I'm sorry for another wait. Work has been hectic and busy and not necessarily in a good way. This is going to be another one of those chapters where I remind you to please trust that I have a plan and even when the characters aren't coming off great, I try to keep them IN character.
As always, thank you for your patience and feedback. :-)
"…and I clung to the edge of the cliff with my right hand while in my left I held the priceless jeweled crown of the ancient queen. I was losing my grip and-"
"Your grip with reality," Eric muttered to Cory and Shawn who were sitting in the seats in front of him. It was the following day and they were in Mr. Feeny's class.
"-and I had to make a choice. Or, should I say, most men in my position would've made a choice: save themselves or save the crown. But, my friends, I am happy to say that I saved us both and the jeweled crown of the ancient queen is now on display at-"
"At some museum none of us are ever going to visit, you Indiana Jones wannabe!"
"Eric, shush," Cory admonished. "We're here to blend in." Whatever animosity he felt towards his brother was taking a backseat at the moment. Helping Mr. Feeny was the focus. "You're bad at that on a good day."
"Nah, I'm with him," Shawn broke in amidst the cheers and applause. "Indy's gotta go."
"Of course he does but ranting and raving like a lunatic won't accomplish that."
"I hate to admit it but the guy is an impressive story teller."
"I know. It kills me, but-"
"Not you guys, too. We're Team Feeny. Why are you buying into what he's selling? He's the enemy."
"We know that, but…"
George looked out from the podium and noticed Eric, Cory, and Shawn bickering in the back of the room. They snuck in just as class was beginning, but since they kept quiet- mostly- he said nothing. He had a pretty good idea what they were doing here. While he appreciated Eric's intentions, this wasn't a situation that could be forced. When their conversation seemed to pick up volume he approached. The next instructor would be in to teach a class in just a few minutes and didn't need to listen to the rantings of these three stooges. "In case you missed it, I dismissed the class five minutes ago."
"Show's what you know. We're not even in this class, Feeny."
"Yeah, I think he gets that, Eric."
"Care to tell me what's prompted this sudden interest in my class? There are times you three barely pay attention to the classes you are actually enrolled in."
"Oh, is this your class?"
The educator sighed. "I'm really not in the mood for the runaround right now, boys. So if you'll excuse me-"
"Mr. Feeny, wait," Eric said, stepping forward. "You're going to blow it. That smug jerk just waltzes in to steal your girl and you're not even putting up a fight."
"Dr. Kincaid is not stealing anything. Lila is not a prize to be won or stolen. She is a human being."
"Lila?"
"Um…well…," he stammered, "…that is her name and what I've heard others call her."
"Sure, maybe people who have got the hots for her. Like you!"
"You will not reduce my feelings for the woman, if there are feelings, to hots. Unless…did she use that term?"
"Oh, come on, Mr. Feeny, you've got it bad. Everyone can see that."
"Look, Lil-Dean Bolander is a very complex woman and this is a delicate situation. You can't rush these things."
He snorted. "No danger there. You practically need life support to stay in this race, buddy. Every second lost is just another clogged artery."
"My cholesterol was a little high at my last doctor's appointment," he acknowledged.
"There you go. Don't you want someone to be there to pound your heart back into working order when you have one fancy cheese too many? That could be the dean."
"Fancy cheese? On my salary?"
Cory pushed Eric aside. "Mr. Feeny, what my less than tactful, lunkhead of a brother is trying to say is what's wrong with telling the dean how you feel? Hiding your feelings is only going to lead to heartache and misery. I mean, look at Shawn."
"Hey! I'm standing right here."
"Sorry, Shawnie, I love you, but you made a major romance faux pas no matter how many times I told you to tell Angela the truth. Come on, Mr. Feeny, don't be a Shawn."
"Why am I here if you're just going to rag on me?"
"Boys, the dean is like an orchid. And orchids have to be tended to with care. Trust me, I'm a gardener. I know these things."
"Stop using your flowers and fancy words to hide your pain. Focus on what you feel."
"I would, but…well…the only appropriate course of action is to let her resolve things with her ex-husband before pursuing anything."
"If you keep waiting around the next booty that explorer dude is bringing back to his trophy room is hers'. That guy is stealing your booty."
