Chapter 3

It was too early in the morning, yet in 10 minutes school would officially begin. I trudged down the basically empty corridor to my locker. I had to retrieve a few things for my first lesson. I opened it, and out fell a slip of paper.

I grinned, instantly recognizing the handwriting.

"Dreamers, you see everything in colour, while the world is getting darker. Love is on its way"

I read it twice before putting it in my back pocket. This person wanted to tell me something, and they must attend this school for a note to be in my locker. The words though, were it about myself or themselves? I'm still sure Joe is linked to it somehow, but it's not him. His writing ability is poor.

"Hey Miles" Miranda Gray greeted me as she opened her locker, conveniently three away from mine.

"Oh, hiya. You okay?" I smiled at her politely. She was a year junior to me and I didn't like hated her brother. Conversation was limited to basics.

"Yeah I'm brilliant thanks. Rough weekend though, Nick didn't come home until late on Sunday."

"Oh?" I realized that I couldn't even try to sound slightly concerned by what she said. Miranda, however, didn't notice or chose to skim over my known dislike for her sibling.

"I know, it's just that Saturday him and the boys were going to hang out at your house..." she thought something happened between myself and Nick - a truly hideous thought.

"Trust me, I did not choose to be in a centimeter radius of him. And the prat ended up insulting me in my own home before leaving. All this was around 3:25 on Saturday afternoon Miranda."

Her lips formed a genuine smile. Her eyes that were similar to her brother's, lit with a spark that his lacked. Randa was an attractive girl. And I wasn't petty enough to deny her brother's own good looks - but not even his pretty exterior could mask his vulgar self from me.

"Anyway, I better head to registration. Talk to you later." I said, before walking away from her and my approaching so-called friend Joe Adams, who had just noticed me before I turned away.

"MILEYY!!! Waaaait!" he yelled, and I could hear footsteps running towards me. I quickened my own pace to avoid the apology speech, which I would obviously accept. All I wanted was a few more seconds of anger which had a descent reason backing it. I felt his hand grip my shoulder. I halted and turned to face him, looking up and waiting.

"I'm so sorry. I told him but I had to try and make him be nice to you and understanding about why you struggle accepting people and to make him feel better because he has similar problems to you believe it or not Miley and I would tell you but it's slightly worse. The situation he is in and you have to understand that he really, really does like you." he said without a pause for breath or even a tumble over a word.

My eyes were locked on his puppy dog eyes, pleading silently. I groaned and fell into his chest. Admitting defeat. Joe physically relaxed and wrapped his arms around me. We broke away as floods of students began to seep through the school doors and we were right in the way of the corridor.

"You're not lying to me are you?" I asked.

"What part?"

I paused, realizing it applied to more than one aspect of what I'd just been told.

"Nick's problems. Are they really worse?"

"Don't get me wrong, I think it's awful how you're so neglected - but Nick's is possibly fifty times worse. He stays at mine to get away sometimes. Randa is mostly unaware though, so even though you don't know a great deal, keep it under wraps," Joe said in a hushed voice.

Suddenly I felt something other than hatred towards Nick. Pity. It wasn't sympathy, that required the added emotion of caring. As horrible as it seemed, I didn't care - but I pitied his situation. For a split second, until it evaporated.

"And he likes me?" I almost choked on the thought.

"God since we were little Miley. He adores you." Joe said sincerely. Hope glittered in his expression.

I threw my head back and laughed. Bubbly, loud and genuine laughter consumed me for possibly a full two minutes. As I entered our registration call and took my seat, I was still chuckling to myself about the insanity. It died out, but the ghost of it lingered in my smile. Joe turned to face me, eyebrows raised.

"Are you finished?"

I nodded my head.

"I take it you thought it was hilarious?" again I nodded "and this means you still hate him?"

I found the question ludicrous. Just because I'd been informed by a secondary source that the person who has been on the delivering end of all my torment, snide remarks and basic bullying I've received since I was seven "liked me" did that mean the past was simply erased? Does it not count because behind all the insults he was secretly admiring my eyes? Some people might have been so easy to forget or be fickle enough to fall at his feet, but not me. Yesterday, he brought everything to a whole new level, what he said was tactless and cruel. Even prior to that, I still wouldn't go running to him with open arms. I still hate him. I am still Miley, he is still Nick and I still hate the boy.

"It doesn't change a thing Joe. I'm sorry." I shrugged. Not apologizing for my feelings, but that Joe was still in the middle

The bell sounded again, just as Nick strolled into the room. Obviously he is above punctuality and rules. I smirked, knowing I knew his little secret, but he didn't have a clue. I picked my bag up off the floor and joined the cluster that was exiting the class. Making sure I banged into him.

"Watch it Stewart," he winced, speaking through gritted teeth. His hand lingered over where I knocked him - it wasn't even hard and I'm not exactly carrying a great deal of height or weight. He was being pathetic and exaggerating the force to gain attention.

"For crying out loud, toughen up you sad act." I snarled, blowing him a sarcastic kiss.

His jaw was locked, I could see his anger rising. Yet for once he didn't bite back. He was holding his composure. He knew he over stepped the mark yesterday. This was his way of being sorry; by not retaliating. It was too little, far too late.

"Miles," Joe shot me a glare, then turned to Nick. He asked him a silent question to which Nick's reply was a nod, his eyes downcast. I scoffed, holding my head high I walked away from them both. My first class was with Selena, physics. I already had my folder, so I weaved straight through the groups of people and right in the direction of my classroom. I passed Noah on my way, she was alone - looking completely out of it. She worried me greatly.

Selena was already sat at our desk, towards the back of the classroom. She was fiddling with her long brown hair. Her face brightened when she saw me take the empty seat next to her. We were friends, she was possibly my one female friend. However, we didn't live in each other's pockets like myself and Joe.

"Hiya," I greeted her

"Did Joe apologize?" she asked.

"Yeah he did. On Nick's behalf too." I'd only told her a brief outline of what happened.

"I should hope so. What he did was far worse than what Nicky said." she said rather snootily. I took in the fact she gave him a nickname like they had even exchanged a couple of words before; which they had not.
"Nick said what he said with the intention of malice. He is more in the wrong." I disagreed with her.

"Not really. Why do you never give him a chance? You're so funny with him."

"Why do you always defend him? You're my friend Selena. I can understand when Joe makes excuses, but not when you do." I questioned why she frequently chose him over me. The way she would jump over hurdles for him was grating at my nerves.

"Oh just forget it Miley," she huffed.