//

At the Matthews home, Cory, Shawn and I were up in Cory's room studying for the SATs.

I sat on Cory's bed with my notebook in my lap while I knawed on the top of my pen, reviewing my notes.

"You know, I think I'm developing quite a knack for these scholastic aptitude tests, or I prefer to call them, SATs," Shawn told Cory and I.

"Okay, okay, here's another one," Cory began. "Verbal."

Shawn sat on the bed beside me. "It's how you talk and stuff. Keep 'em coming," he answered.

I let out a small chuckle, placing a hand on my boyfriend's knee. "No, Shawn, darling, he means the question is verbal," I tell him. "Means you answer it by speaking."

"Okay, 'Perigee is to apogee as zenith is to...A-Nadir, B-Cortex, C-Sulfur?'" Cory asked as Eric came into the room and Shawn stood beside Cory at his desk.

Shawn suddenly began to disfunction, groaning in pain and rubbing his temples.

I stood up, placing my notebook aside, wrapping my arms around Shawn, leading him to the window. "Come on, you're okay," I tell him before opening the window, kissing his cheek to which he climbed out. "I love you, I'll see you tomorrow," I call out before closing the window, sitting back on the bed, speaking to Cory, "So where were we?"

"A-Nadir. I'm right, aren't I?" Eric spoke up.

Cory grinned. "Yeah."

"Nice job, Eric," I tell him.

Eric shrugged. "First 2 times I took the SATs, I put down sulfur and cortex and we saw how well that worked for me."

"So a third date with Kelly tonight. How'd it go?" Cory asked his older brother.

"Uh, she took me back to her apartment," Eric answered.

Cory chuckled. "Wow. Details."

"Ooh, I don't know if I wanna know...details," I say, covering my ears.

"It's nothing too bad," Eric told me to which I lowered my hands. "Okay, nice apartment, hardwood floors, little kid, overlooking the park.,

"Whoa, whoa, who, Eric. How did she get an apartment overlooking the park?" Cory asked.

"Cory, he said little kid," Betty stated before looking to Eric. "She has a kid?"

Eric nodded as Cory kept asking, "Now, does she get the afternoon sun and everything?"

"Cory, Cory, Cory," Eric called. "If I'm gonna involve you in these adult conversations, you're gonna have to pick up on little key phrases like 'she has a kid'."

Cory caught on. "A kid, huh? Well, that kind of complicates things, doesn't it?"

Eric paused, "...Yeah. I mean, I guess, but we really like each other. That's all that matters, right? I mean, she's out in the real world. So am I. Got a good job, got me a nice house."

"So what does this mean to you?" I question.

"It means...I frankly think I'm ready for an adult relationship."

"Well, that's great. So what do Mom and Dad think?" Cory asked.

"I'm too scared to tell 'em."

I stood up, grabbing Eric's arm to pull him to the bed. "Look, tell your parents when you want but about this Kelly situation..."

Eric let out a small laugh, placing his hand over mine, removing my hand from his arm. "Betty," he began. "Look, I know we've been flirting back and forth a lot lately but we're both in relationships now so whatever this is, it's just...wrong."

I roll my eyes. "Easy there, Casanova," I remark, sitting on the edge of Cory's bed. "I'm trying to offer you some advice. You want it or not?"

"Yes, please," Eric immediately answered, sitting beside me.

"Okay," I say. "Look, not everyone is one hundred percent ready when the matter of kid is brought up. But if you are, you need to show her that you are very ready to be serious. Knock on Kelly's door with her favorite kind of flowers. Then tell her, prove to her that you're ready to take things more seriously."

"Huh," Eric spoke with a small nod. "What do you know? That is good advice." He looked at Cory. "Did you know she does that?"

Cory smiled. "She's my best friend, I did know."

Eric wrapped his arm around my shoulder in a side-hug. "Thanks, blondie."

I let out a small sigh. "Eric, look," I speak, removing his arm. "I know we've been flirting back in forth a lot lately but you're in a relationship and so am I. This can't keep happening," I say, mocking Eric's words before standing beside Cory to focus on studying.

"What-I-I..." Eric began. "That wasn't even flirting!"

