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Shawn really loves that after spending days doing photos and videos for a city wedding that he and Cory can go back into the wilderness and find a little grove to camp out in. He loves that he gets to work for a few days and then spend the rest of his days out in nature with his boyfriend, it’s the perfect blend of things. He loves that for a pair of city boys, they sure seem to be a whole lot happier out in nature.
He wonders, occasionally, if it’s just another one of those things that Mr. Feeny was right about. It’s nice and peaceful.
No honking horns, no yelling idiots, just him and his boyfriend of nearly six months happy and together and in love.
“Wha’cha thinking about Shawnie?” Cory asks as he finds him in this little grove a little bit away from their campsite and sits beside him. Close enough that Shawn can smell him, a smell that Shawn has grown to love over their months of dating.
“That Feeny was right,” he offers as he slides his hand into Cory’s.
Cory laughs. “He’s right about so many things; you’ll have to be more specific.”
Shawn laughs. “Yeah, he definitely was, but I meant that time that we stole the keys to his cabin, and he said we would benefit from more time out in nature with our thoughts and the peace out here.”
Cory leans his head on Shawn’s shoulder, and says, “I definitely think being out here just you and me has definitely done us both some good, but like, Shawnie, I think not being in school has been the biggest the reason why.”
“Says that guy that begged me and tricked people into getting me into Pennbrooke.”
Cory laughs. “Yeah, I was an ass, but I just – I couldn’t imagine life without you. Still can’t.”
“And your parents pushed college so much…”
“And Feeny and Turner … and everyone else,” Cory states. “Even though neither of us were all that into schoolwork.”
“We did like journalism with Eli,” Shawn offers. Eli had gotten an offer at another school in New York, and they both had been disappointed, especially Cory since he enjoyed journalism (even if he was basically told after the whole janitor Bud thing that maybe it wasn’t for him). “Have you ever thought about going back to it? You seemed to like it, and you were good.”
“Considering all the crap we got? Nah.”
Shawn frowns as Cory lifts his head from Shawn’s shoulder to look at him. “Just because he got caught doesn’t mean that it was really on us. Maybe he shouldn’t have been cheating on his timecard.”
“Yeah, well, tell that to everyone hating on us,” Cory retorts. “I don’t know, it just – I don’t think I could report on things that ruin lives.”
Shawn hums.
“And I like what we got going on,” Cory offers after a minute. “I like videography, I like that we can work one weekend and be off all week to … have fun together… until the next weekend or event.”
That is a nice perk. It’s nice to find these little groves and enjoy nature with Cory in between gigs.
“So, I guess that means Feeny was right, we’re better off being mountain men.”
Cory laughs. “We are definitely not mountain men, Shawnie, but I do think that without school and getting to be out here with the critters and nature and my boyfriend has been very great.”
Shawn nods. “We didn’t see him at Christmas, do you think he’d be surprised about us?”
Cory laughs. “If my parents suspected it, I’m pretty sure Feeny did, too. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Williams and Turner had some sort of bet on it.”
Shawn shakes his head. He hasn’t thought about Turner in awhile. He’d worried about him in the aftermath of his accident, but he always felt guilty about going back to his dad (when his dad bailed on him, again, not that long after coming back). He wonders how things might’ve been different if he stayed with Turner.
He’s only grateful that he did, in fact, recover.
“You really think that John wouldn’t be surprised?”
Cory laughs. “Didn’t he once tell you that I was your perfect relationship?”
“Yeah, as friends.”
“Yeah, and he saw us for us more than Feeny or my parents.”
He makes a good point. Especially since Turner had made a point to make sure that he understood Shawn in a way that no one else does. He would probably be supportive.
“You know… we have some time before the game with Eric and Jack, maybe we could head to New York? Turner moved there, didn’t he? We could… go see him,” Cory offers.
Shawn grimaces. While he did think that Turner would be supportive and understanding, he’s not sure that he’s ready for potential rejection. It’s bad enough that his dad’s death had led to rejection from the woman he thought was his mother his entire life, but if he tells the only other adult that had stepped up to be a parent to him and he rejects him, he’s not sure that he can handle that.
“Or maybe not?” Cory offers, evidently reading his mind.
That’s one thing about dating his best friend that he’s quite enjoying, the way that Cory can read him so well, and he doesn’t have to explain.
“Maybe we could see how I feel after the game?” Shawn offers. “If things go well, it’d be nice to spend some time with Turner and we could always go when school is out, again.”
Cory gives him a soft smile and squeezes his hand, lightly. “When things go well, we can spend as much time with Turner as you want.”
He can’t help the smile that graces his face. He loves Cory’s optimism.
“I hope that you’re right, Cor, I want you to be right.”
“I will be, Shawnie. Just gotta trust me.”
“Always,” he assures him as he presses a sweet kiss to his lips.
“Good.”