chapter forty-five
fake
[shawn peter raul mendes]
-
aaliyah comes wandering into my room, holding a box of things i got her from japan. "well i see you found them." i comment, laughing softly.

"thank you so much, shawn." she rushes forward, hugging me. "i'm sorry if i made you upset of how i reacted."

"it's fine, i didn't expect you to react excited." i tell her, hugging her back. "i'm not leaving you, i promise. come on aaliyah, you'll be able to walk to ajax."

she chuckles softly. "on one condition." i sigh, laughing myself. "i get a room for myself, and you buy me cookies."

"deal." she lets go of me.

"when are you picking up anya?" she asks, sitting on my bed.

"well she gets to toronto in about five hours, so i'll head to the city in about three hours." i say. "why? do you wanna come with me?"

"rather not, you've been too excited for this recently, and i don't wanna hear lovey dovey nonsense." she laughs. "okay well i have homework, i'm off." she leaves my room, shutting the door behind her, just as my phone starts blaring out an ugly ringtone.

"hello?" i call into the phone, pressing it against my ear.

"well hello there mendes." i can almost see anya's smirk.

"oh, steinburg, what a pleasure." i smirk, leaning back in my chair. "to what do i owe this amazing opportunity?"

"oh, just my undivided attention for a minute." she giggles. "i've missed you."

"we facetimed yesterday, but i've missed you too." i laugh softly. "how's the bride to be then?"

"ugh, don't even get me started." she groans. "the wedding is in two weeks okay, two weeks, and she's changed all the dresses."

"wait is it in the hamptons?" i ask her.

"yeah, lets say we spend i don't know, five days in toronto, visit the house, finalise the first instalment deal, and then drive to the hamptons, that dress i am not transporting myself, and she's making me take the main dress too- i still have to plan that stupid bachelorette party, write two 10,000 word essays and i'm stressed." she says in a heavy breath.

"as soon as you get here we're gonna have a cuddle session. you need it." i tell her.

"how's aaliyah?" she asks me, as i sigh, standing up and sitting on my bed.

"she's fine, well under the conditions of she can come over whenever she wants and i buy her cookies." anya lets out a soft giggle.

"okay well i'm gonna go, i need to get to grand central, i'll see you in a bit!" she says cheerily. "i love you."

"i'll see you in a bit, and i love you too." she chuckles softly.

"bye shawn."

"bye baby." she hangs up the phone, as i sigh, dropping my phone next to me. i look at my watch, standing up and wandering out of my room to the kitchen, where i begin to make some tea.

"shawn your room is tidy right?" my mum asks me, as i laugh, getting a mug out of the cupboard.

"yes mother." i laugh. "do you want some tea or coffee mum?"

"oh i wouldn't mind a tea." she sighs, putting down the cloth she was holding. "what am i gonna do when you move out and i can't reach something?" she asks me, laughing.

"i'll buy you a step stool." i tease, making her tea. "if you can't reach something, call me and i'll come over." i shrug. "well if anya and i get the place."

"you still haven't shown me the listing shawn." she frowns sarcastically at me.

"oh my god, mum it's gorgeous, hold on." i take our teas, putting them on the bar next to her, before i get out my phone from my pocket, going to the photos and showing her the screenshots i took from the website.

"come on mum, look at the kitchen, and we're gonna make the basement into a studio and it's gonna be amazing." i beam. "and the best thing is that it's so close to a station where we can transport easily the city and then to new york and the hamptons so it's easy for anya to see her family."

"that's great news!" she says cheerily to me. "don't break her heart anytime soon, you're gonna be living together if you get the place."

"i know, i know." i say softly. "i hate fighting with her."

"every relationship has their ups and downs, and even though you and anya fall out a lot, you get through it, just try not to." my mum tells me.

"well i should go get aaliyah some cookies and some other stuff." i sigh. "mum do you want anything?"

"no thanks, i'm fine." she smiles. "oh wait, get some potatoes for dinner tomorrow. you know, the ones we use to roast?"

"i know the ones." i say, smiling. "i'll see you in about half an hour, love you."

