A Window Away |Shailee Fanfic|

s e v e n

We agreed to meet up at Starbucks at five today. Which was fine with me. I had to be home by ten. Curfew. Most kids nowadays don't have curfews. But it was the time my parents gave me. And I don't wanna risk it.

It was four. As I walked downstairs, I was called by my Dad. "Shawn, come in here for a second."

"Okay," I turned to the kitchen. Both my parents and sister were having lunch. "Yes?"

"Are you going out somewhere?" Mum asked. Eyeing my wardrobe choice of my grey tee, dark tee, and wallet and keys hanging out of my denim jacket I bought at a garage sale just a couple days ago.

"Yes. Is that okay?" I forgot to ask them first.

"How long will you be out?"

It depends if the date goes well. "Nine?" An hour before my curfew. I'm hoping that the date goes well.

"Who with? Ian?" I shook my head. "Do we know them?"

"Kinda." Hailee literally lives across from our house for seven years! Our Mums would have light conversations here and there. Our Dads as well. Her older brother, Griffin, my Dad would gush over about his blue truck with its powerful engines.

Aaliyah grins. "You finally did it huh?"

"Did what?" Both my parents eyes popped.

I glance over at Aaliyah. "Nothing. It's nothing—"

"Shawn finally asked Hailee out on a date." Aaliyah eyes lit up. "Took you long enough—"I race over and cover my hand over her mouth to stop talking. "Shut it Aaliyah!" I muttered.

Mum's told us to stop. Wiping my hand over my jeans, Mum asks, "Hailee Steinfeld from across the street?"

"Atta boy!" Dad cheered.

Mum ignore. "I didn't know you two were a thing."

"W-we're not, really," damn it Shawn! Shut up! "We're just going to the mall. Hang out. And you know stuff..." okay maybe saying 'stuff' wasn't the right thing to say. "Not like that stuff. Just hanging out." Aaliyah rolled her eyes. I would at myself too for sounding like an idiot virgin. Which I am.

"Okay. Nine it is." Dad spoke up. "Have fun on your date." He winked. Aaliyah laughed.

Walking to my car, I see Hailee walking out as well, towards me, with her brother behind. "Hey Shawn." She greets as she was now in front of me.

"Hey," I smiled, to be polite, "I thought we're just gonna meet up..." that was the plan.

"You know Griffin, right?" Hailee turns to her brother. "See, he's real." I wasn't sure what that meant. Back to me she says, "Griffin just wanted to meet you is all."

Meet me? Griffin. Hailee's older brother. Wants to meet me. "Um... that's fine. Hi Griffin."

"Hi."

Now what?

"How old are you Shawn?"

"Eighteen." I answered.

Griffin turns to her sister. "Wow Hailee, couldn't you be even more lame." He laughed a bit. "I'm sorry but... that's like—"

"Two years apart." Hailee mutters. "Yeah, I know."

I'll be nineteen this year in August. Hailee will be twenty-one in December. We're in April. "Does it really matter?" I speak up to their situation. "two years isn't much. It's just a number." I really believe that age is just a number. A lot of older people would act like dumbasses while some teenager acts like he's a grandpa. "Does my age really bother you?" I ask Hailee.

Hailee shook her head. "It's a problem for..." she glance at her brother.

"Look Mendes," Griffin burts, "I was a teen once. It was fun. But—"

"But what?" I challenge. "You don't even know me. I'm not like most teenagers. I'm gonna graduate soon and move out. I wanna a career. I wanna be independent. If my age really bothers you, then get over it. Blame God that I wasn't born at the same year as her." Honestly I was getting really annoyed with Griffin. I'm really not like most teenagers. I don't party. I don't drink. I don't get laid. I'm really old fashion.

At this point I wasn't sure if Hailee and I are still on for our date. Hailee placed a hand on my shoulder, leading me to my driver side of the car. I guess we're still on for the Starbucks date.