How Many Ways

Guessing Game

A/N: I am not very confident writing dialogue, and this chapter has a lot (for me) in it. I hope it still came out okay and I hope what I was trying to portray is clear... anyway, enjoy this. <3

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Excerpt for the E! News Article:

"There's multiple tracks that are about situations that are going on in my life, which were terrifying because it's clear who I'm writing about within me and that person," he teased to E! News. "It sounds so cliché but life is just really short and just to sit there and not say exactly how you feel is not helpful because you need to get past things. You need to either figure out if it's going to work or you need to figure out if it's not so you can move forward. Now is kind of it."

Shawncontinued, "I'm just going to stick with that forever now. When I'mcreating music—even when I'm talking to people—I'm just going to be honestbecause there's no point in making things last longer than they need to."

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He lay on his back on the floor of her room. His hands behind his head, causing his shirt to rid up just enough to see a small sliver of his abs, his legs stretched out in front of him. He chuckled as he watched her pace around the room. "Mila, I can just-"

"Noooooo!" she said, bring her hand up in a gesture to stop him from speaking. "I want to guess!" she said smiling down at him.

He pushed himself up off the floor, walking over to the mini-fridge to grab two waters for them, handing one over to her. Their fingertips brushed briefly, causing a jolt to run through both of them. He smiled at her, before turning toward the couch and perching himself on the arm of it.

She had summoned him to her hotel room after his interview with E!News. She said she wanted to know 'Exactly who' he was walking about in the interview, 'exactly who" was this person he wrote his songs about. He was a little irritated that she didn't already know, he had, of course, sent her his album weeks and weeks before it came out. Wanting to know her opinion.

When he had arrived at her room, she had jumped into his arms in what could only be described as a 'classic Mila hug.' His heart had leapt into his chest, heat rising and shooting through his entire body. She felt incredible in his arms.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes becoming bright. "Hailey? I bet you wrote most of them about Hailey..." she trailed off, watching him for any sign she was right. She could see frustration, laced with a little bit of anger flash in his eyes.

She wasn't dumb, she knew exactly who those songs were about. She had cried on the floor of her bedroom when she listened to them. Hearing him declare his love for her after all this time, in those beautifully emotional songs, made everything she wished for start to come true.

She has been in love with him, since day one. Since she found him strumming his guitar on the tour bus during the Austin tour. But when she heard those songs... actually, when she had heard that entire album, everything has changed for her.

The burning look he gave her, caused desire to shoot right through her body. Her breath hitched. He crossed his arms over his chest. She was playing this game with him for a reason. She wanted to see him react, she wanted to see him finally do something about it.

Watching him, he shook his head at her. "nooo, try again darling" his voice almost sounded disappointed. But it was the way he hung on the word "darling" that made her want to melt right into the floor.

"Hmmmm" she hummed, going back to pacing, it was the only way to keep the nervous energy from causing her to tackle him to the ground. She clenched and unclenched her tiny fists her fingers itched to wind their way into his hair.

He was getting a little frustrated with her. Did she really not know? After all this time? His eyes followed her around the room, watching as her hair flowed all around her, how one strap of her top fell down her shoulder.

She suddenly stopped, and turned to him "Oh OH! I know!!... I totally know it!" she said laughing. "That girl... from the 'There's Nothin Holdin Me Back' video... what was her name..?" she scrunched her face in thought. Even with her face contorted like that, she was beautiful.

"Ellie! Right? You wrote the songs about her" finishing her thought.

It almost broke her heart to see the hurt expression cross his beautiful face. But she stayed strong, watching as he fought whatever inner thoughts were racing through his head.

He let oh a frustrated sigh "no!" he practically shouted at her, her eyes wide from his reaction/ "Ellie and I are just friends, why would I write songs like that about a friend?" he asked her. He looked across the room at her and she had this slight smirk on her face, that made him want to wipe it right off, with his lips.

She grinned at him, her lips parting and she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. Enjoying watching his reaction to such a simple move, "I'm your friend..." she said tentatively, almost scared to finish her sentence, not sure if it was going a little too far. "but you've never written a song about me..." she couldn't hide the sinfully evil smirk that crossed her face.

He was suddenly up off of the couch, grabbing her arms, he pushed her backward until she collided with the wall. His eyes flashing anger but quickly changed to desire. She set her jaw and challenged him right back. Not willing to give up, she needed him.

He brought his lips to hers but didn't let them touch. He could feel her entire body vibrating with need. One of his hands running along her collarbone, his fingers spreading out as brushed his hand up her neck, to her chin, then running one finger lazily over her bottom lip.

"I think, you have been playing with me this entire time..." he trailed off, dipping his head down to place a kiss to neck. Then bringing his head back up, he locked his eyes with her again. "You know damn well, who those songs are about..." but he didn't finish, distracted by her hand gripping at his shirt.

She watched him through her thick dark lashes, and before she had a chance to respond his mouth has on hers, and she moaned into him. She let go of his shirt, to wrap her arms around his neck, bringing him flush against her. He ran his hands down her sides, before pulling her up by her hips, her legs going around him. He pushed his hips into her firmly keeping her against the wall, while his mouth continued its assault on hers.

She pulled away briefly, their lips only a whisper away from each other. "well..." she whispered, "it's about time you told me" and she attached her lips to his again.

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Still not sure how I feel about it, I just had a picture in my head. I hope it came out in the writing. 

I love you all so so much for the support. <3