Lilmisswriter: Thanks for the answer, and I am now not sure what I'll do.
Regardless of what happens you have opened up my mind, and I thank you.
Kupono: Keep reading, it might take awhile, but I think you'll like where the story finally ends up. Glad you've tuned in!
Bop1997: Here you go! Thanks for reading
Blonde-Angel: Enjoy!
It was getting dark when Cory pulled into the apartment parking lot and went upstairs to trade back cars with his brother and talk to Shawn. All the way home he'd been thinking about the past week, and he couldn't wait to tell his best friend everything.
Knock, Knock!
"Must be Cory" Eric said, coming out from the kitchen and going to answer the door. Shawn, who was lounging on the sofa, just nodded. He had mixed feelings about seeing Cory that evening, after the argument and subsequent make-up with Topanga Shawn found that he couldn't get her out of his head. The suppressed emotion and underlying pain reflected in that one single question "Is he happy?" really brought home how deeply Topanga felt the break-up, and yet still desired Cory's happiness above all else. It made him wonder about Cory's actions during those first few days, and if maybe he could have done things a little differently, with a little more thought to Topanga's feelings. "How am I going to keep up this charade?" Shawn wondered "How can I pretend to be 100% supportive of Cory and everything he's done when I now know firsthand how badly he's hurt Topanga in the process?"
"Hi Eric, Hey Shawnie! I'm back, and I can't wait to tell you all about my trip!"
"Well first you better hand over my keys, I hate your car! Creaks and groans around every turn, half the screws loose, I don't know how you stand it." Eric responded
"Now, now, don't talk about my sweet little Mandy that way, you'll hurt her feelings!" Cory loved his little Junker for some odd reason, naming her and cherishing every bump, creak, and crack. The boys quickly traded keys and then Eric opened up the conversation
"So you had a good time? A pretty lady in a quaint little town, very romantic, I can just imagine." He smiled slyly and gave Cory a wink and a nod
"No, nothing like that, but I did have a great time. The first night meeting her folks was rough, her dad is cool, but her mother, what a witch! I swear I wouldn't have eaten dinner if she'd made it, it might have been poisioned!" It was then Cory noticed Shawn's conspicuous silence. Thanking that maybe he didn't feel included, he turned and said "Hey Shawn, I bet you know something about that kind of a meeting with the parents. Wasn't Angela's dad none to happy that you were dating his daughter at first? Maybe you can give me some pointers on how to handle Lauren's mom. I could use all the help I can get."
"Just be yourself Cor, that's what I did. So what happened this week?" Shawn did his best to sound cheerful and normal, and though Cory didn't notice any difference, being capable of denseness beyond comprehension, Eric heard the listless undertone and noticed the slightly tired look on Shawn's face. He glanced over at him for a second with concern, then decided to excuse himself.
"Well guys" he spoke up quickly before Cory could answer Shawn's question, "I think I'll leave you two to your girl talk and get out of here. I needed to make a trip to the library anyway. Shawn you take care, ok?" Shawn shot him a look equal parts fear, gratitude, and frustration then Cory, still oblivious, spoke up:
"Why don't you stick around? You never hang out anymore."
"Man, he really must have it bad" Eric thought, "I haven't seen him this zoned out since the night Topanga gave him his first kiss." Aloud he said "No, I have to get some studying done, besides, once you two get started a person would think they're in a hen house the way you act! So thanks but no thanks, see you later." And shooting Shawn one last sympathetic look Eric headed out the door. Once he was gone Cory settled down next to his bud on the couch and started right in.
