Ok, I've been on a huge writer's block this whole week. Somehow I managed to write a whole chapter [finally]. This chapter is...ehh. I don't think there's enough drama. Like I usually put in. Lol. In this chapter, Nate's finally come to his senses. Not about realizing Alex is "the one" but that he's been a really bad, so called 'best friend' lately. So yes, there are some Nalex moments. I'm gonna say all my author's notes here. I wanna leave the last sentence plugged into your mind, and not for you to be sidetracked by another note of mine. Enjoy!!!
OH! And I JUST found out, there is now an official music video for You Belong With Me. GO GO Check it out!! I am always near crying whenever I listen to it, see the video, or think about the plot. It's such a good story. Here's the link::
.com/watch?v=FTaPVlyEQc8&fmt=18
and I know the website's not gonna show up. so type in youtube and then add that link ^. OR go to youtube, and type in/search for 0916nickjonas and she has the video there.
[I wrote this part ^ when I uploaded this chapter. But now Taylor Swift actually posted the music vid, so yeah... ;) both hers and this person's ^ are really, really good quality.]
SECRET for pretty much ANY Youtube vid. Here's how you add HQ. Type in &fmt=18 at the end of the url. :)
Chapter 7:Realize
She wears high heels,
I wear sneakers.
She's cheer captain,
and I'm on the bleachers;
dreamin' 'bout the day when you wake up and find,
that what you're-
lookin' for, has been here the whole time.
----------
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you-
See? You belong with me...
You belong with me.
Yes, it was another school day. For some reason, Alex was dreading this whole week the most. She couldn't explain it, but she just did. She got ready for school, looking into the mirror. Just as she did so, she immediately regretted it. Because there, she found a picture of her, Nate, and Miley. Nate was in the middle, Miley on his side, resting her head on the nape of his neck, while clutching his hand tightly. Alex was on his opposite side, simply holding his hand and smiling brightly towards the camera lens. And then she noticed that Nate's left hand was firmly tightened around Miley's waist, pulling her closer to himself as he did so. Alex then found the edge of another picture, a polaroid pitcture. She was kind of into photography. She took out the picture that was tucked into her mirror, hiding. At first, she couldn't remember why she hid it in the first place. But then she realized why once she saw Miley and Nate, turned away from the camera, Miley and Nate staring at each other with..love. That one word, it had killed Alex just as much as anything else when it came to Nate. Just because she knew she'd never be as happy with anyone else but Nate. Because she knew she'd always and forever be, in love with Nathaniel Gerald Gray.
She suddenly noticed that the picture had some sort of dust on it. Then she remembered that she had forced herself to take a picture of Nate and Miley, as a couple. Being Nate's best friend, Alex was expected to support him and Miley. And Miley and her were kind of..friends? Sure, friends. She studied the picture. Miley was in her cheer outfit, her shirt was exposing, yet Nate probably didn't care. He knew that Miley was all his. And he was all hers. What Alex noticed, was more suprising, and hurtful. Nate was very perverted around Miley, when she was in her cheer outfit, but this time he wasn't staring at her chest. He was staring into her eyes. To Alex, they were....sparkling. Sparkling...she thought. His eyes were shining so bright, and Alex could tell why. Nate really, truly cared for Miley. He looked like...like he was in love. With Miley. Alex abruptly shook the thoughts away, and dropped the picture as it dropped on her vanity counter. She closed her eyes, and gripped the edge of the counter, breathing in-and-out slowly. She stood there for five minutes, while running her hands through her hair, trying to calm herself. And she realized she was sweating. She stood up, and wiped the sweat off her forehead with a mini towel she grabbed out of the linen closet in her room. And then she was off.
Once again, she dropped Max off at school and was on her way to school.
When she got there, she realized why she was dreading this day so much. Miley was back from her family thing, and was wearing her cheer uniform. She only wore her cheer uniform during school days if there was a football game.
Oh yeah, today's the football game. Damn it! I love football..yet it kills me every time because Miley's there. Great, now I have to come support them again, and hurt myself even more. Why can't I just say no? That's it, just say no. Make up an excu-
"Hi Alex!" Miley said.
Alex was once again woken up by Miley's perkiness, and had to blink twice before snapping back to reality and ready to reply. "Hi..Miley."
"So, Alex, you know what today is, right!?!"Miley asked cheerfully again.
"Yep, football game." she said, smiling.
