Desire | Shawn Mendes

FORTY

Song of the Chapter: Sweet Creature - Harry Styles

"Sweet creature... / Had another talk about where we're going wrong..."

- j -

"Do your parents know you're bringing me?" Shawn asks as we walk up the steps to my old childhood home.

"No." I say. "And they also don't know that we're back together."

"So then what are you gonna tell them when they ask why I'm with?"

"I tell them that we're friends now."

"Real good friends." Shawn says, making me laugh as I ring the doorbell.

"Besides, it's my early birthday dinner. They can't start anything."

The door opens and reveals Chandler. He smiles widely at Shawn more than he does at me. "I missed you!" Chandler says as she pushes past me to hug Shawn, who laughs and hugs him back. Chandler slaps his heavy hand at my back and then hugs me. "I missed you too, dumbass." He hugs me and then runs his knuckle over my scalp as we walk into the house as Shawn follows and locks the door.

"I had no idea you were coming." Chandler says.

"He was in the neighborhood, actually." I say. Before Chandler can press us both with questions, I change the subject. "Where is everybody?"

"Mom is in the greenhouse, dad is with Stephen, and Chloe is in the kitchen making final preparations to the cake." Chandler says.

"Aw, she made me a cake?" I ask.

"Yeah, it's cute, you'll like it." He says as we walk through the hall and into the house. "Look who's here...!"

We step into the living room and see my dad with Stephen as they play a game of Guess Who - ironically. My dad smiles as he sees me, and the smile fades away as he notices Shawn along with me.

"The superhero is back!" Stephen says as he sees Shawn.

"What brings you here?" My dad asks as he gets up to hug Shawn.

"I was in the neighborhood, and Jasmine invited me." He replies. "It's good to see you again, Mr. Callaghan."

"Likewise," my dad smiles. "Diana's in her greenhouse if you want to go say hi to her."

"We're just about to." I say. I just about take Shawn's hand in mine, but stop myself. I instead awkwardly place it on my thigh as we walk towards the kitchen. Chloe closes the fridge and turns to see us and is surprised.

"Well look who the wind blew in," she smirks.

"Chloe, it's good to see you again." Shawn says to her as they hug. As they hug Chloe raised an eyebrow at me and I give her a nervous smile.

"Happy early birthday, Jasmine." Chloe says to me as we hug. "You have quite some explaining to do," she whispers in my ear.

"Later, I promise." I whisper back. "I'm gonna let my mom know we're here."

Shawn and I exit through the back door and talk between the distance of the walk from the back porch to the greenhouse.

"We'll talk to them after dinner." Shawn says.

"Of course. Maybe when Chandler and Chloe leave or something." I reply. "Or, if they do."

"Yeah. Whatever works best." He replies.

"What do you need to talk to my dad about?"

"Hm? Oh, nothing important. Well, it is important, but it's mainly just about me and you getting together again. I want his blessing to date you again." Shawn says to me. "Is there a favorite spot of his in the house that I should or shouldn't talk to him in?"