"Shawn, you just can't imagine how wonderful this past week was! The weather, the scenery, the company. Especially the company. Lauren really went all out for my trip, taking me to all her favorite hangouts and making sure we had time every day to spend together. She took the week off work, so we had no interruptions. There was this one little restaurant on, can you believe it?, Lover's Lane, that had the most delicious desserts you've ever tasted! Then we spent one whole day at the ski lodge, they will have to close the slopes down soon for the summer. We couldn't ski of course, Lauren still has her cast for another 2 weeks, but we had a massage and facials (here Cory flashed an embarrassed Cory grin), then we cuddled up in the sauna, oh man was it hot! It felt surprisingly good though. We went to the movies one day, paid once then snuck from theater to theater catching all the movies that were showing. I've never met anyone who's done that before. I was scared to death we were going to get caught, but we never did, and it was a blast! Even the place I stayed was great, a little bed and breakfast on Main St., ran by the nicest older couple, reminded me a lot of Feeny and the dean actually. They were so sweet, I guess they've known Lauren for years, everyone just about seemed to know everyone in that place, it was a bit bizarre to tell you the truth, but Lauren assured me it was part of the city's charm." Here Cory finally paused for breath, and Shawn, who found he couldn't take it anymore, burst forth:
"Cory, that's just great! You spent a week gallivanting around a quaint little town happily in love, while the women who you swore your undying devotion to not two months ago was having one of the worst weeks of her life! What are you doing? Who are you? I have tried so hard to be supportive of this relationship of yours, understanding, a good best friend, but I realized this week that in the process there were a couple of people I'd been neglecting who needed support a lot more than you did. You want to know who they are Cory? Do you? I don't think you really care right now but I'm going to tell you anyway. They are Topanga and me! I finally talked to Topanga the other day, I'd been ignoring her this whole time, thinking you needed my undivided loyalty, that she had Angela and didn't need me too. Well I was wrong! She needed my support 10 times more than you ever have, this whole time! Why do you need me to sit here and listen to how happy you are, how in love? My approval or disapproval won't change anything and you know it! What kind of a man are you anyway, leaving her without so much as one day's warning? Did you think that love letter gave her some clue? It didn't. She was angry, sure, but she wouldn't have left you and she didn't think you were going to leave her either. Then in less than two days you tell her it's over and there's someone new? You who had told her time and time again that you would always be together! How could you Cory, I thought you were better than that!" Shawn had risen to his feet by this time and was standing over his best friend, leering down at him. After he finished he found himself exhausted and collapsed onto the easy chair beside the couch. His dam had finally burst it seemed, leaving behind a gaping hole.
Cory just sat stone still, dumbfounded. If he'd had his wits about him that day he might have been a little more prepared for Shawn's outburst, but he'd been riding such a wave of happiness it had never occurred to him what might be in store. So he just sat there on the couch, staring at his best friend, with no idea in the world what to say. His mind was a complete blank, none of the prepared comfort lines he'd gotten together for the inevitable day when he knew this was going to happen would come to him, they were to far away, buried under a flood of good feelings and lingering memories of the week just past. Cory couldn't even find his voice; it to had been lost to his surprise.
Both men just sat there, staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity, neither one able to speak, one to tired and other to shocked to get up and leave. Shawn was the first one to find his voice and said scornfully
"What, doesn't the high and mighty Cory Matthews have anything to say for himself? You sure as hell have had plenty to say up until now."
"I never told you not to talk to Topanga." Cory blurted out. It was the first thing that came into his head.
"You did everything but spell it out! The way you've been acting, not going anywhere near her, the double date from hell, what was I supposed to think?"
"I don't know Shawn, but not that! Why do you think I haven't gone near Topanga? I figured that she was still hurting and really wouldn't want anything to do with me after what I did to her. I thought I was doing her a favor. Was I wrong? As for the date, I admit that was a horrible idea, you think I don't know that now? I wasn't thinking straight; all I wanted was for my friends to get to know Lauren. I never realized it would go so badly."
"No" Shawn admitted, "You weren't wrong about Topanga. But why did you break up with her the way you did Cory, why so suddenly, couldn't you have given her time to adjust to the idea? And how could you NOT have realized the date was going to go wrong? You invited Topanga's best friend for goodness sake! Do you even think of Angela as a person, a real person? She doesn't seem to think you do, and sometimes I have to agree with her."
