But I'm Different (A Demi Lovato Fanfiction)

Chapter: Wheels in Motion

"Sab, c'mon! We are gonna be late!" Demi's voice echoed through the house, dramatic and panicked in the way only she could be.

"I'm just making a checklist!" I yelled back, scribbling the last few things into my notepad.

She groaned from downstairs. "Okay, hurry!"

Today was the start of the Unbroken Tour. And yeah, I was packing for it. Me. Going on a full-blown music tour with Demi Lovato. Never thought I'd say that out loud. But here we are.

"Clothes? Check. Chargers? Check. Emotional support stuffed teddy? Big check."

I zipped the suitcase closed with a loud shhhp, hoisted it up like it weighed a hundred pounds (which it practically did), and made my way downstairs. Everyone was already ready and standing near the tour buses with their suitcases neatly lined up like soldiers.

"Finally!" Demi grinned, clapping her hands as she saw me.

I stuck my tongue out and boarded Bus A with her. There were three buses total-ours had Demi, me, other performers, and a few of her close friends. Bus B was for the music crew, and Bus C for the stylists, managers, etc. It sounded chaotic, but weirdly, it all made sense.

"Is everyone ready?!" Demi shouted like a rockstar.

A collective "HELL YEAH!" exploded through the bus and people started cheering.

I grabbed the bottom bunk, not because I was scared of heights or anything-okay, maybe a little-but mostly because I liked hearing the wheels on the road at night. That soft, rolling hum always helped me fall asleep. It made things feel safe. Predictable. Kind of like a heartbeat I could trust.

Once we were rolling, I curled up in bed with my laptop, snacks, and one foot sticking out of the blanket for temperature balance. I was full-on in relaxation mode. I knew this was probably the calm before the storm, so I was soaking it all in while I could.

Demi appeared suddenly in front of me. "Hey, Sabster."

"Hey."

"You good?" She brushed some hair out of my face like it was second nature now.

"Yeah. Just chilling."

"Alright. I'll be in my room if you need me."

The last few days had been... different. In a good way.

Ever since The Ellen Show, everything changed. Like, everything.

People online were being nice. Like, weirdly nice. Supportive. Kind. I even got a DM from someone saying, "I have mirror-touch synesthesia too. Thought I was crazy until you said it out loud. Thank you."
That message? It stayed with me.

Turns out, a lot more people have it than I thought. They just never had the words. Or the space. Or the guts to talk about it.

I guess I gave them that. Somehow. And the truth is, telling Demi about it first-confessing it out loud-was probably the bravest thing I'd ever done. She could've laughed, could've ignored it. But she didn't. She held me. She listened. And now the rest of the world kinda was too.

Funny how one moment changes everything.

Our first stop was Detroit, Michigan. Thirty-something hours on the road. Which was fine by me. I loved long road trips-the music, the pit stops, the late-night chats, the smell of weird gas stations that all somehow feel the same. It was peaceful in a chaotic kind of way.

As the night came in, I pulled my blanket tighter around me and buried myself next to my teddy, earbuds in, playing some soft rock. I fell asleep to the rhythm of the tires, dreaming about stages and cities I'd never been to.

I woke up the next morning to the smell of omelettes.

I dragged myself out of my bunk, hair messy and eyes barely open, and followed the smell to the small kitchen space in the bus.

"Morning, Sab." Demi greeted me with a croaky voice and a sleepy smile.

"Morning," I mumbled, still half-dreaming.

"I made your favorite," she said, sliding the plate toward me.

"You're spoiling me," I grinned, already shoving food into my mouth like I hadn't eaten in weeks.

Later that afternoon, we pulled over for a break. Everyone was up for it-and Demi practically demanded we get Starbucks. No one argued. Coffee was sacred on tour.

"Bree, let's go!" Demi called, using yet another one of her many random nicknames for me.

Yeah, she'd been calling me everything under the sun-Sabster, Bree, Light Saber, Sabotage, and last week she even tried Sabri-yonce. I told her to stop. She didn't.

"I'm coming!" I shouted, throwing on my shoes. "Was just vibing in my own head."

"You do that a lot," she laughed, grabbing my hand as we headed inside.

After an unnecessary number of laps around the mall (Demi can shop like it's an Olympic sport), we made it back to the bus. There were still 17 hours left until Detroit, and the post-Starbucks crash was hitting hard.

"Sabotage," Demi mumbled sleepily from the couch.

"Yes?"

"Will you sleep with me tonight? My bed feels huge and cold without you," she pouted.

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you need me for warmth?"

"Yes. That. And comfort. And because I like you."

I laughed, "Alright. Let me brush my teeth first."

Later that night, I jumped into her bed in my comfiest PJs.

"Hey Sabby," she said, setting her phone down and turning to face me.

"Hey," I yawned, snuggling under the duvet.

She poked my nose and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Mimi," I whispered.

"What?" she said, eyes flying back open with a laugh.

"Well, since you insist on giving me weird nicknames, I'm giving you some too."

"Mimi? Really?"

"Yup."

She laughed even harder. "Okay, okay. Fair's fair."

We both settled in, and just as I was about to drift off, I felt her wrap her arms around me.

"Goodnight, Sabertooth Tiger. I love you."

I smiled sleepily. "I love you too, mummy."

I felt her tense slightly, like she wasn't sure she heard me right. I opened one eye and looked at her.

"I didn't mean to make it weird," I said quietly. "If it's too soon-"

"No, sweetie," she interrupted, her voice soft and cracked with emotion. "It's not too soon. It's perfect. You can call me that whenever you want."

I nodded and curled into her chest. She kissed the top of my head, and I could feel the quiet tears she tried to blink back.

In that moment, wrapped in her arms, heart full, body still...
I didn't feel like the girl who used to hide from the world.

I felt like someone who belonged.