CHARLIE'S POV
"Charlie, you have to eat." Demi stated sternly as she was trying to get me to eat some lunch. I just finished packing for LA since we leave in two days and Demi decided that she would make lunch while I packed. Mom and Dad went to the mall with Maddie and Dallas was teaching her acting lessons, so it was just Demi and I.
"No!" I fought back. I can't gain anymore weight.
"Please, Charlie. For me?" Demi gave me the cute begging look she used to give me when we were younger when I wouldn't cooperate with Mom and Dad.
- FLASHBACK -
"Charlie, it's bed time." Mom came into the living room where I was sitting with Dallas, Demi, and Maddie. Demi recently got out of treatment so we were all watching the movie Cars 2 together.
"No!" My six year old self exclaimed as I continued watching the movie.
"Charlie, you have to listen to your mother." Dad stated as he entered the living room.
"I'm not going to bed!" I screamed.
"Charlotte Jade!" Mom exclaimed. "Get your butt upstairs and go to bed."
"No! Dally, Dem Dem, and Mads get to stay up!" I whined.
"Charlotte-" Dad started saying before Demi cut him off.
"Can you listen to Mom and Dad? Please, Charlie. For me?" Demi looked over at me, making a begging face. I pouted and agreed. Dad then picked me up in his arms and brought me up to my room.
- FLASHBACK OVER -
"Fine." I sighed as I hesitantly picked up the ham sandwich. I looked at it like it would kill me. I gagged just looking at it.
"You can do it, baby girl." Demi tried reassuring me as she sat next to me and comfortingly rubbed my back. I slowly took a bite and chewed for as long as I could. I eventually swallowed, tears blurring my vision.
"Honey, I'm home!" Maddie exclaimed, coming into the house with Mom and Dad. I just finished my sandwich by the time they got home.
"How was shopping?" Demi asked all of them.
'Go purge. You can't get fatter or everyone will hate you.'
I decided to take the opportunity to run into the bathroom as Demi was talking with all of them, so they were all distracted. I quickly got up from the chair I was sitting on and ran into the bathroom. I shut the door louder than I wanted and locked the door.
- TRIGGER WARNING -
I kneeled in front of the toilet and proceeded to stick two fingers down my throat.
"Charlie, open the door!" I heard Mom's voice panic through the other side of the door as I began throwing up.
"Charlie, please!" Demi's voice spoke up next.
"Eddie, open the door!" Mom cried out. Before I could finish throwing up what I ate, the door burst open and I was pulled into the familiar arms of Mom.
"N-No!" I screamed loudly. "Let me go!" I tried getting out of her grip but then she handed me over to Dad. He held me in his arms tightly as we sat on the bathroom floor while I still tried to get out of his grip.
"Charlie, calm down." Mom spoke quietly as she kneeled down in front of Dad and I. She pushed some hair behind my ear as I was uncontrollably sobbing.
"I-I need to be pretty." I choked out as I stopped fighting against Dad.
"You're already pretty, baby girl." Maddie spoke up, entering the bathroom with a bottle of water. "This isn't healthy, Char." She said as she gave me the water.
"I-I'm not pretty. No one likes me cause I'm not p-pretty." I whimpered.
DIANNA'S POV
"I-I'm not pretty. No one likes me cause I'm not p-pretty." Charlie whimpered. Charlie closed her eyes as she cried more. My heart broke into a million pieces knowing Charlie is going through the same thing Demi went through. It hurts that no one noticed. It hurts that I didn't notice. I feel like I could've prevented all of it if I knew sooner.
"Who said that, baby girl?" Demi questioned, kneeling down next to me as she looked at Charlie with a worried expression.
"I-I don't want to say who did it in front of everyone, D-Dem Dem." Charlie whispered. "I just want to say it to y-you."
"Okay, you'll be able to do that." Demi gave her a reassuring smile. Demi stood up off the floor and went to hold Charlie's hand.
"C-Carry me?" Charlie asked quietly. Demi picked Charlie up in her arms and went upstairs with Charlie.
"I'm glad they're finally getting along." I told Eddie as him and I went upstairs to our room.
"How are you holding up?" Eddie questioned as we laid down on our bed. "Be honest."
"I honestly don't know." I started saying. "I should've been able to see the signs.. but I didn't. I feel like I could've prevented most of this. It's all my fault."
"It's not your fault." Eddie responded. "All of us could've seen the signs but we didn't. It's definitely not your fault." He reassured me as he pulled me into his arms.
DEMI'S POV
I brought Charlie up to my room and put her on my bed.
"Are you going to tell me who said that you aren't pretty?" I asked Charlie as I sat down next to her.
"Trent and his friends.." Charlie whispered.
"Anyone else?" I tried prying her for answers. Charlie slowly nodded as tears were forming in her eyes again. "Who?"
"I.. I can't say. I don't want you to hate them.."
"Can you please tell me, baby girl?"
"Some of your Lovatics.." She spoke quietly. "I guess they aren't wrong.."
"No, no, no." I stated quickly. "They're not telling the truth. You're already so beautiful, Char. If they don't see that then they don't know what true beauty is. You don't need to be skinny to be beautiful. You're way too skinny.. it's dangerous to be too skinny."
"I.. I don't know, Dems." Charlie whimpered. "I just want to sleep.." She mumbled as she pulled one of my blankets over her and hid her face against one of my pillows.
"Okay, you can sleep." I told her as I moved some hair out of her face. I waited till she fell asleep and went to go talk to Mom and Eddie.
"How is she?" Mom quickly asked as I entered their room.
"I honestly don't know." I answered. "They're lucky it's illegal to murder." I spoke through gritted teeth.
"Care to elaborate?" Eddie asked while raising an eyebrow.
"Charlie is getting bullied by several kids at school." I began saying. "And my own 'Lovatics' are bullying her online! They know I don't stand for that! Especially if it's my family." I cried out.
"How did I not notice?" Mom questioned. I looked up at her and noticed she was crying a bit.
"Mama, don't cry." I whispered. "We'll be able to help her get better." I tried reassuring her, but mostly trying to reassure myself.
"I hope so.." Mom replied. I talked with them a bit longer before I went back in my room. Charlie was still sleeping and hair was covering her face again. I laughed slightly at that as she also had her mouth slightly open.
"I love you so much, baby girl." I whispered as I put some hair behind her ear as she was sleeping. "I promise I'll be with you every step of the way."
"Love you too.." I heard Charlie slightly mumble, causing me to smile. I'm making a promise to myself that I'll do my best to protect her no matter what.