i feel alive - we the kings
I'm lying here whispering the sweetest nothing
I feel your heart beating faster than you're breathing
And I don't even know if I can close my eyes
Don't want to sleep 'cause I'm wide awake and dreaming
Hold me close and catch your breath now
I promise not to leave this bed yet
~
Happiness never looked so good on both Crystal and Shawn's faces. Shawn would even skip his way into the studio from his car. Crystal was simply blooming. Everyone noticed.
"We're so sorry about the food, Crys. The usual chef got the flu. Would you like me to grab you something from the stores?" Vivian appeared in front of Crystal who was patiently waiting in her directors chair. Turns out, the temporary chef who cooked today's menu was not aware of Crystal's allergies.
"That's alright, Vivian. I might grab something to eat myself. Do you have my phone?" She asked with a smile.
Vivian thought there was something different about her today. A nice kind of different. But she didnt say anything about it.
She fished in her purse for Crystal's phone and handed it to her. "Its been going off since the morning."
They had started work around 4am so she hasn't been able to check her phone since. True to Vivian's words, there was a bunch of notifications since 7am.
Shawn: hi!
Shawn: good morning beautiful
Shawn: u up yet?
Shawn: probably long day at work huh? 🤔
Shawn: or you could already be working
Shawn: wake up!
Shawn: wake up. i miss you :((
2 missed calls from Shawn Mendes
Shawn: where are youu?? love me !!!
Shawn: you're not mad at me are you?
Shawn: hello?
Shawn: sorry am I being clingy?
You missed 1 FaceTime call from Shawn Mendes
Instagram: @shawnmendes mentioned your in their story.
Shawn: headed to rehearsal now. have a good day at work, love. ❤️
Crystal couldn't help but laugh out loud but a blush made its way to her cheeks. Vivian was peeking over her shoulder.
"Did something happen during the night of the hockey game that I don't know about, Crys?" Vivian smirked at Crystal.
"Maybe." She answered shyly still too focused on her phone. Vivian snatched her phone back and tried to keep if far from Crystal's reach. "Hey! Vivian I need to call him back!"
"I'll give it back when you tell me what happened. Are you two finally dating?" Crystal's eyes widened at the word. It was so weird to hear it out loud.
"Shhh! Vivian just give me the phone back." Crystal jumped off her chair and tried to grab the phone from Vivian.
"Oh, so you are dating?" Vivian swatted Crystal's arm away from the phone .
"No! I mean yes! I mean no. I don't know!" Crystal was confused and frustrated. Vivian gave her a look. Crystal sighed knowing she can't get away without answering questions. "Fine."
"Im listening" Vivian grinned knowing she won.
"Technically, he asked me to be his girlfriend." Vivian shrieked at that. "But, I told him tour is going to start soon. He asked me if I was dumping him; he got sad. Long story short we're 'exclusive' until tour starts."
"Is Crystal afraid to use the b-word?" Vivian teased referring to "boyfriend" and poking Crystal's side.
"Now, don't go tweeting in your fan account about this or tell anyone!" Crystal rolled her eyes.
"I do not have a fan account!" Vivian got irritated about the old joke. When Vivian first got her job as Crystal's PA the first thing she had told her was that she almost made a fan account for Crystal when she was young. Vivian was exaggerating at that time but Crystal would never forget when her face paled when she learned she'll be working for her.
"Whatever. Give me the phone." Crystal grinned triumphantly at Vivian who was pouting childishly. She grabbed her phone from her hand and kissed her cheek before leaving for her trailer. "Love you, Viv!" Vivian stuck out her tongue at her and made uncomfortable kissing noises just to tease her one final time about Shawn.
Once she was in the privacy of her trailer, she texted Shawn first since he might be rehearsing at the moment and she didn't want to disturb.
Crystal: Hey, hunny. Sorry. I was working and Vivian had my phone.
Crystal: ur cute btw
Her fingers typed fast not even comprehending what she called him until she had sent it. Her eyes widened but she smiled because it sounded kinda nice.
Not even five minutes later, Shawn was already calling.
"Hi," He was trying to catch his breath because he had ran to get his phone the second he heard it indicate a message.
"Hey, Shawn. Im sorry I didn't reply. We've been filming all day. Are you at rehearsals?"
"Yeah but we're about to go on lunch break. Have you eaten?"
"Not yet. Our usual chef got the flu and the temporary one for today wasn't told of my allergies so I couldn't eat anything."
"Well, can I pick you up and we can grab lunch?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Okay. Im heading out right now. I'll see you in a little bit, hun?"
"Okay. See you." They hung up.
