carols » shawn mendes

o n e

// carol of the bells //

the aroma of hot chocolate filled the café, blended with the scent of cinnamon sticks. this is what i loved about the holiday's season. the delicious smell of different christmasy scents.

i took my eyes off the book i was reading and set it down. sipping a bit of my hot chocolate, i looked around, taking in my surroundings. there wasn't many people, which i enjoyed. there was an old couple at a booth, the man had large glasses with frames that each looked the size my hand, and the woman was dressed in a large cozy-looking knit sweater.

behind their booth was one of the baristas—on a break, i assumed—eating a cheese danish.

at one of the tables was a tall strawberry blonde, with a toddler by her side. she was enjoying herself a mug of what looked-like coffee, and the child was eating a large snowman cookie half the size of her head. the little girl had light blonde hair, and large, bright green eyes, from where i could see.

the bell from the door rang once again, signaling another customer. i peeked my head over the booth to see a tall, brunette man walking towards the cashier. he was wearing a grey peacoat that suited him, and plain black under armour sweatpants. he had a well-defined jawline and tousled, bed-head hair. boy, he was attractive, but a guy that attractive has to already be taken. i felt myself pout as i thought how he must have someone.

it must be nice to date a cute person, well my definition of whatever. for them to be by your side always. who loves you, always. just the thought of falling in love with someone made my stomach turn.

i returned back to my drink, and closed the book i had been trying to read for the past half hour, putting it into my bag.

there was light december snow outside. little bits of snow crystals begun to form on the window. i couldn't take a photo since i didn't have my phone for a reason and one reason only: i wanted to enjoy the beauty of everything today. it felt amazing not having my head in my phone this entire time.

i continued drinking my hot chocolate and looking out the window.

"millie?" a deep voice softly asked. "is that you?"

it was the cute brunette. once, i made eye contact with him, i realized who it was.

"shawn?" there goes my whole inner monologue about this guy—into the garbage.

          "yeah, hey. long time no see, huh?" he releases an airy laugh. "mind if i sit?"

"uh, no, go ahead." i managed to breathe out.

i more than likely looked like an idiot, since i'm now staring at my own mug with just a fourth of my drink left, trying to avoid eye contact with the guy sitting across from me.

          "so, how have you been?" shawn asks.

          i feel myself twisting the bow ring i wore on my right ring finger. "i've been better. just finished finals and everything so now i'm on break, so yeah. and you? how have you been?"

         "i've been good actually. ya know, on break from tour now."

          i slid my hand behind my neck, setting my elbow on the table. "that's nice to hear. i'm glad you get a break, must be tiring traveling and all."

"yeah, it's been a while. it's nice to finally get a breather and be back here."

"totally."