"HEADS UP!!! ALLIE!!!"
Alex turned around to find a football being flung at her. She immediately caught it, and threw the ball down to the ground while jumping up in the air. "And TOUCHDOWN! Alex Russo, from Dallas, Texas!" she yelled. She then high-fived Shane, and some of the guys from the school's football team.
"Great catch, Als." He said, ruffling her hair. Shane acted like her older brother-in Alex's mind, he kind of was. Mitchie was following not too far behind, smiling with joy as she always did. If there was someone that Alex coud look for to cheer her up once more, it was Mitchie. Even just by Mitchie's smile, Alex began to smile too. A heartfelt smile.
"Hey, don't touch my hair." she said, smiling.
"Sorry, but if you want it to look like...this" He said, flipping his hair, as if he were a model. "Then you need to shake it up! Make it...WILD!" he said.
Alex stared at him, smiling. "You've been hanging out at the clubs too much, huh?" she said, joking.
"Pfft! Pssh!" he said.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Fine! Yes, yes I do." he admitted. He then clasped his hands together, and dropped on his knees to the ground. "Just please, please don't tell my mom!" he said.
Alex laughed, seeing how he looked like he was begging for food. "Shane, hun, people are staring." Mitchi said, tugging at his shirt.
"Ha! I was just kidding, Shane." he then got up, looking like he was trying to be cool.
"Ahem..I, I knew that." he said, nonchalantly.
"Sure ya did." she said.
Shane stuck his tongue out at her, and ruffled her hair again. This time, Alex stuck her tongue out at him. "Meanie."
"Anyways..." Mitchie said. "You guys excited for the game today?" she asked, glancing at Alex.
"Well, duh!" Miley said, perkily.
Everyone glanced at her. Miley felt awkward. She felt out of place. It was too quiet, and Shane, Mitchie, Alex, and even some of the football team were just staring at her. She chuckled nervously, and Alex spoke up, to end the awkward silence.
"Really, Mitch? Seriously, it's me." She said, smiling.
Shane chuckled. "Yeah, Mitch. C'mon, it's Alex. She's up for any sport." he said, grinning at both Mitchie and Alex.
"Yeah, stupid me. haha!" Mitchie said, smiling.
xoxoxoxo
The whole day was just...boring. In homeroom, all Alex could think about was 'Niley'. Good thing they sat in the back and that at least Mitchie was here, otherwise Alex would've even tried to fall asleep just to blur out their whole lovey-dovey crap. Too bad Shane is a senior instead of a sophomore like his friends.
"Alex? Alex? Alex!" Mitch shook her to wake her up from her momentary trance.
"What? What, is homeroom period done already?" she asked, shocked. And dreading the moment when the bell for the end of homeroom/beginning of second period rang.
"No....but Ms. Marinovich just asked you if you'd want her tickets to the competition comin' up this Saturday at the skate park. The Alex Russo that I know would never pass up an offer like that. C'mon, Alex! Tell me what's bugging you."
"It's....I don't know, I guess...have you noticed how Nate acts around Miley?" she asked.
"Nate?? Yeah...all lovey-dovey, and all goo-goo ga-ga around her. Like he always is with his other girlfriends. Why?" Mitchie said.
Alex opened up her mouth to respond, but then the bell for 2nd period to start rang. She had to leave; they only had four miutes of passing periods, and her switch class was halfway across campus from where she was right now.
"Forget it. I'll just tell you later." she said, picking her stuff up off her desk, and quickly stuffing it kind of neatly, into her bag.
Mitchie was still unconvinced.
"No, tell me now." she said, worriedly.
"Mitch, I'll tell you later. Okay? Look, I made a promise when I was 8 that I would not keep any secrets from my best friends, so that includes you! I have to go, I only have...." she paused to check the clock; "well, now, I only have 3 minutes to get to class." she said.
"Fine. But remember, you promised. Don't you dare try or think about breaking it again." she said, pointing at her accusingly.
Alex hugged Mitch tightly to reassure her that she was fine. She then raised her eyebrows in a confused manner. "Again? I never broke it once."
Mitchie simply raised her eyebrows too, and began to walk away.
"Hey, Mitch! Wait." She pulled her back by her arm to make her stay. "What do you mean again?" she asked once more.
Mitchie replied in a mocking tone, "I'll tell you later. Okay?"
