Diamond in the Rough // 2
Summary: youâre an androgynous woman who has a rather groggy voice. due to your social anxiety and shy nature, you refuse to let your beautiful, sexy voice free. that is until you do something that might lead you down a dangerous path.
Ship: Shawn Mendes x Fem!Reader
Warnings: angst, swearing, vulgar words, bullying, fluff, hyperventilating, gender bashing, etc.
Notes: none of these gifs are mine, credit to the owners.
Tagged: @bailey-hoover @kiralivelove @thalia-prior-of-ravenclaw @anamcg317 @bellasett @queentiffanyyy @archer-whovian-violinist@beingmadinwonderland @princessisabelle19 @violence-and-velvet @lachicadelamanzana
I freeze, blood running cold with distraught and fear. I can hear my heartbeat thumping wildly in my chest, so loud it almost blocks out the the actual voice that tries to speak to me. "Uh, (Y/n). There's an Andrew that's here to see you." Of course I'm overflowing with reluctance but I can't hide. I don't have a choice anymore. "Let him in." I say, dryly. The man the enters the room, looking nothing like I'd expect. Though he wears a sharp suit, he screams dad vibes. The collar around his next has a faint tan line, one meant for sweaters and jeans. Without the monkey suit, he'd look more approachable. I suppose that's why he looks up at me with a shy expression, one that people give children when they meet for the first time. And though I should hate people walking around me if I were to break like glass, the gesture makes me feel more at ease.Â
I eye him up and down again, waiting for his approach. "My name is Andrew. I'm a music manager that works with a lot of well-known artists. I loved your performance, was completely blown away and wanted to sign you. I want you to be able to express yourself in more ways than one. What do you say?" I stare at his hand and think for a minute. I can't turn back after the whole worlds seen my face, can't run and change my name or hide away. I don't have a choice in the matter anymore. And due to my quiet nature, I'm much more susceptible to reading people. And Andrew doesn't seem like a bad guy. He looks like the only agent I can trust. So I do the unthinkable. I take his hand in mine. "We take things slow."Â
He nodded, a faint smile making its way into his features before he heads back to his seat. My knees break from under me and I pull myself into a chair. Glancing to the right, I realized my phone was blowing up with hundreds upon thousands of notifications. I shouldn't look but I can't stop myself. Twitter is exploding with videos of my performance. A screen to the side of the stage that FJ was supposed to perform on lit up with bright words. This is (Y/n), the REAL person behind the voice. Bullied for years, (Y/n) had to sing in the dark of the night and hide from the world. No more. The words vanish and that's when I start singing. Not caring to watch, I don't even glance at the comment section, don't have the strength for it. Dammit, FP. She really did the unthinkable. Put my name out there for people to find on a whim. My skin crawls at what could possibly happen next.Â
Of course Shawn had to use the bathroom right before the opening performance, having missed the entirety of the beginning completely. He doesnât think anyone will mind since almost everyone is excited to see just him up on that stage. That is until he heads back to his seat. Thereâs a not so faint hum in the room that only progresses as time passes. What the hell did I miss? He thinks to himself, also wondering where his agent, Andrew, ran off to. âDude! You just missed the most amazing performance Iâve ever seen!â Niall turned to him and exclaimed. Thereâs a flutter of comments going back and forth, only so many of which he actually picks up. Powerful and chilling performance, something about a person being bullied.