"Do you honestly think that I would have broken up with Topanga the way I did if I hadn't felt it was for the best? I knew as soon as I kissed Lauren in the park that day that we were meant for each other, it was a feeling like nothing I'd felt before. I wasn't about to string Topanga along for any amount of time, how would that have been fair to her? At least I told her as soon as possible, I know it was sudden, and I hated having to do it like that, but would the other alternative have been better? Would it? As for Angela, of course I see her as a whole person, at least I think I do."
"Maybe it wouldn't have been right to string her along, but still, to do it in public like that, in Chubbies of all places, where the entire student body would have a birds eye view! Have you heard the rumors that have been going around school?! As for Angela, do you know what she likes to do in her spare time, anything at all about her life outside of what I've told you myself? Do you ever say hello to her in passing when I'm not around, call her on the phone just to talk? I do those things with Topanga."
"Ok Shawn, fine, I'm a terrible friend to Angela for treating her like a sub-human, and a horrible man for breaking up with Topanga and following my heart! Is that what you want to hear? It's pretty much true anyway, so I might as well admit it! Is that better? Do you feel that I have properly repented now, or should I go throw myself on a stake? Tell me Shawn, tell me what I should do since you seem to know everything!" Cory was now the one standing, towering over Shawn. He remained standing, breathing hard, waiting for Shawn's response.
"No, you're not a horrible person or a terrible friend. That's not what I'm trying to say. I'm just trying to figure things out is all. I just want some answers Cory, is that too much to ask? How do you fall out of love in a day with someone you've sworn your undying devotion to for years? How do you never make friends with a person who is in and out of your life constantly? If Topanga wasn't your true love, then what does true love look like, what does it feel like? I've seen you and Lauren together and I can't see what is so special between you two. Eric sees it; I've heard him talking to Jack, saying how in love you are, and how he didn't think it possible for you to love someone more than you loved Topanga. How is that possible Cory? Can you tell me that? Can you assure me that what I have with Angela is the real thing and not the Cory and Topanga kind of love, because new studies show the Cory and Topanga kind of love doesn't last." All the anger was gone from Shawn's voice now, and only confusion and weariness remained. Cory, finally getting his wits about him again noticed the difference and sat back down. He knew he no longer had to be defensive, just informative.
"If only I had the answers to all of those questions Shawn, I'd be the happiest man alive. I don't though, and I'm sorry for that, but I will try to answer the ones that I can. I have no idea how you fall out of love in a day, maybe because it was never love to begin with? I don't think that is it though, because I still love Topanga, and I think I always will. I just love Lauren differently, it's like apples and oranges, and as much as I will always love apples I like oranges just a little bit better. Breaking up with Topanga in public was wrong, I see that now too, but I wasn't thinking clearly at the time, I would think the double date would be proof enough of that. As for Angela, I always thought we were friends; it never occurred to me that we might not be until you asked me those questions. That is something I have to work on, I would like to get to know her better. I don't know exactly what true love looks or feels like, I just know that I'm experiencing it, and I've been lucky enough to experience it twice. Don't base your relationship with Angela on mine with Topanga! You have a great thing going man, don't go all crazy and blow it. Is that good enough for you? It's all I've got, so it better be."
"It doesn't sound like I have much of a choice does it? If that's all you've got I'm just going to have to live with it." Shawn finally cracked a smile, aiming it in Cory's direction. He felt as if a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders, everything was out in the open now, and he liked a world without secrets. "Truce?"
"Truce. I'm sorry I acted the way I did, and I want you to know that I don't have any problem with you talking to Topanga, I never did! Well, I'm going to head on out of here, I know mom and dad are expecting me home soon, and they'll worry if I don't show up. We'll talk later?"
"Of course! I'm glad everything's settled now; maybe things will begin to get back to normal. I'll see you soon."
"Bye man!" Cory and Shawn said in unison, sharing one of their girly man- hugs. Cory left and Shawn remained behind, going into his bedroom he flopped down on the bed and was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.