Alex rolled her eyes and relaxed, then headed towards 2nd period.
xoxoxoxo
Once again, 2nd period was also boring. And it was also much more painful. In this class, 'Niley' sat in the back as well, and Alex at the front. What made it more uncomfortable, was that Alex lost her other consoling friend, Mitchie. Alex was used to the whole seating arrangement, and how their schedules coincidentally would hurt Alex just as much as a baby would cry if it's bottle were snatched away. In conclusion, 2nd period sucked. Unfortunately, Alex didn't have Mitchie with her in this period to console her. Also, today, the class was changing seats. Alex only moved one vertical row to the right, and one seat down. Today the class was also taking a Science test, and Science was Alex's worst subject. During the whole period, Alex focused her eyes on the test, and gripped her fingers tightly around her mechanical pencil. Even while staring down at her test, she still felt the need to barf. Miley and Nate were right in front of her, making kissy faces, and flirting, right before her eyes. Really, it was disgusting. Alex could tell that Nate was turned on by Miley, and Miley was always trying to make herself too attractive, exposing herself too much, so this all just made her nauseous. And hurt inside.
The second the bell rang, Alex's prayers were answered. A wave of relief washed over her, and she quickly got up, handed her test in, and walked swiftly out of the classroom. P.E. was now next..but, we'll skip that part, and get to the end of the day.
xoxoxo
After the sixth period bell rang, Alex felt someone pulling her by her elbow. "Alex!" they called.
Alex instinctively turned around, and whacked the person in the stomach. "Nate? Gosh, I'm so sorry." she said, worriedly. She rubbed his arms to try to comfort him and also, in a way, say sorry.
Nate's voice came out gruff. "I'm fine, I'm fine," he said as he clutched his stomach. He cleared his throat before speaking again. "Hey, you gonna come? Miley wants our support again. Today's a cheer tournament as well, apparently." he asked.
"Um..." she took a while, consulting in her mind if she should just ditch or not. "Uh, yeah. Sure, I'll go." she decided. She didn't want to have to put up with Miley's whining and all of her nonstop questions the next day.
"Cool. C'mon, then." he gestured his hand to signify for her to follow him. She realized he was leading her to his car. He just got to his side of the car, and hopped in.
Alex was hurt once again. She suddenly had a thought come into mind. Usually, he would open her door, and hold her by the waist to make sure she was safe. And now, ever since he was with Miley, he didn't do that anymore. He would do that with his other girlfriends, and dump them for Alex. So why, all of a sudden, he wouldn't try to be her best friend anymore? Now, in Alex's mind, they were just friends.
Alex hauled her backpack into the backseat and sat in the front passenger seat. She put on her seatbelt, and spoke up. "Uh, wait. Can you just...drive me to Max's school first? I gotta tell him I'm comin' home a little late."
Nate nodded, and turned right. Alex stepped out of the car. She waited by the big old oak tree for five minutes, and the bell rang. The tree was where she usually waited for him. Another five minutes, she waited, and she saw Max's tiny mop head hair shining in the distance.
"Alex!!!" he came running to her. He hugged her tightly. Alex saw a huge grin plastered on his face, and she couldn't help but smile too. She then started to lead him to Nate's car. "C'mon, Nate's driving. I'm gonna drop you off at Justin's place, kay?"
Max nodded happily. Alex smiled in relief, knowing that dropping him off at Alfred's place instead of their own place was safer. Justin was like Alex and Max's brother, except he was their cousin.
"Hey, Maxie." Nate said, as he saw Max climb into the backseat. Max looked into the rearview mirror, and smiled into it, seeing Nate look at him from the mirror.
"Hey, Nate."
"So...how's school been?" he asked.
Alex chuckled. Out of all the questions he could have asked, he picked that one. Seriously, it was like a parent's question. And as far as Alex knew, Nate was no parent. But Alex had a feeling, that with his and Miley's relationship, maybe it would come to that when they were all older.
"Pretty good." he said.
Alex smiled, and turned around to face him. "How's it goin' with Jeanette?" she asked.
Max blushed deep. "Pretty good..." he replied, trying to keep his cool.
Nate was confused. Who's Jeanette? It had been a while since Nate had hung out with the both of them, so he was just...lost.
Alex glanced at Nate and saw his confused look. "Jeannette is this girl that Max has a crush on. I swear, she looks soo good with Max. I've met her a few times, and she's really sweet. I keep wishin' Max here good luck." she said, trying to stop his confusion.
