[third person]
-

the faint beeping of her phone alarm made her wake up from her deep slumber. she sighed as soon as she woke up, leaning over to turn the alarm off, before lying in bed for a few more minutes, trying to wake herself up, and fight off the jet lag.

she quickly showers and changes into a fresh pair of jeans, and a simple shirt over that, tucking the back of her shirt into the back of her jeans so the front fits better. after changing, she applies a small layer of makeup, and adds her usual daily jewellery to her wrists and fingers.

anya picks up her phone and bag, before heading straight out of her hotel room, and down to the hotel restaurant to eat breakfast.

"hey, anya!" she hears, as she notices brian approaching her. "morning."

"oh hey, morning," she smiles slightly at him, waving with her hand. "how was the meal last night?"

"it was good, you should have come with us," he says to her. "how was your, you know, night in?"

"well needed," she chuckles nervously. "it's all a bit strange to me, i think i needed last night to just think a little."

"shawn came back early," brian adds, making anya a little bit more curious to what he has to say. "yeah, he wasn't feeling okay. i guess it's weird to him too. at least you guys have something to bond about?"

"yeah," anya nods, walking into the breakfast room, seeing an intercontinental buffet, making her stomach groan with hunger. her cheeks flush gently as brian lets out a laugh, helping himself to a plate, and handing one to anya.

"it's a buffet, so eat as much as you want," he tells her, making her chuckle. they both fill up their plates with a range of breakfast foods, before finding a table and sitting down at it.

"so, brian, what do you do?" anya asks, crossing her legs over each other, and looking up from her plate.

"i mean," he chuckles. "tour with shawn occasionally, university work, stuff," he says, shrugging. "what do you outside of this job?"

"online college," she answers. "yeah, i want to major in english literature."

"oh nice, that's cool," he grins. anya feels herself grow a little happy that someone on the team, other than andrew, is making her feel at home, and at ease.

shawn walks into the breakfast room, seeing his 'girlfriend' and best friend laughing with each other, and engaging in a conversation. he feels himself feel slightly jealous, but nevertheless continues in his day, getting his breakfast, and taking a seat next to brian, whilst mike sits down next to anya.

"morning," shawn mumbles to the pair, taking a quick sip of his orange juice. he briefly looks at anya, who makes eye contact with him, but then looks away almost immediately.

"i don't think we've properly met yet," mike says to anya, trying to diffuse the tension. "i'm mike."

"anya, it's nice to meet you," she grins, shaking his hand. "you're in the band, right?"

"yes! i play the drums," he says, smiling at her. "so, how did shawn and you meet?" shawn and anya quickly look at each other, and it finally clicks. the rest of the crew don't even know.

"uh mike, we're not together," shawn says anxiously, not looking away from anya. "she's my uh, fake girlfriend, for press," he says quietly.

"oh," mike says, trailing off his voice. "so is that why you didn't come to dinner?" he asks, turning to face anya.

"sort of, that and i was exhausted," she answers, sending a tired smile to mike. "i'm definitely not used to travelling."

"so why did you sign up?" shawn scoffs, taking a bite of his toast. brian puts his fork down, glaring at shawn, who shrugs in response.

"i needed the money," she answers, looking straight at shawn. "but of course, you wouldn't understand that," mike and brian look at each other, trailing their eyes away from the scene that's about to begin.

"i wouldn't? why? you don't think i've worked hard for it?"

"you're an attractive brunette male," she points out. "pop culture loves those."

"really?"

"yeah, jacob elordi, nick robinson, matthew daddario, noah-"

"we get it," he cuts her off, as she fold her arms against her chest, raising her eyebrow at him. "that still doesn't mean i didn't work hard for this."

"fair, but, you're still pop cultures dream," she says, picking up her plate and standing up. "carry on being ignorant though, it suits you."

