"You live here?" Jordan wonders, taking in the sight of the paint chipped walls and ugly, carpeted floors.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDqAOBXh7q
"Not everybody can live in a mansion," I mutter. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡld4yeF59Ak
I lead us three to the front desk where Wendy, one of the young, newer workers, sits, chomping on a piece of bubblegum while twirling a piece of her blonde hair around her index finger, staring into space. When she sees us three approaching, she forgets about her stand of hair. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIr5K5J88H
"Kaylee, where were you? We were worried sick!" She exclaims in a dramatic tone. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOyvae8jZx
"Cut the act, drama queen. I know you didn't realize that I left. And it's Bailey, not Kaylee," I say with much sarcasm and an eye-roll. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PcF6RJXAb
Newbies are always a pain. She narrows her eyes at me. I lazily sit my arms on the counter.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFAM7P1CSP
"Now, bring me somebody who actually knows what the hell they're doing because, as you can see, we have a celebrity waiting," I order.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡudVruyGMR5
As if just now noticing that Demi is there, her eyes widen as her cheeks flush pink. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWQYctDI8D
"Right away," She murmurs, disappearing to bring me somebody that hopefully knows at least a little bit of my story.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP0HIPgGOQ
"Already using my name for your benefit?" Demi sarcastically questions. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt25deTuLe
"I figured it was the least you could do considering everything," I calmly shoot back.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvS3Az5fiy
I can practically hear Demi's eyes rolling in their sockets. Thankfully Barb, one of the co-owners of the orphanage, decides to make an appearance. When she sees me, she smirks.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LjmE0UABp
"Bailey, what have you gotten into this time?" She jokes.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmgKp02ieJ
I smile a genuine smile. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BIiv2N39d
"Well, you know same 'ol same 'ol," I reply, giving the same reply that I always do. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1apk7eVYG
She chuckles. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡQURrNBYFRp
"Who'd you bring with you?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv8accs5D1
With a sigh, I push myself away from the counter. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmzWwFGDPv
"Barb, meet Demi. Demi, meet Barb," I introduce. "Barb, I know you know who Demi is to me. Demi, Barb is basically the mother you never were," I bluntly say. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWS1R1lA8V
"Bailey!" Barb scolds, but I can see amusement lighting up her eyes. "That's not fair! You should apologize." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq8D3TAQen
"Fair?" I echo with a snort. "Life's not fair, and I refuse to apologize to her." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡR59zj7tJ7W
"So, you know I'm her biological mother?" Demi questions. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYmq2Gjhra
Barb nods. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEqi0M7Gdf
"What do I have to sign to adopt her?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDk3Clspi2
"Way to sound enthused about it," I sarcastically mutter. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv9trYi8Dk
"I'll get the papers and files," Barb dismisses herself with a small smile. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡev19d7Dxvv
"Files?" Demi repeats. "As in more than one?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWOTXBEtvO
"That's why it's plural," I reply with a sarcastic tone.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QZewM457L
I am on a roll with my sarcasm. Demi just makes it way too easy to be sarcastic. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXUTEQqWbe
"I know that!" She snaps. "But why do you have more than one file?"copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66rox3QPnc
"I've been through some serious shit," I vaguely reply with a one shoulder shrug. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpu1bvtCl1
"We so have got to work on your amount of cursing." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEoNQ0Ft5C
I roll my eyes, another thing that I'm on a roll with. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2ermCryJo
"And we so have got to work on you thinking that you're suddenly the boss of me." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdTS6bR12W
"I'm your mother." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0nUS7nN6Y
"You have a pretty weird way of showing it," I tell her, examining my gnawed nails. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2ZlQQosoF
I bet Jordan feels like a third wheel right now. Well, I bet she feels like what I think a third wheel feels like. I've never been a third wheel nor have I ever been on a date. Nobody ever has nor ever will want to date an ugly, fat, broken girl like myself. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rydJb6Kp1
"I'm going to go pack," I mumble, leaving Demi and Jordan to wait for Barb's return. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuWN0n0JO9
I trudge slowly up the stairs, granting my demons plenty of time to attack me. Luckily, the corridors are empty, but I can hear the loud giggling and talking of the other girls. Yet again, I find myself wishing that I had a friend.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5RezrjBqU
"We are your friends, Bailey. We're the only friends you need. We understand you better than anybody," my demons whisper.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnnULau4vX
