The Way I Loved You.
"Let's go out. You never want to go out anymore,"
"Sorry, Liam. I'm not feeling up to it today. Maybe some other time,"
"What's wrong with you lately? You're not yourself these days, Miles!"
"You know, I have to go. Bye,"
Miley hung up, her heart aching. She just knew he was going to break up with her sooner or later. He hated her now, obviously. Just like everyone did. She'd spent the whole night before crying her eyes out like she'd just gotten her heart broken for the first time. She was feeling so ashamed of herself. Ashamed of what she was doing to her body and what she was doing to her family. Yes, call her crazy but, she thought she was the reason her parents had been fighting non-stop. Lately she'd been hanging around with the wrong people. Getting pressured into doing things she knew she'd regret, and things she knew were so wrong. Who cares right? The Jonas family had dropped her once her and Nick broke up, Demi's career was at its peak and then she went into rehab so they didn't talk anymore, Selena had always hated her, she'd dropped Mandy once she got with Justin and she's pretty sure her father hated her for acting out all the time. Liam and her mother were the only ones she had left and now she wasn't sure if she even had them.
Nick's words from the night before were ringing through her mind since she hung up on him. Did he think he could just call her and lecture her then everything would be better again? That she would turn back into that innocent 14 year old girl who was full of life and life? Psh, yeah right. She didn't like her new image, but she wasn't going to change just because Nick Jonaswanted her to. She'd done that once before, and man, she'd be damned if she did that again.
Of course he still cared for her. But that didn't mean he supported her actions and life decisions. He was over her, obviously. He'd been over her since 2007. Maybe that was a little white lie.
He knew she wouldn't listen to him. No matter what year it was, what clothes she wore, who she hung out with or if they were together or not. So maybe he should stop trying. Well, he wouldn't. Call him crazy - his family did - but he wasn't giving up this time. It might've seemed like he did give up on her many years ago, but in his heart he never did. Not once, not ever.
He didn't know why he was up at 2:30 in the morning, but he was. He was quietly plucking at the strings of his guitar. Music was the only thing that made sense to him. It kept him sane, practically saved his life. He set the guitar down, planning on getting some much needed sleep. The phone on the nightstand beside his bed started to ring. The light of the small object illuminated his room. His silently cursed because of his obnoxiously loud ringtone. He picked up the phone, whispering a hello.
"I made a big mistake. I need you. Please,"
"Miley?"
Why was she calling him at 2 am? What was she talking about? What big mistake? Questions danced around in his mind as silence engulfed the both of them. Then she started crying. Her chocking sobs brought him back to reality.
"Please, Nick. Just – I … come pick me up. I need you,"
"What's wrong, Mi?"
The only sounds were her cried of distress as she cried out into the phone.
"I'm at the corner of Elm and River. Please," her voice cracked as she spoke.
"I'm coming now, don't go anywhere. Okay?"
She sniffled, there was a muffled sound on her end of the line.
"Alright,"
Nick quickly shoved his phone and car keys into the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt and pulled a pair of sweatpants over his boxers. He quickly tiptoed out of his room and down the stairs of his parents house – he was only staying for the weekend – and outside to his car. He sped down the familiar roads and he knew that he would get a serious speeding ticket if a cop pulled him over right about now. Did he care? Not one bit. He pulled up to the corner of the downtown L.A street. He got out of his car and looked around. About ten feet in front of him, he saw her. Curled up in a ball on the sidewalk. As he got closer he started calling out her name. He didn't approach her because he didn't know if it was Miley or not. The figures back was facing him but he had a strong feeling that it was her.
"Miles, is that you?" He stopped five feet in front of her.
Miley turned her head as she heard his velvet voice. Just the sight of him caused her to cry even more than she already was. How can that be possible? She didn't know. Slowly, she stood up. The duo just stared at each other as she cried silently. He ran a hand through is already messy curls. He couldn't bear seeing her like this. This wasn't the normal happy, crazy and high on life Miley he used to know. She was worn down. Torn apart. Broken.
She needed to be close to him again. Needed to feel his strong arms wrap around her small body. Needed him to tell her that everything would be alright and that she's beautiful in every single way imaginable. Without giving it another thought she ran towards him and he looked scared. He probably thought she was going to punch him or something. Yeah right.
Nick opened up his arms and Miley jumped into them. He closed his arms around her petite frame and held her close. He never wanted to let her go. He didn't know how long they were standing there for, but it felt like eternity and the idea of him holding Miley for the rest of his life was a comforting thought to him. He placed a kiss to the crown of her head.
"It's going to be okay. Don't worry,"
She pulled her head away from the spot on his chest. The sadness in her ocean blue eyes was completely palpable and it broke his heart into a million pieces.
"How do you know?"
"Everything gets better in time,"
Miley sighed, not happy with his answer. Everything had gotten worsein time. And she was absolutely sure nothing would ever be the same again. She'd always be this miserable girl that everyone hated.
"Do you want me to take you home?"
"I don't have a home," she mumbled angrily under her breath.
Nick's eyebrows knitted together.
"What do you mean?"
"My dad kicked me out. He found out about the drugs, the alcohol and the clubbing. I know – I'm a terrible person and I deserved it," her voice cracked. In that moment – when she looked up at him with tired eyes – she was so vulnerable and she was basically an open book.
"Miley, you don't deserve anything that is happening to you. You deserve the best things the world has to offer. You gotta believe me,"
When she didn't respond he pulled her close once again, holding her tightly. She breathed in his scent and closed her eyes.
"Liam broke up with me," she whispered into his muscular chest.
Nick tried to contain his smile, but he failed. Pure happiness coursed through his buzzing veins. He felt like a kid on Christmas morning who just opened the gifts from Santa Claus.
"I'm so sorry,"
"I know. But I'm over it,"
They spent the whole night driving around town. They didn't need to speak those three words that were at the tip of both teen's tongues. They just knew. The look in their eyes could speak a thousand words. As they sat on a park bench at 6 am she knew that things would be okay. She'd overcome all the problems she'd been facing for the last couple of years. There was no doubt in her mind. With his arm around her shoulder, her head on his chest and the rising sun in front of them; she knew everything would work out. Exhaustion had taken over, and before she drifted off he spoke the words she'd be waiting to hear all night.
"I love you, Miley."