Apparently, it didn't matter how big the house was. It didn't matter that they lived in 7,800 square feet of space with generous distance between all of their rooms. Once all of the kids were up, Demi could hear them perfectly, screaming and arguing over God knows what while she assumed that Wilmer was trying to get them to settle down. Demi took another few seconds to continue mindlessly staring at the ceiling before she pushed her covers off of her body and dragged herself out of bed.
The further she got away from her room, the more clearly she could hear all of the commotion downstairs. Today was Bella's first competition with the Abby Lee Dance Company and she was riding the bus with them while everyone else was going to meet her there. Maybe that was the cause of all of the chaos. Once she made it down the spiral staircase she rounded the corner and turned into the kitchen, but she instantly wished that she hadn't.
Devy was screaming her lungs off and Wilmer couldn't calm her down. Nolie and Nicholas were arguing about God knows what and Bella was rushing around the kitchen trying to get herself together before Melissa came to pick her up to take her to the studio to get on the bus. Demi felt like a machine as she took Devy out of Wilmer's arms and let the infant rest her head on her shoulder, instantly settling down as she felt her mother's warmth against her skin. Then Demi turned off the TV that Wilmer felt they needed in the kitchen and gave the twins a stern look to eat their food. She left Bella alone and ventured into the living room where she mechanically lowered her shirt and moved her bra out of the way so that Devy could latch on. Her head fell against the couch as she took deep breaths and wished that she was still asleep.
"I'm sorry if they woke you," Wilmer said as he came into the living room and sat down next to her.
Since their argument two days ago, Demi really hadn't been talking to him. She hadn't been able to properly sleep since her argument with Wilmer. It was weighing heavy on her mind because she understood that he was worried about her but he didn't need to keep reminding her that there was something wrong with her when there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't stop being a mom. She couldn't stop being a CEO. She couldn't stop being a fashion designer. She couldn't stop being a wife. Wilmer wanted her to get better but he also wanted her to take care of the kids and him and everything else and it just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to anyone. And she just didn't understand how she got stuck in this rut when she didn't experience this after having the twins. She was completely fine and she had been married to a complete asshole who picked at her baby weight and pressured her to become a housewife. Wilmer was supportive and he wanted to be there for her, but Demi wanted to take care of this on her own. She just had to keep going. She couldn't just stop.
"They were all screaming, of course they woke me up," Demi bluntly stated, adjusting Devy in her arms as Wilmer did that annoying thing where he sighed really loudly, like he was replacing his sigh with what he really wanted to say.
"Go ahead and say it," Demi breathed out as Wilmer huffed again.
"Devy would've been fine if you remembered to pump some milk last night," he mumbled as Demi chewed down on her bottom lip.
"What time are we leaving for the competition?"
"You know that I hate when you do that shit, Demi," Wilmer said through clenched teeth, and Demi was about to respond but Bella came into the living room while tying her hair on a bun on the top of her head.
"Melissa is here, I'll see you guys in a few hours," she said, kissing both of them on their cheeks before running out of the front door.
The more Demi thought about the whole TV show thing, the more she believed that Wilmer was right and it probably would be a good idea for Bella to have something that would distract her from what was going on at the house. Considering the childhood that she had, she didn't want her kids involved in any type of drama relating to her and Wilmer. She wanted them to be kids. She didn't want them stressing over having to hear them fight and argue with each other. And she never wanted them to feel like they had to pick sides, especially since they were a blended family now. That's why Demi didn't want to address her problems with Wilmer. That's why she just wanted to keep saying that she was fine because if she said it enough, it would eventually be true.
"What time are we leaving for the competition?" She repeated as Wilmer stood up.
"At 12. I have a few errands to run but I'll be back by then," Wilmer said. He checked his pockets then headed towards the door. A few moments later, Demi heard it slam shut.
Bella POV
"Bella, do you know the group dance?" Camryn asked as Melissa sewed my headpiece in. I know how to do it myself but she said she didn't want me to feel left out since all of the mothers have been helping their daughters get into their costumes and stuff.
"I know a little bit of it but not a lot," I said as I finished brushing bronzer onto my cheeks. I don't really like competition makeup. It's so over the top and it's annoying because I never wear this much makeup on a daily basis.
"She might be taking your place if you don't get your timing right," Abby threatened, staring directly at Camryn as I pursed my lips and just continued to do my makeup. Abby can be a little...mean. Well, really mean. Sometimes she's sweet but then when you make a mistake she's calling you stupid. It's all very confusing.
"Are your parents coming today?" Nia asked as I nodded and set my brush down. I'm assuming they're coming because they said they are but I know things come up. If they don't come, it's really not that big of a deal, especially since I know it's being recorded.
"Okay, girls, come on, are you ready?" Abby asked, clapping her hand together as Melissa finished off my headpiece so I stood up and joined Maddie where she was standing in front of Abby.
"Bella, this is your first time dancing with us. It might be your last but that's up to you. We want you on this team. I want you on this team. But it's up to you, and more importantly, it's up to the judges. Because if you do end up wanting to stay but this duet doesn't win, I don't really need you on the team, do I?" Abby asked as I shrugged. "Okay, lets go."
