Your Song (Shawn Mendes)

Chapter 12

Shawn went into a full-blown panic when he woke up without Maria. He knew she had been in his arms when they fell asleep. Calm down, Shawn. He told himself. She probably just woke up early and is downstairs with your family right now. He threw the blankets off and rushed down to the living room.

He felt his heart stop when he saw his mom and dad in the kitchen and Aaliyah in front of the TV with no Maria. "Morning, Shawn." Karen greeted. "How did Maria sleep?"

"I don't know." He answered. They all looked at him confused. "She wasn't in bed when I woke up." Their eyes widened. "None of you have seen her?" They all shook their heads. Shawn ran a ragged hand through his hair. He turned to the porch and his eyes widened at it being open just a crack. "God, no."

He rushed outside and scanned the whole area. No Maria in sight. He looked down and his heart shattered. Lying on the porch were Maria's two rings. The rings she never took off. 

*******

Shawn sat on the couch, numb, as Toronto PD combed every inch of the house and yard for evidence to find Maria. He knew he would have a million notifications from his fans wishing him a happy birthday but he couldn't care less that he was now 19. Maria was gone and she was all he wanted today. He looked down at the rings still in his hands. He clenched his fist around them, tears burning in his eyes. 

He was shocked out of his thoughts when the door burst open and Nicole and Rachel rushed in. Nicole kneeled down in front of him with tears in her eyes while Rachel paced a step or two behind her. "Shawn, please tell me this is a misunderstanding." Nicole pleaded. 

He didn't answer. He simply opened his palm to show the rings. "Oh God." Rachel sobbed. Nicole stood and brought her into a tight embrace, tears of her own trickling down her face. 

Shawn felt his heart shatter for the two. Maria was their daughter in every definition but blood. "I'm so sorry." He said to them, voice on the verge of breaking. They looked to him in confusion. "I told you two I would keep her safe. I promised her I wouldn't let him touch her. I'm sorry."

Rachel wiped away a few of her tears and went to sit next to the teen. "Shawn, you have nothing to be sorry for." She told him softly. She took his hand in hers and ran a thumb over his knuckles. "The only person to blame here is the damn bastard who took her in the first place." 

Shawn nodded mutely, still not fully believing he wasn't at least partially to blame. He should've watched her more carefully. He felt a small body slip under his arm and looked to see Aaliyah wrapping her arms around his waist. He cracked a small smile at the gesture of comfort from his sister and gently wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head lightly.

Nicole and Rachel smiled slightly at the two siblings. Shawn acted strong but even they could see he was breaking inside. They needed to find Maria. For her sake and Shawn's.

********

It had been two days since Maria went missing and all they had was the description of Noah Cartwright from the original investigation and the car he may still be using. Other than that, they were still lost on where he might have taken Maria. Shawn was set to perform tomorrow night which is why he was currently sitting with Andrew who informed him that Charlie Puth's backup guitarist would be willing to step in for Maria until she was found.

Rachel and Nicole were over once again as Karen and Manuel insisted that they could always come to them to talk or if they needed emotional support. They couldn't imagine what they were going through.

"I don't know if I can do this, Andrew." Shawn said quietly. Andrew looked at him in shock. The parents turned their heads to the conversation. "I'm not sure I can perform or tour not knowing what's happening to Maria."

"Shawn..." Andrew started but Shawn cut him off, standing up.

"No, Andrew!" Shawn ran a hand through his hair. "You read that police report! You know what he's capable of! I'm not going to go on tour and act like everything's okay while she's being tortured by her worst nightmare!"

"Shawn!" Rachel stood up. Shawn whipped around to face the mothers of the girl who held his heart in the palm of her hand. "Think about what Maria would want you to do. Do you think she would want you to disappoint the hundreds of thousands of fans who paid to come and support you and your music?" Shawn stayed silent. He knew the answer to that.

"Shawn," Nicole started, stepping towards him and holding out her phone. "Maria sent us this about a week back. It was going to be part of your birthday present and she wanted to know if it was good enough for you."

Shawn reached out with shaking hands and took the phone. Tears burned at the back of his eyes when he saw the screen. Maria sat at a piano on the stage of Allstate Arena they performed at in Rosemont. She smiled at the camera. "Happy birthday, Shawn!" She said to the camera. "You are the best thing to happen to me in so long."

She turned and started to play a familiar song, her fingers flying gracefully over the keys. Shawn had to bit his lip to keep a sob in when she began to sing, 

It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

"You know the song?" Nicole asked gently.

Shawn nodded, still watching Maria sing and play as beautiful as he'd ever seen her. "God, I sang it to her so many times." He smiled slightly, remembering the nights he sang her to sleep with that exact song. "It became our song."

Rachel smiled at the notion. "Shawn, you know she wouldn't want you to disappoint your fans." She stepped forward and took his hand, placing Maria's rings in his palm. "Take them with you. Keep them safe until she comes home."

He nodded mutely and handed Nicole her phone. Without a word, he turned and left to his room. Maria's suitcase was still there and her phone lay on the nightstand next to the bed. Shawn clenched his eyes shut against the tears that threaten to fall. He took a spare necklace chain he had and slipped the rings onto it, putting it around his neck. Sitting down on the bed, he gently picked up her phone and opened up the camera.

He started recording a video of himself. "I honestly don't know what I'm doing right now but... I'm doing it." He ran a hand through his hair. "It's only been two days and I already feel like I'm going insane without you, Maria. I'm praying that I only record one or two of these before you come home but... I want you to know that every day I'm still thinking about you. For God's sake, the only reason I'm even continuing with the tour is because your moms convinced me it's what you'd want me to do.

"I'm continuing the tour tomorrow and..." He fingered the rings around his neck. "It's all for you, Maria. Every song I sing, every chord I play is for you. I hope to God I see you soon." He blew a kiss to the camera before ending the recording.