Stressed | Nap Date 4
He’s stressed. That’s the only thing she can see from her side of the facetime call. Shawn’s stressed. Shawn’s stressed because not only is he supposed to be on break from tour but now he’s being told he needs to make a music video for a song he recorded long before he met Ember. He’s stressed because he didn’t think the song was gonna get released, and because of that he’s stressed because he’s yet to play it for Ember.
Most importantly, he’s stressed because he’s been trying to plan a trip back to her for his break, that way he can see her at some point. Not just leave her hanging like a bad boyfriend does.
“No that doesn’t work.” He tugs at his long curls that are dying for a haircut. “I have a stupid rehearsal for the video. I don’t want to do it. I don’t even want to do it.” He beats himself up. "And I can’t do dinner because I’ve got to go to the studio to rerecord the chorus.”
“It’s okay Shawn.” She shrugs, trying to show him that she understands. She knew it was going to be a long shot for him to be able to visit on his break. He’s working and she understands that. This was a last minute idea that he’s stressing himself to see through.
“No it’s not.” He shakes his head. “I promised I wouldn’t let this happen. I promised I wouldn’t let my work come in between us.”
“It’s not.” She shakes her head. Gasping a bit at his words. “It’s not coming between us Shawn.”
“It is! I never see you.” He works himself up even more, and she’s worried that if he keeps going he’ll work himself into panic. “And don’t you dare say that we’re seeing each other right now. Because this doesn’t count. I want to hold you, I want you to tell me about your day while I play with your hair. I want you in front of me, physically.”
She smiles, taking a few deep breaths, willing him to copy her actions. He does, he always picks up on her silent clues. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him, she makes big things feel small and that he can conquer them.
“I just need to see you. Everything's too much lately, and I can’t function anymore. I feel like I can’t breathe properly, and that my thoughts are crazy, and I just need to hold you.”
She nods, “Okay. So what day do you have off? Completely?”
“Tomorrow.” He groans, scrubbing a hand across his face, cursing Andrew and Cez for their awful planning.
She grins, biting her lip, giggling a little before she goes. “All it’d take is one flight. We’d be in the same timezone.”
Shawn laughs, a small, breathy laugh. He looks up through red glossy eyes and smiles at her. She shrugs in response. “Are you serious?”
“I got an idea. And I know it sounds crazy oh I just wanna see ya.” She continues.
“Do you got plans tonight?” He asks, reaching for his laptop.
“I’m a couple hundred miles from you, and I was thinking you could fly to my apartment tonight.”
Shawn laughs, hearty this time. Throwing his head back and putting a hand to his chest. “I’ll see you in four hours, be ready.” He grins.
**
She wakes when her alarm goes off, quickly turning it off, looking over to Shawn to make sure he’s still asleep. She doesn’t know why she’s so worried to wake him, he’s completely dead to the world. Has been since he got home last night.
He landed at about 11 pm, rushed to her apartment and didn’t say a word other than ‘cuddles’ before picking her up and hauling her to the bedroom where he promptly threw her on the bed and landed on top of her. She swears he was already snoring by the time he fell on her.
She steps out of the room to call her boss and call out sick. She knows he needs her, and if she’s being honest with herself, she needs the time with him too. He’s not wrong, it does feel like she doesn’t breathe the same when he’s not around. It’s like her heartbeat is a step off, but when he’s in her vicinity its finally in tune.
Once called out, she goes about her morning by making a cup of coffee and starting on his favorite breakfast. Waffles.
She takes her time, humming ‘Lost in Japan’ and smiling at the fact that he really caught a flight just to spend the day with her. It’s crazy, completely and totally crazy. She has a hint of guilt, that festers when she thinks about the fact that he has to fly back at 5 in the morning tomorrow. It spiraled when she noticed the bags under his eyes when she traced his features last night after he passed out.
He’s too thin, and his hair is too long. He’s just tired, and a little unhealthy for her liking, and she just wants to take care of him. So she makes him 6 waffles, herself 2, and has enough batter to make him four more if he asks.
“What are you doing?” His hoarse voice asks. She jumps at the sound, lost in her thoughts. “Sorry Emi, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He slinks behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, tugging her back into his body.
