The Explanation

Shawn watched Angela in pain as he recounted the story to her. She sat silently beside him until he finished where he had left off with Cory. She could figure the rest out.

"Angela," he said, taking her trembling hands, "she called me yesterday and told me she was pregnant. And the worst part about it is that I lied to you. There was no dead cousin. I didn't want to have to face you, knowing you would never be able to forgive me."

Angela's eyes were glistening with tears. "How could you do this to me, Shawn?" she cried, pulling away from his grasp.

"It meant nothing," Shawn insisted.

"Nothing? Shawn, you don't do things like that and say they mean nothing. It had to have meant something," Angela retorted, turning away from her boyfriend.

"Angela, you have to believe me. If I only knew one thing, it would be this, that you are the only thing that has ever made sense to me. I love you more than anyone in the world. I always have."

"I love you too," she choked. "But I've always wanted to be the person you shared that experience with. I wanted to be the first person who truly loved you. I wanted to be the one you'd spend the rest of your life with. You always said the same thing. I guess neither of us are getting what we want."

Hiding her sobs with her hands, she ran out the door, and left Shawn sitting alone on the couch.