I hope this more than makes up for the wait! I wasn't expecting it to take this long, it was started when I submitted the last chapter, but it took awhile to finish. Review please!
Kupono: Keep reading, it might take awhile, but I think you'll like where the story finally ends up. Glad you've tuned in!
Bop1997: Here you go! Thanks for reading
Blonde-Angel: Enjoy!
It was getting dark when Cory pulled into the apartment parking lot and went upstairs to trade back cars with his brother and talk to Shawn. All the way home he'd been thinking about the past week, and he couldn't wait to tell his best friend everything.
Knock, Knock!
"Must be Cory" Eric said, coming out from the kitchen and going to answer the door. Shawn, who was lounging on the sofa, just nodded. He had mixed feelings about seeing Cory that evening, after the argument and subsequent make-up with Topanga Shawn found that he couldn't get her out of his head. The suppressed emotion and underlying pain reflected in that one single question "Is he happy?" really brought home how deeply Topanga felt the break-up, and yet still desired Cory's happiness above all else. It made him wonder about Cory's actions during those first few days, and if maybe he could have done things a little differently, with a little more thought to Topanga's feelings. "How am I going to keep up this charade?" Shawn wondered "How can I pretend to be 100% supportive of Cory and everything he's done when I now know firsthand how badly he's hurt Topanga in the process?"
"Hi Eric, Hey Shawnie! I'm back, and I can't wait to tell you all about my trip!"
"Well first you better hand over my keys, I hate your car! Creaks and groans around every turn, half the screws loose, I don't know how you stand it." Eric responded
"Now, now, don't talk about my sweet little Mandy that way, you'll hurt her feelings!" Cory loved his little Junker for some odd reason, naming her and cherishing every bump, creak, and crack. The boys quickly traded keys and then Eric opened up the conversation
"So you had a good time? A pretty lady in a quaint little town, very romantic, I can just imagine." He smiled slyly and gave Cory a wink and a nod
"No, nothing like that, but I did have a great time. The first night meeting her folks was rough, her dad is cool, but her mother, what a witch! I swear I wouldn't have eaten dinner if she'd made it, it might have been poisioned!" It was then Cory noticed Shawn's conspicuous silence. Thanking that maybe he didn't feel included, he turned and said "Hey Shawn, I bet you know something about that kind of a meeting with the parents. Wasn't Angela's dad none to happy that you were dating his daughter at first? Maybe you can give me some pointers on how to handle Lauren's mom. I could use all the help I can get."
"Just be yourself Cor, that's what I did. So what happened this week?" Shawn did his best to sound cheerful and normal, and though Cory didn't notice any difference, being capable of denseness beyond comprehension, Eric heard the listless undertone and noticed the slightly tired look on Shawn's face. He glanced over at him for a second with concern, then decided to excuse himself.
"Well guys" he spoke up quickly before Cory could answer Shawn's question, "I think I'll leave you two to your girl talk and get out of here. I needed to make a trip to the library anyway. Shawn you take care, ok?" Shawn shot him a look equal parts fear, gratitude, and frustration then Cory, still oblivious, spoke up:
"Why don't you stick around? You never hang out anymore."
"Man, he really must have it bad" Eric thought, "I haven't seen him this zoned out since the night Topanga gave him his first kiss." Aloud he said "No, I have to get some studying done, besides, once you two get started a person would think they're in a hen house the way you act! So thanks but no thanks, see you later." And shooting Shawn one last sympathetic look Eric headed out the door. Once he was gone Cory settled down next to his bud on the couch and started right in.
