Bad Reputation - Shawn Mendes

22 - Thanksgiving

Eleanor.

Today is Thanksgiving, Shawn is currently driving Aaliyah and I back to Pickering and we're going to celebrate together at the Mendes' house. It's been a few days since Shawn and I kissed for the first time and it feels like i was transported out of this world. I know i have kissed many guys back in high school but this was different. Previously i had to do it to maintain my bad reputation status in high school, but this time i actually wanted to kiss him. And for the first time, i actually felt my heart race while kissing.

Shawn dropped me off at my house and gave me their address before leaving. I took out my keys and unlocked the door. I swing open the door to find my dad hurriedly cleaning the house. "Pumpkin!" He exclaims while removing his gloves. "Dad!" I respond as i put down my bag and rush towards him. We hug for a few seconds and it feels so homely. "Happy Thanksgiving Dad." I say. "You too pumpkin." He replies. "What should i wear tonight?" My dad asks and i shrug. "Something nice but still comfortable." I reply, while eating a cookie that was on the table. This is the first time we're spending Thanksgiving with others besides ourselves so i understand why my dad is so nervous.

"You'll be fine dad, they're nice people." I say, trying to calm his nerves down. "That's exactly why i want to have leave a good impression. And also because their son is a celebrity." He faltered. "And he also happens to my boyfriend." I say quietly and my dad stops wiping the countertop. "Shawn?" He asks and i nod. "Oh pumpkin." He calls and comes over to hug me again. "I'm glad you found a good guy who's worthy of you." He adds while rubbing my head. "Dad." I groan and he laughs. "He is lucky to have you." My dad comments. "And I'm lucky to have him." I smile.

After i was done snacking on the cookies, i helped my dad clean up the house. Once the house was clean spotless, we sat down on the sofa, catching up on our lives before getting ready to leave. I quickly hopped into the shower and slip on a laced maroon dress. I also applied some makeup and added accessories to my outfit. "Let's go pumpkin!" My dad shouts as I'm putting on my heels. "Coming!" I answer and head downstairs. My dad is dressed in a pair of suit pants and a nice navy button up, looking very presentable.

We get into his car and i type in the address into the gps. After 10 minutes, we finally arrive at the house and i can tell that my dad is surprised, just like how i was when i first came here. "It's a big house." My dad remarks as he unbuckles his seat belt and i reply with a 'yeah'. We both get out of the car and walk towards the door. I ring the doorbell and Aaliyah opens it up a few seconds later. "Hey." She says dragging the y. "Hi." I answer and open my arms up for a hug. Aaliyah looks gorgeous even though she's wearing a simple black dress and her hair curled. She also welcomes my dad and the both of us step in.

The smell of food hits us immediately and i spot Karen over in the kitchen preparing the dishes. "Happy Thanksgiving Karen!" I squeaked as i put down the mash potatoes and gravy that i had made earlier. "You too darling. Could you please help me grab the spinach?" She asks and i do it immediately. I hear Aaliyah introducing my dad to Manny in the living room and them bonding over football which is really nice. Shawn comes over to the kitchen dressed in his favourite black jeans and a black button up, looking as handsome as ever. "Hey babe." He says as he gives me a back hug. "You're so beautiful." He whispers in my ear and i feel my stomach fill up with the whole zoo. "Thank you, you look great too." I compliment and he lets go. He steals a piece of corn bread and heads into the living room where most of the people are.

Karen and I finish setting up the dishes onto the dining table and finally invite everyone over. Everyone sat down at their seats and we went around the table to say what we were grateful for.

"I'm grateful for my loving family and how much we've grown together." Manny starts off.
"I'm grateful for how close knitted our family is and i pray that it will always stay this way no matter what." Karen says next.
"I'm grateful for my family for always supporting me and that i met my best friend Elle this year in college." Aaliyah smiles and i can't help but smile too.
"I'm grateful for my parents and Aaliyah for always being there with me, and to my girl, Elle who'll never fail to brighten up my day." Shawn adds and his parents widen their eyes in shock. Shawn smiles and kisses me lightly on the cheek which turns red immediately. His parents smile at the sight of it and I'm glad that they're okay with us being together.
"I'm grateful for my dad who's been there for me since day one, and to Aaliyah and Shawn for making my life better than it was before." I admit and Shawn squeezes my hand slightly under the table.
"I'm grateful for my pumpkin Elle who's always made me proud despite how much we've been through." My dad concludes with tears forming in his eyes. I give him a side hug, as i try to hold in my tears as well. Like i said, my dad has always been my only family and we only have each other to depend on.

We say our prayers before everyone starts filling up their plates and digging into the delicious food. We talked more while eating and I'm glad that both of our families are getting along. I could tell that my dad was very nervous at first but he immediately loosen up once he realised that Manny and him had a lot in common.

After we were done with dinner, everyone sat down on the sofa in the living room while Karen brought us cups of hot chocolate. We sipped them slowly as we played family board games which were very fun. Even though I wasn't very good at it, it was nice seeing everyone getting along and laughing every time someone made a mistake or did something dumb. It was getting late so my dad and i decided to call it a night and go home to rest. Shawn escorted us to the door and he gave me a peck on the lips before leaving.

"I like them." My dad says as we're in the car. "They're nice people huh." I respond and he nods. "Shawn is a nice man but he better not hurt my pumpkin." He adds and i laugh. There's no way a guy like Shawn could hurt me, and besides i think the chances of me hurting him is way higher. We continue driving in silence until we got home and both immediately got ready for bed. It's been a long day for the both of us but its been a good one. I drift to sleep thinking about how grateful and lucky i am to have my favourite people around me on Thanksgiving.