(A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back! Sorry for the delay in chapters. I think I'm a bit resistant, as this is the second to last chapter. :-( Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews! Please keep them coming! I hope you enjoy this installment! ~TRP~)
Chapter 6 –
Shawn, Cory, and Mr. Turner arrived at a small, but homey Irish Pub about twenty or so blocks north of where they last were.
"Are you sure this is right? It looks closed. I've been here before…I don't think they're open." Shawn stated to Mr. Tuner and Cory.
"Nah, come on. Let's try anyway."
Shawn gave a wary glance. It was closed…He even thought he saw a sign that said as much…
Giving a sigh, he followed his friends in.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Shouted a crowd that included Cory, Topanga, Mr. Turner, Mr. Feeny, Jack and Rachel. He even thought he saw Eric in the mix.
Shawn stood still, jaw agape, complexly flabbergasted.
"What's going on? I thought you all said you had to leave…?"
"And miss this? Yeah right!" Eric Matthews said coming forward, and giving Shawn a hug.
Eric had been away on business. He rediscovered (and perhaps never lost) his love for meteorology, and divided his time between being a weatherman and working for one of the local adoption agencies. He hadn't seen Mr. Feeny originally because he had come in from behind.
Shawn had a genuine smile on his face, but his mind flooded with the one person who was missing from the crowd…
"Yo Feeny! Fee-hee-hee-hee-hee-ney!" Eric exclaimed excitedly, as the elder man blushed slightly with embarrassment.
"Cor…Topanga, thank you. Thank you so much, I don't know what else to say." Shawn said, slightly embarrassed at all of the attention.
"No need to say anything my dear boy. Just enjoy and celebrate!" Said Mr. Feeny, warmly.
"Yeah, Hunter! It's party time – time to live a little!" Said Mr. Turner.
"Alright!" Jack and Eric yelled, as everyone cheered, and began the party.
After leaving the restaurant hours later, and saying goodbye to Mr. Turner, Mr. Feeny, Eric, Jack and Rachel, Cory and Topanga brought Shawn back to his apartment.
Both had noticed him staring out the window; not as subtle as Shawn had hoped. He even disappeared on occasion – just long enough for himself, but short enough where no one would notice (or so Shawn had thought).
"Guys, look…This was a great night, and I loved seeing everyone, but…" Shawn took a deep breath.
"But what Shawn?" Topanga asked, concern lacing her voice.
"But I can't do this anymore. I can't stay."
"Shawn, what are you talking about?"
"I'm leaving the City. I can't bear it anymore. I'm going to go in, book a flight and find Angela."
"Shawn-" Topanga started, as Shawn got out his keys, putting them into the lock.
"No, don't try and stop me. I don't want to be stopped; I don't want to be here anymore. All I want, all I really want is to s–"
Topanga and Cory were briefly taken aback by the passion and determination in this voice, as they have not heard him speak this way for quite some time.
It tended to worry them when he reacted like this…First what came off as anger usually led to some form of self-destruction…
(A/N: Please Review! Thanks! ~TRP~)