Exposed//Shawn Mendes

27

Shawn and I sat in the car quietly on our way to a well-known cafe in Toronto. As I sat there scrolling through Shawn's business email looking for something important I heard a faint click. I quickly snapped my head up to see Shawn just resting his head in his hand looking out the window, bored. I guess my suddenness triggered him to look over at me confused. I looked him up and down before looking ahead to see Andrew in the passenger's seat, his phone in hand taking pictures of some papers sitting on his lap. I felt a sense of relief as I shook off the fear.

"Geez, I didn't know you were that traumatized by the sound of a camera." Shawn scoffed, making me narrow my eyes at him.
"I wasn't until I started this job." I retaliated.
"Well you don't have to worry, just as long as we're bound to this contract you won't have to be triggered by little things like that anymore." He explained making me furrow my brows at him in frustrations.
"Little things? Our very first encounter alone with your stupid camera wasn't a little thing..." I said. Shawn just glanced over at me before dismissing my comment and looking back out the window.
"Yeah well, it's over now. So quit worrying about it alright? It'll never happen again."
"Good, I hope not," I said before turning back to the emails.

"Wow, what atmosphere..." Andrew said from the front seat.
"Saving my energy..." Shawn sighed.
"I just hate him," I said point blank not even looking up from the screen.
"Whoa!" Andrew exclaimed.
"Sure, hate your boss who just fucking promoted you, giving you a raise and bending over backward to meet your demands." Shawn started to raise his voice.
"What exactly did you have to bend over backwards for? To agree not to abuse me anymore or to delete unsolicited sexual photos of me?" I raised my own voice as I sarcastically spoke to him.

"All the bullshit you pulled I'd say you deserve it!" Shawn started to yell.
"Bullshit I pulled?! What the fuck did I do to deserve you harassing me?!" I yelled back.
"You have selective fucking listening, and back in fucking school-"
"Guys come on!" Andrew yelled at Shawn trying to stop up but we were too heated.
"No, I wanna hear this! What-"
"That's a first!" Shawn yelled interrupting me
"What the fuck did I do to you in school Shawn that you have to hold a 6 years grudge like a fucking petty girl?!"
"You left me! You transferred and left me in that school because-"
"Because I was forced out! What part of that do you not understand?! I had no choice but to-"
"Yeah right! So what? 6 years later you think you can backtrack on what you told me then?"
"What the fuck are you talking about."
"The text! The stupid fucking text you sent me!" Shawn screamed, the vein on his neck started to pop out and his face started to turn red.
"I didn't send you a fucking text! I didn't even have a-" I started to scream back but was cut off by suddenly being whipped forwards. My seatbelt locked immediately before I could hit the driver's seat in front of me, I watched as the exact same thing happened to Shawn.

"That's enough! Both of you need to get over whatever this is and put on stupid lovey-dovey faces for the cameras that are about to bombard you guys!" Andrew yelled as he turned around in his seat to address us both. I just stayed quiet and looked away.

"Leila!" Andrew yelled. I quickly looked at him.
"What do you like about Shawn?" He asks with his voice still raised but not yelling.
"What?" I asked confused, I looked over at Shawn and he looked just as confused as me.
"Name one thing you think is nice about Shawn." Andrew clarifies.
"When he keeps his mouth shut." I snapped.
"Oh, fuck you, you-"
"An actual nice thing!" Andrew yelled again cutting off Shawn. I just rolled my eyes before looking over to Shawn. He just looked back at me with a cold stare.
"Fuck... I don't know? His jawline?" I answered in a questioning tone, making Shawn's cold stare change to a confused expression.
"Why?" Andrew asks in a firm voice.
"Uh... I... um... It's nice and sharp...? He has a good jawline." I answered still in a questioning tone.
"Shawn same question, what do you like about Leila."
"Nothing," Shawn answered narrowing his eyes at me.
"Shawn..." Andrew said in a warning tone.
"Her lips..." He answered.
"Why?" Andrew continued.
"Because they look... soft." Shawn hesitated but still answered.
"Leila name another thing you like about Shawn, this time not physical," Andrew instructed. I just groaned.
"Do it!" Andrew exclaimed as he commanded me.

"He's super nice to people, who aren't me..." I answered in a defeated and kind of hurt tone.
"How so?" Andrew asks still staying firm.
"Well for one his fans... he goes out of his way to take a picture with every one of them if he can and treats them like friends... it's.... kinda cute, I guess," I mumbled looking away from Shawn feeling embarrassed.
"Anything else?" Andree adds.
"He was really nice to Daniel... even if it was an act, or not, I like that he can respect others I care about even if I'm not in the mix." I shrugged.
"Look at him Leila, Shawn you look at her too." I rolled my eyes before looking back at Shawn who's expression softened.
"Shawn, your turn." Andrew turned the attention to Shawn.
"I like how bubbly you are when you're not around me..." Shawn said to my face making me feel a tiny bit better.
"What do you mean when you say that?" I asked.
"Well... I know I obviously don't make you happy but I like seeing you happy when I can..." Shawn admitted. I felt my cheeks starting to burn as we just stared at each other.

"R-Really?" I asked.
"Yeah... You look really pretty when you smile, no matter how I felt I always thought you had the most beautiful smile in the world..." Shawn said. I half smiled before looking down at my hands for a quick second and looking back up at him.

"Thanks... You have a really great smile too you know? I mean if I'm being honest I really liked your braces..." I admitted.
"No, you didn't." Shawn scoffed with a smile on his face.
"I did! I thought it was so interesting watching your teeth become perfect."
"You think my teeth are perfect?"
"Of course! Don't you?"
"I mean I thought they were nice..." Shawn shrugged.
"They're better than that." I giggled.
"I mean dental hygiene is important to me..."
"I know it is, you were so concerned with your teeth after you got your braces off because the dentist practically scared you into keeping your teeth clean." I laughed.
"You remember that?" He asks.
"Uhm yeah you were only my best friend for so many years, I remember everything." I scoffed.
"No way. I don't believe you." Shawn said crossing his arms.
"Try me." I challenged him.

"Try her at lunch, we're here. Just stay happy, both of you!" Andrew says keeping his firm voice. I looked out the window to see we were stopped. I looked over at Shawn who was already unbuckling. I quickly followed his lead and unbuckled as well. As I was putting away the iPad Shawn was quick to get out of the car and run over to my side. He opened my door for me and held out his hand. I took it in my own as he helped me out of the car. I was about to pull my hand back but Shawn adjusted them so his fingers were interlocked with my own.

"Don't forget, you're my girlfriend for a while..." Shawn reminded me. I just nodded as stepped away from the door so he can shut it behind me. We stayed with our hands interlocked as we made our way over to the nice little cafe to across the street. As we were walking I heard the shuttering of a camera, knowing that it's started.

"Hear that?" I asked as I forced a wide smile on my face while I looked up at Shawn.

"Yep. We just gotta work it now." Shawn smiled back at me before removing his hand from mine and wrapping his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in close. I just giggled to play it up as we walked to the entrance of the cafe. Shawn quickly opened the door for me and I smiled at him and thanked him as I entered.