"She's not my booty," he exclaimed. "And even if she was, I would prefer not to talk about it with the three of you. You are students, I'm a teacher, and Dean Bolander is in a position of authority. It's wholly inappropriate that we are even having this conversation."
"We're just trying to help you the same way you've always helped us," Eric said. "You don't give up on us. We don't give up on you."
"I appreciate the loyalty, I do, but again, this is a very difficult situation."
"Come on, Feeny, don't you remember what you said to me when I was confused about things with Angela?"
"Apparently I am invisible today," Shawn whispered to Cory.
"You said I would be dumb to let go of someone who brings out the best in me and inspires me to want to be a better person. You said finding that kind of connection is rare."
"I did."
"You also said that we had to be the ones to decide if being together was worth the risk of pissing others off and pushing them away. And most things worth having don't come easily."
"Yes, but that was a different situation. You and Angela were on the same page. You talked about your feelings and knew the other felt the same."
"Does it say kick me on my forehead," Shawn asked, louder this time. He wasn't sure how he felt knowing Mr. Feeny encouraged Eric and Angela's relationship.
"Come on, Feeny," he continued, ignoring Shawn, "does the dean make you happy? Does she make you want to be a better person? Is she worth the risk?"
It was so much easier to give advice than to be the one getting it. "She…I mean, I…I have a meeting to get to." He rushed to the desk and stuffed papers into his briefcase. "Thank you for the conversation and I appreciate your concern, but-"
"You're running away?"
"I have a meeting. Very big…important stuff to be looked at and…and gone over and..."
They thought he was going to keep talking, but he turned tail and left instead. "I'm going to keep working on him," Eric said. "You guys go do your thing."
"Our thing? What's our thing?"
"I don't know, whatever it is that you do! You said you would help. I thought you guys came up with something. I told you where Kincaid is stashing the artifacts. Maybe you'll get inspiration there."
"Solid plan you put together," Shawn fired back sarcastically.
"Just…whatever, Hunter. Remember, don't tell Angela or Topanga. We don't want them getting in trouble. They need that plastic liability."
Cory scrunched up his face in confusion. "What are you-" Suddenly it hit him. "That's plausible deniability, you moron."
Eric stared down his brother before coming forward so they were eye to eye. "This whole fighting thing is cute and all, but how about we finish helping Mr. Feeny before you two go back to being pissed, okay?"
He wasn't sure if that was a challenge, but decided not to risk it. He was pretty sure Eric could still kick his butt in a physical fight. It was mental sparring where Cory had the advantage. "Fine."
/
/
"Do you have any idea how lucky you guys are," Angela lectured as they all sat in the student union later that evening.
"Yeah," Topanga chimed in. "You could've gotten suspended, or Cory, what about you? You risked expulsion."
"It was for Mr. Feeny so it was worth it." It was almost too easy how it all came together after a rather shaky start. He and Shawn were searching around Dr. Kincaid's artifacts when a couple things broke. It ended up working to their advantage. Pin things on Feeny as a crime of passion to show the dean his true feelings. What they hadn't planned on was the killer bee escaping, nearly stinging her, the doctor only caring about the bee, and Mr. Feeny having to make the save and take the sting anyway. "And two weeks cleaning windows isn't that bad."
"I just wish we didn't have to wear those jumpsuits," Eric lamented. "They make us look like prisoners….or the Kool-Aid Man."
"If that's the worst that happened to you just shut the hell up and accept it. Some artifacts did get damaged after all," Angela pointed out as she took a seat on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.
"At least we helped Feeny. After all the times he's helped us we finally got to repay him a little."
Shawn couldn't help but watch as Eric's arms went around Angela's waist and how she leaned into him in response. He could tell they weren't doing it in an attempt to show off or rub their new relationship in his face. The movements…the closeness…it came naturally. That almost made it worse. They were just acting like a couple. It would be easier to deal with if they were trying to rub his nose in it. If they were doing it on purpose he could call them jerks and storm off. And he'd be completely justified in doing so. Instead Shawn could see he was the farthest thing from their minds.
"So I was thinking how about pizza? My treat," Eric added when he was met with silence and stares. "You know, celebrate Feeny and the dean…pepperoni style?"
