Double The Trouble

Chapter 25

Lilyana

"Logan? Are people looking at us weird?" He looked up from whatever on his phone had him grinning from ear to ear, "It's not just me, right?" He tightened the grip he had on his phone.

"What the HELL are you all staring at?" He snapped. "GET MOVING!" He yelled as he laid his arm on my shoulders. "No one's gonna hurt you here, I promise." I melted into his side, as he walked me to class.

"Do-do you think it-it's gonna start again?" His eyes looked into my gentle blue ones softly, compassion and sympathy lied beneath his calm green orbs. "The bul-bullying?" I shut my eyes, while a subtle panic attack took over.

"Hey, breathe with me, please." He pulled me into a tight embrace, his hand on the small of my back. "Do you need me to call mom?" I shook my head fiercely.

"I-I-I'll b-be fin-ne," I spoke while trying to catch my breath.

"Here you have me, Ax, mom, dad, Aunt Chelsea, Evie, and Ash, we have so much family here, you aren't alone. I promise you." I laid my head on his chest. The ring of the second bell sounded in the crowded hallway. "Let's get you to class, before either of us are late."

As I approached my seat, I noticed the desk next to mine was blatantly open, no one dared to stand near it. As I neared my desk, I stopped to talk to the other yet oddly shy seventh grader, that would talk to me occasionally, in all my classes, "Hey, Gertrude." She smiled up at me. "Is it okay if I call you Trudy?" She simply nodded.

"That's cool with me." I took my seat behind her,

"Have you seen Axle, today?" I asked desperately.

"No, I actually haven't. Sorry." She nervously chuckled.

"I um, brought him breakfast, and since he isn't here, I was wondering if you'd like it? I made it with my mom, she's come a long way in the cooking field." She gladly accepted, opening up the Tupperware, taking a bite of the breakfast sandwich, I prepared.

"It's great, I guess she isn't half bad as she used to be." I shot her a confused look. "My older sister, Gwendolyne, used to be obsessed." I smiled sweetly at her as our teacher walked in a few minutes after the bell.

"Good morning my beautiful little boys and girls. I hope you guys are ready for this project! WE'RE GONNA EACH WRITE A SONG OF OUR OWN." Her excitement suddenly came crashing down. "Why isn't anyone half as excited as I am?" She scrunched up her face in a way that reminded me of my mom.

"Is just an assignment Ms. Kennedy." Zola, one of the eighth graders with a slick mouth, spoke up.

"Actually, it isn't just an assignment, it's a method of self expression, I want you guys to dedicate your songs to someone or write about yourself, a rough time in your life, something good." I nodded jotting some ideas down. "And since it's Friday, I hope to see some progress by Monday because your projects are due on Wednesday, when we start presentations."

"Yo Miss, this project isn't fair! Not all of us have foster parents who are Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas!" Orion Ives, yet another 8th grader, who hates my guts, that I've never told Logan about, always finds a way to pick at me.

"Orion!" Our teacher warned him.

"They're my mom and dad not my foster parents." I rebuttaled.

"They didn't have you-"

"ORION THAT IS ENOUGH!" Ms. Kennedy spoke up again.

"They love me the same way so why does it matter!?" I snapped.

"You're one of us pretending to be one of them, they don't love you, you're beneath them, you sell out." Tears brimmed my eyes, threatening to fall.

"ORISON, OUT NOW!" I dropped my head onto my notebook, letting my tears smudge the ink. I pulled my phone out, opening up my mom's messages.

'You love me! Right?'

My thumb hesitantly hovered over the send button. My mom loves me, my dad loves me, I'll show them that they love me. I broke out into a fit of sobs before I grabbed my things and rushed out the classroom.

I deleted the message, I'd never send to my mom, and forged the courage to ring my aunt. Once she didn't answer for the second time, I decided to send her my distress signal.

':((( help.'

Demi

My mind had been racing all day, from whatever Chelsea has been hiding from me, to this aching feeling I have in the pit of my stomach, to that damn text I don't understand.

"Demi?" My eyes locked with my little sister. "Di-did I do something wrong? I-I'm so sorry." I ran my fingers through my hair, I was frustrated. I wish she wasn't so afraid to talk to me.

"No you didn't baby, it's just... what are you hiding from me? There was a time when we could speak through body language and glances." I uttered.

"That was also a time when you didn't have a daughter to look after, Demi!" She confessed wholeheartedly, her voice sounding defeated. 

"Is that what this is about? You don't like Lilyana?" I asked confused.

"No, Demi, I love Lilyana. It's just.. you have a daughter that needs you. You have someone else to look over and after, I can't- no I won't burden you with my problems." She slumped down in the couch.

"Chelsea, you aren't burdening me! I am here for you, you're my little sister and I won't let you go without a fight. I need you to understand that, you can always talk to me." She wiped a falling tear.

"Look, it's time for you to pick up the kids and I should probably get back to campus." She picked up her keys B-lining for the door.

"But- CHELSEA!" I called after her.

"I love you, ok?" I opened my mouth to speak. "So much Demi." She spoke as her voice cracked, walking backwards to her car.

Everything in me wanted to chase after her, I just knew something was up, but it was actually time to get the kids.

As I drove to Logan and Lilyana's school my mind was racing, before I knew it, I was parked outside of the school.

Pulling my shades down from the top of my head onto the bridge of my nose, I stepped outside of my vehicle. I leaned against the passengers door, patiently waiting for the bell to ring

The moment the bell sounded, I saw my precious little girl fly out the front doors and into my arms.

"Mommy!" She cried out onto my chest frantically.

"Yes, baby girl what's wrong?" Her breathing began to pick up. "Hey, hey, hey, calm down and tell mommy what happened. I'm right here, whatever it is can't hurt you anymore."

"They-they said..." I ran my fingers through her hair, gently massaging her scalp.

"They said what, baby girl?"

"They said that you aren't my mom, that you don't love me. But- but- but you love me right? Right?" I kissed her forehead.

"Whoever said that is a dumb ass, because I love you so much, I love you if you were my own. Because you are mine and no one else's, do you understand me? I. Love. You." I embraced her tightly, I love her so much, I love them both. Can't they ever just catch a break?

-

Happy 23rd birthday Demi, I love her so much. She is growing up so fast, I remember being 9 sitting in front of a computer screen, watching her talk about her 16th birthday on YouTube. :(

Anyone remember her 17th birthday dance video? Or her 21st birthday trip to Africa? Lol, a trip down memory lane.