CHARLIE'S POV
"Charlie, you have to get up." I heard Mom's voice wake me up from my slumber. "You and Demi have to leave for the airport soon."
"Already?" I questioned tiredly. I slowly sat up in my bed as I rubbed my eyes. "I never packed my bag yet, Mama."
"I already did that for you. You were pretty exhausted after last night and we didn't want to tire you out more." Mom pointed to the luggage on my floor.
"Thank you." I smiled. "I'll be downstairs soon, I have to get dressed."
"Okay, baby girl. You have fifteen minutes." She said before she exited my room.
After she exited my room, I locked my bedroom door and proceeded to run into my bathroom. I needed to make sure I packed my blade. I'm assuming and hoping Demi and I are taking her private plane because then it won't be a hassle getting it onto the plane. I don't know how I could ever survive without my blade or any sharp object for that matter. It numbs my emotional pain with physical pain. I snatched the thin piece of metal from under my sink and went back into my room. I'm surprised Demi didn't find it, considering she's the master of hiding things.
- FLASHBACK -
My four-year-old self was sitting in my room waiting for Demi to tuck me in tonight because she promised that she would. I was also eavesdropping on my parents and Demi fighting with each other. It's been happening more frequently lately. I don't like seeing the people I love fight.
"Demetria, we know that you are still hiding a blade. You can either tell us where it is or we're not letting you hang out with your friends this weekend and scavenging through your room for everything." Dad's voice stated sternly.
"You are not my Dad. You can't just tell me what to do! I'm hanging out with them whether you like it or not." Demi shouted at him.
"Demetria Devonne Lovato, don't raise your voice at him!" Mom yelled at Demi.
"Oh, I'm so scared." Demi replied sarcastically. I decided I heard enough of their fighting and got up from my bed, slowly making my way to Demi's room.
"Dem Dem." I spoke quietly as I stood in her doorframe, interrupting Mom, Dad, and Demi from fighting more. They immediately looked over at me. "You promised you would tuck me in tonight." I said as my bottom lip began to tremble.
"Aww, Char. Let's do that now, yeah?" Demi pushed past my parents.
"Demi, you're not getting out of this-" Dad started saying, but Demi interrupted him.
"No arguing in front of the child." Demi spoke in an aggressive type tone as she picked me up. "Let's go tuck you in. You're probably tired, baby girl." She proceeded to carry me into my room and laid me down on my bed.
"Can you sleep with me tonight, Dems?" I asked in a soft tone.
"Yes, I will." Demi gave me a small smile before she got in the bed next to me and held my tiny body in her arms. "Can I tell you a secret? You might not understand it though, but I trust you." Demi told me.
"Secret? What is it?" I asked, curious on what secret she had.
"I'm hiding my blade in the sole of my shoe." Demi whispered in my ear. "You can't tell Mom and Dad about it. Got it?"
"But Dem Dem-"
"No buts, Charlotte. If you tell them, I'll never talk to you again." Demi sounded serious. I sighed quietly. I don't want Demi to stop talking to me. She's my sister and I love her with all my heart. I love all of my sisters a lot. More than words can describe.
"Okay.." I replied before I fell asleep in Demi's arms.
- FLASHBACK OVER -
Who knew that six years later that I would never want to talk to Demi and not want to be around her for a little more than four years? That she would find out about all my secrets in less than a week. It sucks that my thoughts aren't my own anymore. They basically belong to my whole family now that they know everything. I held the blade in between my fingers before I decided to hide it in the sole of my shoe just like Demi did ten years ago.
"Charlie, are you ready?!" Demi's voice shouted from downstairs, breaking me out from my thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm ready!" I shouted back before I grabbed my bag. I wonder how long I'll be with Demi in LA for? Then again, she said she wants me to stay until I'm "recovered", which will most likely never happen. What is the point of recovery if I don't deserve it? I deserve all the pain I've been going through. I'm just the family disappointment, after all.
I bounded down the steps wearing one of my usual outfits. I stole one of Demi's hoodies which was an All Time Low one and her favorite Guns N' Roses t-shirt, I was wearing my own light blue skinny jeans, and of course, a pair of white vans.
"Are you ready now, miss slowpoke?" Demi questioned as she stood by the doorway with a huge ass suitcase.
"At least I didn't pack the whole house." I smirked and pointed towards Demi's suitcase.
"Yeah, whatever." Demi pretended to sound annoyed. "Go hug everyone goodbye."
"I'm going to miss you, baby girl." Dallas told me as she came over and hugged me first.
"I'm going to miss you more, Dally." I smiled. I proceeded to say goodbye to Dad and Maddie.
"Be good for Demi, okay?" Mom said, causing me to giggle. "I mean it, Charlotte."
