Surviving Quarantine [Book One]

Four

Demi

"You want to let Max know that dinners ready, Dems?" I looked up from my phone and over at mom and Maddie who stood by the stove. I nodded, standing up from the stool and beginning out of the kitchen. I shoved my phone into the pocket of my jeans, my mouth tugging at the corners at the gentle sound of the piano. I leant against the wall, just outside the door for a moment, just listening to the gentle rhythm. After a moment, I began into the room, Max's eyes instantly turning to me. His lips moved but I couldn't quite work out what he was saying so I stepped closer.

"Hmm?" I ran my hand along his shoulder and smiled down at him.

"I'm on live" my mouth dropped open and I gasped, instantly covering my face and backing from the room. Max chuckled and I couldn't help but to giggle in embarrassment as I left. I could feel my cheeks burning as I began back into the kitchen, mom and Maddie instantly glancing to me with their eyebrows raised.

"What's up with you?"

"I just walked in on Max on Instagram live" Maddie released a loud laugh, obviously finding my current embarrassment hilarious.

"I suppose that's the end of your private relationship?"

"You could say that" I lowered myself down onto the stool and nuzzled my head into my arms as I groaned. Maddie continued to laugh but she fell silent when I heard a slap.

"What?"

"Babe?" I groaned as a hand settled on my lower back, refusing to remove my head from my arms. "Baby?" his fingers began to stroke at my hair so he could try and get a view of my face. He leant to press a kiss to my temple. "Baby?" his lips brushed against my skin and as much as I tried not to, a smile formed on my face. I lifted my head and groaned as I turned to face him. He gave me a smile, stroking a strand of hair behind my ear as I pouted. He leant to press a gentle and quick kiss to my pout causing my mouth to tug at the corners.

"I wanted to keep you a secret for a little longer" he lightly chuckled as he played with a strand of my hair.

"I'm sorry, Baby" I shook my head, giving him a small smile.

"I just know what my fans are like when it comes to someone that I'm dating. I've had guys leave because of my fans driving them away" Max shook his head in reply. I think we'd both completely forgot that my mom and Maddie where still stood at the stove until a loud clatter pulled at our attention.

"I'm sorry" I rolled my eyes at Maddie. "You-You can continue" I shook my head, turning back to Max for a moment before I pushed myself up from the stool and began from the kitchen.

"Hey" I was halted by Max wrapping his hand around my wrist. "Demi, talk to me" a lump formed in my throat and tears began to well in my eyes and I'm not sure why. He gently turned me to face him, concern filling his eyes as our eyes locked. "Baby, why are you crying?" I shrugged my shoulders and sniffled as Max wiped at my cheeks with the pad of his thumb.

"I don't really know" he chuckled lightly causing me to weakly smile up at him. "I don't want to lose you" I whined, my voice cracking.

"What makes you think you're going to lose me?"

"I-I know what my fans can be like. I don't want them to drive you away like they have other boyfriends in my life. I've been happy and I've been content and then we go public and it slowly starts to go to shit" he shook his head, continuing to wipe at my cheeks.

"That isn't going to happen to us."

"You can't promise me that, Max" he released a sigh, glancing down as he wrapped his hands around mine. I kept my eyes on him as he released a sigh and slowly glanced back up to meet my gaze.

"I'm not going to let your fans drive me away, Demi. What I feel for you is..." he stopped himself, glancing away briefly, his tongue running along his lower lip. I watched in silence, my teeth biting into my own lip. "What I feel for you is something I've never felt before" his eyes locked back with mine. "I-I like you a lot and maybe it's a little too soon but I already feel like I'm falling in love with you" my mouth tugged into a wide smile. "I'm going to take that smile as a positive thing" I giggled and nodded, pulling my hands from his grip so I could lock my arms around his neck.

"I think I'm falling in love with you too."

"You think?" his eyebrows raised playfully and I squealed as he began to tickle at my sides.

"Okay. Okay, Max, stop" I said through a fit of laughter.

"You don't need to be worried about me leaving you because it isn't going to happen."

"I love you" he pressed his forehead against mine, a wide smile spread across his face.

"I love you too, Miss Lovato" I giggled, smiling against his lips as he brought me into a sweet kiss. His hands settled on my hips as my fingers ran into his hair.

"Aww, you guys are so cute" I rolled my eyes as I pulled away from Max, glaring over at Maddie who was stood in the doorway with her phone in hand.

"That goes nowhere" she laughed, a smirk forming on her face and she sent me a wink before turning back around and disappearing into the living room. "Madison" I went to charge after her but was halted by Max pulling me back, his lips crashing against mine. I melted into him, momentarily forgetting about my little sister.

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