"Aimer, ce n'est pas se regarder l'un l'autre, c'est regarder ensemble dans la même direction." – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
love does not consist in looking at each other, but rather in, together, looking in the same direction.
-
the auburn haired girl sat on the top of a hard, cool wall, as the muggy air whipped up around her, kissing her skin with heat, and discomfort. she admired the waves lapping up to the shore of the beach, after all, she was abroad with her school, soaking up the sun of barcelona, which proved to be more sickly hot, rather than a sunny warmth (due to the earlier thunderstorm).

next to her, sat a boy, or rather, a young man, who had his notebook clasped in his hands, scribbling away at the stained pages, which looked like he had spilt coffee over them, whilst perhaps rushing about, and forgetting where his book was.

yet, both of them looked up, starring at the sea in front of them, starring into the distance, wandering what was beyond that.

"aria! you have to come back, miss collins found a copy of much ado! we're watching it in the lobby!" she chuckles lightly at her eager friend, who is far too excited about the wonders of shakespeare, in comparison to the trip they are on, which is mainly only to explore the culture of spain.

shawn can't help to chuckle at the conversation he overhears, his head shaking, as the wind hits his head of curls, tossing them around.

"what?" aria's warm voice captures the ears of shawn, as he turns his head towards the young girl, a smile stretched over his lips.

"much ado? excited over that?" aria let's a small laugh leave her lips.

"it's more interesting than you think, shawn," she says, a grin forming on her face. "i have to go, but i'll see you tomorrow?" the boys smile falters slightly, as he shakes his head.

"i'm leaving tomorrow."

"i'll sneak out of my room to meet you then," she says, leaning forward, and pressing her lips to his cheeks. "goodnight, mi amor."

"sweet dreams, mon amour," he responds, bringing the brunette in for a sweet kiss. "see you later."

"mhm," she nods back, high on the dangerous drug of love.

shawn was to return back home, whilst his girlfriend, secret girlfriend, was to stay for her school trip. he didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay in barcelona, and have secret little rendezvous with his lover, without a care in the world about who would see them. he wanted to stay with her, in barcelona, forever.

it was a good thing they both had the same thoughts.

shawn watches as she wanders back through the pathway leading to the hotel lobby, as she slides in through the glass doors, carrying her black tote bag as per usual. he lets out a breathy chuckle, before looking down at his hand, seeing the swallow bird tattoo, which always reminded him of aria, even though it was not even about her.

"out with mendes, then?" her friend, one different to the girl who was overly excited about the dissection, whispers.

"yeah," aria replies, nodding at her friend. "i'm sneaking out tonight to see him, jess."

"i'll cover for you," she says, placing her hand on my arm. "but for the love of romeo montague, be back before morning."

"of course," she chuckles, taking a seat on one of the couches in the lobby, next to her very much gay, best friend since birth. "jake, please wake me up if i fall asleep."

"you? fall asleep from the words of shakespeare? if i ever see that happen, i would be convinced that you are not yourself, and anyway, i would lose my wig." he says, making aria laugh softly. "how's mendes?"

"he's great," she smiles, her lips suddenly feeling tingly, and pure happiness spreading through her. "he's outside."

"do you mind if i sneak out and woo him?" jake teases, making aria hit his arm, a laugh leaving her lips. "joking, i know you're gonna sneak out tonight. tell me, will you leave through the window, like any other normal person to meet their secret beau, or the door?"

"oh shut up," aria chuckles, laughs leaving her lips, as she looks around the lobby, spotting her lover wandering inside, his long legs strolling themselves into an elevator, straight up to his floor, most likely.

both of them were more than excited for their rendezvous that night.
-
her phone flashlight shone at the door numbers, as she secretly tried to locate shawns hotel room, the anxiousness, yet pure joy, filling her up completely. at last, she reaches the gold numbers revealing the room number shawn texted her earlier, making her smile to herself gently, before she raised her hand, tapping gently at the wood, trying to be quiet in the dark hour of midnight.

"hey darling," shawn answers, a tired expression over his face, as he eagerly opens his arms, letting the girl walk straight into them, hugging his chest close to her head. "woah, you're a little cuddly today."

"are you complaining?" she mumbles against his chest, as he chuckles, closing the door behind them.

"no love, i'm just happy," he grins, kissing her head gently, rubbing his hands over her back comfortingly. "how long are you staying, baby?"

"till 5," she whispers, looking up from his chest. "only five hours." she clasped her hands over his grey sweater, moving her eyes so their looking directly into his.

"come on," he grins, leaning down to peck her lips softly, before letting go of her, and holding onto her docile hands, leading her further inside the messy hotel room, as she sees his guitar resting on the bed, paper scattered all around him.

"someone got busy tonight," aria chuckles, as shawn picks up the few pages, placing them on the bedside table, and perching down on the edge of the bed, taking his guitar into his hands. aria groans, crawling across the bed, and resting her head over his shoulder, her arms finding their way around his torso.

"what's up?" shawn laughs, placing his guitar down, and turning around, making aria fall down onto the bed with a giggle, and shawn lean over her. "my love, you are so beautiful."

"shawn, please stop," she says, a pink flush washing over her face, as shawn chuckles, lying down next to her, and spooning her body in his arms.

"why should i stop? i want to yell out to the world that i love you," he says, kissing her cheek over and over again. a slight feeling of confusion envelopes aria, as she stays silent, not replying to shawn. "aria, babe, what's up?"

"it's just you keep going on about yelling to the world that you love me, but why can't we tell your friends? and our families? and the world? and express it in canada, not in barcelona?" she sighs, moving away from his grasp, and sitting up in the bed, making shawn look at her confused, and follow her actions. "shawn, i love you, but why can't you just show the world how much you love me?"

"aria, i thought you didn't want that," he says gently, obviously slightly hurt by what she's said to him.

"it's fine, just forget i said it," she sighs, lying back down on the bed, her back turned to shawn, who's utterly confused over his lover.

"angel, hey," he whispers quietly, placing his hand on her waist, and slowly pulling her down. "i'm not annoyed at you, i'm just a little confused. do you want to come out as a couple?"

"i don't know," she mumbles, looking away from shawn.

"aria, please tell me," he says softly, rubbing his thumb over the bare skin between the end of her top, and the start of her yoga pants. "because if you want to, we can. we'll tell people."

"i mean i want to tell people, but i'm just scared. what are your fans gonna say about you dating someone a few years younger than you? i know you're on a break, and i know that you don't have a tour to go on for a while now, but the impacts? i'm just scared," she reveals, making shawns heart fall.

"okay, so we'll start with our families then, and after we tell my friends? and when you're ready, we can tell the fans, and i'll be right by your side for anything they say to you, because aria, i love you," he says, making her smile gently, tears burning her eyes, but not wanting to fall.

"and i love you," she leans up, capturing his lips in hers, shocking him slightly with the sudden kiss, but nevertheless, he still sinks into her touch, feeling the happiness consume him.

"so now that we are looking in the same direction, why don't i order us some champagne to celebrate?"