Real Thing - Ruel
Shawn's POV
December 2017
I waited for Brian while I stared at the city lights from my balcony with a beer in my hand. I wasn't used to being home alone, or alone in general. All this year I spent it traveling, touring and recording with my people, I always had someone by my side. I loved the independence though, but it still felt weird.
When my friend arrived we sat outside in the chilly night with beer and a joint he had brought.
"This is supposed to be the good shit", Brian said before putting it in his mouth and lighting up one end. He inhaled and immediately coughed. "It is", he said passing it on to me.
We smoked the weed in silence; slow and taking our time. There was no rush and no one to judge us. The moment the effect kicked in I felt like floating and my limbs weighted nothing. We didn't even have to finish it all to get high, that was really the good shit.
"So what are you doing, man?", Brian asked me while I looked from one flickering night to the other, in awe of the colors.
"What do you mean?", I asked in return. This was not a time to be vague.
"With Hailey", he said and I looked at him.
"We're just friends", I told him.
"Yeah, right".
"What do you want me to say? We're not dating".
"So you are just hooking up with her, like... I don't know, friends with benefits?"
"No, we're... Well, maybe".
"What the fuck, dude?", he chuckled. "I never thought you were going to be friend with benefits with Hailey Baldwin".
"Why's so hard to believe?"
"Because I know you, and because she was dating Justin Bieber and it was a hot mess when he went back to Selena".
"Well it is what is it".
"No kidding... Although", he said thoughtful, "now that I think about it, you both are really not that different. You both were into people and that didn't work out. Only difference is that she actually dated Justin, while you and Camila..."
"Shut up", I told him.
"Jeez, sorry".
Hailey had come to visit just a few days ago and we were photographed around town. The internet, and specially my fans, had exploded. There were mixed feeling about us, but I didn't give them attention, or at least tried not to. The thing with Hailey was... special, but not complicated. She was rather simple and she knew exactly what she wanted. She was ambicious, tenacious and full of energy. We had an unspoken arrangement in which we took care of each other whenever the other was available, and you know what I mean by taking care of each other. There were no strings attached, because even when we didn't talk about it, we knew we weren't meant to be. Our unnamed relationship was simple and convenient.
"Have you talked to her?", Brian asked me and this time I knew exactly who he meant: Camila.
"Yes, she texted me the other day with updates about her album", I said.
No one knew about that night in L.A. Well, no one but Scott and Teddy, although I hadn't fully named her in our sessions, we all knew who I was referring to while I ranted pacing in the studio.
"Have you listened to more songs?"
"Nope, but maybe she'll send me the album a bit earlier than the release date".
