Zak's POV
I was getting really worried that Shawn wasn't answering her calls or text messages. We had gotten back from Waverly about a week ago and she's been pretty distant. The last time I had a full conversation with her was when we offered her a job on the crew. If she didn't want it then why did she accept? Shawn and I had really grown close in just the short time I've known her and I didn't want to lose her. If it was my crazy head talking I would say I'm even getting feelings for her. She was just so real, easy to talk to, funny, smart, and damn was she beautiful. A couple times when I had reached out to Kelsey to make sure Shawn was okay she would just tell me she's fine. I needed to see this for myself. I didn't want to just show up at their apartment, but she left me with no choice. I had to make sure she was okay.
Knock knock.
I nervously wait for someone to answer the door. "Zak? What are you doing here? I was just about to leave to go out with Aaron. "
"Oh, hey Kelsey. Sorry to bother you. Is Shawn around? I haven't heard from her in a few days."
"She's been okay, Zak. I promise."
"I just want to talk to her," I plead.
"Well, she's not here."
"Could you please tell me where?"
"She's at the studio. Pretty much been there every day since she found out."
"Found out what? What studio?"
"Here's the address." My phone buzzes in my pocket with Kelsey's message. "Just talk to her." I don't hesitate and quickly half run back to my car to go to this mysterious studio Kelsey mentioned. "Hey, Zak!" I stop and peer back at Kelsey. "Don't be upset if she doesn't open up right away. That's not really her thing." I simply nod and continue to my car. I was scared what I may be finding out.
I finally pull into the empty parking lot of the building which Kelsey shared the address. The only other cars besides mine was hers and one other. It was a dance studio. Shawn dances? Did she teach? I wanted answers. Why didn't she tell me these things? I walk up to the front doors and they're locked. I smash my hands and my face to the glass so I can see inside. I see one lady at a desk so I knock on the window. I'm sure I probably scared her half to death. "Can I help you?" She hesitantly asks with the door cracked open.
"I'm looking for Shawn."
"We're closed. I can't let you in." She start shutting the door and I put my arm in the way to stop it.
"Please. I know she's here and I need to see her."
She lets out a deep sigh and opens the door for me to walk in and locks it back behind me. The lady goes back to the desk eying me intently like I was some murderer. I can hear music playing and follow the melody. I come face to face with a giant set of double doors. One of the doors had a small window for me to peer through. What I find is pure beauty. It was her on the very tips of her toes dancing the most elegant ballet. She was wearing a black leotard and a short, flowing black tutu. Her beautiful light brunette hair pulled flush against her head in the most perfectly twisted bun. She did these beautiful jumps and spins that I didn't even know were possible for a human. The lengths of her legs were endless as she moved them through the air. Her flexibility was inhuman. Something I've never personally seen. What I was watching almost brought a tear to my eye as she made the dance seem so effortless.
She was beautiful.
"Zak?"
"Shit," I mutter to myself. I didn't mean for her to catch me staring. She walks over to the double doors and opens one side letting me join her stage. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be a bother. I'll just go," I point back to the door.
"Please, don't. I'm glad you found me. I'm sorry I've been so caught up with myself these last few days. Just been going through some things." She breathes somewhat out of breath from her ballet. Her face is flushed and I can see tiny sweat beads on her forehead, though she's still beautiful.
"I didn't know you danced," I state very nonchalantly.
"You never asked. Wanna sit?" She offers me a space on the bench next to her. She begins to untie her ballet shoes.
"What is that called again?" I point to her shoes feeling like an idiot. She grins.
"Pointe."
"Right. You're beautiful," I say boldly.
"Zak."
"What? You are. How long have you danced?"
"I've been dancing since about twelve years old. I got a later start than most dancers. Especially when it comes to pointe."
"I think you're amazing."
"Thank you." She gets her ballet shoes packed in her bag and stands in front of me, holding out her hand. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
I take her hand and let her guide me to wherever she wants to take me. She interlocks her fingers with mine, walking hand in hand down a long hallway. I'm not sure if I should stay quiet or try to ask her why she's been so distant. I decide to take the plunge. "So what happened? Why have you been so quiet? I was beginning to think you didn't want to see me anymore."
"That could never be the case, Zak. I'm about to tell you why." We round a corner and come to another set of double doors. "After you." She let's go of my hand and I push one of the doors open. Inside this room was a piano. An amazing looking piano.
"Don't tell me you play, too." Shawn slowly nods and sets her bag on the floor by the black piano. She takes a seat on the piano's tiny bench and gestures me to join her.
She opens the piano key's cover and starts to explain, "On Monday after we got home from Waverly my mom called to tell me my grandfather had passed." I'm genuinely shocked, staring into her beautiful hazel eyes as she turns her head to me, letting a single tear drop down her cheek.
"Wait. Monday? You called me on Monday. Why didn't you tell me? I would've taken you-"
"No. It's okay."
"It's not okay, Shawn!"
"Zak, please." Another tear falls. "I didn't want to go. I knew this was coming and I said my goodbyes to him before I moved to Vegas. Honestly, I just wanted to be with you but I was scared. I'm sorry I didn't tell you when I called."
"You're scared to be with me?"
"I was. Not anymore. I was going to come find you actually after leaving here but you found me first."
"Shawn. You do not have to be scared to be with me. Is it the age difference?" I could only pray that she didn't care about that, but I understood if that was the care.
"No. I don't care about that."
"Okay, good. Please promise me that you'll never distance yourself like this again."
She agrees. "I want to play you a song."
"I'd love that." Her hands hover over the piano keys for a brief moment before finding their spots and she begins a beautiful melody. I'm mesmerized by how effortlessly her fingers move over the keys.
Shawn's POV
You called me out and taught me tough
With love, with love
You fought my flaws, my teeth, my claws
With love, with love
'Cause every time I'm slipping away from myself
You're the one that moves me like nobody else
'Cause when I'm down and I'm done
And I'm coming unplugged
When I'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love
Oh no no
Your tongue won't tie, you always find
The truth, yeah you do
But still you smile despite the lines
I drew for you
'Cause every time I'm slipping away from myself
You're the one that moves me like nobody else
Oh no
'Cause when I'm down and I'm done
And I'm coming unplugged
When I'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love
Love, love, love, love
When I'm down and I'm done
And I'm coming unplugged
When I'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
When I'm down and I'm done
And I'm coming unplugged
When I'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love
I look over to Zak sitting very closely next to me, though he didn't really have a choice on this tiny ass bench. "Now you know everything that I've been feeling for these past few days." We stare very intently into each other's eyes with our heads growing closer with every word spoken.
"Shawn."
"Yes?"
"I don't think I can keep from kissing you anymore."
"Then don't."
His breath is warm on my lips. Our foreheads meet first and his hand finds its way to my face, his thumb lightly stroking my cheek. I glance back and forth between his eyes and his ever so inviting lips. I can't take this anymore. He feels my eagerness and closes the small gap between our lips. Our lips move as one in a slow, sweet motion. It was perfect.
He was perfect.