So, "The Heart of Life" is officially my baby. I'm writing every second of the day. And that's impressive since I'm in Disney World right now, I just came back from night swimming with my best friend and the arcade. I love vacation, don't you? Anyways, I've already got chapters two and three written. But, I won't be posting them until I have a few more chapters written because I wanna write this series slowly, at my own pace. I really hope you guys enjoy this! And by the way, I'm sorry to say this is a Miley/Liam series. The plot of the story just doesn't feel Niley to me, it's more Liam. And even though I lovelovelove Niley and forever will, I like Liam too. Hope you like it!
I don't know if you noticed anything different
It's getting dark and it's getting cold and the nights are getting long
I don't know if you even noticed at all
You shoot for the stars. You put all your faith into that one shot, hoping, praying your arrow will grab onto one of them. Then you could escape life and sleep on those stars, looking down on everyone and everything from above. That'd be nice, to sleep on those stars.
But, you can't sleep forever, sooner or later, you have to wake up.
"Take me with you!" she screamed through her tears while grasping onto his suitcase, "Don't leave me here! I need you, I can't-I can't survive here alone!"
Ignoring her, her father continued to drag her along with the rest of his luggage, making his way to the car. "No, no, don't do this!"
She shook furiously, as her mother stood in the doorway, looking on through tears. "Don't leave me with her! She's ruined everything for us, everything! Do you not understand!?"
Not saying a word, her father ripped the suitcase from her hands and threw it into his trunk, the slamming of it, following. He slowly turned to look at his broken daughter, "You'll be happy here…" he paused, "I promise."
The rest of the memory is a blur to her, at some point he drove away, she fell to the pavement and her mother came and brought her to bed where she stayed for the next three days. Her brother and mother attempted to talk to her, but she didn't answer, she didn't want anything to do with them, this town, or her friends. She just wished to get away, escape like her father had somehow managed to do.
Six months later and she was still just as miserable. This town, the way it constricted everyone, how every little person knew each other, it killed her. It was scratching at her heart, making it bleed till there was nothing left; she was almost completely drained. School was the same every day; sit, learn, eat, jumping jacks, take notes, follow directions, don't talk back, hand this in on time or else. You want to go to college? Oh, is that what you want? Well, if you're a dreamer, then why don't you go to the community college just around the block, where people who really want to be something go. Like … to be a pharmacist or teacher. Yeah, a pharmacist … what a great thing to wish to be, so exciting.
Since she was six, Miley had wanted more; to be famous, to be known, to know what success felt like. Her mother had detected this and made sure to steer her clear away from the career of being a singer, actress, designer, anything that involved her leaving this town. And so, her mother had Miley participate in girl scouts, the school's newspaper, softball, soccer, track, anything to keep her preoccupied. But, ever since her mom had gotten her that laptop on her fifteenth birthday, she had been looking at schools elsewhere, far, far away from this hell hole of a town.
Atlantic Beach, South Carolina. She hated this place, barely over 400 people living here. Could you imagine? 400 people. That means that about half of those people go to her school and she's surrounded by them every waking day. God, why couldn't her father have taken her with him? It was because of her damn mother. She had to threaten him with kidnapping if he took either her or her brother, Eli.
Eli was her only escape, he was a dreamer too. They were they're fathers child; they didn't resemble their mother at all. She was the realist, always looking at the practical route.
Sighing, Miley tossed and turned in her bed a few times until she found a comfortable position. Looking around her room, she stared at the white, blank walls. She considered herself undecided. Her walls were blank because she didn't know what she wanted, but she did know that she wanted a clean slate.
"Miley Ray! Austin will be here in ten minutes! You better be in there making yourself pretty!"
Grabbing her pillow, Miley gripped it tight and chucked it at the door and then screamed, "While I do that, why don't you get a doctor to look at that stick shoved up your ass!"
Letting out a deep sigh, Miley tossed her comforter aside and then threw her legs over the side of the bed, letting them hit the cold, hardwood floor.
Dragging her feet on the way, she walked to her dresser, grabbed a pair of faded, ripped jeans, a white tank top and a light blue cardigan. "Eight minutes!" her mother called from the kitchen. She was so anal about Miley and Austin's relationship.
Austin, her boyfriend of two years now, came from a family of money and Miley's mother claimed that they were going to get married, buy the big old country house right around that block that everyone admires but no one can afford and live happily ever after in little old Atlantic Beach.
