Miley's alarm sounded off causing her to jump in alarm. A stream of light landed guided its way towards her sleepy figure, creeping in through the closed blinds. The brunette turned her head to look at the clock.

5:50 AM. Perfect.

She quickly flung her legs over the side of the bed and planted them on the cold, hardwood flooring. Her mother should still be asleep. Tish didn't usually get up until 6:30. Miley shuffled across the room and towards the covered window. She lowered her hand to caress the bottom of the shade and let it fly up to the top of the glass plane – revealing the darkening sky. Clouds had painted the sky and small rain drops now fell from them. The sky was letting its tears soak the Earth, causing its pain to reflect upon them.

A bolt of thunder flashed across the sky. It looked like it was going to be a while before the day broke.

"It's going to be a beautiful day" sarcasm dripped from every word that hung in the air. "Just perfect" she mumbled, her lips pressed together.

--

Gym class cancelled due to weather. Free period as substitute.

Lacey squealed with delight, "This gives me a chance to finish my book report on Macbeth!" Miley groaned at the mention of William Shakespeare, "eye of newt and toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog" Lacey recited from the play. "Off to the library for you I'm guessing" Miley half-smiled.

"Off to the library for me" Lacey confirmed, "What about you? Where are you off to?"

"Unlike certain people, I actually did my homework" Miley rolled her eyes, "I think I'm going to go sit at the tables in the courtyard" she shrugged her shoulders. Lacey scrunched her nose up in confusion, "But, it's raining out"

Miley smiled, "Thank goodness there are coverings!"

Lacey smiled in approval, "See you in chemistry later?"

"We're dissecting a pig's eyes today! How could I miss that?" Miley laughed.

The blonde stuck out her tongue in disgust, "Blech. Don't remind me"

--

The sound of rain drops making contact with the hard concrete calmed Miley's nerves. She had been sitting outside for about a half hour now. Thankfully, no one had disturbed her. They were all being smart and staying inside the building.

Well, she wasn't always smart.

"We should really stop meeting like this" a velvety voice burned away any other thoughts her brain had been occupying before. She sat still, staring out into the horizon; over the cars in the parking lot and into the dark sky.

"I mean, I don't think this is good for your health. You probably get so excited thinking about that scene we have to do every time you see-"

"Stop" Miley sighed.

Nick rolled his eyes playfully, "I'm just playin' with ya sunshine"

"Sunshine?" Miley squinted her eyes in confusion.

"You're not exactly a ray of sunshine – so why not call you that?" he laughed.

"Alright, I guess I should just call you funny, since you are far from hilarious" she smirked.

Getting up from the table she decided to leave all her bags there. As she stepped out from underneath the coverings and into the rain she felt relief wash over her tensed body. Footsteps followed her out into the rain.

"Why are you here?" she asked, not looking behind her; just closing her eyes and taking in the cool mist that caused her aching body to tingle.

"Study hall" he answered simply. "Why are you out here? In the rain?" he asked, "I mean … it seems to me as if you aren't too daring."

"My plans were altered" her voice was harsh. Why was it that when she thought she wanted to let him in her brain would build a wall around her mind and curse her for thinking such silly things?

Nick scoffed playfully, chuckling under his breath. Miley sighed; annoyed because she knew she was now going to have to ask him what he was laughing about. "What is it?" her voice dragged on. "Nothing" he shook his head, still laughing lightly. "Tell me" her eyes became slightly dark. "Nothing, nothing" he shook his head. Seeing the look in her eyes, he finally gave in; sighing he said; "It's just …" he smiled a little, "Why do you always talk like that?"

Small rain drops fell from the darkening clouds, connecting with their skin. There they both stood underneath the opening sky, getting more soaked by the second. "Like what?" she asked.

"My plans were altered" he mimicked her.

She narrowed her eyes, "Sorry for not wanting to use the words 'like' and 'totally' every two seconds just as every other teenage girl does" she defended her self.

Nick's expression became gentle as his eyes lit up with realization. He took a few steps forward to her as she took a few steps backwards. Lighting struck, causing her to jump.

"What are you trying to hide?" he knitted his eyebrows together, intensively curious now. She intrigued him like no other.

"Can you please leave me alone?" she pleaded, looking away.

He moved closer. "Really... what are you trying to hide?"

"Gahh!" she groaned, "Why can you never take a simple answer!?"

