Cry Baby (Demi Lovato)

FIVE

Downfalls of rain hammered against the rooftops and windows, while the wind whistled through the trees and brushes, screeching through the streets. Every few seconds, thunder rumbled and lightening spat across the dark skies, lighting up the houses for less than a minute before disappearing again and leaving the carnage in darkness. It was like a nightmare.

When I was a little girl, I'd be petrified of storms and would run into the safe arms of my father. That was one of the only fond memories I clutched on to of him and now when a storm strikes, I shivered in the memory of his name. Of what we once were.

However, the painful memories weren't the worst thing to happen tonight. What had taken it's place was the electrical failure of a power outage, leaving me in the darkness as Hailey and Abigail were out for the night and Mia was M.I.A as usual.

Heading downstairs to find some candles and torches, the scent of cleaning products overwhelmed me from Abi's deep clean yesterday. She had bothered us all day with questions, unsure on what to use and how to do certain things, which made me wonder how she cleaned before. Heading through the almost too shiny tiled flooring of the foyer, I crossed the tiles and went to step down the three small-scale steps, when my foot slid along the floor and I felt myself fall.

Before I could even attempt to keep myself on my feet, there was a crack, an eruption of pain and I was laid across the floor. "FUCK!" Attempting once again, to pull myself up and stand, pain shot through my ankle and I winced, trying to keep tears at bay. There was no way I could stand now.

As I sat there, feeling like someone had thrown an axe through my leg, I heard the footsteps of another person pace down the stairs. Before I could imagine some situation that I'd witnessed in the many crime documentaries I worshipped, I heard the unusually soft voice of Mia. "Hello? Is anybody here?"

"It's me." Voice cracking from the pain that was stinging my body, I held my hand up so she could see me in the darkness. "Demi."

"Why are you on the floor?"

"I don't know. I thought this part of the floor looked so comfy, I just had to lay here." Even through the dark, I knew she was glaring right at me. "I fell, Abi cleaned the floors yesterday and I don't know what with but I- FUCK."

"What's wrong?" I could almost hear the worry in her urgent voice as she rushed towards me.

"My ankle. I can't stand. I think it must have snapped." Her figure moved closer towards me as her footsteps became louder but she didn't reply. "But don't worry, it's fine. I'll wait till the girls get back."

"Let me help you."

"Help me? Are you sure about that?"

"Huh?"

"Mia, you've been a bitch to me ever since I've moved in. It's fine, just because I'm hurt, I don't need you to pity me. You haven't even spoke to me since dinner so you don't have to start right now. You can go."

"I- I can't leave you."

"Yes, you can. Just go." I spat, attempting to calm my breathing from the pain. I almost cried out in pain and screamed for her to come back when she disappeared into the kitchen and left me there. I should have know. I mean I know I told her to go but she could see if was in pain-

Before I could get any more mad, I saw her figure appear once again and this time, she was carrying candles and torches. She worked silently as she set up the candles on the polished floor and lit them with the matches she took from her pocket. "What are you doing?"

"It looks like you're not moving anytime soon." A simple shrug followed. "I should call an ambulance."

"In this storm? Good luck." Ignoring my needless negative comment, she dialled the number and I watched her facial expression go from nervous to helpless.

"No ambulances, they can't get out in the storm and I don't think this quite warrants for an air ambulance."

"It's fine. You can leave, go back to what you were doing."

"I'm not about to leave you. You're hurt."

"So?"

"So, I- I can't do that."

"What difference does it make? I was hurt and I was upset when I first moved in but you treated me like I was so worthless, like I was nothing to you when all I wanted was a friend. Hell, not even a friend! I just wanted a friendly house mate!"

"Demi, I'm trying here. I know I haven't been perfect." Scoffing at her lame attempt to excuse her behaviour, she just sighs. "But I have my reasons. I am sorry for what I did, I shouldn't have but-"

"But nothing. Now please, leave me alone. I'd rather sit in pain alone than sit with you." Edging away from her the best I can with a bone clearly snapped in my leg, she makes no attempt to move and simply crosses her own legs, playing with the hem of her shorts.

Minutes pass and the only noise heard is the furious weather slapping against the side of the windows and walls. Deciding to break the silence, I turn to watch her staring at the floor, a pout firmly set in place as she breathes softly. "Tell me something."

"Huh?"

"Tell me something. Anything. I'm in a lot of pain right now and I need to not concentrate on the broken bone that's about to be sticking out of my leg."

"Okay... um- let me think." She allows a few moments of silence to pass before looking up to me, meeting my eyes. "My real name is Camilla."

"Camilla?"

"Yeah. I was named after my grandma. Camilla means free-born and my parents used to say how much of a free spirit my grandma was. Nothing defied her, she had no limits and that's all they wanted for me. I guess I took that freedom a little too far, considering I ended up here." Smirking at her attempt to ease the tension, she avoids my eyes again, almost embarrassed.

"Why don't you go by Camilla?"

"I-" All of a sudden, she seemed nervous. "I guess I was ashamed." Trying not to let my feelings of surprise known, considering this is the first time I've seen her express any other emotion besides anger, I wait for her to continue. "I didn't deserve to be named after a woman like her so I shortened it to Mia, which coincidentally means rebellion so a lot more fitting."

"I guess so." A light giggle passes my lips, which makes her smirk. "However, you do deserve to be named after your grandma. This doesn't define you and it doesn't make you any less of a person. In fact, it makes you more of one that you're here right now having fought your illness and made it to the other side."

Her dark eyes affix upon my own, softening as she listens to my words. "Thank you." Glistening as they moisten, she takes a deep breath. "That means a lot, especially coming from you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you."

"Why would it mean a lot coming from me? If your behaviour is anything to go on, you don't give a shit about me, never mind my opinion."

"It's just- I- God! There's so much you don't know." Burying her head in her hands, in an attempt to hold herself together as her voice wavers. "Demi, I-"

"You can tell me, Mia." Finding her hand, I intertwine our fingers and squeeze them encouragingly. Her whole persona shifted to one of a timid, even scared, young girl that was hiding something important.

"I can't..." Her voice raised in hysteria, her fingers now clenching against my own. "There is just so much and I-"

"It's okay. Just start from the beginning..."