Jack made a move as though to call Shawn, but caught eyes with Eric who was making gestures of protest with his hands. Jack bit his lip, not quite sure what he should do.
"Shawn...isn't...here...?" Jack looked over at Eric to see if he had landed upon the correct awnser. Eric gave him the look Jack usually gave him, the look that would perhaps say 'oh come on!'
After a pause Eddie smiled slightly and Jack and put his hand to Jack shoulder. Jack flinched.
"Listen my friend, I am here on some important bussiness that would be between me, and---"
And as though that was a cue, Shawn, with Cory following behind, burtsed out of Shawns room, failing to take in the akward situation before them.
Shawn groaned, "Cory for the last time, I don't want the purple curtains!"
"Why not? Purple is a beautiful color! It goes great with your nighty lite and stains blend right in!"
"You HATE the color purple!"
"Uhhh guys?" Eric interrupted.
"Eric! My brother!" Cory cried as he waltzed over to Eric and put his arm around his shoulders, "Would you like some purple curtains? I'm sure they'd---"'
"I'll buy some.", said Eddie
And for one moment, Corys expression turned into one pure of glee, changing almost immedeatley to one of wide eyed shock and fear.
"Ahh!" Cory jumped, hiding behind Eric and pushing him forward, "quick someone called the cops...", Cory rasped as low as he could.
Shawn looked at Eddie as well, who was looking right back at him. Shawn's expression was almost unreadable except for maybe the fact that his eyes had narrowed, and it almost seemed as though dark shadows gathered around them. Eddie simply stood there and smiled. However, it would be the day of the worlds end when Eddie would flash a genuine, happy smile. No Eddie was baring the usual smug, perhaps even evil grin he always bared. And after what seem like an eternity, Shawn finally spoke.
"Eddie. What are you doing here?" A simple question though it was, Shawn spoke slowly and as though out of breath. Although no one could blame him. How long had it really been since Shawn had looked into Eddies hard face? A million thoughts flowed throught Shawns head. Eddie Hunter had never been good news, overlooking the days of their early youth, when they were but little children. They had at one point been closer than Jack had been to Shawn anyway. But Eddie just became another corrupt face in the Hunter family soon enough. And Shawn, Shawn was now only adjusting to his new life. But of course, Shawn had always expected it screw up. 'Why wouldn't it? God hates me anyway.' Was it time already for his past to interfere with his new life once again? At this moment at least, Shawn was convinced that it was.
"Shawnie..." Eddie said, somewhat in the same breathless voice. "...Shawnie!" Eddie, shoving Jack slightly aside (who was still standing at the doorway unsure of anything anymore and feeling more dumbfouded than he ever had in his life), walked up the three steps leading to the small elevation and stood face to face with Shawn. And Eddie laughed. "Look at how big you've grown!" He gave Shawn a half hug, which Shawn didn't return. And once again there was still silence. Eddie spoke this time. "Well, aren't you gonna say somethin Shawn?"
"I have something to say." Whimpered a voice behind Eric, and all heads turned to look at Cory.
"..Is that scary eleven year old still with you?"
Shawn sighed. And looked back at Eddie, "What are you doing here?"He said softly.
Eddie, ignoring the fact that behind him and Shawn, a young looking boy was pounding on Cory's feet screaming "I'm 15 and I can still kick your ass!" while Eric tried to restrain him but was also getting beat, looked into the face of his younger brother, "I wanted to see you again Shawn. Is that so wrong? Your my little brother man."
Shawn bit his lip, "My life is beginning to turn around. Don't screw it up for me now. Why don't you just get you and your friends out of here and leave me alone?"
"I can't do that Shawn. I need to talk to you."
"What could we possibly have to talk about?"
"OUCH!" Eric screeched from behind them as the 15 yr. old kid broke his nose. Shawn glanced at Eric, then at Jack who was looking back at Shawn with what seemed like concern and confusion, and at Cory who was trying to crawl away from the 15 yr old and over to the phone. Shawns heart was pounding. The farther away Eddie was from these guys, the better.
"Fine, lets just talk outside okay?"
Eddie nodded, "C'mon boys lets hit the road."
And Eddie walked down to the doorway where his goons stood, staring down Jack who was looking frightened of them. The 15 year old had one last kick at Eric and walked back as well. Eddie lookedd at Shawn. Shawn nodded slightly and walked down towards them, but Cory grabbed his arm.
"Where do you think your going?" Cory asked in what was a slightly disgusted tone.
"Cory, let go, he can't be here. Just let me handle this okay?"
"No! I'm not letting you go with these guys!" Cory yelled. But as though kryptonite, the 15 yr old kid growled at him and Cory backed away enough for Shawn to detach from his grip. And so he, Eddie, and everyone else walked away from the doorway, down the hall, and out of sight.
Jack, Eric, and Cory stood there in a mist of shocked silence. (Well Eric was in too much pain to speak either way.)
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Jack and Eric sat on the couch, a first aid kit in front of them, as Jack clumsily tried his best to mend Eric's broken nose. In the kitchen next to them, Cory paced back and forth.
"Who...were...those guys..?" Jack asked.
Cory grimaced "No one good, Jack no one good. Dammit, what could Eddie possibly want?"
"Who is this Eddie guy?"
Cory stoped pacing and leaned against the counter as though for support.
"Eddie is Shawns older brother. Eddies always been this criminal, not even Shawn liked him. They never liked each other. A couple years back I entered this contest thing for a news station. We were supposed to find the best story we could, and the best one would be aired. Shawn and I turned in a tape of Eddie stealing some computers. When authorities raided his trailer they found all sorts of illegal things, drugs, marijuana, hard liqour. So they threw Eddie in jail."
"So...hes my older brother too?"
"Yea actually...hes your brother too Jack."
"Man!" Eric cried and Jack and Cory both turned to Eric.
"...That is one scary 11 yr. old!"
END CHAP 2
