{Fake s.m}
📍Toronto, Canada
{Shawn}
"Alright Shawn," Andrew starts. "It looks like you have gained more popularity in the last few days, which means this stunt is working."
"What's next?"
"We need to finish your album that's what's next."
"Alright, not much to worry about though, just 3 more songs right?"
"Correct but Teddy might want to make some changes. We need to fly out to LA, please tell Jacklyn that she's allowed to go back home for the time being. After we are done, you will go meet her in Dallas, stay there for a few days then go to New York to sign some papers for your record label. After that, you two come back to LA so you can rehearse for the AMAs."
"Right, can I go now?"
"Yes, um Oh yeah! We are leaving tomorrow morning at 6am, so don't be late."
"Alright, bye Andrew!"
I try to get home as soon as possible since Jackie said she'd be making breakfast, and God knows she's a good cook.
"Honey I'm home!"
"Alright Mendes, what you're about to experience is a mini flavorful explosion. You may not take even a crumb with you. This is an exclusive experience."
"Alright alright bring the food already."
"Fine."
On my plate, Jacklyn places some banana pancakes, sausage and eggs. I know it's ordinary but the way she seasons it. I don't even know.
"Well?"
"You've lost your touch."
"Mendes?"
"I'm joking. This is...exquisite Jackie. And you know it's good because I never use words like 'exquisite'."
"Thank you."
"Oh um, Andrew told me to tell you that if you want, you can go home to Texas. I need to be in LA tomorrow morning and you don't have to come with me."
"I know, Stephanie, my manager called me earlier and told me."
"Oh, if you want we can spend the remaining day together?"
"Yeah, that'll be great publicity for you."
In reality, I did want to spend time with her. Not as a stunt.
"Yeah. Do you have anything special to do when you get back to Texas?"
Jackie serves herself a plate before sitting next to me on my small kitchen island.
"Not really, I'm just gonna spend time with my family, Lizbeth and my friend Jake."
"Jake? Is he like a Uh special friend?"
"If you mean my boyfriend, no. I wouldn't be doing this if he was my boyfriend. And even if he was it wouldn't be a problem. He would know this is just a job."
"Right."
Snap out of it Shawn!
"So um, how about we go to a zoo or something?"
"You know what Jackie, let's do it."
For the next few hours, we walked around the Toronto Zoo and it was fun, until a bird pooped on my shoulder and we decided to go back to my place. By then, it was 1pm. And as you guessed it, I was hungry.
"I don't know about you but I am hungry."
"Bro same."
"Alright let's go to McDonalds and get something."
"My thoughts exactly."
While we were in line, a familiar voice had called for me.
"Shawn?" I turned around and my old High School friend, Madison, was standing a few inches away.
"Maddie? I haven't seen you in so long. Jacklyn this is Maddie. She was my friend back in High School."
"Friend? We were dating sophomore year."
Jacklyn turned to look at Maddie and smiled and shook her hand.
"Nice too meet you, I'm Jacklyn but Shawn already told you that."
"Yeah. I've heard a lot of things about you."
"Good things hopefully."
"Oh don't worry they are."
After we finish ordering and get our order, we decided to sit with Maddie.
"So uh Shawn, I was hoping we could hang out and catch up you know. It's been so long."
"Yeah. I would love to but I have to get to LA, I'm finishing up my album."
"Bummer. Well, no hard feelings, I'll see you around." She finishes before saying goodbye and leaving.
"She's...nice."
"You don't like her?"
"It's not that, I just get a vibe you know. From her and you."
"Really? Now you get vibes. Okay, what kinda vibes are you getting from us."
"You like her. And there's nothing wrong with that. After we are done, you can be with her."
"What about the vibe you get from her?"
"She likes you too."
We sit in silence for a while.
"So uh you want to go back to my place?"
Jackie stops what she's doing and looks at me with wide eyes.
"Woah Mendes we've only known each other for a couple of days."
"Oh no! That's not what I ment."
"Oh Okay. Um yeah let's go."
Once we got to my place, we decided to just chill out the rest of the day, you know after packing, and binge watch 'The Office' which mind you, was not my choice, it was Jackies.
"What is the point of this show anyways?"
"Mendes, do I have to explain it to you again?"
"No no no I guess I get it. It's a documentary of a paper company. But why?"
"For the comedy! For the jokes!"
"Miss Black you clearly have no idea what a good joke is."
"Really? And you do?"
"Yes."
She looked at me up and down and I knew she was gonna make me prove myself.
"Prove it." Called it!
"Right, bet. Why can't a dinosaur clap?"
"Because it's hands are too short?"
"No because they're dead!"
"Mendes you're not serious. That was HORRIBLE!"
"It wasn't that bad."
"Look at me in the eyes and look for humor in them."
I did as told and looked her dead in the eye.
"You just have a hard shell."
"And you're just a big softie. Anyways I'm gonna go to bed and you should too. You have a flight tomorrow morning."
"Fine okay. Goodnight Jacklyn."
Part of me wanted to tell her to stay. But I personally don't think she likes me and I don't want to ask her because I might look stupid. So, I kept my thoughts to myself and fell asleep.
☺
