Soon enough the week was over and it was the opening night of the play. Gwen felt a mixture of excitement and nerves as she stood backstage, adjusting her costume and taking deep breaths to calm herself. The auditorium was buzzing with the energy of the audience finding their seats, and she could hear the muffled conversations and occasional laughter filtering through the curtains. She kept pacing, holding her script and going over her lines. She knew her lines by heart, but she just wanted to make sure she didn't forget anything.

"Gwen, you're gonna be fine!" Kamden's reassuring voice cut through her thoughts. "We've rehearsed this a million times. Just relax and enjoy yourself. You've got this!"

"Thanks, Kam." Gwen sighs, forcing a smile. "I know, you're right. I just...I'm so nervous! What if I mess up? What if I forget my lines? What if I make a fool of myself in front of everyone-"

A surprised noise left her lips as she felt lips pressing against hers, her eyes widening in shock. Kamden pulls away, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "There, now that you've had a kiss for good luck, I'm sure everything will go perfectly."

Gwen felt her cheeks burning as she stared at him, her heart hammering in her chest. She wasn't expecting that. Before she could say anything, he winked at her and headed off to find his spot on stage. She stood there, stunned, as she watched him leave. She could still feel the warmth of his lips on hers, and it was doing nothing to help her racing heart. She took a deep breath, trying to collect herself. But how could she do that after he did that? It surprised her and caught her off guard. He wasn't usually that bold. She couldn't stop thinking about his lips on hers and the way his hands had gently gripped her hips. She felt her face heat up again and quickly shook her head. This was not the time to be thinking about this! She had a play to perform, and she couldn't afford any distractions. She needed to focus. But as she ran through her lines one last time, her mind kept wandering back to the kiss, and the way it had made her feel, the way it felt so natural and right.

They've kissed before. Only once and they knew how the other felt. But she had needed time to think over her feelings she had for him and Shawn and she still had no idea which one was the one for her. She was starting to have her suspicions about who she might want, but now after Kamden suddenly kissed her, she had no clue. Her feelings and emotions were all over the place. She shook her head and turned back to the script to continue going over her lines, needing a distraction from her confusing thoughts.

"Nervous?" A familiar voice asked.

Gwen turns to see Shawn standing behind her, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. Her heart skips a beat at seeing him. "You know you're not allowed back here." Was all she managed to say, but she couldn't stop her own smile from forming.

"What are they gonna do? Throw me out? I'll fight 'em." He teases, moving closer to her. "Besides, I knew you would be nervous, so I thought I'd come back and give you a little pep talk."

Gwen laughs softly, shaking her head. "You always know how to make me feel better."

"That's the plan," Shawn replies, his expression turning serious as he reaches out to take her hands in his. "You're going to be amazing out there, Gwen. You've worked so hard for this. I know you're nervous, but don't be. You know the script like the back of your hand. You've got this."

Gwen's cheeks warms at his words, her heart racing. "Thank you, Shawn." She replied, her voice soft.

Shawn smiles, his gaze intense and sincere. "I believe in you. I know you can do this."

"I can do this." Gwen repeated, trying to convince herself. He made her feel like she could do anything, like she was capable of anything. He believed in her, and that meant more to her than he could ever know.

Shawn pulls her in for a hug, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. "You've got this." He whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

Gwen closes her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting herself melt into the embrace. She could feel the stress and worry slipping away, replaced by a sense of calm and confidence. "I've got this." She repeated, feeling stronger and more certain.

"There's my sweet girl, the star of the play!"

Gwen's heart sank at hearing that familiar voice. She didn't want to pull away and bury her face more in Shawn's neck, hoping that she was hearing things and her mind was playing a cruel joke on her. Her mom had left. Why would she be here? And on top of that, her mom sounded drunk. Her mom being drunk was never good. Gwen knew how her mother got when she was drunk, and the last thing she wanted was for her to ruin tonight.

"Oh, and of course, you're with that trailer trash boy." Her mom's words were slurred as she stumbled closer, her expression one of disgust. "Why are you even wasting your time with him? You're above this."

Gwen stiffens, her anger flaring up. She didn't need this, not now. Not ever. "Get out of here, mom. You're not welcome here." She spoke, her tone cold and harsh.

"Don't you talk to me like that." Her mother spat, her eyes blazing. "I'm your mother. You'll show me respect."

"No, you're not. You left us. You don't get to show up here, drunk, and expect me to welcome you with open arms." Gwen's voice trembled, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. She was trying her best to stay calm, but her mother was pushing all the wrong buttons.

