Chances That You're Burning Through

Original | Chapter Seven

The car ride is silent. I have no idea where we're going, but-by the way Demi is clenching the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles are white, and how Wilmer is shooting her worried glances from the passenger seat-I probably don't want to know. I don't dare ask where we're going, for fear of angering Demi further, but my curiosity is starting to get the better of me. To direct my attention elsewhere, I stare out the window, watching the world go by. I see a bald man walking his Dalmatian, two small children helping their mother bring in groceries from a SUV, and a older woman watering flowers. Why is it that everyone else looks happy while I'm a mental wreck? We finally park outside a mansion of a house. It might even be larger than Demi's. Demi shuts the car off, but makes no move to get out. Wilmer seems as if he wants to say something. Demi rolls her eyes with an irritated sigh. 

"Let's get this over with," She mutters, opening her door and stepping out of the vehicle.

I follow her lead and hover in the background, too scared to say anything, let alone get in the way. I don't know why she's mad, all I know is that she is. Following Demi's silent orders, we all stand so the car is blocking our view of the house.

"I want you three to act extremely well, okay? Mommy hasn't seen these people in a while, so that's why they invited us to dinner," Demi explains, smoothing down Bri's wild head of hair. 

Each of us girls silently nod. Demi weakly smiles, intertwining her fingers with Wilmer's and leading us to the front door like a line of ducklings. Demi rings the doorbell, and seconds later a woman with brown eyes and curly black hair greets us with a beaming grin.

"Demi, I thought you guys wouldn't make it!" She exclaims, engulfing Demi in a hug.

"Hi, Denise," Demi weakly greets, ignoring Denise's comment.

"Come in! Come in!" She excitedly commands, ushering us into her home. 

We gather in the living room where a man with black hair and glasses is sitting in a recliner.

"Hello, Paul," Demi greets with a small wave.

He rises from his chair and hugs Demi. He shakes hands with Wilmer, bumps fists with Rebecca, and ruffles Bri's hair. He seems like an okay kind of guy. He then notices me. 

"Who's this?" He wonders. 

"That's-" Demi starts to introduce me, but the sound of whooping, hollering, and footsteps cuts her off. 

"Demetria!" 

Suddenly, three guys charge into Demi, almost knocking her over. One of the guys picks her up and spins her around.

"Nick, put me down you jerk!" Demi laughs. 

He returns her to the ground and she playfully punches his shoulder. 

"Ow," He feigns hurt. 

She sticks her tongue out at him. I'm in shock as I realize that I'm standing in the home of the parents of Joe, Nick, Kevin, and Frankie Jonas. Holy shit! 

"Jerk?" Kevin wonders with an arched eyebrow. 

"You can't use too colorful language around a seven year old," Demi smirks.

"I'm almost eight!" Bri defends.

Demi chuckles, but doesn't say anything.

"Who's the girl?" Frankie questions, causing all eyes to turn to me. 

My face warms as I lower my gaze to the floor, shuffling my feet nervously. Demi's high heels enter my vision as her fingertips graze my chin, lifting my head up.