"Shawn, you just can't imagine how wonderful this past week was! The weather, the scenery, the company. Especially the company. Lauren really went all out for my trip, taking me to all her favorite hangouts and making sure we had time every day to spend together. She took the week off work, so we had no interruptions. There was this one little restaurant on, can you believe it?, Lover's Lane, that had the most delicious desserts you've ever tasted! Then we spent one whole day at the ski lodge, they will have to close the slopes down soon for the summer. We couldn't ski of course, Lauren still has her cast for another 2 weeks, but we had a massage and facials (here Cory flashed an embarrassed Cory grin), then we cuddled up in the sauna, oh man was it hot! It felt surprisingly good though. We went to the movies one day, paid once then snuck from theater to theater catching all the movies that were showing. I've never met anyone who's done that before. I was scared to death we were going to get caught, but we never did, and it was a blast! Even the place I stayed was great, a little bed and breakfast on Main St., ran by the nicest older couple, reminded me a lot of Feeny and the dean actually. They were so sweet, I guess they've known Lauren for years, everyone just about seemed to know everyone in that place, it was a bit bizarre to tell you the truth, but Lauren assured me it was part of the city's charm." Here Cory finally paused for breath, and Shawn, who found he couldn't take it anymore, burst forth:
"Cory, that's just great! You spent a week gallivanting around a quaint little town happily in love, while the women who you swore your undying devotion to not two months ago was having one of the worst weeks of her life! What are you doing? Who are you? I have tried so hard to be supportive of this relationship of yours, understanding, a good best friend, but I realized this week that in the process there were a couple of people I'd been neglecting who needed support a lot more than you did. You want to know who they are Cory? Do you? I don't think you really care right now but I'm going to tell you anyway. They are Topanga and me! I finally talked to Topanga the other day, I'd been ignoring her this whole time, thinking you needed my undivided loyalty, that she had Angela and didn't need me too. Well I was wrong! She needed my support 10 times more than you ever have, this whole time! Why do you need me to sit here and listen to how happy you are, how in love? My approval or disapproval won't change anything and you know it! What kind of a man are you anyway, leaving her without so much as one day's warning? Did you think that love letter gave her some clue? It didn't. She was angry, sure, but she wouldn't have left you and she didn't think you were going to leave her either. Then in less than two days you tell her it's over and there's someone new? You who had told her time and time again that you would always be together! How could you Cory, I thought you were better than that!" Shawn had risen to his feet by this time and was standing over his best friend, leering down at him. After he finished he found himself exhausted and collapsed onto the easy chair beside the couch. His dam had finally burst it seemed, leaving behind a gaping hole.
Cory just sat stone still, dumbfounded. If he'd had his wits about him that day he might have been a little more prepared for Shawn's outburst, but he'd been riding such a wave of happiness it had never occurred to him what might be in store. So he just sat there on the couch, staring at his best friend, with no idea in the world what to say. His mind was a complete blank, none of the prepared comfort lines he'd gotten together for the inevitable day when he knew this was going to happen would come to him, they were to far away, buried under a flood of good feelings and lingering memories of the week just past. Cory couldn't even find his voice; it to had been lost to his surprise.
Both men just sat there, staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity, neither one able to speak, one to tired and other to shocked to get up and leave. Shawn was the first one to find his voice and said scornfully
"What, doesn't the high and mighty Cory Matthews have anything to say for himself? You sure as hell have had plenty to say up until now."
"I never told you not to talk to Topanga." Cory blurted out. It was the first thing that came into his head.
"You did everything but spell it out! The way you've been acting, not going anywhere near her, the double date from hell, what was I supposed to think?"
"I don't know Shawn, but not that! Why do you think I haven't gone near Topanga? I figured that she was still hurting and really wouldn't want anything to do with me after what I did to her. I thought I was doing her a favor. Was I wrong? As for the date, I admit that was a horrible idea, you think I don't know that now? I wasn't thinking straight; all I wanted was for my friends to get to know Lauren. I never realized it would go so badly."
"No" Shawn admitted, "You weren't wrong about Topanga. But why did you break up with her the way you did Cory, why so suddenly, couldn't you have given her time to adjust to the idea? And how could you NOT have realized the date was going to go wrong? You invited Topanga's best friend for goodness sake! Do you even think of Angela as a person, a real person? She doesn't seem to think you do, and sometimes I have to agree with her."
