chapter forty-seven
fake
[shawn peter raul mendes]
-
the dreaded morning came fast, almost too fast.

gazing at the clock next to my bed, i gasp, realising what time it is. i then figure out anya is no where to be seen and my car keys from where i left them last night are gone.

"shit, shit, shit." i repeat, standing up and pulling a hoodie and a pair of jeans on.

it's 1 o'clock. in the afternoon.

"anya!" i shout, running about my room to get dressed. "anya!"

"shawn, shut up!" my dad yells, strolling casually into my room. "you woke up late, anya left for the offices hours ago."

"what?" i stop in my tracks. "dad can i borrow your car, thanks." i run down the stairs, getting my parents car keys and heading out to their car, getting in and driving to the house. the offices should be near by.

i drive around for ten minutes in ajax, reaching a real estate agent shop, so i sigh, parking the car and running into the building, a queue of people at the desk.

i then notice anya at the front, her arms folded and a pissed off look on her face. i feel my pockets, a chequebook outline protruding out and i breathe a sigh of relief, happy that i remembered one thing at least. oh god, i hope she has my passport.

i push through the line, getting dirty looks, before i reach anya, breathing heavily.

"i'm so sorry-"

"save the crap, come on we're first." she smiles at me. "shawn we're gonna get the place."

"you're kidding?" my face breaks out into a huge smile, and i could t care about who's watching, so i pick her up, twirling her about in the spot. "god i love you so much!"

"the guy, dave, isn't here yet, so we have to wait for him, that's why there's a queue." anya explains. "you are so lucky i had an alarm set."

"well you know what this means?" i smirk at her. "we have to go shopping soon."

"yay." she says sarcastically, a smile toying on her face. "you have your chequebook right?"

"yeah, i shoved it in my pocket before i came." i tell her. "all these idiots probably think we're going for an apartment."

"i'm glad we're going for a house." she says. "it's useful for your career, my education and hosting parties." i smile gently, cupping her cheek.

"you're precious." i whisper, pressing my lips to her soft ones once more.

"miss steinburg, mr mendes, room 3 please." the receptionist notifies us, pointing us to a black door. anya sends me a smile, as we both rush to the door, knocking on it softly.

"come in!" dave yells, whilst anya opens the door, and both of us stepping in. "you two got first! i knew you could." he smiles at us. "so, first property?"

"my first, her second." i answer.

"so anya, you know the processes right?" she shrugs, nodding.

"sort of, i mean i know them for a flat, not a house." she says.

"okay, well you've made the deposit, and you're going to have to pay a monthly mortgage, but once that's all paid off, the place is yours." he explains. "now you two are clearly wealthy for a young age, but be wise about this. i would recommend a 25,000 a month mortgage for 60 months, five years in other terms, and a 2.5 million payment today."

"i can pay for the entire thing today, well at least 3.2 million, and the rest into mortgage." i say. "i have plenty, in fact too much for myself."

"we have a lot together, and getting this stress out of the way early would be easier." anya says. "what about a two year mortgage, how much would we have to pay today?"

"3.4 million today, and a 25,000 mortgage for the next two years." anya and i look at each other, nodding.

"who should i make the cheque out to?" i take out my leather bound cheque book, dave smiling and handing me a ink pen.

"ajax agencies, dave smith." he tells me.

i fill out the cheque, ripping it out of the book and handing it to dave, feeling a smile come across my face.

"now onto the talk of other formalities, it's only legal."
-
i follow my jeep, that is being driven by anya, across the highway that connects ajax and pickering. the cool spring breeze blows into my parents car, making me squint slightly, but the smile still not disappearing from my face.

i couldn't be happier, we got a house together. an actual house, somewhere where we can start our life together.

i mean, we don't get the house until i finish europe, so mid june.

love on the weekend blazes out of the speakers of the car, making me lean back and relax as i drive back to my parents place.

"well hello there my beautiful girlfriend, how was the drive?" i laugh, getting out of the car once i had parked in the drive.

"amazing, since i could hear your music the entire drive here." she giggles, snaking her arms around my neck. "shawn we got it."

