//

At the Matthews home, I sat on the couch's arm of the seat Shawn was sitting in while Topy and Cory sat across from us on the couch.

Shawn hands Cory a paper who asks, "What's this? It's a-" He opened the paper, reading it out loud. "It's a list of colleges."

"Yes, that is where I want the three of you to go," Shawn stated, motioning to Topy, Cory, and me.

"Shawn, I think you mean the four of us," I state.

"Even if I'm not going to school, the four of us should still be together," Shawn added.

"Well, I am wherever you are," I say, resting my head on Shawn's shoulder.

"Okay, 'University of Italy'," Cory read off. "Good old 'U' of It."

"Yep," Shawn said. "You guys hit the books, you're studying hard. Meanwhile, I'm out in the sun taking tourists around in my big canoe."

"It's called a gondola," Topy corrected.

Shawn pointed at her. "And that is why you're going to college," he stated before pecking my lips and standing up, heading for the door.

But Cory stopped him. "Wait, Shawn. You've worked too long to throw it all away now, okay, buddy?"

"Yeah, why don't you take the S.A.T.s, handsome?" I suggest. "I bet you'll do really well."

"Fine, fine, Ponytail Princess," Shawn agreed, sitting back down. "I'll take your little test. What's 10 minutes of my life, right?"

Cory and I only nod while Topy tried to say, "10 minutes? Shawn, they take at least-"

I jumped beside Topy, covering her mouth with my hand, shushing her.

"Shawn, listen," Cory said. "You know, I bet, if you take Feeny's review course, I bet you could knock them out in five, slugger."

"No. Too much school, too much Feeny," Shawn said, turning to try and leave again.  "Bye-bye. I am going canoe shopping."

I sigh. "Shawny..."

"Bye, babe. Love ya," Shawn told me with a grin.

"Love you too," I repeat back anyway before turning to my friends as the door closed and my boyfriend left. "Okay, we need to convince Shawn that the S.A.T.s are really easy."

"New mission, Betts?" Topy asked.

"Yes. Mission: S.A.T.s," I state.

"You gotta plan?" Cory questioned.

"I want Shawn to go to college with us," I say. "And I want him to try his best. So we lower the standards, make him think the S.A.T. testing is actually a blast, then he'll take it."

***

The next day at school, during lunch. Topy and Cory were sitting on a bench in the hall while I was looking around the corner for Shawn.

Once I spotted him, I ran back over to the couple. "All right, he's coming, let's go," I say as I practically slid and sat on the ground quickly since they took up most of the bench.

As Shawn rounded the corner, close to us at his locker, Topy spoke, "Okay, Cory, give me another one of those tough S.A.T. questions."

Shawn glanced our way, making me smile. "Hope I get this one right," I tell Cory, my voice full of hope.

"Okay, guys. Here's a doozie. Kept me up most of the night," Cory stated, looking in the book. "'Which of these ingredients does not make mud-Dirt'..." Shawn approached us, now listening. "'Water...or turkey'."

I feigned a confused expression, looking to Topy. "Uh...do you know this one?"

"Turkey," Shawn answered.

I gape as Cory told Shawn, "Correct."

"Wow, Shawn, I didn't even know that one," Topy added.

"My boyfriend's a genius," I say with a happy laugh, looking up at him.

"That came from Feeny's prep course?" Shawn asked.

Cory raised the book in emphasis. "Well, it was only one of the tougher ones."

Suddenly, Mr. Feeny was standing over Cory's shoulder. "Let me see that book."

Cory quickly stood up. "Uh, see, Mr. Feeny?" He pointed to a random spot on the page, actually showing him. "Right-Right after, uh, uh..."

"This question, 'Which is sweeter: sugar or salt?'" I cover, standing and pointing in the book.

"Sugar," Shawn answered enthusiastically which made me grin.

"Wow. 2 in a row," Topy stated.

"I'm so proud of you," I tell Shawn, stepping closer to him and interlocking our fingers.

Mr. Feeny patted his coat. "Where are my glasses?"

As he found them, Cory spoke, "Uh, see, what we're doing, Mr. Feeny, is we're just trying to show Shawn that, uh, through your review course, a student builds a certain level of confidence. Through a series of not-quite questions."

"It's really this basic?" Shawn asked Mr. Feeny, happily.

"Shawn," Mr. Feeny spoke. "I don't want anyone misleading you. My prep course involves a lot of hard work."

"Oh, then I don't want to do it," Shawn stated.

"But it's fun," Cory stated.

