
Since the Matthew's were going to scream and scold at us,there was only one place to go to.
And that was Mr. Turner's.
We knocked at his door, and at first, it was Jasmine along with me at his doorstep.
"Hunter, Clayton, this really isn't a good time." He stated.
"You're telling me."
The police officer came from behind, with Mr. Turner's expression filled with blank disbelief.
"He's a cop." That was all I could make out. Jasmine stood there awkwardly, showing guilt.
"You Jonathan Turner? You know these kids?" The officer interrogated him.
"Yeah, Shawn Hunter and Jasmine Clayton. I'm their teacher at John Adams High. Officer, you wanna tell me what this is all about?"
"We spotted your friends here loitering outside the high school with some older kids. They had about 20 of these." He got out a can of spray paint, showing the evidence to Mr. Turner.
"Spray paint?"
"Looks like they were planning to do some redecorating." He preferences to us and the other kids.
"No not at all officer." Jasmine denied.
"No, no, no.  We were just gonna sell them to some bad kids." I excused us with a lie, but it backfired. Right, still would get us in trouble.
"And overcharge them. Serves them right."
"This one takes off down an alley. We caught up with them outside of your place. Says they are staying with you."
Jasmine and I both stared at Mr. Turner's face with dignity and hope.
We waited for his answer, only until..
"Yeah, yeah. They are staying with me. Their folks are out of town." Mr. Turner confirmed. Thanks, John.
"Got called out of town to save a baby girl in East Virginia who fell down a blowhole, just like I told you." I added in.
"Look, officer, I'm sorry. I thought him and Jasmine were in their rooms." He admitted.
"If you wanna do your friend a favor, keep him in the house," he tipped his hat off at Miss Tompkins, who wasn't very pleased at the moment,"sorry to bother you Mrs. Turner."
After he left the door, Miss Tompkins, or supposedly Mrs. Turner, got up from her seat.
"Mrs. Turner? Hey, congratulations-" I headed over to try and shake her hand but she declined.
"No, Shawn, it's still Miss Tompkins." She corrected me, then headed up to Mr. Turner. They gazed at each other for a while, a long silence filling the room.
"Good night, Kat." He said, breaking it.
"Good luck, Jonathan." She pecked him on the cheek, the walked out the door, now being the three of us. Thinking it was our memo to leave, we were only paused by Mr. Turner who stopped us with an arm.
"Stay." He commanded.
"How come she got to go?" I demanded him.
"Cause I've got more to say to you." He warned me. Looking over at Jasmine who hadn't said anything, I got a hold of her hand. We gazed at each other, trying our best to smile. However, our moment was interrupted by Mr. Turner.
"A little girl who fell down a blowhole Wow." He recalled my fable.
"Yeah. Thanks for covering for me. Cory's folks would've freaked if I showed up with that cop-"
"Like this? Would they have yelled at you like this?" He demanded, his voice raising louder and louder. I wasn't so sure if he was acting along with it or scolding at us.
"Yeah, that's pretty good." I praised, but he wasn't taking the joke too kindly.
"Would they have told you how stupid you are for being out so late?"
"OK, I get your point."
"No I don't think you do."
My smile faded away, then I got a hold of my Jas by the arm.
"Fine, then I'll just get out of your way.
I thought you were cooler than that."
Before he stopped me in my tracks by getting a hold of me by my shoulder, thrusting me around to fade him.
"No, no, I'm not cool at all. In fact, I get real old-fashioned when I see somebody that I care about being brought home by cops!" He scolded us again.
"Mr. Turner, do you have to yell? I've had a really rotten night."
"Oh, do you see me ballroom-dancing here?"
"Look, is this gonna take all night? 'Cause we've got places to be, man." I said, aiming at us.
"Hunter, you keep heading down this life track you're on, then the places you're going aren't any places you're gonna wanna be, man." He continued to vent. I noticed how stressful this encounter was getting.