"I'm in," Angela replied.
No one else was answering, so he kept talking. "Okay…how about bowling? I'll get us a few large orders of nachos and-"
"You've got to be kidding me," Shawn scoffed before getting up and leaving the common area.
He wasn't sure whether to acknowledge what happened or just keep talking. After a few moments he decided it was easier to keep conversation moving. "Okay, I guess it's the four of us. Don't worry, Cor, I remember: jalapeños on the side, not mixed in with the cheese."
"Are you serious?"
"What, you like jalapeños in the cheese now?"
"Pizza? Bowling? Nachos? What the hell are you trying to do?"
"What do you mean? Since when is it bad to offer to buy dinner…or bowling if that's what people-"
"Oh, shut up with the bowling," he exclaimed as he jumped up. "No one wants to go bowling with you."
"Cory-"
"No, Topanga, I'm sorry, but if they can't see what's wrong with flaunting their relationship in Shawn's face…come on, Eric. Even you can't be that stupid." Angela was on her feet and in his face before he had a chance to process what was happening. For every step he took backwards, she stepped forward. He didn't stop until he was backed against the doors. "Did someone miss the day they covered personal space in kindergarten?"
"I want that to be the last time I hear you call Eric stupid," she warned in a low voice.
"Please, you know I didn't mean it like-"
"I don't care how you meant it. I don't want to hear it." She wanted to tell him that Eric cared, probably too much, about what people said and thought of him. Behind that carefree, jokester façade was a deeply insecure person who took to heart every insinuation that he was stupid, whether they meant it or not. She wanted to say those things. But she didn't. It wasn't her place. Besides, there was no telling what Cory would do with the information. Nine times out of ten she'd trust that he wouldn't try to undermine Eric, but he wasn't thinking rationally right now. He tended not to where Shawn was concerned. "Do you understand me?"
He laughed nervously and moved to the side. "Yeah."
"Good." She walked back to Eric and again sat on the arm of the chair.
"I'm going to go check on Shawn." He stopped long enough to stare at his fiancée. "Topanga?"
"I'll catch up."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I'll catch up."
"Fine." He sighed and stalked off.
"I suppose it's going to be a while before Cory's ready for that double date," Topanga joked after an awkward silence.
"He's not the only one."
"The pizza offer is still good if you want to join us," Eric said.
She weighed her options. If she went to dinner Cory would freak. If she didn't, she'd disappoint Angela. Someone was going to be upset. But who was going to be more understanding? "Can I get a rain check?"
He was unfazed, expecting that to be her answer. "Sure."
"But we should set something up in the next week or two. I'll twist Cory's arm."
"Sounds like fun…the arm twisting anyway."
Topanga looked to her roommate, finding the glare she expected. She didn't know why Angela was upset. She wasn't enthused when Topanga suggested a double date last week and still didn't appear too keen on it now. "Do you want me to leave the door unlocked or-"
"No, don't wait up. I'll be late."
"Okay. Have fun."
"Don't you think you were a little rude," Eric asked once Topanga was gone.
"Cory didn't deserve polite. I held back on him." She crossed her arms. "He deserved worse."
"I'm not talking about Cory." He couldn't hear what she said to his brother, but had a pretty good guess. "I mean with Topanga. You could've been nicer."
"Maybe, but she's constantly saying that she misses hanging out with me and feels like I'm pushing her away and you invite her to dinner and she bails?"
"And if she came with us she would've had to deal with Cory when she got back. I love Cory in that 'he's my brother so I have to,' way and he's generally a good guy, but he can be a neurotic nutcase…especially when things don't work out the way he thinks they should."
"Believe me, I know."
"So can you really blame Topanga for wanting to avoid dealing with the crazy?"
"Considering I've been doing all I can to avoid Cory's crazy lately, I guess not."
"Us being together is going to take time for them to get used to. I think we just have to give it that time."
"And if they don't come around?"
"We can bungee jump off that bridge when we get to it."
"Don't you mean cross that bridge?"
He shrugged. "My way is more fun."
"If you say so."
"You know, Jack and Rachel are out tonight." He nudged Angela's arm with his shoulder and smiled.
She ran a hand through his hair and pushed back against him. "Really?"