"i couldn't be happier." i lean down, pressing my lips to hers. "we need to celebrate."

"what do we do?" she whispers, pulling away.

"i'll go talk to my mum, we'll have a small party tonight. i'm sure geoff, ian, brian, matt, lyall, mike, zubin are all free tonight." i rub her arms, as she smiles softly, nodding.

"that'll be great." she says. "come on, lets tell your family."

i unlock the front door, getting into the house, aaliyah running up to us. "did you get it?" she asks excitedly, as i smile, nodding.

"lets just say i've lost 3.4 million but it's all good." i laugh. aaliyah runs up to me, hugging me.

"congrats big bro!" she shouts.

"thank you liyah." i smile, letting go of her.

"you guys got it?" my mum asks, walking into the room. "oh my god, congratulations you two!" she comes to hug us both, smiling.

"well done shawn!" my dad says, hugging me, then anya. "congrats you two, really."

"thanks guys." i smile. "anyway, we were talking, anya and i, and we were thinking about having a small party today? just some pizzas and close friends, and us?"

"i suppose we could, shawn, andrews in toronto too, invite him." my dad tells me. i nod, taking my phone out.

"i'll call up a few people, anya will you help me?" i ask her softly. she nods, taking her phone out too.
-
pulling on a new shirt and jeans, anya walks in, carrying a package, confusion written all over her face. "how the fuck did my mom find out i was staying at yours how the fuck did she find out your address?" she says, opening the package that contains a black slip dress. "oh wow, she found it." carefully, she takes it out, putting the box on my bed, and holding the dress out. "it was from my prom." she whispers softly. "i wanted it for the bachelor party."

"what have you planned for that?" i ask her, sitting next to her on the bed, as she hands me the dress.

"it's a fancy tea place, you know, since kelsey's pregnant, she can't drink." anya explains. "anyway."

"anya, this dress is beautiful." i tell her. "wear it tonight."

"isn't it a bit fancy?" she asks, folding her arms.

"i'm wearing a tux, well with jeans but it's fine." i laugh. "plus it's a party for us. wear it."

"okay." she gives in, taking off her top and jeans, as i slide the dress over her head, pulling it down softly, so it's resting just above her knees.

"you look beautiful." she pulls her hair over one shoulder, walking to the mirror on my cupboard, looking at her appearance.

"funny story, it was a dress that my brother got his girlfriend years ago, before he died." she says softly. "i found it in the attic one day, and it was in a box wrapped up from him, and my mom said i should keep it." she turns around, facing me. "i haven't seen alice in years, i wonder what she's up to."

"well you look beautiful, either way." i whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "should we go down?"

"yeah, come on." she exits my room first, as i follow her, running down the stairs, and finding my mum, who's on the phone, ordering pizzas.

"shawn, could you get some wine out of the wine cupboard?" my mum asks me, as soon as she hangs up the phone.

"which ones?"

"a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, riesling, moscato, pinot noir, chardonnay and a merlot." she lists, as i crouch down, taking out the wines from the cupboard. "get some port and whiskey too."

"hudson baby bourbon?" i ask her, taking out the squared bottle.

"that'll do, your dads gone to get some champagne so do you want to go and grab some champagne flutes? i have everything else here." she explains.

anya and i go into the garage, taking out two boxes of 10 champagne flutes, taking them back into the kitchen.

"how much alcohol does your mum think we're gonna drink?" anya whispers, as i chuckle.

"you haven't met my friends parents yet, or my parents when they drink. you've met geoff, but you haven't met a drinking andrew yet." i tell her. "my female friends also drink a lot too."

"you invited laur, right?" she asks me nervously.

"i did." i sigh. "don't worry, everything will be fine. come on, we just bought a house together."

"yeah i need to pay you back for that, how much?"

"1.8." i answer, laughing. "you don't need to pay me back, my money is now yours too."

"i'm still giving you back 1.8." anya shrugs, walking away into the lounge, i chuckle, shaking my head, following her. the door rings as soon as i reach the living room door, and i sigh loudly, going to answer it.

"ian, geoff, hey!" i say cheerily, welcoming them in. "chris, you're in toronto?" i say, noticing her and greeting everyone with hugs.

