"And that son is how you properly get out of a bad bar fight with a highly intoxicated nascar driver."

"Wow Dad, I can't believe you told them you were a sponsorship representative for ferrari and they bought you 2 rounds of whiskey shots."

"Well son, it's like your second cousin Ralphy always says, 'if you can't dazzle 'em with your brilliance, baffle 'em with your bullshit.'"

I hear the phone ring and as I see my dad struggling to get up out of his chair I put my hand up. "Don't worry Dad I got it." I walk over and pick up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Hunter." Hearing her voice made me smile.

"Hey Cristina what's up?"

"Nothing much. Wanna come over and hang for a bit. I'm really bored."

"I thought today was supposed to be you and Derek's anniversary. What happened?"

"His grandma is sick and he has to go visit her today."

"That's a bummer. But sure, i'll come over. When are Cory and Topanga gonna be there?"

"I called both their houses and they aren't answering. They're probably on a date so it's just you and me this time."

Me and Cristina. Alone. In her house. Nuh uh, bad idea. And that's coming from ME.

"Okay then how about instead of your house we go to Club Zero instead?"

"It's my day off Hunter."

"I know but you're always working when you're there. You never actually get to enjoy the place anymore. Come on it'll be fun, trust me."

"Ughhh, fine! I'll meet you there in 30 minutes."

"Sounds like a plan. See you later."

"Bye."

Phew. I dodged a bullet there. It's still super hard to be alone with her, but at least this way being around a bunch of people might make me less tempted to act on anything.

"Dad i'm gonna be out with Cristina. I'll be back by 10."

"Okay Shawnie. Go have fun."

"Thanks. Bye Dad."

"Bye son."

I close the door to the trailer and start walking over to Club Zero. It's not that long of a walk but I wanted to get there before she did. Once I got there, I waited outside the entrance for her.

About 10 minutes later she walked up to me and smiled. "Ready Hunter?"

"Yup let's go."

Cristina and Shawn walked into the club and headed for the booth near the stage. Right before they sat down Cristina remembered something.

"Oh! Last week I forgot to get my paycheck. Since we're here i'll just go pick it up now. Wanna come with?"

"Sure."

As they maneuver their way to the other side of the club, Shawn stops dead in his tracks as he looks at the booth in the corner. Cristina noticed he stopped and follows his gaze.

"Why'd you sto—"

Her smile immediately disappears as she sees Derek in the booth making out with another girl. Tears start to fall down her face as she watches Derek place his hands on her hips.

"Shawn?"

"Yeah Cris?"

"Please take me home."

"Okay."

Shawn wrapped his arm around her shoulder as he walked her out of the club and towards her house.

"I can't believe he did that to you. And on YOUR anniversary! How dare he? How could he? How could he throw away the best girl he could've ever gotten? How stupid is he?!"

"I'm the stupid one." This was the first thing she had said since we left the club. She sounded so broken it physically hurt me.

"No. No you aren't. He's the scumbag who cheated."

"I didn't even see it coming." She stopped waking and turned to me. "How did I not see it coming?"

"Cristina, I don't think any of us saw this coming."

"Yes you did."

"What?"

She sat down on the curb and looked down. "You, Cory, and Topanga all told me he was bad news from the beginning and I didn't listen. I let myself trust him. This is my fault."

I sat down next to her and put my hand on her shoulder. "Cristina look at me." When she tilted her head in my direction the street lights lit up her face. Her eyes and nose were red from crying. Her once joyful and soulful eyes now looked damaged and sad. "The only person who's to blame for this is Jerrick."

"It's Derek."

"Well then screw him too then." She giggled. "Ah-ha, I got you to laugh. We are already making progress here."

"Progress for what?"

"For you to start moving on. You can't be his girlfriend anymore. Not after what he did."

"Yeah I know." She sniffled and leaned her head on my shoulder. "I just wish this wasn't so hard. I mean, how is it that he cheated, but i'm the one that feels stupid and upset?"

"Because he's a jerk. Because he took your trust and your kindness for granted."

"Do I feel an 'I told you so' coming on?"

"Nah, i'll save that for tomorrow if you feel better."

"What if I don't? Feel better I mean."

"Then we'll get some rocky road ice cream and have a cartoon marathon. Just like we did when we were kids and you got upset about your parents fighting."

"Can we do that now? I could really use the calories and comedy right about now."

"Sure. Let's go pick something up at the Seven-Eleven around the corner."

"Okay."

I stood up first and held my hand out to help her up. She looked up at me and smiled a little as she took my hand and pulled herself up. I put my arm back around her shoulders as we walked to the Seven-Eleven. Once we got there we picked out two containers or rocky road once cream and went to her house.

Once we got to my house I took out my keys and unlocked the door. I set my keys on the coffee table and went to the kitchen to grab Shawn and I spoons for our ice cream. I came back and handed him his spoon as we both sat on the couch. He grabbed the remote and turned on the tv.

"You can turn it up. My stepmom is on a work trip and my dad took my sister to visit some family."

"Why didn't he take you?"

"Because I was supposed to be enjoying an anniversary with my boyfriend."

"Hey, ex-boyfriend."

"Yeah, because that makes me feel so much better." I scooped an extra big chunk of ice cream into my mouth to hopefully eat away my pain.

Shawn and I watched the cartoons for a bit, while I was still stuffing my face. Just as I shove another big spoonful into my mouth I hear the doorbell ring. "Who is that?" I say with my mouth full.

"This is my backup." Shawn opens the door and Cory and Topanga pop in with three overnight bags and more ice cream.

I swallow my ice cream and get up off the couch. "What are you guys doing here?" I give Cory and Topanga a hug and they join Shawn and I on the couch.

"We heard what happened." Cory said sympathetically.

"We rushed to Shawn's to pack him an some clothes and some stuff for the night. Then we went to get more ice cream at the store." Topanga held up the grocery bag while Cory handed Shawn his bag.

"I figured it was probably going to take more than me to help you work through this so I called them if you don't mind." Shawn looked at me and I smiled.

"I love you guys." I pulled them into a group hug. We let go, faced the tv, and started to eat our ice cream once again.

I think I might be okay.