chapter six
reveries
[anya rose steinburg]
-
carefully, i walk down the corridor to the elevators, trying not to awake anyone else in the hotel at 6am. why am i awake at this time? oh yeah, i'm an early bird. yawning, i silently grumble to myself, clicking on the button of the elevator, the doors opening, revealing a shawn mendes, my supposed boyfriend.

"shit you scared me." i groan, getting into the elevator, as shawn simply looks at me, snorting out a laugh.

"sorry, i can't really control how i get around the hotel." he shrugs, leaning against the bar of the elevator.

"wait i thought you were on the same floor as me? where were you?" i ask, as his lips turn upward, smirking at me. "shawn mendes, tell me this instant."

"hookup." he shrugs again, making me laugh.

"i thought you were tired?"

"i was, but then i bumped into some girl, and i guess our intentions were to sleep with each other." he says, as i snort a laugh, shaking my head. "i forgot her name, so i guess that's okay."

"well done." i say sarcastically, the elevator doors opening, revealing an empty hotel lobby. "so i guess you're feeling better?" i look at him briefly, a look of sadness flashing over his face.

"i mean," he begins. "she wasn't the girl i love." he frowns. "but i guess it settled me in some way."

"good, i'm happy for you," i remind him, smiling up. "don't worry about it shawn, i'm sure this girl is going to stop being an idiot soon, and actually realise how amazing a guy you are."

"you really think so?" he asks me, slightly hopeful.

"i know so. you're such an amazing friend to me, and i'm pretty sure this girl, whoever she is, will be attracted to your personality. i'm sure of it." he smiles gently at me, the two of us walking to the main restaurant of the hotel, eager to see the breakfast bar.

shawn and i help ourselves to the range of continental breakfasts they have here, the two of us getting excited over the extended choice. after we have heaped our plates with food, we find a seat next to a window, that overlooks the opening area to the main hotel.

"you are coming to toronto with me, right?" he asks me, as soon as the two of us sit down.

"of course, i wanna meet your family." i chuckle, as he smiles widely at me. "your sister followed me on instagram yesterday, she's so pretty." i add, as he chuckles, shaking his head at me.

"she said she was going to stalk you on social media before meeting you." he says to me, as i laugh.

"now i can't wait to meet her, she already sounds more interesting than you." he playfully gasps at me. i roll my eyes at him, sipping on my coffee.

"she is not more interesting than me." he states, his tone probably trying to convince himself more than me. "okay maybe she is, but-" he gets cut off by his phone ringing, making the two of us sigh simultaneously. "hey gerty, what is it?" he raises his eyebrows suspiciously, making me anxious about the phone call. "okay we'll act more." he hangs up the phone, letting out a long sigh.

"what did he say?"

"someone outside the window is filming us and livestreaming us." he groans, reaching over the table and holding onto my hand. "just act."

"they can't hear us, right?"

"anya, they're outside, we're inside." he laughs, running his thumb over my hand.

"oh, right." i nod, making shawn chuckle again, shaking his head at me.

"you're supposed to be the smart one here." i gasp sarcastically, kicking his foot under the table. "ow! what was that for?"

"for ever thinking you're the smart one out of the two of us." i shoot back, a smirk on my face. he scoffs, rolling his eyes at me, as he takes a long sip out of his cappuccino, putting his mug down, revealing a milk moustache. i laugh immediately.

"what?" he asks, completely clueless.

"you've got a little milk on your face, come here." i lean over the table, using the tip of my thumb to wipe away the milk. i see his cheeks flush as my thumb hits his soft lip.

"oh uh, thanks." he says, smiling at me, as i sit back down in my seat. "anyway, ready to have a whole day of adventuring with the crew?"

"of course i am, i'm excited." i smile. "when's that boat ride?"

"late afternoon? i think." he responds, making me nod. "before that we're gonna be at the beach all day, so it'll be relaxing."

"and then tomorrow evening we're flying back?" i question, slightly upset that this bit of the tour is over.

"back to toronto." he responds. "my mums really excited to have you staying, she's already made the guest room up." he chuckles, making me smile.

"your mum seems so sweet, i can't wait to meet her," i say softly, as shawns cheeks flush again, a small smile etched onto his lips.

"she is, i love my mum." he hums, looking down at the table. "i sort of can't wait to get back home."

"that's fair, you're always on the road, so it must be a relief getting back home." i add to him, as he nods, looking up at me.

"it definitely is." he says. "the day after that, some of my friends have invited me to a party. do you want to come with me?"

"um, hell yes." the two of us laugh, finishing up our breakfast. "okay, i need to go up and change for today."

"yeah same, meet me outside my room?" we both stand up from the table, walking out of the hotel restaurant.

"of course." i nod. "let's play beach volleyball, i can crush you in that too."

"i wouldn't talk too fast, steinburg." he says to me, the two of us waiting for an elevator. "you don't know how good i am at beach volleyball."

"oh yeah? i was on my high school team for four years, and each match we played, i always scored the winning shot." i smirk back at him, as he raises his eyebrows at me. "i don't know why you look so impressed."

"because i am? i never thought of you to be the volleyball type." the elevator stops at my floor and i let out a soft chuckle.

"there's a lot you don't know about me." i add, walking out of the elevator.

"well, will you let me get to know you then?" he asks me, leaning against the bar of the elevator. i chuckle, nodding at him, as the doors begin to close.

"only if you let me get to know you."
-
the warm sun kisses my already tanned skin, as i sit on one of the beach towels laid out for the crew, my denim shorts still on, along with the white bikini top i bear.

