Seein, Chapter 7
Title: Seeing
Pairing: Demi/Selena,
Rating: M
Summary: Sometimes you need more your than eyes in order to see what's in front of you.
Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Demi or Selena. So...yeah.
Chapter 7
AN: I was thinking of starting a new fic after getting some advice from a fellow fic writer. After giving me a few pointers and what not, I was given a suggestion to do so. Yet because of the new advice I was given as well and what, I decided that I really wanted to see through. Especially because I was given some much needed pointers. So hope you guys enjoy it :)
PS: I am also on twitter now. Same username and what not. If you want, you can follow and...I'd appreciate it ;-)
The ride that morning to the conservatory with her mother was a quiet one, sitting in the passenger seat of her mom's Audi she was lulled peacefully by the serenading sounds of the music that came from their car speakers. Hearing the Sarah Brightman song that filled her mother's car, Demi relaxed into the plush leather seat, letting the melodic voice sweep her into a musical bliss.
Gently waving her head to the soft music, she found herself fantasizing about what the world would be like if life was just one big musical production number. She'd often dream about a stage opening up, and the city streets would be filled with the soft sounds of a church choir as she head to practice, where sunny days were filled with the gentle hits from the Beatles Abby Road, and rainy days would fill the sky with the thunderous majestic notes of Ludwig Von Beethoven.
She sometimes imagined that the honking cars from the adjacent lane were actually a quintet of woodwind musicians accompanying her while she takes her morning drive her mother. If she concentrated hard enough, she could hear the crescendos of the on coming traffic almost as if it was an entire orchestra engulfing her in a cocoon of eclectic notes.
Yes, even Demi could find musical beauty within the world's chaotic atmosphere. And in that beauty, she found peace.
She wondered if anyone else thought that way. Maybe her mother sang a rock opera solo when she drove to work after dropping her off at the large musical conservatory. For all she know, she did, singing a head bobbing rocking beat as she gestured wildly with her hands to a medley from Repo, The Genetic Opera.
Hey, maybe her mom was the “legal assassin.” that people feared. She certainly had an overpowering persona. That was for sure. Both lovable yet scary at the same time, who else than her own mother could fill the role of one Nathan Wallace? Come to think of it, her life was like a the Genetic Rock Opera. Including her very own Amber Sweet played by her older sister. Save for the addiction to cosmetic surgery.
That simple thought brought a giggle to her lips. But if her life was an musical production number, who would she be? What role would she play? Would she be like to be the Shiloh Wallace of the family. Trying to find out who she is in life, by cutting through all the lies and propaganda the world seems to just shove in her face, always feeling overprotected by her own mother?
Or maybe she was Christine Daaé from Phantom Of The Opera. Circa Andrew Lloyd Webber. The girl mature beyond her age and the love interest of the mysterious “phantom” played by one Selena Gomez.. The thought Christine ending up with Phantom made Demi's smile brighten. As much as she loved reading the book and hearing the legendary musical, she often wondered what would it be like if Christine ended up with the Phantom instead of Raoul in the end.
Truth be told, she found more beauty in the flawed perfections of a phantom. That love seemed more relatable and romantic than the handsome hero getting the girl.
“So what's Selena like?” Diana asked, interrupting her daughter from her thoughts. Demi just blinked her eyes as she was pulled from her musical daydream.
“She's nice mom. She's sweet, kind...kind of keeps to herself, but she's not a bad person.” Demi wanted to add “amazing kisser” to the list. Yet knowing her mom, she'd probably freak out at the fact that her little girl was making out with another woman. She wasn't sure how she was going to add that to their dinner conversation. Considering that her mom always talked about her growing up with a nice “boy” it would definitely wipe out that image of her having a typical family.
Then again Demi was never “typical.” she fantasized about her life being a Rock Opera sometimes. How typical was that?
“Yeah well. You know those Hollywood type of people. Shallow and manipulative, I wouldn't out it past her to be like that. They're always looking out for their own. No sense of morality what so ever. They would step on their own mother's back just to get what they want. The world is a ugly place Demetria.”
Demi sighed as she shook her head. Her mother always used this tone whenever she was in this rant mode of hers. Always talking about how the world can be a dark place, filled with people who are just plain evil. She's head it a thousand times before. She cursed herself for forgetting her iPod. At least she could have drowned out her mother's negativity and overall overbearing.
