Chapter Two

Ready, Set, Dont Go

I tried to climb into Joe's car, but it was a five passenger with already six passengers in it. "Umm, do you think you could make some space?" I said my voice free of my exaggerated accent, with only small traces of my Tennessee twang.

The blonde, one Jake, took the blonde girl (who's name I still didn't know) and put her on his lap. I watched as he whispered something in her ear, and she gave a small flirtatious giggle. "Is there enough space now?" The blonde asked.

I looked down at the remaining space in the back seat. There still wasn't enough space, "Um, yea thanks," I said trying to squish in.

The ride to the mall was silent, silently awkward. Either they were acting like this because of me or, they are a really lame group of friends. It seemed that each person in this car was deep in thought, Joe stared straight ahead, on to the open road, but his eyes flickering back here every now and then. Nick stared blankly ahead with his brows pulled closely together in anger?

Demi was humming to herself, while staring directly in front of her, and Jesse the dark haired boy seated on the opposite side of her that I was, was staring in my direction… staring at me?

"Were here," Joe said parking the car.

"Any stores you really want to check out Miley?" Demi asked pleasantly.

"Urban outfitters," I answered.

"Ugh, that's a lame store," The blonde, who still hadn't introduced herself laughed. "Only those weird chicks who dress in all black, and like rocker clothes shop there," She said rolling her eyes.

I stared down at my basically all black outfit, obviously I wont fit in here. "You know," Jesse said breaking me from my thoughts. "I love a good rocker chick," He added with a wink.

I felt a blush rise onto my cheeks. "I'm not really a rocker," I mumbled. "Just like the colour black,"

"Urban outfitters is one of my favourite stores," Demi said smiling. "We can go together," She said beckoning to the escalators. "C'mon," Se added when I didn't move, I looked back at the rest of the group. Nick had his arms around the blondes waist, while Jakes eyes drifted slightly lower than that.

"So," Demi asked me. "How do you like Cali?"

"I miss Tennessee," I breathed out. "Miss the country," I said trying not to cry.

"I know how you feel," Demi said putting a comforting arm around me. "I'm from Texas," She said smiling.

"Really?" I asked. "I'm not getting punk'd am I?" I added when she nodded. "Well then, I like you a heck of a lot more now," I laughed.

"God, cause I knew I liked you from the beginning," She laughed. Wow, this girl is nice.

Demi and I spent the next twenty minutes tearing apart Urban Outfitters, "This is perfect," Demi said holding up a black leather skirt, and a white tank top.

"What do you think about this?" I said showing her a dark purple circle skirt, with a white tank that had a guitar on it.

"Cute!" she laughed. "Let's check out change rooms," I was surprised to see how easily I got along with Demi, she actually seemed cool. I don't know why she hangs with Nick and Joe.

"There's only one left," I said noticing the closed doors. "You can go first, and I'll wait," I offered.

"Chill Miley, we can go in together, its not biggie," She said dragging me into the change room with her.

"Demi," I called my back turned to her as we tried on the new clothes. "You know the blonde girl,"

"Emily," She interjected.

"Yeah her, She never told me her name," I laughed. "Is she going out with Nick?" I asked. I knew it was known of my business, but its been bugging me since the car ride.

"If you can call it dating," She laughed.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well Nick is the most popular guy in out grade, and Emily is the most popular girl. So its kind of expected they date. So they do. Sort of," She said. "You see, Nick doesn't really like her, Nick doesn't like any girl. He doesn't think anyone at Seaview is good enough for him, and Emily, Emily sort of, makes out with every guy behind Nicks back," She all in one breathe, then turning to me. "How do I look?" She asked.

"It looks great on you!" I exclaimed. "How bout me?" I asked beckoning to my new outfit.

"Perfect," she smiled. "Now lets change out of these, and grab food, were supposed to meet everyone in the food court," She said unbuttoning the skirt.

"Kay," I agreed. Soon Demi and I paid for our respective clothes, and made our way to the food court. Well mostly I followed Demi, while I thought of Nick and Emily's relationship. That would explain why Jakes so touchy feely with her.

"There they are," Demi said pointing to a table in the dead centre of the food court. "That's were we always sit," She laughed. "Just get what ever you like, and I'll meet you there alright,"

"Sure, and Demi," I said before she walked off. "Thanks, you made me feel welcome," I smiled.