"I'm still your mother, and you will listen to me." Her mom growled, taking a step closer.

"You don't get to tell me what to do. You gave up that right when you left." Gwen argued, her temper rising.

"I left because of you! You and your father." Her mother spat, venom dripping from her words. "You both are a waste of space. You're ungrateful, selfish, and a disappointment." She was interrupted by a voice that cut through the tension like a knife.

"That's enough!" Ian's voice was firm and unyielding as he strode onto the scene, his presence commanding attention. He stepped between Gwen and her mother, his expression one of steely resolve. "You've done enough damage for one night. Leave. Now."

Gwen's mother glares at Ian, her drunken haze momentarily clearing as she registered his words. "You think you can just order me around? I'm her mother!"

"No," Ian replies, his voice cold. "You're a disruption, and you're not welcome here. Gwen has a big night ahead of her, and she doesn't need you making it worse. Leave, or I'll have security escort you out." He moved to stand in front of his daughter protectively, shielding her from her mother's wrath.

Gwen didn't realize her dad had gone backstage. He must've seen her mother and rushed back here. She felt tears pricking her eyes as her heart filled with emotion. Her dad was always there for her, always protecting her. She hadn't realized she was shaking either until she felt Shawn's arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her close to him. She leaned into his embrace, grateful for his support as tears brimmed her eyes. She tried blinking them away, she didn't need to cry. Not now. Plus she couldn't ruin her makeup before the show started.

Her mom stared at her, a sneer on her face. "You've always been weak. You were a mistake. And I wish you were never born."

Those words cut deep. Even though Gwen didn't like her mom, hearing those words were like a dagger through her heart. Her mom's words had a way of burrowing into her skin and poisoning her mind. She knew her mother was just drunk and spewing nonsense, but that didn't make it hurt any less. You know the saying, drunk words are sober thoughts.

Ian's eyes flashed with fury as he took a step forward, his posture tense and intimidating. "Get. Out." His voice was low and dangerous, the threat unmistakable. "Now. Before I make you."

Gwen's mother seemed to hesitate, her expression flickering with uncertainty. His sudden anger had sobered her up slightly enough to look afraid. With a huff, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the backstage, her movements clumsy and unsteady. The tension in the air dissipated as she disappeared, leaving only a heavy silence in her wake. Mr. Russell's voice broke the tensed silence.

"Okay, everyone, back to work! Nothing to see here! Almost time for the show to start, folks!" He announced, his tone light and jovial. His words got everyone out of their stunned states and went back to their jobs and places. He looked at Gwen sympathetically before walking away, his footsteps loud.

Gwen stood there, numb, the words her mother had spoken echoing in her mind. They hurt, they really did. Those words would have probably stayed with her for a while, if not forever. Tears threatened to spill as she struggled to hold them back, her chest aching. Ian turns to his daughter, his expression concerned and apologetic. "Gwen, sweetheart, I'm sorry you had to go through that." He pulls her into a hug, holding her tightly. "She's just a bitter, drunk woman. Don't let her words hurt you. You're not a mistake, you're my beautiful, strong, amazing daughter. Don't ever forget that."

Gwen nods, hugging him back. "Thank you, dad." She sniffles. She pulls away, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry, I need a minute. I'll be okay." She reassured her dad and Shawn, giving them a reassuring smile. She took a deep breath as she walked away, wiping her eyes. She stepped out the back door of the school, taking a moment to breathe. The cool air hit her face, refreshing her as she walked out. She had no clue where she was going, but she needed to clear her head.

She found a bench to sit on and pulled her legs up to her chest. She sat there for a while, her thoughts swirling and her heart aching. She felt lost and alone, her emotions in turmoil. She wanted to cry, to scream, to throw something, but she didn't have the energy. She was tired. Tired of being treated like a doormat, tired of being a disappointment, tired of the pain. She buried her face in her knees as she forced herself to not cry. She can't cry now. There were only a few moments before the show.

After a few moments, Gwen heard someone approach. But she didn't bother to look up. She figured it was her dad or Shawn, maybe Kamden. Who else would come looking for her?

"Hey."

Gwen's heart leaped at the sound of that familiar voice, and she raised her head, her eyes widening. Cory, her other best friend, stood there, looking at her with concern. His presence surprised her, but also filled her with a sense of relief. "Cory, what are you doing here?" Of course he was there to watch her in the play, Topanga was there too to support her, but she didn't think he'd come looking for her.

