Full Summary: Mitchie didn't think anyone would notice the marks on her wrists but they did. She thought she would hate Prosperity but upon meeting Devin she knew things would be ok. Devin became Mitchie's best friend and someone she admired. She was in Prosperity too but she knew what she was doing. Mitchie soon finds herself feeling for Devin things she shouldn't. When Mitchie starts to get visits from Shane and Nate things between her and Devin get complicated and one Gray finds himself in love.
(Mitchie is already famous in this story and the guys are brothers.)
DISCLAIMER: This story is completely fictional. I used the recent accusations or Demi practicing self-harm because it inspired me to write this story.
I AM NOT saying that Demi is a cutter and will never think so.
I do not mean to offend anyone with this story or the themes mentioned.
Prosperity is a fictional rehab center and Daniella and Mathew Graziano are fictional characters.
Mitchie sat in the center of her bed looking down at her wrists; the only light coming in to the room was the moon peeping through a sliver in her drapes. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid. How could she have flaunted them so openly and let people in on her deepest and darkest secret? How could she?
Her publicist had made up a story about bracelets but she knew not everyone was going to believe it. They looked too legit and that was because they were.
She had kept them covered so well, wearing bracelets or covering up with makeup, until the day of Tess' party that is. That day she was photographed wearing her plaid dress and showing off the marks on her wrist.
Nobody had noticed until just a few days ago where 'Mitchie Torres Cutter' got over 68,000 searches within just a few hours.
Her family hadn't talked to her about it yet but she knew it was only a matter of time.
She hadn't really been out since the rumors had started circulating and hadn't seen any of her friends. Shane and Nate had called her repeatedly and Caitlyn had come to see her but she ignored the calls and told her mom she didn't want to see anyone.
This was just too embarrassing and too personal. If Disney found out they wouldn't take it lightly and she feared losing her career over something like this.
Why did she do it though?
She was known to be the happiest girl. She was rarely photographed without a smile and had amazing people surrounding her all the time.
The truth was though that deep down inside she was falling apart. She had openly admitted to having self-esteem issues in the past but it almost seemed like they never went away. As amazing as this all was she was getting overwhelmed. People had no shame in asking her to do this or that and she felt like she had to agree to everything. It was all beginning to be too much and nobody saw her as just Mitchie anymore; she was Mitchie Torres, teen super star.
She was getting pulled from every direction and she had to please everyone. She never had a moment to herself and just wanted everything to stop. Outside she was all smiles but inside she wanted to scream.
The pressure was getting to her.
Pressure to be thin, pressure to be nice, pressure to be perfect.
She wasn't perfect though, she never would be.
Everything changed so fast.
Her parents treated her differently, her sister treated her differently and even Caitlyn treated her differently.
She wanted her old friend back.
She wanted to have a conversation that didn't involve talking about her career or her future.
She just wanted a real friend. She wanted somebody that didn't care about her fame or money or the fact that she knew the Connect 3.
She wanted a fresh start.
Her room door slowly opened and her mom poked her head inside.
"Mitchie, sweetie?"
"Yeah mom?" Mitchie asked, her eyes still focused on her wrists.
"Mitchie we wanted to talk," Connie said, walking in with Patrick and Marcia at her side.
"Ok."
Marcia flipped the light switch and they sat down around the somber Mitchie.
"Mitchie we need to talk about what's been going on. Why didn't you tell us you were doing this?"
Mitchie shrugged, saying nothing.
"You can't hurt yourself Mitchie, this just isn't you."
"And how do you know what I am? Nowadays the only thing you care about is what venue I'm singing at or what show I'm going to be on. You've never noticed I cut until those rumors came out and we live in the same house!" Mitchie snapped.
"Mitchie how long have you been doing it?"
"A long time mom."
"Can you stop?"
Mitchie stayed silent.
"Mitchie I don't like seeing you like this," Marcia said, putting her hand on Mitchie's.
"I can't help it. It helps me deal with everything going on."
"Mitchie you need to show us where else you've cut."
"I don't want to."
"Would you feel more comfortable if Patrick left?"
Mitchie slowly nodded and Patrick stood up, giving Mitchie a kiss on the cheek before leaving the room.
Mitchie moved off her bed and pulled her shirt over her head followed by her pants. There were cuts on her stomach and going up her thighs.
Connie choked on a set of tears and Marcia tried to comfort her.
"Like I said, I've been doing it for a long time."
"Mitchie we need to get you help."
