SM: Her Last Summer

Chapter 12: It's Complicated

SHAWN'S P.O.V:
It has been a week and a half since I had seen Avery. I was waiting for Kayleigh and Cameron to mention inviting Avery to one of our outings. Kayleigh constantly refused to invite Avery explaining to me that she was working for the next two weeks. I'd been tempted to go see her at work but Kayleigh told me to just leave her be. I listened to her.

It was an early Wednesday morning and sat on a resting bench at the gym scrolling through my news feed. I scrolled onto a picture of Cameron and his lavender haired girlfriend laying on the beach together. I continued to click through several friends of Kayleigh's and Cameron's until I landed on Avery's page. My fingertip hovered over the request button and I had a mental argument with myself whether or not to press that button. My finger ended up choosing the choice for me. A squeal from across the room pulled me out of my trance. A group of teenage girls skipped over to me. I spent a couple of minutes learning their names and signing things from phone cases to their shoelaces. After a few photos I left the girls and returned to my workout.

AVERY'S P.O.V:
The scalding water splashed around my wrist as I washed the dishes. I listened to my dad as he interviewed someone at the front of the store. A few days ago he had decided that it would be easier if we brought on a few people to help him with cafe once I was gone. He had also wanted to let me enjoy my Summer before starting what he had referred to as the most intellectually challenging years of my life. He had already hired a young Junior, Stacey, who seemed eager to earn money that could be spent at the mall. He was now interviewing another candidate as I continued to clean the kitchen area.

I had just finished wiping down the cupboards when my dad returned to the kitchen.

"I've hired another two!" he declared.

He ushered two people into the room. The first to enter was another younger girl who had pasty skin and extremely dark hair. The other was someone I hadn't expected.

"Jake!" I exclaimed.

He flashed his pearly whites at me as I turned to my dad with a look of disbelief. He ignored my look and began informing the staff about their shifts. I smiled and excused myself from the room. I welcomed the heat as I sat down in the entrance of the cafe. My phone chimed in my pocket. I pulled out the device flicking my eyes to the screen.

Shawn Mendes has requested to follow you.

Shawn. My mind travelled to images of our recent endeavour. Another buzz of my phone pulled me from my thoughts.

Kayleigh: I CAN'T KEEP PRETENDING AVERY!

Since our night together I suppose you could say I had been avoiding Shawn. I knew I shouldn't be getting caught up with a boy this Summer. I needed to stay focused on university and my courses. The fact that he was a famous popstar made the chances of having any future relationship slim. I had nothing to offer that he didn't already have, therefore I had been forcing Avery into making up excuses every time he asked to see me. I felt a twinge of guilt at her text message but I abandoned the emotion. I swiped both of the notifications off my screen and focused on the current issue at hand. Jake Dagia was going to be working shifts with me.

I whipped my hair into a ponytail and slammed the door of my ute. Slipping my headphones into my ears I began jogging my way down to Woodbine Beach. The sand flicked up as I hit the soft surface. I jogged past a few people who were also enjoying the morning. The waves licked at the shore. I hopped along closer to the water and continued my jog on the firmer sand. My footsteps matched the beat of the current song playing. The atmosphere relaxed me and dragged my mind away from the issues that had been bothering me.

I flopped onto the sand in exhaustion. The end crunched against the fabric of my pants as I shifted position. A few more walkers had arrived to the beach and were trekking along the sand with their pets and friends. I felt another body collapse next to me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Shawn. Flecks of sand had found their way into his deep brown curls and along the outline of his face. He wore a simple grey tank with raven shorts. He stretched as I observed him.

"Lovely morning," he commented.

"Hello," I said.

"Hello Avery," he smiled.

His eyes crinkled as he watched me stare at him. He shifted his body closer to mine causing his arm to brush against me. I shivered at his touch but turned my attention to the ocean.

"You've been avoiding me," Shawn stated.

"I haven't," I lied.

"Don't lie to me Avery."

"I'm not! Why are you even here? Are you stalking me or something?" I snapped.

He held up his arms in a vague gesture, "I decided to come down here instead of going to the gym."

"Sorry," I sighed.

"Could I ask why you've been avoiding me?" he asked.

"I've been busy with work. I'm not avoiding you," I said.

"You don't have to lie to me," he repeated.

"I like you," I admitted.

He took a moment to process this information. His hand reached out and pulled me to face him. His eyes pierced into my own.

"I like you Avery," he whispered.

I broke from his embrace and returned my sight to the water.

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean what's wrong? Shawn, you are an international star. Liking you is going to do nothing for me. It's pointless. You have millions and millions of girls swooning over you. How am I any different?" I rambled.

"Avery. I'm a normal person. It's not pointless and don't even get me started on how different you are!" he exclaimed.

I pushed myself away from him, "It's too complicated anyway. I'll be at college by fall and you'll be doing God knows what!"

"Stop over thinking. It's a lot simpler than you are making it out to be Avery. It doesn't have to be complicated."

He pulled me gently to him. He cupped my face.

"Avery," he croaked.

"Shawn."

He moved his face toward my own pressing his forehead to my own. His fingers traced me face.

"It doesn't have to be complicated," he hummed.

His chapped lips grazed mine softly.

"Doesn't have to be complicated," I murmured.

The bridge of his nose rested beside mine and his lips began to explore mine.

Simple, I thought.