Dreamer

Chapter Three

Tia's POV

I step out of the taxi, my bag in hand. Once I close the door the taxi speeds off to its next customer. I was looking for Shawn, but I didn't expect to see him. I was ten minutes early. I had my bag on my back, and I was clutching the straps. It was a comfort thing. As I approached the bakery and went to lean against the wall I felt a tug on my bag. When I turned to see who it was, I didn't recognize the man. I grabbed my keychain with the pepper spray on it, and realized I left it in Alabama since I couldn't take it on the plane. I grab my bag, tugging on it and screaming at him to let go. Everyone around us just kept walking around, ignoring the situation. I kept tugging and pulling, hoping Shawn would get here soon. The man swung a fist at me, and I ducked. He swung at me again as I came up and couldn't dodge it. My glasses went flying and I kicked him where the sun don't shine, causing him to groan. He took advantage of the situation, and his head slammed it into my face as he came down, his action caused us both to groan. I kicked the man in the jaw, still struggling to get my bag back. I smelt blood, my stomach going queasy in the process. I stumbled, and he took his chance to blacken my eye. Suddenly, a voice that was so familiar shouts at the dude, and knocks the man so hard in the temple that he's out cold. I yank my bag back, putting it back on my back. I turn to Shawn, and he hugs me close. I hug back, tears forming in my eyes. "I'm going to pull my phone out and call the cops, alright?" He whispers, and I nod. Shawn keeps one arm around me and uses the other to pull his phone out. After a few moments I hear him talking to someone over the phone. I just block out his words and listen to his heartbeat. It was soothing in this terrifying moment. My eye throbbed, and so did my nose. I'm not sure how long Shawn and I stood there, him holding me as I cried from the fear and pain while he was on the phone with the police. When they arrived they questioned me about what happened while a paramedic treated my injuries. My nose wasn't broken, it was just going to be bruised and swollen for a few days. My eye was going to be black for a while too. The police just had one last thing to tell me before I could go. "I hope you live in LA, because you'll need to be here for the trial. So, don't be leaving town for the next few months." The officer says, and my jaw drops. "I'm 17, and I live in Alabama. I can't stay here. I can show you my drivers license to prove it!" The officer shrugs after I pull my wallet out and show him my ID. "Ma'am, you'll have to figure it out, because you'll be needed for further assistance." With that, he left and I was left sitting there in disbelief. Shawn rushes over to me, seeing as he finished questioning already, and hugs me close. I hug back, and he encourages me to stand. I do so, and I ask him if he still wants to go get muffins. Shawn nods, and we start heading towards Porto's entrance. Once we got inside all eyes were on Shawn and I. "What would you like, Tia? My treat." Shawn asks, and I shake my head no. " I'll get it, Shawn. Don't worry about it." I tell him, and Shawn insists until I give in, claiming that since I would be staying a while I needed to save my money. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go call my parents." I tell Shawn after I tell him my order. Once in the bathroom I pull my phone out and unlock it. I go to my contacts and search for my Dad's number. I find it and call him. After a few rings he answers, and there's a lot of power tools in the background. He must be working on the house we're remodeling. "Dad?" I say, making sure Mum didn't answer his phone. "Hey, Chick. How's LA?" He asks, probably confused as to why I called him. Normally I call Mum. "Is Mum around?" I ask, avoiding his question. "Yeah, she's in the next room, why?" "You both need to hear this, can you please put me on speaker and let her listen too?" I request. "Yeah, sure. One second." He says, and then I hear him walking around. "Hey, Tia, it's Mum." I hear my Mum say. I take a deep breath. "I need to explain everything before either of you say anything, okay?" I say, and they both say okay. "I have to stay in LA. Today some guy tried to rob me, I got a little roughed up, but luckily I was meeting Shawn so when he got there he kind of saved me. The police told me I had to stay here until after the trial, so I could help with the investigation. They didn't say how long it would take, though." I finish, and wait for their response. "Tia, we can't just up and leave for LA or keep transferring you funds. I don't know how we can keep you there, but we'll do our best. Just stay safe please. Maybe get a job or something." My Mum says, and I keep listening. "Legally, you can't stay there without us. The only thing we can do is emancipate you. If we don't it would be child abandonment." My dad says, and I grab the sink. "I-I'll go to the courthouse as soon as I can get in." I say, and we all say I love you and our goodbyes. I put my phone away and wash my hands before I exit the bathroom and go find Shawn. He was sitting in the back in a corner, waiting for me with my peppermint hot cocoa and raspberry muffin. He was sipping some dark drink, I believe it was coffee but it could be hot cocoa, and had a muffin wrapper in front of him. I sat down in front of him and thanked him. "How did things go?" Shawn asks kindly, and I wrap my hands around my cocoa as I tried to keep myself calm. "Legally, I can't stay here by myself for a long period of time. Legally, I can't leave here. My parents also can't just uproot themselves from home and come to LA for an uncertain amount of time. My dad said that they also can't keep funding me either. Mum said it would be easier if I had a job to do this, but dad said it was best for me to be emancipated. So, I have to go to the courthouse tomorrow to talk to the people there to see what I can do." I rant truthfully to Shawn,  and he just listens patiently. "Tia, I have a guest house and plenty of rooms in my house. Why don't you come stay with me? At least until you can get your own place and can navigate the city decently." Shawn offers, and I pause for a moment. "Shawn, that's totally sweet of you, but are you sure I'm not intruding?" I ask cautiously. I didn't have anywhere else to go, but I definitely didn't want to intrude. "You're far from intruding. The company would be nice." Shawn says, and I smile. "That'd be nice, Shawn. Thank you, so much." I say, and this something drops on my hand. I look down to see blood on my hands. I grab a napkin, lightly pressing it against my nose. My face probably matched the liquid pennies dripping from my injured nose. "How about we take this to go?" Shawn suggests, and I nod. Shawn goes to the counter and comes back with a to-go cup and a box for my muffin. He packs my things as I try to stop the bleeding. I would have to wash my shirt in baking soda and vinegar now.

