green ⇔ shawn mendes

The Weight

The next day, Shawn refused to move from his bed and go to school. Feigning he was sick, he laid under the protection of his covers and felt sorry for himself.

After first period had ended at Shawn's high school, he received a call from Laur.

He hesitantly picked it up. "Hello?"

"Shawn, where are you? You weren't in English."

"Sick," Shawn replied curtly.

"You didn't look sick yesterday," Laur replied, puzzled.

An unintentional sob slipped from Shawn's lips.

Laur sighed. "I'm sorry Shawn. You're my best friend! I love you as a friend! I really like Lyall and I'm sorry that I don't feel the same about you. Please don't be sad. I want you to stay. Someday it might change, give it time."

Every word she uttered sliced through Shawn's heart like a dagger.

"I'm fine, really. I'm okay. Just sick," Shawn tried, voice husky.

His words failed to convince Laur, but she went along with it.

"Okay, well, maybe see you tomorrow, bye Shawn."

"I don't wanna wait," Shawn whispered, as the dial tone sounded.

Shawn hefted his covers over his head, tears streaming down his face, as he felt his heavy heart break; shatter into millions of pieces.

After school had ended, Shawn received a visit from Ian.

Shawn hadn't moved since the morning, Ian found him curled up in the fetal position, with a tear streaked face.

"Shawn what's up man? You never miss school. Also Lauren and Lyall were acting super weird today," he enquired.

"I made a huge mistake. I want to go back, forget that it's over. Paint it in black, she left me alone. I never knew, she was sleeping with the kid I grew up with, and I can't go back to her anymore!" Shawn said, voice increasing in anger with every word he spat.

Ian looked alarmed. "Shawn, are you okay?"

"She told me she's happier with him, but she wants me to stay, she told me that she needed time, but she, she pushed me away! I try to pretend I'm okay, but my heavy heart just breaks," Shawn said dejected, fresh tears running down his face.

Ian had no idea what to say. He had never seen his friend so devastated.

"Shawn," he started gently, "there are plenty of other girls out there-"

"They're not Laur," Shawn stated stubbornly.

"Shawn," Ian repeated, firmer, "Laur choose Lyall."

Hearing those words seemed to snap something inside of Shawn. He bolted upright and looked Ian dead in the eye. "What does he have that I don't?"

...
Later that night, after Ian had begrudgingly agreed to help, the two boys formed a 'plan' for Shawn. They highlighted his upmost strength compared to Lyall; singing, and low lighted his upmost weakness; body. Shawn was going to work hard at these things until he was better enough than Lyall. Ian never in a million years thought their so called 'plan' was going to have any effect, but he kept with it for Shawn. Shawn, on the other hand, felt more determination than he'd ever felt for anything before. After Ian had left, he pulled out his guitar he'd been slowly teaching himself these past few months and started to strum the Justin Bieber song, as long as you love me. He felt it was highly appropriate.

He strummed through it a couple of times before deciding he was ready to sing it. He unlocked his phone. He already knew the lyrics thanks to Aaliyah, but he wanted to film himself singing so he could know what needed working on.
Opening his camera, he was meet with the ghastly 'your storage is full' bubble. Frowning, he exited the camera app and look at what he could use as an alternative... Vine? He set it up so he could simply touch and play.

"As long as you la la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la love me."

He stopped recording and played it back... It actually sounded really cool! Deciding to be crazy, Shawn clicked post.

Then, he switched on to YouTube in order to learn some new Ed Sheeran songs. You can never know enough Ed, right?

After attempting to learn Lego house for over an hour, Shawn decided to get a early nights sleep, so he could wake up and go to the gym early the next morning.

Tuesday started a whole new era for Shawn. He worked out at least five times a week in the gym, going for runs in the remainder of the week. His body was starting to show progress, which meant Shawn walked around with a smile on his face. Oh, and his vine account kicked off! In under 24hrs Shawn got over 10,000 loops on his singing vine, with requests for more!

Now, on top of school work and exercise, he was learning even more songs, so he could play six second snippets of them for his followers.

A month and a half on, Shawn walked into school, fresh from his morning after-workout shower, with a bounce in his step. "Hey man!" He greeted Ian with a bro hug thing.

"Someone's happy for school," Ian questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Shawn shrugged. "I'm just in a good mood, that's all."

"This has nothing to do with the fact that Lyall and Laur had a fight and are practically done, does it.?"

Shawn feigned surprise. Of course he had heard about their dispute and was secretly thrilled. Maybe not secretly enough.

"What fight?"

Ian rolled his eyes, grabbing his first period books out of his locker. "Let's just say you might end up have the date of your dreams for prom this year," he said, clapping Shawn on the back before walking off.

Shawn stood there dazed. Prom! He could take Laur to Prom. He quickly shut his locker and hurried off, just as the bell rang. Shawn had other things on his mind. How was he going to ask? And when? Prom wasn't for another three months, but that gave Shawn time to prepare. How long should he wait for Laur to get over the split?

In his hurry he bumped into Lyall. He looked a mess. "Look, back off Laur okay? I still want her and she doesn't want you," he threatened. Shawn straightened up and looked him in the eye.

"Not even interested," he lied, "she lowers the standards and I raise the stakes. Guess I gotta show you."