UNPREDICTABLE
XI. JUICE BAR
"ARE YOU KEEPING
TABS ON ME?"

➖
EMERY'S SATURDAY morning still consisted of rising early to go for a run and going to the juice bar to talk with Alexis, before she'd go play basketball. However, today was a struggle because Ashes wouldn't leave her alone so that she could, and she was slowly getting annoyed.

Emery picked him up, pressing him against her chest. She stroked the kitten, and he happily purred against her. She sat down on the bed, making a small bed for Ashes on top of it, before she placed him down on it. He let out a small squeak, curling up in a ball and then falling asleep.

"I'll be back later baby," said Emery.

The blonde rose from her seat on the bed, finally having Ash asleep so she could leave. She grabbed her needed things, before she found herself going for a run. She had her headphones in, listening to whatever playlist she'd decided on.

She'd made it to the juice bar, as it was a regular stop for her every Saturday. Pushing the door open, she was met with the smell of freshly cut fruit. She let out a satisfied sigh, making her way over to the counter to find Alexis. She'd then realised that there were about four people waiting for a juice, and she smiled.

She was glad that people were actually supporting Alexis and her juice bar, because she didn't know what she'd be doing on a Saturday morning if this place wasn't around.

Alexis handed out the four juices, wiping the sweat from her forehead but not wiping the grin from her face. She watched Alexis, who looked to be talking to someone, but didn't think much of it. Emery grinned over at Alexis when their eyes locked, and Alexis grinned back, wider than usual.

Emery furrowed her eyebrows, but still walked over to where she usually sat. Instead of finding three empty seats, she found two empty and one taken. Her eyes locked onto the familiar brown curls, her stomach fluttering suddenly at the sight of him. She made her way over anyway, taking a seat beside him while Alexis and him were speaking.

"..... yes, of course!" said Shawn.

"Don't think that trying to swoon over my juice is going to get me to help you with your situation," said Alexis.

Emery let out a laugh. "Good luck with that Shawn. She won't budge. I've tried."

Shawn's golden orbs flickered over to Emery, widening when he'd realised that she was actually sitting beside him. A grin suddenly appeared across his lips at the sight of her, with Alexis' lips turning upwards at the look of complete adoration on Shawn's face when he seen Emery.

"Just can't keep away from me, can you Ellwood?" teased Shawn.

Emery shrugged. "What can I say? You're irresistible."

The group of them let out a laugh in unison. Emery looked back to Alexis, who was smiling widely at the both of them, which made her frown slightly. Alexis just winked, turning to serve the person who'd walked in and made the doorbell bing.

Shawn looked from behind the counter, over to the blonde who was sitting there beside him. Small beads of sweat were running down her forehead, obviously from her recent run. He'd noticed the running clothes she was wearing, which really made her body stand out. He bit his lip unconsciously, just as Emery looked over at him.

"See something you like?" asked Emery.

Shawn looked up in surprise, finding Emery staring at him with an amused look. His cheeks flushed red at being caught staring at her, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"I uh... I wasn't..." Shawn stuttered.

Emery just let out a small chuckle at his stuttering. Never would she have thought that the Shawn Mendes would ever stutter around her, simply because she caught him checking her out.

"It's okay Shawn. I was only messing around. Plus, it's not like it doesn't happen to me all the time," said Emery.

Shawn then nodded his head, although he didn't really agree with what she was talking about. She was pretty, yes. No, she was absolutely fucking stunning. But he didn't like how she said what she said so easily, no hesitation or nothing. As if what she said was a regular thing for her. He didn't like that.

"Who?" Shawn asked.

Emery frowned. "Who, what?"

"Who speaks about you like that? Talks to you like that?"

She was really confused as to what was going on. Why was he mad all of a sudden? Why was he so infuriated with someone who would say something like that? She was used to it now. She didn't take offence to it. But she was still confused as to why he was mad. It didn't have anything to do with him.

"Graham, the old homeless man I'm friends with. Why?" Emery questioned.

Shawn shook his head. "Nothing, don't worry."

Emery just nodded her head, eyes flickering to Alexis who was making up yet another juice. Emery's eyes flickered from Alexis, to the bench, where she found the local newspaper sitting unopened. She picked it up, finding an article that had been written about Shawn and his new position at Ellwood Corporation.

She read over it, Shawn watching from his seat beside her to see what her reactions would be. They weren't what he expected really, as he thought she'd be absolutely infuriated with him, but she wasn't. She just grinned slightly at one of his comments, placing the paper back down when she was finished reading it.

