A/N: I started writing this chapter two weeks ago and only had a few things figured out. Then I basically had writers block after the little piece I had written...but thanks to the writer's block I figured out where I want to take this chapter!(P.S. I usually don't add two songs to this story but an idea that popped in my brain while I was listening to the second song inspired me to fight my way through the writer's block:) Sorry for the wait and thank you for being oh so patient with me, your reviews and favs make me really happy. This is chapter eight and it takes place in Season 3 episode 9.

Maybe there's a reason,

I stand in your presence, I see you're happy I can tell.

Maybe, this is living, staring, without moving our signs are vital, we're alive.

-Nat & Alex Wolff, "Maybe"

^/^/^/^/^

Take me out and we'll karaoke

Tonight we feel famous, don't we?

Pick me up, and we'll make a movie

I'm acting like the world can't hold me down, down, down.

They'll never hold me down, down, down

We'll pass the mic around, around, around, around.

-Smallpools, "Karaoke"

Over the next few days, Pru ignored her father as a topic. She didn't want to talk about it or anything that had to with death, it's not like the situation made her feel uncomfortable...it's just that she simply didn't want to talk about it. Topanga respected her wishes opposed to her mother who tried to force Pru into helping out with the funeral. It was a great shock that Rhiannon wanted to actually prepare a service for a man that she had no respect for. Pru often wondered if her aunt decided to do this just to receive some credit. Pru felt like she was suffocating in the house, despite the conversation she had with her aunt. Pru may have gotten her feelings out on how she truly felt about her godmother but it seemed as if it flew right over the woman's head. Instead of staying in the house, she found herself spending time with Shawn over at Mr. Turner's apartment.

Pru ignored the awkwardness the first couple of days and got used to Mr. Turner who was a pretty cool teacher. The days she spent with Shawn after her father's death made living a bit easier. They spent some nights in Mr. Turner's apartment until darkness fell upon the curtains. Most of those nights included staying up extremely late even on a school night, just staring up at the celing letting their thoughts talk to each other instead of saying them out loud. Most nights included Mr. Turner encouraging Pru to return home when both teens couldn't function more than usual in his class the day after. When she did stay, Pru slept on the floor instead of taking the couch saying to Shawn, "Just because I'm girl doesn't mean you have to treat me like a delicate flower. I can sleep on the floor, Hunter." They talked about the stars and the moon, they talked about Mr. Feeny, Cory and Topanga, what it felt like to be truly alone, they talked about the rough edges of their relationship for a bit until Pru didn't want to talk about it anymore. They both talked until their lungs burned, there were moments of touching but not too much just how Pru preferred it.

Maybe things would turn out just fine.

Shawn and Pru entered John Adam's High side by side, enough to make their wrists brush against each others. Shawn would peek over at Pru sending her a knowing smirk as they walked while Pru glared at him from the side of her eye. To every passing eye in the hallway they noticed that the pair seemed closer than usual and that maybe true, but the two of them they felt the same although they were aware that change was in the air.

"Are you going to Mr. Feeny's class today?" Shawn asked leaning against a set of lockers, while Pru opened hers.

Pru glanced at Shawn; shoving some books into the locker and pulled another set of books out in return. "Why wouldn't I go to his class?"

Shawn shrugged his shoulders leaning closer to Pru, "I don't know I was thinking maybe you and I-"

"Don't even bother finishing that sentence dude," Pru cut him off with a slam of her locker.

Shawn followed after Pru as she turned to walk away, "And why not?"

"'Cause I'm not going to be one of those girls that you decide to skip class with, just so you can go make out with them."

Shawn grabbed Pru's wrist lightly, feeling pride that she didn't cringe at his touch. "Okay...then what about after class?" He joked.

Pru raised an eyebrow at Shawn before starting to pull away but he pulled her back, "Alright! You know for a fact that I never treated you like any other girl."

"Don't feed me some crap about how I'm special and all that lovey dovey stuff."

Shawn chuckled, "I wouldn't do that to you."

"Prove it!" Pru demanded.

Shawn shoved his hands into his pockets, "Prove it? How?"

Pru shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know Shawn...maybe stop snatching up every girl that you find attractive and inhaling her mouth."