"Oh." he said.
Alex asked Nate, "You think you could probably help him out, Nate?"
"Uh.......Sure, why not?" he said, and smiled at Max through the mirror once more. "So what's your relationship like with this girl?" Nate asked.
"Uh, we're friends. Pretty close, I guess. We pretty much talk, text, and IM everyday." he replied.
"And when did you meet her?" Nate asked.
"At the beginning of the school year." he replied.
"Nice. So, you guys are pretty close friends. Like, best friends, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess." he said.
"Well, from what I've learned, once you're friends with someone, that's all you'll ever be." Alex said.
Max tensed up. He never meant to let Alex think about her own relationship. He wanted to stop the car right then, drag her out, and hug her, asking her not to cry.
On the other hand, Nate had no clue why Alex looked so sad, and why Max looked so concerned. He thought that Alex's statement was just a simple one. But by the looks of it, there was a true meaning behind it. Through the whole ride, Nate started feeling guilt, and the feeling of missing someone dearly. He began to wish he'd never meant to leave Alex behind whenever he's with Miley. He began to feel like he should've started hanging out with her again, or never had changed it. He'd began to feel and wish a whole lot of things at the moment.
Now it was Alex's turn to be confused. She analyzed, seeing that Nate's hands were firm on the driving wheel-his veins and knuckles were popping out-and his face looked stern.
"Nate, you okay?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder.
Nate blinked twice before loosening up, and responding. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Alex." he said, lowering his head a little to softly kiss her hand to assure her that he truly was fine.
"Okay..." she said, pulling her hand back softly. She turned her head to the window, to pretend she was concerned. Deep down, she still was a little, but that feeling was overpowered by joy. Her face was flushed in red, and a big, goofy grin was shown. It had been a while since Nate had given her one of their special, friendly kiss.
"We're here." Nate declared. He rested his chin, staring straight. He waited as Alex and Max got out of the car. Alex kissed Max on the cheek, and walked him to the front door, where she explained everything to Justin, and then walked slowly back to Nate's car, waving at Max.
"Okay, we can go to the game now." she said. She turned to stare out the side window. She felt a warm presence, and glanced at her hand to see Nate's hand on top of hers.
"Nate, you okay?" She said, worried once more.
"Yeah. It's nothing, it's nothing." He slowly and gently slipped his hand out from underneath hers, and gripped the wheel again.
"Nate, please. You know you can fool anyone else in the world, but you can't fool me." She said, smirking.
He stayed silent, but Alex could see he was easing up a bit.
She bit her lip, hesitating. "N-Nate...please, please tell me. What's wrong? Please, the suspense is bugging me, you have no idea." she pleaded.
He tightened up a bit, sped up, and suddenly stopped by a sidewalk. Alex hung on to her seat, frightened. She breathed heavily, scared, yet relieved that they were safe.
"Am I really that bad?" he mumbled, but Alex couldn't hear it.
"W-what?" she asked.
"Am I really that bad?" he asked, looking into her eyes earnestly.
Alex blinked, confused. "Bad? Bad at what?" she asked.
Nate inhaled deeply, shutting his eyes tightly. He wouldn't speak for five minutes, and it bugged Alex.
"Nate?"
"Am I really that bad!?! Am I really that bad of a friend to you!?!" he blew up.
"Nate? Nate, you're scaring me." she said, almost speechless at first.
He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry..just, please, answer my question. Please."
She gulped. "No, no you're not, Nate. I mean it." No she didn't mean it. She was lying through her teeth. But, what kind of a friend would she be if she told him the truth straightforward?
"Alex, that's a lie. I mean, I saw you earlier, when you said 'Well, from what I've learned, once you're friends with someone, that's all you'll ever be.' I could tell something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I was so confused, and....I know, in my past I'd never felt so confused in my life about you. And..I know it's me. I know, it's me who's leaving the other behind, it's me who's making the other feel uncomfortable, it's me who's confused, it's me who's the bad friend." he said.
Alex was shocked. Had he finally realized everything. Had he finally seen the light? Does he love her in the way she loves him too?
"I, um....I don't..know what to say." she blinked, and sat motionless, staring straight.
"You don't have to say anything, 'cause I think I've said everything that's true." he said.
"Yeah...uh, we better...keep driving." she said.
xoxoxo
"Hey, Al. Hey Nate." Mitchie and Shane said as they came over to greet them. "What took you guys so long to get here?" Mitchie asked.
