{Melanie}

To be fair, at the end of the school day seemed to be the best part. It meant that I could finally get away from all of these people, who I feel are judging me. In a way I feel that if I catch up with Shawn at the diner, that he'll judge me too.

I've never felt so vulnerable before, since Savannah check-mated me earlier. But that was only because she knew exactly what would hurt me.

Maybe I shouldn't go with Shawn today, she'll find a way to hurt me again.

"Hey!" Shawn says from behind me. "I honestly can't wait until we get to the diner. I promise my Mom's cooking hasn't changed!" He smiles as I begin to feel guilty, he really wants to catch up with me.

"Look Shawn I know you wanted to meet up today, but I don't think I can't do this" I sigh as he puts his arm around my shoulders.

"Look Mel all I said I wanted to do was catch up. I promise it's nothing else, no strings attached" he stated clearly.

Come on Mel, it won't hurt.

"O-Okay" I smile.

"Alright then. We better get going" he chuckles, pulling me to his car.

"Wow. I remember when you and your dad were fixing this baby up" I gape, hopping in.

"Well now it's my baby" he says starting it up.

"Wait what about my car.." I trail off.

"Hey no worries Mel. I'll take it back to your house" Ethan smiles, appearing from behind Shawn's car. "It's better than taking the bus. I was going to ask this jerk if he'd take me home...but it looks like he's already got plans"

"Well okay, just don't scratch it" I chuckle.

[Shawn]

"So how was Ohio compared to LA?" I ask, adjusting in my seat awkwardly.

"Um it was very rainy and cold. Super hot in the summer though" she replies, sipping on her iced tea while looking out the window.

"I didn't ask for a weather report" I chuckle as she laughs.

"Well it was crap compared to LA. I missed this place so much even though I didn't have friends." She sighs.

You had me. Wasn't that enough?

"I didn't even make friends there either." I pause. "Maybe I'm that type of girl who is destined to be alone and have 500 cats" she giggles.

"Well I mean 500 sounds a little, over dramatic" I laugh as she playfully smacks my chest.

"Not funny loser" she chuckles.

"I missed you calling me that" I blurted, feeling my face go red as she chuckled. "I-I'm sorry I don't know why I said that"

"I missed you too Shawn" she paused. "Look I want to persue this, our friendship. I think we should just leave our boyfriend-girlfriend relationship in the past...if that's okay with you"

I didn't expect this. I was hoping she'd be on the same page as me. I wanted us to be back together, truthfully I miss what we had...I want to be with her again.

It seems we don't see eye to eye.

"Yeah that's what I was meaning to tell you! That I wanted us to be friends!" I smile, even though I don't mean it.

"Good. I'm glad we are willing to move past our relationship" she nodded.

"So um how are the burgers?" I change the subject.

--

"Maybe we should hang out sometime?" She chuckles. "Like old times?"

"Yeah I'd like that" I smile, meaning it way more than she'd know.

She got out of my car and ran halfway across the street, then stopped.

"Um bye Shawn!" She ran off, disappearing behind her front door.

I smiled to myself and felt a little spark inside me ignite, that's when I knew that I wouldn't let her slip away from my sight.

It's just a small crush.

//

-ily xx