isn't it lovely all alone? - Billie Eilish and Khalid, lovely
-
shawn sharpies the last box, labelling it with clothes, before looking at aria, who continues to organise her toiletries into another box, furiously trying to pack them in properly, so none will spill or burst. he chuckles to himself softly, before walking over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, and kissing her cheek softly.

"don't stress baby," he whispers. "we have all the time in the world."

"when you've figured out how to pack toiletries, give me a call," she says sarcastically, making shawn hum out a small laugh. "it'll have to do, if a glass bottle breaks, it won't be the end of the world."

"exactly, and i can always buy you a new one," he says, making her sigh in his arms, finishing to close the box, and label it.

"no, you aren't buying me a thing, you're already doing enough by not letting me pay half of the bills," she says, pointing a finger at him. "i swear to god, shawn. you're so annoying."

"you've said," he grins. "i'm just happy."

"too happy. let me pay!" she groans, pushing herself away from shawn, who laughs again, wrapping his arms more firmly around her. "come on, let me pay for half. please."

"aria, no," he chuckles. "i already earn too much money as it is. i'm not letting you pay for anything."

"this is the twenty first century, and women should be at their highest point in time so far. we are independent, we can cope without the aid from a man, so for the love of god, please let me pay!" she complains, making shawn grin at her.

"fine," he chuckles. "but only up to the cost of one hundred dollars."

"you know what, i really do hate you," she playfully glares at him, folding her arms, as he continues to hold her, laughing.

"okay baby, whatever you say," he chuckles, making her roll her eyes. "are you ready?"

"yeah, i just need to call my landlord, well, old landlord to say that i'm leaving the keys in the kitchen," she sighs. "this was a weird move."

"yeah, i'm sorry, if you don't want to move i completely understand-"

"no, i want to move," she says, reassuring him. "it's just it's crazy, i'm still trying to wrap my head around everything." she pulls away, rubbing his arm softly, and sending him a reassuring smile. "can you take some of the boxes to the car for me?"

"of course," he grins, kissing her cheek softly. "i'll be waiting in the car, okay?"

"mhm," she nods, before wandering off, leaving shawn to load the little cart with the mere five boxes aria has, since she still hasn't fully moved from her parents' house. he drags the cart with him to the elevator, taking them down to the car park, where he loads up the car, getting into the drivers seat to wait for aria.

he turns the music on, letting it fill the car, turning on the ac after. as he waits for aria, he can't help but to smile at what's happening. he's actually moving in with his girlfriend, it really is happening.

aria wanders through the corridors of her new, yet old apartment building, chuckling aimlessly to herself. she was about to move into her own place, only to move in with shawn. she smiles, before entering the elevator, and taking the short trip down to the car park.

"hey," she says to shawn, getting into the cooled down car.

"hi gorgeous," he grins back. "ready?"

"lets do this," she responds back, a massive smile on her lips.

she was definitely ready to move in with him.
-
"i still can't believe you won't be going back home tomorrow afternoon," shawn says, in utter bewilderment, as he looks down at aria, who rests against his chest, her eyes facing the tv screen which plays and episode of gossip girl.

"this is home, shawn," she says gently, making shawns heart leap in his chest, and endearment fill his veins. "this is my home."

"god i love you," he whispers, placing a gently kiss on her forehead. "are you sleepy, baby?"

"i could watch a couple more episodes," she grins back, looking up at him. "can we sleep here tonight? i can't be bothered to move."

"whatever you want, hunny," he chuckles. "even though we have a perfectly incredible bed in our room, but oh well," he grins, making her laugh lightly, before snuggling closer to shawn. "you can sleep wherever you want, babe. this is our home."

"our home," she repeats, slightly more optimistic, and nevertheless, feeling completely adored. "shawn, i'm so excited."

"me too gorgeous," he whispers back to her, pulling his other arm around her, and holding her body in a hug against his chest. "we have to go grocery shopping tomorrow."

"ugh, really?" she groans, making shawn laugh. "i hate adulting."

"so do i, love, so do i," shawn says to her, tracing little patterns over her shoulder. "you want some tea?"

"please," she nods, looking up at him and kissing him softly. he smiles, standing up, unwrapping his arms from around her, and walking into the kitchen.

the main landline begins to ring, making shawn groan loudly, before going to answer it. "hello?" he asks, tired, and not particularly wanting to talk to anyone apart from aria.