Cory sits down next to her, his expression sympathetic. "I heard what happened. Shawn explained it to us. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Gwen lied, trying to put on a brave face. But she knew he could see right through her. He's known her since they were kids, after all. He didn't say anything and just wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. She relaxed against him, closing her eyes and allowing herself to take comfort in his presence. It was the little things that made all the difference. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. They stayed like that for a while, not saying anything.

Finally, Cory broke the silence. "Gwen, I'm here for you, okay? We're all here for you. Whatever your mom said, don't listen to her. She's a terrible person who doesn't deserve you. You're an amazing person, and anyone would be lucky to have you."

That caused her to tear up again, but she tried to keep it together. His words warmed her heart and lifted her spirits, reminding her that she was loved and cared about. She sniffles, burying her face in his chest. He held her close, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. She tried to hold back her tears, not wanting to cry. But she couldn't stop the sob that escaped her lips, the dam finally breaking. She cried into his chest, her body trembling as all the emotions came pouring out. She had been holding it in for so long, and it was a relief to finally let it out. Cory didn't say anything, just holding her close and letting her cry, his presence comforting and grounding. He had always been there for her, and she was so grateful for him. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. His hands stroked her back, the action comforting and soothing. His touch was gentle and caring, and she felt safe in his arms. They stayed like that for a while, neither of them saying anything, just holding each other. It was exactly what she needed. He knew her so well, and always knew how to make her feel better. Gwen wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but eventually her tears subsided and her breathing returned to normal. She felt drained, but also lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

She pulls back to look at him, wiping her eyes. "Thanks, Cory." She says softly, her voice hoarse from crying. "I don't know what I'd do without you." He was always there for her, and he never let her down. She was so grateful to have him in her life. "I probably look like a mess." She hoped she didn't ruin her makeup. That was the last thing she wanted, especially when the show was going to start soon.

Cory reaches out, wiping away the tear stains on her cheeks. "You look perfect like always." He replies, his gaze sincere. Gwen felt her heart warm at his words and his touch. He always knew how to make her feel better. "You're beautiful, Gwen. Inside and out." He leans forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Come on, we should get you inside before the show starts." He got up and held his hand out for her, smiling at her.

She returns the smile, taking his hand and following his lead. She leans over to kiss his cheek. "Thanks for coming out here, Cor." She whispers, her tone sincere. "It means a lot."

He nods, squeezing her hand. "Of course, Gwen. You're like my sister, I'll always be here for you." He smiled at her, his eyes warm and caring.

She smiles back at him, squeezing his hand. "You're like my brother, the same goes to you." She replies. "Thank you."

With that, the two of them headed back inside, ready to face whatever the night would bring.  They walked back towards the school, his arm moving to wrap around her shoulders on the way there. She relaxed into his touch, her mind clearer and her heart lighter. When they got back inside, Cory wished her good luck and went back to the audience where he would sit with his family to watch the play. Shawn had gone back to the audience as well, sitting with Cory and his family. Gwen's dad and uncle sat near them as well, but her uncle had gone back stage after hearing what happened from Shawn to check on his brother-in-law and niece. He wasn't surprised his sister did something like this. He was more surprised she didn't make a bigger scene or started a fight.

When Gwen got back inside, she was suddenly pulled into a hug, surprising and confusing her. "Gwenny, I'm so sorry." At hearing her uncle's voice, Gwen relaxed and returned the hug, burying her face in his chest.

"Don't apologize, not your fault, Uncle Jon." She murmured.

Jonathan sighs, continuing to hold her close. "I know, sweetheart, but I'm still sorry you had to deal with that. Your mom...She's a mess. But you, you're strong. I wish I could do more to protect you from her. You deserve so much better. Don't believe anything she says, alright?"

Gwen nods, not trusting herself to speak. The last thing she needed was to burst into tears. Not now, not before the play. Her uncle was right. She was strong. She had dealt with her mom's crap before, and she could handle it now, too. She drew strength from the support of her family and friends, feeling their warmth and reassurance. As they released from the hug, Gwen took a deep breath, steadying herself for the upcoming performance. Jonathan pulled back from the hug, but only to look at her more, moving his hands to her shoulders, looking her over with concern.

"Are you sure you're okay? It's more than okay to not want to go through with this. You have an understudy. You can still back out, if you want."

She knew that. And she had to be honest she was tempted, but she didn't want to give up. She's come so far and put in so much work to get here. She couldn't just quit now. "I'm okay. I can do this." She reassured him.

