Their Story (Only Up To Chapter 15)

Wake Up

Shawn awakens on a couch in an unfamiliar apartment with a huge caffine headache. He feels exhausted, like his entire body has shut down and is trying to turn itself back on to no avail. He looks up at the white ceiling, his head elevated by a soft brown pillow on the also brown couch and a soft blue blanket sprawled out over him. The room contains a coffee table to the next of the couch, with a flat screen T.V. hanging off the wall. There are two other rooms, a kitchen with a sink full of dishes, cupboards full of snack cakes, and a bedroom with a closet and a white bed. It all reeks of coffee to such an extreme even Shawn finds it to be a bit unpleasant.

He tries to sit upright, but his exhaustion is to great and he falls right back where he started. Forcing him to think about how he threw away his shot. He had one shot, and he blew it by falling asleep. In his eyes he was incredibly rude to Abigail and owes her an apology.

"Is anyone here?" He asks.

"Oh you're awake," a voice replies kindly exiting the kitchen, where Hoppy is making herself some coffee, "how'd you sleep?"

"What year is this?" Shawn asks.

"Same year," Hoppy chuckles, "it's Sunday."

"I slept through the whole day?" Shawn inquires, "how'd this happen?"

"You didn't sleep for like two weeks," Hoppy reminds, "how you feel?"

"Like I need a good cup of Joe," Shawn replies.

"Absolutely fucking not," Hoppy shakes her head, "this coffee's mine."

"Yeah it'd be rude to ask you to make coffee for someone else off the clock," Shawn admits, "what about soda?"

"No caffine until I make sure you get enough sleep," Hoppy replies sternly, "I wanna remind you: you were up for so long."

"Look I have a caffine withdrawal headache," Shawn explains, "can I just have something with caffine in it?"

"After you sleep sure," Hoppy replies, "but for now, you rest."

Shawn sighs as he looks up, already dozing back off as he asks, "I really blew it huh?"

"What do you mean?" Hoppy inquires.

"With Abigail," Shawn replies, "I really dropped the ball there huh."

"Nah," Hoppy reassures him, "I mean you not sleeping so you can write though, that's a problem but I don't think you blew it."

"Come on Hoppy," Shawn sighs, "if she didn't figure it out before she knows now."

"Knows what?" Hoppy asks.

"It's personal," Shawn explains, "thanks for letting me stay here though. I appreciate it."

Hoppy grips her phone in her pocket, with rage in her eyes. However, this rage is not towards Shawn, but to someone else...

"You've been coming to the coffee shop for two years," Hoppy smiles, "of course I'm gonna look out for you dude. I mean we're friends right?"

Shawn nods with a smile as he yawns and dozes back off, muttering as he passes back out, "you're like the big sister I never had."

Shawn is out like a light. Hoppy grips her phone and checks her texts, only to find no reply.

Rhetorically she asks Shawn, "your mom just doesn't care, does she?"

Shawn's mom had not replied since Friday when Hoppy informed her of Shawn passing out, hence why Hoppy didn't send him home. Hoppy wonders if that's why Shawn is always at Infinite Gas and the coffee shop. It would explain that, but she isn't certain.

She sighs, heads to her closet, puts on her work apron, turning once more to check on Shawn, and walks out the door to the coffee shop...

The mall is bursting with activity on the cold Sunday afternoon. Shops that sell things ranging from cheesecakes to nerdy merchandise line each wall. Three young woman sit in the loud and lively food court, eating their foods of choice.

Enjoying some tasty teriyaki beef with fried rice, vegetables, and a cold soda, Lucy inquires, "so he really just passed out like that?"

"Yeah," Abigail nods munching on a taco filled with spicy meats and beans, "just passed out holding my hand."

"I'm not gonna lie," Ally interjects enjoying a nice classic combo of a burger and fries with a water, "that's adorable."

"Does he do this often?" Abigail inquires, "like is this the only time this has happened?"

Ally shakes her head, "well, there was that time Johnny was in the hospital but liked a story of Shawn's."

"What happened there?" Abigail asks.

"I don't know what happened," Ally explains, "but for about two weeks Johnny just disappeared. It was back in his freshman year, like three years ago I think it was. Shawn went to visit him, and we weren't friends at the time but one day I heard he just collapsed in the cafeteria. Granted I didn't see it, but rumors said he was writing a story to make Johnny feel better."

"Those two are tight aren't they?" Lucy asks.

"Like peanut butter and jelly," Ally chuckles, "they're inseparable."

"Should we be worried?" Abigail asks.

"Nah," Ally smiles, "I'm sure Johnny and that barista girl have got it under control. What was her name? Happy? Hopey?"

"Hoppy right?" Lucy asks.

Abigail nods, "yeah. Let's talk about something else."

"Alright," Ally shrugs, "so how's the big meet going? Preparations for it and all?"

"Great actually," Lucy smiles, "this time I'm gonna win if it kills me."

"Lu no," Ally sighs.

"Lu yes!" Lucy exclaims.

"Why are you so intent on all this?" Abigail asks, "I mean I'm gonna enter that poetry contest next week, don't see me flipping out."

"Well I have to be the best," Lucy explains shaking her head, "you guys don't understand. I have to be the best. The very best."

"But why?" Ally asks, "Lucy if you get hurt again..."

"Again?" Abigail asks, "Lucy?"

Lucy sighs more angry now, "I have it under control guys."

"Just don't push yourself to much," Ally pleads.

"I won't sweetie," Lucy kisses Ally's cheek, "it'll be alright."

"Hey," Abigail suggests, "you guys wanna catch a movie after this?"

"Yeah sure," Ally smiles.

"I'm in," Lucy smiles, taking her girlfriend's hand as the trio walk towards the movie theatre, enjoying each other's company, making jokes and laughing about said jokes, avoiding a looming concern about Lucy and Shawn, both of which are pushing themselves in different ways. Shawn hit his limit, and someday...

Lucy will too...