For Worse or For Better (Shawn Mendes)

Don't Say I Didn't Warn You

Don't get closer, he'll just break your heart.
-One Direction

I find myself immediately pulling away after I realize what's happening.

Shawn stares at the ground. "I'm sorry, that was really, weird and uncalled for. I shouldn't have done that. You, you should probably go." He opens the door for me, avoiding eye contact.

Dazed, I slide out of the car and close the door behind me. He starts to back up, but I call into the open window anyway.

"Remember what I said, Shawn!"

He doesn't respond, but I know he heard me. I walk in the house, my movements robotic. I can't think of anything but the feeling of Shawn's lips on mine.

Did I like it?

Did I hate it?

I can't tell yet.

Zac meets me at the door, his face tanned to perfection from his hours of time spent playing basketball in the backyard.

"Oh my God, thank the Lord you're okay!" He gives me a big brother bear hug, squeezing me tightly. I was so worried about you! But mom said you were safe in the school and we had to get home. I wanted to go in for you, but mom wouldn't let me leave the car. Thank God you're okay!"

Zac steps back and gives me a confused look. "What's up with you?"

Not responding, I walk right passed him, still fazed.

"Okay," Zac says crossing his arms. "What's his name?"

I stop. How did he know? But I automatically find myself saying, "Shawn."

"Oooh, the jerky one?"

So everyone does know him. "Yes," I say proudly. "The jerky one. But no, not the jerky one."

Zac stares at me blankly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see."

*****

Wednesday morning in school, Shawn doesn't show up to show me around, but I don't mind. I immediately find Tyler, while listening to the "new rules because of the wreckage from the storm" announcements on the loud speaker.

I see Tyler with his head shoved in a locker, so I make my way to him and tap his back. "Where were you on Saturday, huh?"

When he pulls his head out, his eyes are red and puffy, their blueness dulled to a gray. I step back, alarmed. "Oh my God, Tyler, what's wrong?"

He just looks at me with so much hurt. "Nothing, Sky, I'm fine."

I can tell he's lying, but I don't push him to tell me.

"Sorry about Saturday, my little brother broke his arm and I was on hospital duty. We can go next weekend if you want."

Tyler purposely doesn't look me in the eye, and keeps himself busy with straigtening his already-too-neat locker.

"Sure," I say hesitatnly, "that'd be great."

"Awesome," he slams his locker shut and forces a small smile, "see you in Spanish."

And then he's gone, disappearing into the crowd.

Trying to figure him out, I sit through the first four periods of the day in anxiety. What was up with him? Did it have something to do wiht me? His family maybe?

At lunch, I find Tyler right away and slide into the seat next to him. "Hey, Tyler."

He pushes his fries around his plate. "Hi, Skylar."

"What's up?" I ask, trying to act normal, trying to get him to talk.

"Don't do it."

Surprised, I sit up. "Don't do what, Tyler?"

He finally looks over at me, his blue eyes full of disapproval. "Don't fall for Shawn."

"Wait, what?" I say, laughing a little. "I am NOT falling for Shawn."

Tyler shakes his head. "Everyone is buzzing about it, Skylar, everyone knows about your little kiss. You're so innocent," Tyler looks at me sympathetically, "you don't get it, do you? He's playing with you. He's not a good guy, Skylar. Don't fall into his trap like every other girl. You know why he wasn't there to show you around today? He was breaking up with his gilfriend, Skylar. Who, by the way, he started dating last week. He's not who you think he is. He's an idiot and he likes to play around with girls and then dump them on the street. He's not good for you."

"Tyler, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I don't even like Shawn. But you don't know him like I do, Tyler, he's not-"

"Why are you sticking up for him?" Tyler's voice is raised to a low shout. "You're wrong. You don't know him like I do, Skylar. I've met so many jerks like him before."

I remember his father.

His little sister.

The look of hurt in his eyes.

And I'm offended. "Don't call him a jerk! You don't know anything about him!" I yell at him.

The entire lunch room has gone quiet and is staring at Tyler and me, screaming at each other. "Skylar, you're so stupid! You just sit here and defend him! You're going to get crushed! What don't you understand about Shawn's type?!"

I shove his chest. "Don't you EVER classify Shawn as a 'type!' You don't know what you're talking about and I'm not going to let you beat up on him. You know absolutely nothing about him and you're basing your assumption on his 'type.' He's not a 'type', Tyler, he's a human being and he sure as hell wound not be doing this to me right now. And why don't you tell me where you really were on Saturday." I challenge.

This hits Tyler hard, right where it hurts. "Fine, Skylar! Go and get your heart broken, I don't care anymore." I start to walk away, but he continues to talk at me. "I tried to tell you, I really tried, don't say I didn't warn you. But you don't listen to my type. You only go for the assholes."

And that's when I lose it. I whirl around and swing my fist and slam it right into his nose, knocking him onto his butt. "No, Tyler, you're the asshole."

And as I walk out of the lunch room, I catch a glance of Shawn, standing in the corner of the hallway, his face red. When he catches my eye, he immediately looks down at the floor, but it's too late, I've already seen it.

A tiny look of thanks on his face.

The tiniest hint of gratitude that I stuck up for him like I did.

And it's enough to show me how wrong Tyler really is.