For Worse or For Better (Shawn Mendes)

Wrapped in his Arms

Somebody needs a hug, a little personal attention. Some good ol lovin and affection.

-Keith Anderson

"I'm taking you home. I don't want you getting hurt." Shawn says bluntly, shoving me toward the door.

"Shawn," I warn cautiously. He ignores me and starts to walk away, but I grab his arm. "Hey! Talk to me."

Shawn whirls around and gets in my face. "Sky, you can't tell anyone about this. Not a single person. NOT A SOUL!"

I take a step back. "I won't," I whisper. "I won't."

Shawn slowly backs up and runs a hand through his hair. "Okay, um-"

"Thank you?" I help him, raising my eyebrows.

Shawn stares at me. There's no way he's going to-

"Yea. Thank you."

And then he disappears down the stairs.

I feel myself smiling uncontrollably.

Maybe I can help this boy.

Maybe I can change him.

"Stop it! Get off me!" Aaliyah's voice echoes throughout the house.

I instantly hurtle down the steps and toward the sound of her frightened voice. But Shawn get's there first, grabbing her from his dad's grip and kicking him in the groin.

His dad grumbles and groans, lunging for Shawn and his little sister. But when Shawn moves away too quickly for him, his dad veers off course and comes for me instead.

Shocked, I stand there, motionless, while his dad grabs my shirt and snatches me toward him.

I get my senses back and I scream right in his ear, making him stumble just long enough for me to break away from his grip.

He reaches for me again, and his fist flies at my face.

As everything turns to slow motion and I can only hear my breaths and feel my racing heart, I'm ready for the blow.

And then Shawn is there.

Punching.

Pushing me to the side.

I grab Aaliyah's hand and pull her outside onto the front porch. "I know you don't know who I am, but you need to listen carefully to me, okay?"

She stares at me with big brown eyes and nods.

"Good. You are going to go there, yep, right there," I say, positioning her behind a bush, "and you're not going to move. Stay here and don't move for anything. Got it?"

She nods repeatedly and whispers, "Shawn."

I can't stand this. She's so young. "Yes, I know, I'm going back in. He'll be fine. I swear to God, he'll be fine."

And as I run back into the house, I realize I'm saying that more for myself than for her.

He'll be fine, Skylar, he'll be fine.

I crash through the doors and throw myself at Shawn's dad, using all my energy to pry his body away from Shawn's.

His dad stumbles to the ground and Shawn takes his chance. He slams a glass vase over his head and knocks him out cold.

I stand there, shaking, looking at his lifeless body lying on the ground.

That could have been me.

That could have been Shawn.

And before any thoughts can make their way into my throbbing brain, I launch myself at Shawn and wrap my arms around his neck.

Surprised, he doesn't exactly hug back. But then it's my turn to be surprised.

Because Shawn's grip tightens on me and he presses me to his chest with his muscular arms. "Are you okay?" He asks frantically.

Anxiously.

I nod into his bulky sweatshirt. "I'm fine, he didn't hurt me." I step back and gently touch his cheek with my fingers. "Are you okay?"

He nods. "I'm so sorry. Oh my GOD! I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Shawn says it over and over, getting softer and softer each time. "You weren't supposed to meet him, Sky. He wasn't supposed to be here. I'm sorry, Sky," he mutters.

"Shawn," I start, putting a hand to his chest, "it's okay. I didn't get hurt."

And then it hits him. "Where's Aaliyah?"

"Calm down, Shawn, she's waiting outside, I didn't want her to get hurt."

He dashes outside, the screen door slamming behind us, and follows me to the bus.

Where Aaliyah waits, scared out of her mind.

Her entire body trembles, small and frail, against the side of the house. Shawn reaches down and effortlessly lifts her and places her on his hip. "Thank God you're okay. Daddy won't remember a thing when he wakes up."

Though I know this isn't true, I don't say so. This poor girl needs to feel safe somehow.

"Sky, this is my little sister Aaliyah. Aaliyah this is...." he looks at me with an expression I can't read and then turns back to his sister, "this is my friend, Sky."

A/N- I love giving short chapters just to annoy you guys (: lol jk jk I love you guys so much, you're the best readers EVERRRRRRRR