chapter eleven
feelings
[anya rose steinburg]
-
"you two went all out." jasmine laughs, as we all clamber into my car, whilst she notices shawn and i's bags. shawn laughs nervously, laying his hand on my thigh.

"shawn went all out, not me." i say, as shawn playfully smirks at me, chuckling softly.

"how much is your salary?" jasmine jokes, as shawn laughs, blushing softly.

"a little too extortionate." we all share a quiet laugh, before i begin the drive back to the house.

"let's go to a bar tonight." i say, pulling into the driveway. "we haven't gone out drinking since the last time shawn and i were here."

"do you have your fake id with you?" i nod at jasmine, as we all get out of the car, walking up to the house. "i'm sure sophie, brooklyn, poppy, jason, and willow will agree. not too sure about kelsey and peter."

"not sure about us for what?" peter asks, coming up behind the four of us.

"we want to go to a bar tonight, do you and kelsey want to come?" i ask, unlocking the front door.

"sure, i'm sure matt can stay with mom tonight." he shrugs, as we all rush into the house, carrying our shopping with us. "but can we go to one for dinner and drinks?"

"of course, let's say meet down here at 7:30 again?" i suggest, as we all look at each other, shrugging and nodding. "alright, well we can go to rooftops."

"i love that place!" poppy squeals. "okay, it's settled, see you all in a bit." shawn and i quickly rush upstairs, holding our bags and heading into my room to change.

"wear that white dress of yours that i love tonight." shawn begs, linking his arms around my waist. "i'll wear a white button up, come on, please."

"you know me so well, i was going to wear that anyway." i laugh, running my hand through shawns hair. "plus, i love seeing you in a white button up."

"yes!" he cheers, crouching down so he's hugging my stomach and on his knees. i laugh, throwing my head back, as shawn chuckles, his laughs vibrating my stomach.

"love, can you get it out for me?" i ask, my eyes trailing to my wardrobe.

"of course, princess." he smirks, standing up and walking towards the white doors, opening them and hunting through all my dresses to find the white, fitted dress with a deep v-neck and long sleeves. "wait, wear something i got you today with it." he says, going to the tiffany bag and pulling out a cloth velvet bag.

"oh god shawn, i said one ring!" i complain with a small chuckle, as shawn rolls his eyes, handing me the bag.

"open it!" he urges, as i take the bag from his hands, opening it up and taking out a silver chain with a small diamond surrounded by two pearls in the centre. "do you like it?"

"i love it shawn, thank you." i quickly embrace my arms around him, smiling into his neck. "you didn't have to buy me this, but thank you anyway."

"that's okay, i just want to give you something you deserve." i pull away from the hug, smiling at him gently.

"you spoil me rotten, mendes, i hate you." i joke, playfully glaring at him.

"i love spoiling you rotten." he says, making me laugh softly. "there's also a few more things in that bag that i think you'll love."

"shawn..." i trail off, as he smirks.

"you got me a rolex for our anniversary, i'm only paying you back in gifts, and i have too much money so what better way to spend it than spending it on someone you love?" my heart swells, as i feel a soft blush form at my cheeks. "go get dressed, hunny." he smiles softly at me, pecking my lips gently.
-
shawns arm is wrapped loosely around my shoulder, as we both sit on the couch seats around the table of the bar we are at, my rosé wine lying untouched on the table, and shawns scotch half drunk as he explains a story about summer.

"so we were all sitting in my living room, you know, just thinking about stuff, and then all of a sudden my friend, geoff, jumps out of his seat and throws beer onto my other friend ian." shawn laughs. "we were all so drunk that night, it was hilarious."

the rest of the group share a laugh, as i pick up my wine glass, swirling around the liquid before taking a long sip, crossing my legs over each other.