"We're sorry if we ruined your date, Mr. Turner. We were just hanging out and had a night out together, that's all." Jasmine added into this.
"Look, I'm sorry I messed up your night." I said, towering some steps closer to him since he was in the kitchen now. Mr. Turner glanced at me for a moment, only to be followed by a sigh.
"Aw, I already messed it up before you got here." He took a seat on the couch, settling his boot on the coffee table. Feeling sympathy for him, I took a seat beside him.
"Yeah, women." I mimicked the same gesture and I regret saying that.
"What do you mean by that Shawn?" Jasmine demanded, crossing her arms and furrowing an eyebrow.
"Just come here, you love me anyway." I said, changing the subject. She stepped closer to me then I wrapped an arm around her waist, settling her on top of my lap.
"How is it you seem to have better luck with women than I do Hunter?" Mr. Turner asked, feeling envious of me.
"Well look. For one, I have the best girlfriend right here, who I love unconditionally and endlessly." I replied to him, then gazing at Jasmine, who stroked my face. She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me close.
Mr. Turner grinned, scoffing in astonishment.
"Now, see, why can't you be this sharp in my class?" He questioned.
"Math's not my best subject." I confessed to him, then glancing at Jasmine again.
"I'm your English teacher." He corrected.
"Then why are you teaching math?"
"Are you kidding me?"
:::
The next morning we returned to the Matthew's place. Of course, as I expected them too, they were furious.
"Jonathan, thank you for the phone call. Let us know what's going on in our own house." Mr. Matthews referenced to Cory's act of having the pleasure of not telling him anything. But it backfired in his face too, and he was in trouble as well.
Speaking of him, he went up to me, concerned.
"Hey, where were you last night?" He demanded in a hushed tone.
"I was at Turner's. Would you relax?"
"Cory, Jasmine, and Shawn, upstairs. Now." Mrs. Matthews ordered, pointing directly towards the flight of stairs in the kitchen.
We trailed upstairs, our shoes making a clopping noise as we took big steps. When we made it to Cory's room, the first thing I did was shove some belongings in my green duffel bag.
"Shawn, what are you doing?" Jasmine asked, being the first to say something.
"We are getting out of here," I huffed,"before anything happens."
"Come on is that really necessary?" Cory groaned.
"It's completely necessary. Jasmine and I just need time to ourselves. I mean, look. It's bad as it is, feeling rejected by everyone in this household."
"I'm not rejecting you, am I?" Cory asked.
Before I could answer, I heard my dad's voice from downstairs. Was he here?
I sneaked towards the door, opening it, trying not to creak it.
"Shawn!"
"Shh," I hushed Cory,"I have to listen."
I nonchalantly tiptoed downstairs, not trying to disrupt anyone. I eavesdropped on what they were saying, which it was at the very start.
I was just in time.
"Hi. It's Amy."
"Oh. Hey, you sound out of breath there, dear. Did I interrupt something?" I heard my dad ask.
"Listen, Chet, where are you? It's been three weeks."
"Well, if the license tags are any indication, I'm either leaving Ohio or coming into Georgia."
Seriously Dad?
I felt my heart shatter into pieces. He rather travel somewhere else than be with me and Jasmine?
"Well, that doesn't sound anywhere near Philadelphia."
"No, it's a Ew, road kill, porcupine.
How'd he not see that coming?"
"Chet, have you found your wife yet?"
"Nope, but I found the motor home, though.Seems like my Virna traded in on a '92 Miata. Nice car, but I don't think three people can live in it."
"Listen, Chet, don't you think it's time you came back here? Took some responsibility for your son?"
"Well, I wish I could, but unfortunately, I don't think I'm gonna be too much good to anybody till I find my Virna and win her back."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was on the edge of my seat preparing to head out that window again and never come back.
"Chet, Shawn is having a very hard time. And besides, we've got three kids of our own-"
"Alan. We'll manage." Mrs. Matthews interrupted her husband, who wouldn't stop ranting. Although it seemed like he was fine with me here, you could tell he wanted me and Jasmine out of the house.
