You Can't Choose Your Family ➸ Demi Lovato

{Chapter 11}

Trigger warning (eating disorder type stuff)

We arrived at Santa Monica pier and my first impression was well...that it was freezing. Demi and Maddie both placed on sunglasses (I don't know why? It was 52 degrees and cloudy) and climbed out the car. I followed, taking in my surroundings.

To be honest, I hated doing touristy stuff. I just wasn't into the travelling vibe. I guess it's because I've only ever been out of Albuquerque twice. Once to come here, to Los Angeles and once when my grandparents took me to Disneyland in Florida when I was about 6. New places scare me.

"Saskia come on! It's freezing!" Maddie shouted from about ten metres in front of me. I jogged to catch her and Demi up. I followed like a lost puppy as we walked a way down the pier where Demi bought some tickets and we ended up in an amusement park type thing.

"Welcome to Pacific Park baaaaby!" Demi gave me a side hug, squealing excitingly. I think Pacific Park is meant to mean something to me...god I'm so clueless.

"I vote pirate ship first!" Maddie pulled on my hand, dragging me into the park.

The ride was already running and it looked absolutely bloody terrifying! The people on it were screaming their heads off. My stomach turned. I really didn't want to do this.

"You're up next ma'am" the ride operator announced to Maddie, opening the barrier to let us get onto the ship as the previous riders got off.

Maddie grabbed my hand but I pulled it back. I wasn't going on this ride for a million dollars.

"Come on Saskia!" She groaned. She was so eager to go be swung up in the sky that she was literally jumping out of her skin in excitement.

I shook my head, my cheeks going red.

"It's fun!" Maddie cheered. "Don't be a wimp!"

I shook my head again.

"Hey Maddie stop." Demi's voice interrupted. "Saskia you don't have to come on. I'll wait with you for Maddie to finish."

I nodded, still embarrassed. Why couldn't I just pluck up the courage and go on the ride?

"Mads see you in a minute! Have fun!" Demi said as Maddie climbed into the back seat of the ship. "Let's go watch." Demi reached for my hand and led me back through the queue and to the side of the ride.

It started up and I could distinctively hear Maddie's scream as she got thrown into the air and back to the ground. I honestly don't get the appeal of getting your body thrown around. Demi was laughing, trying to take a photo of Maddie but they kept coming up blurry because of the motion of the ship. She cursed a few times and deleted them, then she clicked on the snapchat app and opened a snap from Marissa. It was of her and her mom. It was cute.

"Selfie for Mar?" Demi asked. Selfie. Ew, I hate them. Firstly, the word is just gross. It just doesn't sound nice at all. Secondly, why would you want photos of yourself on your camera roll? So you can admire yourself all day? I think not... Whoever invented selfies was a self centred asshole who deserves to go die a slow, painful death for alienating society.

However I obliged, toothlessly smiling awkwardly into the camera.

"That's super cute!" Demi gushed. And she did the unthinkable. She saved the photo.

"You better fucking delete that." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. Again I turned a deep shade of crimson. I embarrass myself with my big mouth way too often.

"No, you look cute!" Demi cooed, messing up my hair like I was a little kid. I looked at her, my eyebrows raised. "You can't deny you're cute Saski," she grinned. I shrugged and turned away, focusing on Maddie and the horrific ride again.