~Demi's POV~copyright protection159PENANA6d8Gj7AMgL
I'm awoken the next morning by loud laughter and the bright afternoon sun shining through Bailey's window. Looking around, I notice that Bailey is no longer in the bed, and Nick's arm is wrapped securely around my waist.copyright protection159PENANA1jjtK7UhQt
"Shut up, Bailey!" Jordan squeals. "You're so loud, oh my gosh."copyright protection159PENANAuMCr8WTvVZ
Bailey continues to laugh causing me to smile.copyright protection159PENANAKNNsFqqubG
"Her laugh is just like yours," He murmurs in my ear.copyright protection159PENANAtalpVnt7iF
"Mine isn't that loud and obnoxious."copyright protection159PENANA11RkynfHzZ
He chuckles.copyright protection159PENANAdBovTkTy6D
"How long do you think we can get away with before somebody demands that we get out of bed?"copyright protection159PENANAzNqOED1KBy
I hum in thought, giggling as the doorbell rings, and he groans.copyright protection159PENANAmsEk7aBqfm
"Does that answer your question?" I sit up, but he lowers me back to the bed as footsteps pass by the door.copyright protection159PENANAXc6kjzEXOI
"Let them get it," I roll my eyes.copyright protection159PENANANzt2w20GtK
"What if it was a serial killer or-"copyright protection159PENANAEbj14rmTbc
"Or what if you worry too much and watch too many crime shows?"copyright protection159PENANAN1KbhdfKph
"I hear Dallas," I listen to my sister greet the girls and ask where we are; I curse when Bailey tells her our location.copyright protection159PENANAlC2qqtnKUV
"Nick, we have to get up."copyright protection159PENANAWnTtSQnLVM
"Can't we just lock the door?"copyright protection159PENANABrnOGO3pWO
I shake my head in amusement, abandoning the comforting warmth of the bed to make my presence known.copyright protection159PENANACJw5o1na0D
"I was just about to come upstairs," Dallas smirks.copyright protection159PENANAySZ9GUkzjF
"I figured," I pour us each a cup of coffee, of which she smiles gratefully when I hand her a cup. "Where did the girls run off to?"copyright protection159PENANApZrg2yD1Dy
"Those three went upstairs."copyright protection159PENANAr0Cb3WNfUp
"Those three?"copyright protection159PENANA7DpFcen1v5
"Sara's here."copyright protection159PENANArc4fdTIVbN
"Why are you always watching over her?"copyright protection159PENANAiJOKOjqYr4
"Her mom's a doctor, and her dad's a nurse, so they're always working crazy hours. They don't exactly like the idea of her being home alone, so I'm the one who watches over her. I'm just glad that she's not a hassle and can practically care for herself."copyright protection159PENANAUOFoVFbYzr
"Do they not trust her or something?" I know that I'm being incredibly nosy and asking about stuff that's none of my business, but I want to know who my daughters are spending time with.copyright protection159PENANA4F2aB2HtbC
"It's not that they don't trust her," she slowly responds, as if trying to figure out what to say. "They don't trust other people. Like, Sara's boyfriend, for example, they hate him."copyright protection159PENANAfZ2mA860Iz
"Why?"copyright protection159PENANA2hE4CDKInA
"He's eighteen, two years older than her, and they think that he just gives off a bad vibe, but of course Sara won't listen to them when they try to tell her."copyright protection159PENANAnIwZlP865F
"Sounds like mom and dad with me," Dallas laughs. "And they were right every single time."copyright protection159PENANADROF2lrRHG
"Remember when they first learned that you and Wilmer were together?"copyright protection159PENANAINHB7uuJOl
"I thought that dad was going to murder him right then and there," I giggle, recalling the day.copyright protection159PENANAdXLKcY1r7E
"And then we all gradually relaxed and treated him as if he was a member of the family," she frowns. "We should have never let our guards down."copyright protection159PENANAGvKti4veR0
"Or I could've told somebody."copyright protection159PENANAd3gFWLhUSK
"No, you couldn't have," she whispers, looking down at the brown liquid in her mug.copyright protection159PENANAUjntVlkEph
"At least I'm okay now."copyright protection159PENANApE800TNVXz
"Yeah," one side of her mouth quirks upwards. "But I still want to kill him."copyright protection159PENANA4gqchePuop
"Who are we killing?" Nick enters the room.copyright protection159PENANAGBDL6KMfr7
"Wilmer," Dallas beams.copyright protection159PENANA1DlrFEp7Y2
