Gap Year

20

"Are you two finally dating?"

"What!? We're not, why would you think that?" I stopped moving and looked at Brian.

"Oh come on, I see the way you look at each other! It's so obvious that you two like each other. More than just friends." I couldn't say a word. I just stared at him, a million thoughts running through my mind.

"There you are!" My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice and my skin started to pickle. Fuck, yes I do like him. Suddenly everything made sense. I have felt something the whole time. Why didn't I realise it sooner? All this made my head spin.

"I'm gonna go get a drink real quick!" without another word I turned around and stormed into the crowded kitchen in search for a beer or something like that. I poured myself something into my cup and took a sip. I never liked beer because I thought it tasted horrible but right at this moment I didn't care.

It's one thing to be the best friend of a famous pop star that so many people love with all their heart. It's another thing to have a crush on your best friend that doesn't like you back in that way. But having a crush on your best friend that happens to be Shawn Mendes? Well, fuck!

I drowned the drink, pouring some more into the cup before I left to go search for the guys. I knew I was being stupid but the whole situation clouded my brain and made my head feel dizzy.

Shawn and Brian were standing on the side, looking over the crowd of people, sipping their drinks and laughing over something. Shawn immediately spotted me and waved me over. I took a deep breath and slowly approached them, taking another sip of my beer.

I could already feel myself becoming a bit tipsy since I wasn't used to alcohol at all. The last time I had drunk was at my birthday last summer and I only had one or two glasses of sparkling wine, mixed with a bit of orange juice.

As soon as I arrived next to them a slow song started to play over the big music boxes in the corner.

"Can I have this dance, princess?" Shawn asked smiling and held his hand out for me. I gulped and took it, smiling up at him. I saw Brian sending a wink my way but I ignored him. I was being ridiculous. Shawn was my best friend and nothing would change that. Not even a stupid little crush.

I pushed all my thoughts and possible feelings away and followed Shawn onto the dance floor. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran was currently playing. I felt Shawn placing his hands onto my hip and I wrapped mine loosely around his neck. We swayed from side to side, trying not to step onto each other's feet.

"Are you okay?" Shawn whispered into my ear. I nodded softly and shot a smile his way. He looked at me unsure for a moment but then shrugged it off and just danced with me. He spun me around and I couldn't help but let out a happy giggle. Before I knew it the song was over and another one started, this time with a faster pace again.

"Can we go outside for a moment?" instead of answering me Shawn took my hand and gently pulled me with him,leading the way. Once we were outside I took a deep breath, breathing in the cold air of the winter night. The sky was pitch black but the skyline of Toronto illuminated the night.

"Are you cold?" Shawn asked, noticing my shivering figure.

"A little but it's fine."

"Come here, I don't want you to get sick!" Shawn opened his arms and pulled me into a big hug. I wrapped my arms around his torso and laid my head onto his chest, listening to his heart beat. We hugged like that all the time so I didn't think about it any further.

Suddenly the music from inside was being turned down and someone yelled, "one minute until midnight!"

Shawn and I stood still on the balcony, neither of us wanting to go back inside. We wanted to watch the fireworks from outside and were soon joined by the others who were now piling onto the balcony counting down the seconds.

"Five... Four... Three... Two... One... WOHOOO!" Everyone erupted in loud screams as they fell into each other's arms laughing.

"Happy new year, princess!" Shawn whispered into my ear and kissed the top of my head.

"Happy new year!" I smiled up at him, hugging him tighter. Then we both turned our heads to look at the breathtaking fireworks that exploded up high in the sky, shining in all different colors.

After a while I got pretty cold so we went back inside, celebrating with the people at the party, dancing to music, drinking and laughing together.

I was happy.