Cory walked into the student union with his arms filled with snacks and grinned as he silently took in the many colorful balloons, decorations strewn through out the room giving the student union a festive appearance, A beautiful banner hung in the center of the room that read: Good luck, Angela. You will be missed!. Topanga has spent the past few days organizing the party and in his honest opinion, she had done an excellent job.Walking over to the tables sat up in the corner of the room he dropped the bags of chips, soda, and other goodies down for Rachel to organize before going to find his wife. He spotted Topanga bent over a bunch of scattered CD'S by the stereo.
"You and Rachel really put this together fast. Angela's going to be really happy that you decided to do this for her," he said tenderly embracing her.
Topanga smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Cory frowned. He didn't understand what his wife and Angela had fought over so intensely that had made them stop speaking to each other. His wife had been less then cheerful for the past few days and he knew whatever the two had fought over had to be serious if they hadn't made up by now. What was even more strange was that whenever he asked her about it she would refuse to talk about it.
"I was really awful to her, Cory. I don't think she is ever going to want to talk to me," she said quietly.
"Listen, we both know Angela isn't the type to hold a grudge. You two had your falling outs before, and remained friends. Why is this any different?" he asked gently.
Topanga tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and smiled shakily.
"You're right. I'm just being silly. We are still best friends and I still love her. It's just going to be hard saying goodbye to her. We have been through a lot together and I am really going to miss her," she said wistfully.
Cory put his arm around her comfortly.
"We are all going to miss her, babe. The important thing is that she is going to do what makes her happy," he smiled kissing her on the cheek.
Topanga glanced at her watched.
"She should be arriving sometime in the next few minutes so we need to start getting people in their places and getting these lights off," Topanga started.
"Isn't Jack suppose to be here? He's been disappearing lately. I'm kinda worried about him," Rachel admitted with a troubled look on her face as she walked over to the married couple with Eric.
Cory frowned.
"I haven't seen him around lately either. What about you, Eric?" Cory inquired.
Eric shifted nervously.
"I know nothing!" he cried drawing strangle glances in his direction.
Topanga opened her mouth to respond when she felt her phone vibrate against her hip. Flipping it open she found a text message from Jack saying that they were two minutes away. Panicing she began to rush around, ushering everyone into thier proper place. Taking one last glance around she flipped off the light switch and crouched down behind the couch beside Cory, Rachel and Eric. While she was waiting she felt a hand creep up her leg and felt warm breathing against her ear. She smiled and reached down and pushed the hand away.
"Not here, Cory," she giggled.
There was a long silence.
"Oops, sorry Topanga. I thought you were Eric," Rachel apologized sheepishly.
Topanga flushed and was starting to say something when the sounds of the door to the Student Union opened. The lights flashed on and everyone jumped out of hiding.
"Surprise!"
Topanga grinned as she watched Angela's face light up stunned.
"Guys, I can't believe you went through all this trouble," she said touched.
Topanga smiled shyly.
"We all pitched in. It wouldn't be right to send someone we care about deeply without letting them know how much they mean to us," she said softly.
Angela looked at Topanga sheepishly.
"Topanga, I'm sorry. You had every right to be mad at me," Angela started.
"No, I didn't. I should have supported you and been a friend to you. Instead I judged you and was very wrong. I am so sorry. I hope that you can forgive me," she said softly.
Topanga was surprised when the black girl through her arms around her hugging her tightly.
They embraced and both felt tears spring to thier eyes. but they fought them back stubbornly. Both women knew once they started crying they wouldn't be able to stop and that's the last thing eithier of them wanted to happen.
"I love you and no matter what we will always be best friends," she promised softly.
Angela pulled back and smiled at the blonde mysteriously.
"There is something really important that I have to tell you," she started.
Topanga pulled back and observed her friend curiously. Angela was wearing a teal silk top with black slacks and heels and her hair was down around her shoulder. She looked great, but there was something different about her. She could tell from the way her eyes kept drifting towards Jack and the blush that colored her face. It was almost as if she was glowing...
"Angela, you look absolutely radiant. I guess I would be glowing to if I was going to Europe!" Rachel teased, taking her turn to hug Angela.
Angela laughed blushing. Suddenly Rachel pulled away and turned to Jack.
"I have a bone to pick with you. Where have you been? I have been trying to get a hold to you all day," Rachel grinned putting her arms around Jack's shoulders.
"I kinda got into something and I couldn't pull myself away," he said innocently.
Angela almost choked on the piece of gum she was chewing.
Topanga watched warily as Jack stared at Angela. The way he stared at her made her nearly gasp. She smiled suddenly realizing why Angela looked different. The blissful smiles, the glowing...Angela and Jack had done the dirty deed!
"Um, Angela? Can I steal you away for a moment?" she asked slyly, linking her arm through her best friends and leading her off to the side.