She loved her mom. She did. With all her heart she truly loved her mother. She couldn't have asked for a better family. Even her step father treated her as if she was her own daughter. But sometimes, her family could be a little overbearing. Especially her mother.
God what she wouldn't give to just have a little breathing room from her. I mean she was already 18 years old and she felt like she was back in kindergarten whenever her mom talked like this. Sometimes she just wanted to tell her mom to stop smothering her for one second so she can have a moment for herself. Would that be too much to ask?
“But speaking famous people. You know those who didn't let the success go to the heads, guess who I spoke to recently.”
“Who?” Demi asked, already feeling drained from this morning's conversation.
“Joseph Jonas. He asked about you.” Her mother replied, as if she was expecting her daughter to burst into glee. Demi waited a few seconds for her mom to continue before shrugging her shoulders.
“OK...and?”
“Ok and?” her mother replied, the mocking shocked tone dripping her voice as she temporarily turned to her daughter. “Demi, Joe Jonas asked about you. You know, Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers? Gosh I haven't seen him in ages. He's back home with his brothers for a short break...”
Demi's sightless eyes rolled behind her glasses as she continued to hear her mom overpraise the middle Jonas brother. How her mom got the idea that she was into Joe Jonas in the first place was beyond her. He wasn't a BAD guy per say and surely he had some nice qualities. But he was a total egomaniac. Every topic was about him and how awesome it was being world famous. The long drawn out stories that he kept talking about him traveling, giving sold out concerts and all the random girls he met was enough to make her wish she was also deaf. And the only question he asked her was “Did you hear about our latest single.”
“So I was thinking of inviting him as well. What do you think?”
“What? No...Why would you do that?” Demi repeated her mother's last statement. The thought of having Joe Jonas in her home again made her skin crawl with unwanted nerves.
“He's a nice boy Demitria and he likes you. Besides didn't you two have a nice time on your last date with him?”
“Sure. If you consider hearing about him and his 'awesome band for four hours, it was a ball.”
Demi's voice was dripping with sarcasm. She was never that depressed of a person, but after one date with Joseph Jonas, Demi almost wish that she was also deaf. That way she wouldn't have to hear another boring JoBro tale. There was only so much she could take from the egotistical middle Jonas child.
“Demi now you're just being melodramatic. Besides, I think you two would go well together. After all, you both like music, you both take your artistic careers very seriously. You two already have a lot in common.”
Demi could feel the banana nut oatmeal she had for breakfast rising up from her stomach at the suggestion that Joe Jonas actually liked her. She would rather swallow rusty nails than to endure another painful date with him.
She never understood why her mom feel for the Jonas family charm. Maybe it was his sparkling good looks or the way he presents himself with that confident swagger whenever he walks into the room. She kept hearing from her sister and friends on how “Hot” Joe Jonas was. But Demi could careless about Joe's 'Looks'. She had no use for them anyways.
Selena on the other hand was a different story. Thinking about running her fingers across Selena's bumpy side of her face gave Demi that sense of comfort that seemed to swarm through her body whenever she thought of the girl. Every line on Selena's face, every crevice that her fingers gazed over those scars of her was almost as if Demi was trying to find another piece of the puzzle that made up Selena Gomez.
That's what she was to her. One big giant puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, encased in an a Chinese finger trap. And each bump on Selena's face was like reading into the puzzle some more, getting one more piece of information, one more line added to the story to complete the entire series.
She was getting somewhere with her. She just needed some more time.
Selena clenched her sweaty palms together as she sat in the living room of the Lovato's. To say her introduction to Demi's family was interesting was an understatement to say the least. Demi answered the door and greeted Selena with her endearing smile did a lot to calm the Hispanic girl's nerves at first. But when the rest of her family came to greet her, not even the shorter girl's vibrant grin could simmer the whirlwind of emotions that brewed in the pit of Selena's stomach.
She could feel their eyes on her facial disfigurement. Demi's father's minor flinch wasn't too bad. She expected a reaction at this point. But when Diana greeted her with her husband, she stared at Selena's face for a good three seconds. To anyone normal person, three seconds was nothing. Barely enough time to raise your hand for a decent hand shake. But to Selena, those three seconds felt like an eternity.
Now sitting between Demi and her little sister Madison, Selena had the spot light shining on her once more. She didn't feel this nervous since the Grammy awards She probably wouldn't have held together as well as she did if it wasn't for Demi gently placing her hand on her elbow from behind the couch.