"No problem. I know what its like to be the new girl," she said before walking towards McDonalds.

I made my way to Burger King, and ordered a veggie burger. I grabbed my tray, took a deep breathe and walked to the table.

"Umm, hey," I said to no one specific as I made my way to the only open seat.

"You cant sit there," Emily said just as I was about to sit down. I looked at her confused. "Its Demi's seat," She said.

"So where am I supposed to sit?" I asked annoyed.

"Not here," she laughed. "There's six seats, and six of us, Jake, Nick, Joe, Demi, Jesse and I sorry, no spot for tag alongs," She said. I looked up at my god brothers, who were busy enjoying a meal, and didn't bother helping their sister.

"What ever," I said getting up and sitting as far away from the queen of bitches as possible. I made my way to a small to person seat, that still hadn't been cleaned since the previous people sat here. "Perfect," I mumbled before sitting there. I took about of my Veggie burger, and realized Tennessee's burgers taste so much better.

"You know, you shouldn't sit here," I girl around my age in a janitors outfit said clearing the table. "This is where the rejects sit," She said clearing the table.

"And that fits my personality perfectly," I laughed. And surprisingly she did too.

"Moi aussi," she said taking a seat at the table.

"I'm Selena, Selena Russo," She smiled extending her hand to me.

"Miley," I said. "Miley Stewart," I said shaking her hand

"You from Tennessee?" She asked.

"Yep, I moved here yesterday, you can tell?" I asked.

"Yep, Being a country girl myself makes it easy to pinpoint accents, I moved from Texas when I was Ten" She smiled.

"That's the second Texas girl I've met today," I laughed.

"The first was?" She asked.

"Demi…," It was then I realized I didn't know her least name.

"Munroe?" She asked.

"Maybe, I don't know she's sitting over there," I said pointing to the "cool" table. "You know her?"

"Yep, I know all of them," She said rolling her eyes. "I go to school with them," she said morbidly.

"Guess that means you go to school with me as well," I smiled. "I'm Joe and Nicks god sister, I'm living with them because my dad just died,"

"I'm sorry to hear that," She said. "But I must admit, I'm not sorry Seaview's getting a normal girl attending," She laughed. And I laughed with her.

"Sorry to break it to you but I'm anything but normal,"

"Perfect," She laughed. But her smile soon vanished from her face, "Great," she mumbled. I turned to see, six teens heading this way.

"Miley," Nick said not bothering to look at me. "Were leaving now," He said.

"Wait," His girlfriend commanded "Miley you seem to have made a friend," She laughed.

"Yeah," I said not sure what she was getting at.

"Hey maybe you can get her a job here," She said to Selena "So she can stop munching off the Lucas's money," She said eyeing my Urban Outfitters bag.

"Is that any of your business?" I was surprised to notice the voice came from Joe.

"I'm just looking out for my Nicky," She said.

"Emily," Selena said annoyed. "You may think you know everything, but I suggest you keep your retarded thoughts to yourself," Selena said standing up for me.

"I'm just calling it as I see it," She said, now this was getting out of hand.

"Okay first of all you don't know me, second, I don't need the Lucas's money, I've got my own, and third of all fuck off," I said pissed off.

"Yea right. You've got money," She laughed.

"Right," Selena said. "Her Dad's a billionaire," She laughed.

"Really?" Jake said shocked. I simply shrugged my shoulders.

"How did you know?" I asked Selena.

"My dad, is yours Dads business representative for Texas's school boards," She said.

"Oh," I said.

"If she's so damn rich why was she sent to live with you guys?" Emily asked Nick. "Don't her parents want her?" She asked.

"Parents… I don't have any parents. So shut the fuck up," Is what I would have said, if the tears didn't started to fall out of my eyes and my throat didn't get dry at the thought of me family.

"That was fucking low Emily" Joe said.

"What is the big deal?" She asked annoyed.

"The big deal is you can walk home," Joe said angered, as he put on comforting arm around my shoulder.

"Miley," He whispered to me. "I know I'm probably not your most favourite person in the world," He said. "But I honestly am sorry, I shouldn't have judged you," She said sincerely.

