Sighing, Miley looked out of the window with a sad face. Ever since she told Nick to leave her alone and told him that she didn't want to wait forever, she hadn't heard from him. Not even Alex mentioned him. She wasn't sure why, but she could guess.

At first she thought that Nick just told Alex. Of course, that would've been the easiest way. But then Alex would have been mad at her for 'stealing' Nick from her and she would have said something. Miley realized that after ten minutes of thinking about it.

The second thought was that they stopped being 'exclusive in a none-exclusive way'. That could be possible since Alex never talked about Nick on the phone back when Miley was still in college because they never were exclusive. Yeah, she mentioned him and she said that he was her boyfriend - kind of - but she never talked about what they did or what he said. Miley just thought that when you had a boyfriend you were at least serious about, you would talk about him all the time or be with him all the time. So that option seemed pretty reasonable.

Or the third guess was that Miley just hadn't talked to Alex since her birthday. She really didn't. She didn't find a reason too and the fact, that Nick was Alex' boyfriend and Alex didn't even want her to have him in any way didn't help Alex. And it wasn't like Alex made an effort to talk to her. Even in the morning, whenever Miley said 'Good Morning' to her, she'd maybe wave but nothing more. If she even winked, that is. It seemed that Alex was pissed that Miley was now legally allowed to drink or do stuff that Alex already was.

Miley hadn't really talked to her mother either. At least not like she used to. A few years ago, she'd talk to her mother like she talked to her best friend - her mother knew every secret. But for about two years, things started to change. Alex always came first and Trish started talking to Alex like she used to with Miley. Suddenly Miley was the outcast in her own family and she realized that she didn't like that at all.

She figured that it was because Alex used her 'pity-card' more often than usual. Sometimes Miley wondered if Alex ever used that card on Nick. Maybe she did and that's why Nick just wouldn't want to hurt her. Maybe that was the reason that made Nick change his mind about being exclusive. Miley didn't know and she didn't really care either. Well, she did care, but it wasn't like she could change it.

She had this feeling that everybody believed that Alex was the one abused by their father and Miley was the one watching. Even her best friends seemed to believe that Alex was telling the truth. It also seemed that her best friends started edging away from her. Maybe that was her fault though. She told them to leave her some space. Ever since she asked them too, they stayed out of her room until she asked them to come. They didn't talk to her because they wanted too, but because she told them too.

She felt really left alone these days. That's why she sat at her window and stared out of it sadly. It was raining once again - which was weird, considering they were in LA - but Miley liked the rain. It was hitting her window pretty hard, since there was a strong wind as well. A knock on her door brought her out of her train of thoughts.

"Can I come in?" Miley turned to the door and noticed Demi walk in. Miley nodded and shot Miley a small and sad smile. Demi walked over to Miley and sat down next to her.

"Hey, how are you? You haven't really gone out these past few days." Miley shrugged and looked at Demi with sad eyes.

"Honestly, I don't know what to feel. My mother and sister are abandoning me for god knows what reason. I fall for a guy who has a girlfriend which happens to be my sister and you and Joe got together like a week ago so you're still in the happy-go-lucky phase and seem to care more about you two - which is completely fine with me, by the way - but I feel left out. But don't feel bad because I said that!" Demi sighed and looked at Miley apologetically.

"I'm sorry that Joe and I kind of stayed away. We just thought that you wanted some space since you told us you did. We don't want you to feel left out. And I guess we are in this phase…" Miley smiled at little at Demi.

"Like I said, it's fine. I'm just kind of sad that Mom and Alex seem to ignore me. I haven't talked to Alex since my birthday and my mother only greets me. It's like Alex told Mom something so horrible about me that Mom can't even look at me anymore. Did I do something? Was I a bitch to Mom the last two months? Or on my birthday?" Demi shook her head quickly.

"No! You haven't done anything bad to anyone. They just… I don't know. Alex is barely around in the house anymore and your mother spends a lot of time at work. Maybe they're just exhausted when they come home?" Demi tried to cheer Miley up. Miley has been kind of depressing for the last three weeks. Sometimes Demi wondered if Miley even noticed that three weeks went by like that.

"They won't even really greet me in the morning! Alex hasn't said something properly to me in two months. Ever since my birthday she-" Demi shook her head.

"Not two months, honey. Three weeks." Miley looked at Demi shocked.