"shawn! thank god you picked up! the internet is blowing up," andrew tells him on the other line. "when did aria move in with you?"

"wait, what?" shawn asks, dropping the box of tea from his hands. "no one knows yet, apart from our families!"

"someone got pictures shawn, go online please, you need to take a look at it all," aria looks back at shawn, seeing him suddenly worried. she pauses the tv show, getting up, and walking over to him, picking up the box of tea and placing it on the counter.

"andrew, can you please do something about the paps? i don't want them to follow us around," shawn says gently, looking down at aria.

"i'll try my best to. have a good night you guys, see you next week," shawn hangs up, sighing gently, before looking at aria, who has concern written all over her features.

"what's happened?" she asks him softly, as he sighs again, reaching into the cupboard next to him, and pulling out a whiskey.

"paps saw us moving you in," he mumbles, pouring out the whisky neat into a glass, before tipping the harsh liquid down his throat.

"shawn," she whispers, pulling the glass and bottle away from him, making him breathe out an annoyed look, before leaning onto the counter behind him. "don't worry. it's not worth your time to worry. we're a couple, so what if we've moved in together?"

"that's not the point aria, the fact is my fans have found out, and they're going to hate on you all over again. i mean, not all of them, but there are a select few who will," he mutters, folding his arms and looking away from her. "whatever, i'm going to sleep."

"shawn," aria says firmly, getting slightly annoyed at him. "don't think of it as a bad thing! it's me who's going to get the hate anyway, so why are you so concerned?"

"are you fucking kidding me aria?" shawn bursts, his neck vein popping out from under his skin. "did you just say what i think you did?"

"it really doesn't matter thought! don't you want me moving in to get out? or do you feel too embarrassed about it? because that's what it looks like," she folds her arms, and shawn shakes his head with a bitter chuckle.

"you're actually unbelievable," he says, taking the glass and whiskey back from aria. "and i thought moving in together would stop us from fighting."

"you're the one being bitter about things, not me!" she yells, feeling all the anger towards the situation come catapulting towards her. "why do you care so much that it's out? why do you care if people find out? won't they find out soon enough?"

"because you're three years younger than me, aria!" he shouts back, breathing heavily. "whatever, goodnight."

aria feels confusion run through her. why does he still care so much about her age? she watches him shake his head as he walks away into the bedroom which feels more alien than ever to her. in fact, everything around her feels alien. it all feels so inhumane. so different, so cold.

she silently wanders back to the couch, turning the tv off completely, bringing her legs up to her chest, and sitting in a ball. does shawn really still think about that? is he so conceited to the point where he still cares? her phone starts to ring from beside her, and she sighs gently, going to answer it.

"hello?" she asks quietly, trying to be silent for the sake of shawn sleeping, and also the fact that it is quite late.

"hey aria, is this a bad time?" hailey asks her back, making aria smile sadly, leaning back onto the couch.

"not really, what's up?"

"i saw the pictures," she says. "did shawn react to them?"

"a little, but it's fine," aria replies. "are they seriously blowing up the internet? because i really don't want that to happen."

"what did he say?" hailey asks, knowing immediately that aria is hurt by something he said.

"hails," aria sighs. "he's still so concerned about our ages, and my age. i don't know why, because i'm 18. it's legal, and why would he ask me to move in if he cares so much?"

"oh aria," she says gently. "babe, i'm so sorry. did you guys fight?"

"yeah, sorta," she mumbles, feeling the tears brim at her eyes. "hailey i want to go home. i don't feel at home here. not anymore, not after what he said."

"i'll be in toronto tomorrow for a shoot, how about we meet up over lunch and talk about things, yeah?" hailey tells her. "just get some sleep, and clear your mind a little. you don't need this stress now."

"i know i don't, but if shawns not happy, what am i doing here?" she mumbles, a tear slipping down her cheek. she quickly wipes it away. "anyway, it's late and i'm getting tired. i'll see you tomorrow hails."

"okay sweetie, goodnight, i hope you feel better in the morning."

"night."

aria hangs up, putting her phone back on charge, and sighing gently, letting the tears roll down her cheeks.

it was going so well.