Red Piano (Shawn Mendes fan fiction)

Chapter 6 (Now or never)

At home, I spent a good hour in my room getting ready for tonight's performance. The whole time I had butterflies flying like crazy in my stomach. Not only would this be Shawn's first time hearing me sing but it would also be my parents first time as well. I couldn't focus, which is probably why I ended up burning myself with my flat iron. Note to self; focus while holding a dangerously hot item inches away from your face. Even in the car I couldn't focus. I was too busy concentrating on memorizing lyrics and chords that I didn't even notice the car pull up to the cafe.

"We're here Melissa" my mom reminded me as she parked the car. My dad came with us this time because he managed to book the night off which I found to be very sweet but he said that he wouldn't always book off the nights when I performed because he simply couldn't. His boss wouldn't let him. He promised that he would go to the Red Piano when I perform there for the first time though. When we got inside of the restaurant, the owner came up and introduced himself as Richard or Rick for short. He told me that Shawn was already there and getting set up on stage. I thanked him, then made sure my parents found their seat (closest to the stage, of course) before I left to go find Shawn. Before I left, my dad grabbed me by the arm and said

"Don't screw up, and if you do, then you're out of the family."

"WHAT?!"

"I'm joking! Good luck, I'm positive that you will sound amazing no matter what song you sing" he smiled and kissed me on the forehead before letting my arm go.

I found Shawn on his hands and knees plugging the piano into a nearby socket. He must've heard me coming because got up almost right when I walked on to the stage.

"Well don't you look beautiful tonight" he complimented causing me to blush. I was only wearing black leggings, pink and white striped baseball shirt, black combat boots, with my hair down and straight and no makeup (ain't nobody got time for that!).

"Thank you" I curtsied and he laughed.

"Ok, so the key thing to remember is to just relax. If you screw up, don't draw attention to it just keep on going. Besides nobody will even know, unless you cover a really popular song" he joked.

"Also if you get nervous, just remember that I'm here, right beside you."

"Thanks Shawn" I say, pulling him into a hug. Our hug was cut short when the lights went dim around us. He raced to his guitar case and took out his guitar then sat a stool next to the piano. I took a seat on the bench behind the piano while Richard introduced us to the crowd. But once again, I couldn't focus.
I don't know how Shawn can sing in front of all these people without wetting himself. It's literally the population of Sparta out there, and they're all watching.

"Hey guys, it's Shawn Mendes and tonight I have a very special guess with me on stage. Her name is Melissa Rivera, this is her first time playing in front of a crowd so why don't we give her a round of applause for her bravery because let's face it, it's scary to be up here" Shawn announced. The crowd clapped and Shawn mouthed the words
"You ready?" and I nodded in response. Now or never. Shawn sang a few songs before he passed the microphone to me saying to the audience

"Now my friend Melissa will sing a song for you."

I could tell he was excited to hear me sing by the way his knee wouldn't keep still and his smile said it all. Nervously, I set the microphone stand in front of me and said

"Um, hi. I'm Melissa and I'm going to play one of my own original songs that I made myself if that's ok with all of you. It's called Vegas." I looked at Shawn, he smiled and gave me two thumbs up and I gave him a small smile in return. My hands started to shake as I played the first few chords to Vegas but after the 8th chord I started to relax.