"love you too." i smile again, going out of the kitchen to grab a hoodie, sliding that over my arms, before heading outside and into my car. i pull out of the driveway, but suddenly a girl comes running up.

"jesus chris laur!" i shout, stopping the car, opening my window.

"hey shawn, heard you were back." she smiles at me.

"yeah i am, how are you?" i ask, stopping my car completely.

"i'm great, on study leave, but great, what about you?" she asks me, leaning on her feet.

"yeah i'm good, i'm moving out though. well if i get the house." i chuckle, as she smiles at me.

"anyway, i gotta go give this to your mum." she holds up a tray. "how's anya? you guys got back together i heard?"

"yeah we did, she's coming here to see this house with me, we're moving in together." i say. "she'll be here in a bit so i'm going to get a few things she needs."

"oh cool, anyway, see you soon!" she waves, going up to my front door. i start the car back up again, driving out of the house, taking the short trip to the shops.

my music blares out, probably annoying people outside, but i couldn't care less. john mayers love on the weekend plays, and i find myself humming along, tapping the steering wheel as i drive.

four more hours.
-
"shawn!" i hear someone shout from behind me. i turn around, clutching the roses in my hands, and i smile, seeing my lover there.

"hey baby." she jumps into my arms, hugging my tightly, and pressing kisses on my cheek. "god i missed you so much." i whisper softly, holding her close to me.

"i missed you so much more." she whispers, pulling away and pressing her lips to mine for a quick kiss.

"i got you these, it's nothing and they'll probably die in my room but it's the thought-"

"shawn shut up." she laughs at me. "thank you honey."

"now are you hungry? or do you want to drive straight to pickering? or do you want to grab a coffee for the drive?" i ask her, holding her waist in my hands.

"hmm could we go grab a starbucks?" i nod, pressing my lips to hers again. "but could we stop at your car so i can put my bags in there?" she points at her two huge suitcases and handbag. i laugh softly, nodding.

"let me take them." i grab both suitcases in my hands, wheeling them out of the station, to where my car is parked. i open the car, putting the suitcases in the back, and closing it again.

"come on, there's a starbucks up the road." i hold her hand in mine, leading her to the coffee shop, walking at a regular pace.

"so how was the journey?" i ask her, as we enter starbucks, lining up in the queue.

"it was pretty good actually, i wouldn't mind taking that to see my family." she shrugs.

"that's good." i tell her. "what time did the guy say we could view the property?"

"tomorrow at 11am." she tells me.

"honey are you okay?" i ask her softly, as she sighs, shaking her head.

"i'm so stressed." she groans. smiling sadly, i wrap an arm around her, pulling her close to me. "kelsey is the most stressed bride ever, and that reflects onto me, college is being shitty and i've missed you so much."

"i'm here now, you're far away from kelsey and college, don't worry okay?" i rub her side, as she nods softly.

"i know, i know it's just at the wedding i know my mom will make a comment about our engagement, and that's stressing me out too." she bites her lip.

"well i'll be there." i say softly. "honey please don't worry."

"yeah i won't, i'm fine." she whispers back, letting out a weak smile.

"hi there what could i get you?" the barista asks me.

"two iced green teas with sweetener please." i say to her, getting my card out. anya grumbles, getting her wallet out and paying for the drinks before i can say anything. "i was gonna pay." i whine.

"well you always pay, so i'm paying today." anya says, chuckling. "also if we get the house i'm paying for it."

"you're paying for half." i correct her.

"no i'm paying for it. i forgot to tell you but my mom gave me another 5 million that my grandad left me it's just she didn't want the family to know." she explain.

"you're still paying for half." i shrug. "save the rest of it hun." she nods but doesn't reply, whilst she collects our drinks, handing one to me.

"how was your day?" she asks me softly, yawning as we walk back to the car.

"it was okay, better now, though." i chuckle softly, making a slight pink arise on her cheeks. "how was yours?" she glares at me, and i laugh. "okay i won't ask."

"lets just say this is the highlight of my day." she mumbles, getting into my car. i follow her, sitting on the drivers side, and putting my seatbelt on.

