Demi Lovato Imagines

Birthday Present

TW

13th July 2010

"Y/n, sweetheart? I'm going to run you a bath when your dad and I get back from picking up your cake, okay?"

"'kay!"

"Demi will keep an eye on you while we're out. Don't bother her."

"'kay."

"We won't be long. Behave."

"O--kay!" you shout, making it obvious you were listening and weren't stupid. You're turning eight tomorrow! So why do they still treat you like a six-year-old?

You can see your pile of birthday presents tucked away behind the cabinet from where you're lying on the floor. If you wanted to, you could go over and pick one out, tear the corner of the wrapping, find out what you're getting. But that would ruin the surprise. You like surprises. And besides, Demi could come down and see you. She is still in her bad mood so you know she would definitely tell on you.

You've been waiting weeks and weeks for her to stop being in her bad mood. Mommy says it's just because she's a teenager but you know that's not true. Lara has a big sister as well and her's isn't the same as your big sister. Her big sister doesn't sneak out through Lara's bedroom window after everyone has gone to bed. Her big sister doesn't hide little plastic bags in Lara's jean pockets so that Lara's mommy doesn't find them.

In the playground, Lara said her big sister is mean as well, sometimes. You told her your big sister is mean all the time.

Lara didn't say anything after that.

Bored, you drum rhythms into the ground with your fingers, your back prickling from the rough carpet you're lying on. Like you're lying on a bed of hedgehogs. Or nettles. But you don't want to move.

Not even when the doorbell rings.

A slam of a door above you.

A thunder of footsteps running downstairs.

Demi strides through the living room, heading straight for the front door. There aren't separate rooms downstairs. It used to be just your dad's house but now it's everyone's. So mommy says. And so everyone can see what everyone else is doing. That's how you know Demi must have seen you lying on the floor. That's how you know she's still ignoring you.

You hear her open the door, laughing loudly at whatever is on the other side of it. And then you hear Nick's voice. You like Nick. He's nice to you. He doesn't ignore you even though Demi tells him to.

"Hey, Y/n," he smiles as they both walk back into the house. Lifting yourself onto your elbows, you speak as loudly as you can.

"Mommy says you're not allowed to have friends over."

"I don't care what mom says, mind your own business," Demi rolls her eyes, examining her nails instead of looking at you properly.

But you're looking at her properly. You are looking at her long, black hair you wish you had. You're looking at her skinny body you would die for. You're looking at the dark patches under her eyes as if she's been playing with your face painting set.

You wonder if you should have asked for another one for your birthday.

By the time you've thought about whether you would have enough birthday money to buy one yourself, Demi and Nick have disappeared. You can still hear them though, going up the stairs.