Exhilaration | Shawn Hunter [Boy Meets World]

Who's Afraid of Cory Wolf?

It was Halloween, me, Cory and Shawn were going to the party tonight. 

"Hey, Cor. You ready for the Halloween party?" Shawn asked, entering his room. 

"Please. I have no time for such things," Cory replied.

"Come on, guess who I'm going as. Okay, I'll give you a hint." He began to act as Cory. "Wow, Shawn, I wish I was as cool as you."

I grinned. "And guess who I am." My hands scratched at the wig before putting them on my hips. "I'm the coolest guy in 7th grade, I like girls."

Shawn laughed at my impression while Cory sassed, "I'm sure I have no idea." 

"I'm going as you," Shawn answered.

"I'm Shawny," I giggle, then I stopped. "Now, tell Cory what you were going as before."

Shawn shrugged. "I was going to go as Betty, but none her clothes fit and I can't pull off a ponytail. But my impression was great."

"It really wasn't."

"Pretty lifelike, huh? So where's your costume?" Shawn asked. 

"I'm not going," Cory answered, walking over to the window.

"But you have to go."

"No, I have to stay here, alone, locked in my room where no one can see me," he replied dramatically.

"What about Topanga? She's meeting us here, remember?" I ask as Shawn removed his Cory wig. 

"No. I told her it wasn't safe. I can't be responsible for my actions. Only evil will come from tonight." 

"Gonna make your move, huh?" Shawn smirked.

"If I do, it'll be on all fours. Listen, I gotta tell somebody. Shawn, I am one of the undead creatures of the night." 

"Cory, you can't fool your best friends. Something's bothering you, isn't it?" 

Cory pushed both of us to sit on his bed. "Listen, what I'm about to tell you is so bizarre, no one in their right mind would believe it." 

"Then I'm your guy."

I removed my wig which was itching my head. "And I'm sure I've heard weirder."

"It all started last night..." Cory began as he explains how he was becoming a werewolf.

"Come on. There's no way you were bitten by a wolf," Shawn laughed once Cory was done.

"Shawn, what else could it have been? Look at the bite," Cory said, pulling up his flannel sleeve. 

"I don't see anything," I say.

"Of course you don't. Everybody knows werewolf bites heal overnight."

"Wow, then you're covered with them," Shawn said. "So you're really turning into a werewolf?"

"I didn't think so until I woke up this morning..." Cory continued to explain further. 

"Cory, it's just a little hair," I laugh.

"Betty, it's more than just hair," Cory stated. "I've got strange new urges. Like last night, I'm watching the movie Untouchables. You know the scene where Capone is about to smash heads with his baseball bat?"

I nod while Shawn says, "Awesome scene."

"Except I'm not into it. The whole time, I'm thinking, "I wonder how cold the water is on Baywatch." 

"Jeez, whatever you got, you got it bad," Shawn replied.

"Yeah. I didn't know how bad until lunchtime, when I had this strange craving for a snack."

Another explanation happened and then it moved to a point I remembered happening when Cory came to English.

"Okay, so we got these snotty little prep-school boys stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere no lamps, no cars, no shopping malls. Not a single luxury," Mr. Turner explained.

"Wait, I've read this book," Shawn said.

My eyes widen as Cory came rushing in. "Matthews, welcome. You were 40 minutes late, so we started without you. I hope you don't mind."

"No, it's okay, really," Cory answered before sitting down. "What are we up to?"

"We got to this part where this really cool, but angry, teacher give this sweaty kid three days' detention for being unbelievably late."

"You're not wrong on the cool part," I say.

"Can I get a drink?" Cory asked.

"Back to Lord of the Flies..."

"Where were you?" I lean over, whispering.

"There was a fortune teller at the yogurt parlor," Cory replied.

"You tortured a fellow named Yogi Tyler?" Shawn repeated back wrong.

"Yeah. I'll write you a note."

As Cory began to write down, Mr. Turner noticed. "Matthews, you're amazing. No idea what's going on, yet you're still taking notes. What you writing?" Cory quickly stuffed the paper in his mouth. "What you eating?"

The bell rang signaling for us to leave.

Back to Cory's story...

"Everything Madame Ouspanskaya predicted has come true. And now only one part of the prophecy remains unfulfilled I gotta kill Topanga," Cory said. 

"What a drag. Girl finally likes you, and you're gonna off her. You know, this could really hurt you socially," Shawn sighed.

"Please, don't hurt, Topy. I like her," I say.

"What can I do? My paws are tied," Cory said.

"Does anyone else know?" Shawn asked.

"No, you're the only ones. The only ones," Cory said.

"Hey, Cory, here's your supper," Eric came in, placing a tray on the floor before howling, Cory joined in.

Once he was gone, I crossed my arms. "The only one, huh?" I ask.

"He's family," Cory answered before getting on all fours and digging into his good.

"Listen. Since you're going through this change, can I have your autographed Lenny Dykstra ball?" Shawn asked.

"No, I want that ball," I object.

Cory picked up his head. "Not my ball!"

"Cory, you don't need it. You're a wolf," Shawn told him.

"I can still fetch."

"Listen, on the off chance that you are turning into this werewolf, why don't we head to the drugstore? They've got that aisle, beauty aids. If they got stuff that can take the 'stache off my mother, they've gotta have something for you."

"Don't you think I already thought of that? Listen, after school, I went back to Madame Ouspanskaya's."

***

After finishing the last of his story, Cory finished writing his note. "So I hope you will all forgive me as I cannot escape my destiny. Fondly, Cory A. O. Matthews."

"What's the A. O. stand for?" I ask.

"Ah-ooo," Cory howled before looking to Shawn. "What are you doing?"

"I'm taking your running shoes. If you don't have a four of a kind, there's really no point," Shawn answered.

"Cory, Topanga's here," Mrs. Matthews called.

"Oh, no, she's here. Shawn, I need you to do something for me. Promise me you'll keep Topanga away from me. Swear by everything holy that you'll do everything in your power to keep that poor, innocent girl from a terrible," Cory barely noticed Topanga walk in. "Hi, Topanga." He saw her again, then screamed.

I grin at Shawn. "Well, that's our cue to go."

"We'll just leave you two alone. Have a good time," Shawn told him before I follow him out.

***