Danger Signs // Demi Lovato // 4

19. There's So Much You Need To Know

I tried texting Maia Friday night after she said I could see my friends the next day, but she stopped responding after that one message. Jay kept asking if I would need a ride, and eventually, when I still hadn't heard any signs that there was someone else in the house, I told Jay that Maia was busy and that I would make sure the gate opened for her.

We hung out at Paige's house with Tess and Jordan. Isaiah was busy with family stuff, but he said he'd try to come by. We ordered a few pizzas and watched TV in the living room, since Paige's parents were out of town.

"Don't make a mess," Paige told Jordan with a scowl as he held a napkin to his face.

"Oh, fuck off," he said, voice muffled.

"Jay, do something about your brother."

Jay turned to him and promptly told him not to make a mess in Paige's house. He glared at his sister and left to go to the bathroom. I assumed that's where he was going, anyway. Tess and I watched quietly, not wanting to be involved.

"What's his deal?" Paige asked, lowering the TV's volume by a couple notches.

"No idea. But, it might have something to do with this one," Jay said, sending a smirk my way.

My eyebrows went up. "So he got a runny nose because of me?"

The three girls burst out laughing.

"Not exactly," Jay replied, refilling her soda. Tess offered her cup and Jay filled it up too. "I'm sure he's fine, though. I wouldn't worry about it."

"Yeah, but I really don't want a repeat of last year," Tess remarked with an eyebrow raised.

None of this was making sense, and it made even less sense after Jay assured her, "He's not like that anymore." I wanted to ask what she meant, but Jordan came back, face pale. I noticed dark circles under his eyes and the areas around his nose were red.

"Are you getting sick?" I asked him before I could stop myself.

He sat down, and looked at me through his lashes. "Nah, I'm just not getting a lot of sleep," he said, running his hand over the front of his hair, smoothing it down.

"Too busy daydreaming?" Jay teased, leaning over to flick his knee.

"God, what is wrong with you guys?" He shoved her hand away, hard, but it didn't seem to hurt her. "And I heard what you said," he added, glaring at both Jay and Tess.

They both seemed shocked, but he didn't elaborate further. Instead he asked Jay to borrow the car keys so he could get something. She gave them to him and he went outside, returning the keys to Jay a few minutes later and leaving us alone again.

We started talking again, Jay bringing up the art contest and telling Tess and Paige about the new drawings she had started. She brought her sketchbook with her and began flipping through it to find the drawing, Tess and Paige standing and leaning over for a better look at her other random drawings and doodles.

"Wait, who's that?" Tess asked, placing her hand on a page before Jay could turn it. "Since when do you draw—Rosie?" She cut herself off from saying "people" when she realized who was in the drawing. "This is so cool." She turned it so Paige could see and her mouth dropped open.

"Wow."

"Huh, funny, that's what Rosie said," Jay said quickly, taking the sketchbook back. I saw a slight redness to her cheeks, and she looked around suddenly serious. "Hey, where's Jordan? Figured he'd be back by now."

Paige nodded, walking around the couch. "I'll check on him. I wanna look at that drawing again, though."

Jay showed me and Tess the drawings she had been talking about, which were of random people, with a simple landscape as a background. The doorbell rang and since Paige was gone, Tess went to get it. She came back quickly with Isaiah, a very tired looking Isaiah.

"Hey," he said, plopping down in Jordan's abandoned seat.

"What's up?" Jay asked, closing her sketchbook and setting it next to her.

"Had to go shopping with my mom," he said, words slurring a bit. "She had me walking all over for everything. So many people." He shuddered slightly at the last part. He must have noticed the slightly confused look on my face, because he explained that he suffered from anxiety. "And that's the reason I'm so tired."

Jay's eyes went wide. "Wait, you took your medication before you drove here?"

"Calm down, man. I've been on it since I was, what... fourteen? I know how it affects me."

"That's still dangerous," Tess said, siding with Jay. "You should get some sleep here before you go home. Paige should be fine with it."

"Yeah, where is she, anyway? You send her to her room again cuz she didn't wanna get high?" He grinned, but it went away quickly. "Oh, wait..."

"No, it's fine. Rosie knows, remember?" Jay asked.

"Right," he said, thoughtfully. "So is Jordan here?"

"He went off somewhere and Paige went to find him," Tess said, stacking the two empty pizza boxes on top of each other. She pushed the one that still had a few pieces in it towards Isaiah, who grabbed a piece and began devouring it.

"Probably fucking," he said, mouth full.

"I think we'd hear that," Jay replied. "This house is pretty big, but, well... you two know." She glanced over at me. "Um, don't ask. If you wanna know I'll tell you later, but it's not important."

"Oh, uh, okay," I said, scooting back into the couch cushions.

"Well, what else could they be doing?" Isaiah asked.

"Doesn't she have a boyfriend?" I asked, noticing Jay starting to get up.

"Yeah, but sometimes her judgement is... lacking. For lack of better words," Tess said. "You going to check on them?" she asked Jay.

"Yeah. Just hope to God Isaiah isn't right," she muttered, straightening her top and leaving the room.

"Ten bucks, who wants in?" Isaiah said with a grin.

Tess rolled her eyes, checking her phone.

Isaiah was taking a drink of the soda he just poured when we heard a loud thump from somewhere above us. "Fucking," he said victoriously.

After that, there was a louder thud and Jay's voice yelling, "You fucking idiot!" There were rapid footsteps and her voice again. "Give that to me! Jordan!"

Whatever was going on up there, wasn't what Isaiah claimed, but he stuck by it until he ended up falling asleep on the couch.

"Jeez," I said to Tess. "I can never fall asleep like that."

She shrugged. "Xanax."

God, what was I getting into?