Travel // Shawn Mendes

twenty-six

One week ago, I had kissed Thomas. Five days ago, Rachel took the photos and put them on her own Twitter.

Although Jen tried not to mention it, I thought about it the whole time we were in Scotland, and when we had landed in Ireland, a completely different person was on my mind.

Why? I felt way too guilty, and for exactly what reason? I had done nothing intentionally romantic with Shawn, yet all I could think about was what if he saw the photos?

Thomas apologized a million times to me, even though in the moment, we were both at fault. And I know he wouldn't have apologized if it wasn't for my reaction afterward, once it really hit me as to what I did.

"He hasn't seen it," Jen confirmed to me, even though she had absolutely no clue as to whether Shawn had or not.

He has, he has, he has.

He had.

My second day in Ireland, it was confirmed by a text from Aidan.

damn, u had a bf the whole time?? big oof, u played me nora 😩

I don't have a boyfriend.

u see what's on Rachel Lee's twitter? Shawn and me have been STABBED in the heart by u

that's not what it looks like

"God, could you be any more cliché?" Jen asks, helping me decide on what to text back.

I was going to stab myself.

I could tell that Aidan was clearly joking with his texts, but the one thing he had told me here was that Shawn really had seen it. Fuck.

can you talk?

It was the afternoon, and I was sitting in a pub with Jen. While she was both eating and drinking, I settled on just food, beyond hungry from the bungee-jumping morning experience I would never forget. The area was crowded and loud, which was no good if I actually wanted to hear Aidan's voice, so I looked at Jen for help.

"He knows you've seen his text, so if you don't talk to him now it'll be sketchy. Go to the bathroom and call there. Need me to come?"

I shake my head instantly, but wish I hadn't as I walked to the bathroom. I needed the moral support as I explained myself to Aidan, who would then report this information to Shawn.

God, why do I care so much about what he thinks?

I push the door and thank everything good in the world when the place is empty, then pulling out my phone and making the call.

"Steve's Crematorium, you ghost 'em, we'll roast 'em!" The voice answers cheerfully, and I smile at how much I missed his God-awful humor.

"Yeah, I was hoping to speak with the manager?"

"Just a moment," he pauses before coming back to the phone, "hello?"

"Hey Aidan."

"Oh, well hello my sweet pineapple. Got a story to tell?" He asks.

I tell him everything.

He stays silent for a short time, and I do nothing but gaze at the maroon-painted doors to the stalls, my back leaned against the concrete wall.

"Well, on the bright side, Shawn wrote a song about you. Kind of hurt even me when I heard it, but I'm sure the fans will love it."

"Oh shit. Is he available? Can I call him?" It became mandatory to explain everything to him, and I wanted to do it as soon as possible.

"Uh, actually, he's out with Lolah right now," Aidan's reply is reluctant, and my eyes freeze onto the floor.

"Oh."

"Yeah. But I'll tell him you called. I can even explain it to him for you."

"Yeah, that'd be good. Hey, I'm actually at a bar and grill right now, can I call you back?" I remind myself that Jen was still outside, waiting for me.

"Of course you can. I'd like a few updates on how the love of my life is doing in- uh, where?"

"Ireland."

"Ireland? Damn, I hear the girls there are- you know what? Go ahead and enjoy your dinner- or whatever it is you're eating."

"Bye, Aidan."

"Bye, Nora."

I end the call and put my phone in my black body bag, thankful for buying it at Scotland.

When I walk out to my table, I notice that Jen wasn't doing too poorly at all. She was on the phone laughing, and it didn't take me half a second to guess who it was she was talking to.

Caleb and her had officially been together for a week, and bless her heart for trying her absolute best to not completely ditch me for date nights. Jen had updated me on all of their relationship, including some rather intimate scenes (no, not that). Caleb had even gotten her a necklace with a 'J' on it, which was a sweet move.

From what I watched, I could tell that while Shelby gave a smile to their relationship, she was secretly super uncomfortable with the fact her little brother was dating her client, which I completely understand.

"Yeah, got to go," Jen declares, then giggles, "okay, bye!"

"Caleb?"

"Yes, but we're so not focusing on him right now. What happened with the call?" Jen asks, concerned, and I realize that at many times, she could be the actual best friend anybody could have.

"I explained everything to Aidan, and he understood right away."

"Like a good boy should."

"He didn't seem that concerned in the first place," I add, and she waves it off.

"Good thing we're not focused on him. What about- Shawn?" She practically whispers his name, and I shake my head at how innocent she could be sometimes.

"Uh, he didn't speak to me."

Jen makes a sound that resembled a huff, "I don't see why! Was he not home?"

"Uh, yeah. He was out with Lolah."

"L-Lolah? What time is it where they are?"

"I'm not even sure where they are, but Aidan made it seem like it was night," I respond, remembering him think it was dinner.

"Well, we'll fact check; his Twitter is practically a tracker. And maybe he's doing a duet song with her? You really never know. My bet is that by tonight if he doesn't text you, then he doesn't want you. But if he does-" she cuts off, dragging out her last word and winking at me.

I wish she had finished her sentence though, because I was completely clueless as to what it meant when at eight o'clock, I got a text.

hey :)

A/N
so it's been five days since death cure and i can officially say that i will never be able to feel happiness again