AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I have no excuses for how long this took, just know that perfection takes time and I have a great beta who is brave enough to tell me when I go off the deep end.
I will say that this chapter kind of came out of nowhere but I figured it would be a good subject to touch on since in his senior year Shawn was a girl hound, even though he struck out.
This chapter is based on an admission by Gus in the episode, "Chivalry is Not Dead, but Someone Is" So there will be a minor spoiler for that episode.
Chapter 9- Hidden Liaisons
Camp Tikihama, June 1994:
The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the lake in a blinding array of golden hues. Children of all ages hung around in groups of friends, hugging and greeting each other. It was the start of another summer, which meant another two weeks at Camp Tikihama.
Shawn and Gus were standing back watching the arriving campers. Both teens were wearing white t-shirts that said "Jr. Camp Counselor." Shawn's dad had come up with the idea and got the Gusters to go along with it, saying it would teach their sons to be leaders. The reality was that Shawn felt like a geek and Gus was taking his job way too seriously.
"Hey!" Gus shouted at a couple of younger kids. "No running!"
Shawn shot his friend a disbelieving look. "No running? Seriously? Gus, we're outside." Spreading his arms wide, Shawn did a three sixty spin. "Where else are they supposed to run?"
"I'm not having some kid trip over a rock and break his arm on my watch Shawn," Gus replied haughtily. "These kids are our responsibility now. We have to protect them." He puffed out his chest proudly and turned to a couple of six year olds who had dropped a candy wrapper on the ground. He held up a hand, stopping them in their tracks. "Hey, you two! Pick that up!"
Instead of picking up the wrapper, one of the children kicked Gus hard in the shin then both ran away screaming and laughing.
"AH!" Gus dropped to his knee and cradled his injured limb, whining as if he'd been gut shot.
Shawn had no sympathy for his friend's crocodile tears, having enough experience to know when Gus was actually hurt. "Oh yes, those poor innocent children need so much protecting."
"Shut up Shawn!" Gus complained and stood, favoring his uninjured leg.
"Okay, Wounded Knee Guster," Shawn quipped, "Let's get to our bunks." Kicking at the dirt as he dragged his feet, Shawn walked sullenly towards the counselor cabins.
Gus watched his friend sulk. He knew Shawn wasn't really happy to be here. They'd both just gotten their driver's licenses the week before and Shawn was bummed that he hadn't been able to use it at all. A fact that he'd whined about the entire way from Santa Barbara.
"This is just great, Gus, we finally get our licenses and how do we celebrate?" Shawn gestured out the car window. "We go to camp. The one place where we won't be able to drive for two whole weeks." Shawn flopped down in the seat defeated.
Gus felt Shawn's frustration, but chose to be a little less melodramatic about it. "Dude, when I get back I'm going to borrow my dad's car and offer rides to the honeys."
A snort from the driver's seat caused both teens to glare at Shawn's dad. "You two are going after 'the honeys'?" Henry laughed.
"I'll have you know dad that I am a veritable chick magnet," Shawn boasted.
Gus looked at Shawn, "Just because you preemptively bought a bumper sticker that says 'Chick Magnet' doesn't mean you are one."
"You're not putting that on my truck." Henry glowered at his son, while keeping one eye on the road.
"Okay, I'll just make sure to put it on your patrol car then."
"SHAWN!"
"Gus!" Shawn got Gus' attention and quickly caught up with him. Shawn pointedat a group of female counselors, focusing on one in particular. "There she is. Stacy Whittaker."
Stacy Whittaker was a seventeen-year old beauty with dark auburn hair and long legs. She went to a high school a town over from theirs, but they saw her a lot at get-togethers between the schools and every year at camp. Shawn had always had a crush on her but this year, Gus could see why.
The sun reflecting off the lake created a halo effect that made Shawn swoon at the sight of her. Shawn could hear Tears for Fears playing "Head Over Heels" in his head.
She noticed them staring, giggled, and waved at them before turning to whisper to her friends. Shawn waved back. Leaning over to Gus, he whispered, "Dude, she is so into me."
"Whatever you say, Shawn." Gus rolled his eyes and looked around expectantly for anyone else he knew.
Shawn caught the gesture and groaned. "Man, don't tell me that Jason Cunningham is here this year." He didn't exactly hate the guy, but anyone who turned Gus into a traitor was someone to be avoided.
"You really need to get over that Shawn, it was years ago. To answer your question, no, Jason isn't coming this year. He's on a trip with his family."
"How do you even know that?" Shawn spotted the guilty look on Gus' face. "What, you keep in contact with him?" The look didn't vanish and Gus didn't deny the accusation. Shawn put a finger to his head and remembered the last couple of times he had been in Gus' room. He hadn't really noticed it at the time, but there were a few letters from someone named Jason addressed to "Killer Bee." Shawn opened his eyes and his mouth gaped in disbelief. "Oh my God! You're pen pals!? I didn't know we needed to change your name to Gustina."
"Guys can have pen pals too Shawn." Gus defended.
"Yeah, if they're like eight. Man, I can't believe I hang out with you sometimes." Shawn moved a few more feet from Gus, afraid his friend's wussiness might be contagious.
