The Consequence of a Dream

Ch. 9

Demi's pov

It's not even 4 pm before I become aware how tired Phoenix is. The bags under her eyes are darker today than they usually are and nothing but exhaustion is written on her face.

I turn my head to Phil, "I need to take Phoenix back to the hotel." I say.

He looks at the 14 year old before turning his head back to me, "She's tired now and the tour hasn't even started." He points out.

"She'll be able to do it, she just hasn't been getting enough sleep. It's a lot to-"

"Demi, you're not taking care of her and I'm making that clear now. She's your opening act, not your little sister or daughter. She needs to take care of herself and if she can't, then she'll go home. I didn't agree for a teenager who needs someone to tell her when to go to sleep, to come on this tour." He warns.

I roll my eyes, "Ok so what am I supposed to do with her right now? How am I supposed to work if my opening act is asleep on the floor? Just let me take her to the hotel room so she can rest and I can finish everything else you want me to do. If you want her to do better tomorrow, she needs sleep." I say.

"Fine, take her to the hotel but you are to come right back here. She can fend for herself in a locked hotel room." He rolls his eyes.

I walk over to Phoenix you who's sitting on the concrete floor of the arena and kneel to her level, "There's a bit of a change in plans. I have to take you back to the hotel and I have to do a meeting with Phil and Nick alone afterwards." I say.

I hate lying to her, but at the same time I know it's for the best. I don't want her to feel guilty about being tired or feel at blame. So I know this is the best way to handle it.

"Ok." She says.

She stands up and I make eye contact with Max who gets the hint somethings up and walks over to me, "We need to get back to the hotel room." I say.

"Alright." He says not questioning it.

Max being Max managers to make it happen and once we get to the room I look at Phoenix as she sits on the bed, "Alright hopefully I won't be much longer, I hate the idea of leaving you alone in a hotel room. While I'm gone I want to you try and eat something along with shower so you get that out of the way." I say.

"It's fine, my dad leaves me at home all the time. I'll be fine, don't worry. Take as long as you have to."

The comment doesn't really sit well with me. Why does he leave her alone all the time? He hasn't called or texted her once since she left and it is only proving that the relationship they have isn't a good one. It's leading me to believe that he neglects her and does abuse her. The way Phoenix reacts to things isn't normal. There's had to have been abuse at some point I'm putting all bets on her dad.

"Alright well, if anything changes, you have my number. Don't be afraid to use it." I say.

"Ok."

"And lock the door behind me, I've got a hotel key. But when you're in here alone I don't want that door unlocked." I say.

"Yes ma'am."

"Ok, I'll see you when I get back." I sigh.

She gives me a small nod before I walk out of the hotel room. I meet Max in the hallway, "What was that about?" He asks.

"What was what about?"

"You brought her back." He points out.

"She's tired." I say.

"There's more to it. You meet so many fans and kids in hospitals and don't have this much emotional attachment to them." He says.

"Things just aren't adding up and I'm a bit worried about her." I say.

"What do you mean by that?" He asks.

"Her dad was not really wanting her to come because he didn't like the idea of not getting to see her. But we're a week away and he hasn't called or texted her once. She flinches when you hug her. She is tense when you sit beside her. She can't make eye contact with ease. She addresses everyone as ma'am or sir, even her father. When I was shown her room there was blood on the carpet that she claimed was pen ink. But there was what looked like bullet holes right where her bed was. The only thought I have is what if her father tried to kill her while she was sleeping? What if she is abused. A child doesn't react the way she does without trauma or abuse. She won't even sleep with me around her. She won't even eat with me around her. She'll eat if I turn my head or am not looking, but that's it. It's not normal. So yes, I am concerned. Yes I feel protective over her." I say.

"Has she told you anything about her life?" He asks.

"Not anything other than her mom died at birth." I say.

"And do you believe that?"

"She really doesn't know who her mom is, so I think her mom did die when she was very young. But I don't know if I believe she died at birth. That may have been what she's been told, but I'm not sure I fully belive that. If there's gun shots in her wall and blood on her carpet, what if he just killed her mom? He could've." I say.

"You don't think your thinking too extreme?" He asks.

"No, I don't."

If I knew her fathers name, I'd have background checks run excessively on him until I find even one thing it him that he's done wrong. But I never did learn what his name was. I don't think asking Phoenix what her fathers name is, is a good idea either.

"Well, you better not let Phil see that you care so much about her. I'm sure he'll kick her off the tour as quickly as he can if he does. He doesn't want any distractions in your life. I'm sure if he could've, he'd have broken you and Wilmer up a lot sooner."

I turn my head to him sending him a warning glare at the sensitive subject. I wasn't expecting to break up with Wilmer 20 days before my tour, but it happened. So it still such a fresh wound. Hearing his name makes my heart ache, but discussing the break up makes it bleed. I loved him, I'll always love him. I wouldn't have spent 6 years of my life with him if I hadn't.

"Sorry." He apologizes.

"Look I know what Phil wants, he's already warned me if she can't take care of herself then she's going home. Phoenix isn't an easy child to take care of and right now she trusts me none. So I can't help her even if I wanted to. It'll take time and I hope in 4 months time that she'll trust me, but I don't know. It's clear there's been a lot of trauma in her life." I say.

He shrugs, "The thing with you is if you care about something a lot, you don't ever stop or give up on it. It sounds like you care about her a lot. So I don't think you'll stop until you know the truth and have helped her. But the other thing with you is that you're good with kids. So I doubt Phoenix will be able to just push you away for 4 months."

"She May with the past she has. If you're abused, trust doesn't come easy to you. Especially not when your with a complete stranger." I say.

"You won't be a stranger in 4 months or even one month."

I want to have hope that I can help Phoenix and find out her story, but something in me tells me that it just won't happen. She has her guard up. She's got a walk built tall and thick. It's not going to be easy to get her to talk by any means. Me getting her to open up to me will be the biggest challenge I've been given so far. But everything happens for a reason.

Her YouTube channel was put in my little sisters recommended and she called me dying for me to listen to Phoenix. I did, which prompted me to have the idea to bring her on tour. Which then lead her to do so and here she is. Nothing happens by coincidence I don't think. This happened for a reason and maybe that reason is because I need to help her.