Chapter 2
"Look, I can't go back and change the past," Corey defended. He looked at Shawn and Rachel helplessly.
"...and we aren't going to dwell on the past. If you want to discuss a specific topic or opinion, then let's talk about it. I won't sit here and be lectured or attacked." Angela patted Corey's knee as she spoke.
"Well, then let's start with you're bigoted opinions about Eric and Jack..." Shawn interjected.
"There IS no 'Eric and Jack'," Corey spat. He stood up and began to pace behind the couch that Angela was sitting on. "This isn't about whether being gay is right or wrong anymore, it's about how Jack is handling everything... how we are ALL handling everything. We can't ditch each other because we don't agree on something that doesn't have any bearing on Eric's passing." Angela nodded in agreement.
"Well spoken, Corey," Rachel mock applauded. "Did you and Angela rehearse that before we came by?" Angela glared at Rachel.
"Nobody wants the three of you to 'dwell' on anything, but you need to have some kind of reconciliation with Jack, Rachel and I so we can put it behind us and move on. We're friends and we need to resolve this so we can all start healing." Shawn sat back in his chair. "The gay issue has EVERYTHING to do with what happened to Eric. Can't you see that what drove Eric to such a desperate state has everything to do with how we all responded to him?"
"We can't control other people's actions. Eric made his own choices, and I'm sorry that he chose what he did, but none of us can feel guilty or take responsibility for what Eric did." Angela folded her arms and leaned back
"How convenient for you and your conscience. That's the most heartless and cold response I've ever heard. What a good friend you were to Eric." Rachel hissed sarcastically.
"Rachel, you're wrong. We miss Eric as much as you do, but we are mature enough to deal with this intelligently, rather than sit and point fingers." Corey sat back down by Angela.
"This is getting us nowhere fast," Shawn said to Rachel.
"I'm sure this is Topanga's position as well?" Rachel asked Corey.
"Of course. She is all for putting the blame and conflict behind us and trying to pick up the pieces of our lives and move on." Corey responded.
"This is makin' me sick, let's go Shawn," Rachel stood up and walked toward the door.
"Shawn," Angela stood as she spoke, "Could we talk, just you and I? Please?"
"Can I catch up with you later, Rach?" Shawn walked over the door and opened it.
"Sure, I'll be over at Jack's apartment." Shawn closed the door behind her and turned to Angela, "You wanna go somewhere?"
"Do you mind if we hang out for a bit and talk, Corey?" Angela said.
"Naw, go ahead. Topanga's already gone for the morning and I have class soon. Lock up before you leave, k?" Corey headed for the bedroom.
"You got it," Angela smiled, as Shawn sat down on the couch.
*********************************
Topanga casually ascended the stairs to the library, unaware that she was being watched. It was early in the morning; the library had just opened. She was anxious to begin studying for her upcoming finals. After she entered the front doors, she continued up the library staircase, heading for the third floor. Topanga found a secluded corner to study in, away from the soon to be dense traffic areas on that floor. She unhooked her green backpack from her shoulder and swung it into her chair. She rummaged through it, looking for a pen, realizing that she must have dropped it on her way in. She turned, headed back to the stairs to find it, or borrow another from the librarian on the first floor. Topanga had descended a single step when she heard a voice behind her.
"Topanga..." Startled, she turned to see who had called her by name. Jack was standing directly behind her, looking down at her.
"Hi, Jack, you scared me... what are you doing here?"
"Studying... isn't that what a library is for?" he spoke sharply.
"Uh, yeah, but I didn't expect anyone to be here this early... anyway, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Just fine. How are YOU?" Jack's tone was patronizing.
Topanga was visibly uncomfortable. She thought Jack looked tired, worn out, and a little gaunt. "Listen, Jack. I know about you and Eric. I know you blame Corey and I for what happened, but you can't let this destroy you. We all have to move on, together."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you asking for my forgiveness? For Eric's forgiveness?" Jack smirked evilly.
"No... not exactly... well, maybe. I just think we should put this behind us and..."
Jack cut her off, "Forget about Eric? Forget that you prejudice bastards drove him to kill himself?" Jack spoke forcefully. Topanga took a step back.
"Jack, maybe we should sit down and talk about this... with Corey and Angela and everyone together..." She took another step backward, down the stairs. Jack took a step forward, keeping only one step between them.
"I don't think we have anything to say to each other, do you?" Topanga took another step back. Jack stepped forward again.
"Jack, you're scaring me... please, maybe we should talk about this another time..."
"I don't HAVE time to waste on you selfish, homophobic ASSHOLES!" Jack closed the gap between them, spitting his words into Topanga's face. Frightened, she stepped backward again, misgauging her footing, taking 2 stairs at once. As the her weight transferred from her left foot to her right, she faltered, tumbling down the staircase, flailing like a rag doll.
Jack stood there, motionless, watching her reel down the stairs. "See, I told you I got your back, Eric... One down, two to go."
