Disclaimer: I don't own PARAMORE, or Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I am big fans though. Of both of them.

Chapter Nine

Selena and Demi had spent much longer than they had expected picking outfits, mainly because Selena couldn't just wear something that Demi had already worn to school as that would make it obvious, but Demi couldn't remember what she had and hadn't worn.

"Well I think I wore that one on Monday, but I know I wore those black jeans, so I couldn't have, because they don't match. Unless I did wear them, and I looked hideous."

"No, you wore that pink top on Monday. I remember because while we were talking after school, I kept imagining you taking it off, and I remember I was thinking, 'that's a nice top, but it would look much better on the floor'."

"You're a pervert, you know that right?"

"Yup. But I'm your pervert."

"Don't I know it!"

"How about the PARAMORE top over there?"

"No! I love that top!"

"What, so I'm not good enough to wear your favourite top?"

"No, but if you wear it, I can never wear it again, because people will have seen you in it."

"Good point. I'm actually glad, I don't really like Paramore much anyway." She admitted, making Demi gasp.

"You don't like Paramore? How can you not like Paramore? They're amazing!"

"Nah, I prefer R&B, like Rihanna. And JLS. I love JLS!"

"Seriously? Rihanna's good, I suppose, but JLS? They're crap, Sel."

"No they're not! They have loads of haters because they were on X-Factor, but they are actually amazing singers."

"You know what? I'm not having this argument again."

"Again? When have we ever argued about JLS before?"

"No, I mean, I had this argument with a friend in New York. She was completely in love with them, kept going on about how gorgeous they are. It was horrible. They aren't even that good looking."

"Well, of course you would think that."

"Huh?"

"Demi, you're gay. You like girls, that's why you don't think they're gorgeous."

"And you do?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"No. But I never said I thought they were good looking, I just said I liked their music."

"Well, I guess they aren't terrible, but I'm not a huge fan."

"Well, then, I guess we'll have to change that, won't we?"

"I'm okay, thanks."

"Aw, c'mon, live a little. You can borrow my JLS CD's, and I'll borrow your Paramore CD's. We can swap for a while, and we have to promise to listen to all of the songs."

"Okay…and what if I won't do it?"

"Well, I guess I'll just have to make you do it." She said, pouncing on her.

"Stop tickling me!" cried Demi, laughing uncontrollably as her hands roamed up and down her sides.

"I will, as soon as you swear to listen to the CD's. You'll love them, I promise!"

"Okay…okay! Just stop, please!" she said, laughing so hard that she started crying.

"Promise?"

"Promise!"

"Okay!" smirking, Selena pulled away, only to realise what they were supposed to be doing.

"Shit, Dem, we need to hurry up! We're going to be late!"

"Oh, right, sorry. You know what?"

"What?"

"You can wear the Paramore top. It never really fit me right anyway."

"Aw, Demi, aren't there any other ones I could wear? It's short, it'll show my stomach!"

"Why do you think I want you to wear it?" she replied in a 'duh' voice.

"Ha ha, very funny."

"Sorry. But seriously, we need to go. So put the top on!"

"Okay, fine." She said, before pulling the T-shirt she was currently wearing over her head and dropping it on the floor, making Demi gasp in shock.

"Erm, I'll, erm, leave…"

"Demi, seriously? You don't have to leave, thicko. You're my girlfriend. You can see me shirtless. Plus, it's not like I plan to leave when you get changed."

"Oh, yeah, dammit, I need to change too!"

"No shit Sherlock. Unless you want to go to school in your SpongeBob Squarepants pyjamas. You never know, you might set a new trend."

"You think so?"

"I know so. You look dead sexy in them. You'll have all the guys drooling."

"Eurgh, why would I want to have all the guys drooling?"

"Honey, if you want the girls to drool over you, talk deeper, cut your hair, and grow a six-pack. Then you have a chance…" she stopped talking when Demi hit her arm, hard.

"Shut up. You know you'd hate it if I did that."

"I guess I would. Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Well, some people like girls and guys, you know."

"Yeah, I know, but I figured… Oh my God, are you bisexual?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out. If you're lucky."

"Oh. Okay. But, just so you know, I've never liked a guy. Not even a little tiny bit. Ever."

"Good, good. Less chance of losing you. And I really wouldn't want that to happen."

"Why not?"

"Well, duh, because I l love you, and want to marry you, and I want to adopt beautiful babies with you. It may sound cheesy, but I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone other than you, Demi."

"Aw, really?"

"Yup."

"You know what?"

"What?" Selena asked hopefully, waiting for her to say she felt the same.

"Your right, it does sound cheesy."

Selena's heart plummeted, and she frowned.

"Oh. Okay."

"But I feel the same way. Now come on, we're going to be late." Demi smiled, grabbing her girlfriend's arm and dragging her out the room, switching off the light on the way.

"So, are you taking your own car?" Demi asked.

"Yeah, I have too, we can't exactly turn up to school in the same car, can we?"

"We can say we're carpooling."

"Well, then we would have to invite your mom, because otherwise it's just using the same amount of cars, so there's no point."

"You know what? I think I'm just going to go with my mom."

"Why? I thought you wanted to save the environment?"

"Screw the environment, I wanted some alone time with you."

"Aw, how sweet. Except for the environment part, obviously."

