Life and Love {Shawn Mendes}

chapter 2

As I ran out of the bathroom, I realized I still had no ride. So there I was, sitting in the baggage claim chairs, back where I started. Except this time, I had to watch at least 30 girls swooning and taking pictures with a guy I'd just embarrassed myself in front of. The closer he got to me, the hotter my face got. Don't come over, don't come over.

 After about five minutes of snapping pictures, he was done. I stared at my feet hoping he wouldn't see me. Not that he'd care about what had happened, why should he? Still, I grew nervous as I heard his footsteps getting closer. I was forced to look up. I mean, it would be rude not to, right? Oh, boy. I shouldn't have done that. He flashed me a smile that I'm sure he'd perfected after years of selfies with beautiful girls. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to embarrass you.." He trailed off, seemingly uncomfortable.

"I'm fine, it's just been a long day, that's all" I started to stand up. Maybe if it looked like I had somewhere to be, I could seem a little less pathetic.

" Do you have a ride? You've been here for a while." His question surprised me. I didn't think someone like him would even notice how long I've been here, or care enough to ask.

"I mean, I had a ride, but he didn't show up." He looked like he was about to say something, but I decided to stop him there. "I'll get another ride, though. My friend lives near campus and she said she may be able to come."

"Campus is across town, let me call you an Uber. It's the least I can do to make up for your bad day." He smirked and I realized his hand was on my arm. How did that get there? How did I let it get there? This guy was putting me under his spell too fast and I didn't like it.

"No, thanks" I moved my arm away and his hand slipped off gracefully as though nothing had happened. "I don't trust Ubers and like I said, my friend should be able to pick me up." I stood a little taller. He wasn't going to get to me, not today.

To my surprise, he gave up quickly. "Okay, sounds good." He shrugged and walked away. Is it bad I wanted him to care more? I sat back down, knowing full well that my friend wasn't coming and that was all a lie. I pulled out my phone to call my own Uber and watched him walk away, convinced this would be the last time I'd ever see him again.

~ later that day ~

I knocked on the old wooden door and sucked in a deep breath. My new life in my new dorm was about to begin. Julia popped her head out and I immediately felt relieved. Julia has been my friend since middle school and we've been to hell and back together. She gave me an almost aggressive hug and grabbed my luggage to take inside.

"This is your room" She announced. She studied my face, hoping I wouldn't notice she took the bigger room for herself. I did, but I didn't care enough to say anything. She got here a week earlier than me, so it's only fair she got to pick her room. "Sorry I couldn't pick you up, but I was at a lunch with this girl I met from down the hall and she was ok it's not like she was super nice or anything but she's having this party..." She rambled for a little while. She gets like this when she feels bad. Telling me her whole life story to prove herself. I find it sweet.

"Juju" She frowns at the nickname I gave her years ago. I know she hates it, and that's why I love it. "It's really fine, don't worry about it. Plus, you'll never guess who I met!" I told her the story of the men's bathroom and leaving my meds on accident. How he tried to pay for an Uber, but I declined and paid for my own. She laughed the whole time.

"So now some random guy knows about your anxiety, and you didn't even tell me until a few months ago?" She put her hand over her heart, acting as though she was hurt. "For real, though, you should've taken a pic with him, isn't he like your favorite singer?" She wasn't a fan of Shawn Mendes. Too mainstream for her, she always said.

"Like, a year ago maybe. I've grown out of him, I think." I lied. His music is still on every one of my playlists, but if I told her that, she'd tease me relentlessly.

"Ok." She shrugged. Julia put rubbed her stomach and made a pained face. "I'm staaarving, Mads" She declared, drawing out the a. "Can we go get something to eat please?"

I realized how hungry I was and nodded in agreement. We grabbed our jackets and I tried my best to forget this day, the good and the bad.

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Author's Note: Hi, guys, I think I'm only writing for one person now lol but I'm gonna keep doing it anyway. This chapter is a little short but I may do another today, or not, I don't know. Thanks for reading! 🥰