I was going to have two parts to chapter two, but the first part was done and I really wanted to put it up, so here you go, even if it's short. I'll hopefully get part two up soon enough(:
School the next day was torturous to Shawn. The magic of the previous night had worn off and all that was left was a feeling of regret and a desperate need to avoid Cory as much as possible. He found himself sitting in a bathroom stall, alone with his thoughts.
STUPID, stupid, what was I thinking? He put his face in his hands and let out a muffled cry of frustration. If it had been hard for Shawn to hold a normal conversation with Cory before, now it would be downright impossible. Cory would demand an explanation for last night, and it wasn't as if Shawn would be able to keep up the front he had been putting out anyway. He would either crack, or not talk to Cory for the rest of his life. He needed to formulate a plan; he needed to make a move. The hard part would be deciding what move to make.
Shawn sighed. This is it. It's all coming together. This could either end our friendship, or be the best decision of my life. Better make it a good one, Shawn. Think! He opened the stall door and began pacing in the empty bathroom. It being the bathroom in the old science wing and all, no one ever really used it, and it provided a perfect place for Shawn to rehearse.
"Okay, listen Cory, I've been feeling a lot differently lately... " He shook his head. "Um.. Cor, I really don't want to jeopardize our friendship here, but... no..." He ran his hands through his hair and began talking at a wall, imagining, instead, Cory standing in front of him.
"Cory, I need to talk to you about something. It's kind of important. " Suddenly, words flowed out of Shawn effortlessly. "You see, the reason I came to your house last night... the reason I've been acting so weird lately, is... well, I don't really know how to say this, but... I see something in you now. I don't know exactly how to explain it, but it's not friendship, and it's unlike anything I've ever felt for a girl before. It's... more. It's better. I just need you to understand, that I... well, I don't want to jump right into this or anything, but I've known you for a long time, and.. um, I... think I love you, Cor." His eyes widened. He hadn't dared even to say that in his own mind, let alone out loud. It was shocking, but... in a way, kind of refreshing. Now that he had said it out loud, he felt a bit of a weight lifted off of his chest.
"Oh god, I could never say that to Cory. I'm surprised I even said that to myself." He laughed, slightly. it was easy to talk when he was alone. It felt better to say things out loud.
"It might have been easier than you think." A voice behind Shawn, emotionless. Shawn whipped around to see Cory, standing in the doorway, his expression blank.
"C-Cory..." Shawn stammered, too shocked for words. "You..."
"Yeah, I've, uh. I've been standing here... looks like the whole time." Cory backed away, pushed the door open, and as it swung shut Shawn saw him turn and run down the empty hallway.
XXX
Instead of going to school the next day, Shawn opted to lay in his bed all day, staring at the ceiling. He remembered the day he met Cory, there in the zoo, and wondered if there was a way to fix this.
Obviously not, obviously I've ruined everything. He rolled over onto his stomach and pressed his face into the pillow.
XXX
It was nearly midnight when there was a loud crash outside Shawn's window, and it slid open to reveal a disheveled Cory, who all but fell into the room, panting and clutching at his chest.
"I give you credit, Shawn, I never realized how hard it was to climb in a window."
Shawn stood up. "Cory, it's a fire escape. There are stairs."
"Yes, but there happens to be a very mean-spirited cat who lives on those stairs, and he nearly drew blood!" Cory stated, gesturing to a scratch on his forearm. Shawn laughed, and for a second, it was almost as if nothing had happened. Almost.
Cory dropped the smile, though, and the mood slipped effortlessly from casual and friendly to tense and awkward.
"Um, listen, Shawn, about what you said yesterday. In the bathroom."
Shawn stared at the floor. There was nothing he could say.
"I just want to say that I... I... I want to reconsider. I could, um, give it a chance. You know, what you said."
Shawn looked up. Was he serious? "You... what?"
"Yeah. I was a little taken off guard at first, to say the least, but I've given it a little thought and I, um, well, it would just take a little getting used to, you know? But I could try it. I don't want to lose you forever, Shawn."
There was a silence for what seemed like an eternity, and finally Shawn stepped forward. Without any thought whatsoever, he embraced Cory, held him close and rested his head on his shoulder.
Cory's whole body stiffened noticeably, and he didn't move. But after a minute he relaxed, and wrapped his arms around Shawn.
Shawn could have stayed in that hug for the rest of his life, but soon Cory broke the silence.
"I should Go. But I'll see you tomorrow, alright Shawn?" he whispered almost directly into Shawn's ear.
"Yeah. Ok. I'll see you then, Cor," Shawn said, disappointed. Cory climbed out the window and disappeared down the fire escape, and Shawn shut the window behind him.
After almost a half an hour of staring out the window, Shawn turned off the light and laid down. He smiled into the dark, rolled over, and went to sleep.
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