Shannon!

The milkshoppe! I like this location. I have to keep amending it in my mind.


"Cheers!" The gang clinked their glasses loudly and drank.

"I feel like we're celebrating too early. Schools not even done yet." Eddie said as he stared into his glass.

"It's almost done." Jeremy added.

"We can celebrate that too." Amanda cheered. "To an awesome first year of high school! Almost."

"I can't believe schools almost over." Shannon quietly reflected. "I feel like so much has happened but it's only been a year."

"Like what?" Jeremy asked. The others stared at Shannon expectantly.

"Well, I met you." Shannon blushed. "And Aberdine and Carl!" She quickly added.

"There's that whole mess with Cassie." Amanda added.

"And you and Amanda had that tiff going in first semester." Eddie added. Amanda quickly elbowed him silent.

"It's just, kind of neat that life can change so much in such a short time." Shannon continued. "I mean, a year ago did any of you think you'd be sitting here drinking milkshakes with all your new friends?"

"I didn't." Eddie said without hesitation.

"Eddie, you don't have any new friends." Amanda jibed.

"I met Aberdine."

"I'm not your friend." Aberdine shook her head.

Everyone else laughed at Eddie.

"Guys I'm glad I met you all." Shannon tried to reign in the conversation. "I don't think high school would've been this fun without you. All of you."

"Even Eddie?" Aberdine grinned wickedly.

"Especially Eddie!" Shannon reached across the table and tousled Eddie's already messy hair.

The five of them hung out for a while ordering more milkshakes and food. As the day started to wear down they started to split off.

Aberdine was sitting the back corner of the shop watching as Shannon and Jeremy and Eddie talked. Amanda walked over and sat next to her.

"What's the haps, Black Adder?" Amanda said as she plopped down beside Aberdine.

"Just watching our social inept friend and her crush." Aberdine sipped at her third milkshake.

"That's rich, coming from the girl skulking in the corner." Amanda grinned. "You should just sit with us. We're your friends, you know that right."

"I like to keep to the corners. It's easier to see what's going on. When you're in the thick of it, you don't see how others are acting. Where they're looking, what they're doing while you're talking. You can learn a lot by just watching how someone moves."


Amanda sat quietly for a moment. "Do you watch me?"

"Sometimes. You're really boring though, Queenie." Aberdine grinned wickedly.

"I oughta knock you out for that." Amanda grabbed Aberdine and noogied her.

"Knock it off." Aberdine said pushing Amanda off her. "Don't worry. I won't tell Shannon about your secret." Aberdine stood up and walked over to Shannon leaving Amanda to sit stunned in the corner.

"Hey, Shannon. I've gotta head off. I haven't been home yet. My parents are probably getting worried." Aberdine walked over.

"Oh, ok." Shannon stood up. "I'll be right back guys, I want to say bye to Aberdine." Shannon walked with Aberdine out the front of the shop.

Eddie and Jeremy sat in awkward silence for a moment.

"So you and Shannon are close?" Jeremy asked finally trying to break the ice.

"You could say that." Eddie said coyly.

"How long have you two known each other?"

"Since were little."

The awkward silence continued.

"Look, I just want to get to know you better is all. Shannon seems really attached to you and I want learn more about you." Jeremy tried to explain. "You could at least make it easier for me."

"Ok." Eddie finished his milk shake and wiped his face. "Shannon's my cousin. She's the closest person to me other than my little brother. If you do anything to hurt her I'll end you."

"Really?" Jeremy started to laugh.

"I may not look like the toughest guy, but you'll need a crane to keep me off you if you so much as misplace a hair on her head."

"Look, it's cute that you're worried. But Shannon is a big girl and she can take care of herself." Jeremy sneered. "I get it. I'd be protective of her too. But I'm not the enemy here."

"Just don't hurt her." Eddie repeated.

"Or you'll do what? I didn't see you stepping up to help her with all this Cassie stuff." Jeremy turned to see where Amanda had disappeared to.

"What are you two talking about?" Shannon said as she sat down joining them.

"Just getting to know Eddie better." Jeremy said.

"I gotta go, Shannon. I have homework that I need to do." Eddie stood up. "Where's Amanda gotten off to?"

"I'm not sure." Shannon looked around. "You don't think she left do you?"

"Nah. She'd have said bye. Tell her I said later. I'll see you when you get home." Eddie left abruptly leaving Shannon and Jeremy at the shop alone.