"Are you jealous?" Shawn teased invading Pru's space.

Pru looked up at the ceiling and pushed Shawn back, "Are you done? Or should I just leave?"

Shawn held his hands out, "I-I don't know if I can do that."

"I'm not trying to change you...you have to want that for yourself. You don't even have to change if you don't want to, but you can grow. You never know unless you try." Pru's teal-yellow eyes focused in on Shawn's dark blue-green ones.

Shawn met Pru's eyes and stared at for awhile, he gathered his thoughts about what she was proposing to him. He knew whatever he felt for Pru terrified him because he never felt anything like this towards any girl before. He felt like his five year old self when he first met Pru, and how he actually felt nervous before approaching her on the playground. He noticed that she was either related to Topanga or friends with Topanga but Topanga no longer wanted to sit where Pru sat and was now coaching a young Cory down from the monkey bars. Pru sat away from the monkey bars on a bench swinging her feet back and forth humming some tune as if she were in her own little world. Shawn brought her a daisy and handed it to her before sitting down next to her to tell her how pretty he thought she was. Ten years later, there they were and Pru decided to give him a chance. A moment he's been after since he was five years old. Pru watched as Shawn moved to place the hair on her left side but on his right behind her ear before dropping his hand back to his side.

"I'm gonna try this...but not only you but for us. I just want to let you know that...if I mess up you can't give up on me so easily."

Pru nodded her head giving him a sweet smile, which may have just melted his heart. Before Shawn could say anything more the bell rung cutting their conversation short. Pru nodded her head towards Mr. Feeny's class and Shawn willingly followed.

The two found their seats in the back, Cory and Topanga were chatting away about something until they turned to find Pru and Shawn sitting in the back next to each other. Cory sat in front of Shawn and Topanga sat in front of Cory, usually Pru sat in the desk next to Topanga which made Topanga send a large grin towards Pru. Pru turned her attention to her cousin and stuck her tongue out at the fifteen year old while scrunching up her nose.

"If it isn't the two love-" Topanga started.

Pru caught her off with a loud groan pressing her cheek into her balled up fist, "Finish that sentence and I'll find a way to make the desk you're sitting in your lunch."

Topanga's eyes went wide as she let out a small laugh turning around in her seat. Mr. Feeny walked into the classroom greeting the class with a 'Good Morning' as Cory turned around to face Shawn who tapped on his shoulder.

"Oh now you finally decide to talk to me?"

Shawn frowns, "What are you talking about?"

"You've been spending so much time with you know who that you haven't returned any of my calls," Cory hissed from his desk.

Shawn knew he was spending a lot of time with Pru now and he didn't realize that he's blown Cory off most times to spend with Pru. He felt that she needed someone especially after losing her father, he didn't know what it felt like to lose a parent but he did know what it felt like to be lonely.

"Don't act like you don't do the same thing when you first started dating Topanga," Shawn whispered.

Pru cleared her throat but kept her view on her old notes, "Correction...we're not dating."

"Oh please!" Cory yelled throwing his hands up in the air.

Pru raised her eyebrow at the curly headed kid before Shawn pointed at her, "Yet. We're not dating yet...but we're something."

Pru shrugged her shoulders, "Let's go with that."

Shawn ran his fingers through his hair sending a wink to Pru who quickly hid her bright smile behind her dark hair. Shawn bit down on his bottom lip before meeting Cory's heated stare, "Alright...I'm sorry. I'm here now so what's so important that you need to tell me?"

Cory glanced at Topanga who let out three loud sneezes and harsh coughs that it gained everyone's attention. Cory made sure she was alright before turning to Shawn as Mr. Feeny wrote on the board: The Great Depression.

"A young lady flirted with me in the hallways today."

Shawn smirked, "Oh really, which one?"

Cory checked on Topanga and Pru to make sure both girls weren't in on their conversation, "Missy Robinson."

Topanga raised her hand, "Mr. Feeny...may I be accused from class today? I thought I would be fine to make it through class but I clearly do not feel well enough to sit through your lesson."

