Always Second Best
Time has past since I had last held her like I currently was, three whole years to be exact. Life has been way to harsh to her, and I knew she finally had enough. How did I now this? Maybe it has to do with the fact I'm current rubbing her back as she sobs and cusses at life. People think she is a lost cause, but to me she is simply on the wrong path and now it's my job to lead her to the right. I rest my head on hers and try to calm her down with no success might I say. My heart fills with pain as I see her so weak and helpless, she is never been this broken before. I always thought of her as the strong one, the one who was always better than all the rest of us. But now I realize she is human just like the rest of us in this crazy business called Hollywood. Who am I talking about you ask? The one and only Miss. Miley Ray Stewart.
It had been an hour since I had come over after a desperate voice was heard thru my phone's speaker in the middle of the night. I had found her curled on the couch in the dark clinging to a picture frame like her life depended on it. Once I rushed over and sat down she immediately dug her head into my chest and continued to let the waterworks fall from her blue gray eyes. I tried to get her to tell me what was wrong but gave up half an hour later after realizing she just need to be held nothing more. So I sat there and let her crumbled down like she never has before. I will be the first to say that I was shock when I saw her so sad and depressed. This was Smiley Miley we were talking about, she's the strong, independent, unbreakable almost immortal human being I have ever met. She doesn't let anyone take her down, I was one of the first who tried. I broke her heart, but she made the best of it and wrote a number one single who was full of the truth even if I have repeatedly denied it.
Another hour later and her breathing slowed showing that sleep had overtaken her body. I shifted only for her to cuddle deeper into me and prevent me from leaving her side. I starred at her and noticed the dark rings around her eyes that told me this wasn't the first time she had been up all night. Eventually, the sun rose and I managed to get out of her grip. I stood up and walked over to the piano by the window that overlooked the backyard. The black piano was covered in music sheets and old pictures. Three picture caught my attention, maybe it was due to the fact they had been torn in half. The first one was a picture of the whole Stewart family. The second one was one of Miley and Liam with their dogs. The final picture was the one that confused me, it was Demi and Miley on the set of Send It On. They were playing music, Miley on the guitar and Demi sat on the piano bench. Why would Miley rip a picture of her best friend?
"You're confused," she stated with that sleepy angel like voice, you know the one that I never could say no to. I turned around and saw her sitting up with her legs crossed Indian style. I spoke "I thought you were sleeping?" She shrugged and said, "I couldn't sleep anymore," I starred at her while she starred at the torn up pictures in my hands, like they were evil and had the power to break her. It took me a few minutes to realize that my girl was scared of these pictures I had in my hand. I took a step closer to her and she froze which make her look like a statue she never took her beautiful blue gray eyes off the pictures. I automatically put the pictures down on top of the shiny black piano and put my hands up in surrender. Miley finally looked at me and smiled softly, "Sorry I'm kinda tired and a bit distracted..." Her eyes flashed to the pictures before looking back at me.
I sighed in sadness, "Mi, you don't have to pretend your okay. I know you and your hurt. I've never seen you this hurt before and it scares me to death. Your Smiley Miley, the girl who doesn't let anything break her down. But wanna know what scares me more? It's the fact that I'm afraid the reason your hurt is because you love people unconditionally. You love people who don't really have the ability to love you back." I waited for her reaction but got nothing except her looking away. I sighed and spoke, "What's going on in the mind of yours, Mi?" She looked at me and sighed, "Have you ever felt like you were always second best to a person? Like no matter what you do you will never be good enough?" I was confused, yet curious. Miley was always number one to everyone. Number one friend, number one sister, number one daughter, number one artist, and number one lover. Miley was never second best.
