When Cory Matthews woke up that morning he hadn't planned on throwing his life away.
He woke up in his bed alone, as his wife was already up doing lawyer things, that he is too dumb to understand.
He shaved his face as he did every morning. But there was a moment when he looked at the razor in his hand and thought about slicing his neck open.
But he rinsed his face off instead.
%%%
Cory went to his kitchen to see his sister in law, Nebula was feeding his baby son, Auggie. The microwave beeped. Nebula opened the microwave and pulled out a plate of pancakes for his young daughter Riley.
Cory stared at the microwave and wondered what would happen if he stuck his head in it.
But then he looked at his daughter. He reached for her, but then backed away. Today he felt as if he wasn't allowed to hug his daughter goodbye today.
%%%
As he walked to his car, Cory looked into the fast pace New York traffic and wondered what would happen if he threw himself in the middle of the road.
But instead he got in his car and began driving toward John Quincy Adams middle school, where he works as a Teacher's assistant.
Vermont
The world pops into his head.
Vermont
He remembers hearing how beautiful Vermont was during fall.
Vermont
He doesn't know anyone in Vermont but...when he hears Vermont, a name comes to mind.
Then he decided to do something he hadn't done in a long time. He did something impulsive.
He pulled over and got on his cell phone. First he called his boss and told him that he was really sick today. He chose this lie because he knew his boss was a hypochondriac and would give him a few days off.
Then he called a number he knew by heart, but wasn't sure Shawn would answer. He sat there as the phone rang, trying to keep his nerve.
"Hey Cor."
His lips began to shake hearing his voice.
"Cor?"
"I love you." Cory cries, "I have always loved you and I will always love you."
Cory hears a whimper and then a bunch of shuffling.
After a minute, Cory speaks again.
"Shawnie?"
He hears Shawn breathing heavy.
"Do you want to meet...in Vermont?"
"Okay," Shawn cries in between breaths before hanging up.
Cory turned the wheel to the left. He turned into the lane heading out of New York.
%%%%
When Shawn Hunter woke up that morning, he hadn't planned on throwing his life away.
He woke up in his bed alone, as he always did.
He made one cup of coffee for himself and grabbed a protein bar before heading out.
%%%
He blasted Counting Crows in dad's truck as he drove to his job as a photographer for a commercial company.
He doesn't actually like his job but the money is good enough.
He goes work preparing to spend his day taking pictures of toothpaste, when he gets a surprise phone call.
"Hey Cor."
He hears crying on the other end.
"Cor?"
"I love you." Cory cries, "I have always loved you and I will always love you."
A whimper escapes his mouth. Shawn feels his eyes get heavy. He runs out of the studio to the nearest bathroom. Once he was in a stall. He began to blubber.
"Shawnie?"
Shawn puts the phone back up to his ear, breathing heavy.
"Do you want to meet...in Vermont?" Cory asks.
Then he decided to do something he hadn't done in a long time. He did something impulsive.
"Okay," Shawn cries in between breaths before hanging up.
When he gets out of the bathroom, his boss and co-workers look at him concerned. He tells his boss that his mother has died.
He chose this lie, because he knows his boss is a huge mama's boy and will give him a few days off.
During the five hour drive, Shawn had a lot of time to think.
What exactly does he expect is going to happen in Vermont?
He does think about Topanga and their children for a minute.
Maybe he should talk this over with someone. Angela? Jack? Feeny?
But then he would have to tell all of them what happened the week before Cory and Topanga's wedding. The real reason Cory and him were fighting during the wedding. And the real reason why Cory distanced himself from him.
He would have to justify his feelings. which they wouldn't be able to understand.
He knew this was going to be a bad idea. But he couldn't stop his heart from beating. And he couldn't stop being in love with Cory Matthews.
That's why he continued to drive.
%%%%
Vermont was definitely beautiful. The falling of the dead leaves were strangely calming to Cory as he stood in the parking lot of the motel. He hadn't been to Vermont since the week before his wedding.
In the back of his head, he wondered if Shawn was really going to come. He and Shawn haven't been that close for the last eight years, so Cory shouldn't expect Shawn to come at a moment's notice.
Cory stood out there for an hour, alone. He was about to wise up and go home, when he recognized Chet Hunter's old truck pulling up.
His heart was beating a billionaire miles a minute. But when he finally saw Shawn, all he felt was joy.
Shawn had cut his hair and grown a goatee. He was so hot.
The minute Shawn saw him, Shawn started running to him. He caught Shawn in his arms and eagerly welcomed Shawn's tongue back in his mouth.