Gus hated it when Shawn belittled him about his interests and he'd had enough for one day. He shot one final scathing glare at Shawn and stormed off without another word.
Scoffing, Shawn knew Gus would get over the slight soon enough. He took off in the opposite direction, towards the cafeteria. I wonder if counselors get extra food privileges. He was a growing teen after all, and the lunch-lady made awesome corndogs.
Gus slammed the door of the boy's counselor cabin. He hated it when Shawn made fun of the things he liked. He'd gotten used to the teasing over the years for the most part, but every once and a while Shawn Spencer could really hit a nerve.
They had both come to the cabin earlier in the day. Being counselors meant they needed to be there before most of the younger kids arrived. Shawn, as always, had claimed the top bunk, which meant that Gus had to worry about hitting his head on the wooden support boards underneath Shawn's mattress. Grumbling about concussions, Gus started unpacking.
"Hey, Gus." A feminine voice from behind him made him jump and he almost had to deal with the self-fulfilling prophesy of hitting his head.
Spinning around, Gus realized that Stacy Whittaker was standing right behind him. Two words went through Gus' mind as she slid closer to him. Uh oh.
Later that evening, groups of counselors and attendees alike gathered around a bunch of fires roasting marshmallows. Gus calmly took a bite, doing his best to keep his expression as neutral as possible. He'd just slept with someone for the first time, and it was with a gorgeous girl that just happened to be one that Shawn really liked. As mad as Gus was at Shawn, he never would have done something like that to him, but his brain had shut off and something else had taken over.
Gus knew that if he didn't keep it together, Shawn would definitely know something was up, so he figured it was better to play it cool. His best friend and best friend's father were both human lie detectors, and he himself was one of the worst liars on the planet. If Shawn ever came right out and asked him what was going on, he was a dead man.
Shawn watched the expression on Gus' face morph from one emotion to the next—guilt, worry, fear, and finally nervousness. Sighing, he put his roasting stick down. That last eye twitch from Gus was all he could take. "Man, what is up with you? You're acting weird."
Shawn had expected at least a couple more hours of Gus not talking to him, but an hour after their spat just before supper, Gus came down to the mess hall. He didn't glare, or attempt any guilt trips at Shawn's expense, he just sat down calmly and waited for supper to be served. The behavior was so not like Gus that Shawn knew something was up. He'd tried to ignore it but it was bugging him and he had never been the most patient person.
Oh no. Gus knew he'd given himself away somehow. Damn it he's never going to speak to me again if he finds out. Stealing a girl was the ultimate betrayal of friendship. The only thing left for him to do was to get Shawn mad. Gus knew that as soon as Shawn was mad, it was as if he had blinders on, so he put on the best angry act he could muster. "I'm still pissed at you Shawn. You always make fun of me. How would you like it if I made fun of your unhealthy man-crush on Val Kilmer?"
Shawn's eyes flashed. "Dude you did not just go there." So, he's been giving me the silent treatment. Well, two can play at this game. Shawn picked up his stick and started to walk away, but that was before he noticed Stacy Whittaker sitting with her friends. Watch this Gus.
Inside, Gus was cheering his success—until he saw where Shawn was heading. His cheering instantly turned into a total freak out as Shawn started trying to chat up the girl he'd just had sex with.
When Shawn sat down and grinned at Stacy, she looked over and caught Gus' panicked head shaking. Getting the point, she did her best to be nice, even if she couldn't remember his name in spite of Gus having told her earlier. She admitted to herself that Shawn was somewhat cute, but definitely not her type.
By the time everyone was winding down for bed, Shawn was convinced that Stacy was going to ask him out, but she never did. She and her friends excused themselves and went to their cabin for the night. Even though he'd been shut down for now, Shawn passed Gus with his head held high as he headed to bed himself. He was secure in the knowledge that eventually, Stacy would admit she had the hots for him.
It was after midnight when Gus got back to the cabin and Shawn was still up, eating chips and reading magazines by flashlight. His eyes met Gus' for a moment before he went back to reading.
Shawn tried to ignore Gus' rummaging around as he got ready for bed. It was pretty late, but there had been a lot of marshmallows and Shawn figured his buddy had either stuck around until the supply was gone or Gus was stalling, hoping he would have been asleep. Soon enough, the rummaging stopped and the lower bunk was quiet.
Shawn leaned over the top railing and looked at his friend. He hated to fight with him and they had been mad at each other long enough. It was time to make up. "Hey dude, how were the marshmallows?"
Gus smiled and knew this was Shawn's way of saying he was sorry. "I wish they would have had the giant kind, then you could roast them over and over again."
"Ah, the giant mallow." Shawn nodded approvingly at his friend's choice. "It would have given me more time to talk to Stacy too." Gus' mouth went dry and he bit his tongue. Shawn took it as a bit of jealousy. "Don't worry buddy." Shawn settled back into his bed and turned his flashlight off. "You'll have the attentions of a beautiful girl someday and she'll be as into you as Stacy is into me."
"I'll look forward to it Shawn." Gus rolled his eyes, knowing that his friend would end up sorely disappointed by the time they left Camp Tikihama this year.
END NOTES:
Shawn really isn't that smooth. :)
I giggled while writing this chapter because I kept remembering Gus' admission to his parents, "I get mine." Lol.
