Broken Doll // Shawn Mendes

XXIX. Real Life

Shawn smiled for another fan's picture. He absolutely adored meeting fans and seeing their faces light up when he agreed to sign an autograph, take a picture, or even just hug them. It was what made all the late nights and time away from family worth it. They were all wishing him happy birthday since it was tomorrow and he had decided to go to Amsterdam to celebrate.

He wished Coppélia could be here with him. She would've loved to travel and he missed having her around. He made another mental note to call her once he had a moment.

He smiled and thanked the last fan before being led to the car. He pulled out his phone to text Coppélia when he suddenly heard behind him, "What did I tell you about keeping your back straight?"

He whipped around and almost dropped his phone in shock. "Holy fuck!" Standing behind him was Coppélia, still wearing the choker he got her, with MJ and Stella behind her, the latter filming the interaction. 

"Hey, Rockstar." Coppélia barely got the words out before Shawn picked her up, spinning her in a hug. She laughed into his shoulder and crashed her lips to his, still in the air. She cupped his cheeks in her hands as he smiled into the kiss.

They broke apart breathlessly and he finally set her back down on her feet. He cupped her face in his hands as if to reassure himself that she was real. "What the hell are you doing here?" He asked, smiling brightly.

"Well someone decided to get an entire festival of people to sing one of my favorite songs to me for my birthday so I decided this was the only way to one-up him." She smirked. Shawn chuckled and took her hands in his, leaning their foreheads together. "Plus, a few more weeks is too long to wait." She kissed him quickly. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, doll face." He said quietly. She blushed lightly and felt her heart skip a beat at the familiar nickname. He finally broke their gaze to look at MJ and Stella. "Hey, girls."

"Oh don't mind us. We're just here to fangirl over how cute you two are." Stella smiled. Coppélia blushed and buried her face in Shawn's shoulder. 

"How did you guys get here? I thought Lia was supposed to be teaching." He argued, worried slightly for his girlfriend's job. 

MJ waved him off. "Don't worry. She's done the choreo we needed for the competition. Stella and I know our parts, Chris and Manda are teaching, and if they truly need us, we're one video call away."

"We are leaving earlier than dolly is though." Stella added. "We have the competition to perform in but she can stay here." Shawn tightened his grip on his girlfriend at the mention of her anxiety holding her back. The two girls smirked. "She will be staying until you go back to New York or Toronto though."

"Really?" He asked excitedly.

She nodded and he kissed her quickly. "Best birthday ever." He said when they pulled away.

"Exactly what I said." She smiled back at him.

*******

Shawn traced random patterns on Coppélia's shoulder as she curled into him on the hotel bed, resting her head on his chest. She took a steady breath at the sound of his heartbeat in her ear. "Doll face?" He said, breaking the silence. She hummed in response and he smiled. "I'm really glad you're here. I've been missing you like crazy."

Coppélia burrowed herself further into his side if that was even possible. "I've missed you too, Shawn." She said quietly. She jumped slightly when her phone went off on the nightstand. She reluctantly sat up to see who was calling her and sucked in a sharp breath. Shawn gently placed a hand on her waist to silently ask if she was okay. "I'm fine." She all but whispered. She cleared her throat and answered the call. "Hi, mama."

Shawn's eyes widened for a split second before she winced lightly. He understood why, he could hear her mother from where he sat. "Coppélia, why the hell am I getting told by Amanda you're in Amsterdam?" 

"Mom, I..."  Coppélia started but her mother cut her off.

"This is for that Mendes boy isn't it?" Shawn winced himself after hearing his name. Coppélia placed a hand over his to keep him from moving it and took a shaky breath. "Lia, this is exactly what happened last time..."

"This is not what happened last time!" Coppélia cut her off sharply. Her hand started to shake over Shawn's and he laced their fingers together. 

"Really because you were doing things just as crazy as this for Mason..."

"I don't remember Mason getting a crowd of thousands to sing one of my favorite songs for me as a birthday present." Coppélia argued. "Mama, I know you don't want me to go through that again and I don't want to go through that again but Shawn..." She looked over at the man in question who gave her a small smile, "Shawn is different. So please just... stop trying to convince me he's like Mason because he is the farthest thing from that."

"Coppélia..."

"I got to go, mama." She said quietly. "Tell dad I miss him and I love you both. I'll talk to you later." Without waiting for a response, she ended the call. She put the phone back on her nightstand and felt her whole body begin to shake. Her lungs felt like they were shrinking and she struggled to breathe.

Shawn immediately recognized the signs and clutched her hand in his. "Doll face, listen to me." He told her. "I want you to focus on my voice. Can you do that for me?" She nodded mutely. "What are five things you can see?"

"M-my phone, your guitar, the TV, the pillows, the lamp." She stuttered quietly.

"Good. Four things you can feel?" 

"The blankets, my pajama bottoms, the floor," She adjusted her hand so her fingers rested on his wrist. "Your heartbeat."

He smiled and nodded. "Three things you can hear?"

"Your voice, the traffic outside, and... the air conditioning."

"Two things you can smell?"

"Your cologne and my lotion." 

"One thing you can taste?"

"My toothpaste." She took a shaky breath, squeezing his hand lightly.

He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Better?"

She nodded. "I don't like arguing with my mom. It just... doesn't feel right." He nodded understandingly, touching his forehead to the side of her head. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. She's just been overprotective after Mason."

"I get that. I didn't even know exactly what he did but I don't want him near you again." She smiled lightly at the sentiment. He pulled out his phone and opened the calming playlist Amanda had sent him. He pulled her closer as a soft piano intro began.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb 

He raised an eyebrow. "What's this song?"

"Bring Me To Life by Evanescence." She answered with a smile. "It kind of reminds me of you."

"How so?" 

"The chorus describes how I feel to you." She responded. He smiled. "Listen." The song went quiet before crashing into the chorus.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

He tightened his grip on her. "Maybe it was made for us." 

She snorted a laugh. "Maybe it was. Maybe it's our song." He laughed as well and kissed the top of her head. "Let's be real. Boulevard is our song."

He smiled, his nose buried in her hair. "Whatever you want, doll face."