CHAPTER 1

Demi's POV

I cant believe its been six months since I've been out of treatment. The support I've received from the public is absolutely crazy, and that mean the world to me. Still, everyday is hard. I need something that's going to distract me. I need a responsibility.

**RING RINGG RINGGG RINGGGGG***

My obnoxiously loud ringtone sounded. I glanced at the screen before unlocking it and smiled at the picture of Marissa and I flashing across it.

"Hey M" I said into the phone while trying to balance the phone between my head and my shoulder.

"Hey Dems! Shit girl, I miss you so much, Get your ass over here sometime!" She said into the phone. I hadn't been to Texas to see her in a long time.

I started laughing. "Riss you know im so totally busy working on my album and things haven't been going too great. I feel like I need something to keep me grounded. Like a responsibility for me to have so I don't screw up again." I sighed and realized how stupid that sounded.

A loud crash sounded in the backround. "Shit I gotta go, but I totally feel you... Adopt a dog or something? I don't know what to tell you. I guess talk to management or something?" She said, rushing through her words.

"Yeah I will, thanks Riss. Love you!"

"Love you too!" Marissa said before hanging up.

I watched a movie and decided to make some popcorn. As the final credits rolled, I looked around, struck by the realization of how empty this house seemed. At first, it seemed like a good idea, to start being an adult by getting my own house, but now it's too big for one person. I felt so lonely, but I knew a relationship wasn't what I wanted, or needed right now. With a sigh of frustration, I got up and went upstairs to bed.

As I laid under the covers, I could not sleep for my life. Tossing and turning, I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Marissa and I's phone conversation kept replaying in my head. I went through it mentally for the 300th time. Then I sat up in bed. Adopt. I want to adopt.

Searching for my phone I tore through blankets on my bed before hitting the 1 on my speed dial. "C'mon C'mon pick up!" I muttered to myself.

"Demi?! What's wrong?! What happened?!" My manager Phil said into the phone, hushed and panicked.

I looked at the clock. 3:42 AM.. oops. "Nothings wrong, I just wanted to ask your opinion on something.." I said slowly.

"Okay.. You do realize its 3 AM right?" Phil whispered into the phone.

"Well.. I don't know how to put it..." I said stalling.

"Demi spit it out."

"I want to adopt a child." I said physically cringing while I waited for his answer. It didn't come right away.

Phil sighed. "I was wondering when you were going to ask that." He said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I was dumbfounded. I expected accusations that I was crazy, or if I had taken my medication.

"Demi, you've always had this maternal instinct in you. The entire team know you were going to want to adopt sooner or later. So we've had the answer for a while now."

Huh. I guess they realized my adoration for kids. "And that is...?" I asked trying to keep my voice even.

"Of course you can adopt a child. We've analyzed the PR angles and the emotional angles and considered it an all around good choice. Just make sure you pick the right kid Dems." He said.

"AHHH THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" I yelled into the phone.

"Sure Demi. Anything for you."

I hung up the phone and began to dance around my bedroom before falling on my ass. Oops. Butt. I really had to get this cursing thing out of my system before I adopted anyone.

I sprinted downstairs to my computer and began looking up adoption agencies. Huh. A lot of them in California. One of them caught my eye. 'Sunshine Acres.' An all girls facility. In downtown LA. I jotted down the number then began looking at their information. All girls, around 20 girls there right now, between ages of 6 months to 17 years old. That's crazy. Who would give up their baby girl? Soon, the realization hit me that I was going to be the legal guardian of another human being. I was so excited I had a twist in the pit of my stomach. Yet there was also nervousness. What if I couldn't handle this? What if she didn't like me? What if I am a terrible mother? I went upstairs and laid back down in bed, deciding to try to fall asleep. The last thing I thought of was if I should paint the other bedroom pink or purple.