flower girl {s.m}

chapter 22: carefree and happy

"Mendes, you're staring." Crystal pointed out during the intermission.

"It's nothing." His mouth pulled into a small smile that didn't show his teeth.

Crystal stood on her tip toes to whisper in his ear. "What is it?" She asked in a playful mood.

Shawn ducked down to reach her ear too. "I really want to kiss you right now, Crystal Paige." And he pulled back to look at her reaction.

Shawn expected her to frown because they already had this conversation, but instead she blushed under the dim lights. He just shook his head and laughed as Camila came back onto the stage.

She sang a few more songs that the pair danced and sang to before she made her final bow. After the show, they had slithered in backstage before the lights could turn on and risk people recognizing them even more.

"Mila! You did so great!" Crystal immediately said when she spotted her figure giving her team a hug.

Camila screamed as she ran towards the couple, she didn't know they'd be coming.

"Crystal! Shawn! You guys, I didn't know you were coming." She engulfed them in a hug.

"That was a really good show, Mila." Shawn praised his friend.

"Thanks, Shawn! Aren't you going on tour soon too?" She asked completely unaware of the couple's feelings on that topic at the moment.

"Uh yeah," he answered shortly hoping she wouldn't as when. But that's exactly what she did.

"When does it start? Are you excited?"

"I leave in 2 days for Amsterdam."

"Ah! I'm glad I got to see you then! And is this beautiful girlfriend of yours tagging along?" Camila wiggled her eyebrows at Shawn as she pulled Crystal closer to her.

"I am-um working. So I'll have to stay in Toronto." Crystal replied, playing with her fingers.

Camila's mouth formed an "o" as she saw the look on both their faces.

Way to go Camila. She told herself in her head.

The trio grabbed dinner and hung out watching movies in Camila's hotel room. Shawn had known Camila the longest and Camila was technically third wheeling with the couple but Shawn found himself being the odd one out between the girls. It was as if they've known each other forever as they laughed and cried at the Rom Com movies they were watching. It was not until it was late that they decided they should let Camila rest. Camila thanked her friends once again for coming to her show and hanging out with her before they had left. She also wished Shawn the best of luck for tour.

"So we're going on for a road trip tomorrow morning." Shawn said after a while of driving in silence along the freeway.

"A roadtrip?" Crystal asked from the passenger seat.

"My team and I always come down to this cabin a little ways out of town before tour. We light a bonfire, sing songs and roast marshmallows. It's just a little tradition we've been doing to keep us grounded before we head to tour that could sometimes be too overwhelming."

"Aww, that's cute. I reckon this is your idea?" She spoke but her eyes were closed and she leaned her head on the window.

"Mhhm. We will be leaving for the airport immediately in the morning though. Would you like to come? 

"Of course."

"The morning after the cabin, we'll head back to my place to get my stuff, pick up my family and then the airport. Are you coming to the airport?"

"Would it be okay if I stay home?" She said already thinking of the people that would be waiting in the airport for him.

"Of course. I understand why you would like to stay. Oh, and I was meaning to tell you that you can still stay at the condo while I'm gone." He looked over to look at her for a second.

"Okay."

They drove in silence, the radio softly humming in the background. Shawn kept looking over to the girl who sat in his passenger seat. She was easily the strongest person he knew. She lost her brother, went to school whilst working, acting in movies ranging from rom coms to action. But why was she so afraid of falling in love? Why did the thought of a long distance relationship scare her when she could literally get on the next plane to join him on tour the second they finished filming?

"You gonna be okay, love?" He was itching to ask.

Crystal opened her eyes and leaned her back against the car door to face him. "I'll be okay." She smiled at him.

"Okay." He nodded. He believed in her. He had to turn his attention back on the road but he grabbed around for her hand. He interlocked their hands. Crystal kept her gaze at him as he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. He kept her hand close to his face and kissed on it until they reached a red light.

At the light, he turned to her. "I adore you." He said keeping eye contact.

He held her hand the rest of the ride, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. Crystal laid her feet on his lap as he drove. Shawn noticed from his peripheral vision that her skirt had ridden up her legs. He hoped she didn't notice when his cheeks burned up. 

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question: do you guys like 1 long update or should I split it into 2 updates?

thanks for 8k (im still mind blown) hope you enjoyed.