Their Story (Only Up To Chapter 15)

Before The Date

"Well I think this should go nicely," Johnny smiles.

"Hope so," Ally replies as the duo walk down the street, the trees shedding their leaves further still, becoming less of a firework show and more bare, covering the street in a bright orange blanket that shields it from the late Auttum chill, "I ship it like Fed Ex man. They'd be such a cute couple."

"Yeah," Johnny smiles, "how are you getting along with Abigail?"

"Actually I was thinking you me and her could hang out Sunday at the mall," Ally suggests, "I have spare tickets for a movie but Lucy can't make it."

"Sure that sounds fun," Johnny smiles, "well, my house is this way. Talk to you later."

"See ya later Johnny," Ally smiles as the two part ways going down different streets now, splitting them apart as Lucy helps Abigail pick an outfit.

"Sweater or jacket?" Abigail inquires.

"Whatever feels more you," Lucy replies.

"Yeah sweater," Abigail puts the red sweater on over her white shirt.

"You really need to stop stressing so much," Lucy sighs, "be yourself and it'll be fine."

"I know that," Abigail sighs, "but I just feel that there's something Shawn's hiding from me and it's starting to worry me. Let's be honest, he's not normal."

"Yeah he's quirky and all but-" Lucy is interrupted as Ally enters Abigail's room.

"What did I miss?" Ally asks.

"Just picking an outfit," Lucy explains sitting on the bed, impatiently bouncing up and down, "come on Abigail you got this."

"Yeah you're right," Abigail smiles, "I think it'll be OK."

"Oh wait before you go," Ally stops Abigail as she approaches the door, "remember, if Shawn seems jumpy he doesn't mean it. Chances are he's already there chugging coffee and soda. Probably soda."

"I know," Abigail smiles, "thanks guys."

"Anytime," Ally smiles, "see you Sunday Abigail."

The three leave and part ways as Abigail goes one way, and Ally and Lucy the others. Lucy seems distant, looking away from Ally as if deep in thought.

"You OK Lu?" Ally asks, a bit worried by Lucy's silence.

"Yeah I'm just thinking about the big meet this year," Lucy sighs.

"You still hung up on that?" Ally inquires, "Lu you can't keep beating yourself up over that. It's OK. You still did great last year."

"But I didn't win," Lucy shakes her head, "I could've won if I had just tried harder."

"Just don't push yourself to much OK?" Ally requests, "don't exercise if your legs are already sore."

"Don't worry," Lucy lies, hiding the fact her muscles in her legs are burning as if fire fills her veins, "I'm not. I'm gonna go jogging OK?"

"Alright," Ally kisses Lucy's cheeks, "I love you."

"I love you too," Lucy smiles jogging off as Ally heads home...

"Another one," Shawn demands.

"Aren't you gonna have to pee a lot?" Johnny inquires

"So?" Shawn asks finishing his coffee, surrounded by cans of cola and empty coffee mugs.

"Shawn I can't condone this consumption of caffeine," the female barista with a concerned expression, green eyes, brown hair tied into a bun, freckles, dark skin, wearing a black apron with green pants and shirt underneath, "you'll have a heart attack or something."

"Hoppy Hoppy," Shawn chuckles, "you know me. I've been a regular here for two years. Have I had a heart attack before?"

"No," Hoppy sighs, shaking her head which looks down at Shawn, her being older and taller than him at around five foot ten and twenty-seven, "but it's not healthy."

"So?" Shawn shurgs, "better than any alternative isn't it? Anyways enough about my caffine consumption. Get me a coffee and tell me how your novel is going."

"Oh it's going great," Hoppy smiles, "about halfway done with it actually. It's going great."

"Glad to hear it," Shawn smiles, "any ideas ya need to bounce off someone?" Shawn has his sudden eagerness as he asks this.

"Don't you have a date to worry about?" Hoppy inquires, "that actually begs the question of what the Hell you're doing here."

"I'm here as a customer," Johnny replies revealing a black hoodie around his waist he uses to hide his face, "and I'm not here."

"Plan B?" Holly inquires.

"Plan B," Shawn and Johnny nod.

"Dude you don't need a plan B," Hoppy sighs, "just be yourself and be confident and everything will be OK."

"I'd rather be anyone but myself," Shawn sighs.

"Why do you always say stuff like  that?" Hoppy inquires.

"I don't wanna talk about it?" Shawn sighs, "I just... there's something about myself I want to change, so badly, but nothing ever can. No surgery or medical help or anything can ever fix what's wrong with me and I hate what's wrong with me so much."

"So?" Hoppy asks, "I have a bad knees and I don't stress about it."

"It's worse than a bad knee," Shawn sighs, "far far worse."

"Well Shawn," Johnny sighs, pulling his hoodie up as Hoppy gives Shawn another coffee, "just know I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks," Shawn smiles.

Abigail walks in a couple of minutes later, the brown tile floor, the smell of the coffee, the grass front of the store with its logo, is all overshadowed by her smile as she sits by Shawn. Shawn's heart pounds. He wants to hold her hand and hug her. The smile makes him smile, blushing slightly.

Abigail spots Shawn and sees him smile, making her smile wider as she gets a coffee. Shawn's hand shakes on its own. She can tell Shawn is off the walls with caffine, but that's OK. She'd rather see Shawn jumpy and happy than lethargic and depressed. She hates it when he acts like that. It hurts her to see him in such a state. She loves seeing him enthusiastic like an inoccent child and happy like he is now. That's all she wants to see. She wants him to be happy. She smiles wide at him, and sits next to him...