"i came with andrew here." she laughs. "congratulations, shawn!"

"congrats man!" ian and geoff say, slapping my back.

"thanks guys." i smile. "aaliyah and anya are in the lounge, you can go join them." they all wander in, hanging up jackets and putting their shoes under the cloak hooks, walking to the lounge.

"wait guys should we just go to the kitchen? drinks and bitings are there." i say, seeing everyone hugging each other.

"sure." anya says, as we both make our way to the kitchen, the others following us.

after about an hour, everyone has arrived, and we are all talking around, eating, drinking and brian drunk dancing somewhere in the house.

"can i get everyone's attention?" aaliyah shouts, climbing up onto a table. people finish their light chatter, and i smile at my sister, linking an arm around anya's waist. "i propose a toast to shawn and anya, who have had their ups and downs, but are finally beginning their life together." chuckles are heard at her exaggeration, and anya and i laugh softly, rolling out eyes. "i knew they could do it, plus brian and i called it." brian cheers from the other side, again, everyone shares a laugh. "to shawn and anya!"

"shawn and anya!" champagne glasses are raised, and i lean down, pecking anya's lips, a smile toying at the corners of her mouth.

"speech!" ian shouts, as everyone turns their attention to anya and i.

"well, you're the famous person here so speeches should be what you do." anya shrugs, as i nudge her lightly, laughing.

"i don't know how i'm supposed to beat aaliyah's amazing one, but i'll try." i joke, as everyone laughs. "if i'm honest with everyone here, i thought i was gonna stay in this boring old house till i get grey hairs-"

"he already has one!" anya butts in, making everyone laugh. "well at least i think it was one."

"it wasn't, i'm not that old." i tease. "as i was saying, i basically thought i would die in this house. then anya came along and i changed my mind. it definitely will be an empty house most of the time, all of you are welcome to housesit throughout the year by the way, but anya and i both feel like it's perfect for us, and we are going to be living there till we have too many kids so five rooms isn't enough." anya spits out her champagne, making everyone laugh.

"don't scare her too much, shawn! it's scary enough that she has to live with you, let alone have your kids." geoff jokes, making me roll my eyes sarcastically.

"can people stop cutting me off? anyway thank you all for being so supportive of us since the beginning of how we started, and dealing with our constant ranting of trouble ships." everyone laughs again, and anya lets out a small chuckle. "i'd also like to take this time to say that i've decided to take online university courses while i have free time, which on tour is quite often, so anya won't be alone when doing her work and i'll also have a plan b to fall back on. thank you all so much for being the best family i could ever have, and i hope that we stay as one big family for the rest of our lives. as much as i joke about hating all of you, you're the best people out there, so thank you."

cheers are heard as i quieten down, picking up a bottle of champagne.

"top ups anyone?" i shout, popping it open, the gas shocking me slightly.

"oooh me." anya says softly, putting her glass in front of my face. i smile at her, pouring the liquid in her glass, as she leans forward, pressing a kiss on my jawline. "i love you."

"i love you too." i repeat to her, putting the champagne bottle down. "i just realised how much packing we're gonna have to do soon. we'll do your stuff first, after the hamptons, bring the stuff to toronto, do my european tour, pack my stuff, move in, the us tour, come back to toronto, decorate the house and then a house warming." i list, making her eyes go wide with excitement and shock.

she suddenly looks at me nervously. "come outside with me for a second, i need to tell you something." i hold onto her hand, disappearing through the back door to the garden, shutting it behind us.

"baby what's wrong?" i ask her, sitting down on the outdoor chairs, pulling her to my lap.

"re-remember when we were in london and i went off for a day to do my own stuff last year?" i nod, as she sighs shakily, looking down. "i didn't tell you this but because we're moving in together i kind of have to, anyway, i wasn't exactly being honest with you when i said i went shopping."

"what happened?" i ask her concerned.

"okay well i did go shopping, but not really, just don't get annoyed at me okay?" i look at her confused, as she reaches into her bra, taking out a drawstring, black velvet, small bag. "open it."

i take it from her shaky hands, taking it out and opening it, revealing a silver ring. i look at it closely, seeing a date engraved that i remember oh so well.