"Do you honestly think that I would have broken up with Topanga the way I did if I hadn't felt it was for the best? I knew as soon as I kissed Lauren in the park that day that we were meant for each other, it was a feeling like nothing I'd felt before. I wasn't about to string Topanga along for any amount of time, how would that have been fair to her? At least I told her as soon as possible, I know it was sudden, and I hated having to do it like that, but would the other alternative have been better? Would it? As for Angela, of course I see her as a whole person, at least I think I do."
"Maybe it wouldn't have been right to string her along, but still, to do it in public like that, in Chubbies of all places, where the entire student body would have a birds eye view! Have you heard the rumors that have been going around school?! As for Angela, do you know what she likes to do in her spare time, anything at all about her life outside of what I've told you myself? Do you ever say hello to her in passing when I'm not around, call her on the phone just to talk? I do those things with Topanga."
"Ok Shawn, fine, I'm a terrible friend to Angela for treating her like a sub-human, and a horrible man for breaking up with Topanga and following my heart! Is that what you want to hear? It's pretty much true anyway, so I might as well admit it! Is that better? Do you feel that I have properly repented now, or should I go throw myself on a stake? Tell me Shawn, tell me what I should do since you seem to know everything!" Cory was now the one standing, towering over Shawn. He remained standing, breathing hard, waiting for Shawn's response.
"No, you're not a horrible person or a terrible friend. That's not what I'm trying to say. I'm just trying to figure things out is all. I just want some answers Cory, is that too much to ask? How do you fall out of love in a day with someone you've sworn your undying devotion to for years? How do you never make friends with a person who is in and out of your life constantly? If Topanga wasn't your true love, then what does true love look like, what does it feel like? I've seen you and Lauren together and I can't see what is so special between you two. Eric sees it; I've heard him talking to Jack, saying how in love you are, and how he didn't think it possible for you to love someone more than you loved Topanga. How is that possible Cory? Can you tell me that? Can you assure me that what I have with Angela is the real thing and not the Cory and Topanga kind of love, because new studies show the Cory and Topanga kind of love doesn't last." All the anger was gone from Shawn's voice now, and only confusion and weariness remained. Cory, finally getting his wits about him again noticed the difference and sat back down. He knew he no longer had to be defensive, just informative.
"If only I had the answers to all of those questions Shawn, I'd be the happiest man alive. I don't though, and I'm sorry for that, but I will try to answer the ones that I can. I have no idea how you fall out of love in a day, maybe because it was never love to begin with? I don't think that is it though, because I still love Topanga, and I think I always will. I just love Lauren differently, it's like apples and oranges, and as much as I will always love apples I like oranges just a little bit better. Breaking up with Topanga in public was wrong, I see that now too, but I wasn't thinking clearly at the time, I would think the double date would be proof enough of that. As for Angela, I always thought we were friends; it never occurred to me that we might not be until you asked me those questions. That is something I have to work on, I would like to get to know her better. I don't know exactly what true love looks or feels like, I just know that I'm experiencing it, and I've been lucky enough to experience it twice. Don't base your relationship with Angela on mine with Topanga! You have a great thing going man, don't go all crazy and blow it. Is that good enough for you? It's all I've got, so it better be."
"It doesn't sound like I have much of a choice does it? If that's all you've got I'm just going to have to live with it." Shawn finally cracked a smile, aiming it in Cory's direction. He felt as if a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders, everything was out in the open now, and he liked a world without secrets. "Truce?"
"Truce. I'm sorry I acted the way I did, and I want you to know that I don't have any problem with you talking to Topanga, I never did! Well, I'm going to head on out of here, I know mom and dad are expecting me home soon, and they'll worry if I don't show up. We'll talk later?"
"Of course! I'm glad everything's settled now; maybe things will begin to get back to normal. I'll see you soon."
"Bye man!" Cory and Shawn said in unison, sharing one of their girly man- hugs. Cory left and Shawn remained behind, going into his bedroom he flopped down on the bed and was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.
I hope this more than makes up for the wait! I wasn't expecting it to take this long, it was started when I submitted the last chapter, but it took awhile to finish. Review please!