Alex's POV
I spent three months in that hell hole till they thought I was good to be released. Chloe and I did the same routine everyday at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was touched by Joe at every "therapy" session.
"I'm going to miss you." I told Chloe as I packed my bags.
"I'm going to miss you more." Chloe replied. "Promise me one thing. Promise me you will try and get better."
"I promise." I sighed. Anything for her.
"Alexis, someone wants to talk to you." Amelia entered the room.
"I guess send them in." I replied looking up. I wonder who would want to talk to me. Amelia nodded and exited the room.
"Hello, Alexis." I heard Joe's voice at the doorway. Fear instantly took over me and Chloe must've of noticed.
"You must be the immature douche that touched her." Chloe examined. Way to be blunt about it.
"What's it to ya?" Joe questioned.
"You're lucky that I don't shred you to a pulp." Chloe threatened.
"I hope to see you again, beautiful." He winked at me before leaving. Chloe was about to chase after him but I stopped her.
"Chloe, stop. I'm fine." I tried reassuring her.
"You're not fucking fine! You think I don't hear you having nightmares every night?!" Chloe practically screamed.
"You're right. I'm not fine, but I will be eventually." I replied. Will I ever be fine?
"Alex, are you ready to go?" Amelia asked me after I finished packing. I nodded and grabbed my bags. I followed her to the main entrance.
"Maxipad!" I screamed as I dropped my bags and jumped in Max's arms, as in our bodyguard. "Where's Mom?" I asked as he grabbed one of my bags.
"She's in LA. She had some important stuff going on and she said she's sorry that she couldn't make it." Max explained as we got an Uber to the airport.
"Oh.." That was all I could say. Mom promised that she would be there as soon as I was out of treatment.
"What are you thinking about?" Max asked, his Australian accent noticeable.
"Nothing." I told him as we boarded Mom's private jet. I plopped down in a chair and decided to sleep for the plane ride.
"Alex, we're here." Max shook me awake. I got up, rubbing my eyes. We exited the private jet and headed towards the car while paparazzi bombarded us.
"Alexis! How was treatment?"
"Did you gain weight?"
"Give her some space!" Max shouted over the paparazzi and blocked them from looking at me. Max and I got in the car, ready to head home.
I rested my head against the window as I watched all the familiar houses pass by.
"You know she wanted to come and pick you up, right?" Max spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Yeah." I replied quietly. I always thought I would come before her work, but I guess I was wrong. We pulled into our driveway and I went to grab my bags, but Max stopped me.
"I'll get your bags." He told me.
"I can carry my own bags."
"No, go and get settled. You just got home." He reassured me. I gave in and nodded. I opened the door and as soon as I walked in, I was greeted by Batman and Ella.
"Calm down, guys! I need to turn on the light." I told both the dogs. I stopped petting them and turned on the light.
"SURPRISE!" A whole bunch of people shouted in unison. All the people that were there were Grandma, Grandpa, Dallas, Maddie, Marissa, Matthew, Sirah, Kenzie, Kenzie's sister, and Kenzie's mom. There was one other person that stood out and it was my mom. Did she plan this whole thing?
"Mom!" I screamed and cried out as I rushed to her, yearning her comforting embrace.
"Did you really think that my job would come before you?" Mom asked as I jumped into her arms. I smelled her signature vanilla scent.
"A little.." I replied sheepishly as she put me down. "Fuck, I'm emotional." I laughed slightly as I wiped some tears away.
"Aww, baby." Mom pulled me into another hug, who was also crying.
"Did you plan all this?" I asked, looking at everything.
"Yes, but Dallas helped." She replied.
"That would explain all the pink and glitter." I joked as I looked at Dallas.
"Hey!" Dallas pouted.
"I love you guys." I told all of them as I picked up Ella. "I love her more though." I pointed to Ella.
"Wow, I feel loved." I heard a familiar voice enter the house. I looked over at the front entrance and I didn't expect to see Wilmer, but I'm glad I did.
"FEZ!" I screamed and ran towards him. Wilmer picked me up and spun me around as a laugh escaped my mouth.
"How many times did I tell you not to call me that?" He laughed. I shrugged.
"So, is Dilmer a thing again or does Demi still screaming in the bed not work out for you?" I joked.
