It Started With a Song [Shawn Mendes]

24

(Summer's POV)

I turned around to see Shawn.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked. He looked a little angry and a little nervous. Was he jealous? No, that wasn't possible. He lead me to a corner of the room. "Why were you dancing with him?"

"I don't know," I shrugged.

"Shawn took a deep breath. "Do you like him?"

"What? No! I just met him! We were just dancing. Why are you getting so worked up about this?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Hurt?! Are you kidding me?! You don't want me to get hurt?! Well too late Shawn!" I looked at him incredulously. "You can't tell me what to—"

"Summer, I like you okay!" He interrupted me. I froze. "I'm so sorry that I didn't realize before but I do now. I need you."

"What?" I asked quietly. He didn't respond. "Shawn you can't do this to me."

"Summer please forgive me, if you would give me a chance—"

"I - I need some air," I shook my head, turned and ran through the crowd of people. I stopped in front of the front door. If I went outside Shawn would run after me so I decided to go upstairs to my room. I tore my shoes off and threw myself on the bed. I started to cry. What was I going to do? Just ignore Shawn for the rest of my life? Of course I still loved him. He meant everything to me. But I couldn't keep hurting myself and him because of that. He belonged with girls like Alexia. Me and him would never work out. I just had to let him go. I took my dress off and my hair out and got in my pajamas. I washed my face too. Isabel burst in the room.

"Summer! There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you! Summer, Shawn just got in a fight!"

"What?!" I did not expect that.

"Yeah! I mean, he won, but still! It was with this kid Malcolm. A senior I think?" Isabel sat down on the bed next to me.

"Oh no," I put my head in my hands. Now I remembered that kid's name.

"Summer, the fight was over you. Shawn seemed really upset. And why are you in your pajamas? Tell me what happened." Isabel demanded.

I took a deep breath and told her the whole story from when she left to get drinks, to when she burst in our room. When I was done she sat there speechless.

"Wait wait wait, so Shawn likes you too? What are you waiting for then?!"

"It's not that simple. I don't want to be let down again and I definitely don't want to let Shawn down. I think it's better if we stay apart."

"But that's all you've ever wanted!"

"Isabel can we just go home tomorrow?" I asked weakly.

"Only if you promise to not decide on your response to Shawn yet. I want you to really think about what you're doing here."

"Fine. I think I'm going to go to bed." I said wearily.

"Are you kidding!? If you're not going to go back downstairs we at least have to watch some Netflix up here!" She exclaimed. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go see if I can steal some ice cream from the kitchen." She ran out the door. I laughed quietly. Classic Isabel. Suddenly I heard music. I put my ear on the wall that connected our room and the boys' room. I realized that it was Shawn playing guitar and singing.

"What if I told you a story,

all about someone who loves you.

What if I told you he's sorry he made you

wait.

And what if I told you he's dying,

cause he can't change history.

And what if I told you that someone,

was me..."

I started to cry and leaned my head against the wall, just listening to his voice.

(Shawn's POV)

I watched Summer run away. I had lost her. Again. And it was all my fault. Again.

"Hey dude, what was that about?" My thoughts were interrupted when the guy Summer was dancing with walked up to me.

"None of your business!" I snapped.

"Woah, I was just asking." He stepped back. I turned to him.

"Yeah well you don't need to ask. You don't even f*cking know her!"

"And you do?"

"She's my—" I paused, "—friend!"

"Yeah well friends definitely don't do that to each other!" He gestured towards where Summer had just ran off.

"You need to back off!" I took a step towards him.

"Or what?" He asked, stepping towards me as well. I couldn't take it anymore. I slammed my fist into his face. He staggered to the side, then came back, hitting the side of my face. I yelled and punched him in the stomach once, and once in the nose. He was bleeding and off balance but he swung again. I ducked and then ducked again as he threw another punch. By now a crowd had formed around us but I didn't care. This guy can't talk to me like that, especially about Summer. I punched him one more time in the face and he fell on the floor. I didn't even wait to watch him get up, I just ran up to my room and slammed the door.

"Ahh!" I screamed and punched the pillow. I leaned my head against the wall and took deep breaths. I didn't want to go back to the party, I didn't want to see anyone, I just wanted Summer. I wanted to hold her in my arms and never let her go. But I couldn't have her so I decided to play her song. The one I had written for her. I took out my guitar carefully and sat on the floor against the wall, and started singing.