My lovely readers,
here is the next chapter of my story unexpected love. I can guarantee you that this one, you will like as for something unexpected will happen again. I am so grateful for all of you and this chapter is again a gift from me to you. I hope that you can enjoy this one. The picture shows Jasmeet and Shawn. Who do you think is a better fit for our loved girl? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.   - Martin Luther King Jr.

Shawn's POV:

I was so bored in class; it was really not very exciting; the teacher just repeated how important this year was going to be for our future. I groaned at this as I was well aware of this; I did not need a reminder everyday.
I came to the conclusion while I thought in class: Nothing in my life was interesting. I just got up, went to school, studied, ate and slept. I was in a serious need of some drama or something interesting. I was sick of the same routine everyday as I longed for something new and exciting. I could not sense that my wish was going to fulfil itself soon.
Enzo on the other hand, had to play the lead in the school's play and I could sense some drama coming up as this was not avoidable. Everyone who played a part in the theatre club experienced some sort of drama.

The moment I stepped into the school, I heard the latest rumor buzzing around. Apparently, Jasmeet decided to wear something pretty and she looked for the first time attractive; stunning and puzzling therefore my classmates started to talk about her. I just scoffed and doubted that this rumor was true, as there were much rumors going through the school halls; which were not necessarily true and most of the time it was false. People in my school loved to gossip; a thing that I detested. It showed me that their life was so boring so that they had to make up some stuff to keep them entertained. At my locker, I saw Enzo and I greeted him happily. I was relieved that we were no longer fighting. I made up my mind to be nicer to other people; I did not want to be that person whom many loathed; however, I did not know that my promise would be challenged very soon.

"Enzo, did you hear the latest rumor? Jasmeet is said to be beautiful today! Do you think that she is beautiful? You look at her in this strange way! If I didn't know it better, I would say you are smitten by her appearance!" I told him questioningly. He raised his eyebrows and replied me: "Shawn, I heard this rumor too. This must mean that she will be attacked by Nathalie today!" I noticed that he did not respond to my words and I highlighted; trying to convey the urgency of my words: "You did not answer me! Do you think that she is that? Give me a clear reply!" He did not bothered to give me an answer and just proceeded to go to the class. "You know, Shawn, everyone is beautiful in their own way!" he told me, while he walked to class; turning backwards to face me. This comment made me think about this, as I never thought about this before. Somehow, he was right; beauty lies in the perspective of the viewer.

However, we did not see Jasmeet, as she did her best to avoid us; this was at least my theory. I suspected his because I anticipated that she did not wish to have any more attention from our classmates and the best way to do this was by talking to us. It was also convenient for me not to see her. Only one time, we saw her in the corridor and I had to admit that she looked very agreeable, she seemed very confident in her attire. She was not overdressed, but managed to catch the eyes as something in her manner of walking was extra ordinary. She wore normal jeans with a grey sweater and sneakers. While looking at my best friend; I noticed very fast that Enzo was smitten by her appearance. The stare of my best friend seemed also to affect Jasmeet, as she lowered her gaze very fast because of the intensity of his glance. Her best friend nugded her into the shoulder, making her chuckle.
I was surprised, well not really. I suspected for a few days now that there was something going on between them. It was evident that by being a hero, he was able to touch this girl in a way I was never capable to do. I felt a tinge of jealousy and I hated myself for feeling that way. Was I, Shawn Mendes, becoming soft towards this girl? I could not possibly like this girl. I could not be; I swore myself that I would never ever be nice or kind to her again. She was an obnoxious girl which did not want to be friends with me, and did not deserve my attention at all. This made me stop thinking about her and I could concentrate on my classes, as it was important for me to pay attention to the things the teachers said.

Then it was time for Enzo to go to the play practice; I decided to stay, as I had to wait for the Indian girl, and that I would lurk in the shadows and watch the rehearsing. I had nothing better to do. I mean, it was nonsense to go back home for an hour and then come back again; the traffic was just too intense at this time of the day. I noticed immediately the change in Enzo's and Jasmeet's behaviour at the rehearsal; it seemed like they were more comfortable around each other. Something happened; I was positive about this. I was also sure that I would find out what occured between them. I saw that the words just flowed out of their mouths and leaving me and my classmates in a daze, as they touched us by the intensity. I felt suddenly a hint of pain in my breast as I saw them so cozy with each other; this should have never happened. This certainly did not please me at all and I did not know why it affected me. I had to remind myself that it was only a rehearsal and they had to play the couple in love. It did not necessarily mean that the feelings they portrayed were true. It could be that they were just fantastic actors. Nevertheless, I could felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

