Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot!

Chapter 7: I run to you

Miley's pov

I suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to talk to my dad... or rather, his tombstone. Unfortunately, I had given up the privilege to do so when I left LA to pursue my fashion career. The headlights of the cars passing in the busy street below my window reflected on the ceiling above my head, making me miss the serenity of the Tennessee family house.

I could hear Nick's voice in my head asking me over and over if I missed music. Why had I been so affected by such a simple question?

After hours of pondering I decided I was hurt. Didn't he know me better? Didn't he know music had been my life for over 18 years? He had had a front row seat when my music and acting career had taken off. He had been the first one to witness and acknowledge the passion burning in my eyes whenever I was on set or on stage...

But things change...

Nick had been the first man – boy at the time – in my life to understand my commitment to my career. The first one to understand that my passions came first... for that I had fallen in love him. And that's when everything had changed. My career meant nothing if we weren't okay... music, acting, meant nothing if my loved ones weren't a part of it.

I was aware that it was twisted to think that my lack of gratefulness had somehow taken my father away from me. I should have counted my blessings like the religious girl he had brought me up to be. I should have been more than happy with what I had instead of being the ungrateful teenager who wanted always more. Always more time with her boyfriend, always more understanding from her protective father, always more success. I was paying the price of my ambitions.

Nick's pov

Rolling over, I searched the dark room for the glowing numbers on the clock sitting on the bedside table: 2:35. I groaned loudly as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Not only was she always on my mind when I was awake, she had now found a way to haunt my sleep as well. Not that I minded of course... well, except when the dream was more of a nightmare. What I called a nightmare were the few days preceding our breakup... the memories were as clear as new, replaying night after night as soon as I fell asleep. I had never been a dreamer... Occasionally, I would dream but it was rather rare. So when these dreams/nightmares had started after our breakup I had been rather surprised and confused. I had never talked about it to anyone, but my mother always had a way of knowing without my telling. Night after night she had applied a wet cloth on my forehead so as to wake me up whenever my sleep became agitated. I felt like I was five years old all over again, with my mother caring for me when a fever broke out. Except I wasn't crying of body pain... I was crying of heartache... A completely broken heart.

Eventually, the dreams had become scarcer till they completely stopped. I had finally stopped seeing her pained face and it was an obvious relief on my everyday life. I had started smiling again and my career had been at its highest peak.

Four years later after the last dream, here I was, dreaming again about the night we had hurt each other till we were numb. Except this time, she didn't look broken. She looked... almost happy. Relieved.

I had never been one to be superstitious but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a message behind the dream... I couldn't help but wonder if pushing me away and having us break up had been a way to punish herself at the time. Did she feel responsible for her father's death? Did she believe that she did not deserve happiness after what had happened to him? It sounded twisted but it was common knowledge that grieving individuals had all sorts of beliefs.

Pushing off the covers from my sweatpants clad body, I made my way out of the guest room and down the stairs to Kevin and Danielle's kitchen. After pouring myself a glass of water, I found my thoughts wandering back to Miley. It was no secret she had dated after me, just like I had in an attempt to move on with my life. Never had she confirmed being linked to the different men whose arm she held at various fashion events over the years. Although there were many pictures of her with a few men, acting rather friendly she had never been linked to them for more than several months at a stretch. She never seemed to give too much importance to dating after us... Yes, you guessed it, I wasn't big on gossip but when it came to Miley I always 'happened' to read the latest news. I was aware that most of them were speculations and rumours but I couldn't help myself....

Over the months following our breakup I had subconsciously pulled away from the people close to her. I was sick of the lectures... my brothers, parents, friends, had always pushed me to go see her again and make things right. Get closure. None of them knew how and why things had ended between us and to be honest, neither did I. Only she did and I had never gotten the 'privilege' to be told.

Sighing, I rinsed the empty glass before making my way back to the bedroom I was to call mine for the following months. Instead of heading straight to bed, I pulled out my song book... I fingered the worn out cover, almost afraid to write again. Taking a deep breath, I opened the book to a blank page, grabbed a pen and began scribbling down all my thoughts. My inspiration had returned.

...............

Miley's pov

I had always been known to be a heavy sleeper, always sleeping hours at length, just like a baby. The lack of sleep I had accumulated over the past two nights were clearly catching up with me as I watched Taylor belt out the final line of the song she was recording. The ballad was beautiful, lulling me to sleep as my eyes drooped close.

"What kept you up last night? If you tell me it's my wedding dress I swear I'll-" I cut off Taylor's dramatic monologue.