And so they spoke to Disney, Mitchie's publicist Derek, and her record label and they decided to send Mitchie to Prosperity, a crisis center Wes Covina, California.
It would all be kept quiet and everyone would think Mitchie was in Texas on a break.
Mitchie didn't want to go at first but noticed she didn't have a choice.
The drive up was silent.
Marcia, Connie and Patrick all sat in the car, trying to make conversation but failing miserably. When they got to Prosperity they showed the family around. It was a very upscale rehab center, Mitchie there courtesy of Disney. The place had a dining room, music room, super patio and an Olympic sized pool. The tall ledges gave the guests full privacy and there really was a calm atmosphere around.
"Down this wing we have the rooms and this one right here is yours," the guide, Jane, said as she pulled open one of the room doors. "All rooms are full sized with their own bathroom and plenty of closet space. Your room has a balcony with a view of the pool and you also have a sitting area."
"Why are there two sets of everything?" Connie asked, looking at the two queen-sized beds, desks and closets.
"Here at Prosperity our guests share rooms."
"We thought she was still going to have her own room."
"I'm sorry but we don't show any favoritism or give any guests special treatment. Mitchie is just another guest here, just like everyone else."
"Yeah mom, I am," Mitchie said. "This is fine, thanks."
"Well why don't you get yourself settled in here and I'll have someone bring your boxes in so you can make this feel more like home," Jane said.
Mitchie nodded before Jane walked away, talking to her parents.
Marcia walked into the room and stood in front of Mitchie.
"So what do you think about it?" Marcia asked, sitting down on Mitchie's bed.
"I think it's the place I'm forced to spend the next three months in."
"Well do you like it?"
"I guess it's all right."
Marcia looked over her shoulder to the other side of the room.
"Guess you have a roommate already."
"Yep."
"Hope she isn't some freak."
"Don't be mean Marcia."
"Mitchie we are getting ready to go," Connie said, walking back into the room.
"Oh ok."
Mitchie hugged everyone then stepped back.
"I guess I'll see you around."
"We'll visit every weekend and if you ever have an emergency just call."
"OK mom."
Connie hugged her once more before leaving.
Mitchie fell back on her bed and sighed before turning to the other side of the room, the side closest to the balcony. Mitchie walked over to it and examined it.
The bed had sheets of black, purple and yellow and hanging straight above the bed frame was a vintage poster of Aerosmith. Her eyes shifted to the desk where a Macbook rested. The side of the room was pretty neat aside from a few sneakers lingering by the desk.
"Are you looking for something?" somebody suddenly asked from behind.
Mitchie turned around to find a girl looking back at her.
"No I was just…" Mitchie started but the girl put her hand up.
"It's ok, I'm not mad."
"I'm sorry, I was just curious."
The girl walked by Mitchie and sat down on her bed.
"I would be too."
"So I'm guessing you're my roommate."
"I am. I'm Devin."
"Mitchie."
"I know who you are."
"Does that bother you?" Mitchie asked, worry in her voice.
Devin looked older and way too edgy to be a Disney fan. She looked like she would laugh at anything Mitchie did and make her feel like crap for being some Disney princess.
Devin simply shrugged before looking over to the door.
"Where do I put these?" a guy holding Mitchie's boxes asked.
"On the floor is fine."
The guy did so before walking out, shutting the door behind him.
Mitchie walked over to the boxes and opened one.
"I think somebody went through these," she said.
"They did," Devin said, now standing by Mitchie.
She crouched down and opened another one, showing it to Mitchie.
"They go through all the boxes to make sure you didn't bring any contraband. They call it a safety measure; we call it a huge invasion of privacy."
"Do you want to help me set everything up?"
"Sure."
The two girls started unloading the boxes and while Mitchie put up pictures and decorations Devin helped hang her clothes. They talked throughout the unloading process and Mitchie thought Devin was pretty cool and familiar. She learned that Devin was nineteen and a huge fan of music. She was really friendly but admitted that a lot of times people stayed clear of her because they thought she was mean.
"I'm sorry I don't walk around with a permanent smile on my face. I try sometimes but I just feel like an idiot always smiling," Devin said as she moved to the last box.
"Yeah I get what you mean. I guess in my line of work you need to be happy if not the boss with the ears won't be."
"To be honest I've never really seen anything you've been in so I wouldn't know."
"Then how do you know who I am?"
"I have a thirteen year old sister. If it's not Mitchie Torres it's Connect 3."
"I'm sorry for any pain I have put you through."
"It's ok, I've learned to tune her out."
"You must think I'm pretty lame huh?"
