Shawn Mendes Imagines

Coping Mechanism

Your POV

One thing Shawn has always been obsessed with is jewellery. It started off with a ring that his grandfather gave him. He wore it so religiously - it was on his bedside table and he would put it on every morning.

After a few months, he began wearing this necklace. He constantly fiddles with it, especially in public. Maybe its just a habit, I don't know. I always play with my lanyard when I'm at work, so I guess its something like that.

Shawn and I are currently in LA doing press. Its one of the most exhausting things about his career and this time, he had an entire consecutive week of it.

I could tell that Shawn was getting more and more anxious and tired by the day but he just wouldn't admit it.

Today is his final day of press and its a fourteen hour working day, ending with a red eye flight home. Its currently 8am and we are on the way to interviews.

Shawn has his head resting on the window and I can see something is bothering him. It was all over his face, stress, anxiety and exhaustion.

"Shawn, sweetie" I try to get his attention but he doesn't move. Gently, I place my hand on his face, getting his attention. "Are you okay?"

"Its stupid." He scoffs, not looking at me when he spoke. His voice was full of pain, breaking my heart.

"Hey, lay down here." He moves his head to my lap and my hand goes into his hair, massaging some of the tension out. If something was bothering Shawn, giving him some love and care helped him open up.

"I forgot my ring and necklace." Shawn whispers, his voice breaking at the end.

"Why are they so important to you sweetheart?" I ask softly, almost babying him. I could clearly see the distress all over his face, feeling sorry for him.

"They just help me stay calm." He responds, closing his eyes. It then hit me - his jewellery was his coping mechanism. He would fiddle with his ring or grab his necklace when his anxiety got bad. They'd keep him anchored, keep his stress levels down.

"Oh Shawn" I sigh, kissing his forehead.

"How am I gonna cope?" Shawn whispers so quietly yet painfully.

"Just keep breathing. We'll figure something out. Rest for now, you look tired." I coo, trying to get him to sleep.

It doesn't work. We arrive at the radio station, ready for his interview.

"You gonna be okay?" I ask, rubbing his arm.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. You're here." He smiles weakly, giving me a hug.

"Just let us know if you're stressed, we will help you." I say as I move some hair out of his eyes.

Shawn then goes to his interview. I could tell by the way he was twiddling his thumbs that something was bothering him.

After his third interview of the day, Shawn was allowed a break.

I go over to him, just to check up on him.

"How are you doing hun?" I ask Shawn, sitting beside him.

"Honestly, not good." He sighs, resting his head on my shoulder.

"Can I get you anything?" I rub his cheek gently.

"I want to go home." He says in a heartbreaking way, voice full of anxiety.

"I'll do what I can sweet. Just lean your head back and relax."

I decide to talk to Andrew, knowing that he genuinely cared for Shawn and was more likely to give him the rest of the day off. Shawn wasn't well enough to continue with work today.

"Andrew!" I jog up to him as he was coming back inside, holding a coffee cup.

"What's up Y/N?"

"Listen, Shawn's really tired and stressed, and he's left his jewellery at home." I explain.

"Yeah he plays with his ring a lot."

"Yeah that normally calms him, but he's been working non stop for a few weeks and that's affecting his mental state. He's really stressed and his anxiety is bad. Please can you give him the day off? Andrew, he's not well." I practically beg, trying to convince him.

"Okay, he does look especially anxious today so I'll let the pilot know that you're coming early. Take him home." Andrew replies. I am always thankful that Shawn has a caring manager that doesn't treat him like a product. He actually cares for him.

I go back to Shawn, who has fallen asleep on the sofa.

"Shawn, sweetie let's go. Andrew says we can go home." I smile, helping Shawn stand. He was leaning on me at this point, the poor thing had no energy.

Shawn was asleep for the entire ride to the airport. This press tour had exhausted him.

However there was a problem. The pilot was flying somebody else to LA right now so they wouldn't land for another three hours, and all the flights were fully booked.

I was, at this point, supporting Shawn's weight as we tried to find somewhere he could rest.

I then got an idea.

"Shawn this way." I walk him to the wall and we sit down. He instantly curls into my lap, his head dug into my chest. The poor boy was utterly shattered. I hold him in my arms as he slept in my lap peacefully for the first time in a long time.

Sorry its been so long!! X