Shawn could have held on to the feelings he was experiencing at that very moment forever. Their eyes met, and for a split second, the world stood completely still. Before Angela had the opportunity to process what was going on, she was melting into Shawn's warm embrace.
He held onto her tightly, absorbing her essence entirely. The satiny feel of her skin, the seductive aroma of her favorite perfume -- it was unreal.
"I have missed you, so much," he whispered into her ear, fighting back tears of joy.
Angela clung to Shawn for dear life, pulling away only slightly to gaze into his eyes.
"I've missed you more than you would believe," she said, letting out a peaceful, contented sigh.
Shawn reached down to pick up Angela's two light suitcases and welcomed his love into his apartment. A million thoughts flooded his freshly-awakened mind at once. What is she doing back here? Is something wonderful actually happening to me? Is this the beginning of the rest of our lives? Man, I want to kiss her...
"Oh Shawn, this apartment is beautiful," Angela said, interrupting his momentary confusion. She admired the hand-carved furniture and contemporary artwork that adorned the walls.
"Thanks," he said modestly. "But you'll have to excuse the mess. I wasn't expecting the company of a beautiful lady so soon."
"Oh Honey," she said apologetically, beginning to feel guilty about imposing on him. "I wanted to surprise you, but I had no idea I would get stuck on such a late flight. I'm really sor--"
Shawn cut her off as they sat down on his couch together. "Angela, you don't have to be sorry about anything. You have been here for 30 seconds, and this is the greatest night of my life so far," he said sincerely. "This is better than any dream I could possibly be having."
Touched by his last comment, Angela clasped both of her hands over his and leaned forward, as he leaned toward her. Their lips touched, first very delicately, as they engaged in a tender, beautiful kiss. The intensity of emotion packed into that single 20-second period effectively made up for those countless nights when each so desperately wanted to kiss the other goodnight but could not.
As their lips parted, Shawn could feel the power of that kiss being imprinted into his soul. They smiled at each other briefly, silently, before Shawn turned the conversation to the reason for Angela's pleasantly surprising visit.
"So, so what brings you here? Is, is this for good? Please tell me you're back here for good." Shawn stumbled over his words, unable to control his excitement.
"Well," Angela began slowly, "I assure you, I am here for good. My father was transferred to Florida, and I decided to come back and begin a whole new life, here with you."
Shawn was overcome with joy. He was all ears as Angela described how she'd been planning to surprise him for the past month. Just hearing her voice and watching the expressions on her face was enough to content him for hours.
As Angela explained her plan to work during the summer and enroll at NYU in the fall, a burning question popped into Shawn's mind.
"Where are you going to be living?" he blurted out.
"Well, I'm waiting on an apartment down the street from NYU to open up. The person living there now is going to be moving in about a month, so until then, my father is putting me up in a hotel," she explained.
Shawn couldn't believe his ears. "A hotel? You've got to be kidding."
He looked down, hesitating for just a moment, carefully trying to phrase his next question.
"Angela, why don't you stay here with me?" He asked her quickly and in all seriousness. True, they had been apart for a year, and they'd had their problems in the past, but all in all, they had been in love with each other for more than three years. At this point, he wanted to spend every waking moment with her, even if it was only for a month.
Angela was speechless. Sure, this would only be a temporary arrangement, but she was a little apprehensive. What if she started to become a burden on him? What if their living habits drove each other absolutely crazy? What if...
Angela searched Shawn's eyes for an answer. They gazed back at her lovingly -- shimmering, trusting, so full of hope.
What if...What if living together somehow made her fall even more in love with him than ever before? Shawn had just made her an offer that she couldn't refuse.
Her lips moved to form an uncontrollable smile. "Alright," she decided. "I'd really like that."
Shawn sighed with relief and let an ecstatic grin escape his own lips. They leaned in to kiss once again before curling up in each others arms to fall asleep on the couch for the remaining hours of the night.
*****************************************************************************************************
Sunlight flooded the apartment when Shawn first opened his eyes early that afternoon. His girlfriend was sound asleep, softly resting her head on his chest. This was absolute ecstasy for Shawn. Just knowing that he could wake up every morning for the next month with Angela by his side made Shawn anxious to live his life.
Careful not to wake her, Shawn gently lifted Angela from the couch and carried her over to his unmade bed. He covered her with his warmest blanket and quietly crept into the bathroom to take a shower.
Twently minutes later, Shawn emerged clean and ready to begin the day, dressed in a grey button-down shirt and loose-fitting khaki pants. He looked over to see Angela still sleeping comfortably in his bed.
Stepping over to his miniature kitchen, Shawn began preparing a light breakfast for them both, despite the fact that most people were having lunch by that time. He laughed quietly to himself as he sliced some fruit to dress their waffles. It's amazing how much a man can learn living on his own for a year, he thought.
