Crash and Burn

24. Shatter

Warning: Mentions of drug use and drinking.

Three weeks passed since Demi and I became official and things couldn't have been going any better. I stood in of the mirror doing the finishing touches for my make up before heading to my graduation, which was happening today. Demi was due to go back on the road next week but I couldn't be more excited that she was going to watch me walk across the stage and get my degrees. "You ready babe?" I looked over and my jaw dropped. Demi was dressed in a figure hugging baby blue dress, paired with a black blazer and killer black heels. "You look gorgeous," I walked over to her and pulled her into my arms. If I kissed her now, I would be hearing for hours how I ruined her make up. "Thanks babe. So do you." She wrapped her arms tighter around me and I breathed in her scent. "Alex! You're going to be late if you don't get your ass down right now!" I rolled my eyes as Demi chuckled when we heard Mel's voice.

I smiled as I looked over the mass crowd that gathered in the auditorium, spotting Mel and Demi immediately. It wasn't hard to see them at all. Demi wanted to blend in so she brought along her trusty leather baseball cap, which did not match her outfit at all and made her stick out like a sore thumb instead. I let out a giggle when I saw that Demi had her phone out and was clearly taking pictures of me while Mel waved excitedly. My parents weren't here, but then again, when were they ever? "Alexandra Johnson." I straightened my shoulders when I heard my name and walked up the steps, shaking hands with the dean and taking a quick picture before walking off the stage, trying to hold in the laughter that was threatening to burst out when I heard Mel's obnoxious cheers over the crowd.

"Congratulations baby!" Demi threw herself into my arms and I felt Mel's arms wrap around us in a group hug. "I'm so proud of you." She stood up on her toes to give me a long kiss, pouring her love in the one simple action. "Why don't we all go out to somewhere nice for lunch? Alex's treat." I glared at Mel and she smiled innocently at me before subtly giving Demi's hand a squeeze. I knew that food was still a problem for her and it broke my heart. "I'm sorry but I can't. I have a meeting to get to and Max is already waiting for me outside." I looked over at Demi pleadingly, making sure that the disappointment was clear in my eyes. We were supposed to spend the day together. "I'll see you for dinner tonight and we can have a movie night, just the two of us at my place. How does that sound?" Demi was clearly feeling torn about having to leave so I just sucked it up and nodded, shooting her a smile. "Of course babe. I'll see you later." I gave her another kiss and watched her walk out the doors.

"What you working on?" I looked up and saw Mel walk into my music room as I sat in front of the piano. "Demi's asking me to help her out with a song. She has a melody and a few chord progressions in mind so I'm just trying them out and see if I can tweak it to make it sound smoother." Mel's eyes shone with excitement as she grabbed a chair and pulled it beside the piano. "Can I hear it?" I shrugged and looked through my phone for the file that Demi sent me, letting the gentle melody of the song play in the form of Demi's humming. "Wow. Sounds somber." I shrugged and continued playing the chord progression that I found best suited the song. "I'm sure it'll be beautiful. She has the lyrics but she won't let me hear it." Mel hummed in response, knowing not to start up a conversation when I was playing music and sat beside me as I ran my fingers over the piano fluidly.

"You should go surprise her, you know. She's going on tour again soon and you guys have barely been spending any time together." I looked over at Mel and gave her suggestion a thought. "What about you?" Mel put down the now empty pint of ice cream on the table and shrugged. "We went to Joe's after we left the school and ate a whole pint of ice cream to celebrate your graduation. It's not like I haven't spent any time with you and besides, you're going to be around a lot when she's on tour so I'll just see you then." I beamed and tightly wrapped my arms around her. "Thanks Mel. You're the best."