"Eh, I'm warming up to you."
Mitchie smiled widely before sitting down on the bed.
"I can tell you I am definitely borrowing some of your clothes," Devin said with a smile as she finished hanging up the last shirt.
Mitchie chuckled.
"No problem."
Devin walked back to her side of the room and pulled the balcony door open.
"Have you been outside yet?" she asked as she walked out.
"Not really," Mitchie said, coming to her side.
"Do you want a grand tour?"
"Sure."
"Follow me."
Devin started out of the room and Mitchie followed. She walked through the entire facility and showed Mitchie everything.
"I'm guessing somebody like you will be spending a lot of time in the music room," Devin said.
"To be honest I just want to relax here."
"Well you'll relax and go to meetings of course."
"Meetings?"
"Yeah. They make you go to meetings every day from one to three. There you talk about whatever your problem may be and they help you or as they say, 'guide you', to making the right decisions in life."
"Sounds fun," Mitchie said sarcastically.
"It's annoying."
"How long have you been here, if you don't mind me asking?"
"One week."
"Really? You seem like you know this place really well."
"Well I haven't really done anything but walk around or be in my room."
"You don't socialize?"
"Since I've been here I've been called a bitch about eight times and gotten third degree glares from every girl. All guys think about in here is how to get a girl laid and to be honest I'm not up for that."
"Why are they calling you that?"
"Girls here are catty, scratch that, they're bitches. They're mad that their rich parents stuck them in here and take it out on other people."
"But why is it you specifically?"
"Because I don't care what any of them do or say. I'm not here for them, I'm here for me. They form these little cliques and it's ridiculous. Between the snobs and the dickheads I feel like I'm back in high school. I decided to just keep to myself and let my time pass."
"Are you upset that you have to share a room with me?"
"No, of course not. Just don't be like them, please."
"I promise I'm the farthest thing from them. I actually used to be bullied back in school. It got so bad that I ended up being homeschooled. I just don't understand why people need to be so mean."
"Neither do I. That or expectations. My parents had my entire life planned out for me by the time I was five. They wanted me to be just like them."
"What are they?"
"Um my parents are Daniella and Mathew Graziano."
Mitchie's eyes nearly popped out of her head. The Graziano's were possibly the most famous Hollywood power couple of the moment and probably for a long time to come. Mathew was an Academy Award winner and Daniella a Golden Globe winner. They were both accomplished and just getting started.
"They're amazing! I look up to your mom. Oh my gosh I can't believe it."
"You're starting to sound like my little sister when it comes to you."
"I'm sorry it's just… they're so good."
"Thanks and they really are. I just don't want to be them."
"That's why you looked so familiar. I've seen pictures of you at premieres and online."
"Yeah Perez Hilton is one of my biggest fans."
"Really?"
Devin scoffed.
"No, he hates me. He's always talking shit about me. I confronted him once and he was too scared to say anything to my face. The minute I got in here he posted it. It was supposed to be a secret but nothing stays a secret in any of these places."
"You think people will find out about me?"
Devin looked at Mitchie and gave her an honest shrug.
"For the sake of your career I hope not. It doesn't matter whether or not people know I'm in here, they already thought I was bad. I wouldn't worry too much though. It's not like you took naked pictures right?" Devin asked with a smile, giving Mitchie a wink before walking outside.
It was close to midnight already. Mitchie had made the trip late because they didn't want anybody to notice them leaving.
The yard was empty except for a couple security guards. Prosperity had an eleven o' clock curfew for its guests but nobody really followed it so the security guards just let the girls walk by.
They walked up to the small hill and laid back, looking up at the sky.
"You know we've been talking for a while now and you haven't once asked me what I am in for," Mitchie said.
"Are you upset that I haven't?"
"No, I'm just curious as to why you haven't. Usually the first thing people ask when you talk about being in rehab is why you were there."
"Well I think that's personal. Nobody needs to know your business and I'm not going to intrude and ask."
"Wow, that's really sweet of you."
"Thanks. I know it's not easy coming here and my first day I was cursing the world and hated it. You're really young and it must be hard for you. I know you may think it's weird that I offer my help but I am here if you need me. We're going to be spending a lot of time together and I think it's best to have someone to rely on and trust in here. You can trust me."
"I know that. We've known each other for only a few hours and I already feel comfortable with you."
Devin turned to Mitchie and smiled.
"So do I and that's why I'm going to tell you that I'm here because of an attempt at suicide."
"You… you tried to kill yourself?" Devin nodded. "How?"
