boundaries [s.m]

chapter thirty-five

(the gif is here again bc i don't know what song suits this chapter oH well i'm a mess)

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"so this next song," shawn speaks into the microphone in front of him. "i want to dedicate to my beautiful girlfriend, who has stuck with me through everything. we've been having a few problems lately, but i truly know that we will be able to get through them, and when we have, i'll be waiting for her," he says, a small flush at his already rosy cheeks. "this is when you're ready."

the crowd cheers, as arias heart skips a beat. she looks up from the control panel, facing shawn directly, who stands on the main stage, breathing out the words of he song, filling aria with ecstasy.

"problems? what's he on about?"

"i always knew she wouldn't treat him well."

"they're so cute. i love them!"

"i'm so soft for one couple only!"

aria hears various screams around her, but blocks them out completely, focusing on shawns beautiful voice, which truly captivates everyone, but most importantly, which captivates and moves aria emotionally. the tears build at her eyes, and she can't help the few escape and slide down her cheeks.

shawn kept looking forward, looking straight forward at the control box, where he sees his beloved girlfriend. he can faintly make out her wiping away her tears, and the small smile that appears over her lips.

"what are you even on about?" she asks him gently, wiping away his never ending tears. "shawn, we're not ending."

"aria, we always fight," his voice cracks, indirectly cracking arias heart. "and i don't even know how to cope. i'm scared aria."

her mind flashes back to when shawn finally cracked, that night a few weeks ago. since then, the two of them have been informally ignoring each other, but still displaying contact to each other. it's been a confusing, yet grounding time for each of them, but it was up to aria to finalise everything, and both of them knew it.

"thank you so much," shawn says, as soon as he finishes the song. "and thank you for coming out tonight! i love you so much, and i will see you all very soon!"

aria mumbles a few things to herself, before helping to close up the show, and wipe away the last of her tears.

"hey tom, can i go to see shawn? it's just-"

"go," he cuts her off with a chuckle. "you could've gone earlier too, but thanks for the help aria."

"no problem, and i love doing this," she grins, picking up her hoodie that lies on the chair next to her, and rushing down the steps of the box, heading around the barriers to the backstage area. she shows her pass to he security guard, before venturing around to find shawns dressing room, knowing he's there to change into something more comfortable.