Cry Baby (Demi Lovato)

ONE.

Ok, here we go.

Tyres screeched along the driveway as we drove through the tall, iron gates that cordoned off the sober-living estate, that attempted to fit in with the family homes surrounding it. The house looked like something off an suburban estate, like it had been plucked from Wisteria Lane and placed in the hills of Los Angeles. It was beautiful but not in the kind of way that most of the houses were around this part of town. It wasn't modern, or high-tech or anything of a fancy exterior. The stone walls were white-washed, almost too bright in contrast to the dark roof that took a slight slant. Thankfully the house held enough privacy for me to reside here, away from the prying eyes of the public that prayed to catch even a glance of the ex-Disney star turned drug addict.

"Here you go, Ms Lovato." With a grateful smile at the driver, I chose not to speak a word back. I didn't quite trust my voice at this moment in time. It's been a few weeks since I left rehab officially and became completely sober. I had relapses, I had struggles but I finally felt strong enough to leave the facility and leave the clutches of the home I shared with my sober coach and take the new step in my life. Which is what landed me here, a sober-house share with three other girls that I had never met.

Anxiety that riddled me ever since I was a young girl felt as prominent as ever as I took my luggage from the back of the black SUV and forced my feet to close the distance between myself and the colourful doorway, surrounded by beautiful hanging baskets of plants and vines that intertwined with each other. It almost felt like it was overcompensating for the once dark souls that take residence inside.

Before I could get lost in my thoughts again, the sound of high pitched laugh followed by a feminine scream echoed outside from the open windows. This was it Demi. Just breeze through, introduce yourself and if they turned out to be as awful as I imagined. I could just move. There was other options. 'Focus on the positives, not the what-if's', I could almost hear my therapist lecturing me in my head, repeating the same quotes to get it through my thick skull.

Lifting my dainty knuckles to tap three times on the towering door in front of me, I breathed in and let go on the count of three just as footsteps came closer and the door was swung open. "HI! You must be Demetria!"

Looking up into the inky eyes of the tall, over-enthusiastic girl in front of me, I'm immediately reassured by her friendly smile. "Hi. Yeah, it's Demi."

"Come on in girl! You don't have to knock, this is your home too. Here, let me help you with your bags." She spoke far too quickly, her words jumbled almost as if she had too much to say in such a short amount of time. Her preppy attitude was something I was more than glad for.

"Thank you. I didn't want to just intrude-"

"Don't worry about it. We moved the boxes we received this week up into your room already. I hope that's okay!"

"No, that's amazing. Thank you, um-"

"Oh, silly me! I'm Hailey."

"Well, thank you Hailey."

"Are you feeling up to meeting the girls now or do you want to get settled in first?"

"No, I could go say hi."

"Great. Come through, I'll give you a mini tour after!" Following her through the minimalistic house, I couldn't help but smile. The house felt homely, like their was a lot of love and respect within these four walls and it was exactly what I needed right now. "Hey girls. Come meet Demi!"

"Oh my god, hi!" In a rush of blonde curls, a girl came bouncing over to me and dragged me into her arms. "I'm Abigail, but you can call me Abi!"

"It's nice to meet you. I never imagined the house to be so beautiful."