Your Song (Shawn Mendes)

Chapter 19

Shawn smiled as he and Julia Michaels listened to the finished instrumental track for Like To Be You. Andrew had made good on his word and Julia was more than happy to help him on this song. Shawn couldn't wait for his fans to hear the duet they were planning. The album was set to be released in late May with about one single a month until then. He had already released In My Blood this month right after New Year's and he was looking towards Like To Be You being released next.

"It sounds great." A voice said behind them. They turned and Julia couldn't help but smile when Shawn's face lit up at the sight of Maria. He stood up and pecked her on the lips.

"Hey, sweetheart." He greeted. He kept an arm around her waist as he introduced the two, "Maria, this is Julia Michaels. Julia, this is my girlfriend Maria."

"I recognize you from the big entrance you made at the VMAs." Julia smiled, shaking Maria's hand.

"That was me." Maria blushed. "And I love your voice. You're amazing." Julia nodded her thanks and Maria turned to Shawn with a smirk. "Looks like you took my advice after all." Julia raised an eyebrow. "Back when he first started writing the song, I told him it would sound better on electric guitar with acoustic in the background."

"So that's where that idea came from." Julia smirked. "You trying to steal your own girlfriend's ideas?" 

Maria faked an insulted gasp and Shawn rolled his eyes. "Way to throw me under the bus, Julia." He muttered sarcastically. Maria laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

"At least I didn't tell her you wrote it about you two." Julia smirked. Maria's eyes widened and Shawn blushed. Julia shrugged, not in the least bit sorry. "Oops."

"You wrote it about us?" Maria asked. Shawn scratched the back of his neck but nodded. "I knew the inspiration came from the night in Milan but... it's for us?"

Shawn nodded again. "You really don't see how much influence you have on me, do you?" She blushed and he kissed her forehead lightly. He leaned in close so only she could hear, "You deserve the world, Maria. This is the least I could do."

Maria's blush darkened and she turned her head away slightly to hide it. Shawn smiled and kissed her temple, nuzzling her hair a bit. Julia watched the couple with a small smile. It was hard to find a romance like theirs in this business. But watching the two of them, it was like watching the perfect duet in human form. It was incredible. She thought back to the VMA performance and remembered how gorgeous they sounded together on the video. An idea came to her head.

"Shawn, have you told the fans the duet is going to be with me?" She questioned.

Shawn turned back to her with a raised eyebrow. "No, I just told them I was working on a new duet. Why?"

Julia smiled. "I think Maria should sing it with you." Both their eyes widened. "Shawn, you're awesome to work with so I'm sure we'll have another opportunity to sing together but you wanted this album to be your most personal. What's more personal than singing a duet about your girlfriend with your girlfriend?"

"But I..." Maria started but Julia cut her off.

"Don't even start with the whole 'I can't sing' thing because the 6 million people who watched last year's VMAs live and the other couple million that continue to watch the video of the performance on YouTube will definitely argue otherwise." Maria bit her lip. "You have a gorgeous voice, Maria, and I think you two will sound incredible together."

Shawn smiled. "Truth be told, I love that idea." He looked to Maria. "But it's your choice. I know you're not a fan of the spotlight so if you don't want to do it, we won't."

Maria hesitated, twisting her rings. "Can I see the lyrics?" Shawn nodded and handed her the paper with the final lyrics on them. Maria's eyes darted over the words and she could feel her heart race. Shawn had written these lyrics for them! How the hell could she turn down singing them with him? She smiled up at him. "Okay. I'll sing it with you."

Julia cheered and Shawn quickly pressed his lips to hers. "It'll be perfect." He said to her, making her blush form again. "What if we release it on your birthday next month?"

Maria smiled at the thought. "That sounds great!"

Julia clapped as another idea came up. "Shawn, you could keep it completely secret!" They raised an eyebrow. "You can tell them you're doing a duet but don't reveal with who."

Shawn smiled, running with the idea. "And we could finish recording this week. Then we could do a simple video but something that'll show the song off and release it both on her birthday!" 

"I can't believe this is really happening." Maria said dumbly. Shawn smiled and kissed her temple. "But... I do have an idea for the video." Julia and Shawn both looked to her. "Have you guys seen those couple videos that fans make for different fandoms?" They nodded. "What if we did something like that? Take different videos and pictures that we've posted or that the Internet has of the two of us and intermingle it with video of us singing it in the recording booth and even some videos of us working on it."

"No wonder you suggested her idea, Shawn." Julia said. "She's a genius! That sounds perfect!" 

Maria blushed while Shawn pulled out his phone. "I'll call Andrew. We'll start recording tomorrow and maybe get some shots for the video." She smiled and he pecked her on the lips before leaving to call his manager.

*******

Shawn kissed Maria quickly as she came into the studio the next day. They didn't want each other to hear the other's part until the song was finished. They would be the first to hear it before it got released so that they could include some of their reaction into the music video. "I have some great news. Andrew booked us to do a video with iHeartRadio of us reacting to fans reactions of the song and video." He told her.

She smiled. "That's amazing! I love those videos!" 

He smiled back at her. "I'll be back in a little to check on how you're doing. Julia's gonna be in there with you but if you need anything..."

"I'll call you." She finished for him. "I'll be fine, Shawn. I'm a bit nervous, but I'll be fine." She kissed him gently. He nodded and turned to leave. "Shawn!" He turned back, raising an eyebrow. She rushed up and kissed him again. "I love you." His eyes widened and she stepped back. "I know it's still pretty early and I'll understand if you don't say it back but... I do love you. I just didn't want the first time I said it to you to be in the song."

Shawn smiled lightly and kissed her again. She smiled against his lips before they released each other. "I love you too, Maria." She blushed lightly. "Now go kill it, superstar!" She laughed as he gently pushed her into the recording studio.