Mitchie winked at Alex, and Alex blushed. Shane smiled as well. Shane and Mitch saw Alex and Nate's hands...being held by each other's. Like it used to be.
"Uh..." Alex hesitated, looking at Nate for help.
"We, I guess we just kind of...caught up." he said.
Alex turned back to a very confused Mitchie and Shane, and nodded.
"We better go, I already see Miley waving for us." Alex added.
Nate saw Miley, and immediately let go of Alex's hand.
A full two hours passed, and the game finally ended. The whole time, Alex sat there, by herself. Nate was always rushing to Miley in every intermission. Shane and Mitchie were too busy, well, being so in love with each other. That's one thing that made Alex smile though. She knew that they'd always be just, fantastic.
After the game ended, though, Nate and Miley didn't leave just yet. Alex decided to stay, all her friends were still staying anyways. Shane and Mitch couldn't leave yet. The car that Nate used was Shane's, and Shane was Nate's ride home. Nate and Miley began to fully and passionately make out in the center of the field. Shane and Mitchie observed Alex, watching her gripping the bench tightly, and she was...trembling. After 10 minutes of trying, Alex lost all her tolerance, and let go. She began to rush away from the scene. She'd wanted to leave. She wanted to leave now. She wanted to leave to go anywhere from there. Anytime from then. Shane immediately jumped off the bleachers, and ran to catch up with her.
"Allie...C'mon, it's not like you'd never seen them make out before." he said, grabbing her by her elbow as her back was turned to him.
She turned around, tears pouring out. "Shane, look....I know, it's a simple make out session. But that's just it. Don't you know how much it hurts? I mean, everytime I see them touch, hold each other's hands, have some type of chemistry together, it hurts. It breaks my heart, Shane."
"He'll know that it's you, you're the one he wants. I swear, he will. It just..takes time. But Allie, Mitch and I are your friends. It hurts us too to see you so depressed. I mean, we'd never seen you this hurt with Nate's relationships." he said.
"Well, don't you see it? God, am I the only one who sees it? Damn it, Shane. Something's different about Nate too. When he's with Miley. I don't know why, but....something, I don't know what, but something is different about him. He's different with Miley, Shane."
"Well, of course he is. Miley's his girlfriend. I mean, it's not like Nate kisses all of us like that, but I bet you'd like that." He said, grinning and joking.
Alex glared at him, her tears lessening a little.
"Not the time, Shane." Mitchie said as she whacked the back of his head.
"I'm serious. Look, look at Nate right now." Alex pointed at Nate and Miley.
Shane and Mitch turned around to see Nate holding Miley by her waist, very, very close to his own body. Nothing, not even air, could seperate them, or even fit in between them. He began to stroke her hair as well. "Okay, they're making out. So what? That happens everyday." he said, not noticing that what he said made her wince.
"So? Have you ever seen him kiss his other girlfriends like that, Shane?" she asked.
Shane looked at her, seeing the obvious pain and heartache in her eyes. He was pretty speechless, partly because he saw Alex was about to cry, and mainly because he knew that she was right. "I....uh.."
Alex cut him off. "Forget it." She said, putting her hand up.
"Just...forget it." she said, turning away from all signs of Nate and Miley, professing their love to each other, as she walked away silently to her home.
It's easier said than done. To forget something like that. And Alex knew that. She couldn't, wouldn't ever forget how she loved, and still loves Nate for all these years. But she wasn't really planning on giving up, or forgetting. And now, she wouldn't be the only one to realize how Nate was. Even Shane knew it. Nate....was different around Miley. If anyone knew Nate for a while, they'd know. It wasn't hard to realize it, Nate had a deeper passion with Miley than anyone else he's ever dated. Alex knew, that that's what hurt her the most.
"Wait, Allie. I'm guessing you already told me what you were supposed to tell me in homeroom. So now it's my turn." Mitchie said.
Alex turned around, confused. "Tell me what?"
"How you broke your promise once already." she said.
"Okay...go on." Alex said, raising her eyebrows in interest.
"You already broke your promise." she stated.
"Yeah, I kinda got that part...I mean, how did I break the promise already?" She asked, rather impatient.
"I'll give you a hint..You broke it because you've been keeping a secret for four years already." she said.
Alex still was confused. Mitchie smiled, wanting Alex to figure it out on her own.
