Worst. Day. Ever.

Right in the middle of a completely awesome breakfast, Gus started in on him about his dating life, and when he talked about Shawn hitting on people as an old guy Shawn got this creepy image of his dad hitting on waitresses, the kind of image that leaves scars.

Of course he had to prove a point, so he called up Abigail. Honestly, hers was the first female name he saw when he pulled up his contact list and it seemed like a good idea. She said yes, which was a refreshing change (flirting with Jules was amazing, almost like making out with other girls, but a guy can only be rejected so many times, right?). Then the waitress disappeared and those notes started coming and it only got worse from there.

Shawn didn't know many times he had called Abigail, or taken calls from her, throughout the day. The whole thing had been a bit of a blur, and he had clung to his evening plans as his deadline, his mental anchor. He had to make that date. Cold feet stopped him last time, but tonight nothing short of tragedy would keep him away, and he would not leave the possibility of tragedy open.

When everything was over, his mind went blank. It was his mom who reminded him of the date. Time to go see about a girl, she said.

Honestly? The face that flashed into his brain wasn't Abigail's. But that face had had its chance. Right? He pulled out his phone and dashed off a quick text message.

Gus put his hand on Juliet's arm, stopping her mid-conversation, and hurried over to Shawn. "Who were you just texting?"

"I have a date, Gus."

"You're going?"

"Yeah. I said I would. I will."

Gus nodded, a strange mix of pride and regret in his eyes. "You sure?"

"Silly rabbit," Shawn said, catching his friend glancing over his shoulder at Juliet. "Dreams are for kids." He shrugged. "Everybody's gotta grow up sometime."

"But...."

"Look, it's late. I just texted Abigail and she's going to meet me here in an hour."

"Here?"

"Yeah, sure. Can I borrow the Psychmobile? My dad can drop you off at home." He held out a fist.

Gus bumped it. "No sweat, buddy. Consider it taken care of."

"Preposition ending a sentence," Shawn said automatically.

"Long day," countered his friend.

"The longest."

Gus returned to his conversation with Juliet, and Shawn went back to sit with his mom

He had no idea, no idea, what he would have done without Gus over the whole wretched day. Lost it, probably. His psychic act. His sanity. His mom. Everything.

Later, getting into the Psychmobile after his run-in with Jules and his quick save with Abigail, he had a split second to wonder if his favorite detective were psychic, too, to know he was going to be there still. A split second to wonder before Gus' hand reached out for the popcorn.

He covered his confusion easily—Gus always was protective of his car, and in this case that truth was better than any lie he could have thought up. The movie wasn't halfway over before Shawn could tell from Abigail's face that the date had been thoroughly and completely sabotaged.

Necco Wafers didn't go anywhere near far enough as a thank you.