For Worse or For Better (Shawn Mendes)

No Show

And I know what's been on your mind. You're afraid it's all been wasted time.
-The Eagles

Miles: how's it going?
Me: it's not too bad I made a friend, Tyler. He's totally insane😂
Miles: oh good! I'm glad
Me: gtg I'm going sightseeing with Tyler. Ttyl❤️

I grab my pocketbook and run out of the house.

"Zac, I'm going downtown to the mall with Tyler! Good luck at basketball tryouts!"

"Thanks, Skylar! Have fun!"

I hop into the car and my mom speeds away.

"So," she says, glancing at me and then returning her eyes to the road, "who are you going to the mall with?"

I don't look up from my phone. Miles was making me smile. "Tyler," I say, grinning.

My mom raises her eyebrows. "I see that grin, Skylar. Is this like a date?"

My head snaps to attention. "No! He's taking me sightseeing. It's NOT a date at all."

My mom nods, smirking slightly. "Right."

"It's not a date! I don't like him like that!" I protest.

"Okay, okay," my mom says, laughing. "I believe you. I remember what it's like to be a teenager. Any other boys in mind?" She asks, pulling into the mall's parking lot.

"Mom!" I moan, getting out of the car. "I've been here five days. I don't have a crush yet. Chill out."

My mom smiles and closes the door behind me. "Call me if anything goes wrong," she says through the window. "And be careful."

I make a face at her. "I'll be fine."

"You want me to wait until he gets here?"

"No, I think he's already here. I'm meeting him at Tooty Fruity Smoothie."

My mom nods and pulls out of the parking lot.

I re-part me hair and walk inside, my shorts showing off my nicely tanned legs. My tank top hangs loose over my shoulders, emphasizing my arms.

The perfect outfit.

I enter the wall and am enveloped in pure chaos.

I'm filled with the sounds of clomping shoes and people shouting and calling and chatting away.

The building is at least a hundred feet tall and the windows and walls are made of pure glass, letting the sunlight shine through.

It illuminates the store signs, and it looks more like seven malls combined into one building.

Filled with awe, I walk toward the Tooty Fruity Smoothie sign, looking around in amazement.

I sit down at a table and wait for Tyler.

He's not here yet.

I wait five minutes.

And five more.

I order a Berry Blast Smoothie.

I sip it quietly, waiting another ten minutes.

All I think about is the terror in Shawn's eyes the other day.

I need to find out what's up with that boy.

He can't just be a major tool for no reason.

But in the inside, he seems scared and not in control.

As if he doesn't have a say on his life.

As if he doesn't have any power at all and he's just another broken teenage boy.

I wait another ten minutes, just thinking.

I must be checking my watch every second, bouncing my knees in boredom.

Where is he?

He's thirty minutes late.

And as I'm deciding whether I should get up and leave, a unmistakably unique voice brings me out of my thoughts.

"Do you drink smoothies alone all the time or is this some sort of special occasion?"

I whip around in my chair to see Shawn striding toward me.

I groan. I really don't feel like putting up with him right now.

I turn around, my back to him, tears streaming down my cheeks.

I can't believe Tyler stood me up.

Why else would he not be here?

I wasted my time thinking I could make a friend that easily.

But I can't let Shawn see me cry.

He'll think I'm weak.

And then he'll think he won.

Like he made me cry.

But it was everything.

Shawn.

Tyler.

Miles.

Canada.

Moving.

Shawn slips into the seat across from me, his eyes darting around my face.

"Please," I whisper, "just go away."

Shawn leans his elbows on the table, his hands folded. "Hey," he says, somewhat genuinely, "is something wrong?"

I sniff. "Like you care."

Shawn doesn't respond for a while. But when I stop crying, he gets up and puts his hands in his pockets. "Maybe I do." He mutters. "You don't know me."

And then he's gone, leaving me to dwell on my thoughts.