"Yes, ma'am." I replied before she let me go from a very tight hug and kissed the top of my head.
"You better behave for me." Demi joked. "Wait, is that my hoodie?!" She exclaimed as she finally realized I stole her hoodie.
"I'm also wearing one of your t-shirts." I smiled smugly.
"I swear if you're wearing my Guns N' Roses t-shirt, Lord help you." Demi glared at me before breaking out into her famous laugh. "We should get going now, we don't want to be late." Demi proceeded to hold the door open for me.
"Are we taking your private plane?" I asked her as we both climbed in the backseat of the Uber that was taking us to the airport.
"Nope." Demi spoke casually.
"W-What?" I cursed myself out silently for stuttering.
"Is that going to be a problem?" Demi looked at me as if she was trying to find out my darkest secret.
"Yes, it could be." I told her, trying to think of a reason of why it would be. "An airplane is packed with people, and flying already causes me a lot of anxiety. Can we please take your private plane, Dem Dem?" I begged.
"I'll call Max and ask him to have them get it ready. Okay, baby girl?" Demi pulled out her phone and dialed Max's number. It's been more than two years since I last saw Max, who is Demi's bodyguard.
- FLASHBACK -
Demi recently was discharged from the hospital, and she was getting the help she needed. Our family has been in LA helping Demi by taking care of Batman and Ella while she was away. Max has also been coming over quite frequently because he has been there with us through everything. He was there when Demi first went to treatment, he was there when she got out of treatment, when she lived in a sober house, etc. Max is basically family.
"Max, stop! Please!" I let out a loud, obnoxious laugh as he tackled me on the floor and began tickling me. Max always pretended to be a tickle monster when I was younger, but now that I'm twelve, he does it just to annoy me.
"Keep going!" Maddie shouted from the couch, watching this all happen. I looked over at her as she was laughing and had a bowl of popcorn sitting on her lap.
"You're encouraging this?!" I screamed and laughed more.
"Dinner is ready!" Mom shouted from the kitchen. I sighed as Max helped me up off the floor. I can't eat, I just can't. I walked towards the kitchen with Max and Maddie. As we entered, the famous Wilmer Valderrama was talking with Mom and Dad.
"Why is he here?" I snarled, not bothering to hide the anger in my voice. I never liked him, especially after he broke up with Demi. Wilmer was the main reason why there's a strain between Demi and I. He told me multiple times to never take Demi from him whenever he was over. I never told anyone that though.
"Charlotte Jade, be nice." Mom spoke harshly.
"I'm not hungry." I told them before I walked away.
"I'll go talk to her." I heard Wilmer say before I ran upstairs to the room that Maddie and I shared in our LA home. I sat down on my bed as I ran my hand through my hair. About a minute later, there was a knock on the door.
"Go away!" I shouted. That didn't stop Wilmer from coming in. He proceeded to shut my door.
"What's with the fucking attitude?" Wilmer growled as he came over to me and pointed his finger in my face.
"I think you know why!" I screamed. "Move your finger before I fucking bite it!"
"You shouldn't be speaking to adults that way." Wilmer told me angrily.
"I don't speak to adults that way." I began saying. "I only talk to you that way because you deserve it." I spoke through gritted teeth. I then felt a stinging sensation on my cheek. He just slapped me. Wilmer fucking slapped me.
"Charlie, I'm sorry-" Wilmer began saying. I quickly stood up from my bed and Wilmer grabbed a hold of my wrist.
"No, don't touch me." I spoke quietly. I walked out of my room, Wilmer following right behind me. "Just stay away from me." I choked out, trying to hold in my tears.
"Charlie-" Wilmer tried talking to me again.
"I want Wilmer out of here!" I yelled, entering the dining room where my family and Max were eating dinner.
"Charlie, why?" Mom asked, looking up from her dinner.
"Please! Get him out!" I cried out, tears finally spilling out of me. Max got up from his chair and came over to me, pulling me into his embrace. Dad also got up, trying to get Wilmer to leave the house. Max held onto me protectively as I held onto him as if my life depended on it.
- FLASHBACK OVER -
I never did end up telling anyone what happened that day. It was also the day that I self harmed for the second time, along when my eating disorder slowly started developing more as days went on.
"Charlie, we're here!" Demi nudged me as we pulled up next to her private plane. I nodded as I got out of the car and grabbed my bag from the trunk. Before getting on Demi's private plane, I mentally prepared myself for the journey that was going to be ahead of us. It wasn't just the journey to LA, but the journey through whatever life decided to throw at us. After preparing myself, I entered the plane, got comfortable, and pulled out my song notebook from my bag. Watch out LA because here we come, bitch.