New York to Philly in 1996

two.

Nicole's POV:

"I had a good time at Chubbie's again," I smiled.
"I'm glad you're making new friends," Uncle Jon looked at me.
"I've been here a week and I haven't called Sydney! Could I call her?"
"I guess if you really want too," Uncle Jon laughed. "Don't stay up too late!"
I grabbed my phone and dialed Sydney's number.
"Hi Mrs. Miller, it's Nicole Turner, is Sydney awake?" I asked.
"Yes she is, let me get her," she said.
"Thank you!"
"Hey peaches," Sydney spoke.
"Okay so there's a boy..."
Monday I woke up to dial tone and my uncle banging on my door. I got up. God don't make a habit out of this Nicole! I yelled at myself.
"Good morning," Uncle Jon sarcastically said.
"Morning," I said.
"Get dressed, you can eat breakfast at school," he spoke in a harsh tone.
    I pulled my hair back in a ponytail with a scrunchie, put my flannel on with a plain white t-shirt and mom shorts. I wiped my smeared makeup off and went natural. I grabbed an apple and my backpack. Walked down to the bus stop before my uncle got there.
    I walked into school and ran to my locker. Shawn was flirting with Jennifer from homeroom, blah! I put my backpack in my locker and grabbed my books. I walked over to Cory and Topanga.
"Look at Shawn," Cory hyped him up.
"Oh shut up," I scoffed.
"What's wrong Nic?" Topanga asked.
"Nothing," I said.
"Guess who got a date with Jennifer this weekend!" Shawn high fived Cory.
I rolled my eyes.
    The bell rang for homeroom and we walked and sat in our seats. I stared Shawn down.
"Everything alright between those two?" Uncle Jon asked Topanga.
"Don't know," Topanga sighed.
"Okay, let's talk about what we did over the weekend," he said.
    After homeroom Topanga grabbed my hand and took me into the bathroom. She obviously knew something was up. I didn't want to come off as hopelessly in love with Shawn Hunter.
"You like Shawn don't you?" she smiled.
"No, you're crazy! Why?" I was close to screaming.
"You got all annoyed when he asked Jennifer out, you glared at him all of homeroom because you are upset he's going out with her!" she said.
"We had that moment at Chubbie's but it was nothing to him, plus it was the first real night I had here in Philadelphia. So maybe I just had feelings for him because he was a nice stranger, I don't know," I looked at her.
    I continued to go about my day, my uncle knew something was up. I didn't want him to intervene. Shawn came over to my locker at the end of the day.
"May I help you Hunter?" I asked.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to go somewhere after school," he smiled.
"Are you sure Jennifer would let you? I mean you were pretty excited about having a date with her this weekend," I frowned.
"That was before someone told me that a really cool girl liked me," his blue eyes twinkled.
"Oh who would that be?" I chuckled.
"No one," he chuckled. "You, Nicole Kiersten Turner."
"Don't ever use my full name but I'd love to go out with you," I smiled.
"Before we go I have to do something," he pulled me into Uncle Jon's class.
"Can I help you two?" Uncle Jon asked.
"Jon, may I take your niece out after school?" Shawn smiled.
"I don't see why not, have her back before eight," Uncle Jon smiled.
"Seriously?" I giggled.
"Yeah, I have to stay here for a meeting so go have fun," he hugged me.
"Oh you're the best!"
Shawn and I walked out of the school.
"Where to m'lady?" Shawn slipped his hand into mine.
"Well where would you recommend since I am new to Philly," I smiled.
"Follow me," we walked somewhere.
    We walked to the park near the school. He sat me down on a park bench, watching the little boys try to run after the girls who screamed "COOTIES".
"So you're from New York, what's it like to live there? Big cities people yelling, I don't know much about it," Shawn smiled.
"Well I went to a prep school and everyone was stuck up, had fancy cars, fancy homes. I just wanted real people, you know?" I looked at him. "So where are you from?"
"Different places, parents never wanted to settle down. My mom got up and left many times. Cory and Topanga are my only real friends," he looked at me.
"I know that you lived with my uncle for a year," I looked at him. "How is he living wise?"
"He's great, might be different because you know you're his niece not his student, but he's great." he smiled.
"How long did you stay with him if you don't mind me asking?" I smiled.
"Almost over a year, he almost became my legal guardian," he sighed. "Can I ask why you're with Jon and not your parents?"
    I looked at Shawn and I didn't want to tell him the truth of why I was with Uncle Jon. My parents were arrested again, so the judge gave Uncle Jon full custody until further notice. I couldn't start a relationship with someone based on lies. I sighed and gave him a serious look.
"Look Shawn, if you promise not to tell anyone, not even Cory and Topanga. My parents were arrested for embezzlement. The court gave Uncle Jon custody and he told me to tell people that my parents were in Europe to make me feel better," I sighed, holding his hands.
"I promise not to tell anyone, it'll be our little secret," he smiled reassuring me everything was going to be okay.
    It felt good to tell someone the truth, I couldn't hold that in for much longer. Shawn and I walked around the trail at the park, we took turns telling jokes and stories. He told me about his pet pig Little Cory or the times he's had to save Cory's butt.
"I wish I would've been here when you lived with my Uncle, coulda used a smile during those times," I smiled.
"Well however long you're here, let's make some new memories so when you're sad you can think of them," he handed me a flower he picked when I wasn't looking.
"Thank you, you are quite the romantic Mr. Hunter," I kissed his cheek.
    He walked me home after we realised what time it was. I had such a good time.
"I had a good time with your niece Jon," Shawn smiled.
"Nicole did you have a good time?" Uncle Jon asked.
I nodded, my cheeks turned bright red.
"See you tomorrow at school," I smiled.