"You did it, didn't you?" she smirked.
"Topanga, I am a lady. I am not going to tell you whether or not me and Jack...," she broke off blushing.
Topanga shoved her playfully.
"As if you have to tell me. I can see it written all over your face," she started.
Angela smiled faded.
"I know that you may think it's wrong, but Topanga we care about each other. I can't remember ever being this happy. He is the best thing that has happened to me a long time, and I just want...," she trailed off quietly.
"To be happy?" Topanga finished for her.
"Angela, you deserve to be happy. If Jack is the one to make you happy, so be it. So does this change anything?" she asked curiously.
Angela smiled secretly.
"Yeah, I'm thinking I might put Europe on hold for awhile," she confided.
Topanga's smile died when she spotted Shawn walking into the lounge.
"Topanga? What's wrong?" Angela asked concerned.
The blonde forced a smile and turned her attention back to her best friend.
"Nothing, I just remembered there was something I needed to discuss with Cory. I'll be back," she assured before speed walking across the room.
Cory yelped as his wife grabbed him tightly by the forearm and practically dragged him to a more secluded part of the room.
"Topanga, you are hurting me," he gasped looking at her in mock fear.
"What is Shawn doing here? I thought he didn't want to be here," Topanga hissed releasing her grip on him.
Cory frowned and rubbed his injured limb gingerly.
"You are hissing. Bad things happen when you hiss," he gulped backing away from her slowly.
Topanga glared at him menacingly.
"Cory...," she warned.
"He has this fool proof plan on how to get Angela to stay and I have to admit. I originally had my doubts, but I think this just might work. He made me promise not to tell anyone," he admitted.
Topnga narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Cory, you promised me that you would talk Shawn into accepting the fact that Angela's leaving. Shawn having a "fool proof" plan doesn't sound like you talked to him," she growled.
Cory groaned.
"What could I do, Topanga? You should have seen him! He was desperate. For years I have believed in his relationship with Angela even when he didn't. I couldn't turn my back on him," he protested.
Before Topanga could grill him any further they were interrupted when the music blasting through the room was cut off suddenly. Looking around she paled as she spotted the cause of the interruption.
"Everyone can I have your attention, please?" Shawn requested standing in the center of the room. Seconds later the chatter in the room settled to a quiet murmur.
"Oh no," Topanga whispered dismayed, unaware her sentiment was being mirrored by Angela who was standing a few feet away.
Angela made her way to the middle of the room and stopped short of approaching Shawn who was starring at her with apprehension. She didn't expect to see him and now that they were both in the same room she knew it would make things awkward if she continued to avoid him. Inhaling deeply she forced a smile.
"Shawn," she said softly.
He closed the gap between them and smiled at her sadly.
"I didn't want you to leave without telling you something important and I know you don't owe me anything after everything I did to you, but I am asking you to hear me out," he said softly.
She knew that she should step in and stop him from talking, but the decisive gleam in his brown eyes let her know that he was determined to get whatever he had to get off his chest, so she had no other choice but to listen. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Jack slowly making his way over to her. She had a gut feeling that the party was going to end very badly and she began to brace herself. Shawn cleared his throat and proceeded to address the room.
"Tonight, this going away party is being held in honor of a beautiful girl, my ex girl friend Angela..." Shawn started."...The thing is, when I first learned that you were leaving, I was hurt because I didn't hear it from you. Then I realized that I was the reason that you were leaving and the thought of me driving you away from all of your friends, and me, hurt more then anything I have ever had to face in my life."
Angela could see the pain in his eyes and she felt guilt wash over her.
"I am in love with you. I am willing to commit because you are the only woman I have ever loved and if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I would really like to put this behind us and go back to the way things use to be. So I have one question that I need to ask you.."
He began to walk towards her and closing her eyes, she started shaking slightly knowing the moment of truth had finally arrived. Shawn was about to ask her to get back together with him and she knew it was finally time to tell him the truth, and she was scared of how he was going to react.
"Shawn, we need to talk. There is something important that I have to tell," she was silenced by him pressing his lips against hers in a soft tender kiss.
She shuddered involuntarily as she felt the spark she always felt whenever they kissed. As he held her close she felt confused by her conflicting emotions raging inside of her. A small part of her felt delighted to be near him again, but another part felt very uncomfortable. Placing her palms on his chest, she gently pushed away from him flustered.
"Shawn, what do you think you are doing?" she stammered.
A hush fell over the room as he pulled out a small velvet box out of his old jean's pocket before getting on one knee. Angela felt her heart plummet into the pit of her stomach and her mouth go dry. She knew what the next words out of Shawn's mouth were going to be but she was too stunned to stop him from going any further. She watch speechless as he opened the box revealing a small but beautiful engagement ring. She could see the seriousness and love in his dark brown eyes as he stared up at her with a nervous smile.
"Angela... will you marry me?"