"That's my strong girl." Ian's proud voice gains her attention. "Now, you better go get ready. Show's about to start." He walks over to her as she stepped back from her uncle to hug her dad. He hugged her back, kissing the top of her head. "You'll do great."

Gwen smiles, feeling her nerves fading as she pulled away. "I love you, dad."

"I love you, too, sweetheart." He replied, his expression soft and loving.

"Go get 'em, Gwenny." Jonathan said with a reassuring smile, reaching over a fist to her and grinning when she smiled back at him and fist bumped him.

She nodded, taking a deep breath while watching them head back out to sit down. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing her thoughts.

"It's almost time."

Her eyes opened and she saw Kamden standing in front of her. He looks at her with concern and worry, but there's a spark of admiration and pride there too. "How are you doing? I can't believe that just happened." He had stayed back, not wanting to intrude while that had happened. He had wanted to step in and defend and protect her, but it seemed like her dad had it handled. Plus he didn't want to start anything or make matters worse.

Gwen gave a shrug. "I'm doing better. It's just..." She took a deep shaky breath, not sure how to put her thoughts into words.

Kamden smiles reassuringly, reaching over and takes her hand in his, squeezing gently. "I get it. But hey, you've got this. We've practiced for weeks. I know you can do this. And if you get nervous, just focus on me. I'll be there."

Gwen gives him a grateful smile, the warmth of his hand sending tingles up her spine. His reassurance and faith in her meant more to her than he could ever know. "Thanks, Kam. I don't know what I'd do without you." She said, squeezing his hand. She pauses, wanting to talk about the sudden kiss from earlier, but decided now wasn't the time. There would be time for that later.

"You'd probably be bored without me." Kamden teased, trying to lighten the mood.

She rolls her eyes, her lips twitching up in amusement. "Yeah, probably." She admitted.

"Now come on, the show's about to start." He smiled at her, squeezing her hand.

Gwen's nerves fluttered in her stomach, but she nodded, steeling herself. Kamden didn't let go of her hand, which helped a lot. He grounded her in a way no one else did, and she was grateful for his presence. He led her to where Mr. Russell had everyone gathered in the dressing room, giving the group a pep talk since there were five minutes before the show started. He glanced at the two students when he heard them enter, giving them a reassuring smile before continuing.

"You've all worked hard and have prepared for this moment. You're all going to do great. I'm already so proud of you guys." He said, his expression sincere.

The other students cheered and clapped, their excitement and energy infectious. Gwen smiled, feeling some of her nervousness fading.

Mr. Russell glances at the clock and then at the students with a bright smile. "Alright, let's get into position. Break a leg, everyone!"

The group broke up and the actors and actresses took their positions on stage. Kamden gave Gwen's hand one last squeeze, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "You got this, Juliet. I'll see you out there." He whispered.

Gwen smiles, a blush forming on her cheeks. "Thanks, Romeo." He grinned, winking at her before letting go and heading towards the wings. Gwen took a deep breath and made her way onto the stage, taking her place.

The play started and the lights dimmed, signaling the start. Show time.

****

Meanwhile, back in the audience...

Shawn was sitting in the audience with the Matthews, waiting for the play to start. He was trying to stay calm, but his thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened earlier. He was worried about Gwen and he was furious at her mother. He couldn't believe she had the nerve to show up and ruin the night like that. What kind of person did that? His expression was steely and unreadable, his gaze focused on the stage.

"Shawn, are you okay?" Cory asked, noticing his best friend's tense posture.

"Fine." He replied, not looking away from the stage. He didn't want to talk about it, not now.

"You're clearly not fine. It's about Gwen, isn't it? I'm worried about her too." Cory persisted, his expression concerned.

"I said I'm fine." Shawn snapped, his tone short and terse. He didn't mean to sound so harsh, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to talk about it.

Cory held up his hands, backing off. He didn't want to push Shawn any further, not when he was clearly upset. He leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting back to the stage. "Okay, okay, I'll leave it alone. For now."

"Thank you." Shawn replied, his tone softer. He appreciated his best friend's concern, but he didn't need it right now. All he wanted to do was focus on the play and try not to think about what happened.

The lights dimmed and the curtains opened, signifying the start of the play. Shawn relaxed, focusing his attention on the stage.

As the play continued, Shawn was amazed at how great Gwen was. She was confident and poised, her words clear and her voice strong. She made a great Juliet. He almost forgot about what happened backstage before the show. No one could tell that she was upset or shaken by the incident.

