Danger Signs // Demi Lovato // 4

25. I Was Broken And Bruised

Later that day, at Paige's, Tess sat in one chair, Paige in another, while Jay and I shared the smaller couch. I had my legs over Jay's and she gently rubbed my leg and knee through my jeans.

"Ew, you're so cute," Paige teased, and stuck her tongue out at us with her eyes tightly shut.

Tess chuckled, sitting sideways in the chair so her legs dangled over the arm. "For real, like, get a room."

Jay rolled her eyes, smiling. "If your boyfriend was ever here, you'd do the same thing," she said to Paige.

Paige shot Jay a finger gun. "You got me there. But you guys took forever to get together. It's, like, sickening that it took so long, and the fact that you're so freaking cute." She groaned. "I'm just so happy, I can't take it."

I laughed, having forgotten Paige was seeing someone. She never talked about him, and I didn't even know his name. So, I started asking.

She seemed shocked that I did, and I had no idea why. It made me feel like I'd done something wrong, and from the looks Tess and Jay gave me, those feelings turned into an actual thought that maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

Paige cleared her throat, not looking at anyone when she said, "His name's Sean. We've been together since May, or June." She furrowed her brow, trying to remember.

"It was June," Jay said. "Forgetful much?" she teased, probably to get back at her for her teasing us.

"Yeah, actually. It's a problem." Paige leaned forward in her chair, with a very come at me kind of vibe coming from her. Jay acted like she was about to sit up straight, but Paige flopped back against her chair in defeat.

"Why is he never around?" I asked, ignoring the fact that I was probably walking in a landmine.

Paige visibly gulped. "He's never gotten along with everyone. Mostly Jordan. And Isaiah."

"And me," Tess and Jay said at the same time.

Paige obviously heard them, but she didn't respond.

Jay turned her head towards me. "Sean's an asshole. And that's putting it lightly."

"He's not. You all just want to hate him," Paige said defensively.

I saw Tess roll her eyes, but Paige didn't with how Tess was sitting. "Whatever you wanna believe. He's hit on both of us while you weren't around and he always tries to fight Jordan and Isaiah."

Paige's mouth opened and closed as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say. She huffed and finally responded. "It's called sparring."

This time Jay rolled her eyes, not hiding it either. "Yeah, because 'sparring' ends with three people in the hospital." She put air quotes around the word "sparring" and rolled her eyes when she was done talking.

My eyes went wide. "What?"

"Yeah," Jay said with a sigh. "Sean wanted to spar, and he, Isaiah, and Jordan all ended up in the hospital. Broken arm, sprained ankle, and broken hand and fractured wrist." She shot a glance at Paige, who ignored her. "He has some personal vendetta against Jordan." Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, Paige pushing up the sleeves of the hoodie she was wearing.

Tess turned her head, then turned all the way so she was sitting normally again. "Paige, what's that on your arm?" She pointed, and from across the wooden table, I could see a blue tint to Paige's wrist.

Jay looked up, leaning forward, holding onto my legs. "Did Sean do that to you?"

Paige hastily covered her arms. "Can you guys do something besides criticize my relationship?" she snapped.

Jay and Tess both jumped back a little, and I was the one who spoke next. "That's not a relationship. Not if he's hurting you."

Paige stared at me, holding her wrist.

"My birth mom was in several abusive relationships. She tried to leave the last one, but he killed her. That's why I got adopted by Demi and Maia. It's not too late."

Three pairs of eyes stared at me in shock. Paige was the first to look away, into her lap, and then she started crying. Tess quickly moved to hug her and Jay and I joined.

After a long time, Paige composed herself and thanked me. Then practically begged for the subject to be changed while she dabbed at her nose with a tissue, her blue-green makeup now running down her cheeks, mixing with her black liner.

"Well, I got a text from Jordan," Jay said. "Rosie, he said he wants to apologize to you. You don't have to-"

"Yeah," I said. "Just as long as you're there."