No sooner had he completed that thought than an unexpected knock rattled his door. Shawn rushed to answer it before the noise could disturb Angela.
"Hey, Cor," Shawn said, greeting his lifelong best friend at the door. "Sssh...come on in, but keep quiet." He pointed to his sleeping girlfriend.
A puzzled, astonished look swept over Cory Matthews's face. "So where've ya been hiding her for the past year?" Cory whispered, confused.
Shawn couldn't help but laugh at his friend's naive bewilderment. He quickly cleared up the confusion and told Cory about how Angela had only arrived the night before.
"Oh," Cory replied, with an earnest smile. "I'm really happy for ya, Shawnie. I knew you and Angela would end up together after all of this." It was true; Cory had believed in his friends' relationship from the very beginning and was glad to see them back together.
Shawn acknowledged the comment with a subtle nod, but a peculiar expression graced Cory's prominent features.
"Shawnie," Cory began, as his concerned look morphed into a sly grin, "did you, um...?" He was unable to finish the sentence but clearly conveyed his thought with a waving gesture toward Angela.
Shawn looked annoyed by his friend's implication. "Cory, no," he responded sternly. He changed the subject abruptly by focusing his attention on breakfast. "I was just fixing some waffles for Angela and I. You want to stick around and eat with us?"
Cory ran one hand through his curly brown hair as he declined Shawn's offer. "Nah, I'm gonna go meet Topanga for lunch," he smiled, just thinking about his wife. "But how about we all go out for dinner tonight?"
"Yeah," Shawn agreed. "It's been way too long since the four of us have been out together. Angela would like that."
Cory nodded approvingly and said goodbye to his friend as he exited the apartment. The room was silent once again as Shawn looked over his shoulder to see Angela peeking back at him from underneath the covers.
"Morning, Sunshine," he called out to her. "How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough to know what our plans for tonight are," Angela answered. "What are you doing over there?"
She climbed out of bed and stepped over to where Shawn was putting the finishing touches on breakfast. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder.
"You like?" Shawn asked as he held a fresh strawberry to her lips.
Angela tasted the fruit and nodded, and the two sat down for their first meal together as a live-in couple.
"Shawn, do you feel good about this?" Angela asked as she filled their glasses with orange juice.
"Absolutely," he responded. He raised his glass of juice to propose a toast. "Here's to us."
Angela followed suit and added to his statement. "May this next month bring us closer than ever, no matter what," she said.
With that, they clinked glasses, smiled at each other, and hoped with all their hearts that the rest of their days together would be every bit as perfect as this.
He held onto her tightly, absorbing her essence entirely. The satiny feel of her skin, the seductive aroma of her favorite perfume -- it was unreal.
"I have missed you, so much," he whispered into her ear, fighting back tears of joy.
Angela clung to Shawn for dear life, pulling away only slightly to gaze into his eyes.
"I've missed you more than you would believe," she said, letting out a peaceful, contented sigh.
Shawn reached down to pick up Angela's two light suitcases and welcomed his love into his apartment. A million thoughts flooded his freshly-awakened mind at once. What is she doing back here? Is something wonderful actually happening to me? Is this the beginning of the rest of our lives? Man, I want to kiss her...
"Oh Shawn, this apartment is beautiful," Angela said, interrupting his momentary confusion. She admired the hand-carved furniture and contemporary artwork that adorned the walls.
"Thanks," he said modestly. "But you'll have to excuse the mess. I wasn't expecting the company of a beautiful lady so soon."
"Oh Honey," she said apologetically, beginning to feel guilty about imposing on him. "I wanted to surprise you, but I had no idea I would get stuck on such a late flight. I'm really sor--"
Shawn cut her off as they sat down on his couch together. "Angela, you don't have to be sorry about anything. You have been here for 30 seconds, and this is the greatest night of my life so far," he said sincerely. "This is better than any dream I could possibly be having."
Touched by his last comment, Angela clasped both of her hands over his and leaned forward, as he leaned toward her. Their lips touched, first very delicately, as they engaged in a tender, beautiful kiss. The intensity of emotion packed into that single 20-second period effectively made up for those countless nights when each so desperately wanted to kiss the other goodnight but could not.
As their lips parted, Shawn could feel the power of that kiss being imprinted into his soul. They smiled at each other briefly, silently, before Shawn turned the conversation to the reason for Angela's pleasantly surprising visit.
"So, so what brings you here? Is, is this for good? Please tell me you're back here for good." Shawn stumbled over his words, unable to control his excitement.
"Well," Angela began slowly, "I assure you, I am here for good. My father was transferred to Florida, and I decided to come back and begin a whole new life, here with you."
Shawn was overcome with joy. He was all ears as Angela described how she'd been planning to surprise him for the past month. Just hearing her voice and watching the expressions on her face was enough to content him for hours.
