Shawn and Belle Fan Fiction.  Section one: Letting Down the Walls
Chapter Seventeen

"Shawn!  There you are, I was hoping you wouldn't be too long" she said, quickly. "Jason, this is Shawn.  Shawn, Jason.  Jason's staying in the house next to us"
"How ya doing?" Shawn asked, gruffly.  Jason noticed this and quickly said his good-byes and left.  Shawn sat down next to her and Belle finally pulled off her surf shorts.
"How are your grandparents?" she asked.
"Fine, as always" he said, as Greta and Eric came down to join them.
"Hey guys, who's up for a swim?" Eric asked.  Belle jumped to her feet and Shawn started to join her.  "Oh, by the way Shawn, your dad wanted you to go talk to him for a minute"
"Alright, I'll be back in a few" Shawn said, jogging back up to the house.
"Are you coming?" Greta asked, as Eric took her hand.
"Umm, I'll be down in a minute" she said, watching Shawn go up to the house.  Eric and Greta exchanged a little smile and then went down to the water.  Jason had been watching and once he saw she was alone again, sauntered over to her towel.
"Hey again" he said, causing her to jump.
"Hey" she said, turning to face him.  They made small talk for a few minutes and then Jason got to his point.
'Who was that guy you were with?" he asked.  "What's his name, Shane?"
"Shawn" Belle said, abruptly.  "And he's a very good friend of mine"
"So, not a boyfriend?" he hinted.  Belle groaned inwardly at this question.
"Well, not exactly" she said.  *Not yet* she thought to herself.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.  She opened her mouth to answer and saw Jason's expression change.
"Gotta go" he said, turning and walking briskly back.  Belle turned to see Shawn running back down to her.
"Last one in makes lunch!" he yelled, as he started running.  Belle broke into a run and chased him all the way to the water.  Shawn reached the water first and stopped to turn to watch.  Belle ran past him, into the water.
'I won" Shawn announced.
"Nope you said the last one *in* makes lunch.  I was in the water before you" she said, with a smirk.
"Ok, whatever" Shawn said, as he waded out.  Eric and Greta were out deep in the water, more off to the left than them.  Eric saw them and gave a quick wave.  Belle was going deeper into the water so Shawn followed her.  She stumbled through the waves as the water got above her waist.  She stopped and looked at the water and Shawn stopped slightly behind her.  A large wave came and pushed her backwards, slamming her into him. He reached out and caught her, steadying her, as he wrapped his arms around her waist.  He held onto her as more waves came, enjoying the feel of her wet skin against his.  She turned to smile at him and he looked down at her, enjoying himself immensely.  Belle turned back to the water but reached back with her right hand and touchced his neck.  She ran her hand lightly along his jawbone and then across his cheek.  Shawn stopped her with his own hand and leaned in close to her.  He was finally going to kiss her and he didn't care who saw them.  Belle closed her eyes as her heart started pounding faster.  Shawn closed his also and leaned in around her neck.
"Heads up!" Shawn heard Eric yell.  He spun his head up quickly to see a giant wave looming over them.  Shawn reacted quickly and ducked underwater to be hit by less of the wave.  But Belle didn't see it coming and was swept underwater just as Shawn reached out and caught her hand.  He held on tightly as the water cleared and he pulled himself back up.  He brushed his hair out of his eyes quickly as he blinked the water out. He was still holding onto her so he pulled and saw her coming to the surface in front of him.  He pulled her up by the waist and she came up, caughing hard.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as she caughed.  Shawn held onto her tightly as she caught her breath.  Shawn brushed her wet hair aside and looked her in the eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asked, quietly.  She nodded and caughed again.  She leaned her head up against his chest and took a deep breath.  Another wave came past them but Shawn kept his footing and kept them both up.  After a few minutes she lifted her head and gave him a weak smile.
"I'm ok, thanks for helping me" she said, pushing her bathing suit strap back up her shoulder.
"No problem" he said, looking her right in the eyes.
"Hey, are you guys ok?" he heard Eric call out.  He saw Greta and Eric making their way over to them with worried looks on their faces.
"Yeah, we're fine, just a little shaken" Shawn answered.
"That was a huge wave!" Greta said.  "I'm glad you guys are ok"
"Yeah, we're fine" Belle answered.  "But do you mind if I go sit down for a few minutes?"
