𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐀, shawn mendes

chapter twenty-four

shawn mendes
toronto, ontario
———

        i sat in 'forget me not cafe', headphones in and doodling in my notebook. i had come here to try and figure out the lyrics for a new song to match the melody i wrote last night.

the door chimed as it opened and i quickly glanced up, looking at the person and it not phasing me; until i realized who it was. halley.

yes, i still hadn't talked to her since the party. i just felt so stupid about what i did, and the only thing i could seem to do was write about it. she walked over to the coffee counter and i tried so hard not to just stare at her.

i tilted my head up and sipped my coffee, seeing out the corner of my eye that she was looking at me too. this was so fucking weird. two weeks ago we were hanging out everyday and singing karaoke at her house—and now this.

i heard the barista announce "halley!" through the cafe and i didn't look up. i tried so hard to keep my head down; our first interaction couldn't be like this. but now that i knew she was back here, i could think about building up the balls to finally tell her, while completely sober, how i feel.

i felt a figure approach my table and saw that aaliyah had arrived. she slid off her jacket and placed it on the chair with her purse, setting her phone on the table. "hey, was that halley?" she eagerly asked.

we both at the same time looked at her and i knew she noticed us. aaliyah waved and grinned and i raised my eyebrows; halley didn't respond. she instead walked right past us out of the cafe and down the street.

aaliyah told me she was going to text her and i thought about stopping her, but at this point i really didn't care. "what happened? why isn't she talking to you?" she asked again, and i realized i might've owed her an explanation.

"remember i told you i was going to her tequila launch party?" i asked her and she nodded, "let's just say i got really hammered," i ran a hand through my hair.

"i found halley sitting alone in a hallway and decided to give her some company. there was loud ass music playing so i asked her to dance, and we slow danced for a while. the entire time i was just staring at her and how fucking pretty she is, and then i asked her if i could kiss her," i explained slowly to her.

"and?" aaliyah questioned. "then she ran away and i didn't see her for the rest of the night. and haven't talked to her since," i answered.

"shawn!" she exclaimed and slapped my arm. "what the hell? you're so stupid! you need to contact her and apologize for being a dick. if you still wanna have her in your life, you need to forget about everything."

i wanted to forget, i did, but i just had some sort of feeling that she might actually feel the same way.

"fine," i huffed and agreed, pulling out my phone. "i'll text her first and see if she even answers."

i sent a stupid little text and then placed my phone face up on the table. aaliyah peered her head over the phone when a notification appeared.

halley finn
hi
gonna be completely
honest with you
not the best right now

are you okay?

not really
i feel so fucking stupid
and kind of want to die

"i need to go find her," i stood up quickly and started shoving my things into my bag. "she said she kind of wants to die."

"what?" aaliyah asked and grabbed my phone. she read the text, reacting "i'm sure this isn't about you, but yeah, go find her."

she placed my phone back in my hand and i ran out of the cafe to austin's apartment. hopefully she was staying there. after a couple of minutes, i arrived at the building and rushed up to his floor. i knocked loudly on the door and someone answered, but it wasn't halley.

"hello?" an older woman asked and i looked at the number on the door to make sure i was in the right place.

"do you know a halley finn that usually stays here?" i asked, crossing my fingers she'd know. i assumed the woman was auston's mom.

"oh yes, halley! she booked an airbnb for this visit, since auston isn't home right now," she grinned at me.

"okay, do you know where it is?" i asked and she told me the address as i typed it into google maps. "thank you very much." i nodded and left.

the building was only three blocks away and i ran the fastest that i could. i finally arrived and rode the elevator up to the third floor.

i knocked on the door and stood waiting, shaking my legs nervously. no response. i knocked again, this time quicker and louder, and waited.

the door finally opened and revealed halley wrapped in a blanket with a red and puffy face. my face dropped at the sight, "are you okay? tell me you didn't hurt yourself, please."

— notes!
hello! here's the last
two chapters from
shawn's pov! new
stuff coming soon :))