Disclaimer: All names of celebrities have been changed for legal purposes!

Prolouge: Takes place in March 2010, weekend of the Oscars.

Waking up with a bright smile on her face was something Demi Monroe had grown accustomed to over the past few weeks.

Her hand reached over to the alarm clock and silenced it.

Today, she was going to Texas. Not only would she be performing on stage for her fans for the first time in a while, she'd be doing it with the greatest guys ever.

Humming a tune to one of her favorite Paramore song, Demi quickly got ready for the day. Around noon, she'd come back home and pack her stuff completely and head for the airport...

Speaking of airports, Demi quickly rushed to her purse and pulled out her phone. Her fingers danced along the keys as she typed in the number she barely memorized.

"Hello?"

"Nick? Hey, it's Demi!"

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to know when you and your brothers are heading out to the airport."

"I don't know. You should ask Kevin."

"Oh, what are you doing?" she headed for her desk where the keys were.

"I'm heading out to meet Selena."

Her heart sunk. A spark of jealousy ran through her body. "Oh." In the corner of her desk, pinned up against the wall, was the object of Demi's frustration. Mixed emotions washed her as Nick rambled on about wanting to see her one last time before flying across the country. Sometimes the guy was really clueless. She wanted to scratch his eyes out every time he mentions kissing Selena to his brothers, or even when he refers back to a moment he spent with her.

Demi loved Nick like a brother... but the mere thought of him holding her... caressing her, kissing her, was reason enough for him to be her least favorite Lucas brother.

She hung up the phone just as he brought up the name, again.

Selena.

"You shouldn't do that."

Nick stared at his phone, confused, as Demi hung up on him. The voice behind him caused him to jump.

"Do what?" he asked Joe who grabbed a desk chair and sat on it.

"Come on, dude. Don't be an idiot, you know Selena and Demi aren't on good terms, so why do you constantly bring her up around Demi?" Joe's eyes were pleading.

Nick shrugged and turned back to his suitcase, "I forget."

"Bullshit."

The younger brother looked over his shoulder at Joe, whose sudden snap startled him.

"I'm not going to stand by and watch you mess with my best friend's feeling's." Joe said, now standing, "I thought you were better than this, man!"

Nick put his arms up in the air, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Look Joe, I don't want to get in between those two, but Demi is just going to have to live with the fact that I am dating Selena. If she's going to hang around with us, it's only natural that I talk about Selena."

Joe clenched his jaws, sighing through his nose, "They were close."

"Okay."

"Don't forget that."

"I know."

Joe nodded his head and began walking out, "Say hi to Sel for me."

Nick wasn't oblivious, he knew how strong the bond that was 'Demi and Selena' once was. Back in the days, almost everyone was aware of their deep relationship... their love for each other was something extraordinary. The way they looked at each other, the constant hugs, the numerous 'I love you's'...

But that was almost a year ago...

The young musician grabbed his bag and walked out of the room.

Selena was his, right now. And he planned on keeping it that way.

"Get your license already, dork."

Her legs pushed off the wall, bringing the roller chair across the room where David absentmindedly plucked at his guitar. He looked down at her adorable expression, scowling slightly.

"Why should I when I have amazing drivers like you to ride with?"

"That's what she said."

She gasped and grabbed her purse, throwing it harshly at his face, "David!"

He chuckled lightly. "God, you're such a pervert," Selena muttered, going back to her phone.

"But you love me anyway."

"Yeah, what ever." she sat up and turned towards him, "I'm going to have to go with Nick, anyway."

His eyes raised, "I was kidding, I could come if you want me to."

Selena shrugged, "No, people are going to take it the wrong way." When he didn't say anything, she continued, "Maybe I shouldn't go..."

"Are you kidding me?" David threw his guitar to the side and leaned in so his face was inches away from hers, "You've been so excited about these parties ever since you figured out you've been invited."

"I know! It's just...Miley is going to be there...Nick...Demi..." her voice trailed off, and he noticed a slight longing look to her eyes. He was about to place a hand on her shoulder when her phone started ringing.

"It's Nick," David was well aware of the dread that came out of that simple statement. "Hey, baby."

He watched as she continued the conversation on the other end. "No... Yeah, sure.... I'm still in the studio... With friends."

David knew what was coming. Selena sighed in frustration, "No, Nick. It's just David- yes, David." There was silence on his end. Selena's eyes met his for the first time since she answered the phone. He's never looked into a pair so filled with hopelessness and anxiety. "For the millionth time, Dave is like my brother. I love you. Jeez- what? Nick, come on...okay, bye."

She hung up the phone and groaned miserably. "What happened?"

"He's coming over to pick me up here. Ugh, it's like if I even talk about another guy, he freaks."

