He'd done it
He'd done it. He'd made it through yet another grueling day at college. Shorty couldn't believe it was over already. And soon (three more days to be exact) it'd be all over for the summer. Now he was walking home, once again carrying Sabrina's bag.
"Shorty, I know my parents don't really like you." She began, kicking a pebble along as they walked.
"Observant, aren't we?" Shorty asked, his question laced with friendly sarcasm.
"And I know that there aren't many girls who'd go out with... with a Chinese boy." She seemed to realize that she'd started an awkward conversation. Shorty didn't mind, he was used to such discussions. "I suppose not." He supported, not really sure where she was going with this.
Sabrina watched as the pebble went sailing forward. "But I don't care. In fact, I like you because you're different and you don't mind."
Shorty kicked her pebble into the road. There, he'd gotten rid of the distraction. Now maybe she'd look at him. She did.
"I don't care if I'm not supposed to, Shorty, I really like you." There. She'd managed to let it out. It was one of the lamest ways possible, but it was out in the open now. Shorty didn't react at first, just adjusted the weight of his book bag, which was beginning to slip off his shoulder. At last he replied.
"I'm glad, Sabrina. But how on earth do expect to keep your parents from suspecting anything?"
"We'll manage. And even if they do, I don't care." Her green eyes sparkled, glad to be speaking honestly about how she felt towards her friend.
"Yes, but I do." Shorty stopped walking for a moment, turning to face her. "If they outright tell me not to contact you, I can't. They could press charges."
Sabrina sighed, staring regretfully at the young man in front of her. He was too practical. "We'll just have to make sure they don't tell you, then." She said simply.
"How's that going to happen? He's already tried once, I just barely managed to excuse myself from the conversation in time."
"I don't know." She shrugged, placing one arm around him. "Stay out of sight when we're together, I suppose."
That didn't sound too hard. Shorty preferred it that way, anyhow, to be quite honest. He didn't like to think of them as some day becoming an 'item'. The fewer people to know, the better. It would be their secret. Just the two of them.
Shorty placed his right arm around her shoulders and they continued walking. It was somewhat awkward to walk this way, but neither of them really noticed. Two more blocks, and then they'd have to say goodbye. As formally as they could possibly make a show of doing.
When Shorty opened the door, he was welcomed by the voices of Dr. Jones and Willie Scott. Both were raised, and neither sounded at all thrilled to be in one another's presence.
"I told you already, I wanted to talk, not yell." Jones' voice traveled easily into the entry hall. They were in the livingroom.
"You're the one who started it!" Willie accused, her own voice still as loud as ever.
"Willie, sit. Please." Shorty sneaked towards the doorway, wondering how he'd get to his room. He'd have to go through the livingroom to get to the stairs. Unless.. No, he didn't dare risk it. He'd only gotten into his room through the window once. He'd had to climb a tree to reach it. Not in his good school clothes. He'd just have to wait in the hall until they stopped bickering.
"Why should I?" Willie asked coldly.
"Because I asked you to." Dr. Jones didn't sound at all like he wanted to talk. It sounded like what he really wanted to do was lock himself up in his study and curl up and die.
"I'd rather not, thank you."
"Fine, dang it. If you refuse to listen to me, what's the use in talking?"
"None whatsoever, Henry Jones, because you and I both know you're wrong."
Shorty winced. Things didn't look good. Or did they? The teen couldn't decide which he wanted. The Willie he knew and had grown accustomed to having around, applying unneeded makeup all day long, or the mysterious Marion he'd never met.
"You're right, I was definitely wrong about something." Indy growled.
"Oh no, it was I who made the mistake." Willie said, mocking a gracious tone, "when I chose to date you!" she hissed, and before Shorty could do anything about it, the blond woman stomped out into the hallway. She snatched her coat from it's hook, right by Shorty's shoulder. She looked him up and down for a minute and then said in a tone just high enough for the boy to understand her, "You wanted this all along, didn't you?" Shorty was about to respond when he realized she was already outside, the door slamming behind her. He heard a low sigh from the next room and the sound of someone going upstairs. Good, now he could change. He decided it was probably best if he left his foster father alone for the time being.