"Yes, that's quite alright Miss. Lawrence I was just going to suggest that you consider taking a trip down to the nurse. Go on, I trust that you'll get the notes from a classmate. Feel better," He said peeking underneath his glasses before writing more on the chalkboard.

Cory watched with wide eyes as Topanga collected her things. He wondered if she heard anything that he said to Shawn and jumped up helping her to the nurse. "This isn't over!" Cory whispered before following Topanga out of the class.

Shawn chuckled at his oblivious best friend and glanced at Pru who sat at the desk now with her mint colored glasses on. She had her pen on the paper moving quickly and neatly keeping her eyes trained on the board, taking in each note without breaking her contact from the board for a few seconds. Her hair was parted down the middle allowing her hair to fall like a curtain over both of her eyes. A hair band was wrapped around the small of her wrist just in case she would get sick of her hair blocking her view, she actually let Shawn pick out a shirt for her to wear today...in a way their shirts went together. He wore a red blouse with abstract patterns that was left open, a white t-shirt underneath with his signature chain around his throat, and some light blue jeans. Shawn dared her to wear a white sleeve shirt that looked like a painting, and was a bit tighter than Pru remembered. Pru remembered that her mother brought her the shirt when she went out to pick up supplies for Pru when she was in bed sick. Whenever Pru stayed home from school her mother always went out to buy her things to nurse her back to health but she always returned with something a bit strange to make Pru feel better. It was a tradition between the two, and it was the same when Pru would occasionally stay home to take care of her mother when the maid was not in service.

The shirt was white but dark blue around the collar and sleeves. The design on the shirt seemed to be at a lake with gray fluffy clouds, birds flying away, a large green tree that sat to to the left with ripples of water leading towards the land where a dog stood with it's back to viewers. Pru began to love the shirt although it began to feel a bit tighter around her chest area and tummy. She sported some light washed jeans that had rips around the knees, in a way she felt happier that Shawn brought the shirt to her attention because it brought back good memories. Pru knew that today would be a good day, she felt Shawn's stare on her face and turned to him staring back before giving him a sincere smile. Shawn returned the smile snapping out of his trance, Pru ripped two sheets of paper out from her notebook and handed them over to him.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Shawn asked curiously.

Pru shook her head, "What do you think? Take notes, dummy! Knowing Feeny there will be a pop quiz if he finishes the lesson early or on Monday. Get goin'."

Shawn snorted pulling out a pencil from his back pocket and started doodling instead.

"Okay we didn't get a pop quiz but we got a project instead...I don't know which one is worse!" Shawn complained as Pru slid her tray against the metal bars.

Pru decided to put nacho's on her tray since that looked the most safest to eat. "Quit your whining...plus you get to work with Ashley."

Shawn didn't miss the way Pru spit out the girl's name, he smirked as he placed a carton of milk onto his tray before rushing after Pru who went in search of a table to sit at. Pru sat with her back to the kitchen while Shawn moved around her frame whispering into her ear, "I think it's kinda cute how you're not jealous when you clearly are."

Pru glared at Shawn holding onto a nacho, "I don't know how many times I have to say this...I'm not jealous! I'm trusting you...it's your grade so obviously you have to work with different classmates."

"Well we've never worked on a project together in the first place so I can see why it's bothering you so much," Shawn teased drinking from his carton.

Pru rolled her eyes, "I think you're picking a fight with me Shawnie."

Shawn cringed at the nickname Ashley used to flirt with him, "Just to let you know I'm not thrilled about you working with Will."

Pru swallowed her food, "Are you serious? He's a shy kid...you don't have anything to worry about."

"Then neither do you," Shawn persuaded.

Pru met his eyes offering him a small smile before Cory swooped into the seat beside Shawn.

"You're not gonna believe this...I go to pay for my lunch and Bertha says 'Don't worry it's already taken care of.' This makes no sense."

Pru raised an eyebrow at that.

"Cory! Over here," A blonde head calls waving at the said boy.

Pru eyed the girl and curled up her top lip as Shawn congratulates his friend, "Alright courts."

"What?"

"You still don't smell it, do you?"

'What are these two idiots on about?' Pru wondered as she dug into her lunch.

"I'm talking about...the scent," Shawn answered turning his first two fingers on each hand into quotes.