***

The next day, Shawn, Cory, and I entered Chubby's.

"Hey, Eric," Cory greeted his brother who was in a booth with his supposed girlfriend.

"Not now. Get out of here," Eric told Cory.

"Where's the baby?" Shawn asked Eric.

"Get out of here now," Eric repeated.

"Lovely to see you too, Eric," Betty sassed.

Cory waved to the girl. "Hi, Kelly. I'm Cory and this is Shawn and Betty."

"Oh, you're Betty?" Kelly asked the blond.

"Yes...?" Betty questioned with a smile. "Hi. How did you know about me?"

"Eric talked about you before. How close you two are," Kelly stated.

Betty gave her a smile, turning to Eric. "Really now?"

"Yeah, well," Eric spoke up. "I really get along with my brother's friends..."

"No, really. Where's the baby?" Shawn asked, earning a look from Cory and Betty. "What? I think it's a valid question."

"He's back there at the pinball machine," Kelly answered.

Shawn glanced back to where a boy looking to be at least five was playing on the pinball machine. "Oh. Do you mind if I go over there and play with the baby?" he asked Kelly.

Kelly looked to Eric who answered, "He's okay."

Kelly sent him a nod to which Betty and Shawn follow over to where the boy was.

***

At Chubby's the next day, Topy, Cory, Archie, and I went near the pool table where Eric and the boy, Ryan were sitting nearby.

"Hey, Eric," I greeted.

"Oh, hey. It's the baby," Shawn stated, noticing Ryan.

Topy looked down at Ryan. "Aren't you adorable," she complimented.

Ryan grabbed a piece of candy. "You get a Tootsie Roll."

"Oh, thanks," Topy told him.

"I told him he was cute yesterday, why do you get a Tootsie Roll?" Betty asked with a pout.

"Because I'm pretty than you are," Topy joked.

Betty paused. "I actually don't disagree with that."

"I'm kidding."

"Okay, Topanga, me, Archie, and Cory against you and Betty, and you guys are going dow-how-hown!" Shawn said as he grabbed a pool stick.

Archie scoffed. "Dude."

"Oh, well, that's real fair," Topy remarked before looking to the older Matthews. "Eric, you wanna be on my team?"

"Topanga, I take my babysitting responsibilities pretty seriously," Eric told them.

"Okay, the spot's open if you want it," Betty told him.

"Hey, Archie. Why don't you ask Zack if he can play?" Cory asked the redhead.

"Well..." Archie began, looking over to a table where Zack was making out with a girl in a booth. "He's trying to help her collapsed lung, I think."

Betty grabbed her pool stick before yelling out to her brother. "Take five, you animals!"

Zack slowly pulled back from his date, looking at Betty with a glare. "Dude!" he exclaimed.

Betty only grinned in response as Cory said, "Okay. I'll break." To which he hit the white ball with his pool stick.

Eric grabbed a pool stick as well while Shawn asked, "So, Eric, what'd you and your baby do today?"

"Oh, we did just about everything there is to do in the world," Eric answered before looking at his little brother. "Cory, you have no idea how adult you look to me right now."

I approach my boyfriend, resting my chin on his shoulder. "I'll give you 10 bucks if you let us win."

"Thank you, babe," Shawn told me. "But I already have 10 bucks."

"What if I..." I trail off with a smirk before whispering into his ear.

Shawn gaped with a large grin. "Just to lose?" he asked.

I smile. "Yep."

"Don't do it, man, it's a trap," Cory told Shawn.

"It's a good trap," Shawn replied.

"Eric, it's your shot," Archie told Eric as he turned away from Ryan.

"My shot. All right," Eric stated. "So when are you guys actually taking your S.A.T.s.?"

"A week from Saturday," Topy answered, making Shawn rub his head in pain and groan. "I thought he knew."

"Actually, I told him there's no S.A.T.s and that Saturday was just cake day at school and perhaps some creme brulee," Cory answered.

At this, Shawn let out a dream-filled, "Mmm..."

I giggled. "You're cute," I tell him.

"Okay, why don't we do this...Why don't we do the 10 ball in whatever pocket it decides to go into?" Eric said, about to hit the white ball. "Come on, Ryan! Come check this shot out, my friend." When he got no response, he called out, "Ry?"

