I love her, and that's the beginning and end of everything - Jay Gatsby
-
the two of them were ecstatic, more than ecstatic really, perhaps they were cast into a fleeting diorama of literal ecstasy, but the cause of their happiness was well known. the smiles that adorned their faces were almost crafted by little fairies, each part so intricate in mirroring actual happiness, and trying to get it so perfectly right for them.

she squealed as soon as the plane landed. although her mother was in hospital, and she should probably have been thinking of her, aria couldn't help to wander about shawn, and to think about what they would do tonight. maybe the two of them would go exploring, and get lost in japan, amongst the culture, and beauty of the country.

a small giggle passed her lips as she casually thought of the reference.

"mum would want you to go," her father said to her, grasping onto her cold hands. "you can't turn this down. you have to be selfish."

and she definitely was being selfish. but she didn't care. all she wanted at that moment was shawn, and she was going to do whatever it took to get him back in her grasp.

shawn sat down anxiously on one of the benches at the airport, the flowers he bought lying on the seat beside him, as his knee shook up and down rapidly. he didn't exactly know why he was nervous, but it was a good kind of nervous, a kind which fills you with adrenaline, a kind that makes every second pass feel faster than the last.  he couldn't wait to hold her in his arms again, to tell her over and over again how much he loves her.

at long last, she walked through the doors of the arrivals, her suitcase in her hand, and her bag resting over her shoulder, as she looks around eagerly for shawn, trying to spot the six foot giant.

"aria," shawn mumbles, looking up, and spotting her looking around the busy airport. "aria!" he stands up, pushing past people, until he finally gets into the sight of aria. both of them break out into huge smiles, and come charging at each other, embracing their lover in their arms.

"oh my god," aria whispers, as shawn chuckles, bringing his hand to her hair, holding her head close to him. "why does it feel like i haven't seen you for years?"

"because, we haven't really been apart at all in the last six months, but you're here now, i japan," he says, as tears brim his eyes. "and i'm crying, oh god, this is crazy, why are we acting like this?" she laughs, looking up from the hug, seeing a tear roll down shawns cheek.

"i'm not even crying, what's up with you?" she chuckles.

"i'm just happy you're here," he says, sending her a small smile. "come on, let's get to the venue, there's people who i want you to meet."

"wait, venue?"

"aria, it's 1 in the afternoon, i have a meet and greet in about two hours, and my show is at 8," he chuckles, grabbing the girls suitcase, and her hand in his other hand.

"wait, what? it can't be 1."

"time zones, baby, and you're supposed to be the one with straight A's," aria whacks shawns arm with her other arm, making him laugh loudly, causing people around them to stare with happiness at the young couple. "i'm joking, you can sleep in my dressing room if you want."

"hell no, i am not missing you perform my song."

"and what's your song now?" shawn teases.

"particular taste, i am not missing that at all."
-
"alright, so i know that this is a little impromptu, of me calling a meeting at such a random time, but since you're all my big family, i wanted to introduce you to someone," shawn begins to the group of his crew, making arias heart skip a beat. "this is aria, my girlfriend, and she will be joining us for the next few weeks," he links his arm around her waist, as she nervously waves at the group, sending them a smile. "she means a lot to me, so i would love it if you guys were to treat her like family."

brian scoffs from the back of the group, rolling his eyes, and looking at the crowd who are smiling gleefully at the couple. although he did apologise to shawn, he still hated the fact that he was dating aria. it disgusted him, how someone with such moral principles, and such an important standing in life would date someone who is a minor, and furthermore younger than him.

"hey, i'm gonna go to the toilet quickly," aria says softly to shawn, leaning up so she can whisper it into his ear. "where can i go to watch the show?"

"come back here, andrew will be here. he'll take you to the wings," shawn whispers back, kissing her cheek softly.

"you're gonna kill it," she grins, pecking his lips softly. "i'll see you later."

"can't wait," he says back, letting aria walk off to the bathroom, as he gets his mic fitted, and fetches his guitar.

brian notices the brunette walking off, and immediately slips away from the crowd, going to follow her, anger, and a slight smirk over his face. he was going to save shawn.

