The Boy Next Door (A Shawn Mendes Fanfiction)

Hope

*Rebecca*

I walked to my locker through the hallway, dodging people trying to talk to their friends. Shawn's locker is on the other end of the hallway and mine is closest to the courtyard doors, so we meet there almost every day after school. It was only 10:00, but who wouldn't want ice cream after a test? I spun my combination and pulled my tribal-print knit bag out of my small locker. I fished my phone out of the inside pocket and plugged my headphones in, turning up my music. As I walked out into the warm Michigan sun, I realized there was only one other person in the courtyard. It was Shawn.

"Hey, what are you doing here so early?"

"I thought I would surprise you since you're always out here before me. Plus, I really want ice cream."

I laughed, then realized something.

"I thought you were going to ask Aubrey to prom today. What did she say?"

I really hoped she said no. I know that's mean to Shawn, but I don't want him going with her. She's dated almost every guy in school, no matter who they were and who they were friends with. He's never mentioned liking her before. He always said he didn't like her, and he would never date her because she dated all of his friends. He looked down at the ground when I asked him.

"I, uh, haven't asked her yet. I was going to wait until I knew what to say to her."

I laughed. " 'What to say to her'? You go up and ask her, doofus. Be straightforward. You don't need to say anything special. You are special enough."

Oh no. Did I just say that out loud? I tried to play it cool, looking at the ground and picking at my nail polish, but when I looked up at Shawn, he had a small grin on his face.

"Thanks, Becca. I think I'll ask her tomorrow."

I nodded and walked over to hug him. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, because my head came up just above his shouder. He chuckled,

"I should start calling you Shortstack. You're so small."

I smirked up at him. "Yeah, but I can still beat you in a race."

He gave me a confused look and I tore out of his arms, running as fast as I could out of the school gates and onto the smooth sidewalk. I could hear Shawn whoop behind me as he ran out of the gates too. Silver Star's is only a block and a half from the high school, and we walk or sometimes race to it almost every day. As I neared the shop, I could smell the waffle cones and vanilla while feeling the cool air conditioning through the slightly open doors. I slowed down once I neared the red tables outside, almost bumping into an older couple, who looked about sixty's. I pushed the hairs that had fallen out of my braid away from my flushed face and smiled apologetically at them.

"Sorry, I was having a race with my-"

Shawn came and ran into me from behind. I stepped forward and smiled up at him while he layed his arm around my shoulders. The older woman gave me a look and raised her eyebrows.

"Your boyfriend?"

I flushed a deeper red and she laughed. I avoided looking at Shawn, though I felt his arms tense up.

"N-no, we're just friends. Just...friends," I sighed, hoping Shawn thought I was catching my breath instead of wishing we were dating. The older woman nodded at me and threw out her napkin in the shiny red trash can next to us. She looked back up at me and said, "Well, I wish you two the best. I hope you're happy together, " she smiled at me and pat my shoulder like a grandmother. I smiled at her and decided not to argue. She reminded me of my grandma, and that made me like her even more. They walked off, but the old man clapped Shawn on the shoulder and said, "Good job, son. She's a keeper," and Shawn whispered, "I know". I blushed and looked down at the sidewalk. He didn't mean for me to hear that. But I'm glad I did. He never thinks things through before he does them. And I love that about him. Oh my gosh, I love him. I love him.

*Shawn*

When the older couple walked to their car, I turned back towards the shop and turned Rebecca around too. I really hoped that she didn't hear me talking to the guy about her. I started to walk to the door, but she ran ahead of me and pushed open the door, leaving it to close in my face. I smiled and shook my head at the ground. She was so awesome. I pushed the door open, immediately savoring the smell of heaven. Rebecca was already in line, examining the menu. There were about 25 flavors and 15 toppings to choose from. Of course, we had tried all of the flavors millions of times throughout high school and our whole lives. I walked up behind Rebecca. She was twirling her hair around her finger and rocking back and forth on her feet. I love it when she does that. She looks so oblivious to the world. Oblivious to how much I love her. I wish she could see it, but I don't want to ruin our friendship. I poked her in the shoulder.

"Hey, what are you going to get?" I already knew her answer. She gets the same thing every time.

She smiled up at me, nodding her head slowly. "Passionfruit raspberry. But you already knew that. How about you?"

My favorite flavor is something totally different from hers. But opposites attract, right?

"Double chocolate marshmallow with chocolate sauce. But you already knew that."

She laughed and when we finally got up to the counter to order, there was a guy working it and he looked at Rebecca. I told him what we wanted and he winked at Rebecca before he went to get our ice cream. When he turned around he asked Rebecca, "Do you want to go out sometime?" What!? Who does he think he is? But Rebecca shook her head and drew me closer to her side with her arm around my waist.

"Sorry, but I have a boyfriend. Thank you though."

What? Oh, she was trying to get out of the date. To make it believable, I draped my arm around her shoulders and nodded. She smiled at him and we walked outside and sat down at one of the shiny red tables. She looked at me apologetically.

"Sorry, I just really didn't want to go on a date with him. I know him and he's always flirting with me."

"Yeah, I get it. No problem."

We went back to eating our ice cream and talking about the upcoming party. When we were done, we got up and started walking home. She turned to say something.

"You know, I only turned him down because I like someone else."

What? Who? Not me. I'm only her friend.

"Who?"

She blushed and looked down at the ground.