“I’m making you breakfast. Coffee?” She asks looking up at him, head rested on his chest.
“Tea?” He raises an eyebrow. “I can make it, I’m sorry that was rude.” He turns away from her embrace.
“No.” She pouts, taking hold of his arm and turning him back to her. He looks at her, bleary eyes blinking slowly down at her. “Go sit.” She pushes him to the table.
“No I can-”
“No I got it.” She shakes her head.
“Babe I can make it. I don’t need you to-”
“Shawn Manuel.” She puts her hands on her hips. His lips shut immediately, and he looks at her like he’s being grounded. “I want to take care of you, go sit your cute butt down and let me make you some tea.”
He smiles softly, nodding and kissing the top of her head before going to sit down like he was told. “I appreciate it honey, but you need to get ready for work.”
She cringes lightly, knowing he’s not going to like what she has to say.
“What’s that face?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I called out?” She reaches for her herbal grey.
“You what?” He sits forward.
“I called out, so I’m here with you all day.”
“No call back, you don’t-”
“Shawn.” She turns and looks at him. “Did you really think that I wouldn’t? I mean fuck, you flew all the way here to see me. Did you really think that I would just leave you here? You think that I don’t want to spend time with you too? You think that I don’t miss you like crazy? You think that I’m functioning without you?”
“Hey.” He reaches for her hand, tugging her closer to him. “I’m sorry.” He whispers looking up at her through his somehow perfect lashes. “I just don’t want you risking your career to spend the day here with me.”
“I’m not. I’m so far ahead it’s not even funny. I’ve got sick time out the ass.” She curls her hand into his hair at the back of his head.
“Okay.” He nods smiling up at her. “Why are you so hellbent on taking care of me?” He tilts his head to the side.
“Because you’re thin, and tired, and alone for so long. You need to be spoiled too. You need someone to make you tea, and waffles with chocolate chips and whip cream.”
His eyes light up when she says that. “You didn’t.”
“I did.” She points to the massive stack of waffles on his plate.
“Why so many?” He laughs, standing to grab both plates, setting them on the table turning back for his cup of tea and her cup of coffee.
“Hey! I’m-”
“I’m allowed to spoil you too.” He pulls her chair out, kissing her lips softly before taking the seat next to her.
**
Shawn ended up eating all six pancakes, and proceeded to politely ask for four more. He’s so full he swears he won’t ever eat again, and every time he says that she rolls her eyes. Currently they’re sprawled across her small couch, laying on each other in what looks to be the most uncomfortable position but finding themselves rather cozy.
His head is on her chest, her fingers in his hair. He sighs in contentment when she kisses the top of his head, pulling him as close as she can.
“Do you want another glass of tea?” She asks softly, as the episode of Grey’s they’re watching goes to a commercial break.
He looks up with puppy dog eyes, now starting to feel really bad considering this would be glass number three she’s made for him.
“Don’t give me that look. I told you this morning-”
“I wanna take care of you too though.” He mumbles, holding her tight so she can’t leave him quite yet.
“You do.” She traces a finger down his nose.
He gives her a dead look, not buying her statement. “I haven’t. Not in the way that you take care of me, and I want to so bad. You just don’t let me.”
“Excuse me?” She laughs, standing up and going to the kitchen to make him more tea. “I don’t let you? Says the man that sends me food so I don’t have to make dinner. Or notices that my sweatshirt doesn’t look as cozy as it used to so he sends five of his??” She peeks her head out of the kitchen.
He doesn’t deny anything, just blushes and looks down into his lap.
“You take care of me Shawn, you take care of me when you’re not even here. I don’t get to do that. I can’t take care of you unless you are here. So please, would you relax and allow me to make you simple glass of tea?” She asks handing him the cup. He takes a long sip, closing his eyes and groaning when he tastes it.
“You’re tea is always so good.” He whines. “I don’t ever want to drink anyone else’s. Like at my interview yesterday, they offered so I had some. I kid you not I almost spit it out because it was awful.”
“Shawn!” She laughs, pushing his shoulder playfully.
“Nothing compares to my Emi.” He looks up at her with a cheeky grin.
