Your Song (Shawn Mendes)

Chapter 7

The European leg of the tour was passing by too fast for Maria's taste. It was only 10 days into their almost year-long tour but it had gone by in a blur. Maria thanked whoever was up there that she had managed to avoid any kind of episodes. She didn't want to have to explain why she had woken up in the middle of the night screaming to any of the band, especially Shawn. 

That was... until their night in Italy.

Shawn had invited her for a day out exploring Milan's castles and plazas that she had always wanted to see in person. He had loved seeing her eyes sparkle in the Italian sunlight and her smile whenever she saw something beautiful. He couldn't deny it made him fall for her just a little bit more. They were walking along a cobblestone street at the moment when a group of fans approached them.

He looked to her apologetically. "It's fine. They're your fans. Let them have this." She smiled. "I'll be up ahead if you need me." She smiled at him before working her way through the crowd to give them space.

Shawn made quick work of taking pictures and signing autographs for the small group of fans. He looked over and saw her looking across the street at a man and a woman, obviously a couple, walking arm in arm. She smiled softly as the man bought the woman a rose from a street vendor and kissed her on the cheek. He looked to his fans. "Hey do you think you guys could help me out with something?" They all nodded, eager to help the superstar. He pointed to Maria. "I need you to distract her for a minute or two while I get something."

The fans squealed and rushed over to Maria, asking her for pictures and autographs as well. Maria was shocked that she was getting any kind of attention from the fans but they seemed to love her as much as Shawn. When they saw Shawn coming back, they all giggled a little before leaving the two alone. "How do you deal with that?" She joked.

"Lots of practice." He asked with his hands behind his back. She laughed a bit. They continued walking until they reached a bridge overlooking the canal. The sun was beginning to set and Shawn noticed how her dark eyes appeared golden in the light reflected on the water. 

She felt him staring and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Just looking at someone who could rival the beauty of an Italian sunset." He said.

She scoffed and turned back to the water but he could see a blush on her cheeks. "You're not even 19, stop talking like Jay Gatsby." She teased. "But... thank you." He smirked and pulled the rose out from behind his back. She gasped. "Shawn..." She delicately took the flower in her fingers. "Thank you."

"Anything for you." He responded. Her blush darkened and she sniffed the rose. He cautiously put an arm around her shoulders and she smiled, leaning into his warmth. "Come on, let's get back to the hotel. We have a binge watching session to get to." 

*******

Maria lay in her hotel bed, her room being connected to Shawn's which brought a smile to her face. She smiled softly as she twirled the rose's stem in her fingers, thinking of none other than the superstar himself. Suddenly, the rose wilted and died in the span of a few seconds, falling to pieces on her lap. Every surface in the room began melting away until she was back in that cellar. Her breathing started to speed up as she heard the door creak open and familiar footsteps come down the stairs.

He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek. She recoiled from the touch. "Did you have a good dream?" He sneered at her. She clenched her eyes shut only for him to roughly grab her jaw and turn her to face him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Tears leaked out between her lashes and he slapped her across the face. "What have I said about tears, you ungrateful brat?" He grabbed her throat and held her down against the ratty old mattress she used for a bed. "Scream all you want, no one is going to hear you."

Maria let out a scream and shot up from the bed. Her eyes darted around and saw she was still in the Milan hotel room. Her clothes stuck to her body with sweat and her whole body was shaking. She let out a small scream when the connecting door burst open. She brought her knees up to her chest and buried her face in them. 

"Maria." A familiar voice said softly. She whimpered and brought her knees in tighter. She felt the bed shift under someone's weight and she felt a hand graze hers. She shot up and pressed herself as far back against the headboard as possible. "Maria, it's just me." She looked up to see Shawn on the other end of the bed. He held out his hand, letting her make the choice to take it. She reached out a trembling hand and took his.

He gently brought her into his arms and she buried her face in his chest, her body still shaking. She heard the door open again and felt Shawn turn his head. "Is she..." Andrew's voice started.

"She's fine. I got her." Shawn answered. "You can go back to bed." Maria heard footsteps and the door closing. Shawn tightened his grip on her. "I'm right here. No one is going to hurt you anymore. I'm not going anywhere." He felt her shaking lessen before stopping completely. She lifted her head with tears streaming down her face. "Maria..."

"Don't." She said harshly. She started wiping the tears from her face. "I don't want to hear it. I never wanted you to see me like this." She tied up her hair and started towards the bathroom. She started splashing water on her face.

"Maria, you never have to hide from me." He argued. 

She braced herself on the sink, tightening her grip on the stone until her knuckles turned white. "You don't fucking understand, Shawn!" She all but shouted.

"I know I don't!" Shawn fired back. "But I don't want you running from me because you think I'll find you weak or not want to be around you." She stayed silent but clenched her jaw. Shawn felt his restraint snap. "I know what happened to you!"

Her attention snapped up and she turned to him, taking a few steps forward. "What did you just say?" She asked, her voice on the edge of breaking.

Shawn stood up to face her. "I... I know what happened to you."