{emma pov}

"Do you want to just crash at my house tonight?" I ask. "I'm sure my mom will be okay with it."

"Sure," he smiles. "Let's put this on hold, then, and go there. Don't wanna wake anyone up too late, it's already 1."

"Is it really? Yeah, we should get going then." I agree.

We get into Shawn's jeep, and drive towards my house.

"Do you have anything to sleep in?" I ask.

"Are my sweatpants still in the back seat from earlier?"

I look into the back. "Yep."

"Then yes I do." he laughs. "Thanks for thinking of that."

"No problem, I need to take care of you too, you know." I say as we pull into the driveway, and he lets out a chuckle.

I manage to use my key to open the door while standing on one foot and holding up my crutches. I call that skill. We walk in and try to be as quiet as we can, and then my mom walks out of the kitchen in her bathrobe.

"Mom? What are you still doing up?" I ask, confused.

"I couldn't sleep until you got home. A little worried, I guess," she smiles.

"Well, Shawn's going to sleep over if that's okay."

"That's perfectly fine, just no baby-making you two." she points a finger jokingly.

I roll my eyes as I blush intensely. "Mom, first of all, I'm kind of crippled and in a lot of pain, second, isn't that kind of illegal? Considering he's 18 and I'm only 17?" We all laugh at my comment.

"Yes, honey, I was only kidding, gosh darn it you guys are so grown up." she shakes her head.

"Okay, we're really tired and I'm assuming you are too so we're going to go to bed now, goodnight," I smile, and she pulls me in for a hug.

"You were amazing tonight, I never doubted you. You both were," she pulls away. "Shawn, do you want one too?" she asks, but gives him a hug before he can answer. "Anyways, I'll stop being embarrassing now. Great job tonight, now go get some sleep."

We go upstairs and I use the bathroom first. When I get out Shawn has already gotten changed into his sweatpants. He's not wearing a shirt.

"You don't have a shirt to sleep in?" I whisper, trying not to wake anyone.

"Don't need one," he says nonchalantly. "It's hot out."

"Okay then, well, I'm not complaining," I shrug. "I will never object to you wearing no shirt."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind." he winks.

"Do you need to use the bathroom? There's extra toothbrushes under the sink if you need one, I can come dig one out for you," I offer.

"Thank you, I think I'll be able to find it. You get dressed, I don't want to trouble you to walk all the way back there on your crutches." he sends me a smile that makes my heart melt. Literally, what did I do to deserve this dork-of-a-gentleman?

"Okay," I smile, and he starts to walk towards the bathroom. "Wait," I say and he turns around.

"Yes, baby?"

"Can you undo me?" I ask, biting my lip slightly.

"Of course." he says and I turn around. He undoes the zipper on my dress and kisses my cheek, making me nostalgic as I recall that one night after our date when he did the same thing.

"Thank you." I grin.

I get into my pyjamas once he leaves, my black shorts with pink handwriting on them, and a pink shirt that says "hello weekend".

I put my crutches down leaning against the nightstand, and turn on the nightlight.

"Hey, you."

"Can you turn off the light?" I ask as he walks in. He does. "Thanks."

"Not a problem, my girl."

He then goes over to the other side of the bed, since my bed is in the middle of the room. We both lie down.

"I don't think I've told you this but I love your room, it's so pretty."

"Thank you! I got it redone last year for my 16th birthday." I explain.

"But it's not near as pretty as you." he says, brushing a piece of hair off my face and tucking it behind my ear.

"How did I not see that one coming?" I giggle.

"I don't know." he shrugs, laughing quietly.

"You're so cliché." I shake my head, laughing to myself.

"Is that such a bad thing?" he asks.

"No, I never said that," I smile, poking his nose, "but that just means that you're fairly predictable. I have a tip for you. Make yourself unpredictable." I wink at him.

"Wow, a tip from Emma? I got lucky tonight." He says humorously, and I turn off the lamp.

I giggle slightly, then turn onto my side. He turns on his side as well, wrapping his arms around me protectively.

"Goodnight." I turn my head and kiss him on the lips.

"Goodnight." He says back, planting a kiss on my forehead.

✦

My eyes flutter open as I hear my bedroom door open.

"Sorry, baby. Didn't mean to wake you." Says Shawn with a smile. The only thing on him is a white bath towel that is draped around his hips. Beads of water drip down his toned stomach making me want to melt in awe. "Oh, your mom said I could take a shower."

"Okay, I don't mind, it's not my shower." I laugh. Okay, I do mind a lot actually. In a good way. "I really want to kiss you right now." I gush, turning around to lay on my stomach and hold my chin in my hands.

"There's nothing holding you back." He chuckles.

"But I haven't brushed my teeth."

"I couldn't care less, honestly." he chuckles.