I look around the area to see that I couldn't see him. "Ryan?" I call.

"Where'd he go?" Topy asked Eric.

"The baby's gone?" Shawn questioned.

***

At my house, I was sitting at my desk in my chair while Shawn had his chin resting on my head.

"Poor Eric," I state. "I've never seen him yell. You can tell he hated every second of that. Poor Ryan too."

"Babe, it's over. The baby's fine and Eric's fine too. Now, can we please stop talking about Eric and focus on studying for the S.A.T.s?" Shawn asked before pausing. "Did I really just say that?"

"Yep," I answer before agreeing and grabbing my book. "About 20% of Earth's atmosphere is this gas...A-Oxygen, B-Nitrogen or C-Carbon Dioxide?" Shawn began to groan in pain, rubbing his temples but before he continued, I turn in my chair to face him. "Don't start that, Shawny."

"Why?" Shawn whined, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Because I'll be making you a deal right now," I stated. "Every question you get right, you get a kiss. You get questions right in a row-"

"Wait, I know this one. Longer kiss, right?" Shawn corrected.

I smile. "Ding. Ding. Ding. That's your first right question," I answer, standing up to approach Shawn only pecking his lips.

Shawn scoffed. "That's the shortest kiss I've ever gotten."

"Answer questions and you'll get more," I tell him, grabbing my book before sitting beside him. "About 20% of Earth's atmosphere is this gas...A-Oxygen, B-Nitrogen or C-Carbon Dioxide?" I repeat.

Shawn was his silent, rubbing his temple still but silent. "Ox...Oxygen?" he answered with a questioning tone.

"Correct," I answer, grabbing his chin with his hand, turning his face to me to which I press my lips to his in a longer kiss. Just as Shawn placed his hands on my jawline, I pull away. "Okay, next question."

Shawn falls back on my bed with a groan. "Betty, my brain is throbbing," he stated.

"Acid rain, ozone, and smog are all examples of...A-Primary Pollutants or B-Secondary Pollutants?" I ask.

"Uh...Primary?" Shawn guessed.

"Ooh," I say, standing up to my book back on my desk. "That's wrong."

"So I guessed for nothing?" Shawn asked.

"Not necessarily," I answer with a smirk before turning back to Shawn, sitting on his lap.

This made Shawn sit up very quickly with wide eyes. "This is new," he stated, his hands resting on my back were the only things that kept me from falling back.

"Bad new or good new?" I ask, running my hands through his hair.

"Very good," he answered. "But I got the question wrong."

I only hum. "The best part about my game is that they're my rules..."

I lean forward, connecting our lips.

Shawn completely fell apart against me, falling back into my bed as I pressed him into it. Both my hands move to hold his face as his grasped my hips.

Everything around them became long forgotten as I barely pulled down the collar to Shawn's shirt, moving to kiss his throat.

The blood pumping in my ears was enough to drown almost everything. Almost-

"I'm coming into my sister's room!" Zack yelled outside the hall.

Before I knew it, I was flung off of Shawn's lap, landing on the floor while he grabbed a magazine off the floor, lying halfway across my bed, pretending to read.

The door opened, revealing my brother in the doorway.

"Hey, Zack, what's up?" Shawn greeted casually.

"Nothing," Zack answered before looking to me with a smug look. "Hey, sis. Why are you on the floor?" he asked.

"She just jumped off the bed, I told her that happens when you jump near the edge," Shawn answered.

"At least you learned by now what happens when-"

"Yeah, I know. You'll kill me."

"Or trust me, you leave more hickeys on my sister again, I'll do something way worse than kill you. It'll be so bad, not even the best detective in the world will know what happened," Zack threatened.

I sent him a glare. "Really?" I ask.

"Yeah, really," he answered. Just as he was about to leave, he added, "Take five, you animals."

With that, he closed the door.

I turn to Shawn. "Ow!" I exclaim at him.

Shawn immediately got up. "Sorry, babe. I'm sorry," he apologized, helping me up to my feet. "If we got caught, Zack would've killed me...again."

***

Hi!

Wasn't much of an update but more Betty and Shawn to come in the next episode.