"Yep, supposed to be gone all evening."
Aside from the night they decided to be a couple, they hadn't had a chance to have the apartment to themselves. Angela hadn't been back to the apartment since then actually. They've either gone out or she's helped him close up the student union. Alone time was rare. "So we could get a pizza, go back to your place, and…"
"…rent a movie, and watch it…or not. Whatever."
"Why did you go through all the drama of inviting those three to dinner? We could've been half way to the apartment by now."
"I was trying to be nice."
"Next time don't, especially when we have a shot at privacy."
"Lesson learned. You know, the longer we sit here and argue the less time we'll have to not watch a movie."
"Right." She jumped up. "Race you to your car? Winner picks the movie?"
"Now you're talking."
/
Cory was exited his dorm and was about to knock on Topanga's door when he saw his fiancée coming down the hall. "Oh, thank goodness you came to your senses! For a minute I was getting nervous that you were actually going to go to dinner with them."
"And that would be a bad thing?"
"Uh…yeah!"
"Can you explain that to me?" She unlocked the door and went inside. "Why would joining Angela and Eric for dinner be bad?"
"Because it's Angela and Eric. It's not supposed to be them. They don't belong together."
"But they are together, Cory. Like it or not they are a couple and seem pretty serious about each other. It's still a little weird to me, too, but-"
"See, even you know it's wrong."
"I didn't say that. I said it's weird, but I'm trying to accept it. Why can't you even try?"
He took a seat at Angela's desk. An open envelope of recently developed pictures caught his eye. He could see most of the one on top and was itching to see the rest. She wasn't in the picture. It was Eric and her father sitting inside a really old looking car. His brother was hamming it up for the camera and Sgt. Moore tried to look serious, but Cory could tell the man was amused and fighting back a smile. They were an odd couple if there ever was one.
"Cory?"
He jumped. "Huh?"
Topanga went to the desk and picked up the envelope of pictures and put it safely in Angela's drawer. "Now answer my question: why can't you try to get used to Angela and Eric being together?"
"I'm not going to betray Shawn like that. He's my best friend."
"And Angela is mine. Why doesn't that seem to mean anything to you?"
Cory sighed and sank into the chair. "Shawn doesn't have anyone. He needs me. I just want to be a good friend to him."
"Why does being a good friend to Shawn mean you have to become a bad friend to Angela and an even worse brother to Eric?"
"I'm not-"
"Maybe it's not your intention, but that's what is happening. You were a real jerk out there. Eric was trying to extend an olive branch and you broke it in half and threw it in his face."
"I'm sorry. I'll try harder."
"Yes, you will."
"Great, we're in agreement. Now are you done being mad at me and Shawn?"
"I'm not mad at Shawn," she said, "at least not about what just happened. It's not easy to see the person you love with someone else. I know that. He is going to need time to get over it."
"But you're mad at me?"
"At the moment, yes, I am. I don't know when, but we willbe going on a double date with them at some point."
"But-"
"No, Cory, no buts. This is not negotiable. Angela is my best friend and we are supporting her in her new relationship. We'd be doing so even if your brother wasn't involved."
It was evident that he didn't have a leg to stand on in this argument. He was not going to win. "Fine." Leave it to Eric and Angela to send the group into chaos. "I was going to get some dinner. Do you want your usual from the Chinese place?"
"No."
"Then what do you want?"
"I'll grab something from the cafeteria. My parents are paying for the meal plan after all." She received a lecture from her mother the other day about responsible spending when she called to ask for more money. "I should use it more."
"Topanga, come on."
"No, I don't want to eat with you and Shawn. I feel like being alone tonight."
He reached for her hands. "Are we okay?"
"You're not going to try to make me pick sides against our friends, are you?"
"No," he responded, realizing as soon as it came out of his mouth it didn't sound very convincing. "I'm not."
She cupped his cheek in her hand and kissed him. "Good. It won't bode well for you if you did."
Cory was afraid to ask what that meant. "I'll get some extra spring rolls in case you change your mind."
Topanga shook her head. "I really do want to be alone."
He kissed her back. "Okay."
"However, I won't complain if the spring rolls find their way across the hall and to my desk."