It wasn't long until Shawn let himself in Crystal's trailer but she was a few seconds away from falling into REM sleep. She felt sleepy when she dropped the call so she told herself she'll take a 15-minute nap.
"Crys?" His voice rang through the small trailer the second he opened the door.
"Oh, hey. Ready to go?" Crystal suddenly shot up from laying down on the bed. She scrambled to get her stuff while trying to rub the sleep off her eyes.
Shawn frowned seeing her exhausted. He thought she still looked beautiful though. "I didn't take that long did I?" He was sure their call was only 25 minutes ago. Had she been sleeping since then? How tired was she?
"Oh no. You didn't. I was just taking a nap." She smiled tiredly at him when she reached him.
Shawn wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "Crys, we don't have to go. I can head back out bring food. We can eat here and you can sleep while you wait."
"Shawn, I'm alright. I was just taking a nap."
"Crystal, how long have you been working?" He asked in a more serious tone.
"Hun, its alright really. Let go." She though she could make him let it go.
"You didn't answer the question, Crys."
"I've been up since 2 this morning. But really, Im fine."
Shawn sighed loudly for her. He walked her back toward the corner of the trailer until they reached the bed there. He pushed her gently to sit on the bed. He crouched down to be eye level with her.
"I'll go get food. Get some sleep while waiting for me." Crystal looked almost annoyed at him for being stubborn. "Please."
When she realized she couldn't get mad at Shawn for letting her rest, her shoulders slumped. "Okay."
Shawn smiled and pressed a kiss on her forehead and left. The second the door closed she fell back on the bed and was asleep in seconds.
An hour later, Crystal had taken her power nap and Shawn came back with food.
"All better now?" He was setting the bag of food on the table in the trailer when Crystal stirred away.
"Yeah. Thanks for getting food." She stood up get grab a burger. "How was rehearsals?"
"Its going really well. We finished up a few songs before I went to get food so Im all yours for the day." He smiled showing his teeth at her.
"You didn't have to do that." She told him but she was grateful. "I still have to finish up for the day though."
"I know. I'll hang around and watch." He shrugged eating his own burger.
Crystal remembered that they'll be filming intimate scenes again today and Shawn had to watch that. She wondered how Shawn would react. Would he be jealous? Well, if he wanted to date Crystal he would have to deal with it eventually. She'd only be doing her job.
"So you missed me?" Crystal would never forget the multiple messages Shawn had send. It was adorable.
Shawn tried to hide a smile and his cheeks colored. "Too much?"
"Not at all. It was cute."
He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a knock on her trailer door. Vivian's head popped in and she smiled at Shawn. "Hey Shawn!"
"Hey Vivian!"
"Crystal, were back on in a few."
"Okay! Be right there. Thanks Viv." And then she was gone.
Shawn starts tidying up the trailer and gets up to head out with her.
"Shawn?" Crystal called in a small voice.
"Hm?" He threw out their trash in a nearby trash can before looking at her.
"I—um." Shawn raised his brow at her urging her to continue speaking. Crystals nervously played with her fingers and looked down. "Well, I kind of have to kiss Aiden for this scene... and a little more than kissing." She peered at his reaction.
"Oh." He didn't look mad. He just looked like he should've realized that before.
"I hope thats okay?"
"Of course it it, Crys. It's part of your job." He gave her an understanding smile. "As long as I get a kiss first." He winked.
Crystal laughed but walked over to him. Because of her small height of 5'5, her forehead only reached the part on his chest where his heart would be.
Shawn pulled her in and locked his fingers together behind her back. He leaned down and covered her slightly parted lips with his.
"Okay, now lets get some work done!" Crystal shouted playfully and was out the door.
They shot a few scenes outside while the sun was still there and had moved inside when they were ready to film the last scene of the day: another sex scene.
Once Dave had yelled "Action!" Shawn was suddenly nervous for what he's about to watch. He hasn't even done things with Crystal and now Aiden get to do so? His thoughts sounded ridiculous even to him but he couldn't help them.
Technically, we was not obligated to watch since usually they tried to have as less people in the room when they shot scenes like this. Dave didn't mind Shawn being there as long as Crystal was too. He also wanted to prove that he was "mature" enough to accept that this is what his girlfriend did for a living and movies were a form of art in which she brings life to.
Crystal appreciated that he swallowed his pride in a situation like this.
The cameras start rolling and Shawn watches the scene from the monitor. He stood tall, professional, and proud with his arms crossed on his chest as he watched curiously.
On the monitor, he watches as the cameras focus on parts of Crystal's exposed skin. She was wearing a really short dress but he figured it was part of her character's choice of clothing.