Selena felt her nerves calming down significantly at this gentle gesture. Demi was indeed an amazing girl.
“So, it's finally nice to meet you. Demi's told me so much about you, I almost feel like we've known you for years.” Demi's father commented, deciding to attempt to break the ice with the scared actress.
“Dad stop.” Demi bashfully replied, gently biting the bottom of her lip as her cheeks turned into a rosy blush as she tried to hide her growing smirk.
Selena just playfully elbowed the blind girl, her own smile coming back to her lips.
“Well Demi's a pretty awesome friend to have. I talk about her a lot to m family and friends as well. Taylor felt like she's been part of her entourage for a while now.”
“Taylor? You mean as in Taylor Swift? The Singer Taylor Swift?” Dallas asked, a hint of envy and curiosity could be heard in her voice as she arched her brow. Selena just nodded taking a sip of the club soda in front of her.
“Cool, Taylor Swift knows who you are Demi, You're famous!” Madison exclaimed, the gleefulness laced in her voice as she bounced up and down in her seat. “You gotta get me her autograph!”
“Madison, I have to be introduced to her first.” The singer replied with a giggle. Demi wasn't like any girl Selena had met before. Any new potential friend that she would have met in the past, only wanted her for her fame. Wanting to meet either Meet someone famous, or to take them to the fanciest restaurants in LA. People had no idea what it was like to be a celebrity, let alone how hard it was to actually make friends. Real friends who actually cared about you. Not the celebrity image created by some large corporation.
Another thing that attracted Selena to the visually impaired brunette.
“You have a lot of famous friends don't you?” Selena turned her head towards the rather stoic voice of Demi's mother as her smile slipped from her face. Whatever comfort that Selena was feeling at the moment evaporated at the sight of Dianna's ice cold expression.
“Uhm...I guess.” Selena answered uneasily, now fidgeting and picking at the lint on her shirt, feeling the hair on the back of her neck standing up. She looked around the room, taking note of the apologetic changed expressions that lingered on each family member's face. Looking over to the 18 year old next to her, she saw Demi's head hanging in shame.
“They like to live that crazy Hollywood lifestyle right? Stay out all night, drink, do drugs, that kind of lifestyle?” Diana's accusing tone. “Kind of a rough lifestyle for an 18 year old don't you think?”
“Mom...” Demi whined, shaking her head.
“What?” Diana asked, shrugging her shoulders. “I just want to get to know your new friend Demi...”
“No, it's OK. I understand your concern.” Selena replied, matching Diana's piercing gaze with her own fake Hollywood smile. A smile she would reserve for those wicked reporters that would always ask those loaded question that seemed to damn you no matter how you answer it. But if Diana wanted to play that game, Selena was more than happy to take her on. She's been in the hot seat plenty of times. And this woman wasn't any different from a Nancy Grace or a Diane Sawyer.
“Mrs. De La Garza, I can assure you with one hundred percent confidence, that I, nor my friends, or anyone that I am associated with has not nor will ever be associated with that self destructive sort of life style. I like to live up the image that I portray on a daily basis. And that is certainly not an image that I would attach my name to.” Selena ended her well practiced “speech” with that famous victory smile of hers. “Would you like a urine test to make sure I'm not all high on smack Oprah?”
Listening carefully she could hear the small giggles escaping Demi's lips as she felt a congratulatory squeeze from the youngest Lovato's hand.
Dallas just gave the Hispanic teenager a wink,while even Eddie managed to nod his head in an impressive manner. It wasn't every day that someone stood up to Diana “Mama Bear” De La Garza. And Selena Gomez did so with gusto.
Diana however wasn't all that thrilled with her minor loss as her smirk was quickly replaced with a scowl. Managing the stiff upper lip, she placed the wine glass back on the table and some how even formed a smile on her face.
“Excuse me I have to check on dinner.” Diana replied ruefully as she got up from her seat. Her heels clicking furiously against the tiles.
“I uhm...I'm gonna see if my mom needs help.” Dallas stated as following her mother into the kitchen. But not before turning around and giving Selena two very enthusiastic thumbs up. A few seconds after Dallas joined her mother in the kitchen, heated conversation could be heard behind the doors.
Eddie took this as his turn to intervene. “I think I should help with the...I'll be right back.” Demi's father nodded politely as he excused himself. Which left Demi, Selena and Madison on the couch by them selves.
