Prologue: Tangles
Shawn wiped away the tears from his eyes.
"Yeah Dad, well you just don't understand!" Shawn turned and ran out of the house, his eyes red and sore from crying. He had been trying to explain to his dad why he wished he had a family like Cory's, but as always, his dad just didn't seem to understand. Him and his dad couldn't even talk to each other anymore, and Shawn was feeling immense regret and jealousy towards his best friend right now. Shawn looked back at the trailer and saw his dad standing outside, anger flashing in his eyes. Thankfully, his father turned and went back inside, leaving Shawn to his lonesome.
"It's so not fair." He muttered to himself, scuffing his shoes in the dirt as he walked. "At 17, I shouldn't be having these mental tantrums. God… I need to talk to Cor. " Shawn made his way to his best friend Cory's house, trying to keep his eyes from watering. As he walked, he picked up random objects, mainly rocks and flower petals left for dead by nature, and thought about his relationship with his family and friends.
I can't believe we're almost out of high school. Where am I gonna go from here? My life is a dead end. We all know that Cory is going to be the one to succeed, and I'm gonna be the deadbeat. That's the way it's supposed to be. And I think, although Cory is my best friend… I don't think he wants me to succeed. Maybe I shouldn't go to college. I mean really, what's the point? I'm so sick of this act. Sick of failing tests and projects and classes because I don't want Cory to feel any pain, any jealousy. I don't want Cory to be jealous of me, and I know how high he holds himself and his standards. The few times I dared to surpass him, he was insanely jealous and we ending up in fights. I hate fighting with him. I want him to be happy. And I guess… if me not succeeding makes him happy…
Shawn fingered the hard pebble, rubbing the smooth flesh of his hand against the rimy surface. He sighed to himself, and rounded the corner to the Matthews residence. He paused and collected himself, staring into Mr. Feeny's window at his reflection. When he was sure that the red from his eyes was cleared, his tears wiped away, and his shaky breathing subsided, Shawn turned and approached the house he was so familiar with.
What he didn't see was Mr. Feeny's pitying eyes watching his figure walk away.
"Poor, poor Shawn. Cory doesn't see how much you need him. In more ways than one."