"you're really immature, do you know that?" shawn questions, looking up at the girl. "god, no wonder why you don't have any money. who would want to hire someone that immature? and online college, seriously? are you that lazy? you live in new york, what's stopping you from going to uni? they both cost the same?" he pesters, making her roll her eyes at him. "you can't just walk in here and expect everyone to fall at your feet. i certainly won't, and neither will anyone else. you're unattractive, firstly, you're annoying to be around, you literally make me want to choke myself, you dress weirdly, your hair colour doesn't even suit your skin, you're too pale to be indian-"

"shawn," brian warns, glaring at him again. "shut up."

"but it's all true!" he lets out a breathy laugh. "just get out of here, oh and haven't you eaten enough breakfast already? we don't want you gaining a few extra pounds, you might tarnish my reputation." he spits at anya, his words hitting her like knives. brian stands up immediately, following anya, who turned on her heel, and walked away from the scene, tears burning at her eyes.

"hey anya, wait, wait," brian says to her, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder, making her turn around. he sees a lone tear stream down her face and his heart swells for her. "god, i'm so sorry for him."

"don't worry," she mumbles, wiping away her tear. "i um, i'm gonna go wait in the lobby for everyone else," she says quickly. "can you take my plate back?"

"you're not gonna eat anything?"

"i'm not too hungry anymore," she lies, handing him back the plate. "thanks brian."

"no problem," he says. "if you ever want to talk, don't hesitate, okay?" anya nods her head in response, sniffling gently, before pushing out a sad smile, and walking into the hotel lobby.

"what the fuck, shawn?" brian asks, hitting the back of the brunettes head. "are you a dick? or are you a dick?"

"she deserved it, telling me i don't work? hunny," shawn scoffs, rolling his eyes. "don't tell me you have a crush on her."

"i don't, she's just going through a hard time, because of you!" brian accuses him, finishing up his own breakfast. "dude, you need to shut your mouth, and you better keep it shut because andrew is coming over and he looks very angry."

shawn gulps back his breath, turning around and seeing andrew walking towards him, fuming with anger.

"for god sake shawn! we had a deal!" andrew tells him, hitting the back of his shoulder with his hand. "you told me you weren't gonna be rude to her anymore."

"did you hear what she said to me?" shawn scoffs again, folding his arms. "god, can't you just fire her? she's already causing so much trouble-"

"shawn!" andrew says to him, dragging him up to stand by the shirt. "you go out there, and fucking apologise. that girl was crying because of you." something in shawns mind twists, and he feels the slightest bit of guilt.

"she was crying?" shawn asks, slightly softer. "oh well, she still thinks of me like i'm a piece of dirt, so why shouldn't i reciprocate the feelings?"

"shawn," brian groans. "just go apologise."

shawn mutters a few words to himself, cursing at andrew and brian, before walking out of the breakfast room and into the lobby, where he sees anya scrolling through her phone, sitting down at one of the couches. he sighs to himself, running a hand through his hair, before walking over, and sitting on the other side of the couch.

"can we talk?" shawn asks her gently, looking down at the tanned brunette. anya shifts in her seat, and puts her phone away, taking out her book from her bag. "anya?" she turns to the page she has marked, and begins to read the book. "look, i'm sorry and all, but if you're gonna ignore me and act like you didn't play a part in anything, i'm gonna leave." anya furrows her eyebrow, putting the book down on her lap.

"i played a part? i played the smallest of parts thank you very much, no one told you to insult me like that," she mutters, looking at shawn, nothing but disgust in her eyes. "women are still people, shawn. you can't treat us like we're some sort of meal you can pick on."

"i respect women, the majority of my fans are female," he scoffs, rolling his eyes at her.

"so how am i any different?" she pesters. "i've tried to be nothing but nice to you-"

"you've tried? you? have tried?" he asks, raising his voice slightly. "i don't know shit about you!"

"and i don't know shit about you!" she argues back. "whatever, shawn, lets just do our public appearances and then ignore each other."

"it would be my pleasure," he spits, before standing up and walking off, joining andrew, brian and mike again.

what a great love life i have, shawn thinks to himself, before taking his seat at the table.

what a great love life indeed.