I followed Maddie backstage, running through the dance in my head. I don't ever really get nervous before I dance but it's different this time. I learned this dance in two days and I've never learned a dance that fast before. Plus, I'm dancing on TV with one of the most famous dancers in the industry right now. I know the history of this show enough to know that if I don't win, Abby will most likely blame me.
"Judges please welcome entry number 43, it's Maddie and Bella with Two Sapphires," I smiled as we walked out then took our starting positions. Since I was facing the crowd I was able to see everyone who was there. My dad, the twins, and even my abuelita and aunty Marilyn were sitting in the row behind Abby and the moms. I was expecting Demi to be there, not my abuelita and my aunt. Where was she at?
Demi could not not believe Wilmer did this to her. Apparently when he said that he had errands to run, those errands included picking his mother and his sister up from the airport and bringing them back to the house. But it wasn't just for a weekend visit to attend Bella's competition. It was permanent. And he honestly just expected her to be okay with it, like it wasn't a complete slap in the face to her.
"Sobeida, Marilyn, what are you doing here?" Demi asked, coming down the stairs after making sure that the kids were dressed and ready to go.
She was surprised to see Sobeida, Wilmer's mom, and Marilyn, his older sister, standing in the foyer and looking around in awe. Wilmer was bringing their luggage into the house but after bringing in two suitcases he went back outside. How much luggage did they possibly need for a quick stay?
"Wilmer didn't tell you we were coming?" Sobeida asked, her accent a tad bit thicker than Wilmer's. She knew English perfectly but she preferred to speak in her native tongue, something that Demi had learned when she first met her during Christmas time.
"No..." Demi trailed off through a fake smile, because she didn't want anyone to see the cracks in their marriage. She hated involving anyone in their personal business, family or not.
"Oh, well, he thought it'd be a good idea for us to move in for a while, just so that you can have some extra help with the kids since you're fully working now and stuff," Marilyn chimed in, pushing her pretty dark hair off of her shoulder as Demi raised her right eyebrow.
"Oh..." Demi's eyes landed on Wilmer as he brought in the last of the luggage. There were six suitcases altogether along with two duffle bags.
"Bella is going to be thrilled that you're here. Wilmer can you show your rooms. I'm going to make sure Devy has everything," Demi said as Sobeida nodded in understanding.
Demi shot Wilmer one last look before going upstairs into Devy's nursery. Demi had packed everything and checked the bag twice to make sure that everything was in there. Devy was napping because Demi had just fed her so that she wouldn't have to do it during the competition. As Demi was stroking Devy's cheek and watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, Wilmer entered the soundproof room and closed the door behind him.
"We're married now," she said without looking away from her daughter. "We're married now," she repeated, because she really felt as if she had to remind him of that.
"Demi-"
"Wilmer, we're married now. I'm not perfect. Neither of us are. But we're married now and we're supposed to make decisions together, especially when it involves moving your family into our house," Demi cut him off as Wilmer sighed.
"I don't want you to be stressed," he excused but Demi shook her head before she turned to face him.
"I'm not stressed! Do you know what's making me stressed? The fact that you won't shut up about there being something wrong with me! Do you think I like this? Do you think I like struggling? Do you think I'm choosing to have all of these problems and not being able to bounce back after having a baby? I'm trying so hard, Wilmer. I'm trying! I can't...I can't just stop. You told me that. I've been telling myself that. But it's like, you don't truly get it, like you don't understand that the only way for me to move past this is to handle it on my own and to keep going!" Demi yelled, not even knowing if she was making sense but everything kept spilling out of her mouth and by the end of it she was in tears.
And she wasn't like this. She wasn't emotional and irrational. She didn't say things out of pure emotion. She was calculated and intelligent and she knew exactly how to handle situations but it was like after having a baby, nothing was right. Everything was off. She was off. But she was trying so hard not to be.
"Demi, please don't make this into a bigger issue than it is. I just thought we could use the help with the kids-"
"You knew I would have a problem with it and that's why you did it behind my back. That's not how a marriage is supposed to be, Wilmer."
"Marriage? You want to talk about how marriage is supposed to be? What are you going off on, your failed marriage with Nick? You know how marriage is supposed to be? Us helping each other but you won't even let me do that because you swear you can handle everything on your own! Well, you know what? I don't like this marriage, Demi. I don't like being married to you anymore, not when you're like this, and not when you won't let me help you! My mom and my sister are staying until you get yourself together. We'll figure out what to do after that. I'll meet you downstairs to leave in five minutes," Wilmer stated, calming down towards the end as Demi ran her tongue over her teeth, swallowing down her tears.
"Fuck you. I'm not going anywhere with you. When you get home you can make yourself comfortable in the same wing that your family is staying in," Demi spat before turning back to Devy's crib. Even through all of that she was still peacefully sleeping.
Idk what it is it but I can't get into this story like I have with my others but I'm trying 😭 also, do you guys want a character list so you'll know what everyone looks like?