Forever and Always

Chapter 26

Dani's POV

I dragged myself down into the kitchen at 5:30 in the morning. I had to take Gabby to daycare in the morning which took an extra 30 minutes out of my sleep schedule so I could still get ready and to school on time and I still wasn't used to it.

"Morning," Dad greeted me. He stood at the counter and poured coffee into his mug. I groaned in response and he smiled. "Gabby was good last night?"

"Yeah," I answered, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. "We stayed up a little late so she might be a bit tired today."

"Dani, how many times do I have to tell you, she needs to get enough sleep. She gets cranky."

"I know, but in my defense she keeps giving me those fucking puppy eyes."

I walked over, stole his coffee, and sat at the island. Dad snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Good morning, everyone," Sara walked in and gave me a bright smile. I curled my lip back at her then looked at my coffee.

"Morning, sweetie," Dad said to her and they gave each other a kiss.

"Dani, do you want me to make you any breakfast?" Sara asked.

"Not hungry."

"Did you eat dinner?"

"What's it matter to you?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her glance at my dad. Then she sat on the stool across from me.

"You know you're father and I were talking last night and we're worried about you. Do you want to talk to us about something?"

I curled my lip back again and glared at her, really the only look I gave her. "Shut up, you sound like you're trying to be my mother."

"Dani!"

"Danielle!"

The two shouts came at the same time. My father and Demi. I looked at the doorway where she stood with her arms crossed. Dad and Sara turned their stunned eyes on her too.

"That is absolutely no way to speak to someone who's showing concern for you," she scolded and my jaw dropped. "Apologize."

"What the hell, is everyone acting like my mother today? Shall we get Gabby down here too?"

Demi raised her eyebrows at me. I met her challenging gaze until I gave up and sighed.

"Fine, whatever. I'm sorry," I muttered and looked back down.

"Good, now good morning," she walked over, sat down, and kissed my cheek.

"Demi Lovato, um," Sara struggled for words, "w-why are you...didn't you guys...were you here all night? In Dani's room? With Gabby?"

"If you're about to start thinking that I had sex in the same room with my little sister, you really must be stupid," I scoffed. "Ow!" I called as Demi smacked my shoulder and glared at her.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Me? You're the on that hit me!"

"You're being rude!"

"I don't have respect for a woman who broke up my family and knew she was doing it," I glared at Dad's finace when I finished my sentence. She seemed completely unfazed as this has become my routine attitude whenever she was around.

"You're worse than usual," Dad spoke up and narrowed his hard eyes at me. "What's going on?"

I needed a drink, that's what was wrong. I looked at the coffee in my cup and swirled it around. Then I got up without a word and head to the stairs. Liana and I had found a great way to hide alcohol over the few weeks; in a shampoo bottle and put it behind other hair products and makeup that I kept under the sink in the bathroom. Desperate? Yes, maybe a little, but sometimes I needed it.