"It okay," I said through sobs. "Lets just go," I said.

"Wait Joe you cant be serious, you cant make me walk home," Emily yelled.

"I can and I will," He said.

"Nicky!!" She shrieked "Make him stop kidding!" She said

"Is not my car," Nick said looking at the floor.

"I'll walk her home," Jake volunteered.

"Sure now lets go," Jesse said. "My feet are killing me," He said. With that everyone made their way to the car.

"Bye Selena!" I yelled to her.

"Bye Miley see you around," she smiled. Something told me, I might have made one real friend today. Maybe even three, I said looking at Joe and Demi who were walking side-by-side. Maybe…

I looked back one last time to see how Emily was holding up. If anyone looked back when I did. They would see Jake with his hands pressed tightly against Emily's ass.

"Miley! Your back!" Frankie shrieked as Joes car pulled into the drive way. "Can we play now?" He asked.

"Um, not now," I said trying to hold back my tears not wanting to let Frankie see me cry again. "Later okay?" I asked.

"Sure," Frankie said. Something told me he knew. When I was out of eye view I herd a loud "What did you do to her!"

"It wasn't me Frankie I swear!" Joe yelled. "It was Nicky's girlfriend," Joe sneered.

I made my way to the room I shared with Nick, and even though I herd light foot steps trailing behind me, I made sure to slam the door. I wanted to be alone, needed to be alone, and I wanted that recognized.

I went to my side of the closet, and grabbed a small box that lay near the bottom and opened it. I stared at the pictures that it was filled with. I reached to the very bottom and grabbed a silver ring. I took it and put it around my ring finger. I then put my hand directly above my heart and cried.

"Miley?" I voice said from the door way. I turned expecting to see Frankie, Joe or Kevin or, basically anyone but who I saw. "Can I come in?" He asked.

"Its your room too," I said not bothering to make eye contact with him, not like he ever went out of his way to make eye contact with me.

"You okay?" He asked. This time, I looked at him dead in the eyes. My blue eyes red and puffy locked with his brown ones.

"Well lets see," I said. "Not only did my brother and my father die, three days ago. But, on top of that I'm sent to live in California with people who could care less about me, and by people I mean people who aren't Frankie, Kevin, your parents, and surprisingly Joe," I was unsure why I added the last part, but I felt it was only fair he felt some of my pain.

"So you mean me?" He asked.

"But, even worse," I said ignoring his question. "I'm picked on, called a gold digger, and reminded of my mom, dad, and brothers deaths bye my quote, unquote god brothers girlfriend," I said bitterly. "But other than that I'm right dandy,"

"Miley," Nick said sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Hmm?" I said moving as far away from him as possible without falling off the bed.

"I know about your Dad, and Jackson, but what happened to your mom?" He asked hesitantly.

I was sure I wasn't going to tell him, what has he done to know about my life? He's made no effort to be my friend, but all of a sudden he wants to know about my past?

Before I even knew what was happening I started, "My mom was diagnosed with leukaemia a year after I was born," I started.

"It was pretty bad for the first five years of my life, but my mom was a fighter and wouldn't give up," I smiled at the thought of how strong my mom was. "And she fought it, when I was six it went away and everything in my life was perfect, my mom was healthy, my family was happy, I couldn't ask for anything more," I paused then continued.

"It was gone for the next four years, she went to the hospital for check ups every once in a while, but the doctors where sure she'd be fine. That of course was until I came home from school one day, and found her laying on the floor passed out,"

"Turns out the cancer came back," I said bitterly "And my whole family was tested to find who was bone marrow was compatible with my moms. Who ever was would have save my mom. And strangely enough I was the one person who could save her," The tears filling my eyes with every word that left my mouth.

"But my mom said no. She said her time was up and that was okay with her. I begged her to take it, I told her I wouldn't live with myself if I didn't give it to her, but she refused, instead said to me,"

" Miley, god gives all of us a time on this earth, and I'm not one to go against god. My times done here, but I want you to look after Daddy and Jackson, grow and be the young women I'm sure to be proud of one day," I cried laying back onto my bed remembering this painful memory.