"Three weeks? It's only been three weeks?" Demi nodded sadly. Miley did lose track of time. She hated how her best friend was beating herself up over stuff that wasn't her fault.

"How could you forget that?" Miley sighed and shrugged. She really didn't know. It felt like it has been two months. But maybe that was only because she wanted the summer to be over already. She put her head on the window and just stared out of it again.

Demi looked at Miley. She was sad for her best friend. Never in her life had she witnessed something like this. She had never seen Miley that sad for such a long time. Miley was usually a bubbly girl, giggling and laughing at almost everything. But suddenly, she seemed so broken. It was as if Nick broke the once so happy girl.

What Demi didn't know was that Miley was not angry at Nick at all. Okay, maybe she was because he forgot to mention that he was dating her sister and just kissed her like that, but other than that, she was only angry at herself. She messed up something that could've been a great friendship. She wanted to be friends with Nick. Maybe even for Alex' sake.

She hated herself for saying all the things she told Nick. It seemed as if though it hurt Nick so much that she walked away and told him that she wouldn't wait for him that he even stopped working or singing at the bar. Joe told her that he hasn't been behind the counter since a week after her birthday. One day, Miley and Demi even went there to find a young girl wiping the counter, which was one of the many things Nick was supposed to do.

That is what had Miley so upset. She made Nick miserable even though she thought that she did the right thing. It seemed to be the right thing at the beginning. When she told him, she felt better about herself. But then she realized that she might have hurt his feelings with what she said. Now that she knew that he wasn't showing up at work or that Alex never seemed to talk about him, she felt worse than she felt after telling him all that stuff.

Demi stared at Miley's in pain contorted face. She looked deep in thought and still hurting through that thoughtful face. And Demi knew what Miley was thinking about. She had to do something to change Miley's mood. But there hasn't been anything that would help. There were only two things that would help. Number one would be that Trish and Alex finally acknowledged her again after what seemed like forever. And number two that Nick would leave Alex for Miley and be with her without Alex' jealous was.

But Demi knew that would never work. Alex was jealous as soon as someone mentioned Miley's name. How would she be able to stay back and watch her sister date her boyfriend - who she was supposedly exclusive with? Though Alex had never said a word about him in those past weeks. What was up with that anyway?

Alex used to gush about Nick after Miley's birthday and a week later it stopped. Demi never found out because Alex always left the house early and came back late. And Demi didn't really care either because she had better things to think about. Like Miley, who now had a tear running down her cheek. Or Joe, who was waiting for her at his house.

Demi sighed and looked around the room. Miley hadn't really left it. She was in a state where she just didn't care anymore, which scared Demi, of course. Miley used to be really sensitive when it came to her room and how clean it was. And right now, this room wasn't anywhere near clean.

"Miles…" Miley jumped out of her thought and looked at Demi with big eyes. Demi smiled a little and patted her shoulder.

"I have to go now… Joe's waiting for me." Miley nodded. Demi leaned forward and hugged Miley quickly before disappearing. Miley sighed and looked out of the window again. She really had no idea what to do. Call him, maybe? She did get his number from Joe. She sneaked into Demi's bedroom and took his cell while they were sleeping at night when she wasn't able too. She just never got over herself and just called him.

Miley looked at her cell phone, concentrated. Should she do it? She memorized his number after only one day. She dialed it so often that she just remembered it. She never actually called him, she only dialed his number, stared at it and then shut her phone off. But maybe she should call him and apologize and be friends with him? She never was one to hold a grudge, why would he?

Finally gaining enough courage, she dialed Nick's number once again. This time she actually dialed it and put the phone to her ear. She could hear that it was connecting. She sighed and waited. Nothing. He didn't pick up. He didn't have her number so he couldn't know that she was calling. Or did he have her number?

Suddenly the connection broke and she could hear the beep-tone in her ear. She pulled the phone back and stared at it. Was Nick even in this town? Or the country? Was he ever going to talk to her again? Maybe at Alex and his wedding? She chuckled darkly at that thought. Oh yeah, he couldn't hurt her so he had to marry her unless she broke up with him, right?

Miley bit her lip. She didn't want to think that. She didn't want to be mean to him anymore. He didn't want to bail on her from the beginning which was sweet of him. He kissed her on her birthday, which was incredible. Miley still remembered his lips on hers. She told him off and he still said he couldn't stop thinking about her. And then, he didn't want to hurt Alex like that, which was actually really considerate the more Miley thought about it.