They showed a short clip of Crystal's underwear being removed from under her dress and Shawn became uncomfortable. His cheeks flushed even more when he heard her moaning. He felt the room getting hot that he had to find a spot to sit on. He found the chair with Crystal's name on it in a corner so he came and sat on it until the scene was over.
He didn't even hear Dave yell out "Cut!" Because he too busy in his own world trying to drown out the noises and the images coming to his head. He didn't realize he had closed his eyes and was pinching the bridge of his nose until he felt hands on his thighs. He jumped slightly and was forced to open his eyes. Crystal stood in front of him and had placed her hands on his thighs. She was now wearing a robe to keep her warm.
"You alright there?" She asked.
"Um, yeah. Of course." Crystal sensed that he was trying to keep it together but understood the gravity of the situation on Shawn.
"I just need to change and Im all done for the day. Then we can head back to yours?"
Shawn nodded and gave her a smile.
*
"Do you work tomorrow?" Shawn asked Crystal in the car.
"Nope. You have rehearsals?"
"Just for a little bit. Wanna sleep over?"
"Hmm, depends. Do you have ice cream?" Crystal tried to be clever.
Shawn rolled his eyes at her being childish but turned on his turn signal to make a detour to the store before heading home.
In the grocery store, Crystal skipped down the ice cream isle and grabbed a match flavored ice cream and a vanilla tub just incase Shawn didn't like matcha.
She also sneaked in a bottle of face mask hoping to get to do one with Shawn.
"Crystal, I think you're mistaking me for a girl. Aren't these what girls do in sleepovers?" Shawn whined when she had scanned the bottle of face mask.
"Well, isn't that what you're here for? I don't have my girlfriends with me here but I have you so..." She bopped his nose. It didn't make perfect sense but Shawn was down with whatever made her this happy.
They made it to Shawn's condo and Crystal couldn't help but plop on the comfy looking couch. She's been really tired lately.
Shawn came up behind the couch and began massaging her shoulders. Crystal closed her eyes not realizing how much she needed a good massage until now.
"You've been working really hard, babe. Do you always have to work that long?" Shawn asked. He didn't realize how much actors worked.
"Mmmh." Crystal just hummed. She'd been acting since she was young so this was how its always been.
Shawn continued to massage her back and when he finished he leaned over the to kiss the top of her head.
"Pizza for dinner, hun?" He called from the kitchen.
"Sounds good!"
He pressed a few buttons on the kitchen to preheat it and pulled out a box of frozen pizza from the freezer. He put the pre-made pizza in the oven once it was ready. He also put away the ice cream in the freezer.
He headed over to the couch to Crystal.
"So what'd you think?" Crystal turned her body to Shawn. "I didn't want to say anything earlier but I knew you didn't look very comfortable earlier."
Shawn then realized that she was pertaining to her work earlier.
Oh you know. I was fine but I'm just so attracted to you I couldn't help the thoughts that came to my mind the second I heard you moan. Shawn thought he would say.
"I thought that you did really good." That was the more appropriate version of it. "You're an amazing actor, Crys. And a pretty dam.n hot one too." He scooted closer to her. His hands made its way to her waist.
"Smooth. Real smooth, Mendes." She tried to shove him playfully.
"I was wondering. Why acting, Crys?"
"Good question. It makes me happy to be able to portray different kinds of people. You know how people say that the first step to moving forward from a problem is recognizing that there is a problem. Sometimes people don't realize things until they see it in a different angle.
"At first, I was kinda just doing it for fun you know? Until I started getting letters and messages saying that they saw themselves in the characters I play and they were able to move forward in life. My favorite ones are when they tell me that I have inspired them. I think, the script writers should get more credit honestly. The stories they come up with are beautiful and they are able to write it down in a way that more people are able to understand and relate to. I just deliver them but sometimes I get to pitch in a few plot ideas too." Shawn was thinking that he could listen to her talk about her passions for hours.
"I love the passion that you have, Crystal. You're very talented and what you do is beautiful." He was brushing away the hair that was covering her face.
"Thank you." She said in a whisper.
They sat there in silence and Shawn continued to brush and play with her hair. Crystal rested her head on the back of the sofa, her body turned to Shawn and just admired the view. She studied his face carefully like she wanted to remember the exact shade of his eyes.
She was thinking about what had changed in her life when Shawn came in it. She didn't have a doubt that she was happier when she was with him. It didn't matter if she only had 2 hours of sleep or 10 hours, he made her feel alive any hour of the day.
He was so genuine, kind, passionate, and honest that he literally emitted good vibes.
When he leaves for tour would it feel different again? She shuddered internally at the thought.
And it was in that moment that she knew, he just had to be in her life.