"i got this when we came to london for the jingle bell ball, after i found out." she whispers.

"we-we, what?" i whisper. "but how comes your not, you know, fat?"

"i-i found out too late, and by the time i did-the doctor-blood- it was too late." she stutters.

"we had a baby?" i whisper, sliding the ring onto my finger.

"shawn, i swear i was gonna tell you over christmas, but stuff happened and in the past two weeks i've been meaning to tell you but i couldn't bring myself to it and you joking about kids today i-" i silence her with my finger.

"i'm not mad." i whisper. "i can't describe how i feel, but i'm not at all upset, mad or pissed at you."

"i'm so sorry." she murmurs, looking down at her lap. "i wanted to tell you so bad, and when i found out i was frightened as hell, i don't know how to explain it."

"no, i understand honey." i lean up, kissing her cheek. "it's okay."

"no more secrets?" she whispers, looking at me softly.

"well i guess i have to come clean about a few things then." i say nervously, as she sighs, chuckling. "no it's not a laughing matter."

"what did you do?" she sighs.

"amber wasn't lying when she said me and her had, you know." anya looks down. "and i accidentally kissed laur, again."

"oh god, shawn." she mumbles, cupping my cheek. "okay now no more secrets?" i lean forward, pecking her lips.

"no more secrets." i repeat. "now should we go back in? it's still only early, the parties just started." she giggles at me, standing up, and linking her arms around my neck.

"come on." she pecks my lips, pulling away and we both make our way inside again.
-
"brian, put the glass down." anya snaps, taking the port glass away from brian's hands. "dude you're gonna have such a back hangover tomorrow."

"did shawn ever tell you how bossy you are?" brian groans, stumbling past anya, making me laugh.

"dude, shut up!" anya moans, slapping his arm. "shawn go get some coffee for him or something." i nod, wandering into the equally as busy kitchen, going to the kettle, where i start to prepare an instant coffee.

"nice ring." i hear a girl say beside me. i jump slightly, realising it's laur.

"oh hey." i smile. "thanks, anya got it for me."

"congratulations by the way, i'm happy for you." she says, smiling sadly. "i remember when you said you would buy a huge house for yourself, me, ian, brian, lyall and matt. apparently i was the only girl special enough to live with you."

"laur, we happened a long time ago, we were kids still." i say softly, leaning against the counter. "go find someone, don't wait for me, i'm already gone."

"it's harder than you think." she snaps. "i'm sorry- i don't know what i'm saying."

"let another person in." i whisper. "don't let me hold you back, you're beautiful laur, don't tell people you don't want to because of me."

"it's hard." she says quietly. "i'm gonna go, i have an early start with dance tomorrow morning."

"i'll walk you out." she smiles thankfully at me, leading the way to my door. she slips her heels on, followed by her coat, as i open the door for her, leaning in for a hug.

"i'll see you soon, and congratulations again." she tells me, pulling away.

"thank you, again, and i'll see you." i then don't comprehend how close we are to one another, and it happens. her breath fans my face cool.

"one last kiss?" she whispers, leaning forward and placing her lips on mine. i don't kiss back, and she notices that, pulling away. she slips out of the door, shutting it behind her, as i sigh, leaning against the closed wood.

"go kiss her." anya comes forward. "say goodbye." she whispers.

"you're letting me?" i whisper back, scrunching up her face.

"you know, sometimes a kiss can end it all. shawn, i'm a girl, and she is too. i know how girls think, and she wants a kiss goodbye." she says. "i know you do too."

"i'm so sorry." i mumble to her, opening the door and running outside, seeing laur walking up my street. "lauren!"

she turns around, as i run up to her, cupping her cheeks and pressing my lips hers, as she rests her hand on mine. her lips tasted of sweet closure. i pull away, scanning her face quickly.

"goodbye shawn." she whispers.

"goodbye lauren." i mumble back, as she walks away, vanishing from my sight in the late night haze. i sigh, walking back to the house, and entering it again, going straight to the drinks table.

closure feels good.
-
ok laur and amber are gone from this book, there's only brooklyn left ;)