She signed before walking out the french doors that lead to the backyard, I trailed behind her and leaned on the door frame. I watched her interact with the her dogs and got frustrated with her mysterious actions. I sighed, "Mi, come on talk to me. You know you have never been second best to anyone. Your one of a kind, no one can ever replace you." She signed and curled up on the outdoor couched, I walked over and sat besides her. "It all started after my parents announced their divorce a few years back. It made me want to show the world that I wasn't this clueless kid, that you could walk over. But things got out of hand... I got out of hand. I don't wanna be known as a pothead. But I can't stop Nick. I tried so hard but I just can't!" She put her heads in between her hands, "It helped to take my mind off my fucked up life, but now that I want to make everything right they don't want anything to do with me. I made a huge mistake, I get that but all I want is my old life again." She started to sob and I couldn't help but pull her into my lap and rock her like she was a baby. I kissed the top of her head and whispered, "I have always wanted you, you have always been my number one. Baby, your something that no one can ever forget. Trust me I have tried one to many times, yet here I am. Your a drug yourself, Mi. Once someone spends time with you, they can't let you go. It's simply impossible." She shook her head in denial before looking up at me, "That's not true. They all replace me at whether they know it or not. I'm not as special as you think. So maybe my replacements aren't exactly like me but they still fill in that hole I leave. Everyone always finds someone that is close enough if not better than I am. It always happens and it always will happen."
I shook my head as I remember how stubborn she was. I sighed and lifted her head to meet my eyes. "Trust me when I tell you there is no one that can replace you and just forget you. I have been on that side, I still am. I dated so many girls and yet here I am coming back to you, like I always do. Your right I have tried to replace you and you have no idea how I have failed so many times. With Delta I thought she was gonna be the one and she was...for awhile that is. She had blue eyes, long hair even if it wasn't as beautiful as yours." I ran my hand thru her short blond hair, "She was passionate about music like you or so I thought until I realize she was just passionate about the fame. After nine months it made me realize I couldn't find anymore you in her and broke it off. I realized no one has those blue eyes with just a tiny bit of gray in them, no one has that soft hair you used to have and mostly no one is as passionate as you. Once you take interest in something you give it your all and sometimes that's a bad thing. Because when that thing lets you down, it makes you break and feel like crap." She looked at me with those glassy blue gray eyes and nods. Her bottom lip trembled and her blink trying to keep the tears in, "It's okay to cry, it shows your human." She burst into tears and buried in her head in my neck.
The tears keep on going for awhile, I just held her and let her take out all those emotions. I noticed her tears soften and the shivering began. I looked up at the sky and noticed the dark gray clouds threatening to pour water on us, "We should go inside it's getting pretty ugly out here." She looked up at the sky a frowned before standing up and offering me her hand. I took it and noticed how you could practically feel all her bones thru her skin, unable to hid my frown before she noticed and quickly let go of my hand. I sighed, "Remember when you used to be so confident in your own body. Not this skin, fat less body. The one that had curves in all the right places and didn't care if she ate more than I did on our first date." Miley sighed and walked inside and up the stairs to the east wing. I knew this path like the back of my hand, heck I was in this house more than I was in my own. I stopped suddenly so that I wouldn't run into Miley. Confused I was wondering why she hadn't gone into her bedroom, "Mi, why are we standing outside your bedroom door?" She sighed before softly saying, "I haven't been in here since I kicked my parents out. It's like this room holds the daughter they loved no mater what, not the one who destroy her family when she tried to live her dream. It hurts knowing that your the cause of your parents relationship failing. The cause of your young sister having to chose who she loves more and wants to live with until she's of legal age. I thought maybe with you here, I would have the courage to actually open the door. You know since so much of us is in that room." She smiled softly at the memories and I couldn't help but smile along with her, "Come on, I will be right here beside you." I said while rest my hand on her small back. She took a breath and slowly raised her hand to the doorknob. I whispered, "It's okay, I'm right here." She turned the knob and slowly open the door with a bit of hesitation, but she went thru with it.
We walked into the room and I couldn't help but smile as all the memories flooded my mind. Miley walked a bit head of me to the bulletin board over her desk. I followed her and looked at all the pictures of her family and friends. Unconsciously I raised my hand to touch the picture of us at the age 13. It was June 11, 2006 and we both wore matching grins and horrible outfits. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the younger version of us, Mile giggled quietly next to me. "We looked so stupid there huh?" She shook her head before replying, "We were innocent that's all. I wished we were still like that. Don't you?" I nodded and she sighed before going to undo her bed and lay down. I watched as she cuddled up to the pillow and patted the spot next to her signaling me to join her and I did.
