never ever had I thought

Chapter 24

Getting more anxious by the second, we slowly get to the carnival. Even from miles away the lights show and the laughter from happy kids and grownups surrounds us in the dark.

When we get out of the car, we stop to take it all in. Everything has lights on, in every possible colour. The guards at the entrance even has smiles on and is enjoying their job. All of the happiness is so contagious that I grab myself smiling like an idiot.

I take my brothers hand and drag him towards the entrance. I could seriously stay here forever. We barely get past the security, before dads phone rings. He takes it and my mood drops a little. It's hard to be mad or sad in this place, but i am definitely getting there if that girl is calling him again. It turns out to be false alarm, when I hear a male voice on the other end.

Dad explains Jake and a few other colleges have gotten a table in the other end of the carnival.

''Do you wanna come or wait for Shawn here?''. So he's not here. I tell him I'll be there in a few minutes. Blake and dad walks down the street with the food stalls and rides. Or not walk, jumps. They're just as happy as I felt walking in here. 

This was a good idea, but it would be even better if Shawn remembered it. I decide to send him a snap, since I still don't have his number. He opens it right away and it's like a stone is lifted from my shoulders, he's okay. It only then hits me how worried I had been.

I get a snap from shawnmendes1, I open it and it's a blurry picture of some people and a tall girl with a grey cardigan in the center, with her phone. Me. I turn around not even reading what he typed on the picture. There he is, biting his lips to prevent from smiling that familiar beautiful smile of his. Before thinking more about it I throw myself in his arms. He's not biting his lower lip anymore, but surprised hugging me twice as hard back. It hasn't been 24 hours since we saw each other last, but I've missed him like it had been 24 years.

''Happy 13th birthday'' He mumbles in my hair. I pull away. ''What did you just say?''

''Sorry, was it 14?'' he teases. I just stand and can not believe I've missed THIS!

''Okay okay, happy sweet 17 little kid'' he says and reaches out to mess up my hair. I pull further away, and release my crossed arms, just to remember why I was mad in the first place and then crossing them again.

''You're late. Why haven't you snapped me today?'' But he's just laughing.

''No, I'm serious. I got worried'' I try sounding like it, but now I'm laughing too.

''I was shopping'' Shawn finally says, and I frown. He can't have been shopping all day. Working, I would have been willing to believe but not shopping, that's so not like him.

''I was! And I'm gonna prove it to you. Later''. I raise my brows but he just smiles and guide us down the middle of the carnival.

''You thought I forgot, didn't you?'' Shawn asks, when we pass the chinese food stall and the ferris wheel. I shrug at the bad liar I am.

''We talked about your birthday last night. Of course I didn't forget!'' he says while making some huge gestures with his arms.

''Okay okay. Just got a little worried'' I put my hands up, surrendering, and that is when I notice something about him.

''You're not wearing a hoodie? Or the sunglasses?!''. He looks down at his shirt, and nods. 

''Your not worried, you're gonna get moped or something? I know Jake is here, but he's not here here'' I say pointing at the ground between us.

He looks at the ground and takes a step closer to me. ''I'm not wearing a hoodie, because I wanted a normal night out with my friend. It's already kinda dark and my hair looks different than normal so I'm good'' He locks eyes with me and smiles. ''No need to worry little kid''.

My heart flutter but only for a second, cause that's when something triggers my smelling sense. Popcorn. Shawn must have smelled the same and then we're running.