"i remember the first time i got properly drunk," jason begins, as poppy bursts out into laughter, already knowing the story. "i was about 14 or something crazy like that and it was at a wedding after party. poppy and i thought we could steal a bottle of vodka from the bar and sneak into one of our hotel rooms. the next thing i know is we're head over heels drunk and our parents walk in after the party is over, seeing their children on the floor with a bottle of empty vodka lying next to them."

"they were harsh about that night, man, 3 months grounding." poppy adds, laughing as she takes a long sip of her own beer.

"oh, but who could forget anya's first time getting wasted?" jasmine smirks at me.

"oh jasmine please don't." i beg, immediately realising the embarrassment that will come with the story.

"i want to hear this! carry on jasmine." shawn says, smirking at me. i feel the blush rise to my cheeks and i groan, placing my hand on my head.

"so little anya here, at the solemn age of 16, thought that if she replaced the vodka at a new year's party with water, no one would get drunk and complain the next day about having a hangover." she begins, picking up her wine glass. "miss straight A's and a gpa of 4.0 thought that if she managed to get rid of the vodka, it would all be okay. so, she poured it all into a pitcher." i groan again, as jasmine let's out a laugh. "she filled up the vodka bottle with water, and put it back on the drinks table, going back to whatever she was doing. so, after it had hit midnight, and we had all screamed until our voices were dry, anya decided she wanted some water. she walked over to the drinks table, saw the pitcher of vodka, and thought it was water, so she immediately picked it up and straight from the pitcher, took large gulps of it, finishing the entire contents within a few seconds."

"damn babe, i never knew you could do that?" shawn says, impressed at me. i laugh nervously, as my face goes hot and bright red.

"of course she got so incredibly drunk, and ended up spending the night sleeping in the hot tub."

"it was warm in there!" i say in defence, making everyone laugh. "whatever, i'm going to go order some food, anyone coming?" i say, standing up. shawn nods, following me to the food bar, where i wait for someone to serve me.

i order a plate of fries for the table, with fried calamari and a side of green olives. whilst waiting for the food, there's nothing holdin' me back blasts into the bar, making shawn jump back in shock, before smirking at me, holding onto my hand.

"shawn don't you even-" he drags me out onto the packed dance floor, as he begins twirling me about and holding me in his arms as we dance and sing along. "i hate you so much!" i yell over the music, laughing as shawn spins me about again.

"no you don't!" he laughs back, holding my waist in his arms and dipping me down just as the bridge blasts out. "you love me." i bring my hand up, cupping his cheek as we stare into each other's eyes, waiting for someone to make the first move.

"i love you." i mumble, leaning up and pressing my lips to his firmly. "i love you so much." i whisper, pulling away from him. his lips remain swollen, as a small smile covers them, hope flashing in his caramel pools of eyes. he brings me up, holding onto my hand as we push our way through the crowd, heading out of the bar and back onto the cold streets. i didn't notice until now, that shawn grabbed our coats and my bag on the way out, and he quickly hands me my things, as he hails a taxi.

"hi, can you take us to the nearest hotel please?" shawn asks, as we both scramble into the car, shutting the door behind us. "preferably one with a five star rating."

"of course sir." the driver says, starting the car and speeding off into the moonlight. we arrive at a hotel within seconds; shawn quickly pays and we head out, walking straight into the hotel and booking a room to stay in.

"why did we come to a hotel?" i ask curiously, as shawn opens up the door to our room for the night. he says nothing, but instead lifts me up effortlessly, laying me down on the bed and getting in next to me, linking his arms around my waist.

"i love you too." shawn whispers back to me, burying his head in my neck. "i thought i was going to lose you, i-i-" he cries, as i feel tears on my neck.

"babe, shh, don't cry." i mumble back, running my hands through shawns hair, trying to calm him down. "i'm here, i'm not going anywhere."

"i love you." shawn chokes out, holding onto me tighter.

"i love you." i repeat, kissing his forehead gently.

little did i know, things would change, and quick.
-
short update bc i need to speed things up hahahah