My goal of sleeping myself into oblivion proves futile. I'd consider it nothing more than a cat nap. Heaving a sigh, I sit up and remove my earbuds. My stomach grumbles, and I frown upon realizing that I'm going to have to walk downstairs to get food.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE1TqYzaAS
I honestly think I'd rather chop off one of my own limbs and eat it raw than go downstairs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡExE1YngsJE
My stomach grumbles again.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxaZbznacK
Gouge out my own eyeballs with ice-cream scoops?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡputwst63DY
I soon get that annoying nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach, reminding me that I'm hungry, as if I didn't know that already.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLD5wVKm7F
Oh, fuck it.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmeieFN0DS
I trudge downstairs, and instantly everyone looks at me.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZlSK1ZofB
"Plot twist: I'm Beyoncé in disguise," I roll my eyes.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLH7539fza
"Nick and I want to talk to you, Bailey," Demi informs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCnLrdMRMd
"I'm hungry."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKCEzIJOBU
"Dinner's almost ready. I'm sure you can spare two minutes out of your busy schedule," she sarcastically retorts.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1vvcawsCN
"Fine," I huff, knowing that she's not going to drop the subject.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIHtM0koX1
Might as well get it over with, right? Like getting a shot or ripping off a band-aid.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQOWJTUm6m
Back in my room, Nick and Demi stand while I sit on my bed, awkwardly toying with my fingers.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP2iDIvYY5
"Why did you freak out, baby-girl?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXYtbDNuAs
"You consider that freaking out?" I snort, looking at her. "I just don't want to call you 'mom', okay?" She winces at my harsh tone, causing me to feel guilty, yet I continue. "And if you think that I'm going to voluntarily open up to you and allow myself to be vulnerable, you're wrong."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGBNnlZymI
There's a pregnant pause, so tension-filled and quiet that it makes me want to scream.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡO58qpNDa4b
She nods slowly, appearing as if she's on the verge of tears.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxslrBqRlI8
"I'm sorry-"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bOMtEU6qK
"Never be ashamed of what you feel, Bailey. Never apologize for conveying your emotions. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want. There's something else that I want to talk to you about, though."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVRGFSDQXY
"What is it?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQOuzcem3k
She sighs and sits beside me.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhoPELkqyW
"Have you noticed anything....off about Jordan lately?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡVspIWpMw93
"Um, no," I furrow my eyebrows. "Why?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoXcbI1hW0
"You know what self-harming is, right?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EC7WU9p8d
"It doesn't take a genius to break the word down," I say, then realization suddenly hits me. "You think that Jordan harms herself?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0vqpjNqCw
"I found a blade in her trashcan," she brushes away a few tears that managed to fall.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyKPAramBA
What have I done?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TroY357CZ
"I can talk to her," I offer, trying to refrain from pleading. "See if she'll open up to me."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9HL6Qnqz9
"She probably will open up to you more," she mumbles. "You'll tell me what she says, right?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPtOxvUWh1
"Of course," I nod, lying through my teeth. "I'll try to convince her to talk to you."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbsqHpBtxu
~copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPk87N6tek
"Okay, who cooked dinner?" I shift my gaze around the table. "It sure as hell wasn't Demi because the food doesn't taste burnt."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡedm13HBXld
"Was that really necessary?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlHRCQSNG7
I nod while grinning.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsfFuFyzEO
"You still can't cook, Dems?" Dallas snickers as Demi rolls her eyes.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpmHzMN7pF
"My cooking isn't that bad."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n4Oi8tqeo
I blink at her incredulously, then turn to Nick.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJJmzwJ3lR
"You can cook, right?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs8WmaUD14
"I can cook better than Demi..." he sheepishly trails off, and Demi scoffs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRBAbK31Yu
"That sounds less than convincing. Looks like I'm going to be living on pizza and chinese take-out."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJviuuET17V
"You make it sound like a bad thing," Jordan interjects.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7qVHxJcto
"It is a bad thing," Demi reprimands. "It's not healthy."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHABFMyobE
"Food poisoning isn't healthy," I retort.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWPEXU3gn2
A sudden techno ringtone interrupts our playful banter.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCqUKxBeQt
I furrow my eyebrows when nobody makes a move to retrieve a phone.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTJ9stVEaQ
"Oh!" Jordan gasps. "I forgot that I changed my ringtone."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT2Px1wbXC
I shake my head, amused, as she answers the call.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF685gFZNM
"Here," she angrily thrusts the phone at Demi, both her tone and visibly deflated mood worrying me.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡssmeg91LS3
"Hello?" Demi rolls her eyes as Wilmer, I'm assuming, speaks. "What am I doing? I'm spending time with your daughter. Y'know, time that you clearly don't have for her."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM2Lgr8uQI
"Can we put him on speakerphone?" I groan. "I feel as if I'm in a soap opera."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZLbGiR6e8
To my surprise, Demi obliges, looking pretty fed up.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGeC1IuFrF
"I do have time for my daughter, Demi!" He barks, but she seems unfazed.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ3MXdnh4b
