One Way to Say I LOVE YOU

Chapter 6: The Start

The next morning I woke up and was ready to leave. I got ready and had my daddy drive me to the airport. I sat in the car quiet and when I got to the airport we didn't really say a tear-jerking goodbye. I just said good-bye and see you in two weeks. I closed the door and he drove off. I looked at the airport and walked in. It was crazy and it was only 8 am. I finally found my flight and sat in the waiting area.

When I finally got on the plane I put on my Ipod and didn't listen to the flight attendant. They are always annoying. I started mouthing "Blah Blah Blah" by Ke$ha and the person next to me told me to stop, so I decided to turn it up louder and look out the window. Next thing I knew I was knocked out and woke up in Charleston, Virginia. I got off and plane, got my bags, and started to look for a taxi.

In the end I found out I didn't get a taxi, there was actually a guy there with a sign that said 'Miley Cyrus'. I just rolled my eyes and walked towards him.

"I'm so excited to see you. It's been 15 years since I last saw you." He grabbed my bags and put them in the bed of his truck. "This is Old Betty. She's been around forever and she is still running. You use to love rides in her." I just looked at him, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm Brad. Brad Henders, but you can just call me Brad.

"Okay. Nice to meet you, Brad." I didn't put out my hand or anything. I just walked towards the truck and got in. "So, how far is it till Wilmington?"

"About two hours."

"Two hours?!"

"Yes, it's actually not that bad." I just thought, I got to deal with this person for two hours, just rambling off about old times. He started the truck up and backed out of his parking spot. "You know, it was strange that your dad started talking to me last week. I hadn't talked to him for about five or six months. When we told me about what has been happening I was in shock and I was sad. Oh, but I have your room ready on the house."

"Random question, where's your wife?"

"She died while my son was about five years old in a riding accident. "

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did the horse just get spooked and she just kicked off?"

"Basically. She looked like this" He dug in his back pocket for his wallet and brought out a picture of her. "I think of her every day. Jacob looks exactly like her," he pointed to his son in the picture.

"Oh, how hold is he now?"

"He's going to turn ten next month. He's so excited. He's also very excited he is going to be seeing The Miley Cyrus" I laughed a bit. "But don't worry, you won't get the crazy mobs of people around here."

"Thanks." We sat quiet for the next few hours and I don't remember anything that I had seen. Brad kept telling me that I loved this and I loved that, even though I don't remember any of it. We finally got to his house and there was an old basset hound that came right up to me like he knew me right away. I wasn't a fan, so I backed away.

"Don't worry. Old Sergeant won't hurt you"

"Sergeant?"

"It's just a nickname or a joke name. Real names Rocky."

"Daddy!" I heard up by the house. I guessed it was Jacob. He came running outside with his arms wide open. Brad was right; he looked like his mother in the picture.

"Hey buddy." He hugged his son then gave him one of my bags to carry.

"Oh, I can carry them." I tried to get out fast enough but Brad didn't let me.

"Don't worry. You're the guest, so you don't need to do much. Jacob show Miley her room; I'll grab the rest of the stuff"

"Okay." He picked up my suitcase and ran back to the house. He waited for me by the door so I could open it for him. We walked around the house showing me the rooms then we went upstairs. My room was the second room on the left. It was kind of small. I grabbed the suitcase from him.

"Thank you little man." I gave him a thumb up and took the suitcase from him. I sat on the bed and fell back. I closed my eyes and imagined my friends, my house, and especially my bed back in L.A. I realized something funny and grabbed my phone. I turned it back on and tried to find out if I had service or not. Nope, I didn't. "Damn It!"

"What? What's so wrong?" Brad came up with the rest of my suitcases and was in the doorway.

"My phone gets no service. Com'on you stupid thing, work. I can't live without you."

"And you will have to," Brad put down my suitcases and grabbed my phone out of my hand.

"Hold on. What?" I sat up and pointed my finger at him.

"Your Dad's orders. No phone for awhile and plus you won't get any service unless you actually go into town." He turned off my phone and stuck it in his pocket. I crossed my arms and pouted.

"And how far away is town?"

"Um…about twenty to thirty minutes. Hey, we do live on a beach next to the ocean."

"Yeah that's a great perk." I rolled my eyes sarcastically.

"Now that's the spirit. Dinners in an hour. It's a grill out with some neighbors."

"Okay, I'll try to get down there later." He walked out and shut my door. I just found my Ipod and searched Jonas Brothers and drowned myself with his music.


I eventually fell asleep until somebody knocked on my door. "Miley. Com'on." I could tell it was little man. I don't know why I called him that, but it suited him.

"Uh…what?"

"Its supper and dad is wondering where you are."

"Okay. Okay. Tell him I'll be down in a bit." I could hear him when walked downstairs and I got up. I combed through my hair and fixed my makeup a bit. I walked downstairs and it was like an obstacle course around the house with me was trying to find my way out. I finally found my way outside and it turned sudden quiet.

"Oh my, it's been years" "Oh she has changed" "Oh I feel so bad for her" Everyone was quiet and I could hear those murmurs or I could read it in their eyes.

"Finally she's down." Brad broke the silence with his arms wide open for a hug from me. I walked down the front porch and gave him a hug.

I whispered to him, "I'm sorry, I fell asleep with my Ipod going."

"It's okay. You haven't missed much." He turned back to the grill and finished some burgers.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Andreson, you probably don't remember me, but when you were here younger you would play at my house whenever you daddy didn't want to deal with you." She laughed at the end and I gave her fake smile. I still didn't remember.

"How old was I here when I came around this area?" I asked her.

"Oh probably two to three years old."

"Oh so that is why don't remember some stuff, but I bet I had fun." I shook my head and she patted my arm like an older woman would.

I kept going around from person to person. I just shook my head and just agreed with everything. Some people I think saw straight through me, but I didn't care, I just wanted to go back to bed. When we were finally done I offered myself to help, to be polite, and Brad let me. Jacob and I were cleaning around the yard picking up dropped cups and plates. Jacob told me some of his famous hiding spots; I almost thought those would come in handy sometime. It didn't take long to pick up everything, bring it inside, and then organize the house. After we were done it was a quiet night. Brad put Jacob to bed and I wrote in my journal about my time here. I had a picture of Nick right next to me while I wrote.

My door squeaked open, "Hey, are you okay?"

I stopped writing and put my pen in my journal, "Yeah, sure. It's just the first day."

"Yeah, that's about right, but are you actually okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"When my wife died, I couldn't even look at my son. I couldn't show my face anywhere; basically, I was in my own little shell and I didn't want to leave it."

"If you're saying I'm in a shell, I'm not."

"I'm just saying, it's a basic place to fall back into when someone you love dies"

"Yeah I know, but I'm not. I'm fine." He was starting to get me mad. I got up and put my journal on the bookstand and started to crawl into bed.

"Yeah, okay. But if you need to talk, just holler. I'll be there for you."

"Okay," I knew I didn't need his help, I was fine, "Night."

"Goodnight Miley." He said it and left. The door squeaked closed again and I just looked out my window.

I knew I wasn't tricking myself, I wasn't fine. I just needed to trick him, I don't need help. I don't want help. I sighed, "What I am I saying? I know I'm not tricking myself. I'm not fine." I turned around to my side and fell asleep. Without letting myself know that Brad was on the other side of the door listening to what I just said.