Bad Reputation | S.M.

Chapter 17

It took about ten minutes to get to his house and I began to grow anxious. I had never done this before, I was completely nervous that my leg started to bounce up and down in the car. I felt Shawn put his hand on my thigh and we both smiled.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, totally." I lied. I'm freaking out in the inside. How do I know if his family is going to like me or not? I've never met a guy's family before or interacted with a family since my parents. It's always just been me and my brothers. Finally we reached his house and my brothers quickly got out of the car. Shawn unbuckled his seatbelt and I was playing with my thumbs.

"Babe, are you sure you're okay?" He asked and placed his hand on top of mine.

"Yeah, sorta." I shook my head."What if you parents don't like me? I mean we have only been dating for a couple of weeks."

"Honey, trust me, they will love you." He smiled and kissed my cheek. "Now come on, I'm starving." I unbuckled my seatbelt and followed Shawn up to the house with my brothers behind me. He opened the door and everyone greeted him by saying his name in unison. I held his hand and my brothers hid behind me awkwardly. They were just as nervous as me. I swear we looked like lost puppies in need of their mother.

"Merry Christmas everyone." Shawn said and smiled. Everyone went back to talking to each other and there was about thirty people here. "Let me introduce you to my parents."

"Okay." I said and I followed him to the kitchen. As we walked I felt Hunter tug on my sweater so I carried him in my arms.

"Hey mom." Shawn said and a woman with light brown hair turned around.

"Hi honey, oh you must be Nicole! Shawn cannot stop talking about you." She smiled and pulled me in for a hug. I smiled and hugged her back softly.

"I hope all good things." I said and she chuckled. "I brought you guys some flan, family recipe."

"Thank you darling! Now who are these to handsome boys."

"This is Hunter and Jacob, my brothers." I smiled."Say hi to Mrs.Mendes you guys."

"Hi Mrs.Mendes." They both said in unison.

"Oh please honey please, call me Karen."

"Where's dad and Aaliyah?"

"I think you're dad went to go get some more drinks at the store and your sister might be with your cousin."

"Thank you, by the way dinner smells amazing." Shawn said and kissed his mom's cheek. I put Hunter down and held his hand in mine as Shawn went around the room introducing me to his family. I slowly began to feel less and less nervous. They were all so kind and it felt so nice to be with a family. Jacob had gone with Aaliyah to hang out in the living room and I left Hunter with the other little kids to play. Shawn and I were talking to his cousin when suddenly a girl walked into the room.

"Excuse us." Shawn said and he led me towards that girl. She was pretty, she had long brown hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. "Lauren! I haven't seen you in so long."

Shawn went up to her and hugged her tightly. I stood behind with my drink in my hand awkwardly.

"Lauren I'd like you to meet Nicole, my girlfriend." He smiled and introduced me to Lauren.

"Hi I'm Lauren." She stuck out her hand and I politely shook it.

"Nicole, nice to meet you." I smiled and it quickly became awkward. I let go of her hand and took a sip of my drink, trying not to start a conversation.

"So what are you doing here?" Shawn asked and she chuckled.

"Your mom invited me so I thought I would stop on by and say hi at least."

"That's good, my mom is in the kitchen, I'll take you." He smiled and put his drink down on the table next to him. "I'll be right back Nicole."

"Sure." I slightly smiled and he took Lauren by the hand. I sat down on the couch and just looked at my drink.

"I see you met Lauren." Shawn's cousin, Timera, said and sat next to me.

"Yeah, what is it with them anyway?" I asked her as I put my drink down.

"Well they used to be a thing, that is until he went on tour and they broke up. Now they're just good friends."

"Did they love each other?" I asked and furrowed my eyebrows.

"Well they dated for about six months so yeah, they did." She nodded."But that's in the past, trust me."

"I trust you." I smiled. "I'm going to go outside for a bit, I'll be right back."

"Yeah sure." She smiled and I got up from my seat. I walked out the back door into the cold backyard. I sat down on one of the chairs and suddenly small flakes of snow began to fall from the sky. I looked up and took a deep breath in. I don't know why I'm overthinking things, but somehow my mind does it. Sometimes I just wish I wouldn't have done certain things in my life, things that made me have this bad reputation. Instead of focusing on my brothers or having a better life I messed around with different guys and did so many bad things. I started to tear up and I quickly wiped them away when I heard the door close.

"Hey, Timera said you were out here, are you okay?" I heard Shawn's voice and he sat down next to me.

"Yeah I'm fine I just needed some fresh air." I smiled.

"It's freezing, here." He said and took of his jacket, placing it on my shoulders. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I shrugged and looked down at my hands.

"Did I do something?"

"No of course not."

"Is it because of Lauren? Timera told me that you asked about what happened between us."

"No, it's in the past anyway." I sighed."Right?"

"Yeah it is, we're really good friends that all."

"I know that, trust me, I'm completely fine." I looked at him in the eyes and kissed him.

"Okay." He smiled. "Let's go inside, dinner is soon."

"Okay pop star." I don't think I'll ever tell him.