Running a brush through her long locks, Miley pictured what could go up on her walls; pictures of friends, a collage of her favorite bands, shelves of her soccer and softball trophies…
However, the beep of a horn and the knocking on her door interrupted her day dreaming. "You're boyfriend's here" Eli snickered as he casually walked into her room and collapsed on her bed with a bag of pretzels. "What are your plans for the night?" Miley asked while quickly applying a little extra mascara.
Eli shrugged his shoulders as he flipped his chestnut hair out of his face. "Maybe go to the diner with Audrey and Kate; maybe see what's playing at the movies."
She rolled her eyes as she quickly threw her mascara, phone and license into her clutch and then turned to him, "You know what's playing … the same thing that's been playing for the past month, I wish Steve would change the damn thing."
Making her way over to her brother, she kissed him on the forehead, grabbed a pretzel from his bag and then waved him goodbye, "See you in a couple hours."
Eli made kissing noises as she walked out of the room, "Hope you have fun with the douche!" And in response, Miley flipped him off as she walked down the hallway towards the foyer.
Waiting on the couch, sat her boyfriend Austin. Shining blue eyes, short, baby blonde tossed locks and tan, smooth skin, he was a sight to see. "Baby girl, what took you so long?" her mom smiled as she stood up from the chair she had been sitting in across from Austin. "Just getting ready mama" she smiled back, trying to hold back the venom she wanted so badly to inflict on the woman.
"Hey Austin" she smiled politely as she walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek sweetly. Smiling brightly, he put his hand on her waist and half-hugged her. "It feels like I haven't seen you in forever" he laughed.
Miley rolled her eyes; "I saw you this morning when we went to the diner…" she played along with him, throwing in a laugh to convince him that she wasn't pissed about his hovering.
"I know" he smiled wider, "I just miss you, that's all."
Feeling too watched, Miley turned her head to look at her mother, "We'll be back later" she said as she took Austin's smooth hand and led him toward the foyer. Her mom followed them out, "Don't worry baby, you're 16, I trust you out there with Austin" she smiled.
Was that supposed to trigger something inside of her? Like … was she supposed to now run up to her mom, hug her, kiss her cheeks, and tell her how much she appreciated she trusted her and how much she loved her? Fuck that. Her mother could go fall off a bridge for all she cared, not after what she did to this family.
They stepped out the door and into the twilight. It was that time of day when the sun was lowering and it left a light glow to warm your heart. Kids on her block were currently forming at the McKenzie's getting ready for their Friday night game of man hunt. All the little middle schoolers looked forward to it. That used to be her, until she finally realized, there was more to a Friday night than man hunt, much, much more.
No one knew it, not Austin, not Eli, not her best friend Camille, and especially not her mom, but sometimes on the weekends she drove into the city and went to some of the clubs there. She met new people, got to dance, and it was a tiny escape. She always felt like that's where she belonged… in the rush of the city where people her age could express themselves anyway they wanted to.
"Babe, you listening?" Austin's voice finally tuned into her senses. "Hmm?" she looked over from the window which she had her hand out of and realized that she was in Austin's car. "Oh sorry" she blushed, "must have spaced out."
"I'll say" he knitted his eyebrows together as he stared straight ahead, watching the road. Pedestrians walked the province freely. Families were out getting ice cream, catching a "movie" (the only movie), teenagers played frisbee on the green, and even some of the elderly were taking an evening stroll.
"You ok?" Austin butt into her daydreaming once again, "For the past month you've seemed kind of … off."
And there was reason for that. For the past month she'd been waiting for a letter. God, where was that letter? She just wanted to crawl into bed right this moment so it would be tomorrow and she could look for that letter just as she did every morning.
"Miley!" Austin stopped the car at the side of the road and turned to look at her, "What is up with you? It's like half the time you're not even listening to me!" he sighed, shaking his head as he tried to connect their eyes. But, she kept staring straight ahead, at the restaurant that was 30 feet away. Couldn't he of just pulled into the parking lot at least? It's only so far away…
Austin leant his head back on the head rest and grunted, "Unbelievable… you aren't even listening now."
"I am listening" she cut in and turned to look at him, "And I'm fine, I have been fine for the past month and will continue to be fine" she stared into his cool blue eyes.
"Are you telling the truth?" Austin eyed her.
"Pinky swear" Miley offered a smile and her pinky to the boy.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Austin wrapped his pinky around hers and then kissed it, "Pinky swear."
She was lying to him, she knew. Guess she really didn't care if pinky swears were legit. She just wanted to get through another day with him.