When We Met at Marco's

Chapter 1: Shawn

Saturday,
November 2nd,
2019

-

"No way!" I exclaim as Connor is explaining his and Brian's funny incident on the way back from sound check. Brian is in a flustered huff in the corner of one of the sleek black leather couches as we continue to laugh around him in a joking manner.

Brian rolls his eyes at the remarks and gives the middle finger to Connor. I can tell really though that he wants to chuckle too.

As we continue to just talk about general topics between friends, my manager and tour manger, Andrew and Cez, enter the lounging area. Cez is called over by connor to hear the funny scenario as Andrew takes a seat next to me.

"Hey dude, what's up?" I say, leaning back into my arms that rest behind my head.

"Nothing much. Good sound check today. Anyway, I was wondering whether you were available tomorrow?" He questions, leaning back into the leather couch too.

"Um, yeah, I should be. I mean Cami's flying in from London tonight but I can make room, we haven't got any plans," I reply, blushing from the mention of her sweet name.

Andrew chuckles at my head-over-heels state. "Yeah, that's cool. I was thinking maybe half 10 in the morning?That ok?"

"Yeah, yeah man, that's cool," I say. "So I'll see you at your office?"

"Oh shit, I forgot about that. My office isn't available tomorrow cause I'm allowing Harrison to have it for his clients," he frowns.

"Why can't we just meet for coffee or something? I promise I'll stay low," I suggest.

"Mmh, but then what if you're spotted?" Andrew ponders.

"Andrew, I go anywhere and I'm spotted," I joke and Andrew laughs too.

"Ok, alright then, but we need a place that's quite secluded and small. Anyone got any good recommendations?" Andrew asks, looking around the room to the others who seemed to have perked up and were now part of the conversation.

"I mean, I know there's that Jimmy's that Shawn goes to, but a lot of his fans already know he goes there," Brian states.

"Ok, so no to Jimmy's," Andrew says, whilst I pout jokingly in response. He chuckles as he goes on, "anyone else wanna contribute?"

"Oo, oo," Josiah pipes up, clicking his fingers in hope that it would help jog his memory. "Marco's!" he says with a snapping finger at us, proud of his remembrance.

"What's Marco's?" I ask over at Josiah.

"Well, you remember my weird vintage Aunt Joanne," - I nod, picturing his crazy relative he was referring to - "whenever she was here in Toronto, she'd always go to this Marco's, it's like a café/coffee shop that she adores. It's down a tiny small alleyway, like a side street thing, and it's really small and compact but always buzzing, like queues out the door. Really cool interior, like very aesthetic. It's popular for like hippies, like my aunt, so all the young people that love you are highly unlikely to go in there, specially if my ancient aunt loves it, no one would find you there." He reasons, chuckling towards the end.

"Sounds good," I say, with a laugh at the last bit Josiah said and nodding at Andrew.

"Yeah, ok, great, Marco's, half past ten."

"Gotcha," I say, pointing a finger in his direction.

"Also, Josiah," Andrew speaks up and he breaks the conversation he was having with Connor. Must've been about Brian as Connor looks pissed that he couldn't finish the amusing story.

"Yeah?" Josiah speaks up, turning back around.

"D'you think you could send me the location?"

"Oh, yeah course, silly me, I'll find it now."

Josiah gets out his phone to find the location as he multitasks to also listen to Connor with Brian complaining in the background.

I love these guys.

I smile gratefully to myself as I think how lucky I am. I've got the best team to work with on the daily, a gorgeous girlfriend, my family's great, my career, my friends, my fans, everything is great.

I snap out of my daze as I hear a ping coming from my phone, resting face down on the couch. I click on to the map Josiah just sent me and zoom in to see where it is.

"That's handy. It's right next to a subway station. I'll just hop on there, saves me having to find a parking space in the city," I observe.

Andrew nods in agreement,"yep, works for me too."

I look at the map again, realising how it's located in a different part of Toronto, well, different to what I'm used too.

I'm located quite centrally, close to the buzz, but this is downtown in the quieter areas which is great as I may not be spotted as much.

For the rest of our booked time in the rehearsal space, Connor ensures everyone had been told the story about Brian, but even we groaned alongside Brian as we were tired of hearing it 100 times over. We talked among ourselves and created our own entertainment as we drank bottles of beer between all of us. Once all the bottles were finished, each of us either headed home or back to hotels. Most of my team were from or live here in Toronto however, a few don't so stay in other accommodation.

I'm one of the last to leave the premises with Andrew as he locks up, him giving me an overview of what we're gonna talk about tomorrow. I bid him farewell with a quick hug and pat on the back then navigate myself to my parked Jeep in the underground car park. Normally, I'd use my Tesla, but today was just a Jeep day.

Just as I'm about to put the keys in the ignition, my phone lights up beside me as I see my girl's name on the contact. I grin widely and answer her call.

"Hey baby," I greet, knowing she's blushing by the name even though I can't see her.

"Hey sweetie. I've just landed and wondered whether you could pick me up?" She says over the phone in a whisper.

"Babe, why are you whispering?" I chuckle.

"It's just I'm trying not to make it obvious that I'm the Camila Cabello," she giggles at a volume only me and her can hear.

"Oh right. Well, I'm on my way baby," I smile through the phone.

"Where will you be?" She murmurs a bit too loudly cause she can't hold in a giggle.

"Right by the exit, waiting for my number 1."

"God, I love you," she whispers happily after pausing to bite her lip.

"Love you too!" I whisper excitedly through the phone.

I sigh lightheartedly as she hangs up and I turn up the bouncy tune on the radio.

Never, ever, ever will any other girl compare to her. She is my heart, my whole being in fact. And there is not one girl in this world that could possibly affect that.

Not even 'her'.