"Sign me up."copyright protection159PENANAeHaYiLmdmj
"I'm not bailing you out of jail, Jonas," I roll my eyes.copyright protection159PENANA4EbLbY4MT4
"I'd still die happily in jail knowing that I killed the bastard."copyright protection159PENANApQNGEmdDpI
"I hear three giggling girls and footsteps," I comment as the girls make their way down the stairs.copyright protection159PENANAfL13VhN3YM
"Are you three high?" Dallas teases.copyright protection159PENANAMM6u4sn2Wk
"Jordan, I told you that those brownies tasted weird," Bailey goes along with it.copyright protection159PENANAjh7EPPyXsY
"And I told you to not continue eating them," Jordan chimes.copyright protection159PENANAqfraoZQqhh
"But they were really good brownies," the three girls can't hide their amusement as they laugh. "Okay, let's be honest here," Bailey glances mischievously at us three adults. "Who has actually smoked pot or ate a pot brownie before? Because I haven't," she smirks.copyright protection159PENANAQqDvUyxJed
"Me neither," Sara interjects.copyright protection159PENANAE7rakoR6kA
"I wouldn't know where to get pot, let alone how to make a pot brownie, even if I wanted to," Jordan's confession causes me to snort, yet I'm relieved.copyright protection159PENANAPwmWGHGxNK
"Yeah, well, I plead the fifth," I say, and Dallas and Nick agree with me. "Now, what's so funny?"copyright protection159PENANATkIhSsrBad
"Well, it's not really funny," Jordan contradicts.copyright protection159PENANAX5YGxpbvgk
"It was more like one of those 'how did I not notice before?' moments," Bailey supplies. "Oh, and I'm scarred for life."copyright protection159PENANAF7WfJFyZhZ
"You and me both."copyright protection159PENANAuRZywL7dQs
"What did you two do?" I narrow my eyes.copyright protection159PENANA2TF6vnnGgf
"It's my fault, really," Sara sheepishly admits. "I'm a fan of throwbacks, and Bailey apparently thinks that she's Isaac Newton."copyright protection159PENANA73KE776Pm2
"Correction: I think that I was Isaac Newton in a past life," I swear that nearly everybody rolls their eyes. "Anyways, I have a theory."copyright protection159PENANAG2JlDkMgoY
"What's your theory?" Nick arches an eyebrow.copyright protection159PENANAgh6fHn65jf
"That your self-titled album is all about her," she hooks her thumb towards me.copyright protection159PENANAKwziE94p76
"That's ridiculous," I laugh, but I sober up my laughter when I realize that Nick is oddly silent. "Right, Nick?"copyright protection159PENANAJw4w5VGEGu
Yeah, sure," he mumbles, the tips of his ears turning red as he lowers his eyes to the floor.copyright protection159PENANARQJFGHae2L
"Are you blushing?" I laugh. "Is Nicholas Jerry Jonas blushing?"copyright protection159PENANAemtsyzPp0P
"Shut up, Lovato."copyright protection159PENANABznYRL1Vjb
"Wait," I stop laughing. "Nick, please tell me that you're not serious because some of those songs..."copyright protection159PENANAFiagB4o9AQ
"Were rather raunchy," Dallas concludes. "I mean, they were good songs, but damn you two only slept together once."copyright protection159PENANAELKZRrqOVH
"Dallas!"copyright protection159PENANAak3g9qnePC
"What?" I gesture towards the three girls. "Oh, yeah, minors in the room. Sorry."copyright protection159PENANA9TtmDxnRvb
"Wait, what songs are you talking about?" Bailey furrows her eyebrows.copyright protection159PENANAKT5aD0Jnas
"You haven't listened to the entire album, have you?" She shakes her head in response to my inquiry, and I share a glance with Nick.copyright protection159PENANASVzAt8PCf2
"But now I will. Sara?"copyright protection159PENANAYLAILs5eYB
"I'm so dead," the older girl mutters before tapping away at her phone, the over decade old track beginning to play.copyright protection159PENANAYq5Owg5TCs
"Wait, which song's this?" Bailey wonders, and Nick shrugs. "You can't even remember your own songs?"copyright protection159PENANAeTWGFvWEHj
"It's been a while. At least I could remember mine on stage," He taunts me.copyright protection159PENANAv3sIcg51Wd
Right when I think I finally got you figured out, you turn around, blow my mind. So frustrated, girl, you make me wanna shout, and it's only just the start of the night.copyright protection159PENANAOJmGr5nmYM
"Um, how about no?" I pipe up, noticing Nick's amused smirk.copyright protection159PENANAxcZJc0MVjL
