I left her house, giddy from this morning's events but dreading what was to come. As much as I was looking forward to finally having a good gig again, I really couldn't shake Melissa off. She was nice at first, good-looking even, but she was nothing like her.

The hot water pounded my back as I washed the scent of my girlfriend off me, chuckling to myself at the thought of why I smelled like her. I made a mental note to have flowers sent to her house tomorrow, praying she was a fan of white tulips. Roses were too cliché, and daffodils reminded me of funerals. I figured tulips were safe, and maybe even symbolic—I always thought it would be nice to take her to Amsterdam someday.

The high-pitched whine chilled my bones as I entered the bar, guitar case in hand and a fake smile plastered on my face.

"Shawnnn," she smiled, running up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. What the hell?

I pushed her back a bit, attempting to peel her off of me as I gave a fake smile, shuffling over to the stage and setting my guitar case down.

"You almost done in here? I gotta be out by quarter to four," I said flatly, brows furrowed as a look of harshness crossed my features. Melissa pouted, bony hands finding her tiny hips as she jutted one out, exaggerating her stupid fucking body language.

"I was hoping to be with you longer," she squeaked, earning a shake of my head as I thanked my lucky stars she wasn't my girlfriend.

"I've actually gotta meet my girlfriend," I smiled, eyes crinkling as my stomach dipped, remembering that I had to order her some flowers. I slipped my phone from my pocket and Googled the nearest florist and ordered two dozen white tulips to my girl's house, set to arrive the next day. I quickly entered my credit card information that I had memorized, not bothering to overthink the price because I was pretty sure I was in love with her. Did the cost really matter, anyway? She's the reason I even had this gig.

Melissa shuffled over to one of the tables, taking a seat as I plugged into the amp and started warming up. So far, I'd incorporated mostly originals into my setlist, starting with one called "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" to get the crowd pumped up. Then, I planned on slowing it down and going into "Don't Be A Fool," and I was still playing around with where I wanted to put "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon and "Black" by Pearl Jam. I had spent a while unsuccessfully deciding on one last song, something to make my girl happy because this was the first time she'd see me performing live. A love song, for sure, but I wasn't quite sure if I should cover something like "Thinking Out Loud" or perform another one of my songs—one that was actually about her.

I began singing as I strummed along, testing the waters by choosing "Don't" by Ed Sheeran to start with. Hopefully, I'd send the message to leave me the hell alone, and if not, it was a great song to get my vocals warmed up.

I soon went into my actual setlist, moving the tracks around because the rest of the band wasn't here with me. Melissa clapped like an idiot after each one, and I'm pretty sure she even recorded certain parts. The thought of her having footage of me in her camera roll boiled my blood, but it's not like I could afford to freak out. Gotta keep the peace and just get it the fuck over with.

"Hey, good job," she squeaked, sauntering over to me and continuing to walk in my direction as I took a step backwards.

"Thanks," I responded as I looked away, quickly packing up and waving goodbye as I exited the venue.

My veins flooded with excitement as I finally got out of there, hanging onto the hope of seeing my beautiful girlfriend soon. She'd be bringing Geoff back to my house, and I planned on fitting in some snuggles and potentially even romancing the fuck out of her. I took a little detour, killing time as I weaved through the streets of Downtown Toronto. It was busy, as usual, but peaceful in its own way. The sidewalks were buzzing with businesspersons, each escaping the office early because it was Friday. All headed to Union Station, I had bet. Would hate to be on the GO train at this hour.

I pulled into my block, driving down the ramp to my underground parking area and then parked in my spot. I bounced on my toes on the elevator ride up, my long fingers raking through my hair as I checked my reflection, giggling because she was just too beautiful for me. God, I felt so lucky.

The doors slid open and I stepped into the hallway, mind hazy with thoughts of having my head between my girl's thighs as the sight of a familiar blonde stopped me dead in my tracks, fingertips going numb as a familiar anxiety raced through my nerves.

"Shawn," she spoke, rising to her feet just outside the door to my condominium.

"What are you doing here?" I snapped, face softening as I realized that I probably shouldn't be rude. Either way, this was unacceptable. How the hell did she even find out where I lived?

"Knew your building, doorman let me in and told me which was yours," she smirked, rage turning my face hard as I decided I needed to have a talk with the security around here.

"This is my house, Melissa. You can't just show up here," I muttered, placing my guitar case down and crossing my arms over my chest, hopefully intimidating her a little. It seemed to be working, because her shoulders slumped almost immediately, tears pooling in her crystal-blue eyes.

"B-but, but my power's still out," she lied, "I just needed someone to talk to, and I didn't wanna go home," she shuddered, looking up at me with a pathetic pout. For a quick second, my heart felt a tinge of guilt. "Please, Shawn. Please let me in."

How the fuck do I get out of this? How does one say 'no' to a small, weeping girl outside their front door? Especially when she won't fucking leave until I invite her inside?

Her tears spilled over as she was shaking with sobs, leaving me completely confused. What was the issue, even? Her power was out? And now she was crying? Huh?

"Fuck, okay, shit," I muttered, eyes looking up to the ceiling as I nervously tapped my foot on the carpeted floor. "Just a few minutes, then you've gotta go."

She immediately smiled, tears coming to a halt as she spoke, "Thank you, Shawn. You're the best."

