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Chapter 5:

Baby You Can Blame It All On Me

On a beautiful Saturday day afternoon, Juliet had just gotten out of her shower and was planning to go over to Carlton's place. However her plan immediately changed when she opened her door to an unexpected visitor. The visitor was Shawn.

"Hey Jules... can I come in?"

"Sure Shawn." Juliet said as she welcomed him inside.

As the two made it to the sofa, Juliet looked her boyfriend over and was surprised to see bags under his eyes. As if he hasn't slept in a long while.

"Shawn are you alright?" Juliet asked carefully.

Unusually subdued, Shawn picked up a couch pillow and held it protectively over his torso.

"I don't think so Jules."

"Shawn you're starting to scare me. What's going on?"

Shawn took a deep breath before saying, "Jules...I don't think...that...we should...date anymore..."

An astounded Juliet said, "You're breaking up with me? What brought this on?" She knew they a little rough patch lately and that she hadn't spent much time with him since The Lab Incident. But she never would've thought this was going to happen.

Shawn now staring at the floor said, "Well Lassie getting hurt and almost..." He couldn't bring himself to say the very word. Even the word "dying" in regards to someone he was semi close with was too frightening for him. "Well you know. It's made me realize somethings. One of which is I gotta reevaluate my life and my relationships."

"What do you have to reevaluate between us. I mean yeah a lot of things could be better but I'm still at a loss of how Lassiter's...accident brought on this decision."

"The basic thing Jules is that seeing Lassie hurt like that really scared me. And then seeing how you are with him scares me more. And the scariest thing really is...I-I don't want you to hate me."

"Hate you?!" Juliet heard herself shriek.

"Jules...Lassie getting hurt was my fault! If I hadn't brought Ryan there none of that would've happened. That whole situation happened because of me."

"Oh Shawn no that's not..."

"Yes it is!" Shawn exclaimed with tears in his eyes. Then he said softer, "Yes it is. Jules what if it wasn't just Lassie that got hurt? What if that were you or Gus? Or both of you?! I couldn't live knowing that..."

"Shawn stop! None of that is true. I mean sure, we could've done without Ryan being there but Lassiter getting hurt was not your fault. Ryan made that choice. And because of his choice he's working at a community center. Again Shawn, he made that choice not you. You would never intentionally hurt anyone. Especially not Carlton." Shawn looked at her with a child like hopeful expression mixed with worry and guilt.

"Shawn it wasn't your fault. And I don't hate you."

"You mean that Jules?"

"Of course."

The two sat quietly for a few moments before Juliet said, "So this is really it huh."

"Yeah. We had fun didn't we."

"Yeah we did."

"We'll always have the Macho Taco."

Juliet smiled as she nodded in agreement.

"He'll treat you right Jules. That I'm sure of." Shawn said now finally looking at her.

"Who?"

"Lassie. Oh come on! I've seen how the two of you look at each other. There's some righteous chemistry going on."

"Oh Shawn! There's nothing going on between me and Carlton. What you see is great partnership."

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that."

Before Juliet could respond, Shawn then asked, "Even though we're officially not dating...can we still be friends?"

"Of course Shawn."

"Phew! That's a relief. I wouldn't know what to do without my B-triple-F."

"B-triple-F?"

"Best Female Friend Forever. It doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely now that I say it out loud."

Juliet smiled and said, "Well thanks! Just so you know, you're my B-P-F-F. Best Psychic Friend Forever."

"Hmm...as much as I like that. I will not summit to your superior BFFing."

"But you know you should!"

"But I will not."

"My BFF skillz are amazing!"

"My dear sweet Jules, it looks like you're disagreement will have to agree with my agreement." "You mean agree to disagree." "I've heard it both ways."

They both a bad good laugh. And they were both very grateful to part, relationship wise, very maturely.

Juliet's day there after went very well. Knowing that friendships should always be cherished.

TBC