Heâs unable to really make any connections but Shawnâs sure heâll get the whole scoop later on Twitter. Andrew comes back just in time with a massive grin on his face. âWhereâd you go?â Shawn asked, genuinely curious. âI just made a deal with that performer.â His smile never fades and the young man watches as he slips into his own little world, setting up meeting after meeting, having already been invited by Ellen and James Corden themselves to their show. Who was this person? Shawn thought to himself, a tinge of jealousy rising in the pit of his stomach. It didnât help that literally everyone around him during the entirety of the show talked non-stop about said performance, one he completely missed out on. But Shawn vowed to get to the bottom of this.Â
âYou promise that thereâs a small audience?â I ask Andrew again. He pats my back like a loving father would with a gentle nod. Thereâs still much I hadnât told him about my life but I believe heâs slowly beginning to understand just how hurt Iâve been, just how scared I was about this sudden change. âYes, like I said before and Iâll say it a thousand times. Thereâs a small audience and itâs just you and her. Sheâs gonna ask you some personal questions and you should do as we talked about. Just be open and honest and I know theyâre going to love you. Dylan wonât be far if you need anything and heâs got a mic if things get too much for you.â Heâs more open and accommodating than what Iâd ever expect. Since my performance, apparently Iâd been getting hundreds of thousands of calls and emails about an interview with the performer that took the world by storm.Â
Diamond, theyâre calling me. Catchy and a bit ostentatious if Iâm being honest but I donât oppose. And though Andrew wishes for me to see the tweets about myself, Iâve refused, sure that theyâll only be negative. âHey, youâve got this, kid.â His dad voice is nothing but comforting. Glancing back at Dylan, he gives me the bouquet of roses I was insistent of buying for the interviewer and another encouraging smile before Iâm directed to the entrance. âNow I know most of you have seen the opening performance at the Music Globe, one that really captured our attention because for a long time we thought this one girl was the one whoâd been singing when in actuality it was a different girl entirely. Here to speak about it is the girl herself, (Y/n) (Y/L/N), also known as Diamond.â I feel confident in the nice casual suit Iâm sporting and walk to the tune blaring from above. The crowd is much smaller and I canât help but thank Andrew in my head.Â
The crowd awes when I hand Ellen the bouquet of roses and she insists on giving me a hug. I just hugged Ellen. Oh my god. We take a seat and the voices start to hoot and whistle. I canât help but glance at them with a confused expression. âWhy are they whistling?â Ellen laughs at my perplexity and it makes me feel more at ease despite the quick thump in my chest. âThey think youâre hot, right?â The crowd, though small, roars to life and I even hear a few girls scream. âHELL YEAH!â I blush seven shades, not use to such out there flirting. Ellen shushes them quickly and thanks me for the roses before diving in. âSo can you tell us what the whole performance was?â Whoop, there it is. I glance down at my hands, more worried about my finger tips than the beady eyes that seem to pierce my skin. âWell, Ellen. If Iâm being honest-â I sigh and pause before doing what Andrew said. Just be honest and real.Â
âIâve always loved performing and singing and, musicals especially, but Iâve never been able to accomplish that dream-â She interrupts to ask, âWhy is that?â I gulp again, shifting from side to side, never looking at her or the audience for too long. âHonestly, Iâve been bullied my entire life.â The confession silences everyone, keen on listening. âIt started in middle school, continued all through high school and even college. Nobody looked at me and saw a person. They saw this thing that wasnât feminine enough and wasnât masculine enough. I was a mix of both and nobody liked that. They didnât like that I couldnât be put into a box and when I tried out to sing in my high school, nobody looked past exterior to hear me and the bullying only got worse from there. I ended up transferring schools cause it got so bad and then it only got worse at college. And then thatâs where I met FP.âÂ
Ellen shifts her chair more towards me. âSo how do you know her?â I take a deep breath, feeling more comfortable with just her and I talking. I almost forget thereâs an audience watching, waiting and listening. âI met her in a cafe I was working at. I closed up one day and sang as I did and she heard me and we put together this plan that Iâd sing the vocals and sheâd lip sinc. I was perfectly comfortable with doing that because I was one-hundred percent sure that if I attempted to sing in public again, I would be ridiculed. And she was very outgoing and loved the stage, something I had never been entirely comfortable with, let alone something I knew how to do. But that performance, she told me that I wouldnât be seen so I could actually go on stage but she slipped out and thatâs when I got on the stage. I ran off afterwards and had a panic attack. I suppose with nothing but negativity in my life, I was so sure that thatâs what would happen again. I havenât checked any social media since the performance and Iâm too afraid.âÂ
My hands shake at the intimacy and forwardness I was giving but I could tell she really cared deeply, almost understood a time of heartbreak. So much so that tears seem to slip from the corners of her eyes. I just made Ellen cry. Glancing at the audience, I notice theyâre weeping, too. Have I moved them so much to the point of tears? âCan I give you a hug?â Ellen herself asks me. I canât help but chuckle at the surprising quietness in her voice and accept. âWell, you will always be loved and accepted on the Ellen show.â The crowd hums in agreement and for the first time in a long time I feel a warm sensation bubble up in the pit of my stomach.Â
The rest of the day goes by with a blur and Iâm the only person anyone is talking about. Andrew and Dylan take to me to the local diner for a quick snack before some other plans. âSo, (Y/n). Iâve got some pretty big news.â I put down my fries for a moment and prepare myself, for what, I do not know. âI have over one hundred performers in the music industry who want to work with you. They keep emailing me, almost begging on their hands and knees to meet you or perform with you. Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Halsey, Camilla Cabello, Demi Lovato, Sia, and so many more want to work with you on upcoming songs. For the love of god, check Twitter.â Thumping with excited adrenaline, I cave in and do as he asks. One after another they tweet to my thumbnail.Â
@ c_cabello retweeted video of @ (y/n)_diamond: UGH I LOVE YOUR VOICE! ITâS SO SEXY!
