For Worse or For Better (Shawn Mendes)

Apologize

You tell me you're sorry.
-OneRepublic

Four days after my date with Shawn, I decide that I'm going to have to talk to Tyler at some point. Miles told me that he has to go home this Friday, which is tomorrow. This makes me extremely sad, but he's been more help in two days than I could have ever imagined.

I spent most of my time with Miles and Shawn and they really seemed to like each other. I was glad they got along because I wanted my best friend and my boyfriend to be able to stand each other.

Walking to school, I pass Shawn's house, and what I see makes my heart stop.

Aaliyah sits on the front lawn next to Shawn's body, sobbing. He is lying on the ground, completely motionless, his eyes closed.

"Aaliyah!" I scream, running onto her lawn. "What happened to Shawn?"

I collapse at his side and Aaliyah jumps on me, burying her face in my shoulder. "Skylar, my dad, it-it was my d-dad. He beat Shawn up and then came for me but Shawn managed to get him to leave and now Shawn won't wake up." She chocks on her words, in between sobs for air. "Is he going-"

"He's going to be fine," I say, tears trickling down my cheeks. "He's going to be just fine."

I call an ambulance and they come right away to pick up Shawn. They ask how it happened, and when I look over at Aaliyah, siting on the back of an ambulance, smiling as she talks to a young guy in a police uniform, I decide that I can't tell the truth.

I just can't.

I tell them that they were playing baseball and he got hit in the head with a bat.

They seem to believe me and they take Aaliyah and Shawn off to the hospital, telling me visiting hours start at four and end at eight.

I continue to school, my mind racing with the possibilities of the situation. Was Mr. Mendes drunk? Probably. Will Shawn be okay? I hope so. Is there anyway I can help or fix this or ensure Shawn's safety? Probably not.

Realizing I had the answers to all my own questions, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to push away the sight of Shawn's lifeless body.

Walking into school, I race down the hall, trying to get to home room before the tardy bell rang and declared me late.

I turned into the hallway where my locker stood at the far end, and immediately slammed into Tyler's buff chest.

I crashed to the ground and my backpack flew back and spilled on the ground.

But I don't move.

But Tyler does.

"I'm so sorry," he says, bending to pick up the contents of my bag. "I didn't see you-" but when he realizes it's me, he stops, squatting next to my head. "Skylar." He whispers.

And then I leap into explanation. "I'm so sorry I called you a jerk, Tyler."

His reaction is not what I expected. "Actually, you called me an asshole."

But that grin.

That lopsided grin that is way too big for his face.

It's plastered there, exactly how it used to be.

And at that moment, the relief that floods through me is not like anything I've ever experienced.

I hadn't realized until then how much I've missed Tyler. I've missed him terribly. I have no one to talk to. No one to vent to. No one to make me laugh in the darkest of times.

I need him and frankly, I want to be around him. I want to have him around. I enjoy his company and he's exactly what I thought I'd never have again after I moved.

But I found it in Tyler.

A best friend.

"Tyler, we have a great friendship and I need my best friend around right now because I've never been more devastated in my life and I really am sorry that I got so mad at you I was just angry that you didn't trust my judgment but I know you were just trying to help and I'm thankful for that but I-" I paused to take a breath while Tyler laughed.

"Skylar, Skylar, calm yourself. I get it. You're forgiven. And I'm sorry I didn't trust Shawn, I just didn't want to see you get hurt. That's all. I was just looking out for you."

I reached forward and pulled him into a big hug that felt extremely good.

Tyler pulled away and smirked at me. "Did I hear you say I was your best friend?"

I smiled and shoved him. "You know you are. If that's oaky with you, that is." I said, crossing my arms sarcastically.

Tyler shrugs. "I guess I can live with that."