"You got it." He walked over to the door. "I love you."
"I know. I love you, too."
"Even when I'm acting like a jerk?"
"Yes, even then."
"And I promise I'll try to be nicer to Eric and Angela next time. Okay?"
"I hope so." After the door was closed and Cory was gone Topanga lifted a framed photo from a shelf. It was taken after graduation but before everyone went their separate ways for the summer- well, before she went to Pittsburgh and Angela left to see her dad on his base in Kentucky. Or was it Tennessee? Anyway, Jack had insisted on throwing Shawn a little graduation party. It didn't matter how much the latter protested and threatened not to show up, the bash took place. Mr. Turner was the surprise guest and Shawn even donned a silly party hat, albeit under duress. Before everyone left for the night the group of friends- Eric and Jack included- crammed onto the fire escape and Mrs. Matthews snapped one last picture.
Now, nearly a year later, their group was splintering and Topanga was left wondering how it happened so quickly. The waves and fractures were subtle at first, starting when Shawn decided to break up with Angela and she let him think it was mutual. Months of back and forth, lies, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings finally lead to Angela saying enough and pulling the plug for good after Christmas. Objectively Topanga couldn't blame her. Shawn didn't always treat her very well and if it was anyone but him she would've been leading the charge to keep him away. But, as was often her fiancé's defense, it was Shawn. She couldn't just erase Shawn from her life. Even if it was possible, she didn't want to. He was still a good friend and she loved him. He just didn't always make the best decisions and at times seemed hell bent on destroying any happiness that came his way. So she and Cory made constant attempts to include him and help him realize what it was he really wanted.
In their endless efforts to help and reassure Shawn, neither of them noticed that Angela was pulling away unless it directly affected a wedding plan or a matchmaking scheme. Then they noticed. At the same time they failed to notice that Eric was spending less time with the group as a whole because of the growing relationship between Jack and Rachel. It certainly never occurred to anybody that they were spending time together, that mutual feelings of bitterness and alienation towards their friends would foster a romance. And now that they were together she could see only more dissention among the group for the foreseeable future.
Topanga looked back at the photo in her hands. She remembered how she felt that night- like she was ready to take on the world with Cory and her friends by her side. She would give anything to be that innocent and carefree again. She thought nothing would ever tear them apart. Was it too late to get that back?
/
/
"What made you choose this movie anyway?"
"Honestly? I sort of picked randomly. I saw Tom Hanks' name on the box and figured anything with him had to be at least half way decent." Eric had been in such a rush to get to the apartment so they could enjoy their alone time. But now that they were here it was a little weird. He kept thinking about the times he and Jack would come home in the middle of a date between her and Shawn. "Why? You don't like it?" They were cuddled close, she was practically in his lap and her head was on his shoulder, so he couldn't read her expression.
"No, it's not that. It's a good movie, but I'm going to have these songs stuck in my head for days. Oh, here comes the music again. How many state fairs do they hit?" Angela softly sang along with the title track to That Thing You Do! and he did background vocals. She smiled when he went all out for the drum solo, head-banging included. "You would kick butt at karaoke."
"Karaoke? Like singing in front of people?"
"Yeah, you've never been to a karaoke bar?"
"Nope."
"We should go one of these days. It's a lot of fun. You can sing by yourself or we could do a duet."
"I don't know…just the thought of getting up and singing in front of strangers-"
"This coming from the guy who convinced me to dance in the middle of Lincoln Center because our audience was strangers we would never see again?" Just thinking about that day brought a smile to her face. Their first date had started off a little rocky, but it was a beautiful memory. She leaned over and kissed him, disappointed when he pulled away after a few short pecks. He'd been doing that all evening. It certainly wasn't the behavior of someone who invited her over to not watch a movie.
"Those people couldn't boo us off of a stage."
Despite getting to really know each other for all these months Angela was still surprised when Eric would turn shy on her. Even she could forget that his outgoing behavior was sometimes a front. "You can just watch," she reassured, seeing he wasn't sold on the idea. "That's worth it, too. Trust me. Some people really go all out with costumes and everything. There was this one guy- you'd swear he thought he actually was Elvis."
"I didn't know you were big into karaoke."
"I've only gone a few times. But it's always been fun."
