The Consequence of a Dream

Ch. 22

Phoenix's pov

I don't really remember falling asleep last night, but I did because I was awoken by Demi this morning. Honestly, I'm tired, just very tired. I think I got a fair amount of sleep, but I'm still tired.

"I'll let you sleep once we get in the hotel room, I promise." Demi says.

I force myself out of bed and just follow behind her honestly half out of it. We make it through her screaming fans, an elevator, a few hallways, before finally making it to the hotel room.

Demi puts the card into the door and once the light flashes green, she opens the door and lets me in first. I walk to the bed closest to the window and kick my shoes off before getting into it.

I hear the door shut and be locked and I see Demi put out luggage into the closet in the hotel room. She then walks over to me and stands beside me as I tiredly lay down.

"Do you feel ok Phoenix?" She asks.

"Mhm." I lie.

She feels my forehead and frowns, "You're burning up hun. I don't think you feel alright. What hurts?"

I guess that explains why I'm so hot, I'm running a fever. That at least makes sense.

"Nothing hurts, I'm just tired."

"You might be a bit more cool im some shorts and a t shirt." She says.

"I don't have that."

I can't wear that so I didn't bring that. It's too revealing and so I just refuse to wear it. I can't show the cuts or bruises.

"Phoenix, when I told you I know more than you think I do, I was serious. I know about the self harm. You don't have to hide that from me. If you want to wear a shirt, you can."

I feel my heart stop beating, how does she know about it? How long has she known about it?

I guess the panic in my face is evident to her because she quickly gives me an explanation, "One night you moved around so much in the bed all the sheets were off you and you're sweatshirt sleeves were up. I saw the cuts but I didn't say anything because I didn't want you to be pushed into a corner and spill everything. I just covered you back up and act as if I didn't know. And I still don't want you to feel pushed in a corner. I don't want you to be forced to tell me what's happening." She says.

"I'm sorry."

"Phoenix, you don't have to apologize to me. I'm not upset or angry. I just want you to know that you don't have to hide that from me. If you want to wear a t-shirt you can. I just want you to wear something a bit more cooler than what you're wearing. You're going to be burning up hun." She says.

"I don't have anything else." I say quietly.

"Do you have some shorts?" She asks.

I shake my head.

"Ok how about the pajama pants you wore yesterday, can we cut those into shorts?" She asks.

I give a small nod, "And I'll let you wear one of my crop tops. It'll look like a shirt on you." She says.

I give a small nod not wanting to argue with her. I don't want to get in trouble.

She gets me one of her crop tops and I go to the bathroom and change into it. It indeed looks like a tshirt on me. My body's just so small that that's the way it fits.

When I walk out of the bathroom Demi hands me the pants that are now shorts and I change into those in the bathroom as well.

I walk out feeling very self cautious. This is the most of my body that I've shown to anyone before. My dads seen it unwillingly on my end, but he's still seen it all.

"I hope that'll be cooler for you hun. I think you are running a fever." She says.

I climb into the bed and get covered up and just stare at her tiredly. It's a really good thing we have a day off honestly. Because I'm not feeling good at all and I doubt I'd handle water bottle throwing well today.

I feel a jump on the bed and turn my head to see Harley beside me, "Someone's gotta be beside you at all times huh?" Demi asks.

"Yeah." I say quietly.

"Do you want any medicine maybe?" Demi asks.

"I'll be ok."

"I think you should take some Tylenol to help with the fever." She frowns.

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea. Especially if pain does come in the next few hours. I don't want to really feel it. It's best to not feel it.

"Ok." I say.

I watch her walk to her suitcase and grab a bottle of Tylenol before walking to the tv where room water is. She grabs one before walking back to me and I sit up in the bed.

I wait for her to get a couple of pills from the bottle and I hold my hand out and she drops them into my palm. I put them into my mouth as she passes me the water. I twist it open and take a small sip from it and wash the pills down before laying back down.

She feels my head once again before pushing the hair out of my face, "Try and get some rest, we've got nothing to do today. So rest as much as you need." She says.

I give a small nod and close my eyes tired. I've done not a single thing and yet am so tired. How?

Demi's pov

Just as Phoenix falls asleep, my phone rings. I quickly take the call to shut it up, "Yes?" I ask my mom.

"Are we still able to come next week or have plans changed?" She asks.

I let out a soft sigh, "Can we maybe change plans? A lots happening with Phoenix and I think it's best to maybe not have any added stress right now." I say.

"Of course sweetheart. How is she?" She asks.

"Not too great. She's having water bottles thrown at her now. And she's running a fever today. Also ran away the other day." I say.

"I heard about the water bottle throwing. But why did she run away?" She asks.

"I still don't know. I think she got scared of my tone of voice. Nick and I were arguing and I said let's go a lot more harsh than I meant to. So I've had to keep in mind that I can't use that tone of voice with her." I sigh.

"I don't understand why that's upset her." She says.

"I think there's more to her story than what meets the eye." I say.

I know there more than what meets the eye, but I won't tell my mom what I know. Not until I've got everything figured out. But I'm starting that process already. Something Phoenix isn't aware of, nor is her dad.

I care about her too much. I don't know why, I can't explain it. I just do. I'm going to do whatever I have to in order to keep her safe. Even if it's as drastic as adoption. I want to know she's safe and taken care of. I seem to have sole trust with her so I feel like at this point, this is what I have to do. I don't care what anyone has to say. This is what I'm doing. I'm going to protect her.