"Are you ready?", Shawn asked me, as he parked the car in front of his apartment.
"No", I whispered and wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans.

He took my hand and turned to look at me: "Don't forget that I'm right here with you. I will protect you. I swear", he said with sincerity.

I smiled nervously and got out of the car. As we made our way to the doorstep my mind went blank. On our ride over I imagined scenarios, about what could happen when we show up.
Now I just couldn't think of anything.

Seconds after we unlocked the door he was standing there, like a Sphinx, menacing, waiting...

"What is he doing here?", he growled, not taking his eyes off Shawn.

"He's helping me move my things", I said, not looking him in the face and pushing myself past him into the apartment.

"He will not set foot into my apartment. ", he stared at Shawn, but he wouldn't back down.

I've never seen Shawn so tense before. Every muscle in his body was strung up, so much that the veins in his neck were popping out.

I turned around and ran to grab my things, when I heard them talk silently from the other room. I couldn't hear what they were saying, no matter how hard I tried, but I trusted Shawn to have the situation under control.

I needed 2 minutes to get my things. I rushed, didn't want to stay in this apartment longer than necessary. Not that I was scared of him- I was terrified I wouldn't be able to leave.

"All packed", I said, when I carried my bag through the living room and out the door.
"You're not going anywhere!", Jackson raised his voice and grabbed my arm tight.

"Uhm, Yes she is.", Shawn stretched his back and suddenly seemed about 1 foot taller than before. He built himself up between me and Jackson like a wall, to protect me- just like he promised he would.

Jackson, who was only about 5'11'' and way less muscular had to look up to him.

Shawn knew that he'd win if they fought, but so did Jackson. So he let go off my arm quickly and took a step back.

"Let's go Shawn. ", I softly touched his arm and it seemed like his tension melted under my fingers. He turned around and softly smiled at me. Then he nodded and grabbed my bag from the ground, walking towards the car, with me following.

But before we reached the car, Jackson- who I didn't notice was following us- grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards his front door. "JACKSON! STOP!", I screamed and Shawn quickly dropped the bag and turned towards us.

"YOU CAN'T LEAVE THIS EASILY! NOT AFTER EVERYTHING I GAVE YOU! YOU OWE ME!", he screamed after he turned me around to face him. I saw him raising his hand and clenched it to a fist. I closed my eyes, preparing for the pain it's gonna cause but it didn't come.

Instead I got pushed away. I quickly opened my eyes before hitting the ground and saw Shawn getting hit in the face. This punch was meant for me.

"SHAWN!", I screamed, but he was fine. He pushed Jackson hard and he fell back onto the ground, far away from us. "Stay there asshole. There's more where that came from!

Oh, and for the record, if you ever get near Nathalie again, you'll regret it.", he added with a cold voice that gve even me shivers.

He held out his hand to help me up, but his eyes didn't leave Jackson, who stayed on the ground, just like Shawn told him to.

We slowly made our way to the car. Shawns gaze never for once left Jackson, until he sat  down in the car and started driving.

Silence...

I breathed loudly, trying to fight against the silence.

"Are you okay?", I finally asked him when we arrived at his hotel and he parked the car. A smile appeared on his face and he turned towards me. Now I realized that his cheek was slightly swollen and red, but the amusement in his eyes distracted me from that: "Am I okay? You just broke up with your boyfriend."

"You know what I mean", I replied and touched his swollen jaw. "I'm okay.", he gave me a small smile, which was a little crooked because of it, but it was propably the cutest thing I ever saw in my life- baby kittens and puppies included.

"Would you please let me take a look at that?", I asked and he nodded.

And that's what I did when we were upstairs. This time it was me who filled the bowl with water and ice cubes and got a towel.

"Aren't you supposed to put like a steak on it or something?"

"Well, if you had one, why would you do that instead of eating it.", I joked back and sat down next to him.

But the atmosphere changed between us when we looked in each others eyes. "Thank you again, for your help with Jackson. You know I would never have expected that from you."

He smiled, and as I put the cold towel on his cheek he closed his eyes. So appearantly it did hurt. He could've said something- jackass.

"I know that. You're way too nice for that.", he said.

But then he opened his eyes again and captured mine with his gaze, so that I dropped the towel back in the bowl: "Why did you date this guy. I don't get it.", his eyes so full of pain.

"I thought I loved him. I still think I loved him. But I slowly start to doubt it was love. ", I replied with a quiet voice and looked down, but he tilted my chin back up. "You want to forget about him?", I nodded, "I think I can help with that."

Then he put his hand in my neck and laid his lips on mine...

and I just gave in.

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Ariana Grande