a/n: I DO NOT own the characters.. I wish I did lol. I just own the plot.

Miley's POV:

"Sorry, it's just cold in here." I lied, coolly.

"Do you want me to close the window?" He asked as he stood up.

"No!" I practically yelled. "I mean, I'm fine." He sat back down, confusion written all over his face again. I liked the way his forehead creased when he was confused, it was cute.

--

Nick's POV:

WE gave up on playing cards and started watching George Lopez. She seem to really like the show, she was giggling every few minutes. I wasn't really paying any attention to the show on the T.V.; my attention was on the smiling brunette besides me.

The more time I spent with her, the more U saw her eyes sparkle every time she talked to me.

She told me a lot of stories about growing up in Nashville before her family decided to move here, to California. She was really family oriented, just like me until things began to crumple all around me.

"Nick." I quickly snapped out of my thoughts. "Huh?" I was waiting for her to answer but then Stacy walked in. I knew today was coming to an end as I looked out to the now dark window. I didn't want to leave yet.

Stacy cleared her throat and I got up. "I'll see you tomorrow." I said as I placed a soft kiss on Miley's cheek. I could feel the warmth rush to her cheeks as she blushed.

I nodded at Stacy and walked out. No wonder Lauren always complained about not liking her, Stacy always knew when to ruin someone's day.

--

I was outside the hospital waiting for Joe to come pick me up; he was running a bit late. I heard laughing coming from across the street.

Lily was giggling, a guy's arms firmly around her petite waist. They kissed and I looked away. This would've crushed Joe if he ever found out.

Just then my dad pulled up in front of the entrance. "Get in." He told me coldly, and unlocked the door.

I got in. "Where's Joe?" I asked. "Out." He replied.

I was surprised he even said a word to me. My father was too ashamed to even look at me, but who needed him? I could take care of myself. We drove in silence the rest of the drive home. Once he parked the car in the driveway, I quickly got out trying to avoid any conversation with my dad.

I collapsed on my bed as my phone started buzzing telling me I got a new message. From Lauren.

I missed her a lot; she was like an older sister to me. She'd been there ever since I took that volunteering job.

'Hey Nicky :)' I really hated that nickname, but I never told her because U as afraid she'd take it the wrong way.

'Hey, how's the college hunting going?' I quickly texted back. It took her five minutes before she replied again. 'Not well :(.'

I decided it would be better to talk about it over the phone. I quickly pressed the green button and put the phone to my ear. "Lauren?" I asked as she answered.

"Hey Nick." She sounded tired, like she had been up for hours.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concern dripping in my voice.

"It's too hard, I can't do it." She whispered and started crying.

"Lauren, you can't give up." I answered, trying to make her feel better.

"Nick, I'm stuck here." She sighed. "What?" I asked, confused.

"Brian left me here." She managed to say through choked tears. "What?!" I retorted angrily.

"How the heck am I supposed to get home?" She sighed and paused.

"Are you at least sheltered?" All I cared about was if she was safe. "Yeah, I'm at a hotel right now." She was thinking, I could tell, she was pausing a lot.

"How's Miley?" she asked suddenly, trying to change the subject.

"Good." I smiled to myself. "You guys together yet?" She asked, jokingly.

"What are you talking about?" I replied, trying to sound a surprised.

"We both know you like her, no need to lie Nick. It's just me." "I'm not lying." She laughed loudly and I held the phone away from my ear.

"Done yet?" I asked once her laughter died down.

"Yeah." She replied. "But seriously, I know you like her."

"Did I make it that obvious?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.

"Well duh, you were like in a trance every time you saw her." She said as she laughed again.

I blushed, she was right. I felt like I WAS in a trance every time I saw her.

"Hello?" She chuckled. "Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm still here." "Thinking about her again?" She asked.

I could tell she was smiling. "Do you really need to ask?"

"Awe, that's so sweet." She cooed, then laughed. "Nicky's growing up."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll talk to you soon."

"Goodnight." We told each other and I hung up. My room was silent except for the sound of my own breathing.

--

Miley's POV:

I flinched and open my eyes. I wish I hadn't, a doctor was hovering over me. A bright light shined in my face as I squinted. They didn't even knock me out. He noticed that I had awoken and quickly called a nurse over.

My eyes quickly searched the surroundings around me. I wasn't in the same room anymore. This one actually looked like it had life; there was a light purple vase on the table.