Cory shoved his hands down, "Stop with the hands."

"Cory, I saved you a seat!" The blonde spoke again.

Pru dropped her nacho turning in her seat, "Do you want me to tell her to back off?"

Cory and Shawn watched as Pru cracked her knuckles. She didn't get what Shawn meant by the scent but she didn't like how the chipper blonde was so persuading in trying to get her cousin's boyfriend to sit with her. She knew girls like the chipper blonde and knew that her intentions were anything but good.

"That's uh...not needed. Alright, I'm gonna go over there but only to talk about the history project." Cory addressed Pru before directing the rest of his sentence off to Shawn.

Pru breathed, "You better," She mumbled turning around in her seat to finish her lunch.

"Cory," Shawn started.

Cory nodded, "I know...be me."

"No...be me," Shawn encouraged as Cory walked off to her table.

Pru had her elbows on the table munching on the nacho covered with ground beef, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and sour cream. "Shawn, what do you mean by just be you?"

Shawn winced as he slowly turned to face Pru. Pru looked up from her tray waiting for Shawn's response with amusement written in her eyes.

Pru made sure to check in on Topanga before leaving to Will's house. The two were on the list to present next Thursday although Pru fought with Mr. Feeny to go on Friday but the two were stuck with Thursday. They were assigned to talk about the how President Roosevelt created Arsenal Of Democracy. Will lived on a modern like houseboat that was built by his father and grandfather. The house was off by it's self away from other boat homes which was no shock to Pru since she knew that Will was shy and wondered if his family preferred be left alone as well. She spotted the red headed boy sitting on the small porch, he perked up almost animal like as he saw Pru and waved at her. Pru returned the wave with two fingers watching her steps carefully. When she looked up she saw an older man with blonde hair laying a pathway out for Pru, "Nice to meet you Pru. I'm Mr. Cummings...obviously Will's father."

Pru smiled at the man hesitating before shaking the his hand, "I'll leave the two of you alone. I'm going to visit Ms. Alice for a bit."

Inside of the house Will motioned for Pru to sit on the couch, "Ms. Alice is an old woman who became like a mother figure for my dad. She lives in the woods all by herself with her three cats."

Pru nodded her head, "Do you guys move around often with this type of house?"

Will pushed his thick framed glasses closer to his eyes, "Um...sometimes. My step-mom loves the city life, the bright lights, the noises, but my dad and I prefer to be in quiet places...so we go back and forth usually."

"Cool."

Will smiled and clapped his hands, "Why don't you get your notes out and I'll go get the snacks then we can go into my dad's office and use his computer."

"Alright," Pru answered shrugging off her zip-up hoodie, then dug into her backpack.

She took out her notebook and pen while eyeing the rest of the house. It was really awesome to think that Will's father and his father built something this nice. Will entered the room his arms full of snacks, "I brought fruit punch or apple squeezeits...I'm not sure which one you'd prefer. Cripsy m&m's, and quesadilla rolls."

Pru smiled at the shy boy, "You do know that none of those go together right?"

Will ducked his head, "Anna, my step-mom said the same thing. I'm sorry."

Pru shook her head, "No. Don't apologize...everything is fine. You're doing fine, don't stress so much!" She boosted.

Pru didn't like shy kids or any one being picked on and she didn't realize that she would make the kid feel bad about it. She was shy once too. It was actually nice that he thought about including food while they both did research, she plucked the m&m's and the fruit punch squeezeit waiting for Will to lead the way. The house was tiny but uniquely set up, the office was set up in what looked like a closet but was actually big as soon as you stepped in. Will let Pru sit at the desk while he sat on the window seat. Will did book-research while Pru checked online, there was small chatter here and there just the way Will preferred it.

Soon Pru found it time to leave and thanked Will for inviting her to his home. The two would meet at Pru's on Sunday to put what other information they find together. Will was secretly hoping that Pru would become his friend although he only had one best friend. He walked her through the woods back to her moped and watched as she sped away wondered where this might go.

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Pru pulled up to the creepy iron gate seeing that it was already left ajar. With one hand she balanced her moped through the gate down the long drive-way, she spotted Shawn's form staring at the sight in front of him in awe. Pru cut the engine of her ride holding bags as she sneaked behind Shawn screaming into his ear. Shawn jumped spinning around resting his hand on his chest, "Do you want me to have a heart attack?! What is wrong with you?!"