"Look, I can't go back and change the past," Corey defended. He looked at Shawn and Rachel helplessly.
"...and we aren't going to dwell on the past. If you want to discuss a specific topic or opinion, then let's talk about it. I won't sit here and be lectured or attacked." Angela patted Corey's knee as she spoke.
"Well, then let's start with you're bigoted opinions about Eric and Jack..." Shawn interjected.
"There IS no 'Eric and Jack'," Corey spat. He stood up and began to pace behind the couch that Angela was sitting on. "This isn't about whether being gay is right or wrong anymore, it's about how Jack is handling everything... how we are ALL handling everything. We can't ditch each other because we don't agree on something that doesn't have any bearing on Eric's passing." Angela nodded in agreement.
"Well spoken, Corey," Rachel mock applauded. "Did you and Angela rehearse that before we came by?" Angela glared at Rachel.
"Nobody wants the three of you to 'dwell' on anything, but you need to have some kind of reconciliation with Jack, Rachel and I so we can put it behind us and move on. We're friends and we need to resolve this so we can all start healing." Shawn sat back in his chair. "The gay issue has EVERYTHING to do with what happened to Eric. Can't you see that what drove Eric to such a desperate state has everything to do with how we all responded to him?"
"We can't control other people's actions. Eric made his own choices, and I'm sorry that he chose what he did, but none of us can feel guilty or take responsibility for what Eric did." Angela folded her arms and leaned back
"How convenient for you and your conscience. That's the most heartless and cold response I've ever heard. What a good friend you were to Eric." Rachel hissed sarcastically.
"Rachel, you're wrong. We miss Eric as much as you do, but we are mature enough to deal with this intelligently, rather than sit and point fingers." Corey sat back down by Angela.
"This is getting us nowhere fast," Shawn said to Rachel.
"I'm sure this is Topanga's position as well?" Rachel asked Corey.
"Of course. She is all for putting the blame and conflict behind us and trying to pick up the pieces of our lives and move on." Corey responded.
"This is makin' me sick, let's go Shawn," Rachel stood up and walked toward the door.
"Shawn," Angela stood as she spoke, "Could we talk, just you and I? Please?"
"Can I catch up with you later, Rach?" Shawn walked over the door and opened it.
"Sure, I'll be over at Jack's apartment." Shawn closed the door behind her and turned to Angela, "You wanna go somewhere?"
"Do you mind if we hang out for a bit and talk, Corey?" Angela said.
"Naw, go ahead. Topanga's already gone for the morning and I have class soon. Lock up before you leave, k?" Corey headed for the bedroom.
"You got it," Angela smiled, as Shawn sat down on the couch.
*********************************
Topanga casually ascended the stairs to the library, unaware that she was being watched. It was early in the morning; the library had just opened. She was anxious to begin studying for her upcoming finals. After she entered the front doors, she continued up the library staircase, heading for the third floor. Topanga found a secluded corner to study in, away from the soon to be dense traffic areas on that floor. She unhooked her green backpack from her shoulder and swung it into her chair. She rummaged through it, looking for a pen, realizing that she must have dropped it on her way in. She turned, headed back to the stairs to find it, or borrow another from the librarian on the first floor. Topanga had descended a single step when she heard a voice behind her.
"Topanga..." Startled, she turned to see who had called her by name. Jack was standing directly behind her, looking down at her.
"Hi, Jack, you scared me... what are you doing here?"
"Studying... isn't that what a library is for?" he spoke sharply.
"Uh, yeah, but I didn't expect anyone to be here this early... anyway, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Just fine. How are YOU?" Jack's tone was patronizing.
Topanga was visibly uncomfortable. She thought Jack looked tired, worn out, and a little gaunt. "Listen, Jack. I know about you and Eric. I know you blame Corey and I for what happened, but you can't let this destroy you. We all have to move on, together."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you asking for my forgiveness? For Eric's forgiveness?" Jack smirked evilly.
"No... not exactly... well, maybe. I just think we should put this behind us and..."
Jack cut her off, "Forget about Eric? Forget that you prejudice bastards drove him to kill himself?" Jack spoke forcefully. Topanga took a step back.
"Jack, maybe we should sit down and talk about this... with Corey and Angela and everyone together..." She took another step backward, down the stairs. Jack took a step forward, keeping only one step between them.
"I don't think we have anything to say to each other, do you?" Topanga took another step back. Jack stepped forward again.
"Jack, you're scaring me... please, maybe we should talk about this another time..."
"I don't HAVE time to waste on you selfish, homophobic ASSHOLES!" Jack closed the gap between them, spitting his words into Topanga's face. Frightened, she stepped backward again, misgauging her footing, taking 2 stairs at once. As the her weight transferred from her left foot to her right, she faltered, tumbling down the staircase, flailing like a rag doll.
Jack stood there, motionless, watching her reel down the stairs. "See, I told you I got your back, Eric... One down, two to go."