@ niall_h retweeted video of @ (y/n)_diamond: I canât get over the passion, Iâm in love.Â
@ h_halsey retweeted video of @ (y/n)_diamond: oh my god we NEED to collaborate! Youâre voice is killer!Â
There are hundreds of comments below her of artists commenting on how much they love me. Thereâs so much love I donât know how to deal with it. Artists I merely dreamed of working with are saying how much they loved my voice and the passion behind it. The mere thought gives me chills. I keep scrolling and the comments never falter. I take a minute to comprehend all of this. This could actually work. I could actually be a performer, sing and work with the artists Iâve only dreamed of meeting. When I look up at Andrew, I feel a wave of confidence soar through me. âSo, whatâs next?âÂ
Ever since the performance, Shawn notice how distant Andrew had become. Of course he had other artists working with him but usually he was the one Andrew gave his time to. So that morning, Shawn had been begrudgingly waiting for almost thirty-five minutes for his interview. Just the one today which was odd because he was almost always up to the brim with work. Just one interview and song-writing today. Andrew had said to him. Thirty-five minutes too long as he tapped the arm chair, a plagued look of irritation. Where the hell was Andrew? And just as he asked the question, in waltz the man himself. âWhere have you been?! Iâve been waiting for almost forty minutes! You told me to come early so that we could work on what questions they were going to ask!â Andrew tilted his head, perplexed by the young mans attitude.Â
Yes, he was late but itâs not as if they hadnât done a millions interviews before. As heâd told him, everything was set up accordingly, the questions skimmed over by Andrew himself. Things with (Y/n) ran a little later than usual which was fine for the older man because he really enjoyed her personality. Sheâs quick and funny once you get past her wall. âShawn, this interview is just like the rest of them. It seems they did your hair and makeup which is exactly what I wanted them to do, so in actuality youâve only been waiting for twenty minutes. I am sorry Iâm late. I was with another client and we lost track of time. I wonât be by your side every second of the day, Shawn. This client that I signed needs a lot of coaxing and work. I will organize anything that you need like usual but I will also not be here physically sometimes. Iâve hired another man to be here if you have questions when Iâm not. Do you understand?âÂ
Shawn hadnât a clue but he nodded his head anyway, not wanting to have another meaningless lecture. He wonders for a second as to who heâs spending so much of his time with but then he goes back to the performance he missed. Sneaking out his phone after the interview, he watches Ellenâs most recent video, now trending as number one. Leaning into his chair, Shawn watches with a perplexed expression. The person who enters is tall, much taller than Ellen, wearing a nice black dress jacket, matching tight jeans and a nice button up. Shawn canât help but shift in his seat with jealous discomfort as the girls hoot and howl at her. Her voice is low and sultry, like silk. Her eyes are bright but thereâs a still a wave of uncertainty. The longer she speaks, the more his heart breaks. Years of bullying, jeez. How could people be so cruel. He thinks of Teddy and how much she might have gone through.Â
But the jealousy only grows as he makes his way to Twitter and Instagram. She sits next to Ariana Grande herself. (Y/n) or, Diamond, as sheâs being called, wears something similar to what she wore on the Ellen interview. Sheâs much taller than Ariana, practically towering over her small frame. They would make a great couple. The bad boy and the sweet, innocent girl. At least thatâs what it looks like. Shawn wonât admit it but heâs thrown off in more ways than one. A mix of intimidation and attraction, feelings he doesnât quite understand begin to fester in his chest. He watches intently, almost making competition in his head. Sheâs already taken Andrew. He thinks to himself. Maybe its a way to cover up how heâs actually feeling. (Y/n) starts the song by strumming along on her Ukulele. Bad Little Boy from Adventure Times.Â
