It works both ways - Shane x Reader

The Winter before...

Shane slowly opened his eyes. Looked around his bedroom, like he wasn't sure where he was.

His room was quite small. There was an old school tv to the right from his wardrobe... he hasn't played any video games in ages... Walls were full of gridball posters.

I need to change this place. I can't live like a teenager whole life... he thought to himself, while hiding his face under the duvet.

It was a Saturday, his day off. Shane got up, put on his dark grey dressing gown and went to the kitchen. He was still bit hangover from the previous night, as usual.

"Shane, you are up early..." said Marnie, seeing her nephew walking in.

"Um, thanks?" he replied, shrug his shoulders and went to pick up one of his favourite frozen JoJa pizzas.

There was none left. He mumbled to himself: "I have to go get more..." and turned around towards his room.

"Where are you going again? Someone needs to lit the fireplace, it's cold in the house." informed him Marnie, with her low still raspy and sleepy voice, which annoyed Shane.

"None of your business... and maybe ask your BOYFRIEND to do it?" he hissed at her and walked off.

Marnie was ready to argue with him, but Shane didn't care.

Full of anger, he then got dressed and made his way to JoJa mart.

***

"What are you doing here on your day off Shane? You trying to get a raise from Morris?" asked Sam smiling as always.

Shane only waved at him and replied: "We are out of frozen pizzas... and I really wanted one now so... anyway. Good to see you Sam, don't work too hard." Shane replied as politely as he could and moved to the cashier, to pay for his... breakfast.

Sam went back to his usual duties. When he got closer to the main entrance, he noticed Shane dropped his wallet. It must've been his. He picked it up and quietly asked the cashier lady not to tell Morris that he left. She only nodded. It's like she couldn't speak at all sometimes...

"Shane! Wait! You dropped..."

Sam slipped, as it was bit icy, landed on his butt, yet tried his best not to lose the precious wallet. He tried to get up, then removed snow from his uniform and looked at the open now wallet on the ground.

Why am I so clumsy and stupid? he thought, then picked up the wallet.

On the left side there was a small picture. It must've been young Shane with a lady behind him, holding him by his shoulders. Shane himself looked so innocent and... little. Well look at that, so adorable, what happened to you?

"Hey, give it back!" Shane raised his voice at Sam.

"Sorry, I was on my way to you, was hoping to give your wallet back to you, then I..."

Shane snatched the wallet out of Sam's hand and said: "Thanks." and walked off in seconds.

Sam was left speechless... then he went back inside.

***

The clock was showing 20:35. The Stardrop Saloon was full of townspeople. Gus was very happy, his business was growing, winters were his favourite. Everyone would come in, to warm up and get some mulled wine...

Shane was standing in his corner, as he felt safe there. He could see everyone around him, without actually speaking to anyone. If someone tried to speak to him, he would drink his whole beer at once, which was not a good habit of course, but kept people away from him.

He never understood why was he doing that to himself. He was lonely, yet he hated people. Especially Sebastian, they fell out with each other few years ago...

Suddenly Sam sat down on the bench near him, he put 2 pale ales on the wooden table and waved at him to sit down.

"Spying for Sebastian again?" Shane asked, grumpy and uncomfortable now.

"No, come on, let's talk. I have a question... you owe me for saving your wallet earlier today! Plus I got up very early for my stupid shift, I'm tired, let's just talk." Sam kept going on and on, and the only way for him to shut up was for Shane to sit down and talk to him.

So he did.

"What do you want?" Shane hissed.

"There you go, got you a drink." he moved one of the pint glasses closer and continued: "This picture I saw... who is it?" he asked, getting straight to the point. He was always so brave and blunt...

"That... old photo... " Shane coughed in his hand. "...it's my mom." He said sadly. "Happy now? Are you going to tell everyone so they can make fun of the local drunk?" Shane was tipsy and stopped caring about what he says at this point.

"Oh, your mother." Sam looked up at him and asked: "Are you guys still close?" Sam kept digging.

"What are you writing a book about me?" Shane smirked. "No, she died long time ago. Anything else you wanna know?" he took a sip of his drink.

"Sorry to hear that. We can talk about it if you..."

Shane cut him off.

"No, I don't need to talk about it, that's in the past. Now all I have is this stupid place." He moved his head from left to right, looking around.

"Well fine, you know where to find me... and of course, I won't tell anyone." Sam gave him half a smile and then took a deep breath. "So, that's the most I'm gonna get out of ya I think, see you at work."

"Yeah, see you." said Shane looking deep into his drink, trying not to make eye contact with the blonde young man.

"Oh before I go, did you hear there is someone new moving in? Apparently a new farmer will be looking after the land next to Marnie's ranch." Sam looked at Shane full of hope he might know anything, since he will be living so close to the new person.

"Yeah, Marnie mentioned something, Robin might know more, I don't really care..." hiccup stopped him from finishing the sentence. "Sorry."

"That's okay, will ask Robin... but if it's a pretty girl, she's mine, ha!" He tapped Shane's shoulder, which made him smile just a tiny bit. "Well see ya." said Sam.

Shane stayed there alone, drinking until closing time.

***

Walking home, drunk and cold, all he could hear was thick snow crunching under his boots. He was slightly wobbly, but his body was used to that. Then he suddenly stopped. Looked up and all he could think of was his mother. He missed her very much it hurt him. Marnie wasn't a bad person, but she was his father's sister, and he hasn't seen or spoke to his father since... the incident. Then his thoughts were somewhere else.

Maybe someone nice will move in next door... Mom, if you can hear me, send me someone good. A friend, someone who will understand me. Please.

He started crying. There was no one around him, just silent, freezing night. The stars and trees were his witnesses, and he was tired. Tired of being alone and in pain. His head was pounding...

Last thing he remembered, before he went to bed, were Sam's words. Shane didn't really want to be good friends with him. Sam would never understand how bad his life was, how sick his thoughts were. Shane was scared. Fed up with his life and simply scared.
He wanted to end it all...