Summary: Sequel to Stand in the Rain. You can read this without reading the prequel, but if you want the whole story, I suggest reading Stand in the Rain first. Its one-year later and a lot has change, but one thing remains the same. Cori and Nate are both still heartbroken. Nate/Cori, Smitchie

A/N: okay, I'm not sure if I explained well enough in the last chapter of Stand in the Rain. Cori has major trust issues because of her father and other things. Now Nate blames himself because he understands her problem with trust and feels guilty even though he shouldn't. R&R!!

Chapter 1: Broken

It had been a full year since Cori left and they hadn't really talked since. Nate sat in the living room with his family watching Cori being interviewed after one of her concerts.

"So Courtney, it's pretty hard to believe that only a year ago you were opening for Connect 3 and now you're doing your own tour with Mitchie Torres."

"Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I never in a million years thought that this would be happening, but it is and I love it."

"Okay, so most of the songs on your new album are pretty self-explanatory, but a lot of the fans have been wondering about your inspiration. Especially for the song 'Believe in Me'."

"Well actually most of the songs were inspired by one guy. We broke up about a year ago and I just started writing songs and an album came out of it. Believe in Me is probably my favorite song off the album. After we broke up, I found it hard to believe in myself because I had so much of my life riding on one person. I didn't feel beautiful or talented and then one day I realized that I don't need someone else to feel beautiful. And that's where Believe in Me came from."

"That's pretty deep. So who is this mystery boy that broke the heart of Courtney Mead?"

"He's going to remain nameless. No need to point fingers." The interviewer nodded.

"Whoever he is, I bet he's sorry now." Cori smiled weakly and continued with the interview. About five minutes later they were wrapping up the interview.

"Well it looks like we're about out of time."

"Alright, before we go I'd like to thank Connect 3 for giving me my start and being my adopted family." Cori turned to the camera and waved. "Hey Shane, Jason, love you guys! I can't wait to see you again!" The interviewer laughed a little at the unorthodox shout out.

"See you next time!"

The show faded out and went to commercial. Nate stood and went up to his room, taking the stairs two at a time. He lied down on his bed. He wasn't hurt by what she said, it's what she didn't say that hurt him. Shane, Jason, love you… But no Nate. What made it harder was Tara still lived with them and she was so much like Cori. He couldn't believe that it had been a year since she left. Nate hadn't even bothered to tell anyone the truth yet.

It didn't matter that he thought the girl he was kissing was Cori, because Cori wouldn't talk to him. His family never brought her up when he was around, it would be too painful and awkward. Nate hadn't been the same and everyone knew it, they could see it. Cori tired to visit at least once a month, but every time she was there Nate would lock himself in his room. Cori probably thought he hated her, but in reality, he simply refused to cry in front of her. Nate had listened to every song on her new album, but the one that stuck out the most was 'Gonna Get Caught'. Cori was never his second choice that just proved that she really didn't know what happened.

You know that saying, 'ignorance is bliss'? Well it's wrong. He'd listen to the part where she'd sing:

Don't say that you're sorry
For breaking every inch of my heart

And the hurt and emotion in her voice broke his heart. He hated what he did to her, even if it really wasn't his fault. Cori was supposed to come this weekend and Nate hoped he could find the strength to talk to her. But until then he'd stay in his room, trying to figure out how to fix the heart he broke.

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Cori walked back out to the tour bus after the interview. Tears pricked at her eyes, anytime she talked about Nate this happened. It still hurt, especially since they didn't have any closure, which was her own fault and she knew it. He hated her now so it didn't matter, but that didn't make it any easier. Actually it made it harder. But he wouldn't talk to her, so she was just going to suck it up and hold it in as usual. Of course for the last few months she realized it was impossible to hide stuff from Mitchie. They had become best friends fast and Cori couldn't hide anything from her, no matter how much she wanted to.

"Hey Cori." Mitchie said as Cori walked into the bus, hiding her face. "What's up?" Cori knew if she didn't answer Mitchie would suspect something and if she did answer Mitchie would hear the tears in her voice.

"Nothing." Cori's voice cracked. Dammit.

"What's wrong?" There was no use now. Cori stopped hiding her face and looked at Mitchie.

"Why does he hate me?" Cori voice was weak and full of hurt. Mitchie pulled her best friend into a hug. She seen Cori like this way to often, she was perfect to the rest of the world, but behind closed doors she was broken.

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The more Nate thought about it, the more his thoughts contradicted each other. He was mad at himself for hurting Cori, but she's the one that wouldn't listen. He felt guilty for kissing that girl, but he really thought it was Cori. He hated that he wasn't with her, but she's the one who left. Nate banged his head back on the headboard in attempt to clear his thoughts, but that only gave him a headache, clouding his thoughts more. He collapsed into his pillow and tried to sort out what was happening.

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Cori locked herself in the practice room once again. Mitchie hated when Cori did that, but she would come out when she was ready. Cori sat on the floor with her guitar on her lap, but she wasn't doing anything with it. Tears streamed down her face and she didn't bother to wipe them away. She knew she had made a mistake when she left the way she did, but it was too late. Nate hated her now and there was nothing she could do about it. She had refused to let him explain and apologize and so now, there was a hole in her heart that refused to close.

Wouldn't it be horrible if I left this as a one shot? well, i just might if i don't get any reviews. mwahahahahaha. so review please.