Love is Louder (Sequel to Addiction) A Jemi fanfic

Chapter 6: Beginning Strong

Demi's POV

I  take a bite of my hamburger feeling tense, I haven't really eaten a lot in a long time and I've actually have had breakfast and now i'm eating lunch. I'm only doing it so I can see Joe, if Kate says I improved enough, he can come visit. If he comes and visits, that will make me so happy. I just miss him so much.

" How's the burger? " Kate asks smiling, we are eating in her office which is actually cool. We're watching I Love Lucy on her laptop which is fun since I love this show. I've been trying to keep a positive attitude all day so that maybe it will help me improve, and so far, it hasn't been that hard surprisingly. 

" It's good. " I say taking another bite, I honestly don't know if I'll be able to eat the whole thing though, but that doesn't really matter since Kate will make me. I take a sip of my water and continue watching the show. When we are done eating, we walk out of her office and she walks me to my room so I can change into appropriate clothes. Her and I are going on a hike today to start my exercise, everyday but Sunday we all have to get in at least one hour of exercise so today, we're hiking on a nearby trail.

When i'm dressed, she drops me off at her office while she goes and changes as well. She says she trusts me enough to not do anything stupid with her office supplies or throw up my meal. Usually I would secretly throw it up, but I'm trying to be good so I can see Joe. It's hard, but I can do it.

When she returns, we go downstairs and she punches the code by the door so we can get out of the building. The fresh air hits me and it feels good, today isn't hot or cold, its just right. There are hiking trails a couple of miles away so we get on one of the employee golf carts and start to drive towards the trail. I never really noticed how nice the treatment center was because of how much I didn't want to be there.

When we get to the trail, we park the golf cart next to another and get out. We take our small backpacks that are filled with water and healthy snacks. We start to walk this trail that's supposedly easy but long enough to fill up an hour to two hours. When we start the trail, I look around at the cool tall trees. They're very beautiful, today's a nice day which really helps me be positive with the whole trying to be good thing. 

*****

After hiking for about an hour, we reach the top of the trail where we meet another group. There's two girls and then a care taker, they're taking a break and eating a snack. We say hi to them and then sit down ourselves under a tree and pull out snacks and our water. The first thing I go for is my water since I'm tired, I really haven't exercised in a while so i'm not so used to it. Kate says i'll be back in shape in a few weeks time.

When eating my granola bar which goes down slowly since it feels like a hundred pounds, I look at the other group who is starting to pack up to head back down. The two girls don't look so great, they're both really pale and have baggy eyes. I wonder why they're here, I'm guessing some sort of drugs are involved.

" Demi, you've been doing very well today. Just try to keep it up ok?" Kate says before taking a sip from her water bottle. I nod and smile, maybe I can do this. I will see Joe soon, I just know it.

" So what else are we doing today? " I ask hoping its something cool, maybe i'll get extra free hours. I shouldn't excite myself too much though, I doubt I will.

" Well we are going to hike back down, drive back to the center, shower, do some mind exercises, eat dinner, move all of your stuff to my dorm, and then you can do whatever you want. I think you earned yourself some alone time. Just remember that I trust you, so don't do anything stupid ok? " She says staring seriously at me, I nod in response knowing i don't want to break my streak even if it is only a day. 

I think i'm gonna call Joe tonight and apologize for not calling him the last two nights, I miss his voice as well. I want to tell him I love him, I smile because I know he'll say it back. He never disappoints me when it comes to that.

Joe's POV

I throw the basketball another time at the hoop which is in our driveway, I miss and Nick laughs. When he throws his basketball, it swooshes right in.

" And that my brother, is how it is done. " He says with a cocky smile, I roll my eyes and retrieve my basketball.

" Yeah whatever. " I say chuckling, ever since Demi's caretaker Kate and I talked on the phone, I have been nothing but smiles. Kate had called me again today and told me that Demi's progress skyrocketed today, I know shes only working hard so we'll be able to get together for a weekend, but that was the main part of the plan. I'm happy she's doing well, I hope she stays that way.

I'm hoping she'll call tonight since we haven't talked in a few days, I'm missing talking to her, even if she doesn't call though, I'll still be happy that we might see each other soon.

A second later, Nick's basketball hits me in the face. I look at him with a shocked expression and put my hands up in a questioning way.

" What the hell dude? " I say angrily, he breaks down laughing having to put his hands on his knees to stay standing up. 

" Dude, you zoned out. Mom's been calling us to come in for dinner. What we're you thinking about that made you so out of it? " He asks chuckling and starting to walk back in the house. I follow and glare at the back of his head, he couldn't have broke my daydreaming some other way?

" None of your business. And if you ever do that again, you're a dead man. " I say giving him a serious stare, he chuckles and walks to the kitchen. I walk into the bathroom and wash my hands, I then look in the mirror and see a small red circle on my face. I then grin knowing of just the way to get back at him. 

*****

The phone rings in the kitchen making me skip a few stairs while running down them, wearing socks makes me slide on the tile floor. I run the distance between the phone and I to hurry and pick it up without even looking at the caller ID. I don't need to though since I can just tell its her, my mom laughs at me from where she's sitting at the table.

" Hey. " I say waiting for the second I hear her voice.

" Hey, are you ok? You sound out of breath. " She says chuckling, I smile loving the fact that shes happy right now.

" Ha ha I'm fine...How are you? " I ask feeling my cheeks get hot as the rest of my family enters the room watching me with raised eyebrows.

" I'm good, i'm trying really hard Joe. " She says with a sigh and I can tell that she is pushing herself to get better.

" That's good. I'm so happy about that, please stay strong. " I say knowing that I want to see her as much as she wants to see me.

" I will, I promise. I'll do anything to just see you. " She says with all seriousness, I smile knowing that what she says is true.

" Good, your the only one who can make that happen. I really love you Demi, I know you can do this." I reply grinning, I can't wait to see her.

" I love you too Joe, I really do. I wish I could tell you in person. " She says making me wanting to moan, but I hold myself back since my family is right behind me. 

" Same here...how much time can you talk? " I ask hoping its a long time, I could talk to her all night. 

" I have about half an hour. " She says with excitement in her voice, I smile in response and walk past my snickering brothers up to my room.

" Good, tell me about your day. "