Finally, the rehersal was over and I waited impatiently for Jasmeet, who needed more time than Enzo collecting her stuff who approached me.
"Hey, Dude, how was the rehearsal? How did you like it?" he asked me. I just shrugged my shoulders and replied him casually; in an attempt to conceal my real state of mind: "It was great; I think you and Jasmeet have chemistry! But you did not kiss, this is sad; I am excited to see this!" At the mentioning of her name, his cheeks became barely noticeable a bit red. I knew him very well as we grew up together and that was the reason, why I could tell this. I had to find out what happened between them. I was determined to make sure to know what changed their behaviour between them. He could not hide anything from me; I could see right through him and he could do this with me as well. He denied and tried to distract me by saying: "For whom are you waiting?" I responded to him; pretending not to be interested in the previous question I posed:"I have to wait for Jasmeet; we have to complete our assignment! We are nearly done, but we still have to meet for the presentation! Talk to you later!" He nodded understanding and left the room after he gave me a man hug and telling me to call him as soon as I got home. I felt relief when he was gone as I did not want to feel this weird resemblance to pain in my chest. I knew that it would be gone if they were not together. What was happening to me? 

Then finally, Jasmeet came and we went to the library starting on our project. "Jasmeet, you and Enzo? Is there something between you? You were so comfortable around each other, while the rehearsal!" I asked the girl in front of me; after we worked for some time. Currently we were part of the library where we were allowed to talk. We worked nearly an hour in silence, as we discussed all the important issues before.

When she heard my words, she looked up in disbelief and denied vehemently by saying:
"Bradley, get it in your thick skull. There is nothing more going on than just being partners in a play. Do not get any idea! By the way, why are you so interested in this?" I was mad when she decided to ask this question; I dreaded this. I also did not know why I was so interested in this; so therefore her asking me did not help me clarify my confusion. I did not like her at all, or did I like her? No, she was the girl who rejected me back in fresh man year and I did not want to see her in any other way. I retorted: "Kaur, I do not like you. You are the most despicable person ever to walk on earth!"

"Shawn, is that the only thing you can do: insult me? This is something bad. You should not be so mean to other people. How will you ever have someone who loves you; if you behave like this?" she said, stating the obvious; she did not seem affected by my words at all. She was like usually not touched by my words. I was stunned that she dared to say these things to me. She really needed to learn to shut up; I could not deny that her words somehow stung my heart. Was I not worthy of love? Was I going to leave my whole life alone? I insulted her:"Well, at least I am not in love with someone who will never ever reciprocate your feelings. Enzo will never ever like you. I know you like him! But you are nothing in comparison my best friend!"

Jasmeet fixated me intensively and I barely could not return her glance; as she was visibly fuming with rage. I almost thought that she would leave and would not give me a second look. However, I was wrong as she said after composing herself:
"Shawn Bradley, why do you keep insulting me? Do you think that this does something good? I mean, do you really think that your insults will affect me? And one more thing; why are so affected by my alleged relationship with Enzo? I could almost think that you are jealous of him, in the way you act; although this would be ridiculous! Would it not be? You and jealous?"

Her response made me speechless, somehow she could see through my attitude. Why could she sense that I was feeling this way? Was I jealous? I had to admit that my sentiments resembled strongly to jealousy. I knew also that I would never ever admit this to her. Therefore, I rejected her words by answering her after I composed myself:
"Jasmeet, you are totally wrong. Why would I be jealous? I do not even like you! Moreover, insulting you is fun. It is entertaining me; you are like an angry cat! And yes, it would be absolutely ridiculous if I were jealous of Enzo! This will never ever happen. I mean if it were to happen, I had to like you and this is definitely not the case!"

The girl in front of me clearly did not believe me as my actions proved otherwise, and I tried to defend myself by starting to speak; however, Jasmeet prevented me from voicing my thoughts by responding me: "Yeah exactly, so let us get back to work. I really want to get out of here and not to be in your company!" "Ouch, that hurt, Jasmeet. You wounded me!" I told her, touching on my heart to pretend that her words offended me. Her eyebrows raised up, clearly showing her disbelief and she snickered: "Ah yes, right, as if I could offend you! You do not have a heart. This is a truth acknowledged by the whole school!" Everyone thought I did not possess a heart; this was something new for me. I knew that I was not the most emotional person to ever walk this planet; however, this was a thing I never heard before. I had a heart and I was capable of showing my feelings. I denied this by whispering in her ear, which was suddenly close to me: "Jasmeet, you are totally wrong about me. All you think you know is wrong!" Jasmeet clearly did not believe a word I said and continued to type into her Lenovo notebook. It was clear that the discussion was over and I got back to the work.