"hey hottie, want me to buy you a drink?" a fairly tall blonde wanders up to me, a very muscular build over his shoulders, definitely a magnet to the ladies.

"no thanks," i smile up at him. "i think my boyfriends getting one for me now, oh look, there he is." i see shawn walking up to me, carrying two cocktails in his hands, his sunglasses over his face as he looks the blonde up and down.

"hey darling, here's your drink." shawn says, sitting next to me, and handing me my pina colada. he drapes his arm around my waist, causing the blonde to sadly walk away. i chuckle, shaking my head at shawn, his hand still remaining over my waist.

"you're literally the greatest best friend i could ask for." i chuckle at him, leaning closer to his shirtless frame. "honestly, do you think you can come to my college lectures with me? well, when i'm in the city?"

"of course." he laughs, making me roll my eyes. "did you see his face? oh my god, he looked so disappointed."

"i know, i would've honestly laughed if i could've." i giggle, shawn finally letting go of my waist. "i saw you holding in your laugh."

"it was hilarious seeing him try, what else was i supposed to do?" he laughs, taking a sip of his drink. "yikes, i think they put way too much rum in these."

"can't take your drinks, mendes?" i ask him, raising my eyebrow.

"oh shut up." he says, groaning. i giggle once more, before putting my drink on the side, leaning back, so i'm lying down. shawn follows my actions, lying down next to me, sighing softly.

"are you trying to tan your very pale skin now?" i ask him, turning my head to the side.

"how did you guess?" he asks me sarcastically, making me laugh. "i'm kidding, but you looked pretty lonely so i decided to lie down with you."

"you're hilarious." i laugh, pushing my head back up so it's facing the sky.

"how's everything with nathan going?" shawn asks me quietly.

"it's going okay." i nod. "we've been texting over the past two days, so we've kept in contact." i say.

"good, i'm glad, you deserve someone who will actually make you feel happy." i blush slightly at his words, before sighing happily, and leaning my head onto his shoulder, and linking our hands together. "what are you doing?"

"there's fans on the beach, that guy, paparazzi, and plus, i'm really grateful for you." i say to him. he chuckles, squeezing my hand lightly. "i don't see you complaining."

"oh shut it." he groans, making me laugh. "i mean, i did get hit on like three times when i was getting our drinks."

"is it now a competition?" i ask, with a small laugh.

"let's make it one. we go and play and flirt with as many people as we can, and the other one of us comes to save us. make it a game." he says, making me sit up.

"okay then, first to ten wins." i say, as shawn sits up.

"oh, you're on anya." i chuckle, slipping off my shorts, and grabbing my drink, rushing off to go find a fit guy to flirt with. i spot a tall brunette at the bar and i smirk, rushing forward, finishing off my drink in the meantime.

"can i get a beer please?" i ask the barman, sitting next to the brunette on one of the stools. i see him looking at me, and i smirk in achievement, taking my beer from the bartender, quickly paying with my credit card. after taking a sip of the beer, i put the bottle back down, accidentally making it fall over the guys lap.

"oh my god! i'm so sorry!" i say suddenly, as the guy lets out a laugh. "oh crap, i'm so clumsy sometimes, here, let me help-"

"it's okay, don't worry." he tells me, with a small laugh. "let me buy you a drink to cater for the one that's just been spilt." he shuffles up next to me, resting his hand on my bare thigh.

"babe? everything okay?" i hear behind me. i turn around, seeing shawn. "we're just about to play some volleyball, you coming?"

"oh, you have a boyfriend?" the other guy asks me, as i smile, nodding.

"thanks anyway!" i say, standing up and rushing to shawn, linking my arm with his and letting out a few laughs, along with shawn laughing too. "one point to me, already."

"okay let's change the rules slightly." he smirks down at me. "get their number, and then the other one of us walks in. first one to five numbers wins."

"you're making this easier and easier for me, mendes." i sigh, chuckling softly at him, before rubbing his arm and rushing off to find someone.

i don't think shawn realised that he would lose in this.
-
i sit back down on the towel, waiting for shawn to return, gazing at my nine numbers i accumulated, and the free drinks i got too. i smile in achievement, sipping on my martini whilst waiting.

"there you are! i've been looking all over for you!" shawn chuckles, coming to sit next to me. "giving in to your loss?"

"nine phone numbers and six free drinks." i say, revealing my loot. "checkmate, mendes."

"ten phone numbers and three thongs, checkmate, steinburg." shawn says cheekily, emptying his swimsuit pockets onto the towel.

"gross! keep that underwear to yourself." i grimace, chuckling at him. he rolls his eyes, picking up the underwear and throwing it into the nearest bin, along with the ten phone numbers. "want a drink?"

"no thanks." he declines, looking out to the sunset over the sea. "you know i think this is the most beautiful sunset i've ever seen."

"same here." i say quietly, taking in the different colours exploding on the sky. "it really is beautiful." shawn shuffles closer to me, resting his arm over my shoulders. i turn my head, looking up at him and smiling, before resting my head on his shoulder.

"wanna get back to the hotel?" he asks me quietly, running his fingertips over my shoulder.

"no," i shake my head, letting out a sigh and shutting my eyes. "i wanna stay here with you and this beautiful sunset."

shawn breathes out a chuckle, as i snuggle closer to his side, shutting my eyes as i tuck my head into his neck. "you don't have to get cozy you know, there aren't any cameras about."

"i know," i nod, opening my eyes. "there's something about being with you, in australia, on a beach, with a sunset. and i have to say, i think i love it more than the works of fitzgerald."
-
is miss anya falling in love?