"Wow, Gwen's really great, huh?" Topanga whispered, leaning closer to Shawn.

"Yeah, she's amazing." Shawn whispered back, his gaze focused on Gwen, looking at her in awe.

Topanga smirks a little at seeing the look in his eyes. She can tell he's more than just friends with Gwen. Her expression is teasing as she whispers, "I'm sensing a crush here."

Shawn's gaze snaps to hers, his expression shocked and embarrassed. He looks away, his cheeks heating up. "No, no, no, we're just best friends." He whispered back, trying to brush off her words.

"Right. Best friends. Uh huh." Topanga teased, her lips twitching.

"Can we please just focus on the play? That's the reason why we're here, isn't it?" Shawn grumbled, his embarrassment growing. He was not about to have this conversation with her.

Topanga laughs quietly, holding her hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. We can talk later."

Shawn shook his head, trying to ignore her words. He was not going to think about this now. Not when Gwen was on stage, performing. He didn't want anything to distract him from the amazing job she was doing. He could see the pride in her dad's expression as he watched her. Gwen had definitely inherited her dad's acting abilities. Ian had been in drama club when he was in high school and was quite good at acting. He had always been supportive of his daughter and had even given her tips and advice about acting. Shawn was impressed by her skills, but he wasn't surprised. She had a natural talent for it, and she was determined and hardworking.

When the play was over, everyone cheered and clapped, the students taking a bow. Gwen and Kamden were last to take their bow, the crowd going louder for them. Kamden had stepped back, giving Gwen a gentle push with a fond smile to give her the spotlight she deserved. Her face flushed at that and she couldn't help the shy smile on her face as she took a bow. She was proud of her performance, but she was also a bit embarrassed when he did that. As the crowd clapped, Kamden takes her hand, pulling her back up and into his arms. He leans closer to her to talk to her over the loud cheering, his lips grazing her ear and causing butterflies to swarm in her stomach. "You did amazing, Juliet."

She smiles, a warm feeling spreading through her. Her cheeks flushes and her heart flutters as she pulled back to look at him. "You did amazing too, Romeo. You're quite the actor."

Kamden smirks, his blue eyes sparkling. "You're quite the actress. I could barely tell you were nervous earlier."

"I had a pretty great Romeo to focus on." She murmured, her cheeks flushing as she said those words.

Kamden's expression softened and he looked at her with adoration and fondness. He couldn't deny how much he loved hearing that. "I'm glad I could help." They stayed like that for a moment, lost in their own little world. The play was over and the rest of the cast had moved off the stage, leaving the two of them alone. Gwen felt like she was floating, the only thing grounding her was the feeling of his arms around her. She knew they needed to get off the stage, but she didn't want the moment to end. She didn't know what this meant or where things would go from here, but she couldn't help the hope that bloomed in her chest.

Eventually they left the stage with the cast and went to greet people as they left. Then eventually they all got changed and went to meet up with their families before they all went to celebrate at a restaurant together. The drama club always went out to eat to celebrate after a show, it was a tradition. Gwen had a blast with her fellow drama club members, ending up hanging around Kamden the whole time. Eventually, though, it was time to head home. Gwen's dad drove her home, the car ride quiet except for the radio.

"You did great, jelly bean. Really. You're so talented. I'm so proud of you."

Gwen beams at him. "Thanks, dad. That means a lot."

He smiles back, glancing at her briefly before focusing on the road again. "So...I noticed you and Kamden were close tonight."

Her cheeks flushes, and she looks down shyly. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Is he one of the two guys you like?" Ian asked curiously.

She hesitates for a moment, her cheeks growing even redder. "Y-yeah. He is."

"He seems like a good guy. He clearly cares a lot about you." Ian said softly.

"Yeah, I care a lot about him too." She murmured.

When they got home, Ian gave his daughter a big hug and told her goodnight. "I love you, jelly bean. Sleep well. You earned it."

She hugs him back, smiling. "Love you too, dad. Night."

They went inside, and Ian headed to bed and Gwen went to her bedroom. She changed into pajamas and then climbed into bed, her thoughts drifting back to the events of the night. Her heart was still racing and she couldn't stop thinking about Kamden. The way he looked at her and held her made her feel special. And her mind kept replaying that kiss over and over again. She still couldn't believe he had done that, and it made her feel things she had never felt before. It had been a wonderful night, and she was excited to see where things went from here. Though her feelings for Shawn were still strong, her feelings for Kamden were growing stronger too. She just hoped things would work out in the end.