Your Song (Shawn Mendes)

Chapter 2

Maria could feel her hands shake as she placed the last suitcase on the floor next to the door. She flopped down on the couch and put her head in her hands. Why on earth had she agreed to do this? Sure, it was every girl's dream to travel the world with an insanely attractive guy but... God, she didn't do well with crowds, she had never performed on this level, and how the hell was she supposed to explain her problems when they got to the hotel? Or worse, the bus? 

"Sweetheart, what is with that face?" She looked up to see her adopted moms, Rachel and Nicole. She knew she was adopted as they had fostered her since she was 14 and adopted her on her 15th birthday. Rachel came to sit by her and brushed some hair from her face.

"It's obviously just 'about to leave' jitters." Nicole answered for her, sitting on the arm of the couch. "You and I know she's never done anything like this."

"But we also know it will be the best thing to happen to her." Rachel continued, putting an arm around Maria and squeezing her tightly. "There's nothing to be worried about. You have music in your veins, girly. This is just a way to let it out." 

"I think it's more than that though." Nicole added. "Maria, does Shawn or anyone on the team know about your... condition?" Maria shook her head. She never wanted Shawn or anyone else on that team to know about that. She hated even thinking about it but it dominated her life. "You know they will most likely ask questions when you go overnight with them." Maria nodded.

"But, honey, if they respect you especially that Shawn boy," Rachel winked at Maria when she said Shawn's name causing a blush to coat Maria's cheeks. "then they will respect if you don't want to tell them. But just know, you are going to basically be living with them for a year. You sure you can handle that?"

Maria took a shaky breath but nodded. "I'm sure." She said quietly. The two older women hugged the teen tightly. She smiled. There were a few times in her life where she felt completely safe and happy. This was one of them.

All too soon, the doorbell was heard. Maria let out a small squeak, knowing it was Shawn. Rachel smirked at her reaction, making her blush darken, while Nicole rolled her eyes and went to answer the door. "Hey, Mrs. Peters." Shawn greeted with a smile.

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Shawn, you know you can call me Nicole." She said, letting him into the house. "We're letting our daughter live with you for a year. I think that warrants first names."

Shawn chuckled and nodded. He turned to Maria and hope she couldn't hear his heart beating in his chest. "You look great." He said to her.

She blushed and avoided his gaze. "I'm wearing a black hoodie and Hogwarts sweats. I don't think that counts as 'looking great'." She deflected.

"On you it does." He smirked. Maria's blush darkened and Rachel smirked as well. Shawn leaned closer to Maria. "Plus, I am obsessed with Harry Potter. Anything with Hogwarts looks amazing." She let out a small giggle. He smiled at the sound. "You ready to go?"

She nodded and slung her carry-on backpack onto her shoulder while grabbing her violin case. She turned to her two moms. "I'll call you guys when we land in Scotland." She said as they pulled her in for a hug.

"We are so proud of you, Maria." Nicole said, pulling away from the hug. "You're going to be amazing."

 Rachel took Maria's left hand and kissed a silver ring that was on the pointer finger. "It's your time to shine, songbird." Maria smiled and hugged them once again.

She turned back to Shawn and smiled at him. Without her asking, he grabbed the suitcase off the floor and the guitar case as well. "You don't have to..."

He cut her off, "But I want to." 

Rachel let out a whistle, "Keep this one around." She stage-whispered into Maria's ear. Maria blushed darkly and hid her face with her hair. "Now, go! You don't want to miss your flight!"

With one final goodbye, Shawn led Maria to the waiting car. She took a deep breath. This would be good for her. Getting away from this town... and the memories that followed her everywhere. She shook that thought away and followed Shawn to the car.

*******

"Wow." Maria breathed when she spotted the private jet they would be taking. 

Shawn chuckled. "That's always the reaction." He joked. She smiled and they pulled her things from the car, handing them to the airport worker. "You ready?"

She nodded, twisting the ring on her finger out of habit. She stiffened for a split second when she felt Shawn's hand on her lower back but quickly relaxed at the comforting touch. He quietly led her up the stairs and into the jet. She smiled as she saw the other members of the band that she had met at her audition; Mike, the drummer, Dave, the bassist, and Eddy, the keyboardist. They all seemed relatively nice but she had to remember she was pretty much the only girl on this team.

She quickly took the seat next to Shawn as he seemed to be the only one she really felt comfortable around, slipping off her backpack and hoodie. "Oooh! Girly's got some ink!" Mike cheered. 

Shawn snapped over to look at her and his eyes widened. On the skin right where her heart would be was a tattoo of a blackbird with its wings spread a few feathers falling off and turning into music notes that flew around the base of her neck. She blushed and avoided Shawn's gaze. "That tattoo is incredible." He said.

Her blush darkened. "Thanks." She said quietly. "I have three of them. The one on my chest, and I have one on my ribcage and one on my ankle." She lifted her left pant leg and on her ankle read March 17, 2013 written on a music staff.

Dave raised an eyebrow. "What's the date for?"

Maria stiffened slightly and began to dig the ring into her finger. She flinched lightly when Shawn placed a hand on her own. She looked to see him gazing at her with concern. She shook it off. "Let's just say..." She managed a small smile but still twisted and pressed the ring. "It's the day I heard the music again."