Danger Signs // Demi Lovato // 4

47. You Never Really Can Fix A Heart

Tess seemed to sleepwalk for the rest of January. She didn't talk much, she didn't eat more than a handful of chips, and was always tired. There were a few times she was more alert, but soon after, she struggled to keep her eyes open.

At the beginning of the month, Demi had to leave for her world tour, informing me and Maia that she had a surprise for us at a later time, but she didn't elaborate. Instead, she questioned if I was okay, and I explained I was just worried about Tess.

The day Demi left, I didn't see Jay, or anyone else. It was a little family day and it was a nice distraction from what Tess was going through after losing Paige.

She had given me my packages that I hid under my bathroom sink, behind some tissue boxes and toilet paper, until I was ready to give them to Jay. She also gave me a series of books, claiming she just didn't want them anymore, and I thought nothing of it.

At Jay's house one weekend, she suggested we steal some alcohol.

"No way. My parents notice that kind of thing," Jay said, loading up a bowl that Tess took.

"Replace the clear ones with water," she replied, shrugging.

"They actually drink the stuff. And then we'd be de-" Jay cut herself off, Tess giving her a harsh look while I glanced back and forth between them. "Rosie, help me out here."

My mouth opened and closed as I quickly tried to come up with something. "I'm sure there's a way we can get some that doesn't involve stealing." I didn't know why I said it, but part of me did want to drink, just to see what my mom saw in it. I had promised myself that if I ever did drink, I wouldn't be like her. I just wanted to try it, at least once.

Jay gave me a look. "Really?" She sighed, running her hands over her hair, the red beginning to fade. Lately she hadn't been straightening it and it looked really cute with her rounded face. "Okay, okay. Let me figure something out."

An hour later, Jordan and Isaiah knocked on the door, walking in before Jay could answer. They each held a brown paper bag, glass bottles tinkling around inside.

Tess jumped up and grabbed a bottle of clear alcohol from the bag Jordan held. "Ooh, cotton candy." That was the happiest I'd ever heard her, even before Paige's death.

"Cotton candy vodka?" Jay asked, looking at the bottle Tess had already opened.

"Yeah, I figured she'd like it," Isaiah said, reaching into his bag. He pulled out a bottle, the liquid inside a pretty shade of amber. I was surprised when he held it out to me. "And I thought you might like this, but feel free to try something else."

I nodded, slowly taking the bottle from him. It was a brand I hadn't seen around my house, Southern Comfort, and Jay noticed my hesitation. But she completely misread it.

"You need help?" She didn't even wait for a response, taking the bottle and pulling the seal off, then twisted the cap off. "This is really cheap whiskey," she said. "I've never had it, though. I prefer Jack when I drink."

"Which is hardly ever," Jordan said, giving her a bottle of Jack Daniels that she took happily. He had bourbon and Isaiah had some cheap rum.

Everyone had taken their first sip, or in Tess's case, her tenth, while I sat on the edge of the bed, open bottle in hand, resting between my legs.

"You good?" Tess asked, waving her bottle around, Jay struggling to take it so it wouldn't spill.

"Yeah, just nervous, I guess."

"You're not gonna get addicted from one sip," Jordan said, rolling his eyes.

"Shut up," Jay said. "But he is kinda right. Just try a little to see if you like it. If you don't, you can try mine."

I nodded slightly, feeling every pair of eyes on me as I raised the bottle to my lips. It tasted smooth at first, but going down my throat burned and I coughed a few times.

"Well, did you like it?" Tess asked, seeming more tired than before.

"I think I like soda more," I said, coughing and laughing, and coughing more from laughing.

Jay took my bottle, capping it after handing me hers.

My mom always seemed to have Jack Daniels around, but I had never tasted it. I raised the bottle to my lips, taking a bigger sip than I had before. It burned going down, but it was a lot better than the first sip of the cheap stuff. We ended up trading, Jay not liking Isaiah's choice of cheap whiskey, and talking as Tess drank her entire bottle in under thirty minutes. Jay gave her the cheap whiskey, and Jay and I shared the Jack, but I didn't drink much of it.

"Got any weed?" Jordan asked his sister once every drop of alcohol was gone.

"Nope. Haven't been able to with the holidays and all that. Hey, whatever happened to my bowl?" Jay asked me.

"Maia and Demi gave it back. I have it. I-I also have your Christmas present, whenever you come over again." It felt weird to say in front of everyone else. It was like they were all wondering what I could have gotten her and Jordan's judgmental stare didn't help the situation.

Tess ended up passed out on the floor, her colorful hair spread out around her head like a fan. Isaiah easily picked her up and took her to a guest bedroom, Jay getting ready to take me home. She slipped on some boots, tucking the laces inside of them.

"Before we go, I have my gift for you." She went to her closet and pulled out a flat, medium sized box. "I would have wrapped it, but I don't know how, so... here." She stuck her arms out and I took the box, sitting on the bed to lift the top off.

Inside was a red dress and black tights. I was pulling the dress out to admire its simple, but beautiful design, when Jay pulled out two more boxes.

"What is this?" I asked, shocked.

"Just an outfit. Here, open it." She gave me the smallest box which contained a black pair of heels and a black clutch. The last one held a leather jacket.

"This is amazing, Jay. Now I feel like you're gonna hate my gift." I chuckled, but I meant it. She came up with an outfit, knowing I'd love it and I basically got her things she already had.

"I'm sure what you got me is awesome and I can't wait to see what it is." She pecked my lips, then helped me get my stuff to her car.

At my house, I called out to Maia that I was home, not even sure if she was home.

In my room, Jay set my boxes on the desk while I went to the bathroom to pull out her gifts. I had put everything in one box, the color-changing pipe inside one of the book boxes.

Jay's expression lit up as she saw me carry the box to her. She wasted no time opening it, her expression dimming when she saw old books.

"Open them," I said, setting the empty box on the floor.

She opened one, and her mouth dropped open. The inside was empty, but I could tell she was happy about her gift now.

Inside the second one was the pipe Maia had found and she quickly hugged it to her chest.

Finally she opened the last book, seeing the clear pipe. Sadness washed over me as Jay's happiness grew.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "I love this so much. Thank you." She set everything down and jumped up to hug me. I hugged her back, not telling her why I was sad about seeing the pipe that Paige was originally supposed to help me get.