Treat you better

Chapter 13- Frustration

SHAWN

Aaliyah came into the house and took off her shoes, throwing herself on the couch. She had a fun afternoon at her friend Sarah's house, whom she had not seen for a long time since she moved to that side of town.

When they were little, they were inseparable, doing almost everything together, but when Shawn started to become famous, it had become impossible to live on the edge of town of Vancouver due to the lack of security with which a pop star was threatened, so the simple life Aaliyah had known had been left behind.

Although her brother's stardom had made it difficult for them to keep their friendship, they had always kept in touch by phone or internet, and the day before Sarah had called to invite Aaliyah to her brother's birthday. The girl remembered Paul, Sarah's brother, as a skinny boy and a face full of acne that loved to bother her, but when she saw him that day, she realized how much he had changed.

The skinny boy had given way to an attractive, muscular boy who had a beautiful face with no sign of acne. Aaliyah had spent the afternoon talking to him and had been impressed with his intelligence, they exchanged phones, he had promised to call, and she had crossed her fingers hoping it would happen soon.

The sound of the piano coming from Shawn's room took her out of her thoughts, leaving her intrigued. Her brother was never home at this time on Sundays, preferring to spend time with his few friends. As she climbed the stairs, she sharpened her ears and realized that the song he played was In my blood, and Aaliyah knew that Shawn only played that song at home if he was sad or in trouble. She heard him sing:

Help me, it's like the walls are caving in

Sometimes I feel like giving up

No medicine is strong enough

Someone help me I'm crawling in my skin

Sometimes I feel like giving up

But I just can't I

t isn't in my blood

At this point in the song he stopped singing and only played it on the piano. Aaliyah put her head in the doorway of Shawn's room and said:

- Can I come in?

- Sure. - Shawn responded by keeping his eyes on the piano keys.

- What's the problem, Shawn? - Aaliyah couldn't help but notice how down his brother looked, and wondered if he was sick.

- Why do you think I have a problem? He asked without looking at her.

- I know you better than I know myself, and you wouldn't be home on Sunday if you didn't have a problem. - Shawn lifted his head and sighed, then went to the window and watched the busy street for a few seconds, and then said

:- The problem is a girl.

- A girl? That's interesting. But, come on and tell me everything.

- I don't know if I should talk to my 16-year-old sister about it.

- We always talk about your dates. I don't know why it should be different now. - She sat on her brother's bed, and she waited patiently for Shawn to tell her what was bothering him.

- This girl is different. She's very special, but I don't think she likes me very much. - He kept his head down, looking pretty upset.

- What's that? A girl who snubs my brother and doesn't go to bed with him on the first date deserves my respect.