"Tay, please have some compassion for your best friend who hasn't had her coffee yet!" I pleaded, shielding my eyes from the bright lights of the recording studio. It was a wonder how Taylor sounded so good early morning.

"Lucky I'm here then, right?" Joe spoke up as he approached us, juggling four cups of steaming hot coffee from Starbucks.

"Omg Joe, I love you!" I snatched the drink from his hands and quickly brought it to my lips, sipping it slowly. It was only then I noticed Taylor's playful scowl. "Sorry Tay, I love Joe more than you right now." I smirked childishly.

"But you love me more than Joe, right?" Another voice was heard from behind me. I grinned at the sight of a smirking Nick.

"Of course I love you more than Joe!" I played along, wrapping him in a quick hug. I was somewhat relieved to notice there was no tension or awkwardness between us after the previous day's conversation. But then again, we were good at pretending when in a crowd. "What did you bring me?" I looked at him expectantly. It was only normal that I asked, after all I had claimed to love Joe more than Taylor because he had brought me coffee!

"Scones for everybody!" He settled down on the couch beside me as he handed out the scones, giving me the largest piece. I mumbled a quiet thank you as I bit into it, sipping my coffee to rinse it down my throat as soon as I had swallowed it.

"Why are we all here anyways? I can't be more than an hour late to work." I got right to the point, wanting to know why Taylor had 'summoned' us early morning before going to work.

"Relax workaholic." Joe nudged me playfully, giving me an innocent smile when I glared at him.

"Alright guys... we need your help." Taylor looked at us seriously. "We weren't able to get the wedding planner we wanted... since the wedding is so soon we're going to have to do a lot of the planning ourselves. We can hire people to help set up and everything. But in the meantime we need your help, come up with ideas and all." Taylor explained slowly eyeing Nick and my reaction closely.

"Kevin and Danielle already agreed to help and so did mom and dad." Joe added, smirking our way. It was his way of telling us we didn't have much of a choice but to say yes.

"Hey, you guys know I'll help out in any way I can." Nick agreed, lifting his hands up in surrender under Taylor's intense gaze. I somehow retracted in my seat as their three gazes fell on me, waiting for my answer.

"I'm designing your wedding dress?!" I offered with a sly grin.

"Mi!" Taylor rolled her eyes at me.

"You know I will help." I gave them a lazy smile as I finished the much needed coffee.

"It's settled then... I'll get back to you and let you know what you two can do to help." Taylor smirked. Oh no... she had a plan in mind and somehow I knew that it had to do with making Nick and I spend time together. The witch!! She winked at me as Nick escorted me out of the studio.

"What happened to getting some rest?!" Nick teased as I leaned against the wooden panel of the elevator. Not bothering to respond, I shrugged my shoulders. "Is everything okay?" His concern filled eyes met mine and it took everything in me to look away. God knows what I would do if I got lost in his eyes...

"Everything's fine." I flashed him a smile – a fake one might I add. The tension and awkwardness of the previous day settled in again as we continued our way down to the parking lot.

It was obvious that he had noticed my smile wasn't a real one but more one that said "drop it". And I was grateful that he did. I had a lot to think about before we could continue the conversation we had started in my office. If there was one I knew it was that Nick Gray would not pressurise me into talking to him... No. He wouldn't give up on me but he would do everything to make me comfortable enough so that, in time, I would talk to him.

Upon reaching our separate cars, parked next to each other, he pulled me into a tight hug. His warm breath tickled my ear as he spoke:

"Have a good day at work, Mi." Mi... he had called me Mi. My heart leaped at the sound of the familiar, almost intimate nickname. I distinctly felt his hands rub my back through my thin coat, relieving the muscles that seemed to tense whenever he was around. Will this guy ever stop having this kind of effect on me? My hands were fastened around his shoulders, holding him almost as tightly as he was me. I slowly lifted my head to look at him, curious to see his facial expression. I found it surprising that he didn't pull away immediately... instead, his hands worked their way up my back and to my hair to brush away the stray curls that had fallen in my face. He gently tucked them behind my ear, his calloused fingers softly trailing against my cheekbones. I closed my eyes at the feeling, unable to trust myself with what I would do next if I let myself live in the moment. Being me, I rationalised, telling myself he was just trying to be nice seeing as I looked exhausted.

"Thanks." I finally answered his previous wish for a good day at work. "Will I see you tonight?" I inquired almost shyly. We both knew we needed to talk, I owed him an explanation for lying...

"You know where to find me!" He winked as he released me and opened my car door for me.

Next chapter: Miley apologises to Nick and starts confiding in him! :D