Skyscraper // Demi Lovato // 5

16.

Within the next few days, Maia and Demi both came to me for advice, or just to get away, which was usually the case for Maia.

From what they told me, they didn't talk or text to let the other know where she was, so this caused a lot of awkward encounters in the hall outside the apartment and sometimes inside. Jay and I would roll our eyes as the two stuttered and stumbled through their explanations as to why they were there.

Jay and I spent some time with them and Mara at the house and the silence between Demi and Maia was frustrating and suffocating. Demi would flit around, making sure Mara was okay and asking me and Jay if we needed anything. She knew if we wanted a drink or a snack that we would get it, but she was adamant about not being near Maia for too long.

However, one night, we decided to have a movie night. Jay and I made bowls of popcorn, one for us, one for Demi and Mara, and one for Maia. Maia had picked the movie, which was a new Conjuring type movie that was based on true events. No matter how much anyone hated horror, it was something everyone wanted to see.

Jay and I were on the loveseat with a soft blanket over our legs, popcorn between us. Demi and Mara were cuddled close with their popcorn on the bigger couch, Maia huddled into the arm on the other side. She looked more scared to be near them than she did at a jump scare in the movie.

As it turned out, the movie wasn't as scary as all the trailers had made it seem, which I think all of us had expected, but there were a few scenes that caused some screams and jumps of terror. When it was done, Jay and I took the bowls to empty the kernels out and Demi switched from the DVD player to regular TV.

"No!" Mara screamed, Jay jumping and dropping the plastic bowl.

"Jesus," she whispered to me.

"What's wrong?" Demi asked. I looked to see that the TV was off and Demi had a hand on Mara's shoulder. The fear that had been so clear in her voice was almost nonexistent on her face.

She just shook her head and scooted back until Demi's hand dropped to her side. "I-I just have a headache and the lights were hurting my eyes," she mumbled.

Jay had her eyebrows furrowed as we cleaned out the bowls and dried them before putting them back in the cabinet.

"Oh, well, um, we have some headache pills. Come on," Demi said, guiding Mara up. She stopped at the stairs as Demi came into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. They both went upstairs and Jay followed me back to the living room, finding that Maia hadn't moved.

"Well, this has been, uh, an experience."

"You can say that again," Maia said, sitting up straight.

Knowing that Jay would probably take it literally to try to ease the tension we all felt, I spoke up. "What channel was it on?"

"I don't know, but it was the nightly news," Maia said, staring at the black screen. "And there weren't flashing lights, from what I could see."

Jay shot a glance at me and I shrugged. I knew Mara was weird, but this was a new level of weird. Why was she lying about having a headache? What reason would she even have?

Maia yawned and a moment later Jay yawned.

"I guess you two should get home. I have to be at a photoshoot at nine tomorrow," Maia said, standing and straightening the pillows as Jay made sure she had everything she came with.

"Goodnight, Maia," I said, waiting until she was done to give her a hug.

"More like good luck," she replied, trying to laugh as she walked us to the door.