An hour later, we finally finished the presentation and we were ready to present the issue to our class. We walked together to the parking lot and unconsciously I accompagnied her again to her car. Then while looking at her, I suddenly realized that something about her was truly beautiful and managed to catch my breath. I slapped myself mentally for thinking this as I swore myself to hate and loathe her. She looked at me questioningly when she noticed my stare. I raised my eyebrows and replied to her: "What is wrong, Jasmeet?" I could not believe that I just addressed her with her first name. I never did this, she was just the girl I called by her last name. She answered me with a hint of disbelief and bewilderment in her voice: "Bradley, you look at me in a weird way! Is everything okay with you? Or do you have fever?"

She tested this by putting her hand on my forehead to examine it was warmer than it should be; shocking the both of us, the moment she touched me, I felt a spark ignited in me and something erupted in me. As if I was hot, she pulled her hand away faster than I could see. I stared at her in an attempt to find out what she was thinking, and she responded to my intense glance self confident; in a way also challenging me and daring me to look at her. Her eyes suddenly got lost in mine and I noticed for the first time, that her eyes were beautiful, so dark and brown; making me curious to find out what was beneath her strong attitude. I felt somehow safe and comfortable; I could also feel an invisible pull to her. What was this all about?

The feeling I sensed messed up with my stomache and I felt little bit sick, as something fluttered in me and made me uneasy. This was something I never felt before; I was cold as stone and no touch could ever affect me as this one just did. Was I falling? The girls I dated never managed to get under my skin; I was the one who was never affected by them. I just treated them with indifference whereas they were inflicted with pain when I chose to ignore them ; however with the girl in front of me I was not able to do so as she sparked something in me.

Jasmeet Hailee Kaur was the first one to do so and this really made me uncontent as I thought that I hated her. Apparently, she also noticed something unusual as her face mirrored my horror and confusion, as she touched my face and she did her best to create some distance between each other, by moving towards to the front door of the car. I inspected her face in order to see beneath her facade and noticed the hint of redness on her cheeks; suggesting that I was not the only one whom this moment puzzled and confounded. To my horror, she was beautiful in my eyes, all amazed by the passed moments. I did not want to know how I looked; as there was for sure an evidence of my bewilderment. I really had no intention of finding this out because I was scared of my feelings. Shawn Bradley feeling afraid of something, this never occured before.

I was sure that this happened unconsciously and we just gazed at each other; trying to comprehend what just occurred and to examine if this was not some dream or if this was the reality. However, this was not the case as, when I pinched myself, it pained me; making me realize that she really touched me. She appeared very confused and I was sure that I was a reflection of her expression. To end this weird moment, she waved me goodbye without waiting for my response, and sat in her car, started it and drove away; leaving me in my confused state of mind.
I was in a daze and could not move, as my feet seemed to root in the ground, not being able to walk to my car. She was long gone and I still stood in the same place trying to comprehend what was this all about. I seriously had to figure out what happened to me; otherwise I would be in great trouble. I could not become the person who was confused because of a girl and I refused to be someone whom girl affected. After all, I was Shawn Bradley and I was stone cold. I made up my mind to return to my cold self and banned these nice thoughts to the back of my mind; with the intention of never looking back and not inspecting these feelings any further. I could not sense back then that this intention would be overthrown soon.

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So what do you think now? Where is the story heading? I am so excited for your comments, did you like this moment between Jasmeet and Shawn? I liked it, I felt like there is something there, waiting to be explored. Or do you think that there is nothing? Let me know!!!

love

Sarah He.

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there is the next teaser for the coming part, so make sure to read it:

"You are jealous, Shawn! I know this. You are just too stubborn to admit this." Screamed my best friend at me. Enzo looked breathless and I could see fire coming out of his ears. He resembled an angry buffalo and was ready to strike. I was not scared of him but I knew that I was in danger of losing him as a friend.
I denied this vehemently: "No I am not jealous! I hate her!" While saying this words, I noticed that I was unconvincing and I spoke not the truth. I lied to myself and to Enzo and Jasmeet, which would result into hurt and pain. Enzo admitted that they kissed and I could not describe what I felt this moment. My heart pained and I felt breathless, almost as if something stole my ability to inhale normally.
"Shawn, do not lie to yourself! I know that deep down, you like her in a way. It confuses you as you swore yourself to hate her for all eternity. It doesn't fit into your master plan. And for your information, I think I will not keep my distance anymore!"
This made me even more furious, my best friend defied me! I thought we were going through thin and thick. I was apparently wrong. With a last glance on me, he turned on his heels and left me in the mess of my feelings which were trying to surface.