“So far so great right Demi?” Selena asked, her voicing hinting at sarcasm as she felt her body relaxing significantly, the absence of Demi's mom putting both girls at ease as Selena felt the blind girl's head lean against Selena's shoulder.
“I'm sorry Selena. I should have warned you. My mom can be a little...what's the right word.”
“Scary?” Selena added, a smirk going to her lips. That earned another heartfelt giggle from her fellow 18 year old companion.
“I was gonna say overprotective but, yeah I guess scary could be another definitive word.”
Selena's gently hand rested on Demi's fore arm and began to stroke the blind girl's expose skin. She forgot that she was supposed to be the one that was nervous in this situation. “It's OK Demi, I really do understand. Your mom is just looking for you. If I knew someone as amazing as you were, I'd do the same.”
Demi's smile widened at Selena compliment. Feeling her heart swell up she snuggled into the Hispanic girl's embrace as a sigh escaped her lips. Knowing that this moment wouldn't last judging how the first half hour of their night was going, Demi tried to take advantage of their time alone as much as she could.
“I just want her to see you the way I see you is all.”
Selena looked down at the floor as she leaned her head against the singer's. Letting out an exacerbated breath, she silently agreed with the blind girl next to her, gently nodding her head. Turning her gaze to the youngest girl now in the room, she was met by Madison’s bright eyes and vibrant smile.
“Damn girl. You just stood toe to with the beast!”
That one statement caused all three of them to burst out in laughter. It was a small moment of victory, but a moment that was much needed to break the tension that had been building up since Selena entered their home. And maybe just maybe if Demi was by her side, Selena could possibly make it throughout the rest of the dinner.
“What's there to talk about? I don't trust her.” Diana tried to keep her voice together as she opened the oven to check on the roast that was cooking. It would be another twenty minutes before she could even serve the prepared meal. Sighing in frustration she closed the oven door and leaned against the kitchen counter, facing her husband who seemed to be indifferent about the situation.
“Diana...” Her husband began,“You're being ridiculous. You barely know the girl.”
“How do you know what kind of person she's like Eddie? For all you know she could be like those girls from Cross Timber. Do you remember them? The so called girls that pretended to be friends with our daughter?” Diana quietly fumed, her eyes livid as she spoke to her husband.
“Besides I just asked her a question was all. She's the one getting defensive about it.” Diana replied, closing the oven door to the roast that was cooking in the oven. The eldest daughter just snickered at her mother's denial.
“I dunno mom. You seem to be the one getting all defensive.” Dallas snickered, leaning back on the chair she was sitting in. The mother just looked at the blonde daughter, staring daggers into the dancer's face.
“Did I ask for your opinion Dallas?”
“Mom...” Dallas got up from her seat and placed her hands on her hips defiantly as the tone in her voice changed. “How many more people are you going to scare away? If you keep this up, Demi won't have any friends left.”
“I'm not going to have my daughter be taken advantaged of like that ever again. She is not going to go through that same heart ache that she went through back in Texas” The mother challenged back, matching Dallas's wits with her own stubbornness, determined to stand her ground against her eldest creation.
The blond dancer just scoffed at her mother's pig headed attitude and turned away. “You keep this and Demi is going to...” She stopped mid way as her eyes caught something at their dining table.
“Mom, there are six of us here tonight. Why is there an extra plate?” Dallas turned towards her mother cautiously pointing to the seventh seating arrangement around the large dining table.
“I uhm, kind of invited a friend?”
Dallas's eyebrow cocked at the subtle hint that her mother was giving her. She had a few guess of who this new mystery guest was. But she only needed one. In a cautious state, she asked the dreaded question. “...Who did you invite?”
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of their door bell ringing.
A dreadful feeling started to brew inside the pit of Demi's stomach as she heard the ringing of her door bell. She couldn't understand who would be coming by, at this hour especially when everyone was already pretty much here. Who could possibly come by now?
Her mind was reeling with the possibilities as she felt her way to the front door of their home. She couldn't explain this feeling of dread, but from the debacle of her mother's accusation towards Selena and...well just the conversations she had with her this week, the blind musician didn't have a good feeling about this. Her fears were confirmed as she opened the door.
“Demi, oh my god is that you?” Demi felt a weight crash in her stomach as that familiar voice rang in her ears.
No she didn't. Her mother didn't invite...
“It's me, Joe! Joe Jonas!” And just like that, Demi's evening took a massive u-turn for the worse.