"Wait, okay, now I'm curious," Dallas admits. "Like, I want to know how differently I hear each song with Bailey's theory running around in my head."copyright protection159PENANA9MXrCzoVx1
"See? I'm a genius," Bailey boasts.copyright protection159PENANAXCp3guqWq7
"The songs aren't even about me."copyright protection159PENANAacNLzxuY6y
"If I said yes they are-"copyright protection159PENANANL9Y5B57sX
"Don't say that," I cut Nick off.copyright protection159PENANAppNoCeuWnr
"Yeah, don't," Bailey agrees. "As of right now, it's just a theory based off of the few songs that I've heard. If you confirm it, I'll have to listen to all of the songs, and then I'll be scarred for life," she pauses. "This song is already scaring me. Oh my gosh, Sara, turn it off." Sara chuckles before obliging.copyright protection159PENANAllww1M1pQw
"What about this one?" Sara taps on her phone. "I like this one a lot."copyright protection159PENANALipI4jLEVH
Nothing is forever, nothing would be better than the love you're giving me. copyright protection159PENANAKiBca8uzrD
I just gotta have you, wish you didn't have to. When you gonna set me free? Like it or not, we were doomed from the start. I know that you'll agree, but nothing is forever, nothing would be better, better, than you and me.copyright protection159PENANAEEjyzmiFCB
"This one isn't about me either," I decide.copyright protection159PENANAh701H87HHo
"Are you going to say that about every single song?" Bailey groans. "Just shut up and accept it. Jeez, most women would love to have some of these songs dedicated to them." I roll my eyes.copyright protection159PENANADn38yc4guO
"I take the worst of what you got. It hurts more than sticks and rocks. You know I'll be there," Nick sings. "Demi, how can you think that this song isn't about you?"copyright protection159PENANAeVV97mjmr0
"It could be about anybody," I defend.copyright protection159PENANA2QVnreqqK6
"Like Olivia," Bailey surprises me by adding. "Who I just recently learned about. Where she at?"copyright protection159PENANAcwu7Pwli0h
"She was using me for money," Nick explains.copyright protection159PENANAySdio26pKl
"Ouch."copyright protection159PENANAu88pjNHZny
"It's fate that you two are supposed to be together," Dallas grins, and I sigh, not really believing in the whole 'fate' thing.copyright protection159PENANA731RhvAmR9
"'Cause I used to live in fear, it was my home, but there are harder things to be than all alone. You're the broken part of me that makes me whole but so unsure," Nick continues to sing, looking directly at me. "Still don't think it's about you?"copyright protection159PENANAjeIngE6yqO
I stay quiet.copyright protection159PENANA8VybjjivBJ
"Ooh, what's this one?" Bailey taps the phone screen.copyright protection159PENANAoTofgOiVuG
I can tell that you're a real bad girl underneath it all.copyright protection159PENANAJWEEm5XmsC
"Oh hell no," Bailey claps her hands over her ears. "I can still hear it! La! La! La! La!"copyright protection159PENANAEV5AxHnccq
"I told you that these songs were going to come back and haunt you when you have kids," I remind Nick.copyright protection159PENANAMVMsG6eAXN
"Yeah, well, you never said anything about my kid being so dramatic," We both look at Bailey who is curled up in a ball on the floor muttering 'evil Satan's spawn' with her hands still covering her ears.copyright protection159PENANAocXxuRolSQ
"The song's over, drama queen," she cautiously removes her hands from her ears and rises to her feet upon realizing that Sara silenced the music.copyright protection159PENANAogANnFIYqL
"Although I am scarred for life and wishing that a random lightning bolt would strike down and hit me, I agree with Dallas. You two only slept-" Jordan hits her with a throw pillow. "Would you stop doing that?"copyright protection159PENANArvJn9FgYma
"Okay," Dallas stands. "You two need to go get ready," she points to Jordan and Bailey.copyright protection159PENANAj9Pl46gudV
"Why?"copyright protection159PENANATFRfvrjvBI
"Because I'm spending the day with y'all. If it's okay with you two, I mean," she looks at Nick and me. "I do have fourteen years to make up for, just saying."copyright protection159PENANAMg37wbBi7i
"Just don't buy them so much that their closets are overflowing," she squeals and hugs before ushering the girls to their rooms.copyright protection159PENANAnbEb2FJheB
I follow her to the kitchen where we place our coffee mugs in the sink.copyright protection159PENANABUcDk5k67b
