Angel on the Streets {shiall}

28

You can hand it to Shawn because he really did amazing, keeping away from Niall. It helped that he was fully distracted by both the play and releasing his newest single, "Wonder". But letting that song go out took a lot out of him and he wished the person that had been on his mind while he wrote it were there. Camila was ever supportive, though, as were Penny and Zee. So he tried to stay on the positive for their sake because they were trying so hard to encourage him, putting his all into his work.

It paid off. The fans absolutely loved it and were desperately looking forward to the whole album. He found himself being demanded by quite a few big interviewers and radio shows for a quick chat and his grip on himself crumbled shortly after. Camila arranged the interviews so he could do them all at a quick stretch and get it over with while Shawn was racked with anxiety about the whole thing, slipping into a state of panic everytime the thought came to mind (which was very often).

He was finding it hard to sleep and Camila tried to get him calm but what could she say other than that it would be over quickly? It wasn't enough to calm Shawn. The first one was going to be James Corden, as a tribute to the man who'd first interviewed Shawn with full faith that he was something special. Even now, he didn't think so, despite the millions that had already listened to the song in the couple of weeks it was out. The comments were nice but he felt like he was being lied to and everyone secretly pitied the former homeless boy. It was an awful train of thought but he couldn't help that his mind jumped right to that conclusion everytime he got praise.

Sitting still as he got his eye bags covered and hair toyed with, Shawn was a bubbling volcano underneath. His eyes flashed to Camila who sent him a nervous thumbs up but had to leave to sort out something with the stage director. He quietly asked the makeup artist for some minutes alone and they shrugged, heading out of the room. Then he called Niall, trying desperately not to overthink it and hang up as the line dialled.

Niall's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw Shawn's number flashing on his screen. Unlike the Canadian who had devoted his time to working harder, he had done the opposite. Fallen into a slump from his friend's departure, drinking to get the thought of him far from his mind. If one didn't know better, they would think he was getting through a rough breakup. He was pretty much ignoring everyone, too, feeling like he deserved isolation alone and so it was Shawn who had told his mates that they weren't on speaking terms at the moment.

He cleared his throat, nervously brushing his hair back to no necessary end and picked it up. "I... Shawn?"

He hated himself. His voice came out as a cross between a croak and a squeak. But Shawn let out a brief laugh, his voice nervous too as he gently mumbled, "hi, Ni."

"You... Are you... Okay? Nightmares?"

"No. I mean, not tonight. Umm... I guess I haven't gotten around to letting you know but I've got some interviews. Over my new song?"

"Oh. Yeah. I heard it. Really good, man."

"...thanks." He couldn't be bothered to hide the disappointment in his voice. It stung Niall but he didn't say more than that, yet, gripped the phone desperately like it was Shawn himself. "I'm sorry. Calling you... This was stupid. I just-"

"It wasn't stupid, it- it... Wasn't stupid. Please continue." Despite everything, Shawn smiled at his voice, his negative emotions overtaken by how happy he was to hear Niall's voice for the first time in weeks.

"Anyway, yeah. Interviews."

"I'm guessing the first one is soon?"

"Yeah. In some minutes, actually."

"Wh- Shawn, you didn't think to call me earlier?" He managed a laugh and Shawn pouted to himself.

"I would have but ya know... W-with everything that happened..." It was silent between them. Niall heard Shawn sniff and felt the tears he'd been fighting run down his face, trying to keep his voice stable as he replied.