Bad Reputation - Shawn Mendes

19 - The Diner

Eleanor.

I wake up to find Aaliyah still sound asleep so i lay in bed using my phone and wait till she's awake. After a few minutes of scrolling through social media, Aaliyah wakes up and we both head to the bathroom to wash up. Once we were done, we head downstairs to see my dad talking to Shawn and having his morning coffee. "Morning dad and Shawn." I greet to make our presence known. "Morning girls." My dad replies. "Shawn was just letting me listen to his songs, they're really good." My dad adds and Aaliyahs burst out into laughter. "No offence Adam but you need to upgrade your taste in music." She says and everyone agrees.

We've all gotten very close after last night and I'm thankful that my dad likes them. They're probably the first and only friends that I'm going to bring over so I'm really glad they get along. I volunteer to make breakfast for all of us before my dad has to go to work again. Yes its a Sunday but my dad works really hard to earn money to keep us afloat. I make avocado toast for everyone in the kitchen while they sit around the table chit chatting. I hear my dad showing them photos of me when i was younger and I'm grateful that I'm not right there with them because I'll be fucking embarrassed. Not that I wasn't a cute child but more so of the comments my dad makes at every single photo like, "That's my pumpkin in her kindergarten graduation." I get that he's super proud to have me and it's cute of him to show me off, which is why i let it slide.

I get a plate for everyone and bring it to the table. Everyone starts eating and we talk about visiting during thanksgiving and Christmas which was coming soon. After we were done eating, we said goodbye to my dad who had to leave for work. "Goodbye pumpkin, have fun in college." He says to me. "Thank you dad, be safe at work okay?" I respond. He spreads his arms out and i give him a hug. "I like them." He whispers in my ear before pulling away. I grin widely and wave a goodbye one last time as he walks out of the door.

I then washed all the dishes before packing up and getting ready to leave for Toronto. It's crazy how its been so long since I've had the best time here in Pickering, and I really couldn't have asked for better company. Shawn drove us and it was a ride filled with carpool karaoke. His voice is truly out of this world, the notes that he's able to hit so effortlessly and his breathe control. Sometimes i just can't help but to stop singing and listen to their voices. Although Aaliyah isn't a professional singer, their voices still blended perfectly together. After a 2 hour long drive, we made it back to Toronto. Once we were back in our dorm, i opened up my laptop and start finishing the work that I haven't done.

———

Shawn.

It's been a week since we had went to Pickering and i have been spending almost every day at their dorm. Yes that's a lot of time but its because i have less than a month left till i have to head back to L.A. to start preparing for the release of my third album. Today, Elle has asked me to hang out with her and I couldn't be more happy. I quickly take a shower and put on my a pair of black jeans and a loose white button up. I sprayed some cologne and styled my hair before heading out to their dorm. As i was driving towards there, the knot in my stomach tighten more and more. I know that I've hung out with Elle before but this is the first time we hung out after confessing to each other. Is this a date?

I brush away all my thoughts and nervousness and head up to their dorm. I knock on the door and Elle swings it open. She's wearing a pair of black straight cut jeans and a tight pink top with gold jewellery. She looks gorgeous, making me at a loss for words. "I, uh, hello Elle." I stutter. "Let's go." She says before linking arms with me and closing the door. We get to my car and i open the door for her as usual and she thanks me. I jog over to the other side of the car and drive off to the location that she had set into my gps. Something that she learned from me is keeping where we're going a surprise and today she had planned our "date".

We pull up to a diner and it's very familiar looking. "Seriously? George Street Diner?" I ask while chuckling. "The infamous Life of The Party lyric video." She tells me and i laugh harder. We head inside the restaurant and the waitress immediately recognises me. "Shawn Mendes is that you, honey?" She asks and i smile. "Oh my, I haven't seen you in such a long time. Please have a seat." She gestures and we sit at the exact booth the video was filmed.

The waitress gives us the menu and we both scan them before ordering. I ordered a Canadian Breakfast while she ordered a Breakfast Burrito. The food came shortly after, and we both dig into the delicious food while talking about anything and everything. When I'm talking with Elle, everything just comes out so naturally, like no one gets me as much as she does. And to see her smile when we're talking just makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. After we were done eating, the waitress comes over and clears our plates.

"Wait, i wanna do something." Elle says before searching through her purse. She then grabs 2 sharpies and passes me 1. "You see how the table is full of scribbles?" She asks and i nod. "Let's write down something to remember this day." She says and search for an empty spot on the table. After a few seconds, i find a small spot and scribble down S and E, i know it's pretty lame but I couldn't think of anything else. I look up to see Elle scribble something as well but covering it with her other hand. "Okay I'm done." She says. "Me too." I reply. "What did you write?" She asks. "I didn't know what to write so i wrote S and E. What about you?" "I wrote yes." She says while looking at me. I give her a confused look and things suddenly clicked in my brain. "Are you saying yes to my question?" I ask and she nods excitedly. We both stand up simultaneously and hug each other tightly.

Now, not only does this place hold memories of my first ever single, it holds another memory where Eleanor Carter is officially my girlfriend.