emptier → nate maloley

ten

before my flight, i told dad i was going to hang with a friend from high school that wanted to catch up before i flew back. but i was really going to see nate, of course. shawn texted a few times but i ignored them and told him that i would talk to him when i went back.

i laid on the couch with nate while we both watched tv. nate told him he wanted to do something we me before i left but i refused and told him i just wanted to be with him. i heard my phone jingle next to me and i instantly think it's shawn again. my face lights up when i see who's calling: dana. we still talked after she moved but it wasnt much, we were both busy with our new lives and i understood.

i quickly accepted the call, getting off nate and him looking at me with a confused look.

"dana!" i squealed when the call connected.

"mimi!" she grinned. "i've missed you, it's been forever." she pouts.

"i know," i frowned with her and i felt nate's arm snake around my waist as he laid his head on my shoulder.

"who is that?" dana furrowed her eyebrows. "is that shawn-" i moved the camera to nate's face as she was talking. "woop, not shawn." her eyes widened. "are you and nate back together?!" her jaw drops.

i looked back at nate and smiled with a shrug, "i guess so."

"she finally came to her senses and left that ugly ass-" he stopped talking when i warned him with a look.

dana chuckled, "well if mia's happy, i'm happy. i'll leave you and nate alone. call me later."

"will do." i nodded with a smile and we both said our goodbyes before i hung up. i check the time on my phone. "my flight's in five hours." i frown.

"think we can get in a few rounds before you leave?" i feel the smirk on his lips as he presses kisses on my skin.

i eagerly nod and pull him to is bedroom, giggling.

-

i arrive back at home after paying my uber. as soon as i step into my house, i instantly miss nate. i pull out my phone and text him that i made it home like i said i would before i left. as soon as i press send, shawn's number pops up on my phone. i sigh and accept.

"hi, shawn." i answer.

"mia." he breathes, "are you back?"

"i just stepped in the house." i reply.

"oh, good." he sounds a little off but i decide not to question. "how was your visit?" he somewhat chokes.

i furrow my eyebrows. "it was nice... shawn are you okay?" i ask.

"yeah, yeah." he adds. "just missed you thats all. are you hungry? we can get something to eat?"

i press my lips together, "sure, shawn."

"great, i'll meet you at alejandro's." i say okay and we exchange goodbyes before hanging up. i sigh, he knows that's my favorite restaurant. i'm going to have the break the news to him about nate and i. shawn doesn't deserve me lying to him and for us to keep going, no matter how much i love him. i love nate, i need nate.

-

i walk in alejandro's and i see shawn already at a table, waiting for me. i take a deep breath and make my way over to him.

"mia," his face lights up and he stands when he sees me. "you look beautiful as always."

"thanks." i give him a tight closed lipped smile and take a seat across from him.

"i, uh, already ordered chips and salsa because i know that's your favorite here." he smiles.

my heart breaks a little inside, i feel bad. i'm such a monster for doing this to him. i keep repeating nate's name in my head in order to go through with this.

"i would have you gotten you flowers too," he says with a laugh, "but-"

"shawn." i stop him. his face falls as he looks at me, worry covers his face. "we need to talk."

"okay." he leans back in his seat, "lets talk."

i sigh and stare at the table instead of his face. "shawn, i think we should see other people."

shawn looks at me with no emotion. i frown and again avoid his face, i can't look. i sigh again. "i'm sorry." i look at him.

he's still trying to wrap his mind around what i just told him.

nate. nate. nate. nate. i love nate. i have to keep saying to myself to remember the reason why i'm doing this. i feel like i just kicked a puppy in the face.

he places a fist to his mouth, still silent. i watch him. "is there someone else?" he says finally, his eyes meeting mine.

now it was my turn to stay quiet. i don't want to lie and say no, but i don't want to hurt him any further by saying yes. but my silence already told him yes.

shawn scoffs, pushing himself away from the table. "is it nate?" i watch the fury grow in his eyes. "is it fucking nate?" he repeats.

i feel myself growing a little scared. i know can sometimes have a temper, i've experienced it a few times. "yes."

"are you fucking kidding me?" he mutters. "are you fucking kidding me?!" he raises his voice, causing people to look over.

"shawn," i warn, looking around. "calm down."

"no i'm not going to calm down!" he yells making me flinch. "you're leaving me for someone who you haven't seen in years."

"you don't get it-"

"i get it!" he interrupts me, standing up from the table. "you want that lowlife person who basically ruined your life. wasn't it because of him you're dad wanted nothing to do with you? he distracted you? wasn't he still in love with his ex, mary jane?" he spits at me.

all those things were true, so there was no point in trying to denying it. "i love him." i squeak.

"you loved me too."

i look up and met his sad eyes. his eyes were sad but his nostrils flared. he shook his head. "whatever." he mumbled. "here you can have this, i sure as hell don't need it now." he threw something in my lap before storming out the restaurant.

i reach down and grab the black velvet box, my heart instantly dropping when i open it. shawn was going to propose.... to me. shawn was going to propose to me. the ring was absolutely beautiful. this must have taken shawn forever to save up for this. i frown and place the ring in my bag, i couldn't keep it. i'd have to give it back to shawn.

i place money on the table, wanting to get out of there so and. eyes watched me sympathetically as i exited the restaurant.

i need my nate.