He thought about it for a few seconds before nodding. "Okay, I'll go with you sometime, even if I do just sit and watch."
"Thank you." Angela closed the minute gap between then and slid into his lap before wrapping her arms around his neck.
His hands automatically went to rest on her waist. "If I go to karaoke with you, will you go camping with me? Well, not camping, but hiking? Like a day trip up to the mountains?"
"Sure."
"You mean it?" Eric was surprised. She was a self-professed non-outdoorsy person.
"You're checking out something new for me. It's only fair if I return the favor. Getting out of our comfort zones is good, remember?"
"You mean you would've said yes if I had asked you to go camping?"
She laughed before responding. "No. Sorry, but my sleeping quarters must have indoor plumbing and need to be free from the risk of being attacked by a mountain lion."
"Please, the odds of running into a mountain lion in Pennsylvania are slim. You'd have a much better shot at being mauled by a black bear."
"What?!"
"Eh, I've only encountered them in person three times. And one of those was at the store with my dad when I was dumb enough to hire a show bear. The other times the bear was all the way on the other side of the lake." She looked more freaked out the longer he talked. "But don't worry. Black bears almost never attack humans. You're more likely to be struck by lightning first."
"Is this supposed to be making me feel safer?"
"I promise I'd protect you."
"And how would you propose to do that against a bear? Because, I'm sorry, but in a fight I'd be putting all my money on Yogi."
He thought for a moment before an idea came to him and he grinned. "Allow me to demonstrate." He gently pushed her back until she was lying on the couch and covered her body with his. "See? I'm a human shield."
She smiled up at him and shook her head. "And this will protect me from the bears?"
"Totally, and huddling together like this will help prevent hypothermia, too. It may be springtime, but it can still get pretty cold up in the mountains."
"In that case," she began, as she wrapped her arms around him pulled him down until they couldn't get any closer, "we'd better practice generating body heat. You know…just to be safe."
"See," he said in a husky voice between kisses, "you're getting the hang of camping already."
She had been so caught up in the sensations stirred up by Eric's lips on her own, then her neck, and back again, and his hands seemingly every place else on her body that when he sat up and pulled away without warning it was a shock. "What, why are you stopping," Angela asked, trying to catch her breath. "Do you hear Jack and Rachel?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I...I thought you wanted to watch the movie," he feebly replied.
"That's not what you're thinking about."
He sat back on his knees. "Angela-"
"Come on, you've been stopping all night. Is it because we've agreed we're not quite ready for sex yet so you're putting the breaks on before things go too far?"
"No. Although, now that you mention it-"
"What is it then? I think I deserve an explanation."
He sighed and ran a hand over his face. "It's stupid."
"If it's something that is legitimately bothering you then no, it's not. Just tell me."
"Does it feel weird for you to be here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Almost every other time you've been in this apartment you were dating Shawn. Hell, there were times Jack and I would come home and interrupt a date."
Realization dawned on her. "So you thought..."
"I don't know: same apartment, same living room, same couch..."
"To be honest I did have a few moments of déjà vu when I first walked in."
"Oh," he said, his gaze falling to the floor.
Angela squeezed his hands and made him look into her eyes. "Hey, yes, I briefly flashed back to when I was with Shawn, but you're the only one on my mind now."
"Really?"
"Yes. Look at it this way: I'm sure I'm not the first girl you've made out with on this couch. You've had other dates here, right?"
"Uhh..."
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Maybe."
"Are you thinking about any of them right now?"
"No."
"The same goes for me. We've both been with other people and have had relationships before. It just so happens that this apartment shares a lot of that history." She held his face in her hands and kissed him deeply, hoping to give him the reassurance he needed. "We are the only people in this apartment. I promise. No ghosts of relationships' past here tonight."
"I'm sorry." Eric ran his hands through his hair. He hated feeling like this, like he wasn't good enough for her. "I guess being around Cory and Shawn for the past couple of days trying to help Feeny got to me."
"What did they say?"
"Forget it."
"Eric-"
"Really, it's not important."
"Don't listen to them, okay? Their opinions on us don't matter. They don't get a say in this. Only we do." She lay back on the couch. "I like you and want to be with you."