"What is your real motive, Dal?" I arch an eyebrow.copyright protection159PENANA2eUIecLgFC
"I honestly want to spend time with them. Plus, it gives you and Nick the house to yourselves, and-"copyright protection159PENANA04Yi4dNPhr
"Are you trying to be suggestive?"copyright protection159PENANAiUbwwheCJz
"Maybe a little bit," she smirks. "But, seriously, you two look like Hell," I roll my eyes. "This whole thing is really taking a toll on you, isn't it?"copyright protection159PENANA9AdhfXGZFj
"Yeah," I nod.copyright protection159PENANAVTgoz3zEeC
"What about your health?"copyright protection159PENANAv0OwggkIRS
"It's not my mental health that I'm worried about," I sigh when she furrows her eyebrows. "We-we found out that Bailey is, um, cutting herself," I stumble over my words, still finding it hard to believe.copyright protection159PENANAo24ZCaL3VC
"Does she do anything else?" Dallas wonders after a pause.copyright protection159PENANAlKXTEWOhSb
"We don't know."copyright protection159PENANAS61xVltMRa
"I'll keep an eye on her today. See if she does anything suspicious."copyright protection159PENANAn2Trv9MN7J
"Thank you."copyright protection159PENANACbcgpmhWAU
"Where did Dallas go?" I hear Bailey ask Nick.copyright protection159PENANAnbDhomghge
"I'm right here," Dallas giggles as we return to the living room. "You're not going to want to wear that."copyright protection159PENANAXPA9jqwCHK
Bailey looks down at her outfit in confusion. She wears a black skull tank top, black jeans, and black converses.copyright protection159PENANAgLZ2X5Gecd
"Why not?"copyright protection159PENANAGWryXvqMYe
"You'll die in the heat. Just throw on some shorts, and we'll leave as soon as Jordan is ready." Bailey sinks her teeth into her bottom lip and nods.copyright protection159PENANAuuZMHqi9Gx
As she returns to her bedroom, I rush to my bathroom and grab my makeup bag before following after her. Relieved that her bedroom door is unlocked, I open it only to find her sitting on her bed having a panic attack. I drop my makeup bag and crouch in front of her.copyright protection159PENANAN4NFnQKXrD
"Match my breathing, baby-girl. You're okay," I take deliberately slow, deep breaths until she manages to calm herself down.copyright protection159PENANAEfRR5zppxF
"I can't wear shorts! Everybody will think that I'm a freak!"copyright protection159PENANAO3zRaoSDbW
"Don't question me, but go ahead and pick out some shorts, okay?"copyright protection159PENANAWEM4SosP7S
As I'm searching through my bag, she returns with a pair of black shorts.copyright protection159PENANA18qyKOyW89
"You do realize that black absorbs heat, right?"copyright protection159PENANAJDPP8fcHSh
"I'm pretty sure it's gray." I roll my eyes. "I'm a fan of all the fifty shades of gray. What?"copyright protection159PENANAJmgcX2Qvr5
"You weren't trying to make a reference?"copyright protection159PENANAFdzQ8mRzws
"What reference?"copyright protection159PENANAZ9vsyz8vLR
"Nevermind. I need you to get rid of your jeans."copyright protection159PENANAm2rYBy6goE
"How about nope?"copyright protection159PENANALsDXA667LX
"I'm your mom, Bailey. Quit being so stubborn."copyright protection159PENANA8Yagax96GQ
"I don't want you to see my cuts."copyright protection159PENANAmSf8ahcbV5
"Why not?"copyright protection159PENANAPjUcZxd3JW
"Because I don't want to hurt you."copyright protection159PENANAq4hrIgEF5d
"They're not going to trigger me, Bailey, if that's what you're thinking."copyright protection159PENANAn3gD10YuIl
"You don't know that. Everyone always says that, but then you stare at them a little too long, and then you find yourself thinking about it a lot and wanting to feel it, and then you do it." I frown. "I just don't want you to risk it."copyright protection159PENANAfGVNLuvrds
"Would you rather your dad do it?"copyright protection159PENANAaSkgMz3uI1
"No," she scrunches her nose up.copyright protection159PENANACWD17BT2A2
"Exactly, so let's just get this over with."copyright protection159PENANAjPfSyg1NOl
She sighs and removes her jeans, yanking her tank top down over her underwear. So many scars and cuts litter her thighs, all various lengths, all various colors, all various depths. Some are only scratches while others seem to be on the verge of needing stitches. I do take note that none of them are extremely fresh, meaning that she hasn't cut since I took her blade at least.copyright protection159PENANAzhKElrc7uw
