Empty Promises // s.m.

a little too much

"One of you two better explain right now." Shawn glances between Nash and I with an angry expression.

"Paisley, glad you're okay." Nash ignores Shawn and comes over to kiss me on the forehead.

"No, get away from my girlfriend man!" Shawn is fuming. "We have a bro code. It's called not kissing each other's girlfriends."

"Look, it was in the moment. I doubt she's going to be happy with you. You're just going to be on tour with a bunch of hot girls. I bet you've already cheated on her." Nash rolls his eyes.

"Boys, seriously?" Noah shakes his head with an annoyed look.

I stare at Shawn, waiting for him to somehow turn down the accusation Nash just made. Would he cheat on me? Is Shawn that kind of guy? I didn't even think about anything like that.

"Why would I cheat on my Paisley?" Shawn shakes his head. My frown lessens at this, only to be returned by Shawn's next remark. "Pais, I can't believe you cheated on me."

"Shawn-" Tears flood down my face, causing Noah to stand up with his broken foot.

"I swear, Shawn. If that heart monitor goes off one more time because of you, you'll take her spot." He rolls his arms back.

I close my eyes and turn to Shawn. "Please take me home."

Nash takes a seat next to Noah while Shawn leaves to get a nurse. He comes back with one who takes out my IV and gives me my clothes to change into. I walk to the bathroom and stare at myself in the mirror.

I'm a wreck, a useless, ugly, wreck. How can one look at me and see something other than this horrifying excuse for a teenage girl?

"Paisley, are you alright?" Shawn knocks on the door.

He called me Paisley.

"I'm coming." I open the door once I'm changed and follow everyone out to Shawn's Jeep. He makes Nash sit in the passenger seat so he knows that he can't touch me. I stare silently out my window and watch the cars drive by. It's raining now, perfect to match my mood.

Shawn parks at my house and turns the car off, waiting for the other two to get out. They don't get the hint, so he turns in his seat with a frown. "Noah, Nash, out."

"What?" Nash glances to me. "What about Pais?"

"Just go. We need to talk." I mutter with my head down. Noah pats my shoulder before stumbling out with Nash talking next to him.

"Can you hold me?" I look at my hands, knowing he won't come to me after everything I've told him. The door opens and he scooches over, wrapping his arm around me. I lay my head on his chest and listen to his heart beat.

"I don't like Nash like that." I close my eyes whilst leaning into him.

"I know. But he does." Shawn leans his head on mine.

"I know." I sigh into his chest.

"He flew all the way out here just because you were in the hospital." 

"But so did you." I pull away to see his face.

"I live here and you're my girlfriend. It's different." He shrugs.

"I don't like this, Shawn." I whimper.

His face contorts into worry and pulls me back to him. "What don't you like?"

I sniffle. "I don't like guys liking me. I don't like guys hitting on me. It scares me. Robbie scares me."

"Oh, Pais." He squeezes me. "I wish I could stop them. I don't want you to be scared. "

"Do I look like an easy target or something?" I wipe my eyes.

"Darling, you're beautiful. Guys like you because you're you. Paisley, you're amazing." Shawn kisses me and leans his forehead against mine.

"When are you going back to tour?" I ignore his comment, knowing I'm getting attached.

Shawn licks his lips and leans back. "I was thinking tomorrow."

I suck in a sharp breathe before nodding. I feel my heart pounding hard in my chest. "C-can you sing me a new song tonight?"

"Of course. Actually, tell Noah and Nash you're coming over right now. I have some things to do later."

I am curious, but hop out the Jeep. I peek my head through the door and see the two chatting on the couch. "I'm going to Shawn's for a couple minutes. I'll be back soon."

"A quickie already?" Noah smirks.

I roll my eyes and get back into the Jeep as Shawn pulls out and into his driveway. We get out and go inside to Aaliyah playing some game on the TV.

"Hey Paisley!" She grins.

"Hey Aaliyah." I smile and follow Shawn to his room. He gets his old guitar and strums a bit to adjust the strings.

She would not show that she was afraid,
But being and feeling alone was too much to face,
Though everyone said that she was so strong,
What they didn't know is that she could barely carry on,

But she knew that she would be okay,
So she didn't let it get in her way,

Sometimes it all gets a little too much,
But you gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up,
And you don't have to be afraid, because we're all the same,
And we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much,

She would always tell herself she could do this
She would use no help it would be just fine
But when it got hard she would lose her focus
So take my hand and we'll be alright

And she knew that she would be okay,
So she didn't let it get in her way,

Sometimes it all gets a little too much,
But you gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up,
And you don't have to be afraid, because we're all the same,
And we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much, yeah.

A little too much, I said a little too much, oh.

Sometimes it all gets a little too much,
But you gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up,
And you don't have to be afraid, because we're all the same,
And we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much yeah!

Sometimes it all gets a little too much,
But you gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up,
And you don't have to be afraid, because we're all the same,
And we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much.

"I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" Shawn kisses me.

I pull away and nod, internally broken. I can't do this without him. I can't be here and have him be there.

I walk back to my house and see Noah and Nash watching football whilst talking animatedly about it. Ignoring them, I walk up the stairs and close the door to my room. Laying down in my warm bed, I close my eyes with tears welled up behind them.

___________________

A/N: boi :'( also illuminate kills me in every way like aghahhah he sounds so mature and hot ;)))

-hailey