The Way You Don't Look At Me

Chapter 3 - Duet

"Are you going to tell me where we're going yet?" I asked David. John was driving and I didn't recognize where we were. "We're going to a party." He said. "Yeah, I figured. You told me to dress nice" I laughed and gestured to my outfit.

I was wearing a shorter black tight dress with a slit at the bottom, and red heals. My hair was curled, and I was once again wearing my signature red lipstick.

"There are some important people that are going to be at this party so I need you to bring your A game." He said seriously.

"I thought you said this party was you 'making it up to me'" I asked him. "You'll have a good time, I promise you."

I sighed and put my AirPods in until we reached a large house. "Holy shit. Who the fuck lives here?" I asked him. "A friend. Well, a friend of a friend." He told me. John opened my door and we started walking to the door.

David rang the door bell, and a man answered who i never seen before. "Hey Billy." David said with a nod and led me into the house. It was .. beautiful to say the least. It was filled with people who I've never seen before.

We were there for a couple of minutes and I ended up standing by David like a lost puppy because I didn't know anyone while he talked to some friends.

After his friends left to grab some food, David turned to me. "I think they're starting karaoke, you should sing something" I looked at him confused "I thought you said there are important people here you said you wanted me to meet?" I asked. I was starting to get annoyed honestly.

I saw David break eyecontact with me and look to someone else, and nod. "David, I really don't want to be-" I started but he cut me off. "She wants to do karaoke!" He shouted and gestured towards me.

"What are you doing? You know I don't like singing in front of people" I told him, starting to panic. "Stop that, you're good kid. Sing something by Demi if it makes you comfortable." I was glaring at him until I saw a man next to me, hanging me a microphone.

"What song?" He asked. I looked around at everyone staring at me, feeling my nerves grow. "Um. The way you don't look at me, Demi lovato?" I asked. "You got it" he replied.

Another man gestured for me to sit. But not just anywhere, on top of a grand piano. I was skeptical but I sat anyway. As I crossed my legs I heard the music start playing. "Oh shit I have to sing" I said to myself.

"Hmm, I've lost ten pounds in two weeks
'Cause I told me I shouldn't eat
I gained a new vice way more than twice
I've slept on bathroom floors
I lost my temper and locked in my fingers
Looking for answers there aren't really answers for
And I've been to hell and back
But this isn't that
'Cause when you say nothing
It's much worse than things I've overcome and
This hurts harder than my time in heaven
You don't think I see
The way
You don't look at me"

As I looked up I started seeing people smile at me. Which gave me the confidence to continue

"Turned off the TV, I close the windows
So tell me what's on your mind
That makеs you so selective
I'm not afraid of natural disastеrs
But I'm so scared if I undress that you won't love me after
And I've been through hell and back, but this isn't that.
'Cause when you say nothing
It's much worse than things I've overcome and
This hurts harder than my time in heaven
You don't think I see
The way
You don't look at me
The way you don't look at me
The way you don't look at me
Yeah, I've been to hell and back
But this isn't that
As a matter of fact, As a matter of fact
Cause when you say nothing
It's much worse than things I've overcome and
This hurts harder than my time in heaven
You don't think I see
The way
You don't look at me"

When I finish, people immediately start clapping. "Thank you" I said with a nervous giggle.

"Hey kid, I think someone wants to sing a duet with you." David said. "No, that was enough public embarrassment for one-" I started but I was cut off.

"I'll leave through the gift shop, i'm keeping all my souvenirs"

I immediately froze. I just stared at David because there was no way what I thought was happening was really happening, and I was too scared to turn around.

"Keychains and a cough drop, postcards say, 'i wish that you were here' And I'll tell you not worry, to make sure that you believe in me. But the hardest part of leaving..."

I was still starting at David, until he grabbed my arms and made me turn around. And instantly my hand was over my mouth

"Is to make it look so easy" Demi was coming down her stairs, wearing jeans and a cute flowing dark green top. I literally could not believe what I was seeing. Genuinely couldn't tell if I was about to cry, vomit, or pass out.

"The hardest part of leaving is accepting all the reasons that some how we keep repeating endlessly" she sang and she walked towards me, with a smile on her face. She looked at me and nodded towards the mic that was still in my hand.

"And the hardest part of leaving is to hold the heavy breathing back from showing you how hard it is for me, to make it look so easy" she smiled at me gave a small nod.

"I'll leave through the side streets, right by the house where you grew up, our name in the concrete. They're lasting way longer than us. And Im looking for the high road. I'm smiling just incase you see. That the hardest part of leaving, is to make it look so easy" i sang into the mic, and heard people clapping. Demi clapped along with them and laughed as she moved closer to me.

"The hardest part of leaving is accepting all the reasons that somehow we keep repeating endlessly. And the hardest part of leaving is to hold the heavy breathing back from showing you how hard it is for me... to make it look so easy"

As we sang the rest of the song, I saw the flashes from people's cameras out of the corner of my eye but the only thing I was focused on was the woman in front of me.

"So I'll leave through the gift shop, I'm keeping all my souvenirs" and when I looked down Demi's hand had grabbed mine. Everyone cheered and i just looked at Demi in pure admiration. I can't believe this is real.

I quickly closed the gap between us and hugged Demi, and I felt the tears starting to form in my eyes. When I let go she looked at me and smiled, and wiped the single tear that fell. "You have an amazing voice." Shr told me. "Thank you so much. I cant believe this is happening like how did this even-" I asked and turned to David who was right behind me but he cut me off. "You remember that friend of a friend?" He asked. I nodded my head. "Well, here he is" and gestured to his side to see Scooter Braun, Demi's manager.

"Oh my god." Was the only thing to come out of my mouth. "Hi Jade it's nice to meet you" he said and i stuck out my hand to shake his. "It's so nice to meet you too." David smiled at me, and said "now aren't i the greatest agent in the world?" I didn't even respond, I just wrapped my arms around David and hugged him. "You're welcome kid. Now the night is still young, go have fun" he said, and turned me around to see Demi who was patiently standing behind me still.

"Hi." She said giggling. "H-hi" I said back. "Get your shit together Jade, you've made it this far dont fuck it up" I told myself.

"You want to come sit?" Demi asked me and gestured to her living room that had some people in there but it was definitely the quieter part of the party. "Yeah of course" I said, and followed her to the living room.

This night, was definitely going to be one to remember