Of course, it wasn't positive for Miley, but if it were her, she would want him to think the same which made him seem like the perfect boyfriend. Yeah, he kissed her while he was still with Alex, but he only did that because he seemed to like Miley and their relationship wasn't really exclusive, as Alex said it herself.

Miley groaned and dialed his number again. Nothing. She threw the phone onto her bed and hit her head on the window. This was killing her. She glared at nothing in particular and got up. She walked over to her guitar and grabbed it. She also grabbed the notebook next to it. Staring at the notebook for a few moments, she finally decided that it was time to write. She had something in her head, just waiting to be written down.

"Just thought I'd try to call you, baby… For you got too far out of town…" And it ended. Wow, that was not good, Miley thought as she placed the guitar back to its original place. Why was she suddenly running out of ideas again? She just had it all in her head and then it disappeared again. Weird, she thought as she walked out of her room. She barely ever left it because there was no reason. Demi was always with Joe, Alex was never home anymore and her mother was most likely to ignore here anyway.

Miley walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. She chugged it down and sighed. Nothing could go worse on this day. There really was nothing Miley could think of other than one thing… and what do you know, it would happen.

"Yeah, he was totally laughing his ass off when…" Alex entered the kitchen with someone Miley thought she'd never see again. Alex was laughing until they walked through the door. Miley gulped and frowned. Alex looked at her, bored and kind of angry that she seemed to have destroyed the light mood they were in.

"What are you doing here?" Miley suddenly started shaking. Not bad - not noticeable - but she was shaking. Something in Alex' voice sounded really dangerous. As if she'd hurt her if Miley wouldn't leave this kitchen in an instant.

"Uh… I was- I was just g-getting a w-water…" Miley trailed off as she quickly glanced at Nick. He looked thinner (if you can imagine that with a buff guy) and pale. He also looked pale and sick. Long story short, he looked like a mess. Alex glared at Miley.

"Well, obviously you got it, what are you still doing here?" Miley's hand was shaking so much by now, that she wasn't sure how long she could hold the bottle without dropping it. She placed it on the counter shakily.

"I-I don't know… I-it's obvious I-I'm not n-needed anywhere anymore." She whispered the last part as she brushed past the couple and ran up the stairs. She wasn't sure what she felt. It lay heavy in her chest, almost suffocating her. She reached her room and sobs took over her body. So, maybe that feeling was her heart, breaking at the sight of Nick with Alex, obviously having fun.

She never thought about what she would do if she ever saw him again. She also wasn't sure what to do if Alex ever turned into her father - when he was drunk. In that kitchen, it felt like her father all over again. The look in Alex' eyes was disturbingly angry. Miley didn't even do anything! She only lived her life, was that so wrong?

She crawled under her blankets in her bed and cuddled with them, still crying though. She couldn't believe that she was hurting so bad. But it seemed like she only now realized that her family pretty much ignored her. It all came together after her 21st birthday. Was that only the kick-off? Would her family soon not even want her here in LA?

Miley's eyes were growing heavy. Her last thought was that not only 500 feet away was Nick - who she fell for - with her sister, probably having the time of his life. That was why he didn't pick up his phone. He was too busy making out with Alex. That was her really last thought before she fell asleep.

"Miles? Miley… Not-so-Smiley Miley?" Miley groaned and rolled over in her bed. Someone was shaking her. She knew that it wasn't Demi, because Demi's voice wasn't so deep. There were only two options as to who it was. Either Nick - who she was sure of wasn't the voice she heard - or Joe. She slowly opened one eyes and saw Joe leaning over her.

"How are you?" Miley looked at him confused. What was he talking about? Why would he know that she was horrible?

"Uhm… fine?" Joe shook his head. He got up off her bed and started walking up and down in her room. Miley watched him for a while until he stopped and looked at her.

"No, you're not! I know what happened today! You can stop lying to us, Miley! We know you're not fine when you say you are. Nick told me that he was over and you were in the kitchen and Alex seemed to threaten you and you were shaking and almost crying… Gosh, Miles, please tell us if something like this happens. Are you scared of Alex?" Miley looked at Joe with big and scared eyes. That was a sudden outburst of him. Even though he was right, she was kind of shocked that he would say these things to her.

"I- I'm not scared… I mean…" Joe sighed and walked back over to her. He sat down next to her.

