The Boy Next Door (A Shawn Mendes Fanfiction)

She deserves to know.

*Shawn*

After Rebecca left the courtyard, I instantly felt guilty. I yelled after her, but I don't know if she heard me. I didn't mean what I said, it's just easier to be mad and hide your feelings than to be vulnerable and share them. I stood around the yard, groaning in frustration. She's so amazing, I don't want to lose her. I was mad because she was asking me about what I was hiding, I don't know. I have to go after her.

I walked out of the small courtyard, sighing as I started to look for her. There were so many people in the room, I couldn't see her because she's really small. I finally saw her, talking to her friends. She looked like she was upset. I can't believe she was so upset because of me. We had had our petty arguments before, but nothing mean or big like this.

I was standing alone, looking around and watching everyone, when Aubrey came over to me. She was wearing a tight, short, black leather dress with stiletto heels and a lot of makeup. Her hair was up in a high ponytail, totally straight. Totally different from Rebecca.

She batted her eyelashes. "Hey, whatcha doing?"

I smiled at her. I could at least be nice. "Nothing, just, watching, I guess."

She took my hand. "Wanna dance?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, I don't dance."

She smiled at me. "Please, I saw you dancing with Rebecca a while ago. To be honest I don't know why you did. She's such a nerd. She's not even pretty."

I was taken aback. I withdrew my hand from Aubrey's and stepped away. "Excuse me, but I don't talk to people that insult my best friend."

She laughed. "From what I heard in the courtyard, I'm surprised you still call her that."

I shook my head at her. "You don't know anything about us."

She nodded. "I know enough. That's why we're going to dance, to make her jealous. She had her chance with you, now it's mine."

I shook my head at her again. "Sorry Aubrey, I can't."

She promptly dragged me out to the dance floor. "I want to. And I always get what I want."

I was a slow song playing, so she's positioned my hands on her waist, her hands on my neck. I didn't want to make a scene, so I complied. What was one dance?

After the one dance, I went over to my friends and we talked and ate for the rest of the night. I danced with a few people. When prom was over, most of the people were going to parties afterward. About half were going to the one Rebecca and I planned. I don't know if she's still going, but I hope she is. I need to apologize. I hate fighting with her, even petty arguments, which were usually funny.

I was walking out of the college when Aaron caught up to me.

"Hey dude, what's wrong? You haven't been yourself since you saw Rebecca dancing with Jackson."

I sighed. "Yeah, we had a fight. I don't know what to say anymore. She wanted to know why I was upset, and there was no way to tell her without ruining our friendship. So I got mad and she was so angry at me, but even when she was yelling at me, she was beautiful. She walked away, and now I feel horrible. I need to apologize at the party, if she's still going."

Aaron made a face. "Yeah, she's still going. She told her friends. I heard them talking."

I glanced at him. "What else did they say?"

He shook his head and we got in his car. I don't want to ride back with Rebecca, that would be awkward. Besides, she probably doesn't care where I am right now.

He looked at me. "You should tell her, before it's too late."

I closed the car door and turned to him. "Why would it be too late? It's not she found a boyfriend in 3 hours."

He looked at me but said nothing. I wonder why. She couldn't have gotten a date. Could she?

When we got to my house, I got out and looked around. There was a lot of people around, but I was looking for Rebecca. She had to be around here somewhere.

The yards were filled with people, music blasting around. The yard front yards and my house was where the party was. I saw Aubrey flirting with Jack Gilinsky. I saw Taylor and Melanie, talking to Emily and Carter. I saw a bunch of people I knew, but not Rebecca. My friends all started dancing, so I went with them.

After a lot of songs, I went to find Rebecca. I needed to apologize. A lot of people were still dancing, so I walked away from the groups, towards the side of her house. I was going to tell her. I was going to do this.

As I told myself this, I rounded the corner of her house to look for her by the apple trees. She loved to go back and sit there every chance she could, writing or reading or drawing. This is where I found her most days, because I was always looking for her. And I always will.

When I got around the corner, she was there, like always. But she wasn't alone. She was with Jackson Smith. They were dancing. And he was about to kiss her.

I turned around, my heart breaking. Of course there would be other guys who want to date her. She was too amazing not to have a boyfriend. I walked back to the yard and went inside my house. I needed to be alone right now. But, of course, Aaron saw me go inside and he followed me. He caught up to me out on the back porch.

"Hey, you found out?"

I nodded, wanting to cry and punch something at the same time.

"They were...dancing and...he was about to kiss her."

He whipped his head to me. "Whoa, he works fast."

I looked at him and scowled. He looked apologetic. "Oh, sorry. To soon?"

I nodded, smiling a little. "It's okay. Some prom night, huh?

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, you lost your only love."

I smiled. "Yeah, I did. I blew it. Now she's going to fall in love with someone else. You know what, I'll see you later. I just, need to think.

He pat me on my shoulder and nodded, walking back to the front lawn. I looked around. I don't know what to do. I still feel like I have to tell her. But not right now. Soon. She deserves to know. She deserves to know I love her.