(A/N: To all of you out there, baking soda and vinegar will get anything out of clothes and dishes. It's so handy, and before anybody asks, I know this because I burnt food on a pan before and I had to look up how to get it out.)

I followed Shawn out of the building, and then showed him how to get to my hotel as I used napkin after napkin to get the blood. We soon made it to the hotel, and made it off of the elevator. Once we approached my room I saw a familiar brunette knocking on my door wearing a pair of swim trunks and holding a towel. "Tia?" He called, and I tapped his shoulder. Chandler jumped and turned around. "Hi, Chandler." I say, still holding a tissue up to my bleeding nose. "Oh my gosh, Tia! What happened?" He asked, concerned, not even noticing the tree man behind me carrying my things. " I was almost mugged, but I'm okay." I tell him, and he hugs me tightly. I awkwardly hug back, not really expecting the hug. "Should I go...?" Shawn asks awkwardly, and I pull away from Chandler. "No, it's okay." I say, and then Chandler sticks his hand out for Shawn to shake. "Chandler Riggs. I'm pretty sure you're Shawn Mendes?" Chandler says awkwardly. This whole situation is awkward. "Yeah, nice to meet you." Shawn says, and I clear my throat. "How about we actually go inside my room...?" I ask, my nose no longer a waterfall of liquid pennies, which is what blood honestly is. Both the boys awkwardly agree, and I pull my room key out to unlock the door. Once inside I let the boys have a seat while I go change. I change into a pair of black sweatpants and a hunter green oversized hoodie. Once I walk back into my bedroom from the bathroom with my clothes I drop them in a bag I found for dirty clothes on my dresser. I plop down on my bed, crossing my legs. Shawn and Chandler look at me, some tension obviously there. "So, um..." I start, unsure of what to say. "Are you still going to watch The Talking Dead tonight?" Chandler asked, and I nod. "Yeah, I am. I've got mixed feelings about tonight, but I'm still going." I tell him, and I see Shawn scoot closer to me out of the corner of my eye. "Mixed feelings?" Shawn asks. "I'm a huge Carl girl. It's going to be extremely difficult watching him go. I've grown up watching Carl grow with me. When he lost someone, I lost someone too. When I saw Carl was bit... I felt like I was losing a piece of myself. I know I need to say goodbye, so I need to watch the episode. I don't want to say goodbye, though... it's almost too much." I explain, feeling awkward expressing my attachment to a fictional character with the guy who plays him less than five feet away from me. Shawn placed his arm around me, and I lean into him. Suddenly, Chandler gets up and storms out. I jump up, following after him into the hallway. "Chandler! Are you okay?" I ask, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine, just go back to your boyfriend in there." He says harshly, and my jaw drops. "Shawn isn't my boyfriend, Chandler, I just met him yesterday on the plane here." I say gently, pulling my hand back. "Don't lie to me, Tia." He snaps, turning to leave. "I'm not lying..." I say weakly as he walks closer to his hotel room. "Shawn says other wise!" Chandler says in an annoyed sing-song voice. I turn to go inside, only to see the door closed. I knock on the door, and Shawn lets me in. "What did you tell Chandler?" I immediately ask.