Can I Trust You With My Heart?

Chapter 12

Later that day

Cory sat around the living room as the family and friends did the tradition of decorating the tree just days before Christmas. They always have done this, then place all the gifts at the bottom. He did his part but truthfully he wasn't in the holiday mood. After he helped as much as he did, he sat there staring at Shawn and Topanga in different areas of the living room. Shawn hung out with Jack and Eric untangling lights while Topanga talked to Rachel and Morgan.

Another hour had passed when the tree was finally done and lunch was ready. He didn't care about eating nor did he care about being home. All he wanted was to be with Angela. He walked away from everyone, heading back up to his room to lay down. He had just let his head hit the pillow when he heard a light knock on the door as it opened at the same time. "Come in." He said, noticing who walked in. "What's going on with you, Cor?" Shawn said, closing the door behind him. 

Cory sat back up with a cross look upon his face. "None of your damn business!" He yelled out. "What I feel and think isn't any of your fucking concern anymore, Shawn!" Cory said as he stood up and got into Shawn's face. Shawn just rolled his eyes and scoffed at his former best friend. "Come on, Cory. You and Angela had your fun pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend while I was gone." Shawn said with a scoff. "But you know you don't feel for her what you feel from Tompanga. And how serious did you think it was supposed get?" Shawn asked him. Cory grew angry and balled up his fist before  punching Shawn in the face. Shawn fell back into a nearby chairwhile holding onto his right eye.

"It wasn't pretend, you selfish prick!" Cory told him while moving over to his duffel bag to retrieve the box he had for Angela. "As for how I feel about her, you're right. It was never what I used to feel for Topanga. It was more. So much more, this was her Christmas gift." He said as he ripped off the paper and yanked open the box to reveal a ring.

"How serious does this look to you, Shawnie?" Cory said with lots of anger and attitude. Shawn's mouth dropped at the sight of the simple but stunning ring. His mouth dropped at the realization that he had been gone longer than he thought. Angela leaving over her heart break from he and Cory fighting. Everyone changed, everything changed, and everyone moved on especially his ex-girlfriend with his ex-best friend. Now staring at the ring in Cory's hand, Shawn felt another punch. One that hit him deeper than Cory's fist ever could.

"What kind of ring is that ?" Shawn asked as he struggled to get up, still in shock. Cory arched an eyebrow as he snapped the box shut. "What kind of ring do think, asshole? It's an engagement ring." He told Shawn before he watched him look away. "I figured as much." Shawn stated. "I need to go. You have a-good- a. Good bye Cory." He spoke before rushing out the room and downstairs. Without another word to anyone else, he grabbed his bag and left.

Cory watched from his bedroom window as Shawn hopped into his car and took off. "One down, one to go. Then, then I don't know what." He sighed sadly.

Later that night

Cory tried to sleep when he felt someone hovered over him in the darkness. He opened his eyes to see Rachel stand there as she tried to wake him up. "Cory. Cory. I need to talk to you." She whispered. Cory sat up and reached over to turn on the lamp near his bed. He sleepily rubbed his eyes  while trying to focus on Rachel. "Rach? What is it?" He asked her in a tired tone.

"I have a confession to make." She admitted sheepishly. Cory moved over some to let her sit down as he waited for her to talk. "Cory, it's about Angela?" She said as his eyes went wide, waking him up. "What about her?" He demanded. "She wasn't gone when she said she was. She stayed with me to finish her last exam. She lied to you and her dad about being half way to Europe." She softly said to him, watching his face fall. "She didn't leave? She's here?" He asked. "No, not anymore."Rachel told him. "She just lied when she said she was on her way that night. She was still in town. She made me promise that I wouldn't tell you at all. But I couldn't take seeing you like this. You needed to know."  She confessed.