"No, that's fine, I'll help you" Shawn said.  Greta and Eric followed as they started to make their way back to shore.  Shawn reached out and took her hand underwater-he wasn't going to risk her being pushed around again.  They made their way up the sand and Belle sat down on the blanket.  He set her towel on her shoulders as she leaned forward and put her head in her hands.
"You ok?" Eric asked, concerned.
"Yeah, that was just a little scary" she said, with a slight smile to show she was ok.  Shawn crouched down and gently rubbed her back while she calmed her pounding heart.  Eric finally broke the silence.
"Who wants lunch?" he asked.  "I'm starved".  Belle looked over and could see the boys watching her.
"I do," she said, climbing to her feet.  She pulled Shawn up next to her and they started walking up.  Shawn kept his hand on the small of her back, almost protecting her, as they walked up.
"Shawn, I'm fine now, don't baby me" she said.
"I'm not" he said, removing his hand and holding them up.  They climbed up the stairs to the upper deck.  "Well, according to our bet, I have to make lunch so you guys sit down and I'll go throw something together".
"I'll help you" Eric said.  "You girls sit here and relax, we'll be back," he said, kissing Greta on the top of her head.  The girls settled at the small table while the boys went inside.
"So, Belle, are you enjoying yourself here?" Greta asked.
"Yes, of course, I'm having so much fun" Belle said.  "Are you?"
"Yeah, it's so beautiful" she said, turning to look at the ocean.  "And I think it's bringing Eric and I closer".  Belle nodded in agreement.  "You and Shawn have been getting along well lately" she hinted.
"Yeah, it's something we've been working on" Belle said, trying to change the subject.  Greta looked her straight in the eyes.
"Have you ever thought of him in a different light?" she asked.  "You know, like, more than friends?" Belle sighed and looked away.
"I'd be lying if I said I never did" she finally admitted.  "I mean, he's smart and funny and talented and we get along well.  Not to mention very cute," she added, with a smile.  "But I just don't know, I don't think it would work".
"Why not?" Greta asked.
"I just don't think he likes me in the same way" she said, simply.
"I have to disagree" Greta said.  "I meant to tell you that when we were all down on the beach and that boy was talking to you, Shawn was jealous.  Very jealous.  You could see it written all over his face".
"Maybe you just misread him," Belle said.  Greta shook her head.
"And he took care of you after that wave hit you" she continued.  "And I once looked over and saw that you two were standing very close together in the water".
'Yeah..." Belle said.  "But I don't know"
"Just think about it" Greta said, as the porch door slid open again.  Shawn and Eric came out carrying plates and glasses of lemonade.  Each plate had a sandwich, some chips, and a brownie.
"Looks great, thanks guys" Greta said.  Shawn slid a plate in front of Belle.
"I cut the crusts off cause I know you don't like it much" he said, sitting nect to her.  Greta winked at Belle, who suddenly blushed.
"What?" Eric asked, his mouth full of sandwich.
"Nothing, dear" Greta said, lightly touching his cheek with her hand.  Eric looked at Shawn who was in mid-bite.  Shawn shrugged and they both went back to eating.  Belle stayed silent throughout lunch and thought about what Greta had said.
"Well, boys, since you volunteered to make lunch for us, I think we'll clean up after us all" Greta said, standing up.  She picked up the plates and Belle sat still, staring at her plate.  Greta nudged her and she jumped up.  She grabbed some cups and hurried into the house.  They loaded the dishwasher in silence until Greta spoke up.
"Now do you see what I'm talking about?" she said.  "See how he does little things for you?"
"Yeah, I do" Belle said, leaning up against the counter.  "But it just wouldn't work".
"Why not now?" Greta asked, starting to wipe off the counter.
"We've known each other for our whole lives" she said.  "And besides, my best friend is practically in love with him.  That wouldn't look good on my part":.
"If they truly were your friends, they would be over to overlook it for your happiness"  Greta said.  "And besides, the best relationships develop from friendships.  Trust me, I know first hand".  Greta turned away from her and Belle peered out the door.  She saw Shawn lean back in his seat and stretch.  He and Eric were having some animated conversation and Belle smiled to herself when she saw them laughing.  Greta caught her staring and leaned against the counter with her.
"Just do me a favor, ok?" she said, bringing Belle back to reality.
"Sure, what's that?" Belle asked.
"Don't rule it out as a possibility" she said.  She took Belle's arm and they joined the boys on the porch again.

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