Started on this story ages ago before all the new niley hype and now I'm finally putting it up here. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers or anything else I can think of. It's quite sad actually...
Okay, there are a few changes in this fic: Miley isn't dating Justin. Everything happened one year later than it did in real life (I wanted to make them a bit older. Meaning, they broke up at 16, not 15 etc...) Hmm, what else... I guess that's it. So enjoy the fic and give me a break, this is my first Niley fic. Enjoy!
Rating: M for sexual content in later chapters, and some bad language.
Miley POV
Here I was, at another award ceremony. The American Music Awards to be exact. But today was different. You see, today's my seventeenth birthday. Not that I've had much time to celebrate it. I spent the morning doing a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, then a couple of hours on a plane then had to go do a few more interviews before getting ready for the awards.
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the limo and onto the red carpet. Screams met me from all directions and I smiled at my fans as they called my name. A few people had proposals written on posters and I giggled at how surreal it all was. After all this time, I still couldn't believe that I was here, living my dream like this.
After signing a few autographs and posing for some pictures, I headed inside and took a seat with my parents. All kinds of famous people sat down around us and a few even leaned over to introduce themselves and say hi or that they were fans. Heh, weird.
The host was a little annoying, but maybe that's just because he mentioned Nick and I breaking up when he recapped the year. But I had to laugh when he mentioned my birthday and told my parents that it's time they move out of 'my' house. Haha! What a weirdo!
But not long after that, I had to head backstage and get ready for my performance. I wasn't nervous though. I've been asked to perform almost everywhere by everyone I could think of this past two years or so, and after the tour, I didn't get too jittery anymore. Just excited. I had the best job in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I was definitely a very lucky girl.
I cracked my neck and fingers to freak out my voice coach, like always, and he pulled a face that I laughed at every single time. Noah was on the floor by my feet, fiddling with my shoes and my mom was talking to Brandi. Braison stood behind me, watching David do my hair. My brothers, Trace and Christopher, were sitting in the crowd, waiting for me to come on. This was the first time Christopher would see me perform live, seeing as he was very busy and stuff, and I was really excited to have my whole family here.
"How you feeling Miles?" Braison asked and I glanced at him in the mirror.
"Good. Excited, and a little anxious, but good. The best of the best in music are here."
"But you're still better," he added and I smiled at how sweet he was. I could always count on my family to be there for me and encourage me.
"Aw thanks little bro." I pulled him onto my lap and my eyes widened. "Jeez, you're heavy!" I looked up at his smug face. "When did you grow up?" He laughed and got off my lap, proceeding to pick me up right out of my chair and spin me around as I laughed. "Okay okay! You made your point!" When he put me back on my feet, I made to take a step and found myself on the floor. "What the- Noah!"
My laces were tied together and Noah was looking at me with big innocent doe eyes. "It wasn't me!" she was quick to say and I felt my smile return. It was amazing to have my family with me like this. These days I didn't have much time to spend with them so I loved moments like these.
"Come here you little rat." I grabbed her and pulled her closer, tickling her mercilessly. I mentally rolled my eyes at the camera man that was filming it all. No matter where I went, there was always one following me around these days.
Noah squealed with laughter, but she was still way smaller than me and I didn't let her go until she yelled out, "Okay it was me! I'm sorry!"
"Now was that so hard?" I asked as I sat back and started tying my shoelaces again. Noah was quick to tie those on my other shoe and I gave her a kiss on the head when she finished. God I love my family.
"Miss Cyrus, you're up in five," a man with earphones said to me and I nodded. I got back into the chair and let the makeup artist touch up my face and David make sure my hair was perfect before going to where I needed to be, just off the stage.
Nick POV
I listened to Billy Ray's introduction, shifting around in my chair. I was doing my best to hide my discomfort at knowing that Miley was going to perform, right in front of me, in the same room, feet away.
I slapped my leg to snap myself out of it and my brothers looked at me. They first looked confused, but then understanding came to their faces and I almost groaned out loud at how well they knew me. It's been a long time since I saw Miley. Things were different after we broke up and it took a long time for all of us to get used to not having her around all the time anymore. After all, we dated for two years, which isn't a short time. Not to me anyway.
I forced my thoughts away and focussed back on Billy as he said, "My little girl, Miley Cyrus!" The lump jumped right back into my throat as the music started and she walked out onto the stage. Her voice was even more beautiful than ever, just like the rest of her.
"I probably shouldn't say this
But at times I get so scared
When I think about the previous
Relationship we shared
It was awesome
But we lost it
It's not possible for me
Not to care
And now we're standin' in the rain
But nothing's ever gonna change
Until you hear
My dear
The seven things I hate about you
The seven things I hate about you
Oh you
You're vain
Your games
You're insecure
You love me
You like her
You make me laugh
You make me cry
I don't know which
Side to buy
Your friends
They're jerks
When you act like them
Just know it hurts
I wanna be
With the one I know
And the seventh thing
I hate the most about you
You make me love you"
Her energy on stage always made me smile, and I found myself doing just that. She was jumping around and dancing with the dancers as she sang the words. There was a rumour going around that 'Seven things' was a song she wrote about me, but I doubted it. She wouldn't have any feelings for me anymore. Besides, she was with that Justin guy now. The only part that made me wonder was where she sings 'And now we're standing in the rain.' Before my mind could go back to that night, I pushed the thoughts out of my head and resumed my watching.
"It's awkward and it's silent
As I wait for you to say
But what I need to hear now's
Your sincere apology
When you mean it
I'll believe it
If you text it
I'll delete it
Let's be clear
Oh I'm not coming back
You're taking seven steps here
The seven things I hate about you
You're vain
Your games
You're insecure
You love me
You like her
You make me laugh
You make me cry
I don't know which
Side to buy
Your friends
They're jerks
When you act like them
Just know it hurts
I wanna be
With the one I know
And the seventh thing
I hate the most that you do
You make me love you"
She turned around and her eyes fell right on me. My heart stopped and I could've sworn she faltered a bit as our eyes met. I didn't know what to do! Should I look away? Should I wave? I settled for sending her a small smile, and I wonder if she would've returned it, but she was singing again.
"And compared to all the great things
That would take too long to write
I probably should mention
The seven that I like
The seven things I like about you
Your hair
Your eyes
Your old levis
When we kiss I'm mesmerized
You made me laugh
You made me cry
But I guess that's both
I'll have to buy"
Her eyes kept darting back to me and I hoped I wasn't making her nervous. The last thing I'd ever want to do is screw up one of her performances. Music was her life, just like it was mine. So I just kept the smile on my face, trying to encourage her as my stomach did back flips inside of me. God, who would've thought seeing her again would have such a big impact on me. I saw her in the papers and on TV all the time, but this was different. She was right here.
"Your hand in mine
When we're intertwined
Everything's alright
I wanna be
With the one I know
And the seventh thing
I like the most that you do
You make me love you
You do
Oooh"
The crowd screamed so loud I had to fight against putting my hands over my ears. The other artists would have to work hard to top that, including us. Not that we would ever be able to top Miley Cyrus.
She thanked the crowd and glanced at me one last time. The smile didn't leave her lips and I nearly started hyperventilating. It's been so long since she looked into my eyes and smiled. And for some reason, this song always made my heart beat a little faster and the knot in my throat to grow. I couldn't help thinking things could've been different between us. But then again, we were so young back then. We've both grown so much since we broke up. We were forced to.
"I gotta go to the bathroom," I whispered to Joe and Kevin, who looked concerned, so I sent them a 'don't worry' smile.