I finally make it to the safety of my room. I lock myself in my bathroom and collapse to the floor. I hastily rummage through my purse, searching for my blade. I clutch it tightly in my fist, loving how the sharp edge bites my skin. I lift up the hem of my shirt, locating a somewhat cut free patch of skin. I make five horizontal incisions on my left side, just under the wire of my bra. I move further down, skimming the blade over an already mangled piece of skin. Finding another free patch, I create longer, deeper cuts. Knowing that it shouldn't be much longer before either Jordan or Demi or both decide to come look for me, I make about a dozen short, vertical cuts on my lower abdomen before returning my blade to the bottom of my purse. I stop the bleeding, flush the blood soaked toilet paper, and exit my bathroom as if nothing happened. To my relief, neither Jordan nor Demi are in my room. I quickly grab my old duffel bag from the top shelf of my closest. I throw it on my bed and scramble to stuff random articles of clothing into it, not caring if it looks orderly or not; all I'm worried about is making it appear as if I have actually been packing while up here instead of slicing up my skin like the freak that I am.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO8UHFIfNx
"Do you need some help?"copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkb95G3lLg
I spin around, clutching my chest.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡZljfTJPRKj
"Jesus Christ, Jordan, you scared me."copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8MDMyP5Yg
"Obviously," She smirks.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIp2LQkyG2
Her eyes roam over my duffel bag.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDSeuc7igf
"Do you even know how to properly pack that thing?"copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NUTumW6OP
I just roll my eyes and keep shoving more clothes into the bag.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoo11e8XGP
"Where's your mom?" I ask as she starts removing my clothes from the bag.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzjUNysXSs
"Our mom," She corrects.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmUCYsUnH2
With another eye roll, I plop another pile of clothes down onto the bed only to grab another pile from my closet.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSzSHG6QHp
"And she's filling out that paperwork, I suppose. I wasn't really paying much attention," She explains, folding my clothes and setting them neatly back into the bag as I toss another pile onto the bed.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY3BaPVh36
I stop and watch her, remembering what I thought about her feeling like a third wheel. Cursing myself for actually having somewhat of a heart and a little bit of compassion, I take a deep breath. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡksicyj2I9g
"I'm sorry for barging into your life like this. I wasn't planning for it to go this way at all," I sheepishly confess. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvgeHVsi7e
She shakes her head, dropping my tee-shirt that she was folding. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡOibYZU9ZR7
"It's not your fault that you wanted to meet your mom, our mom. I just wish she would tell us why she gave you up. Why did she give you up only to give birth to me a year later and keep me?"copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDcay6D3qh
I bite my lower lip, wishing that I knew the answer, wishing that Demi would just give us the answer. I start conjuring up scenarios in my mind. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbKFOaabf7
"What if I remind her of something horrible?" I speak my thoughts, pitching a random scenario.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtpNh5Qf4B
"What do you mean?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MGXDSzTAl
"Like, I don't know. What if she was in an abusive relationship or something? Or what if she was raped?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7f8jg0H9g
Jordan's eyes widen in horror. I throw my hands up in surrender. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QMLS3KdXx
"They're just ideas!" I defend. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvjy8NlxlW
She tosses a shirt at me with a chuckle that sounds somewhat relieved and somewhat nervous. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nGsGnjkDa
"You have a twisted mind," She jokes.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYFwcdZR4a
You have no idea.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYv3D88FhE
"What if," I pause, wracking my brain for another plausible guess. "What if she had an affair?" I try. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bnF3w1SDB
To my surprise, Jordan only shrugs. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5jNwEYsZQ
"I'm not saying I condone it, but, if she ever did or ever does, I wouldn't blame her," Jordan tells me.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMHzH4Yp1w
Now it's my turn to pull a horrified face. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw9vBhEbVj
"What?" I shriek, appalledcopyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡul6eUhAKJs
"Let's just say my dad isn't a hundred percent faithful," She says. "He never has been," She mumbles, sounding almost bitter. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ehtvQkjdy
I lick my lips, my mind racing. I mean, I know Demi's kind of a bitch and everything, but she doesn't deserve to be cheated on.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtRPy0AXBI
"How do you know he cheated?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9uZcfjzs8
She snorts. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2GftpsCQ4
"When they fight, they yell. Neighbors and even myself have had to call the cops before because it was too loud. They yell and scream without even thinking about what anybody, including myself, hears." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6LPl31eb2
