Shawn Mendes Imagines

treat you better

"Hi, I'm Shawn and you're really pretty."
I laughed a harmonic laugh at his "subtle" approach at flirting.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm y/n." I replied with a smile.
"So come here often?" He asked.
"Well, considering it's a grocery store, yeah, quite a few times a month." I chuckled.
"Right. I'm just going to walk away because I'm very bad at this." He shook his head in embarrassment.
"No, wait, your dorkiness is kind of cute. Do you want to go on a date with me Saturday?" I pushed away my nerves and asked.
"I'd love to. But you should know that dorkiness is not a real world." He smirked.
"Just pick me up at 6 you nerd!" I laughed walking away.

--- 1 year ago ---

I heard the front door open.
"Carter? Is that you? I made dinner!"
"Is it going to taste like shit like last nights dinner?" He spat as he walked into the kitchen.
"Its your favorite, nachos." I smiled.
"Oh great, you can ruin another one of my favorite dinners." He smirked.
"Let's just eat okay." I tried avoiding his insults.
He took one bite of his food.
"This tastes like absolute shit! Can't you ever do anything right?!" He screamed while throwing his ice water in my face.
"Get up!" He yelled.
I did as he said, fear on my face.
He threw a punch to my right cheek causing me to winch. He kicked me in the leg, knocking me down. He began kicking me in the stomach.
"Stop, please." I choked out in uneven breaths.
"Had enough yet, bitch?" He spat.
I lost all my fight. If this is how I was going to die, then I accept it. I have no more energy to fight. I'm drained and exhausted.
He continued to throw blows to my face and stomach until he knocked me unconscious.

--- Saturday (present day) ---

I shuddered at the memory. I haven't been on a date since my relationship with Carter. I've been too afraid I'll have to go through it again. I can't love like a normal person.
After the attack, I was told to see a therapist to get better mentally. She told me it's time to move on, and leave my fears behind. So when I met Shawn, I figured, if not now, then when?

*ding*

I took a deep breath before opening the door pushing all the fears away.

"Wow, you look beautiful." Shawn smiled looking at me.
"You look great too." I smiled.
"Okay so I have a truck."
(A/N - I know he has a jeep but a trucks cuter in this situation)
"Oh great so we don't have to walk everywhere?" I joked.
He laughed. "I meant, I figured we could have a picnic in the bed of my truck. It's romantic and much better than going to a crowded restaurant." He explained.
"Oh that sounds great." I smiled. I was worried. Why didn't he want people around? Was he planning to hurt me? It was too late to change my mind since I was already in his truck on the way to wherever he planned this picnic.

"So tell me about yourself." He smiled at me before taking a drink of his soda.
"What do you want to know?"
"Favorite color?"
"Teal."
"How many siblings do you have?"
"3. 2 brothers, and a little sister. You?"
"Just a little sister."

After about a million questions later, I finally felt comfortable and not scared around him. I felt he had good intentions.

"I'm glad we could do this."
"Me too."
He outstretched his hand towards my face causing me to jump up and freak out.
"Y/n, what's wrong?" He asked worriedly.
He looked at my scared face and put the pieces together.
"You thought I was going to hit you.. didn't you?" He softly said.
I nodded slowly.
"Come here." He held out his arms for a hug and I walked into them.
"I'm sorry." I said pulling away.
"Hey, it's okay. If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"
I told him the story of Carter and thankfully he understood why I acted the way I did. We then laid in the back of his truck stargazing.
"I promise I'll never treat you like that." He whispered as he kissed my forehead causing me to smile.