Laughing, Demi watched from the doorway as Selena walked down the driveway towards her car. She waved when Selena looked at her, then went back inside to find her mom when Selena drove off down the street.

"Mom?" she called.

"In here honey." came her mother's voice from the study. She sounded upset, so Demi went in to check on her. Her heart broke a little when she saw the woman she had come to believe would always be strong, and proud, and never let anything get to her, collapsed in a heap on the floor, sobbing loudly.

"Mom!" she cried, running over.

"He's really gone, isn't he?"

"What? You mean dad? Mom, he doesn't deserve you. You should be glad to be rid of him."

"It's not that easy, Demi. Twenty-five years, we were married. And he throws that all away for some slut he met at work. I thought I was a good wife, a good mother, but apparently not!" she sobbed, pulling her daughter into a tight hug.

"Mom, I have to get to school, but there's no way you can go in today. Do you want me to phone the school tell them you need the day off due to personal issues?"

"Please, honey. I don't think I could stand to be there, not after everything that happened last night."

"C'mon, mom, you need some sleep. And chocolate, and some ice-cream. Remember what you always tell us? No matter what happens, chocolate and ice-cream will always be there to get you through it!"

"Yeah, I guess. But I don't think all the Ben & Jerry's in the world could get me through this, Demi. I really don't."

"Maybe not, but it'll help. Plus, it tastes good!"

"You're right, I guess."

"Aren't I always?"

Helping her mother up, she went into the kitchen to grab the phone and a tub of ice-cream from the freezer. When she'd given her mom the ice-cream, she phoned the school, and then Dallas.

"Where are you, Dall?"

"I'm at Jade's house."

"Who's Jade?"

"She lives across the street."

"Well, can you come home then, please? Mom can't work, and I need a lift to school."

"Why isn't mom working? And why can't dad take you, he doesn't have work until later."

Demi had forgotten that her sister hadn't been there last night.

"Erm, look, I'll explain it all later, I promise. But all you need to know at the moment is that dad isn't here and mom's in bed eating ice-cream. Oh, and she wants some chocolate, so you need to go to the store on the way back."

"Wait, dad not there, mom in bed, ice cream, chocolate. Demi, what did he do?"

"I said, I'll tell you-"

"DEMI! WHAT DID THAT BASTARD DO TO HER? DID SHE FIND OUT HE'D BEEN CHEATING? HE SWORE HE WOULD END IT!"

"What? You mean, you knew he was cheating? And you didn't tell her?"

"He asked me not to, and he swore it wouldn't happen again. He promised he would never cheat on her again!"

"And now he won't, because you can't cheat on someone if you DIVORCE THEM!" screamed Demi, furious at her older sister for being so stupid.

"He's divorcing her? Since when?"

"Since he told her he loved someone else last night. Then he packed a bag, and left. He's coming back today, and-SHIT! He's coming to get all his stuff today, and mom can't see him!"

"Well, we'll just have to pack up his stuff for him, and leave it outside for him to pick up."

"I can't, I've got school."

"You're already really late, can't you just skip?"

"No!"

"Well, I can't do it alone, so either you miss a day of school, or mom has to face dad. The day after he announces that he wants a divorce. It's your choice."

"Fine! I guess I have to."

"Yeah, you do."

"Are you on your way?"

"I'm just putting my coat on now, I'll be home in about five minutes. Can you go look in the recycling bin and see if there are any boxes?"

"There's a load in my closet, from when we moved in."

"Okay, go get them then."

"Okay. See you soon."

"Bye."

Demi hung up the phone, sighing as she sent a quick text to Selena, explaining why she wasn't there. Running into her bedroom, she grabbed the boxes and hurried into her parents' room to start packing.

"What are you doing, honey?"

"Packing up dad's stuff. Dallas is on her way home to help."

"Why?"

"Because, he's coming over today, and you can't see him like this."

"But you should be in school!"

"You're more important, mom!"

"Thanks, Demi. I know I should be making you go, but I really can't face your father today."

"Forget about facing dad, what about Dallas? She's going to want answers, and she's going to want them from you."

"Dallas can mind her own business. She knew about this all along, Demi. I heard you talking."

"Well…she didn't know he was going to leave you. And she didn't want to hurt you, that's why she never told you he cheated. Plus, he promised her it wouldn't happen again. She trusted him."

"SO DID I, DEMI! AND I TRUSTED HER, MY DAUGHTER, TO ALWAYS BE HONEST AND TELL ME THE TRUTH, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT MAY HURT ME! BUT IT LOOKS LIKE BOTH OF THEM BETRAYED THAT TRUST!"

"I'm so sorry, mom!" came Dallas' voice from the doorway.

"Sorry isn't good enough, Dallas! You should have TOLD ME!" she yelled.

"I know, but I love you so much, and I didn't want to see you go through this, but it happened anyway, and it's all my fault, and-"

"Shut up, Dallas."

"Mom!" Demi cried out in shock.

"Just shut up, and come over here. I need a hug." She continued, her voice breaking as she started crying again.

Running over to the bed, Dallas jumped into her mother's arms and started to sob too. Thinking that they needed some alone time to talk, Demi left, grabbing her phone to call Selena. She needed some support right now, and who better to help her than her girlfriend?