Pru wiped the tears from her eyes as she laughed, "I wanted to say hi."

"Oh and you couldn't just say 'Hey, Shawn!' Like a normal person?" Shawn breathed.

Pru poked her lips out, "Sorry."

"Yeah...well you should be," Shawn trailed off liking the way the light was shown in Pru's eyes.

Pru shrugged her shoulders, "Anyways! I brought gifts...are you ready to get this thing started?"

Shawn walked behind Pru as she led the way gulping at the sight they were walking towards. "Is this thing a date?"

Shawn was surprised when Pru asked to "Hang out" after school and turned down helping Cory with his little party situation just to hang with her. He felt panic raising in his chest as Pru stopped in her tracks and spun to face him, her hair was tied back in a pony-tail now as she stared down at the ground.

"Do you want this to be a date?" Pru quietly asked, chewing on her lips.

Shawn swallowed, "Yeah I do."

"Okay...if it makes you happy." Pru turned walk away but Shawn grabbed her shoulder.

He moved to stand in front of his- he didn't know what to call her exactly. "I don't want this to just make me happy...you have to want this too."

Pru stood in silence making Shawn lose hope once more. Just as soon as the little bit of hope almost faded from his dark tinted blue-green eyes Pru smiled, "Then...it's a date."

She walked around Shawn grinning widely as Shawn stood frozen in place. Pru looked over her shoulder yelling, "Are you coming or are you just going to stand there like a scarecrow?"

Shawn ran his fingers through his hair letting out a chuckle. He couldn't believe that Pru out of all people just admitting this to be their first date. He didn't even pick or help come up with what their first date would be like, she did it all on her own. He jogged after Pru who went up the Victorian Tree house steps, she turned on a flashlight leading the way through the house. With each step the two took the floor creaked with any pressure applied to it.

"Are you sure it's safe to be in here?" Shawn wondered.

Pru laughed, "I found this place when I first came back to Philly and every time I come here I'm the only one in here. Nothing's attacked me yet."

Shawn watched as Pru rested multiple flashlights around on broken shelves and rested three lamps on buckets in the middle of the floor. In the middle of the floor which looked like it could have possible been a living room, sat a large rug. Pru sat crossed legged and placed a large pizza box on the rug, "I borrowed this rug from my aunt...she left it in the corner of my room. I'm guessing she didn't need it."

Shawn plopped down across from Pru in silence.

"We have half pepperoni and half Hawaiian." Pru spread her arms outwards after opening the large pizza box, "Say something Shawn...you're scaring me." She mumbled through large bites of her slice.

Shawn laughed reaching for a pepperoni slice, "How long have you wanted to ask me out?"

"Never mind! I liked it better when you were quiet," Pru yelled while rolling her eyes.

Shawn chuckled glancing around the place, it certainly had character.

"I wanted to show you this place for awhile now...but it's a good thing I held off because your eyes are like saucers right now," Pru leaned forward to poke Shawn's eye but he moved to the side.

"At first I was skeptical to follow you in here...I didn't know what you had planned for me." Shawn stated after swallowing his bit of food.

Pru shook her head at Shawn and a conversation fell upon them easily. The two teens were so comfortable around each other that there was never a dull moment between the two, no matter how bad their fights get.

"What's with the creepy pick-up truck outside?" Shawn questioned, now laying on his back with his belly full.

Pru moved to lay beside him, "I don't know that's also always been here. I'm thinking about asking my uncle to take a look at it but then he'll know about this place too. Whenever I get it fixed, I'm going to teach myself how to drive and take a road trip in the summer."

Shawn slowly moved his head to rest right beside Pru's, "Oh really? Am I invited on this road trip?"

Pru pressed her cheek into Shawn's shoulder and used her pointer and middle finger to walk towards Shawn's relaxed hand. Pru pushed his hand upwards before interlocking their hands with one another, it took a lot for Pru to do this because she struggles with being touched but with Shawn's hand in her's she didn't feel anxiety crossing her path. "Maybe...depends on how annoying you get."

