YOUNG HOLLYWOOD LOVE (Shawn Mendes)

I just had to see you

"I can't." I tried to smile a smile that was polite but uninviting.

"She told you never to talk to me, didn't she?" He sat again. "I don't mean to hurt you." He thought about that. "I just wanted to talk to you."

"Why?" I dropped my arms to my sides.

"I don't have a rational explanation for that."

I studied his face, sad and reddish. The gaze defeated, the eyes ashamed. And took the bouquet. The smell of the flowers overloaded my nose, and I loved it.

"I've never been given flowers before." I commented, to his smile.

"It is my honor to be first then." We smiled.

"Thank you." I sighed. "But I cannot accept them." I presented them back to him. "I don't know why she is so adamant on it, but I trust Tania's advice. I promised her I would not talk to you anymore, and I'm keeping my promise."

"We can not talk." He proposed, playfully. "I actually just wanted to go to the movies, so I asked Kendall for a biggie here. Look." He pointed at the first row: some chips and chocolate, and a control for the movie the started screen promised. He was telling the truth. "I flew from Vancouver today just for the weekend and would really like to do this. You don't have to talk. Just watch the movie with me? Please?"

Shawn had a broad, honest smile. And eyes that shone like moons. I couldn't help but smile on his presence. And felt quite terrible at the time Tania and I were giving him.

"The door is right there for whenever you get really bored of me and decide to leave." He continued. I wondered why he wanted so much to be with me. He didn't even knew me.

"Why are you doing this? You don't even know me."

"I know you definitely are not interested in getting a selfie with me, neither care about what I do or am, and have no interest whatsoever in being seen with me for your own benefit. I know you see just this when you see me. And I see your eyes. They are so pure and clean and beautiful. When I see you, I see something I haven't seen in such a long time I wasn't more than A boy when I saw it. I see pureness. And you'll never know how much I crave that. To feel normal. To feel eighteen again. To be asked about my favorite food and not about my tour. And you're also the most beautiful, perfect girl I've ever seen so yeah, I haven't stopped thinking about you and looking at your pictures since I saw you in that restaurant, and please say something cuz I'm drifting now."

I couldn't help it but laugh.

"Am I stupid?" He smiled.

"No." I shook my head. "It's... flattering? I guess." We laughed. I walked toward him. "Your life sounds lonely. Is it, though?" He nodded.

"I'm never alone," he explained, "but yeah, I'm pretty lonely, or isolated if you may." I felt the impulse to pet his hair. Repressed it. "I don't wanna get you in trouble with Tania, and I'm actually happy she takes such good care of you. I feel like... I feel... grateful she does. I also wouldn't want anyone hurting you."

He stood up, taking two steps towards me until we found each other.

"I don't wanna hurt you. I genuinely just want to be right here, with you." I noticed he either would try to pet my hair or faint, so I took a few steps forward and sat on the front row. He ran to my side, and played the movie on.

"I didn't even ask what we're watching," I complained, laughing, and sipping some of the water in front of my seat.

"Nemo." He laughed. "I love it, and I'm NOT ashamed of it." The film started. We commented on the movie more than we actually watched it. And it passed so fast. As the credits rolled, I felt Shawn eyes on my face, and could almost read his thoughts begging me not to leave.

I didn't want to leave. But I had to.

"I have to go..."

"I know." He sighed.

"I'm sorry." I looked at him, resting over The inclined chair, his hand somewhat reaching for me without daring to touch me. "I told—"

"You are amazing." He smiled. I frowned. "You keep your promises." He explained. I smiled and stood up. He followed.

"Wait. You mentioned something about a tour. I heard that before, when we met, I think." I thought about my question.

"Yes?"

"No, It's nothing." I smiled, walking away.

"You wanted to ask me something." He insisted. "Go on, you can ask me anything." I bit my lips, but went for it.

"Why are you here today?"

"I flew from Vancouver to try to see you. Am going to try again tomorrow. And next week, and the week thereafter. And each time I can and know where you are. Until you call the cops on me." We laughed.

"Is that true?" He nodded. That was crazy. He walked towards me.

"Can you take them, at least?" He offered me the flowers again. I took them. They were so beautiful.

"Bye, Shawn." I nodded, walking away.

*****

"He's not a bad guy." Opined Kendall, while we sat by her pool, away from the noise.

"Nop, but it's true he hasn't been serious with anyone." Opined Sophie. "I think Tania is right but who knows? Maybe you can see how he behaves in the following weeks and make up your own mind." Kendall nodded.

"I mean he immediately texted me over insta to beg for your number, and would let me off the hook to help him see you today. I've never seen him so interested, and trust me, I've seen him move on girls."

"You guys think I should tell Tania about today?"

"No!!!!" They yelled, laughing. She would skin Kendall.

*****

Shawn's next move? He was our waiter at lunch the following day, as Tania and I went shopping and to a couple of meetings. She scolded him as he laid down our dishes.

"Fucking psychopath." She Growled, texting Andrew compulsively, for what I could see in her screen. I opted for looking out the window on the way back home. "I'm flying to Miami with you, by the way. Can't trust this idiot not to be your maid at the hotel." I laughed. "Hows this funny?" She complained and joined in the laughter after a while. "Still don't like him." She Announced. I nodded.

Shawn popped up in our midst Saturday and Sunday next week. And the weekend afterward. I came back home from San Francisco and ran towards Tania, who also came back from a trip, and I hadn't seen in a week. She looked somber in her main living room but stood up to embrace me.

"I've missed you so much!" I laughed as we separated, She kissed my crown. And I saw Shawn, standing on the other side of the room.

Well, that was unexpected.