There was silence between the two of them as Alexis was busy serving a handful of customers that had come in. After she finished off the last one, she'd finally made a juice for Emery, handing it over to the blonde who smiled at her in thanks.

"Thanks A."

"No worries Em."

There was a small silence between the three of them again, Shawn staring down at his phone, Alexis wiping down the benches, and Emery reading the newspaper still. There was a loud bing sound, which was Emery's text tone. She pulled her phone from its place in her pocket to find a message from Lainey.

LAINEY GRAHAM:
Sooooo, I've been summoned by the devil to ask what time you're playing today x
sent at 9:30am

EMERY ELLWOOD:
Would that be Shawn or Edward asking? x
read at 9:32am

LAINEY GRAHAM:
Who do you think? x
read at 9:34am

EMERY ELLWOOD:
I'll tell Satan myself, seeing as he's sitting right next to me at Alexis' juice bar x
read at 9:36am

LAINEY GRAHAM:
You have fun with that. I'm going back to bed now. Ciao x
read at 9:38am

EMERY ELLWOOD:
HAVE FUN SLEEPING XX
sent at 9:40am

Emery places her phone back into her pocket, prior to spinning on her chair to face the brunette who was sitting beside her. Shawn felt her eyes on him, causing him to look up from his phone screen. She smiled gently at him, which was reciprocated with his own.

"I play at 2:50pm today. Just in case you were wondering," she grinned.

She washed as Shawn's cheeks flushed red, an amused expression on her face. He just nodded his head in response, looking down at the counter in front of him.

"How'd you know I asked?" asked Shawn.

Emery let out a laugh, shrugging a little. "I have my ways."

Shawn just smirked. "Are you keeping tabs on me?"

Emery turned. "Are you keeping tabs on me?"

Shawn shrugged his shoulders, allowing himself to just smirk at her slightly. She just rolled her eyes, glancing up at Alexis who just smirked at her. There was more silence between the three of them, up until Shawn rose from his seat with his stuff. He left a twenty dollar note on the bench, and then winked at Alexis.

"Keep the change. Thanks for the juice, and the chat."

Emery watched him as he left the building, before turning to Alexis, who just wiggles her eyebrows at her. An amused look on Alexis' face, while Emery just let out a laugh of disbelief at what had just happened between her and Shawn.

"What is going on between you two? Is there something that you aren't telling me Alexis?" asked Emery.

Alexis let out a laugh. "Something between Shawn and I? No way. I'd like for you to spill the beans about the two of you. Hmm. What's been going on Emery?"

Emery just let a smirk adorn her face, Alexis' eyes widening at the sight of her smug face. She leant against the bench, moving in closer to hear the story Emery was about to tell her. She was about to recite everything that had happened between her and Shawn that night she stayed over, and Alexis wasn't going to be ready for it.

She started from when she was at work late that night and Shawn found her working alone at around seven o'clock, and how he stayed there until she was finished.

She then told them how he offered to drive her home because it was "too late to be walking home", and they ended up singing in the car, and she found herself at Shawn's apartment. She then told them how she cooked dinner with Shawn, talked about random things during dinner and then they done the dishes.

How she showered at his apartment, and he put her clothes in the wash and let her wear his clothes for the night. How she fell asleep on the couch, after Shawn had made it for her, and how she woke up from a night mare and found herself in Shawn's bed. How they spoke all night until the two of them fell asleep, and they woke up to sound of his alarm.

Then how she found herself in his kitchen eating breakfast, and him walking in with just a pair of pants on. Then how they flirted about her not wearing a shirt and him not minding it if she didn't. Then she got ready for work and they were on their way to Starbucks, and how he wouldn't let her pay for the coffees.

And then how she opened up about her sexuality after the conversation she had with Harry the gay barrister. And then he told her that he was proud of her for opening up to him, and then how he tried to hold the tray of coffees for her.

Alexis' eyes widened to the size of a UFO, not expecting to hear what Emery had told her. There no way. There was no way that happened. She couldn't believe it, but she had too, because she knew that Emery wouldn't lie to her. She never had. She was the most honest person Alexis had met in her entire life.

"That is crazy!" exclaimed Alexis.

"Not only that. The next morning I had to tell Lainey and Ed about the entire experience. Lainey was like "if I were straight, I'd totally dick him down" and Shawn was right there!"

The two of them laughed wildly, Alexis quickly serving a customer as Emery sipped on her juice. When the customer happily left, Alexis came back over to listen to the rest of Emery's story.