Eric framed her face with his hands and captured her mouth in a kiss. He was content to keep it slow at first, to let the moment build. They had the next few hours to themselves. No need to rush anything.
Angela played with the buttons on his long sleeved shirt, hesitating only momentarily before working them through the holes to reveal his white tee beneath. The chuckles that escaped him a few seconds later when her fingertips danced along his sides caught her by surprise. She looked up at him. "You're ticklish?"
"A little." The glint in her eye matched her smirk. And neither one were innocent. "Please don't use this information for evil."
"I make no promises." She grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him back down to her.
/
"That was fun," Rachel stated, as she and Jack exited the elevator.
"Yeah, it was. Thanks for talking me into going. Sorry again about trying to wear the lifts. I would've looked stupid trying to dance in those things."
She gave him a quick kiss. "I told you they weren't needed. No one stared at us like we were a freak show."
"She's too tall for you," an elderly neighbor exclaimed, passing them in the hall.
"Ignore her."
Jack shook his head. "Forgotten already." He dug his keys out of his pocket, unlocked the door, and opened it. He took half a step inside before backing out and closing it again.
"What," she asked. "What's wrong?"
"Eric and Angela are in there," he whispered.
"So?"
"They're on the couch."
Rachel shrugged, perplexed. "Okay?"
"They're going at it on the couch!"
She gasped. "What?"
"They're making out."
"Are they dressed?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course they're dressed."
"Then why are we out here talking about them?"
"Because it's going to be really awkward to go in there."
"Maybe a little, but we can't stand in the hall all night, so let's go."
"But-"
"Jack, no. We've been dancing all night. My feet hurt and the only bra that works with this dress is the one with the underwire that is out for revenge. So, sorry, but we're going in." Rachel pushed Jack aside and led the way into their apartment. He wasn't kidding; Angela and Eric we going at it. She cleared her throat, startling the both of them. "Hi, guys," she greeted with a grin. "Have fun?"
"Hi…um…we were just…um…" He glanced at Angela, saw she was straightening her clothes, and tried to fix his own. "You're home early, aren't you?"
"It's 11:00."
"Oh. Well, you see-"
"You're enjoying the perks of dating, although I'd be happy to forget this happened."
"Sounds good to me."
"Well I'm going to go to bed," Rachel said, "I have an early class."
"Me, too. Goodnight."
"Hang on a second, guys," Eric called out.
"Yeah?"
"What are these? I found them on the couch when we came back here tonight."
Jack winced at the sight of his lift shoes. "We went dancing tonight and I was feeling a little self-conscious about my height so I was going to wear those. But I just looked stupid."
He nodded. "I could see that."
"Be nice," Angela admonished. "I think you made the right call, Jack. You look much better just as you are."
"Thanks, Angela." There were a few beats of awkward silence. "Goodnight, guys."
"Goodnight." When they were alone again she slid back over to Eric and wrapped her arms around him. "We should go dancing again."
He hugged her close. "I like dancing: holding you close, moving to the music…what's not to like?"
"I heard about this new club that opened that is eighteen and up until midnight."
"I'm twenty-one. It doesn't matter for me."
She gave him an incredulous stare. "Maybe, but I'm still only eighteen, remember? I won't be nineteen until the end of June."
"Oh, right. I guess I am robbing the cradle, huh?"
"Just a little bit."
He rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks."
/
/
Topanga strode slowly down the hall to her history class. She didn't sleep very well last night. Angela didn't get back to the dorm until after midnight and she was dressed and leaving as Topanga was waking up this morning. She was getting to class even earlier than normal today, hoping for a chance to talk to her best friend for just a few minutes. Those hopes were dashed when she saw Angela already conversing with another classmate, Breanne. She had a few classes with the girl and was a name Topanga heard mentioned with some regularity. She hadn't been spotted yet, but could hear their conversation.
"…definitely. It sounds like a plan. Let me talk to Todd and find out what night works for him."
"Let me know. I talked Eric into going to karaoke. Maybe just the idea of sitting in the audience won't make him nervous if there's another couple there."
Topanga backed out of the classroom, suddenly not feeling very well. Angela was making plans with other friends and other couples? Was it already too late? Had she already lost her friend?