CHARLIE'S POV
I didn't end up having any nightmares last night and I'm happy about that.
"Are you ready to go home soon, baby girl?" Demi questioned. "Mom and Dad should be here soon."
"Yeah, but I need help changing into regular clothes." I frowned. Demi nodded as she slowly helped me get out of bed and into the bathroom.
"Okay, so I brought you these clothes." Demi held a bag in her hand filled with clothes.
She brought me one of her Metallica hoodies, one of my Led Zeppelin tee shirts, black Fabletic leggings, and a pair of brown Vans.
"I need to ask you a question." Demi told me as she helped me get changed. I didn't want her looking at my ugly body, but I didn't have a choice.
"What's the question?"
"Why don't you want Mom and Dad knowing about your issues?" She questioned.
"I.. I can't say. It's probably stupid." I answered quietly.
"I can assure you that it won't be stupid." Demi tried reassuring me. "You can tell me.
"I don't want them to hate me.." I hesitantly spoke. "I also don't want to go into a treatment center, Dems."
"They won't hate you." Demi told me as I finished getting dressed.
"I'm still not telling them." I said as I quickly stood up from the toilet, which was where I was sitting while she helped me get dressed. "Fuck!" I cried out from pain.
"You have to take it easy, baby girl." Demi helped me back into my bed. Demi and I sat in silence for a bit before Mom and Dad entered the room.
"Are you ready to go?" Dad asked both of us. I nodded before I got off the bed and walked into the hallway.
"Do you need any help?" Mom asked worriedly.
"I'm fine." I gave a reassuring smile. Mom and Dad went to check me out of the hospital while Demi and I walked to the car.
"Charlie.. when was the last time you had your period?" Demi randomly asked.
"I don't know, probably a couple months ago." I answered. "Why?"
"Fuck.." She mumbled to herself. "How much do you weigh?"
"Last I checked I was 78 pounds." I told her truthfully. I need to be skinnier.
"Oh my god.." Demi tried to whisper so I wouldn't hear.
"I know, I'm too fat." I said.
"No, no, no. You are not fat. You're too skinny, baby girl." Demi spoke quickly. "It's dangerous."
"So?"
"I care about you.. and I don't want to lose you.." Demi whispered.
"I didn't want to lose you that day either, but I almost did. You weren't thinking of anyone but yourself." I snapped. I looked over at her and saw the look of hurt in her eyes. "I.. I'm sorry.. I.." I tried apologizing. I didn't mean what I said, I was just upset.
"Just.. save it." Demi told me before Mom and Dad got in the car. I sighed as I looked out the window before I ended up falling asleep in the car.
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I somehow ended up waking up in my bed. I woke up to hearing Mom, Dad, and Demi talking loudly to each other. They weren't yelling, just talking very loud. I slowly got out of bed and sat at the top of the stairs, trying to listen in on their conversation.
"How did I not notice the signs?" Mom sounded like she was crying. "Charlie really harms herself?"
"She's also struggling with food.." Demi told her. She told Mom and Dad everything. How could she? I trusted her! I ran downstairs and instantly glared at Demi.
"How could you?!" I screamed at her. "I trusted you!"
"Charlie, I'm sorry. I had to tell them." Demi tried explaining.
"You didn't have to tell them.." I whispered. "I told you many times that I'm fine!"
"Charlie." Dad tried stopping me as I went to go upstairs.
"I said I'm fine!" I cried out. "Leave me alone!" I yanked my arm out of his grip and ran upstairs. I sat upstairs as I decided to continue eavesdropping.
"I don't know how to help her.." I heard Mom say.
"We'll get through this, honey." Dad said.
"I think we should send her to treatment.." Mom said in a quiet voice, but loud enough to where I can hear it. After hearing that, I instantly got up and went into my room. I can't go to treatment. I just can't. I paced back and forth before the voices screamed at me to cut.
- TRIGGER WARNING -
I entered my bathroom and grabbed my blade from under my sink. I pulled down my pants, deciding to cut on my thighs. I dragged the sharp thin piece of metal across my skin as I watched the dark red blood come through each individual cut. When I felt satisfied, I got up and began cleaning my thighs.
As I was cleaning the cuts, there was a scratch at my bathroom door, indicating one of the dogs probably wants to enter. I sighed as I opened the door, which revealed Bella, one of our older dogs.
- TRIGGER WARNING OVER -
"Hi, Bella." I smiled a bit as she entered my bathroom. I quickly shut the door and locked it. "You can't tell anyone about this, got it?" I told her, even though she couldn't talk.
I finished cleaning my thighs and got my black Fabletic leggings back on. I hid my blade under my sink again before I exited the bathroom and threw myself onto my bed. I laid down on my bed as I was getting trapped into my own mind.
'Your parents don't even want you around. They want to send you away to a treatment center and never come back for you. Way to go.'
'They do want me.'
'They don't. Why else would they agree to letting you go stay with Demi earlier this month?'
