Old story I made two years ago. Uploaded this in another account but this one's upgraded. I hope you like the few changes. The plot is still running that way though. I don't own anything but the plot. Yes, I used to be iloveyoudorkie. That account is still up but I don't use it anymore. Decided to comeback to FanFic and do what I love. Any violent reactions? No? Good.- - - Leave me a good review. ;) xx NILEY – Miley's POV.
Anywhere But Here
Chapter One
Summer time in California—the best time of the year, especially now that I've graduated high school and onto college. This should be the greatest summer of my entire life, before I enter Brown.. that is. But there isn't much to do in a small town like this. I'm in my usual place at home—sitting in my bed. I'm reading my favorite book, The Phantom of The Opera, for the Nth time. Everything was so relaxing until someone came knocking at my door.
"Come in!" I shouted flipping another page of the book.
"Miley..." she called out. It was my mom, Tish. She came in and I heard the door slam shut. Is she in a bad mood or what? I looked up at her; she was in her usual nurse's outfit, silk white pants and a top that has stupid designs. Her outfit is the first thing I notice when I look at her, but this time something seems different. She was smiling like there's no tomorrow; her cheek bones lifted up to her eyes.
"Hey Mom. What's up?" I asked suspicious, as I sat up knitting my eyebrows together.
"So.. I have this 'exam' or kind of like a 'training' to get this job promotion, in our branch in New Jersey. They'll be training slash examining slash observing me there for a month or two and after that, if I do great, I'll be getting the promotion!" she explained with her eyes wide open and facial expression; still smiling like there's no tomorrow. She wasn't exactly a nurse, she's a physical therapist in a clinic here in our town. Before she could continue, I felt like giving a feedback about it. Wait, did she say New Jersey?
"What kind of promotion, then?" I asked, closing the book and putting a bookmark to where I stopped.
"Well, if I pass, the clinic is going to send a recommendation of me to the Children's Hospital, to be a therapist for the kids. Which is so much easier than doing the old people.. not that I don't like them. It's just easier and the salary is twice as much I get in the clinic." I laughed when she said 'clinic' in a really high pitch.
"Well, that sounds awesome Mom. Congratulations." I said smiling and gave her a quick hug.
She puled away. "That's not the best part." she continued squealing like a fifteen year old in a boy band concert. I sighed, trying to keep that smile on my face.
"What is?" I replied, putting the book beside the lamp.
"Okay, so you remember Denise and her family?" she asked scooting a little bit closer to me.
"Yeah, Aunt Denise? What about her?" I knitted my eyebrows together again. Denise wasn't really my aunt. I just call her that because she's Mom's best friend since they met at work, long before I was born. I still remembered the Grey family. I usually stayed over them when I was a kid during spring break, they used to live a couple of towns away from us here. But that was like... about 9 years ago. We didn't exactly lose connection, my Mom send them Christmas cards, even Birthday cards. She sends them letters, Aunt Denise does the same. The Gray family only had one kid, Nick, the most stubborn obnoxious annoying boy I have ever known in my childhood. I've been trying to avoid him all these years to help myself from punching him in the face. I never really had good memories with them. But mom has, they were friends and all.
"They live in New Jersey now, right? Our company is just a town away from her house. So, since it's summer I was thinking if we could stay at her house until my training ends. They didn't mind because they wanted company.." the words that trailed off her mouth made my jaw drop and just stare at her. What does she mean by we? I'm not coming with her, and stay in a house with the most evil kid on earth. I remembered him teasing me. Oh the times I spent with Nick Grey... It was pure torture. We'll scream at each other, but mostly he'd do all the evil things, like.. tug on my pigtails, push me in the sandbox, steal my juice boxes, hit me with a ball on purpose, those kind of evil kids do to weak little girls like I was.
"N-no! You can't bring me with you. I'll just stay here with Dad. C'mon, Mom I don't want to spend summer there." I said swung my feet to the floor and stood up. I started pacing. Her smile faded and she became serious.
"Hey, your Dad told you, remember? He can't take care of you because he's going on tour with his friends until November. But I'm pretty sure he told you that already, right? And if you come with me you get to see New Jersey. How's that for a summer?" she explained looking at me as I paced even more. Did Dad tell me that? Damn it, I forgot. Oh my goodness. Dad is a composer, guitarist and a music director. But he isn't big time like the others, but it's enough to raise me eating 3 meals a day and having proper education. With him working all day and my mom all night, I still had parental guidance at all costs. Mom in the day, Dad in the night. I wondered if it was because I was the youngest in the family.
"Mom, but I'm 17, 18 in a couple of months! I'm going to college and live in a dorm, away from you guys! I'm not a kid anymore. I can take perfect care of myself. And Mom, have you forgotten? Nick isn't the most pleasing guy to be with." I reasoned out hopeful that she won't let me come with her.
"Dear, that was years ago. You've grown, he sure will be matured enough too. You won't have any more of that small fights-" before she could continue her speech I butt in. I stopped pacing, faced her and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Small? Small fights? He took off Beary's head off!" Beary is the stuffed animal I had since was three. I know that sounded childish but mom had to sew his head back again for three days. Yes, that was how evil that boy was.
"Then again, you were 5. Beary is still with you, I fixed him, right? So, can you please come? The job's really important and one of the reasons I want you to come is so that I could spend more time with you... before you go to college. C'mon, Miley... please?" she said standing up in front of me pouting . She brushed strands of hair out of my face and looked at me in the eye. I hate it when she does this to me. "Please baby? For me?" she continued pleading.
"Why do we even have to stay there? I mean, can't we rent a small apartment or something?"