"I'm proud of you," I murmur, beginning to cover up her scars and cuts with makeup.copyright protection159PENANAO0mPd3xc4G
"What for?"copyright protection159PENANABrKGXzx1Yt
"You haven't done it in a couple of days."copyright protection159PENANAyA8v6UhL7u
"So?"copyright protection159PENANA4QhoAsxxHw
"So, that's a big deal."copyright protection159PENANARr41adWksf
"No, it's not," she scoffs. "Sure, maybe if I was able to stop for months or years at a time-"copyright protection159PENANAokYR1cYJpV
"Don't degrade your progress like that."copyright protection159PENANACU2coVG8YX
"I'm not even in recovery. You can't make me recover."copyright protection159PENANAW9G4MHx7Tj
~copyright protection159PENANANoCtxwo5Zj
"How is fifty shades of gray a reference?" Bailey asks everyone once we're back in the living room, and I swear Nick chokes on his drink.copyright protection159PENANAlgkGyxVErZ
"It was a series of books and films," Dallas responds, scrolling through her phone.copyright protection159PENANAeGEFlV8L70
"I don't get it," Bailey frowns. "What's the big deal then?"copyright protection159PENANAI1Fy93rRbq
"Oh, they were rather erotic."copyright protection159PENANANyAb9NGBP2
"Dallas!" I scold.copyright protection159PENANAmTh1EZEvpa
"What?"copyright protection159PENANAY11Notay2s
"She's fourteen!"copyright protection159PENANAFScn5933ry
"So?"copyright protection159PENANAI1HcR8QShS
"I'm mature for my age," Bailey defends.copyright protection159PENANAKS7no3yPoS
"I could have lived the rest of my life without knowing about the reference, though," Jordan mutters.copyright protection159PENANAH7RIdtaIhv
"Wait, so, they were popular enough to be referenced frequently?" Sara pipes up.copyright protection159PENANANzr0ZADJl5
"Oh, yeah," Dallas nods. "Popular and controversial."copyright protection159PENANAq4j69u6svb
"How so?"copyright protection159PENANAN1HaoOzbQg
"Well, he was abusive towards her," Nick replies.copyright protection159PENANAZMeKFn5Tco
"And then cops had a mess on their hands," Dallas adds.copyright protection159PENANA4mcYT3xvkh
"Why?" Bailey furrows her eyebrows. "What do cops have to do with a movie?"copyright protection159PENANAJCikT52wSk
"You tell her, Dallas," I nudge my sister. "You're the one that brought it up."copyright protection159PENANABHfKBnEiY8
"Well, they got a lot of phone calls."copyright protection159PENANACaXmfRfxjW
"About?"copyright protection159PENANAbEo0FiTckn
"Why do you ask so many questions again?"copyright protection159PENANATksiNsffSR
"People were calling 911 saying that their significant others were locked in handcuffs because they were trying to mimic the movie and books," I explain, knowing that she won't quit asking.copyright protection159PENANAb66VLvIjLt
"Well, that's one way to do roleplay," Bailey snorts.copyright protection159PENANARcSxZXyGUG
"And there goes the last of my innocence," Jordan sighs.copyright protection159PENANAOJZXcKqmPC
"They're complete opposites," Dallas looks at me, referring to my two daughters.copyright protection159PENANAy9uwiUhHlU
"You're just now figuring that out? Wait until you take them shopping. She," I point to Jordan. "Will want to buy pink and glitter and flowers while she," I point to Bailey. "Will want to buy basically my entire closet from when I was around twenty."copyright protection159PENANA90D2OkYc6r
"The accuracy, though," Bailey chuckles.copyright protection159PENANAgeZgOMDCyD
"Okay, now I have to take you both shopping, so go pile in my car."copyright protection159PENANAr352e5Vxes
"I call shotgun!" Bailey claims as the three girls make their way to the door.copyright protection159PENANAhPA2hgOXi5
"No," Jordan groans. "You'll mess with the radio the entire time."copyright protection159PENANAg9fPWKAbyY
"Deal with it."copyright protection159PENANAKLrjvky9KN
"What if I want shotgun?" Sara wonders.copyright protection159PENANAjxBTBdmXtT
"I'm the one related to Dallas," Jordan points out.copyright protection159PENANAY9mBiLznzf
"So am I," Bailey retorts.copyright protection159PENANASDBZlxXNR5
"What have I gotten myself into?" Dallas jokingly shakes her head, and I laugh as she leaves.copyright protection159PENANA53JfljGD2g
"So," I turn to Nick. "Is that entire album really about me?"copyright protection159PENANA7enkrrxBIC
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