Shawn Mendes Imagines

"I always have"

A Request 💕

• In which a boy confesses his love for his best friend, despite her having a boyfriend. •

• • •

"We need to take a break." Shawn, my best friend, said. Not only was Shawn my best friend, but also my partner for a history project. He stood up from the bedroom floor, towering over our uncompleted timeline project.
"No, what we need to do is finish this timeline." I replied, looking up at him from where I still sat on the floor. Shawn shook his head, not convinced. "Come on," I whined, ready to be done with this project, "we're almost done."
Despite my efforts, Shawn ignored my pleas. He turned away, walked over to my bed, and fell onto the mattress. I sighed in frustration, but truthfully was grateful for the break. I playfully rolled my eyes, standing up from the floor myself.

I too walked over to my bed and fell on top of it, landing next to Shawn.
"Fifteen minutes," I said, "and that's it."
I turned my head to look at Shawn, noticing that his eyes were closed. I prayed that he wouldn't fall asleep, leaving me to finish the timeline on my own. I poked his side, making sure of it. Shawn flinched, reaching for his side, and chuckled.
"You better not fall asleep." I warned, causing a smirk to pull at the corners of his lips.
I reached into the pocket of my sweats, pulling out my cellphone. Looking at its blank screen I sighed, in both frustration and disappointment.
"What's the matter?" Shawn asked, his head already turned and eyes looking at me. There was nothing, that was the matter.

"I still haven't heard from him." I replied, referring to my boyfriend of three months. "I sent him a text message over two hours ago, and I haven't received anything back. No call, not even a text." I said, hurt replacing the frustration within my voice. I had only caught a second of it, but I was sure that I had seen an emotion of anger rush across Shawn's face. He averted his gaze elsewhere for a moment, taking in a large inhale, before replying. He looked back at me.
"Is there a reason as to why he wouldn't be replying?" Shawn asked, curiosity swimming within the irises of his eyes. I bit my bottom lip, having an idea as to why my boyfriend was ignoring me.
"I think he's upset with me." I admitted honestly, still holding Shawn's gaze. Shawn furrowed his brows.
"Upset about what?" He asked, causing a sense of awkwardness to come over me.
"Well . . . That you're over." I admitted, while looking at one of the bedroom walls instead of him.

I continued on before Shawn could speak. "Initially, he wanted to go out tonight. When I told him that I couldn't because I had a history project to work on, he was upset. And then when I told him that you were coming over to help me, he became angry." I said, remembering my boyfriend's angered facial expression when I mentioned Shawn. I sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that day.
"You know," I began, feeling a need to ramble my thoughts to Shawn. "I don't understand why he becomes so upset whenever I mention your name. You are my best friend, it's likely that your name will come up in conversation. And you have always been there, even before him. What does he expect me to do, throw away our friendship for his happiness? What about my own happiness?"
I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the ache of a headache coming on.

"There is nothing for him to be upset about," I said, my voice sounding more tired than angry now. "You are my best friend, and we are only doing a project together." I finished. I could almost swear that every time I referred to Shawn as my best friend, he'd flinch. Almost as though the label pained him. I told myself that it had just been a coincidence that he would flinch whenever I said it, nothing more. I looked up towards the ceiling.
"I can understand why he becomes upset," Shawn replied, causing me to turn my head and look back at him. Our eyes met. "He's upset because you're hanging out with me, another guy, instead of him." He said.
"But," I began to protest, "again, you're my best friend."
Coincidently, I believed, Shawn flinched once more.
"But maybe he feels threatened by me." Shawn replied, causing me to question how. Our conversation had gone quiet for a moment, as my mind tried to decode his words.
"Is there a reason he should feel threatened?" I questioned hesitantly, trying to search for the answer within the irises of his brown eyes.