It's amazing what you can hide just by putting on a smile. That's the lyrics that pop into my head. You never do know what happens behind closed doors, and nobody's life is truly perfect or as good as it seems, even a celebrity's. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFWB5VXxQh
"Sometimes they'll even slam stuff and break stuff. I've only witnessed them put their hands on each other a couple of times, but it's really easy to hear the sound of a slap or the roughness of a shove. The crunching sound of a nose being broken isn't too pleasant to hear," She rambles, not even looking at me, but down at my clothes, at my bed. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhI24kXJtH
It's as if I'm not even here. I can tell that she's been bottling this stuff up for a while now. When you bottle stuff up, there comes a point in time when you need a release. Jordan's releasing all of her bottled up emotions now, in the form of talking. I release mine in the form of self-harm. Everybody's got their own way of coping and dealing with their shit. It is then when I see the silent tears rolling down Jordan's cheeks as her shoulders shake. I hesitantly wrap my arms around her as she sobs into my shoulder. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEDBM63cBm
"Most kids are lucky to have both of their parents married and actively in their lives, but I hate it. I mean, it's not always horrible, but there are sometimes that make me wish they'd just get a divorce already," She rants while I pat her back in what I'm hoping is a comforting manner. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTk3hd527h
"Jordan, why are you crying?" copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMJec5Fxb2
I immediately release Jordan and start folding the clothes on my bed, avoiding Demi's gaze.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9CKgoHXiF
"No reason," Jordan replies with a sniffle. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCpikqACV3
"Whatever," Demi mutters. "Are you finished packing?" She wonders. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3ypjo3WxJ
I almost respond to her with a smart ass comment, but I refrain from doing so. Does she not see the huge pile of clothes on my bed? copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZnyWF3kFJ
"Almost," I mumble. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpi9hnBm9x
"Well, I signed everything and got all of your files," She informs. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8TwQdIQaK
I nod, swearing that I hear her mutter something along the lines of 'all three of them' at the end, but I might be mistaking. Shaking my head, I continue to fold my clothes, now wishing that I didn't own so many.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi3aTn9tK3
"Bye, Barb," I say, engulfing her in a hug in which she warmly returns. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCSw0iDqVG
She's been here even before I arrived. She's watched me, and countless others, grow and move on. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zRyRPDtOF
"Are you honestly crying over me, Bay?" She questions, referring to me by my nickname, while wiping tears from eyes as her own eyes become glassy.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaHRYyutMm
"I'm gonna miss you," I admit. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfKRmagzR1
"I'm gonna miss you too, kid, but you deserve to be with your family; you deserve to be happy." copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjGuN2J9Hx
I resist the urge to snort. I highly doubt I'm going to be happy living with my mother who I know doesn't like me. As if reading my mind, she leans down to whisper into my ear. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CSo5xGnxu
"I'm sure the ice queen will warm up to you eventually," She whispers with a wink. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL491TqlMJ
I laugh and hug her again. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwCvbeH2RL
"Hurry up, Hailey. We have a schedule to stick to," Demi chimes. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡynUNeRNFon
I roll my eyes, wanting to turn around and flip her off. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRUbBhlCIP
"You know she's not going to stop calling you by your birth name anytime soon, right?" Barb teases with a smirk. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMjh2AvvdF
"Oh, I know," I growl. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DVSmwBKcq
She chuckles and smooths my hair. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r0m4hTVSn
"She does it because she loves you."copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW8DAXl8VI
"No, she does it because she knows I hate it and that it agitates me," I grumble, causing Barb to laugh. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzdAxRiXke
"I think I know where you get your sass from," She observes, eyeing Demi.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ709mIY1EKV
I smirk, knowing that Demi can be quite sassy when she wants to be. It's kind of hot from a Lovatic's perspective, but in the perspective of me being her daughter, it's highly annoying. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFOa5AE6M4
"Catch ya on the flip side, Barb," I dismiss with a smirk as Demi shoots me a look. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZtbPWqMBA
"Don't stress her poor soul out too much, Bay," Barb warns in a jokingly tone.copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ao565NcDQ
"What are you talking about? I'm such a sweet little angel," I innocently tell her. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡbs3sdRMld3
She laughs, knowing better than to believe that one. With a final wave, I join Jordan and Demi as we bound the bus with Los Angeles in our sights. copyright protection101ＰＥＮＡＮＡo01R5bINBe
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