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86yQIQFgWZk&t=10sÂ
Itâs a short little tune but brings chills anyway. Her voice works breathlessly with Arianaâs, smooth and sexy. Their voices dance around one another with a melody like no other. Just listening to her speak makes Ari practically swoon. She rests her hand under her chin as (Y/n) mutters the last few lines and plays the last cord on her Ukulele. Ariana squeals and launches herself onto (Y/n) whoâs blushing and laughing at her excitement. âI cannot wait for you guys to hear Diamondâs voice on my upcoming album because anyone would be an idiot to not snatch you up right away! Thank you so much for jamming with me and I canât wait to see you again. Bye guys!â Ariana says to the camera but Shawnâs more focused on (Y/n) and her cutely shy nature. Shawn doubts that thatâs actually her real voice. It canât be. And even though he saw it, heard it, he wonât believe. He makes his way over to the comment section that never stops exploding.Â
âDIAMOND IS A SNACK OH MY GODâÂ
                          âmOm AnD dAd?â
âDIAMOND LITERALLY HAS THE SEXIEST FUCKING VOICE IâVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFEâÂ
    â(Y/N) IS LITERALLY SO ANDROGYNOUS IâM SO SEXUALLY CONFUSED!âÂ
          âmy bi heart is so happy about Diamond slowly breaking out of her shellâÂ
âOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD EVERYTHING ABOUT DIAMOND IS GOALSâÂ
     âIâm a diamond stan. everyone unfollow me because this is the only thing I will be tweeting about for the next weekâÂ
I give Ariana another hug before walking out with Andrew, Dylan and my best friend, Olive. She clutches my arm before squealing. âWe just met Ariana mother fucking Grande! That was insane!â My heart thumps wildly in my chest, a new kind of adrenaline that I hadnât realize existed. I slip my hands into the pockets of my jeans, blushing shyly as all three pat me on the back with pride. Iâm afraid for the next steps but I wonât let Andrew see it. I donât want him to see this vulnerable side. Glancing back at Olive and Dylan, the two most authentic people Iâve ever met, I know in my heart things will be okay. âSo, (Y/n). Iâve got some more ideas and stuff I wanna throw by you. If itâs too much, tell me. But after a few interviews, I think we can start spreading out to bigger things. Have you ever thought about writing music?â The mere thought of writing something makes my heart thump.Â
Iâve always wanted to do that but I wasnât sure where to even begin. âIâd love to. I know a few instruments and I have some books with lyrics.â Andrew nods, a hopeful, excited energy that seemed to grow around him. âPerfect. Iâll call Teddy. Sheâs just the gal for you.â He throws out his phone in a quick movement, so fast Barry Allen would be jealous. âOkay, sheâs free now if you want to meet her.â Oh, wow. That was quick. Olive takes my hand in hers. âItâs okay. Weâll be right there with you.â The music studio isnât far from where we met Ariana and Iâm glad cause if weâd driven farther, I might have thrown up with nerves. We follow Andrew and it takes less than five minutes till we find her room. He doesnât knock and I hesitate to follow. A low hum comes from the heart of the room before the sound fades. A girl with short hair and pointed glasses turns over to us with a wide smile. âYou must be (Y/n), or as the world seems to call you, Diamond. Iâm Teddy.âÂ
I shake her hand before noticing another body in the room. âShawn this is-â Andrew tries to say but is cut off almost immediately. âI know who that is.â He says in accusatory tone. Despite the fact that his eyes are a warm honey and his hair a chocolate brown, he comes off as cold and uncaring. I lift my hand for him to take, being as polite as usual. âItâs really nice to meet you, Mr. Mendes.â He glances at my hand with disgust before leaving the room. âSo much for Canadaâs sweetheart.â Olive snorts into my ear. Both Teddy and Andrew look perplexed at the rude behavior but turn their focus back onto me. But the entire time, I couldnât stop thinking about the interaction. Why could he have been so rude to me? Weâd never met before to elicit such a negative reaction? Did he hate how I looked? My skin crawls at the mere thought. What could it have been?
(I hope you guys like it! PLEASE FUCKING COMMENT)Â