"hey, aria!" brian calls, making her turn around, the smile slowly dissolving from her face, as she comes to look at him.

"oh, hi," she says, folding her arms towards her chest, and frowning slightly.

"look i know i made a mistake about you, but i'm really sorry, and i just wanted to say something that i think you might want to hear," aria furrows her eyebrows at brian, who is lying to her completely. "listen, i know that it isn't my place to say, but last week, shawn sort of left a bar with this girl. i don't know where they went, but i saw her leaving the hotel at maybe 3am? that's when i got back anyway, but i saw the same girl leaving."

aria feels her heart sink down, her happiness slowly melting into sadness, yet a small amount of understanding. "oh," she mumbles, her frown carving deeper into her face. "uhm, thanks i guess."

"i know it's hard, but i didn't want you to never find out," he lies, trying to hide the smile that's appearing on his face. "shawn probably wasn't going to tell you."

"can you tell someone i've gone back to the hotel? i don't feel too good," she mutters, before pushing past brian, and running away from the scene, the tears building up in her eyes. she passes a concerned geoff and andrew, but ignores their shouts, and continues to run out of the venue, not looking back.

"no one tell shawn, not yet, he won't perform otherwise," andrew says quietly to geoff, as he nods understandingly.

"should i follow her?"

"i'll go," andrew says, handing geoff his lanyard, and going in the same direction as the girl, but not managing to see where she went.

it was too late, she was already in a taxi, on the way back to the hotel.
-
the midnight breeze kissed her hot skin, as tears wandered down her cheeks, her nose sniffly, as she wandered around the cold streets of japan, lonely, and completely out of her mind. she didn't know where she was, and her directions to the hotel, made her end up in the middle of tokyo city, amongst the lively and vibrant night life. she lets out a cry, receiving stares from the passers by, before she unlocks her phone, trying to find someone to call.

"hello?" a voice asks, making aria sigh in relief.

"b-brian? is that you?" she sniffles, wiping her tears. "i-i need help, i-i'm lost, and i don't know where i am, and-"

"i thought you went back to the hotel?"

"so did i! b-but i'm somewhere, and i-i don't know where and- i need help."

"alright, drop me your location, and i'll send someone over," he says, suddenly concerned about what he's done, but not really caring because he's done it for shawn.

"p-please don't send shawn over," she begs, wiping away her tears.

"i won't," he confirms, hanging up the phone, and walking backstage to find someone. aria quickly sends him her location, and leans against the wall behind her, wiping her tears and softly crying to herself.

she should have never left her mum. she should have stayed, it would've saved her a whole lot of heartbreak.

cars pass her, the lights shining onto her, but always passing, as she nervously waits for someone to find her. did brian forget to pass it on? did they forget about her? was shawn coming? thoughts clouded up her mind, as she sniffled, looking at a black taxi which parks in front of her.

she couldn't believe her eyes at who stepped out of the car. it was shawn.

"aria, babe, oh my god," he says, rushing over to her, and placing his coat over her shoulders. "hey, hun, why didn't you call me?" he asks softly, helping her into the car.

"why are you here?" she croaks out, her voice hoarse and scratchy.

"andrew told me, that's besides the point though," he says, looking at her hurt composure with soft eyes. "are you okay?"

"i'm fine," she mutters, looking out of the window, not wanting to even look at shawn, let alone talk to him.

"why did you leave, baby?"

"can you stop asking me questions?"

her voice comes out with more attitude than anticipated, making shawn flinch in slight shock. she sighs, resting her head on her hand, and wiping the last of her tears.

"what did i do?" he asks gently. "because if you're upset because of me, i just want you-" she lets out a scoff, laughing sarcastically at him, as the taxi pulls up outside the hotel. "aria, please, just tell me what i did so i can fix this."

"i'll tell you what you can do," she begins, getting out of the car. "you can book me a ticket to go back home. i don't want to be here anymore."