"Alex!" Mom laughed her famous laugh. "We're just friends, baby girl." She smiled at me.
"Great. All my hopes and dreams are ruined #Dilmer4Ever." I replied sarcastically as I laughed.
"It still scares me how her laugh sounds like yours, Demi." Aunt Maddie spoke up. Realization dawned on me when I noticed there were two people named Maddie in the room.
"What are you thinking about, baby girl?" Mom asked, looking worried.
"I'm thinking that Grandma and Kenzie's mom should come up with some names that aren't so original. There's two fucking people named Maddie in this room!"
"I'm the cooler one right?" Aunt Maddie asked.
"Mhm, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night." I replied. "You know what? I'll call you Aunt Maddie," I pointed to Aunt Maddie obviously. "and I'll call you Madison." I pointed to Kenzie's sister.
"Why Madison?" Kenzie's sister asked me.
"It sounds mature." I told her honestly.
"I'll take that as a compliment." She said, feeling satisfied with herself.
"How about we eat some cake?" Mom suggested and everyone agreed. I was the last person to grab a piece of cake. It was a vanilla cake with white frosting, colorful flowers made with frosting surrounding it, and it said Welcome Home on the top. I stared at the cake as if it was my worst enemy, which it was.
"Fuck.." I spoke to myself as I struggled to take a bite. It felt like everyone was watching me, but only one person was, which so happened to be my Mom. I looked at her, tears blurring my vision as I took a bite of the cake. I can't go back to that place. I grabbed my plate and went into our living room, wanting to eat by myself.
"Alex, what's up?" Wilmer's voice asked, sitting down by me.
"Nothing." I replied nonchalantly.
"I know that's a lie. I dated your Mother. Now, what's wrong?" He questioned again. I sighed as I turned to face him.
"I.. I can't do it." I answered honestly. "I want to eat and get better, but my demons keep screaming at me. I can't go back to that place.."
"I see." It looked like he was thinking. "Do you know that your demons aren't telling you the truth?" Wilmer asked me.
"Yeah, but I still feel like I need to listen to them."
"Don't listen to them, Alex." He stated simply.
"Easier said than done." I replied.
"You're right, but you know we're always here to support you." Wilmer told me and I nodded. "How about we have an eating contest?"
"That's going to be hard." I told him truthfully.
"I believe in you though." Wilmer smiled at me.
"Fine, I'll do it." I caved in.
"Here's the catch." Wilmer started. "We have to do it with no hands." He put his plate on the coffee table in front of us.
"Deal." I replied. We both put our hands behind our back and Wilmer began to count down.
"3.. 2.. 1.. go!" He exclaimed and we began basically shoving our faces into the cake. The demons wouldn't stop screaming, but I managed to eat the whole piece of cake. I even beat Wilmer!
"I win!" I exclaimed excitedly as I wiped my face with a napkin.
"Now that you've won the cake eating contest, Alexis Lovato, what are you going to do?" Wilmer asked, using the TV remote as a microphone. I heard Mom's laugh at the entrance of the living room.
"I'm going to Disney World!" I joked. My happiness soon faded as the voices wouldn't shut up.
'YOU IDIOT. WHY'D YOY EAT A WHOLE PIECE OF CAKE? YOU'RE ALREADY FAT ENOUGH.'
"Alex, are you okay?" Mom asked, cautiously coming over to me.
"Can we talk upstairs?" I asked her quietly and she agreed. Her and I went into her room to talk.
"What did you want to talk about?" She asked as we sat on her bed.
"The voices won't shut up." I started saying. "I want to get better, I really do, but the voices.. do they ever go away?" I asked, tears in my eyes.
"They don't ever fully go away, but you learn to block them out." Mom answered my question. "Did treatment help you at all?"
"Kinda." I replied honestly. "Please.. don't send me back." I begged.
"I won't send you back, baby girl. You and I can get through this together." She spoke gently and pulled me into her embrace.
"I love you, Mama."
"I love you more, baby." She kissed the top of my head.
"Impossible." I smiled at her.
"So possible." She fought back. She was about to let go, but I stopped her.
"No, not yet. The people downstairs can wait. I missed your hugs." I told her and she held me tighter.