Shawn stared down at their hands feeling the extreme softness of Pru's hand. Her hand looked small compared his medium sized hand, he used the pad of his thumb to caress the skin of her hand and with a squeeze of her hand in his he scoffed.

"Me? Annoying? I'm never annoying!" Shawn yelled only half offended.

Pru snorted, "Someone's been lying to you then."

Shawn mouth dropped as he pushed himself up on his elbow to stare down at Pru who lay with her eyebrows raised, waiting to see what would come out of his mouth next. "Oh, I'll show you annoying."

Shawn hopped over Pru's torso, letting go of her hand digging his hands into her neck to see if she was ticklish there. Pru remained unfazed at the boy and poked his nose laughing at him, Shawn trailed his fingertips to her underarms and received nothing but as soon as he got to her tummy a small laugh escaped her lips. Shawn smirked above her, "Jackpot!" Pru screamed trying to protect her tummy and roll away from Shawn but he was not having it.

"Say you're sorry and that I am the best kisser in the world," Shawn ordered pressing into Pru's sides.

Pru shook her head blowing out a raspberry, "I hate liars so why would I lie?"

"Suit yourself!" Shawn moved his hands to the middle of her stomach and Pru screamed even louder than before.

Pru pushed his hands away but he moved them again, "Okay! Okay! Stop, my stomach hurts now."

"Say it!"

"Fine...Shawn is the best kisser in the world. Now prove it," Pru suggested from her spot on the floor.

That was enough to make Shawn stop what he was doing. Did Pru just ask him to kiss her? Yes, they've kissed plenty of times before but Pru did not consider them real kisses. First time was to stop her panic attacks, second time was in hallway after he kissed some girl he was dating for two weeks. She wanted a real one, a kiss that would test the way she felt about Shawn Hunter.

"Are you serious, or are you just playing around...because my services are not one to be messed with?"

Pru pushed herself upwards as Shawn moved off her torso, he watched her carefully...her hand slightly shaking as her palm touched his cheek. Shawn decided to let her get comfortable, moving her speed and only hers. Their forehead's touched, noses brushing, both of their breaths mixed with each others, Shawn's hand rested on Pru's hip making sure that it was okay to do so. It felt like forever since Shawn last tasted her lips, with his free hand he tilted her chin a little upwards watching as her eyes closed shut. Shawn moved to close the last few spaces but was shocked to see Pru place her lips on his first. He closed his eyes enjoying the feel of their locked lips, her lips were always as soft as rose petals. Pru felt like her heart was on fire and it only intensified when Shawn pried her lips apart. The passion they cared to share was nothing like they've ever experienced. Shawn felt his head becoming dizzy and realized that he needed air, when he pulled back Pru dropped her blushing face into his chest hearing the drum of his heartbeat. Shawn kissed the top of her head smiling and a bit surprised that Pru was allowing him to see her old shy self.

"Whoa that was...where did you learn how to kiss?" Shawn wanted to know.

Pru shook her head keeping it buried in his chest, "No. I'm not telling you that...it's weird."

"Aw...come on. I promise I won't make fun of you, because whoever you practiced on taught you well but I can teach you better." Shawn whispered, noticing the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Pru didn't move from her spot or answer...she didn't know why she was acting like a six year old. Shawn moved back trying to get Pru to lift her head upwards, he tilted her head to see how bright her eyes were and to think he was the cause of that...he felt nothing but pride.

"I hate to break this moment right now but I really need to use the bathroom."

Pru breathed out a laugh, "There's no bathroom out here...so go pick a tree any tree."

Shawn poked his tongue into his cheek, "Should have known," He mumbled getting up from the floor and smacked Pru's ponytail around before he exited the tree house.

Pru made sure Shawn was out of the tree house and pressed the palms of her hands into her mouth hiding her squeals. Gaining control of herself she crawled over to her bag to pull out the real fun.

When Shawn entered back into the tree house, he almost dropped what was in his hands. Pru sat on the floor now sporting a messy hot pink wig, "What is that?"

Pru smiled, "It's a wig. We're becoming celebrities so we can sing."

Shawn stood beside her, "Sing what?"