David stood up quickly as she did, "Why are you still with him?!"

"Because!" Selena threw her arms in the air. "I...I love him."

He shook his head in disbelief, "You don't sound like you do. Come on, I've known you for a long time, and ever since you've started dating this...bastard, you haven't been more miserable."

She caught him off guard as she slowly walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her head in his chest, "I just don't know with him."

His hand softly rubbed her back, soothing her. "Sel, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"You're not going to get mad at me?"

"No. Tell me, I promise."

He placed his hands on her shoulder and softly pushed away, looking deeply into her eyes, "Are you...are you dating him to forget the feelings you had for... Demi?"

Her mouth fell open, slacked. Her eyes darted across the room and finally to her purse. She dived for it, "I gotta get going, Dave."

"I'm-"

"Nick is probably gonna be here soon, I don't want you to get in trouble." she headed towards the door, hand on the knob.

"Selena." Her name came out as a desperate plea, "You deserve so much better."

David hated what she was doing to herself. The girl he knew a year ago would never allow some stupid man to come along and control her like this. A year ago, she created a song that exposed all her hate towards this douche bag. A year ago, she had Demi. Now, as David's eyes scanned the petite girl, the panic in her face, her tense shoulders, the lack of that one single person in her life is destroying her.

"Thank you, David."

He felt completely useless.

"I don't think you should go to the Oscar parties."

Her hand retreated slightly as she handed the ice tea to Nick. "Really?"

"Miley will be there, so will...Demi. If you go, it would be awkward. No one want's that." He seemed so nonchalant.

She was seriously considering not going, so Nick telling her that she shouldn't should have been okay, but for some reason...it bothered her. Now she really wanted to go...to show that he had no power over her. Who was he to tell her what to do?

"I've been planning to go for a while, Nick. You know that. Elton John invited me personally." Selena also kept her cool down. Playing safe.

"Be reasonable. I thought you hated drama."

"I don't see why I can't go. Can't you tell your little friend to not come, that way no one would have a problem." Her voice barely shook. She was staring intently at the side of his face, as he stared at the blank television.

"Little friend?" he smirked and cast a sideways glance at his girlfriend, "You mean Demi? Joe's the one inviting her. Anyway, it's not like we can hang together at the party."

"It's called bringing my own guest."

"Oh, really? Who?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"Don't talk to me like that."

She bit her tongue before a crude remark escaped her lips. Best not to start an argument. "Nick-"

"You asked David, didn't you?"

Her cool composure fell at this, replaced by complete confusion, "What?"

He turned to her suddenly, gripping her wrist, hard. "You can't get enough of him, can you?"

"He's my co-star-"

"Bullshit! There was no reason for you to stay there that long, and yet you were with him till five!" She tried escaping his grip on her, but he flung their hands over the couch.

"Nick, stop being so stupid. We're friends-"

"Don't call me stupid!" His free hand came around and struck her hard across the cheek. The sound of skin on skin shook the walls of the Lucas household. Selena's heavy panting broke Nick from his sudden outburst.

"Oh my god, Selena-"

"I'm leaving."

"Selena, wait." he grabbed her should so she spun around on the spot, "I am so sorry. I-"

He noticed her cheek redden. There would be a bruise on that, later on. He pulled her struggling form into a hug. "Please, forgive me."

She was crying angry tears, now. "Let go!"

"No!" he held her closely, afraid of losing her, "Forgive me, forgive me, I didn't mean it."

Selena's body slowly slacked and they remained silent, only the sound of her sniffling against his gray sweater. "Can you just take me home? Please?"

"Of course." He pulled her back and lightly stroke strands of hair between his fingers. His thumb came over the bruise and gently massaged the area, earning a wince from the actress. "I guess with a bruise like that, you can't make it to the party, huh?"

He led them out towards his car, her eyes boring into the back of his head. Just like that. He won, just like that. And the saddest part was- she didn't care. That's how they worked, nowadays. Nick ordered her to do something, if he didn't get what he want, he'd pull the guilt card, she'd follow with out a word. Selena knew she was being controlled like a puppet, fuck, her fans even knew. But she just didn't care. It was so much more easier than trying to fend for herself.

This was her life. A hallow shell being carved into something by people other than herself. Empty, lost...

Demi...Is this how you're feeling, too?

The singer woke up with a gasp, eyes focusing on the back chair of the airplane seat. Her heart pounded in her chest.

Demi clenched her eyes over her arm, feeling the storm that was about to crash down on them. Her free hand grasped the clothing over her heart, almost as if she could soothe the dying ache it felt.

Sobs echoed wordlessly in the small airplane jet.

God, Selena...I need you.

Angsty, abusive, forbidden romances coming right up.


Fuck Jemi,

Dumbadosis.