"Tell him, Mr. Feeny. Tell Shawn about the carnival-like atmosphere of your prep course so that Shawn will join us," Topy added.

"No," Mr. Feeny answered.

I released Shawn's hand to step closer to Mr. Feeny, lowering my voice, "Mr. Feeny, please. If Shawn doesn't at least put an effort into getting in college, he'll..."

"He starts washing windows, playing the lotto," Cory added, just as quiet. "Then, he loses his teeth, becomes a ward of the state."

"Take it down a notch," I tell him before turning to my teacher. "And then, I won't have a husband or two lovely kids. I'll just end up marrying some boring banker, having a sad life while he moves in with you." I place my hands together, pleading. "Please..."

"Well," Mr. Feeny began. "If I tell him about the, uh...cake..." I glance at Shawn who looked like his ears perked up. "Well, then everyone will want to take the class."

"Cake?" Shawn questioned.

Suddenly, a locker slammed and Zack hurried over with Archie trailing behind him. "Cake. I heard cake. Who has cake?" Zack asked.

"It sounds like Mr. Feeny has cake," Archie stated. "Is that true?"

"Yes, cake," Mr. Feeny answered hesitantly. "Delicious cake, actually, from the, uh, Westchester bakery...is where we get the cakes." At this, Zack gaped, excitedly hitting Archie's arm. "It's uh...where we get them."

"Really? What else?" Shawn asked with a grin, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What? Cake's not enough?" Mr. Feeny questioned to which Shawn was waiting for him to answer. "And then we have a, uh...talent show some nights."

"This is amazing," Shawn stated, looking at me. "Babe, why didn't you tell me any of this?"

I shrugged. "I don't know," she answered.

Zack nudged Archie. "Did you know about this?"

Archie shook his head slowly. "No, this all brand new information," he answered.

"Uh, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Cooper," Mr. Feeny began. "In between the hoopla, there will be learning going on."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cake, right?" Shawn asked.

"If it's true, I'm going to take your prep course too," Zack added.

"Yes, it is true," Mr. Feeny answered reluctantly.

"Yes," Zack cheered excitedly. "I'm so there."

"Me too," Shawn added.

"Remember we have to study for this like Mr. Feeny said-" I began.

"Great, let's get started," Shawn said, pulling me away by the hand.

Once Shawn has turned away, I mouth 'thank you' to Mr. Feeny.

This was also the first time Shawn was pulling me to study.

***

After a few days of going to Mr. Feeny's S.A.T. Prep Course, we all took our S.A.T.s. Cory, Shawn, Topy, Zack, Archie, and I knocked on Mr. Feeny's door.

Mr. Feeny opened the door, seeing all of us. "What in heaven's name..."

"Mr. Feeny, we got a few issues to discuss with you, "Cory began.

"Yeah!" Shawn agreed.

"We just came from taking our S.A.T.'s," Topy added.

"Yeah!" Zack added before looking at Shawn. "Or is that your thing?"

"How did you do?" Mr. Feeny asked.

"Yeah!" Shawn and Zack said together, this earned a look from everyone.

Archie wrapped his arm around Zack. "Honey, just stand there and look pretty," he told him.

"That's why we're here, sir," I add.

"I mean, for more years than I care to remember, you have drove us nuts by filling our heads with dates and ideas and numbers and concepts."

"Yeah, and with the last three weeks with that course of yours, drilling us, pushing us to the edge," Archie added.

"Yeah, and making me eat cake," Shawn added.

Zack patted his stomach. "Five pounds right here, baby."

"And now that's it's all over and we've taken the test, we had to come here and tell you to your face..." Cory stated.

"Thank you, Mr. Feeny," I say with a smile.

"Yeah, thanks a lot, man," Shawn stated.

"We owe everything to you," Archie added.

"We finally understand why you pushed us so hard," Cory added.

"You even believed in us when no one, not even ourselves, did," Zack added.

"We're really glad you did," Topy concluded.

And with that, the six walk away.

***

Hi!

Sorry this wasn't much of an update but there wasn't much I could work within this chapter, next one, however...I think you know what comes next...

I hate to be one of those authors that says this but...I'm gonna do it anyway, cringing at myself doing so.

If you guys want to see this guy play a demon...

I published a story called Jonathan's Body (it's an AU story to honor the movie that it is based upon).

And I published another story if you guys are Harry Potter fans...it's a love triangle book called Still Don't Know My Name.

If you guys have read my last HP book, I'm so sorry because that was garbage. My writing has improved a lot better.