Your Song (Shawn Mendes)

Chapter 6

Maria smiled at the picture Shawn had posted to his Instagram. It was her at Kaisergarten with the wolf pup nuzzling her hand. shawnmendes: She finally got to meet her spirit animal @mariasmusic. She scanned through some of the comments and smiled at the ones saying she was an amazing guitarist and things like they loved her hair or style. The show in Germany was incredible and they were currently on their way to Amsterdam for their next show.

It was only about an hour drive which she was thankful for and it gave her time to work out her violin skills which she hadn't had time for these last few days. Shawn smiled when he saw her pull the instrument from its case. "I like to keep practicing my other skills so I don't lose them." She explained as he took a seat next to her on the couch.

He smiled. "Only someone truly passionate would do that. I'm glad that's you." A small blush tinted her cheeks. "When did you start learning to play all these instruments?"

"When I was 14." She answered. He couldn't help but note that was the year she escaped the bastard. "Music had always been something I was fascinated by and when Rachel and Nicole started fostering me, they had me start..." She hesitated and avoided his gaze, "music therapy." He felt a stab in his heart as he was reminded of the mark the torture had left on her. She hadn't had any episodes while sleeping on the bus but he was sure she had some way of preventing them. "It was there I started taking music seriously. I started learning violin first actually."

"And it just built up from there." He finished for her.

She nodded brightly, tying her hair back in a high ponytail. He smiled, seeing the ring he had bought her still on her finger next to her signature feather ring. She looked to him. "Would you want to maybe do a guitar/violin duet with me for the fans? I think they would love that." She asked.

He smiled brightly, sending her heart racing. "That's a great idea." She smiled and clapped her hands. "What song?"

She thought for a moment. "We should do one that everybody knows, something that's easily recognizable." She smirked as a thought came to her head. "Don't Stop Believing!" He smiled, knowing almost everyone in the world knew that song. "Do you know the chords?"

He snorted a laugh. "I think almost every guitar player in North America knows that song." 

She laughed a bit. "Okay. You got the chords and I got the melody. Let's try it." Shawn quickly went to grab his acoustic guitar and she positioned her violin. She counted them in and was slightly shocked at how well they flowed together. They fed off each other's music and it was enough to bring a smile to both of their faces. When they finished, she smiled. "That was amazing!"

"Yeah, it was!" Shawn agreed. "Hey Dave!" He called. The bassist came over to them and Maria handed him her phone. "We need you to take video of us for the fans." He smiled, the gesture turning into a smirk at Shawn. He rolled his eyes and Dave got the camera ready.

Maria positioned her violin again and Dave gestured for them to start. They once again flowed in a perfect duet.

They finished and Dave handed her back the phone before leaving the two. Both felt their hearts stop for a minute at how well they sounded together. He smiled brightly at her and she responded, connecting her dark eyes with his honey ones. She cleared her throat and reluctantly tore her gaze away.

She quickly typed something on her phone and smiled. "Posted." She showed him the screen. He smiled at the Instagram and Twitter post. mariasmusic: Never thought I'd get to show off with a superstar. @shawnmendes

They both laughed as their phones started blowing up with notifications from both sites. Suddenly, her phone started ringing. She looked down and smiled slightly. "My moms. I'll talk to you later." She moved to go to her bunk to answer but turned back for a moment. Before she could talk herself out of it, she leaned down and quickly kissed his cheek. "Thanks... for everything." 

Without another word, she turned and left for her bunk. Shawn sat there in shock, his cheek still tingling where her lips had touched his skin. He reached up and touched the spot she kissed with a smile.

*******

"Hey, mom." Maria smiled as she laid down in her bunk, phone against her ear. They had a system where she called Rachel mom and Nicole ma or mama. 

"Hey, sweetheart. How was Germany?" Rachel asked on the other line.

Maria smiled at the thought of her day in Germany with Shawn. "It was amazing! We still get to go to Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg but Oberhausen was incredible. The gardens Shawn showed me were gorgeous."

"Yeah, Nicole and I saw that online." She could practically hear the smirk in Rachel's voice. Maria rolled her eyes and thanked the universe that Rachel couldn't see the blush on her face. "So how are things going with your superstar?"

"Mom!" Maria whined. "He's not my anything. Like he would want to be." She muttered the last part.

"Don't you dare start with that crap. You know that isn't true." Rachel said sternly. "You are absolutely incredible, songbird. In so many ways. You're beautiful, insanely talented, and one of the sweetest and most honest people anyone could ever meet. Besides, I've seen the backstage footage and the pictures you've sent. Shawn is practically obsessed with you, baby. Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

"It doesn't matter how he looks at me." Maria argued, looking at the wolf ring still on her finger. "He's not gonna want anything to do with me after he finds out about..." She trailed off, digging the feather ring into her finger.

"You really believe Shawn is that shallow?" Rachel questioned and Maria could picture her raising an eyebrow. "He'll want everything to do with you still because he'll see you as you truly are. A warrior who has been through hell and back and still finds the strength to have a smile for everyone. If he's worth you, he'll fall for you even more because of this."

Maria blinked back the tears building in her eyes. "Thanks, mom." She said quietly. "I may not fully believe you but thank you for trying."

Rachel let out a small laugh. "Whatever you say, Maria. You know Nicole and I love you." 

"I love you both too." Maria responded before hanging up the phone. She sighed and covered her face with her hands. It didn't matter what Shawn felt about her or what her mothers believed, Shawn deserved someone much better than her.