"Good idea." I sit myself down next to him on the sofa and his head falls to my shoulder.
"I've had trouble sleeping recently." He says, yawning.
"Aw why is that?" I put my arm around him, holding him tight. Shawn was incredibly precious to me, and I always tried to protect him at all costs. His mother has repeatedly said that I was like a protective father with him.
"I've been stressed because of everything and..." Shawn yawns again and pretty much instantly falls asleep.
We are currently at Shawn's parents' house and we had been sharing a room. I didn't realise how little he had been sleeping so I turn the volume down and gently play with his hair to keep him sleeping.
Just then Aaliyah comes in, worry on her face. I mouth 'coming' and carefully lay Shawn back down on the sofa. He began waking up, so I sat next to him.
"Sshh baby go to sleep." I whispered into his ear as he groans and falls asleep. I kiss his forehead and then rush to Aaliyah's room.
"Tayah I need help!"
"What's up?" She shows me her phone - a boy had asked her to a dance and she didn't know what to put. "Er...put yeah I would love to." I say as she types and sends it.
"I have no clue what to wear."
"Lets see." I begin looking through her wardrobe.
"What are you thinking?" She asks me.
"I think...well its winter so go for a blue, silver or green as they reflect the season."
"Good idea. What is Shawn gonna say?" Aaliyah sits herself down at her desk.
"I'll talk to him. He's so tired that he won't even realise." I joke and we both laugh. "What about a two piece?" I sit next to her and begin looking through my camera roll.
"I dunno. I've never worn one before."
"Well there's this one I wore a few dances ago."
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"That's perfect!" She smiles at me.
"I'll drop it off next time I go home." I say to her.
"You're always here so when will that be?"
"Attitude child, attitude!" We then erupt into laughter as Shawn walks in. His hair was a beautiful mess.
"Shawn what's up with your hair?" I get up and begin to sort it.
"I was abandoned!" He puts a straight face on, but it quickly turns into a smile when I kiss his cheek.
"Ew" I hear Aaliyah say.
"It'll be you soon!" I say half sternly have jokingly.
"I'll send you and your date a list of rules and there will be none of that." Shawn tells Aaliyah with some genuine concern in his voice.
"Come on, lets go down." I say and we all go down into the living room.
We sit on the big sofa and Shawn's head falls into my lap.
"Shawn you need sleep. You need it now." I see the eyebags and send him to bed. Aaliyah comes and sits with me.
"How do you do it?" She asks eagerly.
"Do what?"
"You and Shawn. You've been together for four years and never argue, yet you have completely different opinions on most topics. Even when he acts like a baby and whines when he is in this tired mood you are patient and..." I interrupt her.
"Patience and trust. That's all." I say, smiling at her. "Like your date, what's he called?"
"Niall. Niall Anderton."
"Well do you check his Snapchat story, or Instagram or whatever when he tells you he's out?" She nods. "There it is. You don't need to."
"So..." she turns to face me, looking puzzled. "If Shawn tells you he's at a party, you don't do any of that?"
I shake my head. "The thing is, I trust him completely. He could be at the most romantic spot in the most romantic city with a beautiful girl and I wouldn't think anything of it. I know that he loves me and wouldn't do anything to affect what we have." Aaliyah nods, and I continue. "The same goes for him. I get on better with boys so most of my close friends are male but he trusts me. I guess that's why we've lasted."
Aaliyah looks at me like I've just given her ground-breaking news.
"Is that it? Trust?" I nod.
"Lemme check on Shawn. I want to make sure he's sleeping and not working from home again." I get up and go into Shawn's room. He's laying down and the pillow is falling from under his head. I walk over to him and gently lift his head up to sort his pillow out, and this wakes him.
"Tayah hey" he says tiredly.
"Sorry." I lay down beside him.
"I...I love how close you are with Aaliyah. She needs someone at this age, and I obviously can't help her with everything so I'm happy you help her." He explains and this makes me smile.
"She's a good kid."
"Yeah, won't be a kid forever though." Shawn sighs. "I really wish I could help her with it all myself but I can't exactly go bra shopping with her." This makes me laugh. "I mean with you yeah but..." his yawn interrupts him.
"Shawn you're tired. Get to sleep hun."
"Hold me like a baby Tayah." I roll my eyes but agree. Patience.
"Come here weirdo." He lays his head on my chest and falls asleep in my arms.