"Renting an apartment for such a short amount of time, is really expensive. And they said they didn't mind, Denise wanted company. Paul (Aunt Denise's husband) is working out of town. And Denise can really be a big factor with my promotion since she's friends with one of the doctors."
I sighed putting my arms down. She was right again as usual. I'm still not sure what to answer but I have to make a decision already. "Okay. I'm going. For you." I said sighing again as I sat back down on my bed grabbing the book and placing it on my lap.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, honey! Don't you want to spend the summer with me?" she said giving me a quick hug, I giggled. "Now, you should start packing. We leave the next day." she continued as she left my room as quickly as she could.
That made me stare out of nowhere. The next day. It was stuck in my ear. Ugh. I lay down on my bed putting a pillow over my face and groaned.
That night over dinner, Dad went home. Mom talked about her 'almost promotion' with him nonstop, then went to work. The thought of staying to New Jersey away from my friends over the summer drowned me. Gee, I can't wait to see him again. But I have to look at the bright side, it's good for all of us. Work has been an important part of this family. Mom loved to take care of her patients, this promotion would make her happier with working with kids and all. She's been wanting to do this since forever. Mom talked about how she could've been a pediatrician but didn't have the money for a proper medical school. I have to be happy for mom, and I am. The only negative thing is, living with a boy who probably doesn't even want me there.
When got up to my room, I thought that I should tell my friends first before I'd go. So they won't think I'm rude for mysteriously missing out the plans we had since winter break. I opened my laptop and e-mailed every single one of my best friends, before I knew it, replies of my messages came flying to my inbox. You'd see most of them written like this:
Miley,
You seriously cannot be leaving us. We have plans! You can't miss them! But if it's for your family and your mom... we'll let you go. Send us postcards or at least bring us souvenirs when you get back! It's only over the summer, right? You won't be leaving us that long anyways.
Best of luck to your Mom! Have fun dear! Happy Summer!
Xoxo,
Lily. (:
Lily, she's been my best friend since first grade. She's always there to support me, no matter what. Of course it's not only Lily who replied back, there was Oliver, Jake and Alex. I'm so going to be missing them. I replied back again to all my kind friends who messaged back as quickly as they could, trying to stop me from leaving. But they couldn't; I wish they could and not affect Mom's job at all. As I finished messaging all of them I flopped onto my bed and doze into a deep sleep.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The annoying sound of my alarm clock rang. I turned it off still half awake. The sunlight passed through my window and hit me in the eye. I pulled the covers up over my head and tried to go back to sleep when a thought popped up my head. I forgot to pack last night. I groaned and got up. My feet touched the cold patterned carpet and tickled me. I got into my bunny slippers from preventing for that to happen again.
I took out a few suitcases, stuffed everything from my entire closet in it, barely organizing. But I knew how to pack I just didn't bother even checking I have the right stuff. Before I knew it, I was done! I sighed in relief and my stomach grumbled. I ran downstairs, still in my pajamas, taking in the smell of toast and Pop-Tarts. Yes, Pop-Tarts.
"Done packing?" Mom asked while pouring coffee onto her mug.
"Yeah, I just finished." I nodded.
"Come and eat breakfast then." she gestured for me to sit and I do, next to Dad.
"Hey, Dad. No work today?" I asked taking a Pop-Tart from the plate.
"Nope." he answered looking up from his newspaper. I bit on the pastry.
"I kinda forgot about the tour." I shrugged, and Dad folding his newspaper. I knew what was coming.. and it's going to be long. He took a breath, so did I.
"Yes, well. We aren't bothered by you being alone here at home that much. Well your mother is, but I'm fine with it. You're all grown up, going to college. But your Mom just wants to spend the last few months of your non-college life with you. And.. Don't worry, it's going to be fun in NJ." he said smiling, taking a sip from his cup.
"I don't mind coming with Mom. I'd like to spend some time with her too." I nodded, smiling. I sucked the raspberry filling out of the pastry.
"I just can't believe it yet. My baby is off to college." she said, smiling sympathetically and wrapped her fingers around the green mug.
"She had issues like that with Trace and Brandi too." Dad nudged me with his elbow and we let out a small laugh.
"It's just college Mom. Soon enough, I'm going to get a job.. then get married, have a family... Mom, don't cry." I had to say when I noticed her eyes watering.
"I'm sorry, I just can't help it." she said, wiping the tears off her face and laughed. I smiled at the both of them. I was the youngest, and I was growing up. They loved me so much.
"How about we all eat out tonight? With Dad?" I suggested and held Mom's hand.
"That would be nice." she nodded and laughed her sadness out.
"I'm starting to think working with the kids is great for you, honey." Dad joked and we laughed.
"Oh shut it, Billy." she snapped but laughed along.
I turned the lights out and stared into the darkness. The dinner turned out to be fun. She didn't go to work tonight, she's sound asleep in her room, readying herself for the opportunity she has in New Jersey. I'm happy for her. If it means sacrificing a few out-of-town trips with my friends to make her happy, I'd do it. I have to admit I was still kind of nervous. Meeting them again for the first time after 9 long years. For me maybe it was nerve-wrecking.. but Mom is just as anxious but mostly excited. I guess I'll have to suck up the situations I'll be in when I'm with Nick. I'm just going to be perfectly matured about this. I'm going to leave him alone, and concentrate on what matters.. my Mom.
"Is that all you packed?" my Mom asked as Dad placed out suitcases inside the car.
"Yes. This is going to be a long trip, don't you think?" I replied and hopped into the car.
"Don't worry, you're going to love New Jersey."I heard Dad say outside with his comforting words. But no, it doesn't work. I'm still anxious.
"I sure hope so." I laughed it off.
More Niley stuff in the next couple of chapters. Reviews please? Tell me what you really think? It would be appreciated. Thank you. (c)bows and arrows