Chapter Seven

SHAWN

"Shawn, why'd you grab her?" Angela's voice washed over me as if I had just sunk into a hot spring.

"She wasn't telling-" I paused as Angela pressed an ice-pack to the left side of my face. I thanked her and she draped her arms around me, nuzzling my cheek. "-us anything. And she just was going to leave. I swear to God, she's already back with Malcolm."

"Shawn." Angela caressed my uninjured cheek with her hand. "You can't think everything that concerns Danica also includes Malcolm."

"Well can you really blame me, hon?" I asked. "I mean she has no other friends aside from Malcolm Jemero-"

"That's not true." Angela said. "What about..uh…Josie…uh what was her name…"

"Angela." I folded my free hand over hers. "Stop trying to save her ass. You know Malcolm's her only influence."

"Oh. Like you weren't Cory's only influence." Angela said.

"Angela…it's not the same thing and you know it."

"Oh really?" Angela asked. "Really, Shawn? Do you honestly think this is any different?"

"Yeah! Angela, it is different! Malcolm's a boy! Danica's a girl! Danica…she's not just any girl…She's our daughter! See Angela? This is why I wanted boys!"

"Shawn-"

"No! Okay Angela? You know what happened! You know it and if she is responsible for making us grandparents at thirty-seven years old then you can believe me!"

"Shawn-"Angela was close to tears, but for the first time in living memory since I'd known her, I didn't care. I just needed to get out.

"Angela…look I love you, you know that, don't you?" I asked softly, taking her hands in mine. She nodded, sniffing.

"I do." She said, her voice fainting. "I do Shawn."

"Angela…" I brought my hand up to her face and ran it across her cheek to run it through her hair. "You'd understand if…if I just went away for a while…just to see someone, right?"

"Shawn-"

"Angela! Please!"

"Who would you go see Shawn? All your friends…everyone…everyone's here."

"My dad."

"Shawn, your dad's been dead for-"

"I know!" I said, letting go of her hands and pushing away her hand as it went to touch my face. "Angela…just please." She nodded slowly, like she didn't want to at first, but knew this was just something I had to do. She threw her arms around me and I hugged her tight. I walked to the door and turned around, my hand still on it.

"How long will you be in Philly?" she asked.

"A couple days." I said hoarsely. "That's all." I took my coat from the crooked hook on the wall and put it on roughly.

"Thank you Angela." I said, knowing I just had to get out of the room before I completely lost it. "For everything. You are the best thing…that has ever happened to me." She nodded and I knew she felt the same way.

I turned the doorknob, but instead of opening the door, I took her in my arms and kissed her. Our lips stayed together for what seemed like an eternity, but I knew I had to get out.

"Goodbye, Angela." I said softly, my face barely an inch from hers.

"Shawn…I thought we agreed never to stay goodbye."

"I know." I said. "I…"

I didn't let myself finish. I opened the door and slowly walked down the stairs and out into the City, seeing my breath rise like visible anguish from my mouth as I headed for the train station.