I sat up in my bed and covered my ears, hoping to block out the voices. I let out a choked sob as my breathing started to get irregular. It hurts, everything hurts. I gripped onto my duvet with one hand as I fumbled for my phone with my other hand. I scrolled through my contacts, trying to see which one was Demi's through my blurred vision.
Before I could press her contact, I ended up dropping my phone on my floor. My breathing was not getting any better as I let out another choked sob. I heard the sound of Bella's collar as she got off my bed and ran out of my room.
"I.. I can't breathe!" I cried out, hoping someone would hear me.
DEMI'S POV
I was relaxing in my room after I talked to my parents about Charlie. I convinced them to not send her to treatment and to let her stay with me for a while. They agreed after a lot of convincing.
I was scrolling through Instagram on my phone as Bella came in my room and jumped up on my bed. She grabbed ahold of my wrist with her mouth, but not too tight. She tried to get me out of bed.
"What do you want, Bella? Do you have to go out?" I asked Bella.
"I.. I can't breathe!" I heard Charlie's cries from her room. I quickly got off my bed and ran into Charlie's room, Bella trailing right behind. Bella jumped up on Charlie's bed and rested her head on Charlie. Is this what Bella was trying to tell me?
"Charlie, look at me." I cooed. "Focus on me, baby girl."
"I-I can't b-breathe!" Charlie cried out again, choking on her own tears. "I-It hurts!"
"I know. I know it does, baby girl." I spoke gently as I pulled her into my embrace. "Just focus on me. You're safe. I got you. Follow my breathing." I told her as I held her head against my chest so she could hear my heartbeat and focus on my breathing.
CHARLIE'S POV
"I-I'm sorry.." I whispered as I calmed down and started petting Bella.
"It's not your fault." Demi quickly told me. "What was that about, baby girl?" She asked.
"I.. I don't want to go to treatment, Dem Dem." I whimpered.
"You heard some of our conversation, didn't you?" Demi questioned.
"Y-Yes.. but I stopped listening when I heard Mom mention treatment. Please.. don't make me go."
"You're not going to treatment, baby girl." Demi reassured me. "Mom agreed to let you stay with me for a while instead of going to treatment."
"Really?" I asked, hopeful. Demi nodded. "I'm sorry I got mad at you earlier.."
"It's fine. I understand, Charlie." Demi said as she let go of me.
"Can you sleep with me tonight?" I asked quietly.
"Of course I will." Demi smiled. "I just have to change into some pajamas."
"Okay, I have to change too." I told her.
"Do you need any help?" She questioned.
"No, I can do it myself!" I said a little too quickly. She can't see the fresh cuts on my thighs. Demi raised one of her eyebrows at me, looking suspicious. "I'm fine." I reassured her. Demi nodded before she went out of my room.
I ended up keeping the hoodie that Demi picked out for me earlier on, along with the tee shirt. I also put on a pair of Paramore sweatpants.
"I'm ready to cuddle!" Demi exclaimed as she jumped on my bed. She was wearing a onesie.
"You're so childish." I laughed as I picked up my phone. "Pick whatever you want to watch." I gave Demi my TV remote as I turned on my phone.
"You're trusting me?" Demi smiled mischievously.
"Yes, don't break my trust." I joked. "Fuck! My storage is almost full!" I exclaimed as my phone gave me a message saying it was almost full. Demi laughed one of her most famous laughs at my reaction. I sighed as I opened up my camera roll and started to delete some photos.
"I have to post this!" I said excitedly. It was a photo of Demi and I from a couple years ago, right before her and Wilmer broke up.
"What is it?" Demi asked as she tried to look at my phone. I quickly hid my screen from her.
"You'll have to wait and see." I giggled and proceeded to open up Instagram.
"Fine." Demi feigned a whine.
"How rude!" I laughed as I read her comment. Demi commented how I used to be cute.
"You know you love me." Demi said.
"You're right." I agreed as I decided to cling onto her like a koala bear.
"Since when were you a koala?" Demi questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't make me get on my koala onesie."
"You have one?!" Demi exclaimed.
"I have a koala and a panda." I told her.
"Can I wear the panda?!" Demi asked excitedly.
"I guess." I told her as I got up from my bed and went into my closet.
"You need to wear the koala onesie." Demi commanded. I sighed and agreed.
"Please don't look at me while I change." I begged her. Demi agreed and went into my bathroom to change into the panda onesie I gave her.
"You look so adorable!" Demi exclaimed as she came out of the bathroom and picked me up.
"Put me down!" I screamed and laughed.
"If you say so." Demi threw me onto my bed and started to tickle me, causing me to scream and laugh loudly.
"SHUT UP! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!" Maddie yelled from her room, causing us to laugh more.
"NO, YOU!" I yelled back.
"YOU ALL SHOULD SHUT UP AND GO TO SLEEP." Mom butted in.
"SORRY, MAMA!" Maddie, Demi, and I yelled at the same time.
"Well, you heard the woman." Demi said, laying down next to me. "I guess we should sleep."
"Yeah.." I agreed before I cuddled against her and fell asleep.