**
The day has been the best day Shawn or Emi’s had in a long time. To be wrapped in each other and not have to worry about anything other than clicking yes to the ‘are you still watching’ pop up on Netflix is so freeing.
Shawn’s got his head in Emi’s lap as she plays with his hair. He can’t help but feel this overwhelming happiness wash over him every time she laughs along with the show they’re watching. Hearing her happy, knowing she’s happy, makes his heart feel lighter. It’s almost as if it’s his reaction to knowing that the most important thing in his life is content.
“Feeling any better?” She asks softly, looking down as he shifts to look up at her.
“Yeah, you always make me feel better.” He answers truthfully.
She blushes, biting her lip as she nods, “Good.”
“I’m so happy right now, I don’t think it’s possible for me to be happier.”
“I’m happy too.” She caresses his face.
And he says it without even realizing it at first. It just floats out of his mouth, “God I love you.”
Her eyes go wide for a moment, but quickly she grins and giggles, “I love you too.”
They take a moment to smile at each other, just soaking in the moment. That is until Shawn realizes what’s been said. When he does, he’s sitting up quickly, looking to her with wide eyes and pink cheeks.
“We’ve never said that before.”
“No I haven’t.” She shakes her head. “You, my Love, talk in your sleep.”
He nods, but then does another double take towards her. “I what?”
“You talk in your sleep.” She rubs her thumb over his ear, knowing that he subconsciously folds into her when she does that. “You told me you loved me the last time you were home. Just, while you were dreaming.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that!” He whines, flopping back against the couch.
“Because I didn’t want to rush you. I knew that when you were ready you’d tell me.” She shrugs, crawling closer to him now that he’s flopped away from her.
“I’m ready.” He nods, looking at her.
“Baby I know you’re ready, was just waiting.” She sings out, giggling afterward.
“You just love to change the lyrics to my songs huh?” He lunges forward to tickle her side. She shrieks, pulling away. As he chases after her they go running throughout her apartment. It’s not until Shawn grabs a hold of her waist that his normal clumsiness takes over. His fuzzy socked foot hits the hardwood of the hall and before he knows it he’s taking her and himself down to the ground in a hard thud.
“Oh Baby.” He worries, reaching for Ember. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
All the while she’s just laughing up a storm, caught up in the emotions and actions to feel any pain. Not that she has any, he totally broke her fall by pulling her on top of him. “I’m okay.” She takes hold of his face. “You’re so clumsy.”
“That wasn’t my smoothest moment.” He looks away embarrassed.
“Have you ever been smooth?” She raises an eyebrow at him.
“Yes!” He protests. “You told me so. On the night we met.”
“Oh yes, Cinderella.” She nods, climbing onto his lap.
“Who knew Cinderella wore a short blue dress, the tallest heels I’ve ever seen, and ended the night in my boots?” He grins.
“You remember what I wore that night?” She asks, leaning back in shock.
“Are you kidding? I remember everything about that night.”
“Like what?”
“Like how you joked that I was Raul when you first walked up to me and Juniper.” He shrugs. “Or that you had a really important presentation the next day and set an alarm for when you needed to leave, but didn’t get home but 4 hours after your alarm.”
“And who’s fault was that.” She gives him a pointed look.
“I still have Doris’ note.” He pipes up, eyes sparkling.
“What note?”
“Doris wrote me a note on the back of the receipt from our midnight snack.” He explains while reaching back into his jean pocket, pulling his wallet out. He opens the expensive leather and pulls out a worn flimsy piece of receipt paper. “The order is worn off by now, but her note still stands, clear as day.”
Ember takes the receipt into her hand and reads the note. “I was really hoping that you wouldn’t break my heart because I knew I was gonna fall in love with you after that night.”
“I won’t break your heart. I promise.” He says softly, nudging her nose with his own. “Can I have my receipt back now?” He holds his hand out for it.
“Why do you still have it?”
“I like to keep it with me. It’s a nice reminder of one of the best nights of my life when I need some inspiration.” He tucks it away safely into his wallet.
“You do know how to make a girl’s heart melt.” She whispers, causing him to look up with his big brown puppy dog eyes.
“I love you.”
“I love you.” She responds, leaning forward to capture his lips in a much needed soft sweet kiss.