Best Friend

Maybe It's Nothing

[content warning for heavy ED talk]
[also smut warning]
[those two aren't related though]

The sun wasn't up yet but Shawn was awake. Granted, he never really fell asleep. And even when he would start to drift off another thought would sneak into his head and he'd be wide awake again. He couldn't stop staring at her. She looked so peaceful but all he could think about were the concerns that his mom had brought up just hours earlier.

She was so effortlessly beautiful. How could she not see that? If his mom's suspicions were correct and she had fallen into a dangerous habit of skipping meals, surely there had to be a reason. He wasn't very knowledgeable on the topic of eating disorders but he did have to assume that they don't typically just...happen. They've gotta be triggered by something, right?

His stomach dropped as the dots continued connecting.

She had a bad habit of reading negative things people said about her on social media. Shawn had to stop her from doing it on multiple occasions. It first started after Law of Attraction premiered and Shawn was a big topic of conversation among various social media users and entertainment news outlets. There was a small group of people who picked her apart and criticized her endlessly because they figured she was his girlfriend. She wasn't at the time — at least not at first — but they had no way of knowing for sure so they continued to spew hateful criticisms at a person they had never met. It still shocked him how bold a bunch of strangers could be with just a keyboard and a shitty opinion.

But as far as he knew that stuff ended after the hype of his role in Law of Attraction had died down. Maybe there were things he didn't know about. He had a tendency to stay clear of social media for the most part so if there was something that happened he probably wouldn't know about it unless Camila explicitly told him. Maybe he should start to keep more of an eye on it, just to make sure she was safe.

The last thing he wanted was for her to be bullied and criticized — especially at the hands of a career that he wanted, not her.

The thought crossed his mind: would he quit acting if it meant keeping Camila safe from the cruel words and attacks of 'fans' and trashy tabloids?

He didn't even have to think twice about it. Yes. He would. He loved acting, but no fame or money or career would ever be as important to him as Camila.

He brought his hand up and gently brushed it over her hair before delicately tracing his fingertips over the soft features of her face; her glowy cheeks, her sun-freckled nose, her full lips.

"Why are you awake?" Camila mumbled with her eyes still shut. "It's so early."

"I know. I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to wake you up." He pulled his wandering hand away from her face and kissed the tip of her nose. "Go back to sleep."

"You're gonna have to start playing with my hair again if you want that to happen," she yawned. A subtle smile tugged at Shawn's lips.

"Come here." He reached over and took ahold of her petite body, pulling her on top of him so she laid with her chest pressed against his and her head resting on his shoulder. He kept one hand on the small of her back, his thumb brushing slowly back and forth over her t-shirt. His other hand brushed through her long hair, as requested.

"This is nice," she mumbled. Shawn agreed.

"It is. Now go back to sleep." He kissed the top of her head and minutes later she was fast asleep again — this time, on top of him.

He didn't necessarily mean to but while she was deep asleep he let his hands ghost over her body. She felt smaller...bonier. Not so much that it was obvious but enough that it added to the worry. He didn't remember being able to feel her ribs so easily. Maybe he just wasn't paying enough attention before. I mean, clearly he wasn't paying much attention. The idea that this could be happening — if it is happening — all while he spent every single day with her terrified him. He was supposed to be protecting her. He promised her that he would take care of her; he promised her parents that he would take care of her.