"Visiting hours at the hospital were done by then, so I went home vowing to myself that I'd force her to take it the next day, but she died that night. She died because I couldn't give her my bone marrow, my mother died and it was my fault. I killed," I said sadly.

"I promised myself I would, I would look after my dad and I would look after Jackson. Just like my mommy wanted," I said. "But I didn't, I let them die and I let my mom down," I said finishing the tale I didn't plan on sharing. I then realized that I was playing with the ring playing on my finger.

"Miley," Nick said "None of that is your fault. Your mom made her own choices, if she wanted to go Miley it was her choice. Don't blame yourself," He said . I tried to make it look like his words affected me, but they didn't I herd it from every possible grief counsellor in Tennessee, and my feelings weren't going to change just because some dude told me the same thing.

I stopped playing with the ring on my finger, and then was shocked to feel Nick's hand take mine and look at the ring. I tried not to think of the intense feelings that surged through me as he took my hand in his. "What's this?" he said playing with the ring that still laid against my fingers.

"My mom gave it to me, just before her cancer came back, It has "Strength is Love," Engraved on it, I wear it as my promise ring," I said staring at it. "It was hers before she met me dad," I said.

"Miley," He breathed out. "I'm sorry Emily was such a bitch to you. I really hope you know no one agrees with what she said about you," He said seriously. "Your not so bad," He laughed, but it was more a forced laugh. He then messed up my hair, in a sort of brotherly like motion.

"Thanks," I said. But I couldn't help noticing his eyes still wouldn't meet with mine.

"By the way Miley," He said before walking out of the out of the room. "You really had me going for a while, with the whole country thing," He smiled, "Ever consider acting?" He said, and for some strange reason I laughed at that. I really laughed. It wasn't even funny, but I was laughing.

He walked out of the room, and I couldn't help but remember how I felt when he touched me, it was strange. It was lighting. But I then thought back, thought about how his eyes always seemed to look at the floor. I'm a good reader, great at reading personalities, and today I had an eye full of personalities;

Joe. Joe surprised me most, he actually had a heart, actually stood up for me. But at the same time he seemed so cold. It was hard to pinpoint, he was something I hadn't come across very often. Not like I haven't come across it before, but it was rare. He was rare, and very hard to express.

Demi was someone I could see myself friends with, but at the same time I felt as if her friendship attempts where half-hearted. She spent all day making me feel welcome, but when push came to shove, and I was sitting by myself at lunch, she didn't go out of her way to make me feel comfortable. Honestly though, I must be crazy to think she would ditch her friends for some new chick from Tennessee.

Jesse, intrigued me. From his bad boy persona, and random out burst, to his silent and mysterious demiurge. Out of the group he seemed the most likely to be open with me. It made no attempt in hiding the fact that he found me 'interesting' I would need both hands to count the amount of times I found him staring at me.

Jake seemed like the type of guy who would think with his lower region, rather then his brain. He is making it no secret he is sexually attracted to Emily, and if everyone in the group wasn't so keen on being popular, they might notice that Jake is going behind his 'friend's' back. Generally I wouldn't trust Jake as far as I could throw him.

Emily. If I didn't like Jake, I hated Emily. She seems so fake, with her Jimmy Choo high heals, and Luis Vuitton hand bags. She is your basic; blonde hair, blue eyes, cheating on your boyfriend with one of his best friends, yet clinging on to him, and calling him things like 'Nicky' type of girl. Oh, and lets not forget how she's so willing on picking on the new girl who has done nothing wrong to her.

Selena, was the one person from the very beginning whom I believed to be cool. Someone Lesley and I would definitely hang out with back in Tennessee, she had sort o an I-Don't-Care attitude which I would love if it rubbed off of me, because I-care-too-damn-much.

Nick… Nick I just didn't understand. From everything I herd about him from my dad growing up, he was supposedly the sweetest kid ever, but with him I never know what to expect. I'm not sure how I feel about him and for some strange reason he's always on my mind. But god would it kill him to make eye contact? Nick is like a book were the last page has been torn out, and I'm dying to find out what's supposed to happen in the end. I need to find out what happens next, and I will find out what happens next.

A/N since i got so many reviews on the last chapter i thought i'd give chapter two. And dont think im ditching BTS, its just the chapter im writing right now is sort of SUPER important so i want it PERFECT!