Suddenly, I couldn't feel my arm anymore. I hated how they never told you what they were going to do beforehand. Within a couple minutes, the world turned fuzzy right before my eyes. I had fallen into another deep sleep.

--

Beep Beep Beep

There was that annoying beeping again. I wish I could be able to sleep forever; maybe I would be able to see my mom again. I missed her, but there was one reason I wanted to open my eyes. To see him, his chocolate brown eyes, his sweet smile. I could feel my lips curve into a smile as I opened my eyes hoping he would be right there. He wasn't.

This was my was my fifth week here in the hospital ever since the car accident. If it wasn't for Nick keeping me company, I would've died of boredom by now. I wasn't quite sure where Lauren was but Nick told me to trust him when he said she was okay and safe.

I trusted him with everything now. He suddenly walked into the room, pain written all over his face.

My heart dropped a little when I saw his expression. I never saw him look like this before and I had prayed that I never had to. Apparently no one listened to my prayers.

I scooted over as far as I could and patted the empty space besides me. He quickly got in. I had never been this close to him before. My heart was pounding so hard, I could feel it through my ears.

He sighed loudly and I rested my dizzy head onto his shoulder. "What's wrong?" I asked, trying to sound awake.

His arm slowly went around my arm. I looked at him after a moment of silence. "Nick?" I asked.

I could see the tears brim around his eyes; they soon fell and landed on his cheeks. My heart fell a bit more. The once confident and happy guy was breaking down right before my eyes. Soon, I looked away and could feel tears forming in my eyes, threatening to fall at any moment. I didn't even know why I was crying.

We sat there in silence for half an hour, letting our emotions get the better of us.

"Miles." He finally said.

"Yeah?" I asked, and turned to face him. He hadn't noticed I was crying until now.

"Why are you crying?" He asked, tucking some loose hairs behind my ear.

"I guess I cry when I see the people I care about hurt." I smiled weakly at him.

"Joe's dead." He murmured, trying to hide the hurt that was building inside of him.

This totally caught me off guard. My smile quickly faded away as I stared at Nick shocked. "You got to be kidding." He had to be kidding.

He shook his head; he never looked more serious in his life until now. I was afraid to ask anything, afraid that I would say something to start the tears again. I let him have his silence as he tried to gather up his thoughts.

I muzzled my face into his chest as he held me tighter. He told me a lot about Joe… he was the only one he had left here after his mom and little brother, Frankie left. Sure, Lauren and I were sisters to him, but Joe was his actual best friend.

We laid there in silence for the rest of the day before night came and engulfed us into a restless sleep.

--

Nick's POV:

I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to move, Miley was sound asleep in my arms.


Why did he have to do this? Why did he have to leave me behind? I asked myself silently.

Miley stirred a bit in her sleep but soon fell back into a slumber. Me, on the other hand was afraid to close my eyes, the scene replayed in my mind over and over again.

Flashback:

I was waiting outside the hospital thinking about how I had spent the day with Miley in the hospital, sure we didn't do much. But, just being able to talk to her was good enough for me.

Then, dad called. Telling me he was going to be too busy at 'work' to come pick me up.

I figured Joe was at home, moping around because of his break up with Lily, so I decided I'd just walk home from the hospital. It wasn't that bad of a walk, just 6 miles. I got my exercise for the next month.

I unlocked the front door and walked in. "Joe!" I yelled, walking up to my room and throwing my sweater onto the bed.

I got no answer. "Joe?" I called out again.

I looked out the window. His car wasn't in the driveway, he must've been out or something, so I decided to take a quick shower.

I got out and checked my phone. 11p.m. Maybe I should give him a call… I quickly dialed his number and heard his ringtone blast from the other room.

"He's home?" I asked, confusingly to myself as I started walking towards my older brother's room. I could feel a fresh breeze hit my warm face as I walked in.

I was mortified by the scene that was in front of me.

Joe was sprawled across his bed, blood flowing freely from his skull, a gun in his left hand.

I shook my head, this couldn't be happening.

He had committed suicide. My own brother was dead now. I was now alone, in this cruel world to fend for myself.

Words wouldn't come out of my mouth. I was too shocked to shake anything. My fingers trembled as I reached for my phone in my pocket.

"Hello, I... I need an am...amubulance here... my… my brother just committed suicide..." I managed to say as I choked through my tears.

End Flashback.

a/n: What did you guys think? Review! :)