"i love you, you know that right?" i whisper to her, as she smiles, nodding.

"i love you too." she speaks back, grabbing my right hand in hers.

"if we ever fight, just remember that i'm so endlessly in love with you, and everything i said or did i didn't mean." i say. "before we spend the rest of the year together i just wanted to say that."

"same here, and it's always my fault, not yours." she whispers.

"i overreact about everything." i mumble. "before we move in together, i just wanted to say that."

"i understand, i mean i don't want us to fall out or anything." she says softly. "now give me your aux cord so i can put some music on." i laugh, shaking my head.

"bottom draw of the glove compartment." she goes into the compartment, digging around and looking for the cable, before she finds it, plugging it into the car, grabbing my phone and plugging that into the aux.

"why not your phone?" i ask her, pulling onto a highway.

"because you have better music." she shrugs, playing shape of you by ed sheeran.
-
"mum? we're back!" i shout, dragging anyas suitcases into the house. i hear footsteps rushing down the stairs, and i know for a fact it's aaliyah to greet anya.

"anya, you're back! i haven't seen you in ages!" she squeals, hugging her.

"oh my god i missed you! come with shawn on tour in summer." anya whines, making her laugh.

"i probably am." she shrugs, letting go. "ew, shawn."

"shut up liyah." i laugh, nudging her. "where's mum?"

"she's in the kitchen with laur." aaliyah says. "oh yeah laur's here."

"what? why?" i ask quickly, making anya look concerned.

"didn't you know that her parents have been out of town for two months? she's here for dinner. mum invited her when she dropped off the tray that mum gave her with food in it." aaliyah explains.

"well i've been out of town for ages, so i didn't know." i say confused. "anya are you sure you want to stay here? we can say we have a date or-"

"nonsense shawn, it's fine." anya smiles at me.

"but what happened last year at the party- i just don't want anything to happen, you know?" she nods at me, leaning forward and pressing her lips to mine.

"nothing will happen, calm your man tits." i laugh, hugging her.

"you're the best." i mumble, letting go of her.

"anya, how was the journey?" my dad asks, greeting her with a hug.

"oh hi nanny, it was great, thanks! how are you?" she lets go, standing next to me again.

"i'm great, how are you?"

"i'm good, thanks." she smiles softly, as my dad walks away, not bothering to say hi to me.

"feeling the love here, dad!" i shout, earning a laugh from him, anya and aaliyah.

"face it shawn, we like anya more than you." aaliyah teases, as i role my eyes, glaring at her playfully.

"i'm gonna go say hi to your mum and see if she needs any help." anya pecks my cheek.

"i'll come with you." we walk into the kitchen after taking our shoes and jackets off.

"karen!" anya says, getting her attention. "how are you?"

"oh anya, it's been so long! i'm good, how are you?" she traps her in a hug, making me smile at the two, but then notice laur who's standing there awkwardly.

"i'm great actually, do you need any help?" she asks softly, letting go of my mum.

"yes actually, shawn and anya, set the table and get the good wine glasses shawn." she tells us. "how was the drive honey?" she asks me, hugging me.

"it was okay." i shrug, hugging her back. "i need to get fuel at some stage soon though." i laugh softly, anya rolling her eyes.

"did he drive safe?" my mum asks anya as i scoff, rolling my eyes.

"yeah he did, he didn't go on his phone once." they both share a laugh, as i glare playfully at them.

"i don't go on my phone and drive!" i whine.

"your snapchat says differently shawn." anya says, laughing. "i will break your phone one of these days."

"come on, lets go get the glasses." i link my hand with hers, both of us walking to the adjoining door of the garage, going inside and to the stock containing all the fancy glasses.

"grab these." i tell her, handing her two glasses. she nods, taking them, as i grab the other three, taking them to the kitchen, closing the garage door.

she puts the glasses on the table, taking the three i was holding, and putting them on the table too.

"anya could you look after the gravy?" my mum asks her, whilst anya wanders off to the cooker, stirring the pot.