His eyes locked on her frustrated expression, "Because I know you're answer isn't really that simple…" he stated.

Miley looked down at her feet. She was standing in a puddle. A very, very muddy puddle. "Maybe I don't want to share these answers with you. Can't I keep them to myself? It's like everyone's trying to break down these walls that I've been trying to keep up my whole life!"

"I don't get what you're trying to say" he shook his head.

It was silent outside. Everything was practically still. The wind had calmed down, the trees had stopped shaking. No one else dared to even take a step outside though … because another storm was brewing. "Good" she declared, "Let's keep it that way" It was like every time she spoke, venom dripped from her lingering words, trying to snap at his veins and feelings. But, he could sense that honey flowing through her system; it was there … somewhere.

"You don't want me to see …" his eyes brightened.

A knot formed in her throat that she could not swallow. Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach and she couldn't even think about breathing. "See how you're really feeling…"

"You don't want me to find you crying. See when something has really made you upset. When you're world is falling apart and you take matters into your own hands. You don't want me to see when you're afraid of the dark" he continued.

"Stop it" she whispered.

"You hate it when people see you broken down, hurt. You can't deal with people seeing that smile twitch on your face or that fire burning inside of you"

"Please, stop" she closed her eyes, in pain.

His eyes brightened, finally figuring out her weakness. All this time she was avoiding him because she knew he could get this stuff out of her. Make her feel something. Anything.

"You want to feel numb. It's better than feeling anything because it doesn't take time… effort. So you lock away you're feelings. Right? That's what you do. You avoid me to not feel these things. That's why you avoid me! Well let me tell you Miley, this whole avoiding me thing and hiding what you're feeling is only drawing me closer" he smiled.

"STOP IT!" she finally screamed. Her eyes snapping open in furry.

"I DON'T WANT TO FEEL THIS!" she shouted as thunder shook the ground. The storm had just come back. Ready to take the school and two teenagers full on. "I DON'T WANT YOU DOING THIS TO ME! I JUST WANT THE VOICES TO STOP! I JUST WANT TO SING AND NOT BE HEARD!"

"Then what do you want to feel!?" he ordered.

She stood there in the middle of the street, rain pouring down on her figure; mouth agape. "I-I don't know…" No one had ever asked her that, no one had ever bothered. Her mom had only cared about her career and future, Lacey had only focused on why she was crying at night … never asking why, Ty had just tried to block those things out and then that was it. Those were her only connections – no one had bothered.

"I don't know, ok!? It's just something I'm used to … not having people really care about what I feel" her knuckles whitened as her hands tightened into a fist. Nick noticed this and an idea popped into his head. "You're so conceited" he scoffed.

Miley's eyes widened, "I'm conceited?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed, "You only think about yourself! What about how your friends feel!" he exclaimed, "You're shutting them out like that and you don't even see it!"

Anger bubbled up inside of Miley, about to overflow. "What about Lacey? She cared about you and all you do is take her for granted! Not even paying attention to what she's doing for you!"

Her body slightly shook the feelings inside of her were so strong, powerful … raw. "And Ty is just trying to avoid getting caught up in your wrath! I mean, getting tangled with an irritated you is not exactly fun" he laughed bitterly.

And that's when she snapped.

"I AM NOT CONCEITED!" she shouted. "I love my friends more than you'll ever know. They might not be able to see how much I care for them, but it's there! Ok!? I do care for them. I love them! Something you'll never experience!" her breathing was shaky and rough, but she continued.

Seeing him smile there all smug and everything made her even angrier. "And who are you to say what I do and do not feel? Huh? Who are you to just barge into my life and accuse me of certain things? You think I'm conceited? Look at yourself buddy!"

She had finally down it. Broken down the barrier and felt something.

Calming herself down a tad, her eyes widened. Realizing.

He stood there smiling. His mission had been accomplished. "Son of a bitch" she muttered under her breath.

"Don't blame me" he shook his head. Nick walked over towards a limp Miley. He hesitated to rest his hand on her shoulder. When he finally did – she didn't say or do anything. Her body was still shaking from shock and anger and tears pricked her eyes.

She was a mess. Finally.

"Leave me alone" she whispered.

"Leave me alone" she whimpered.

"Stop saying that" he whispered into her ear as he pulled her head close to his chest.

Looking outside the chemistry lab window, sat a very shocked Ty.


All I have to say is -- I'm a terrible updater. I know.

xxEmilyKearsexx