"I'll be upstairs," Jordan abruptly rises to her feet, her eyes glassy as she runs upstairs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVwrNSnepk
I bite my lip in contemplation, ultimately deciding that I'll let her cool down before I go talk to her.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLwe3KL1NW
"No, Wilmer, you don't. You don't give a damn about her. You don't care about anybody but yourself."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvR68TATDN
"If I didn't care about her, why am I bothering trying to get custody of her?" He retorts, and my eyes widen, knowing that this will crush Jordan.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlrBP6J8YW
"Maybe because you're trying to ruin me?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTPKm5OO91
"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE717Zua63
"You alerted the media."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIDwEyO70V
"Only because I want them to know the truth."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5NR7ZrbWL
"That you're even more of an asshole than everyone originally presumed?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡM07rPacdAh
"You're the crazy bitch who stayed with me," she winces when he calls her crazy, and, as she closes her eyes as if to shield her in someway, I can tell that that one adjective cuts deep. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdWjtMLxb7
"Oh hell no," I growl, beginning to stand, but Dallas yanks me back to my chair.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡql00C625Xc
Demi calmly places the phone on the table, reaching around to the back of her neck to fiddle with the gold chain that slips underneath her shirt. She manages to unclasp the chain, revealing her wedding ring.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrqwQChv8F
"You're right," she emotionlessly slides the ring off of the chain, grabs the phone, and walks to the kitchen. "I'm crazy, and I'm stupid, but guess what? I can finally be truly happy now."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbQuv5LYPB
"You were happy."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡibHTJGTsWM
"No," she laughs humorlessly. "I'm just a damn good actress," she flips the garbage disposal switch, then explains to Wilmer what the sudden loud noise is.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkiGIrKzR3
Giving the ring one last glance over, she tosses it into the sink, soon emitting an even louder grinding sound of metal on metal. After a few moments, she stops the garbage disposal, telling Wilmer what she did.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXHwxanBft
"Aside from Jordan, I wish that our relationship never happened, but it has allowed me to see how much I was missing out on," she glances at myself, then Nick. "And I refuse to miss out on anymore."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo38nwF0OP
With that, she ends the call, returns the phone to the table, and retreats to Nick's room without uttering a word. As Nick goes to check on her, I retrieve Demi's ring from the sink, knowing that it's not fully destroyed. I place the now deformed ring in my pocket.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGrkB0jFFO
"Can you do me a favor?" I ask Dallas.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkKueRdidi
"Sure, anything."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrgEcHOP13
"Google how to destroy a wedding ring."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQdmTfyng2
~copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OUHqIctY9
"Jordan," I knock on her door. "Can I-,"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgoOm6cq7e
She opens the door, revealing her blotchy red face.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5KXeHAuDh
"He hates me," she sulks over to her bed. "My own dad hates me."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOMJ5zRy9G
"He doesn't hate you."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKydPZW0Pb8
She shoots me a withering look. I sigh, sitting beside her.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9HfrPq0yp
"He doesn't care about me. I'm irrelevant to him. I could drop dead right now and he wouldn't care."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bbnXLrbWH
"Don't say that."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSXdRuF1NL
"It's the truth!" She exclaims, angrier than I've ever seen her.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaPpqHNB4R
Actually, I don't think I've ever seen her truly angry. She sighs and buries herself underneath her blankets.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJVgfJiisX
"I-I just want to be alone," she sniffles.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzFcA5VYSj
I nod, even though she can't see me and exit her room.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrqDal11HI
~copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJtMY5YzzT
"You want me to do what with my wedding ring?"copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAFiGq7l4W
"Tie it to explosives and blow it up," I grin.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqDOtTqOkK
"I vote sell it and donate the money to a charity," Dallas interjects.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡW41oRtQ4mi
"Write the charity a check and destroy the ring. It's the best of both worlds."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGvrJ0mJIq
"You're a violent child, aren't you?" Dallas smirks at me.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JGK6IuquE
"I prefer 'pyromaniac in training'."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUWuyZS0X7
"You shouldn't even be a part of this conversation," Demi points out.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN9H3jA6S9
"Too bad," I snort. "I am almost an adult, thank you very much."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiwrTdPbBU
"You still have four years to go, darling," Nick pipes up, and I hush him.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKMS0VVisn
"Age is nothing but a number," I recite, and Dallas laughs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KSUDOMjTh
"Go to bed, Bailey," Nick and Demi order in unison.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWsmpgh2mU
"So rude," I jokingly mutter, stomping up the stairs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrZ4JMucn0
~copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOQqC08QA9
I'm awoken by a hand frantically shaking my shoulder.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYxuWsUCBx
"What?" I groan, noting that it's still dark outside.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAotmYH2Iz
"Bailey," Jordan sobs. "I need your help."copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEtIiSwz0x
"Cut the light on," I sit up, wiping the sleep out of my eyes.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiiGnXISKa
The sudden, harsh light blinds me temporarily. When my eyes finally manage to adjust to the brightness, I'm shocked by the sight in front of me.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bsuXc51WY
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