As Angela explained her plan to work during the summer and enroll at NYU in the fall, a burning question popped into Shawn's mind.
"Where are you going to be living?" he blurted out.
"Well, I'm waiting on an apartment down the street from NYU to open up. The person living there now is going to be moving in about a month, so until then, my father is putting me up in a hotel," she explained.
Shawn couldn't believe his ears. "A hotel? You've got to be kidding."
He looked down, hesitating for just a moment, carefully trying to phrase his next question.
"Angela, why don't you stay here with me?" He asked her quickly and in all seriousness. True, they had been apart for a year, and they'd had their problems in the past, but all in all, they had been in love with each other for more than three years. At this point, he wanted to spend every waking moment with her, even if it was only for a month.
Angela was speechless. Sure, this would only be a temporary arrangement, but she was a little apprehensive. What if she started to become a burden on him? What if their living habits drove each other absolutely crazy? What if...
Angela searched Shawn's eyes for an answer. They gazed back at her lovingly -- shimmering, trusting, so full of hope.
What if...What if living together somehow made her fall even more in love with him than ever before? Shawn had just made her an offer that she couldn't refuse.
Her lips moved to form an uncontrollable smile. "Alright," she decided. "I'd really like that."
Shawn sighed with relief and let an ecstatic grin escape his own lips. They leaned in to kiss once again before curling up in each others arms to fall asleep on the couch for the remaining hours of the night.
*****************************************************************************************************
Sunlight flooded the apartment when Shawn first opened his eyes early that afternoon. His girlfriend was sound asleep, softly resting her head on his chest. This was absolute ecstasy for Shawn. Just knowing that he could wake up every morning for the next month with Angela by his side made Shawn anxious to live his life.
Careful not to wake her, Shawn gently lifted Angela from the couch and carried her over to his unmade bed. He covered her with his warmest blanket and quietly crept into the bathroom to take a shower.
Twently minutes later, Shawn emerged clean and ready to begin the day, dressed in a grey button-down shirt and loose-fitting khaki pants. He looked over to see Angela still sleeping comfortably in his bed.
Stepping over to his miniature kitchen, Shawn began preparing a light breakfast for them both, despite the fact that most people were having lunch by that time. He laughed quietly to himself as he sliced some fruit to dress their waffles. It's amazing how much a man can learn living on his own for a year, he thought.
No sooner had he completed that thought than an unexpected knock rattled his door. Shawn rushed to answer it before the noise could disturb Angela.
"Hey, Cor," Shawn said, greeting his lifelong best friend at the door. "Sssh...come on in, but keep quiet." He pointed to his sleeping girlfriend.
A puzzled, astonished look swept over Cory Matthews's face. "So where've ya been hiding her for the past year?" Cory whispered, confused.
Shawn couldn't help but laugh at his friend's naive bewilderment. He quickly cleared up the confusion and told Cory about how Angela had only arrived the night before.
"Oh," Cory replied, with an earnest smile. "I'm really happy for ya, Shawnie. I knew you and Angela would end up together after all of this." It was true; Cory had believed in his friends' relationship from the very beginning and was glad to see them back together.
Shawn acknowledged the comment with a subtle nod, but a peculiar expression graced Cory's prominent features.
"Shawnie," Cory began, as his concerned look morphed into a sly grin, "did you, um...?" He was unable to finish the sentence but clearly conveyed his thought with a waving gesture toward Angela.
Shawn looked annoyed by his friend's implication. "Cory, no," he responded sternly. He changed the subject abruptly by focusing his attention on breakfast. "I was just fixing some waffles for Angela and I. You want to stick around and eat with us?"
Cory ran one hand through his curly brown hair as he declined Shawn's offer. "Nah, I'm gonna go meet Topanga for lunch," he smiled, just thinking about his wife. "But how about we all go out for dinner tonight?"
"Yeah," Shawn agreed. "It's been way too long since the four of us have been out together. Angela would like that."
Cory nodded approvingly and said goodbye to his friend as he exited the apartment. The room was silent once again as Shawn looked over his shoulder to see Angela peeking back at him from underneath the covers.
"Morning, Sunshine," he called out to her. "How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough to know what our plans for tonight are," Angela answered. "What are you doing over there?"
She climbed out of bed and stepped over to where Shawn was putting the finishing touches on breakfast. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder.
"You like?" Shawn asked as he held a fresh strawberry to her lips.
Angela tasted the fruit and nodded, and the two sat down for their first meal together as a live-in couple.
"Shawn, do you feel good about this?" Angela asked as she filled their glasses with orange juice.
"Absolutely," he responded. He raised his glass of juice to propose a toast. "Here's to us."
Angela followed suit and added to his statement. "May this next month bring us closer than ever, no matter what," she said.
With that, they clinked glasses, smiled at each other, and hoped with all their hearts that the rest of their days together would be every bit as perfect as this.