"Demi was so worried when Nick said that you were shaking because of Alex. At least that's what we all thought… You have to tell us when this happens. Does Alex do this often?" Miley looked at him, confused again.

"Do what often?" Joe sighed.

"Glare at you, threaten you… this stuff." Miley looked down and shrugged.

"Not in the last three weeks… I mean, she barely talks to me and when she does she glared and she yells… I don't know, maybe I'm just imagining things. I was ruining their mood anyway." Joe shook his head in disbelieve.

"You were ruining their mood?! You didn't even do anything. You were just down to get some water, right?" Miley nodded sadly. He was right. Alex was acting worse towards her, no need to deny it. And he was also right when he said she lied. She did it all the time. But she didn't want them to worry.

"I'm sorry." Joe stopped ranting about how stupid Alex could be and looked at Miley stunned and confused.

"What are you sorry about?" Miley sighed and shrugged.

"Everything? If I hadn't fallen for Nick, then none of this would've happened! I wouldn't have to lie to you about all this… You know, me being fine and stuff. I could say the truth when I say that I was fine. But I can't because I was naïve enough to fall for your brother." Joe looked at Miley with sad eyes.

"Miles… would it make you feel better if I said Nick felt the same way?" Miley looked at Joe confused.

"What are you talking about? Nick doesn't feel the same way…" Joe sighed and closed his head. He rubbed a hand over his face and groaned before opening his eyes again. He nodded.

"He does. He… he told me all this stuff about you that I don't even know. Me… your best friend for three weeks. He noticed stuff that I haven't and when he told me I checked everything and he was right. About everything he said, he was right." Miley shook her head.

"No, he wasn't. I don't know what he said or what he noticed, but believe me, he was not right!" Joe chuckled.

"He said that your eyes shine when you smile. Or that your hair shines when the sun hits it. That you smile silly when you stopped laughing. All this stuff… he noticed it." Miley looked down and shook her head.

"No… he couldn't have. He has only eyes for Alex. I'm nothing important in his life. No one he should think about. I'm only hurting him. I don't want him to think of me as more than his girlfriend's sister. In fact, I want him to not think about me at all. I don't want to hurt him." Joe shook his head at Miley's words. She sounded lost and confused. Almost in a trance. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Miles, you can't stop him from thinking about you. You can't stop him from hurting. You also can't stop him from feeling the same way you feel about him. You also can't stop the world from turning. Compare those two, it's impossible. I don't know how, but I know it'll work out. Somehow, you'll get past this whole trouble." Miley smiled a little and hugged Joe.

"Thanks, Joey, I think I needed to hear that." Joe chuckled.

"You need to hear a lot of other things, but that was more like the thing you needed to hear the most." Miley rolled her eyes and pushed Joe a little. He laughed and got off her bed.

"Anyway, I think I should go to Demi's room now. She'll wake up any second and then…" Miley started pushing Joe towards her bedroom door.

"Thank you that was enough information. You can leave now." Joe laughed as Miley slammed the door in his face. She walked over to her bed, wanting to sit down. But as soon as she sat down, someone knocked on her door. She giggled and walked over to it. She swung the door open.

"Dude, I said I… had enough information." She only mumbled the last part. In front of her was not Joe. Miley just stared at the person in front of her, not able to get out another word. The person cleared their throat awkwardly.

"I just… wanted to know if you were okay." Miley looked at the person in disbelieve.

"You want to know if I am okay?! Do you really think I am? I got my heart broken three weeks ago! And you don't seem to care a bit! You act like nothing happened! I don't know what hurts worse. The fact that you did break my heart or the fact that after three weeks, you just forgot about me like that! You have no idea how bad I'm hurting! And there you go, having fun with my sister just like nothing happened!" There is not a lot of guessing to do as to who that person was. Nick just stared at Miley, shocked and stunned.

She looked like she had been crying just a few minutes ago, but she still looked stunning, even in her sweats and her off-the-shoulder shirt. She had an angry expression on her face, but he had to admit she looked hot, even.

"I… I'm sorry. I mean…" Miley shook her head. As much as she loved to hear him talk, she couldn't. She knew she'd cry more than if she'd cut him off, if she'd let him talk and finish his lame ass excuse.

