Ten Days ✿ Shawn Mendes a.u.

Prologue

I rushed out of the school building, my heart pounding in my chest.

I didn't want to be here. I just didn't.

Tears were streaming down my eyes blurring my vision, but I kept running away from the school, away from the people.

Away from the people who had made my life hell.

Large rain drops were falling onto my uniform, pounding at my clothes as if even nature was out to get me. But even so, I tilted my head upwards a little, letting the cold rain cool my burning hot cheeks.

With every inch of my trembling body, I crashed into the nearest space of flat wall and collapsed to the floor and just cried.

I cried until my head felt dizzy from the loss of all the fluid and energy, and all I could see in the midst of my blurred vision were moving, inky spots of black.

"Hey." A voice broke through the silence, making me jump.

My head snapped up and when I blinked a few times I could make out a tall brown-haired boy. He was wearing eyebrows that knotted into a frown, obviously concerned.

"Leave me alone." I said firmly, looking at the boy with a hard stare. I clenched my jaw.

I was able to fight through my pounding headache to question why Shawn Mendes, out of all people, was standing before me.

"Don't be like that." He said softly, motioning forwards.

I looked up at him with a mix of an angry and confused expression, continuing to clench my jaw.

Shawn Mendes was one of the more popular guys at my school. That was one of the reasons I questioned him being here with me. I guess it is stigma, but I would've never pictured a guy like him caring for someone like me.

Other than that information, he was a complete stranger to me.

"I. Just. Want. To. Die." I screamed suddenly, letting in the new tears. I blinked hard and let them fall down my face.

"You're not going to..." He shuffled, tugging at his dark hair which had now fallen in a wet lump. "You're not going to actually do it, are you?" He asked, cocking his head sideways.

I blinked at him and furrowed my eyebrows. It wasn't that I hadn't thought of it before. It was just that, well, I hadn't let my mind go beyond the point of actually thinking about it.

"I don't know." I answered, swallowing hard. It might've just become the time to end it all. I couldn't see anything turning for the better in my future- I couldn't even see my future. It was almost as if a dark cloud had somehow swallowed my life, and wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

I stood up and immediately shut my eyes as darkness flooded my vision, together with dizziness. I surrendered myself to it, allowing my mind to spin.

"Hey." He said again, grabbing my wrist as soon as I began to walk away. He pulled me towards him gently, never stepping over his boundaries.

I snatched my hand out of his grasp.

"What?" I demanded, wiping away the last few tear drops that were left. I quickly picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder.

"Give me ten days." He whispered, fighting my reluctance to look into his eyes.

"Excuse me?" I spat. "Ten days?" I repeated, crossing my arms. Did this guy think that this was a joke? Or a game?

"Ten days and I'll give you ten reasons to why you should want to stay alive." He answered, biting his lip.

"I don't even know you-"

"Deal?" He asked sternly, cutting me off.

"Do you even know my name?-"

He cracked a smile, running over to a small fountain that was a few metres from where we were standing. He stepped onto the edge and spread his arms out.

"Deal?" He repeated, raising his voice so that it reached me.

I shifted and searched my brain for any reason- any- to why I should refuse. Some kids even passed by, staring at the odd scene for a moment before continuing on their way.

But really, what was there to lose?

"Deal." I whispered.

"What was that?" He shouted, cupping his ear theatrically.

I bit my lip, shifting my bag from the shoulder it was on to the other.

"Deal!" I said, barely louder than the first time.

I watched as a smile tugged at his lips.

"See you tomorrow then."

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