"Pills. Unfortunately I didn't take enough. I woke up in the hospital and they actually had me tied down. I felt like the biggest idiot. There is nothing worse than failing at suicide."
"Why'd you do it though?"
"My parents have put so much pressure on me since I was a kid. When I got older paparazzi started following me around. You know I started cutting at fifteen?" she asked, more saying than asking. "Nobody ever knew though. I did a few on my arm but I knew I would get caught if I continued there so I started on my legs. Sometimes I would walk around the house in short shorts or put my arms near my parents' faces to see if they noticed but they never did. People don't know how hard it is to be who they want you to be. I try so hard but it's like it's never enough."
"Devin I know exactly what you're saying."
Mitchie pulled her sleeves up, revealing her scars.
"That's why you're in here isn't it?"
Mitchie nodded.
"The pressure was getting to me and it was the only way that I could relieve the stress. I was never planning on letting anyone see or know but I accidentally wore a dress with short sleeves and forgot to cover up. At first nobody noticed but then someone must have looked closer into the pictures and the rumors started flying. We had this big meeting with my record label and Disney and they decided this was the best idea and now here I am."
"I'm sorry Mitchie."
"You don't have to be, neither of us should be. They should have never put so much pressure on us in the first place. They just don't understand."
Devin nodded.
"Nobody does."
A light was suddenly shining in their eyes and a security guard walked up to them.
"Hey guys, it's time for you to go inside."
Devin sighed and stood up, extending her hand to Mitchie.
"They tell you to make yourself feel at home but they have security guards telling you what to do."
"Don't start Devin," the security guard said.
Devin put her hands up as if saying she was cool before walking down the hill.
"Goodnight ladies," he called after them.
"Night."
When they got to the room Devin jumped into the shower while Mitchie made her bed.
"I hope you don't mind but I fall asleep with the TV on," Devin said as she got into her bed.
"That's not a problem."
Mitchie switched the light off while Devin turned on the TV, putting it on mute.
"Goodnight," Devin said.
"Night."
There was silence for a few minutes.
"Devin?" Mitchie called out.
"Yeah?"
"Out of all the people that could have been my roommate I'm glad I have you."
"I'm glad to have you too Mitchie."
Mitchie smiled to herself before shutting her eyes, soon falling asleep.
"It's been a week and we haven't heard from Mitchie," Shane said to Nate as he paced back and forth in his room. He and Mitchie had grown to be best friends and her not calling him or answering his calls was not like her at all.
"I know, I'm starting to worry."
"Maybe we should go to her house."
"Should we call first?"
"She isn't answering remember?"
"Right, let's go then."
Shane and Nate hopped into Shane's car and drove to Mitchie's house.
"Yes she's here," Nate said when they saw Mitchie's car in the driveway. She had gotten it less than two weeks ago so it was in perfect condition.
They got off the car and knocked on the door, Marcia answering.
"Guys!" she said, her eyes wide. "What are you doing here?"
"Mitchie hasn't answered any of our calls and we were worried. Can we see her?"
"Um, she's not here."
"Where is she?"
"Um… Marcia."
"What? Why is she in Marcia?" Shane asked.
"Yeah and why didn't she tell us she was going?" Nate asked right after.
"She didn't? Oh well it must have slipped her mind then."
"Come on Marcia, Mitchie wouldn't forget to tell us something like that. Can you call her from your phone? I bet she'll answer you."
"Shane I can't right now, I'm kind of busy."
At that moment Marcia' phone started ringing, Mitchie's name flashing on the screen. Shane was quick to get a look at the picture and snatched the phone from Marcia before she could hide it.
"Hello?" he answered.
Mitchie hadn't spoken to Marcia all day so she decided to give her a ring. She was surprised to not hear Marcia answer though.
"Shane?" she asked after hearing the all too familiar voice.
"Mitchie where are you? Marcia is acting all shady and keeps saying you're in Marcia. I know you would tell us if you went to Marcia so we aren't buying it. Is something wrong? Nate and I are worried about you."
"Um…" Mitchie looked over to Devin who was lying down next to her with her laptop on her lap.
"What is it?" Devin asked in a whisper.
"Hold on a second Shane." Mitchie put her hand over the speaker. "It's Shane and he knows something is up."
"Tell him."
"Tell him?"
"Mitchie he's one of your best friends and I think he deserves to know." She stood up. "I'm going to go get us some brownies from the kitchen." She started to the door but stopped before walking out. "Tell him."
Mitchie sighed and took her hand off the speaker.
"There's something I have to tell you Shane…"