"Shawn wanted to speak with me, so I went to his office, and we talked for like two minutes. He then told me that there was a package on my desk, cause he seen it when he walked into the office after me, and I was like "there was nothing there five minutes ago". I walk over, and there's a box, and a blanket inside. And on top of the blanket, there was a note which said;

"Emery, I found this lady giving away this little guy online last night when you were over. I know he wouldn't compare to little Rogers, but I hope he's enough to keep you occupied. Shawn."

I lift up the blanket, and there's a little black ball of fluff with big green eyes staring up at me. It happily meowed at me. It was the cutest kitten ever. I thanked Shawn for it, and he said it was nothing. Then he went back to his office because he had a meeting, and I had to go to the printer a little while later. Was standing there with Ashes - I named him that by the way - and he kept meowing.

"I didn't know why, but I looked up and seen Shawn there with the guy. I just let it slide, and grabbed the paper, but then Ashes meowed again. And as I was leaving the room, I seen Shawn had over the package he had the other night to the guy. I don't know what it was or who he is, but it seemed a little sketchy to me."

Alexis pondered for a while, taking in the new information that she'd just learnt. A grin adorned her face at the news of the kitten he'd given her, knowing that it would've made her day instantly.

"He actually waited for you? Wouldn't let you drive home? Did car pool karaoke? Went to his house? Wore his clothes? Made dinner with him? Slept on his couch? Slept in his bed?! And he paid for your coffees? He's a literal walking gentleman. Hurry up and dick him down girl!"

Emery nodded in clarification, letting out a loud laugh at Alexis' last sentence. Alexis then begun laughing as well, when someone cleared their throat. The two of them snapped their attention to the person had cleared their throat. It was the devil. Speak of the devil. That's what you say isn't it?

"Hey, sorry, I forgot my wallet," said Shawn.

Emery went bright red, slightly turning to  prevent Shawn having a few of her flushed cheeks. She had hoped to god that he hadn't heard what they were talking about, but she was sure that he would have. Alexis was loud when she got excited for Emery.

"That's all good, lucky somebody didn't take it," said Alexis.

"Haha, yeah, you're not wrong. Thanks again."

Alexis just waved him off in a polite manner, grinning at him. He turned to Emery, but she wasn't looking at him so he turned away and then left after waving to Alexis. As soon as Shawn was out of the building, the two of them looked at one another, letting out loud laughs at what had just happened.

"If he heard what you said, I'm going to die," said Emery.

Alexis continued to laugh, washing out the sponge to wipe down the bench where she had been cutting up fresh fruit. The sound of Emery's phone went off, making her let out an annoyed sigh. She picked up her phone, checking to see that Shawn had sent a message.

PA'S FAVOURITE LIL BITCH:
You know, it's adorable when you blush 🙃
read at 11:41am

Emery's jaw dropped the moment she read the message from her boss, eyes widening at the fact that he'd just sent that. She just placed her phone down, not believing what she'd just read. Alexis looked over, noticing the reaction, and quickly walked over to read the message. Her jaw also dropping at the message.

"Did he just-"

Emery went to ask, but Alexis' nodding confirmed her suspicions. She was just being flirted with. Her boss just flirted with her. Her boss. She let out a surprised noise, rubbing at her face.

"What the hell do I say?" exclaimed Emery.

"Flirt back girl! Show that you're interested!" exclaimed Alexis.

Emery's eyes widened to saucers at the statement made by Alexis. There was no way she was going to flirt back with her boss. Shawn was her boss! That's a no go! She couldn't do that. No way in hell.

Relationships in the workplace is a no go. Especially in this industry. It completely tore down Ruelle Co, as the CEO had an affair with one of his secretaries. The whole corporation was torn down. Emery wasn't about to let that happen to her grandfather's legacy.

"No way in hell Alexis! I'm not risking anything to have a relationship with Shawn. My boss! Ruelle Co was torn down because of a similar situation! I'm not doing that to Ellwood Corporation. Not to my grandfather."

Alexis nodded. "Have you spoken to him since what happened?"

Emery shook her head. "No, I've been so busy that I really haven't spoken to him at all."

"Maybe you should."

"Yeah, I will soon. I better go. Have basketball soon."

Alexis nodded in understanding. Emery rose from her seat, picking up her phone and placing it into the sleeve on her arm. She gave Alexis a hug good bye and left a tip on the table, making her way out of the store.

The fresh air smelt like sea breeze, causing Emery to let out a small sigh. She breathed in the scent of the sea breeze, letting out a little breath before she found herself running back home.

The whole way home, she'd been so busy thinking about whether or not Shawn would come to watch her game today, and she didn't even realise the black van parked in front of Alexis' shop. Where a man dressed in black had taken photographs of her.