"shawn, come with me for a second, i found something for you." my mum says, leaving the room.
-
[anya rose steinburg]
-
"so laur right?" i ask, stirring the pot of gravy.

"yeah, we met last year." she smiles at me. "so you're in new york?"

"yeah, well not any longer though." i laugh. "i'm definitely moving to toronto."

"yeah shawn said something this morning about you two moving in." she says. "whereabouts are you thinking of?"

"we found a place that we're viewing tomorrow in ajax, so not that far." i nod. "so are you in college or something?"

"yeah i am, the year above shawn, but i am." she says.

we don't talk for the rest of the ten minutes until shawn comes back, a huge smile on his face.

"anya, i have some great news." he says to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"what is it honey?" i ask him, turning off the stove.

"if we don't get the place my mum said you could stay with me until we find somewhere." i smile softly. "and she found something i really want to give you." he lets go of me, as i scrunch my face up in confusion. i turn around softly, looking at him holding a silver chain, with a small diamond at the centre.

"apparently it was my great grandmas, and she gave it to my mum, but she lost it, and found it and decided it wasn't for her, so she gave it to me to give it to you, so," he whispers, holding it around my neck. "i wanted you to have it."

"shawn, are you sure?" i ask him, as he fastens the chain around my neck.

"well we're moving in together, so taking this means that i want you in my family forever. i want you to have-" laur coughs from beside us, making shawn jump. "oh-sorry laur i forgot you were there." he says, scratching the back of his neck.

"maybe we should do this later, shawn." he nods at me, letting go of my waist and taking the gravy to depot into a gravy dish.

"oh anya, it's gorgeous on you." karen adores, coming over to me and touching it. "aaliyah hated it, and said it would suit you so much more."

"it really does." aaliyah says, coming up to us. "it's so simple and looks so elegant on you."

"it really is gorgeous." i comment, admiring it. "karen, thank you."

smiling at me, she walks over to the counter, grabbing the potatoes and vegetables, putting them on the table, whilst shawn places the chicken i the middle, pulling out a chair for himself, and sitting down next to me. aaliyah and laur sit opposite us, whilst manny and karen sit at the heads of the table.

"shawn, anya what time are you two leaving tomorrow?"

"we're gonna leave at about 10:15." shawn says, as i nod.

"the guy said to come early if we can." i add, plating everyone up with some chicken.

"are you putting a deal in straight away?" manny asks shawn and i, as we look at each other, nodding.

"we'll try to." shawn shrugs. "i've never bought a place so what do i have to offer first?"

"i offered 10 grand for my apartment." i shrug, eating some of the roast. "well 5 technically. kelsey offered the other 5."

"should we do 20? it's a house after all." shawn asks.

"no, stick with 10. if they say no, rise it." my dad says to us. "don't go overly high, because then they'll end up charging you more for the whole mortgage."

"okay so 10 then?" i ask shawn, as he nods, swallowing food.

"10." he repeats. "god it's gone so quick, like it feels like we were looking at the houses two days ago."

"to be fair we only found this place three weeks ago." i laugh. "but trust me, it looked perfect for us."

"what was it?" laur asks me.

"it's a five-bedroom, detatached, loft extension townhouse with a pool." i quote, making shawn laugh softly.

"and a soon to be studio in the basement." he adds, as everyone shares a laugh. "then i can definitely work from home."

"we're definitely gonna have a shawn cave, lets just say that." i say, as shawn puts his hand on my thigh.

"oh we'll have an anya cave too, it'll be her office." shawn laughs. "wait no scratch that, it'll be her massive insanely too large vinyl player."

"it's not that big!" i moan, laughing.

"it's huge, anya, it's takes up an entire wall in your living room." shawn says. "plus your 1 million records."

"shawn shut up, you love vinyl too." manny says, making me laugh.

"i can vouch for that." i laugh. "whenever he comes over he goes straight to the vinyl player and plays illuminate."

"his own music? seriously?" aaliyah asks me; i nod.

"it sounds good on vinyl!" shawn complains. "even anya admits it."
-
my chapters are getting so long but truth is i love this book with everything, it's like my baby