Yeah, right. The fucking best. The guy who couldn't say no and let some random stranger into his house, even though he knew his girlfriend would be livid and heartbroken. The best.

I stepped toward the door, shakily unlocking it with my key and swinging it open, Melissa hot on my heels. Did she know that personal space was an actual thing? I heard a click, indicating she'd locked the door. Fucking great.

"Wow, this is nice," she said, looking around. A woman of few words, she was.

"Mm," I responded, lips pursed as I sorted through the small pile of mail resting on my counter from a few days prior.

"I really wanted to see it," she spoke, motioning around to the walls surrounding us. "And you. In a different setting." She took a step closer. This was getting bad.

"Melissa," I sighed. She stepped closer. "You've gotta go," I pleaded, grimacing as she was only inches from my cornered self. My cornered, idiot self.

"Why not just let it happen?" she smiled. What the fuck?

"Let what happen? Nothing is happening," I pressed, leaning back, away from her and her way-too-sweet-smelling perfume.

"Come on, Shawn. You? Me? Us?" she whispered, reaching out to grab my hands. I snatched them away, putting my arms out to hold her back a few inches. This was not happening, and definitely not in my house. My home, a home I one day planned on sharing with my lovely girlfriend.

"Please leave," I stated. "I've been nice, I really don't want to make this weird. I'll shut up and never tell a soul if you just leave now."

"And if I don't?" she smiled mischievously, reaching for my sides before I could stop her. I opened my mouth to answer, but a soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Fuck.

I reached for the door and unlocked it, opening it just a crack and slipping out into the hall. She stood in front of me, Geoff over her arm, a container of cookies in the other as a smile was etched on her naturally full lips, causing my stomach to do twirls and my pupils to dilate.

"Hey," I whispered as I shut the door behind me. Her face contorted into a questioning look, shattering my heart into a million pieces.

My heart just about stopped when the shrill voice called from behind the door, "Shawn, who is it?"

I frowned, completely at a loss for words as my eyes pleaded with hers. Please, baby. Her big, beautiful eyes filled with tears, face growing pale as realization struck.

"Um, she's been fed and walked, so you uh, so you don't have to. And, I uh, I made you cookies," she mumbled, planting Geoff on the floor softly along with her puppy bag. She couldn't even look at me, the pain evident in the air surrounding us as my eyes pleaded with hers, regret filling my mind.

"I'm just, I'm just gonna go," she mumbled, turning on her heel and heading for the elevators. She was trying to get away, trying to escape me and my shitty fucking self as I chased after her, unsure of what I could possibly do or say to explain this properly. She was pressing the button to go back downstairs when I caught up to her, heart breaking as her tears spilled over, her solemn gaze resting on the checkered pattern of the carpet.

"Baby, baby listen to me," I croaked in desperation, tugging at her wrists where her fingers were buried in her pockets, but they wouldn't budge. "She fucking followed me home," I sighed as the elevator reached the floor, opening up to reveal my friend Geoff. Great.

"I don't care, Shawn. You let her in," she responded softly, and she was right. I let her in. I let someone my girlfriend couldn't trust into my home, and that shit wasn't okay. I had no excuse. She slipped out of my grasp, stepping into the elevator as Geoff surprisingly followed her.

His eyes met mine, features cold as he shook his head and muttered, "Dude, what'd I tell ya," trailing off in his own disapproving thoughts.

It was my turn to start crying, my aching eyes filling with tears as I failed to speak up, the uncomfortable silence confirming every suspicion these two had. I desperately pleaded with her gaze, whispering a soft "Please," as the doors began to shut, separating me from what mattered more than anything.

Before I could fix this, I needed to get rid of the enemy. I stormed back to my front door, swinging it open to find Melissa having made herself comfortable on my couch.

"Get out," I said firmly, propping the door open with my foot and looking at her with angry eyes.

She wasn't playing her earlier games, possibly intimidated by me as she shot up quickly, gathering her purse and keys and booting it out my front door.

"And don't ever fucking come to my house again," I spat, slamming the door behind her and crumbling on the spot. The tears spilled down my cheeks as I realized I'd lost my favourite person in the world for a second time, positive this was the end. There was no coming back from this. I broke her trust.

My sobs filled my empty home as my puppy tried to comfort me, pressing her skull into my ankles as I sat on one of the bar stools, head in my stupid fucking hands. It went on for god knows how long before the door swung open as Geoff barged in, face hard as stone.

"The fuck was all that, Mendes?" he yelled, completely seeing red. I looked up at him, eyes pink and puffy.

"Nothing happened. I'm still a piece of shit but nothing fucking happened," I said between heavy sobs, Geoff's eyes widening at my state. He'd never seen me like this.

"Doesn't fucking matter," he replied coldly, "You let her in and closed the goddamn door. Guilty fucking act."

I let out another broken sob, balling my hands into fists and digging my nails into my palms.

"Geoff, I can't fucking lose her again," I said, sniffling harshly.

"Should have fucking thought about that before betraying her trust, man. Not fucking cool. You don't deserve her," Geoff muttered, fishing his phone out of his pocket.

"You're right," I sighed, wiping my wet cheeks with the sleeve of my hoodie, "I really fucking don't. But I need her."

Taking a seat on the bar stool beside me with angry eyes but a pleading frown, Geoff responded, "I'll see what I can do. But first, please tell me what the fuck happened."