Miley looked me straight in the eyes and sighed, "You look so confused. I guess I should explain my breakdown shouldn't I?" I nodded sheepishly and watched as she took at deep breath. "Last night I got a call from Taylor. You could tell she wasn't in the right state of mind but she still spoke the truth. She told me how even though she is Selena's best friend, Demi will always pick Selena over me. She also said that Liam never loved me and was just using me to gain fame. I couldn't help but take it to heart and see the truth behind her drunken words. She's right I lost everything because I was to busy getting high and not realizing what was happening in front of me." I tried to protest but she shook her head, "Don't. We both know she's right. I was so mad when I realized that she speaking the truth I spent hours looking thru pictures until I got to those three. I knew they were the reason I was like this. Even though I really shouldn't blame them, I couldn't help but realize it all started when Demi went into rehab, then a few months later my dad filed for divorce. I was so vulnerable when I ran into Liam at a club, that I didn't realize the type of life he was living. He introduced me into the world of drugs and from then on I have lived in that world." She looked distant, like she wasn't willing to bring herself to see the mess her life have become.
"What does Demi have to do with all this though?" I spotted the sadness in her eyes and put my right arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "I called her a few days before her family held the intervention, she seemed fine to me except for the fact that she seemed a little giggly. I knew what she was doing but I just couldn't bring myself to admit it. How could my best friend be on drugs, I knew she cut herself and never ate properly but she swore to me that she stopped once her and Joe started dating. I was stupid and believed her little act. I mean you could tell she was getting curvier when you guys started tour. And then couple days later the news broke that she was admitted into a rehab center. I called her and she screamed at me saying it was my fault. She said I should have been a better friend and that is Selena was in my position she would of helped her. She said I was the worst friend ever. After that I just couldn't help but detach myself from anything Demi related. When she got out of rehab her management informed me that we would talk good about each other so that no drama would rise, but other than that she didn't want anything to do with me." I felt my heart break a little when I realized the pain she was going thru. I kissed her head, "She doesn't deserve you Mi. If she did she would realize how your so much more than a great friend. What to know why?" I felt her shrug but nod, "Because you knew what she was going thru and didn't judge her for it. A best friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. Your just that kind of person, you never judge anyone for their mistakes. Even if those mistakes hurt you." She looked up at me with those beautiful innocent blue gray eyes and spoke, "But I'm not her best friend, Nicky. Selena has always been her best friend and no matter how much it kills me, she always will be. Just like you'll always be my best friend. A good friend will know all your stories and Demi knows all my stories. But a best friend had lived then with you. That's you Nick you lived everything with me and no one could ever replace you. Just like I could never replace Selena. She will always have 10 years worth of memories I will never have with Demi. Just like you have 3 whole years over Demi." She ran a hand thru my short curls and smiled softly. "I guess your right. Maybe it's for the best that your single and ready to quit your life as a pothead." I chuckled as she softly smacked my head with her head.
"Wait how did you know I was single?" She looked at me with curious eyes. "Well I kinda ran into Liam at the store yesterday and he told me that I could have you and that you were a good fuck. So I kinda of, possibly, in a way, gave him a black eye." She looked at me with wide eyes, "Nick! What if he presses charges against you?" I shrugged and said, "I doubt he will, but if he does I'll just buy the court. I'm Nick Gray remember? Plus no one hurts Cinderella and not expect to get a beat down from Prince Charming." I winked at her and smiled as the red invaded her cheeks. "Shut up, I was 16 when I wrote that book." I laughed and kissed her head, "What ever helps you sleep at night, baby." She looked at me with that sparkle that I was oh so familiar with, "Baby?" I nodded and grinned, "I let you go twice and I would be a fool if I let you go a third time. Your mine now, even if you don't want to be mine." I smirked and she giggled, "I don't know if I could date a guy with such a big ego." I tickled her sides and watched as she squirmed under my hands. "Nicholas stop that this moment!" I laughed and pulled her closer, "I love you, Mi." She looked at me and replied, "I love you more than I ever have. I glad I got to write my name in your heart. Just like you did to me." I kissed her, pulled away and said softly, "By the way to me your always gonna be my number one..."
This story started as a one shot but I realized that I could make a great mini series out of it. Please review and let me know what you think. The movie would likely have Niley facing their families, friends, and fans. Also it would fast forward a year or two to a beautiful miracle for Niley. Again thanks for reading and hopefully reviewing.