11:15 // mendes

Chapter 2

I sit in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. I take a glance at my clock; 11:02, thirteen more minutes until Shawn is on my front lawn. How do I get to the lawn from my room? you may ask. Well, I put a ladder there in the seventh grade. I told my dad I put it there incase there was a fire, and I could get out without getting in the fire. H believed me 110 percent.

Once it becomes 11:14, I stand up and look out the window. I see Shawn walking down my block, getting closer to my house. For some reason, I get a feeling of butterflies in my chest, and my heart speeds up when I see Shawn. There's just something about him... I snap back to reality when I hear pebbles being thrown at my window. I quickly slip on my Converse and put my phone in my hoodie pocket, the open the window. I climb down the ladder and walk around to the front of the house.

Shawn is standing there with his hands in his sweatpants pockets and a smile on his face. I hide my hands in my sleeves, then approche Shawn.

"Hello, Arabella," Shawn smirks.

"You know you can call me Bella," I chuckle. Shawn is the only person on Earth that calls me Arabella.

"I don't want to because I really like your name."

I playfully roll my eyes, then we start walking towards the park. We talk quietly for a few blocks until we arrive to the place where we spent most of our childhood. At the park, there's a jungle jim, swings, a pond, a field and some trees. Shawn and I came here almost everyday, then we got older and got into sports or music, or we just never had time.

Shawn and I walk to our favorite tree, which is a giant oak tree that is near the pond. We climb up to our favorite branch, which is big and sturdy and where you can see the pond perfectly. Once we sit down and get comfy, Shawn starts talking.

"I miss hanging out with you. We've both been insanley busy lately to the point where we only talk in school," he complains.

"I've just been...busy," I hesitate.

I can't tell Shawn about Nathan not wanting me to see him. I can't tell Shawn anything anymore, it's like our friendship has become one giant lie.

"Oh. So how's Nathan?"

"Um, he's alright I guess. I want to break up with him," I blurt, regreting it seconds later.

"Why?" Shawn asks, "you guys are so happy."

I feel Shawn looking at me; he knows something is up.

"Arabella, you know you can talk to me," Shawn says calmly.

"I can't though, Shawn," I laugh. "It's not that easy talking to people these days."

"You can talk to me, it's ok."

I sigh and look at Shawn. He stares back with a worried expression in his eyes.

"You promise not to tell anyone or try to help me?" I ask.

"Promise." Shawn holds out his pinky and we make a pinky promise.

"Ok," I sigh. "Lately, Nathan has been a little... abusive. He's being really possesive and won't let me talk to any of my guy friends, especially you. I've tried breaking up with him, but it's not easy. He's done really bad things to me and I just can't talk to anyone or he'll hurt me even more, or hurt you."

Shawn sits there, looking as shocked as a parent that just found out that their fourteen year old daughter is having a baby.

"Arabella, this is serious," Shawn says. "You need to file a police report."

"I can't!" I snap. "You don't get it! He'll eventually get out of jail and find me and hurt me more, or have others do his dirty work for me. I'm terrified of him, Shawn!"

I end up crying shortly after I snap at Shawn, which I feel really bad about. Shawn wraps his arms around my body and pulls me closer to him. I sob into his chest, trying to stay as quiet as I can.

"Arabella?" Shawn whispers.

"What?" I sniff.

"You need to break up with him. Do it in public or something so he won't hurt you, or do it at your house and I'll hide as you do, just incase he tries to hurt you."

"Ok," I say after a moment. "I'll have him come over tomorrow around ten. Hide in my closet"

Shawn nods, then gives me a bigger hug than before.

"Can you sleepover?" I ask a few moments later.

"Of course." I could basically hear the smile in his voice.

We stay at the park for a little bit, then walk back to my house. We quietly go back up the ladder, then kick our shoes off and get settled on my bed with my laptop and earbuds. I open Netflix, then watch many episodes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which is the show that Shawn and I have been wanting to watch on Netflix for a few weeks now, but never had the time.

After the sixth or so episode, it's already three in the morning. I put my laptop back on my desk, then turn around and see Shawn laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. He scooches over more so I can lay down. I get settled, then lay on my back. I feel the bed shift, then see Shawn staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I close my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.

Minutes later, Shawn whispers something that gets my heart racing. He thinks I'm asleep and says,

"I love you, Arabella," before kissing my temple and falling asleep.

~

Woah, Sharabella action going on. Hope you all like the book:)))