"Karaoke, duh! Now face-paint or piercing?"

Shawn placed his findings beside Pru staring at both things unsure which to pick. "I'll take the piercing."

Pru grabbed onto his wrist pulling him down on the floor beside her. She pushed his hair back getting a good view of his top ear, "Wait a minute I thought it was a clip-on."

"No this is the real deal, Hunter."

"If I get infected...there will be some unkind words said."

Pru smiled, "I've done this plenty of times for friends back in New York. I know what I'm doing."

While Pru got to work on Shawn's ear, he drifted his eyes from her face to what he found outside. "Hey do you know what that is? I found it outside."

Pru told Shawn to hold the ice to his ear as she turned her attention to the wooden object beside her. She picked it up and smiled, "This is a Kalimba."

"A what?" Shawn flinched at the coolness of the ice.

"A thumb piano. It has a variety of names, but it's an African musical instrument that played by plucking these things that are called tines with your thumbs. I've always wanted one, wow. Let's get you some face paint, start up the video, and sing!"

Shawn didn't miss the expression Pru's face as she gingerly touched the instrument and placed it down on the ground again. Shawn allowed Pru to torture him some more but she seemed happier and he could sit through this if that's what made her happy. After waiting for his paint to dry, and turning on the video camera the two of them stood side by side with mics starting the video with 'Hammer Time', to 'Wannabe (which Shawn really didn't want to sing), to ending with 'Baby Hit Me One More Time.'

The two sat on the floor downing the juice that Pru brought trying to catch their breaths.

"Do you hear that?" Shawn panted after separating his mouth from the straw.

Pru swallowed the juice and tilted her head to the side keeping her eyes on Shawn while trying to figure out what noise he was speaking of. To Pru it sounded like barking.

"Is that also normal to hear around here?" Shawn questioned, crunching up the juice box.

Pru laughed, "That's just Russ," Pru placed her fingers into her mouth blowing a whistle for the animal to enter the tree house.

The two waited a few seconds hearing the patter of an animal racing up the steps. Pru kept her eyes over her shoulder to see the white bull terrier waiting at the door. Pru patted her thighs, "Come here boy."

He jogged over to Pru and she rubbed his belly, "Russ this is Shawn. Shawn this is Russy."

Russy tilted his head downwards as he slowly moved over to Shawn plopping down in his lap. Shawn smiled and scratched between the dog's ears. Pru shuffled around in her bag and tossed some treats towards the dog who happily chewed them up. "He always comes around when I'm here. He also has a collar so I know he has a home."

Shawn and Pru sat in silence watching Russy greedily chew up his treats. "Hey...that night when I left the Matthews' you slipped something into my jacket. I watched the tapes...I never told you because we were too busy fighting all the time but you-you have a true talent moon."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Why don't you play us something?"

Pru rubbed the scratched her cheek, "Shawn...I don't know-"

"Come on Russ wants to hear something too, don't you Russy?" Shawn placed his head behind Russy who barked happily.

Pru laughed once more and grabbed the instrument beside her, "It was Russy's face that made me want to play by the way."

Shawn leaned back on his hands snorting, "Yeah...whatever you say."

Pru placed the instrument before her wondering if it needed tuning but she would work with it since she didn't have certain tools to help her tune it at the moment. Shawn watched as Pru's face changed completely as her thumbs pressed against the tines, her face held complete concentration; the same look she held when she pressed her fingers against the piano keys. Shawn turned his head to see a flashing light, the camera was still going and he didn't bother getting up to turn it off. He focused on Pru's face getting lost in her music.

A/N: Whew! How are you guys holding up after this chapter? Good I hope. I wanted this chapter to be a happy chapter because let's face it these two needed a little happiness in their lives. Pru and Shawn have officially went on their first date! What are your thoughts on it? There will be pictures of things I mentioned on my profile in a bit for those of you who need a clearer vision.

There are four chapters left now and I will try to focus more on Shawn in those last four chapters since Pru is always telling things from her point of view.

Next updates will probably be: We Are The Kids, & Homeboy.

Tell me your favorite part of this chapter or your favorite chapter so far in your reviews?

See you soon!

-ALovelyEccentricSoul xXx