"No, don't. Really. I'm not sure if I'd believe it. I can't… I can't look at you. I can't hear you talk. I can't hear you breathe! Because I know if I do, I'll break down. I'll break down just like that. But I don't want to. I want to get over it. And I can't do that if you apologize now. I really… Please, just leave." Nick stared at Miley while she was breathing heavily. He couldn't believe he did that to her. She was hurting because of him.

So gulping, he nodded and turned around. He walked downstairs and out of the house. He ignored Alex, who had just entered the house and asked him where he was going. He didn't even acknowledge her though. He walked up to his car and hit the side of it. He cursed and got into the car. Then he drove away.

Miley had watched him hit his car and curse loudly. She was crying again. But she wasn't even angry at him. She was angry at herself for letting this all happen. If she hadn't fallen for Nick, they could've been friends. There wouldn't be any hard feelings or drama. And yet she did let it happen. She fell for him and he broke her heart. There was nothing more to it.

Miley hit the wall and slid down to the ground. She put her head in her hands and cried. That was, until someone knocked on her door. She got up and walked over to it. Since she saw Nick drive off, she knew it couldn't be him. She opened the door and saw Alex standing there, with her hands on her hips.

"What did you do?" Miley looked at Alex with big eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Alex scoffed and entered Miley's room without permission.

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you stealing my boyfriend!" Miley shook her head in disbelieve. She didn't steal him! He just left her without a second glance.

"I didn't. Why would you say that?" Alex shook her head. She was pacing up and down Miley's room. Then she stopped and turned to Miley to glare at her.

"Usually, when we pass each other, he gives me a kiss. A welcome kiss, a goodbye kiss or some other occasion kiss. But just a few minutes ago, he walked past me and did not even acknowledge me. He stormed out of the house even though I was not even here a few moments ago. But you were. You are here and he left the house. What did you do?" Miley bit her lip and looked everywhere but Alex.

"I… He wasn't in here. He was in the house and he was looking for you. Then he found Joe and they fought about something, I don't remember what it was. But they fought and he left. He really wasn't here to see me. And he never will be here to see me. Why would he anyway? I mean, he has you, right? The beautiful girl in the family. The one that got 'beaten' by our father while I 'watched' him do it." Alex looked at Miley shocked. Never in her life had she heard Miley say that.

"What…?" Miley shook her head. She was angry now, there was no stopping her.

"Don't 'what' me! You know what I'm talking about! You always say that Dad beat you up and I watched. But you and I know that's not true! You watched, you let him do things to me and you lie. You lied to Mom, to Demi and Joe and probably to your boyfriend! And they all believe you. And here I am, listening to all that crap and watching them pity you! Because I don't want them to think badly of you! But obviously, you want them to think badly of me! They think I'm a bitch! They think I LET Dad beat you up. But that's not true! And then you go blaming everything on me! And now I'm supposedly stealing your boyfriend, but guess what. He doesn't want to hurt you. Why? Because you lied to him!"

To say Alex was stunned or shocked would be an understatement. She never heard Miley complain about it. But she seemed pretty ticked off about this all. And even though Alex didn't want to admit it, Miley was right. She knew that she lied to everyone and made Miley look bad, but if she didn't, then people would feel sorry for Miley and hate Alex.

And Alex was also stunned that Miley still wouldn't tell anyone that she lied. She didn't want them to think she was the bad person in this. But even though Alex was stunned and shocked and kind of intimidated by Miley, she still shook her head.

"No… no, no, no, no. Don't turn this on me. Don't you dare turn this on me! You were obviously just crying and Nick just left the house terribly mad. What did you do?!" Miley bit her lip. Suddenly, all her confidence was gone and she felt like the small person again. She felt like Alex was the bigger one and in both of the sister's minds, she was.

"I didn't… I just told him to leave." Alex shook her head and walked out of Miley's room. Miley closed her eyes and threw herself onto her bed. She hid her head in her pillow and cried. She just cried and didn't stop for the rest of the day.

Poor Miley. She was hurting - obviously - but now her sister started speculating. She was suspicious and had her eye on Miley. And what an eye that was. She really wouldn't let Miley out of her sight. Maybe Miley wouldn't even notice, maybe she would, but what mattered was that Alex would keep an eye on her. And that would cause a lot of trouble.


Yeah, finally, I know :P But since school started I don't have that much free time. But since it is Sunday today, I'll try updating She Said He Said as well. I'm not sure if I get the chance to though… Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :) Leave a review to let me know what you thought too

xoxo Christkind2009