"I don't think it's fair to Shawn or to us to live with this kind of open-ended commitment."
"Look, Al, the boy needs somebody, okay? Now, don't hang me up here."
"If you're not coming back then you should be the one to tell your kids."
"Oh I just did."
Dad knew I was eavesdropping. I have been doing it for a long time.
When someone talked about me, I had to listen. To hear what they were saying.
"Huh?"
"Well if I know my boy,even money, when adults are talking about them, he's probably somewhere behind them listening."
The Matthew's turned around to look at me, finding out my dad was right.
"Hi there big guy."
"None of you want me. Well, that's fine! I don't need any of you! I never needed anybody!" I cried out at them, rapidly scurrying up the stairs.
I headed to the bedroom and locked the door, then had a hold of Jasmine's hand.
"Shawn, Jasmine, don't do this-"
It was too late.
Jasmine was already hopping herself on top of my back.
"We have to go, Cory." I heard Jasmine speak for us both.
We escaped the bedroom window and climbed down the tree, just like last night with the previous times we've done this.
However, there was one minor problem.
Standing in front of us as if this was some sort of an expected event stood Mr. Turner, one foot on the porch, and one arm on his hip. He was smirking at us, getting ready to say something.
"Fell down a blowhole did ya?" He remarked.
Jasmine pulled herself off my neck, with me getting the bag with our belongings in it.
"I'm not in class, I don't have to listen to you." I got a hold of Jasmine's hand, trying to get out of here.
"Where are you gonna run now?" Mr. Turner interrupted us again.
"What do you care?" I demanded him, flashing him a glare.
"I was beginning to think I didn't care about anything."
"Yeah, fine, whatever. I gotta go."
"Yeah, I know. I've been there. Someone reaches out to you and says they care about you, it's easy to run."
The fact he kept pausing us from running away from here was getting on my nerves.
"I'm sure you got a lot of big emotional problems to work through here, but I just need to find a place for her to sleep okay?"
It didn't matter to me where we'd sleep or crash at. What mattered was if Jasmine would be able to sleep okay.
"I'll do you one better. How about I give you a home?"
Did Mr. Turner just offer us his place?
"What, your place?"
"Yeah, my place."
"For how long? Three weeks and then you get sick of me?"
"I'm sick of you now, Hunter, but I'm still making the offer."
"Why?" I asked with a straight expression on my face.
"Cause I'm thinking I should do something for somebody else. I think I need that."
"You're not gonna tell me what to do."
"Somebody's gotta."
"You're not my dad!"
We were bickering over our differences for about five seconds.
"I'm not trying to be! Look, I'm just offering you a roof and a window to crawl out of," he stated, then his eyes made it to the tree, then to Cory's window,"although, it is five stories up."
Biting my lip, I thought long, hard, and good about this offer. Thing is, I wasn't so sure if Mr. Turner would keep up with it. That's what Cory's parents offered. They offered the same thing for me.
"Well, what do ya say?"
Jasmine nudged me as I waited for my answer.
"My answer is..."
Shawn, Shawn. Think about your relationship with Jasmine here. It's time for you to be the caretaker in this step of the line now. You gotta tend to it. You've been planning on this for a long time.
This will be a great lesson for you. All you need is Jasmine, I heard my mind call at me.
All you need is Jasmine.
"No. My answer is no," I concluded, denying the offer,"come on Jasmine."
Before we left, I caught a peek of Mr. Turner one last time. His expression was sadistic. It made me encounter with poured feelings of regret- but the only person I needed right now with me was Jasmine. The girl who wouldn't push me away. The light of my life.
I wasn't sure where this was going to take us, but I knew we would figure it out.
This was who we are.
❤︎
:::
Author's note:
Cliff hanger sorta?
I know in the original episode Shawn accepts Mr. Turner's offer, but I said no cause of the upcoming storyline.
I hope you enjoyed this :)