"Okay," I smile, then get up off the bed and stand on my good leg to kiss him softly. I leave it short and sweet, considering that my parents and siblings could walk in at any moment, and take the time to admire his toned body. "Okay, I'm going to brush my teeth now." I pat him on the chest a few times before hopping on one foot over to my nightstand where my crutches are. He laughs at my hopping. "What are you laughing at? I need to get around somehow."

"You're just adorable, that's all." he laughs again.

As much as I'd love to stare at him all day, I need to get on with my day, so I go to the bathroom to freshen up.

I get my teeth brushed, and eventually get dressed too, then the two of us walk back downstairs together.

I've started using my room upstairs again, because at my last doctors appointment they told me I'd be able to put a little bit of weight on my leg now. This lets me do a few more things that I couldn't, such as going up and down the stairs. So, as long as I'm not constantly going up and down the stairs and I'm being careful while I do it, once in awhile is okay.

"Watching you go down this slow kills me." Shawn rolls his eyes, laughing.

"I need to practice going down the stairs again." I laugh back. He's carrying my crutches for me.

"Well not today, sorry." he laughs, and picks me up bridal style and carries me down the stairs and sits me down on a chair in the kitchen.

"Oh hey, Shawn." Danielle says, noticing he's in the house. "Amazing show last night."

"Thanks." He smiles. "Now, what would you like for breakfast, my love?" he asks me.

"Oh, Shawn don't be silly. I'll make you both breakfast." My mom walks into the kitchen.

"Wow, good morning to you too, Mom." I giggle.

"Good morning sweetie. So, what would you two like?"

"Whatever." I say. "Babe? You pick, you're the guest."

"I don't know, you pick. You're the cripple."

"Ugh, fine." I give in. "Mom, can you please make us some eggs and bacon?" I ask.

"Good choice." Shawn winks at me. "Mrs. Hall, please let me help you do something." He pleads.

"Shawn, you've really gotta stop calling me Mrs. Hall. Please, call me Angela." She laughs. "And no no, I'll make it, don't be silly."

"Okay." he says, and I roll my eyes playfully.

"What?" he asks.

"You're too nice." I laugh.

"Is that such a bad thing?" he raises an eyebrow.

"Nope. Just complimenting you." I shoot him a smile.

"Well then thank you."

"Hey, Emma." Danielle says.

"Yeah?"

"I heard that your school is doing a coffee house in the first week of school if you didn't know already, you and Shawn may be able to perform if you're interested." she suggests.

"Danielle that's a great idea! To be honest I actually completely forgot about school starting next week, oops." I cringe.

"I'd definitely be up for that." Shawn agrees.

I look up the details on the website for my school, Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. It's going to be incredibly weird going back, especially since I ruined things with my best friend. Yep, I'm definitely going to be eating lunch in the back seat of my car for awhile.

Rachel and I are both very into the arts, we've known each other since this arts camp when we were 6. We both went to different elementary schools, and even though Wexford was in her region and not mine, I still chose to go there because of their great arts programs.

I hope no one treats me differently now. I feel like things will be different though, whether I like it or not. I sigh at the thought.

"What?" Shawn asks. That's when I realized that I sighed out loud.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking of school, that's all."

"What about school?"

"Do you think things will be different now?" I ask. "Now that I've been away for a year?"

"This is where you find out who your real friends are. The ones who still treat you no differently are your real friends." he replies

"Well now there are none since Rachel's gone. She was the ring leader of my entire friend group, and now they'll all follow her."

"She'll come to her senses." Is all he says.

I sigh again. "Okay so the event is Friday at 5pm, you free?" I ask. It's Monday today.

"Yeah, nothing is up for the next few weeks except for being with you." he smiles. "When you're not at school, that is."

"Okay, I'll call Amber, the head of the Arts Council." Amber and I are more distant friends, but we still talk every once in awhile.

"Hello?" She answers.

"Hi Amber, this is Emma Hall." I smile. I haven't talked to her in what feels like forever.

"Hi, Emma! How have you been?" she asks. "I hear you've been touring."

"Yeah, things have been going great for Shawn and I, and that is actually what I wanted to ask you about. I heard about the Arts Night on Friday, and I would like to ask you something."

"I'm all ears."

"Do you think you may be able to squeeze Shawn and I in the set list?" I ask. "If you need us to come for an audition or anything, we can do that, or-"

"Yes, we'd be honoured to have you guys perform!" She squeals. "And don't be silly, no audition is necessary, we all know what you two are capable of." she says excitedly. "Okay, now let me have a look... Okay! You two will be the finale act!"

"Wow, that's great! Thanks so much Amber!" I say.

"Okay, I'll see you on Thursday?" she asks. That's the first day of school.

"Of course, see you." I smile, then hang up.

"So?" Shawn asks.

"We're in as the finale act!" I squeal.

a/n
 
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thanks for reading, hope you all have a great weekend! 😇💗
 
~em 💖