They were in the middle of the staircase until Maddie screamed Demi's name. She came running down the stairs and into Demi's arms. She was nine now. Demi couldn't believe it. Her baby was nine. And she missed her life.
"Dem, I missed you!" Maddie said, still holding on tight to Demi's neck.
"Mads, I missed you too!" She said crying harder. "You're so big."
"Are you staying for good?" Maddie asked her. Demi closed her eyes shut, tight. She couldn't lie to her but she can't tell her the truth.
"I'm not sure." She said. "We'll see." Maddie let go of Demi's neck and ran off next to Joe. Demi stood up and looked toward them. Maddie was attached to Joe's leg as Joe tried to walk.
"Mad," Joe said. "You're not as young as you once were. I don't know if I can keep doing this anymore."
"Yes you can, Joey." Maddie said arguing with him. Demi shook her head and smiled. She turned back to her mom. They hugged one more time and then walked to the kitchen.
"Demi, I can't believe you came back." Her mom said.
"Well, dads in the hospital." She said. "I had to come back."
"He'll be glad you did." Her mom said. "Do you know how long you're staying?"
"For a while." Demi said.
"Well, were going to have to figure out sleeping arrangements." She said. "Joe's in your old room, you know? He's been such a good help around here. Taking Maddie places, and cooking breakfast, making lunches…"
Her mom kept going on and on. It's not that Demi didn't want to talk to her. She just didn't want to talk about this. All the stuff she missed when she left. If Demi didn't leave, Joe and her would be married, in a house down the street with a child or two. She left behind everything.
But maybe it's what she needed to realize there will never be anybody else so right for her besides Joe. There will never be anybody to replace her family or her best friend. Nobody in the entire world.
1)
Demi would be bunking with Joe in her old room. It'll be just like the old times, sleeping in her room. Only this time it's actually allowed. They would sneak into each other's bedrooms when things got too hard to stay at their own house. Of course Joe was at Demi's more because at that time, Demi was still playing the perfect-daughter-card.
Joe and Demi were making her… his… their bed. They were laughing and talking. Just like old times. Demi didn't want to be happy here. If she was happy here she might not want to go back to her home. Her home is in LA. Home is where the heart is and her heart is there.
Demi lay down in the bed and covered up. She felt really jetlagged.
"I can sleep on the couch if you want." Joe said standing on his side of the bed.
"Are you kidding?" Demi asked. "Get your butt in this bed before I kick it." Joe smiled and slid in next to her. Demi moved around some more on her side until she got comfortable. Joe turned off the lights and he turned and faced her.
"So, are you staying?" He asked her.
"I'm not really sure." She answered. "I mean, I want to. But I've been doing so good in LA. I'm about to be promoted to teaching teens to dance. I'm getting good grades in night school. It's my home, Joe."
"I understand." He said. "But this time, when you leave, can you leave, like, a number or something? Because everybody around here has really been missing you. Granted we get weekly reports from Taylor every Friday, but we want to talk to you personally."
"I will leave a number this time, Joe." She said. "I promise." And with that she turned on her other side and shut her eyes for a long night of restless sleep.
Demi woke up cuddled into Joe's chest. She tried to turn over but she couldn't without waking him up. So she decided just to get up. She wouldn't have if it wasn't for her having to pee. But she did and she had to really bad. She hopped off the bed. Joe turned over on his other side and cuddled with a pillow. Demi almost said 'Aww' aloud. She ran to her bathroom and while in there decided to take a shower.
Demi didn't hear the door opening; she didn't even hear the peeing sound. But she felt when the water turned really cold. She screamed and flung her head out of the curtain. She saw Joe standing at the sink about to brush his teeth.
"Um… Did you not know I was in here?" She asked.
"Sorry, I just kind of didn't care." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"I care." She said as she turned off the water and grabbed a towel. She wrapped it around her while still in the shower. Then she stepped out and stood next to Joe, also getting her tooth brush.
"It's not like we haven't seen each other like this before." He said, spitting in the sink.
"It's been forever, Joe. I'd rather not see you like this but I guess I don't have a choice." She said as she flung her wet hair over her shoulder.
Joe turned towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "C'mon Demi, you know you came back for more than just your dad."
"What are you talking about?" She said starting to get angry. "My dad's in a coma and you think I came back for you? I was doing perfectly fine in LA. And if it wasn't for my dad I wouldn't be back here."
Demi pushed Joe off of her. He stumbled back into the bedroom. Demi watched as he shook his head. He grabbed some clothes and walked out. For some reason Demi felt like he was telling the truth.
