Miley was in Mr. Platt's corner office as he paced in front of his small desk.
"This would be your first lead role and not to mention your first play ever," he sounded up. The brunette looked timidly at the floor and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She let wisps of hair fall down her tanned face to hide her shy expression.
He stroked his chin in thought and sighed as he leaned back onto the oaken desk.
"Do you think you can do it?" he asked, looking up at her. "I know you can, but what I want to know is do you know you can."
"I-I don't think so," Miley confessed. Her blue eyes dulled as she admitted her insecurity. "Sorry," she whispered and turned towards the door.
"Miley, I think there's something you should know," his words slipped out as she reached for the doorknob. Curiosity became the best of her and she turned towards him.
"I-," his voice was cut off as the door opened abruptly and a curly haired boy rushed in. Nick panted as he placed his hands on his knees, clearly out of breath. "Mr. Lucas?" the teacher pronounced, hazed by the appearance of his number one drama student.
"Let her take the part," Nick gasped as he caught his breath. He wiped a bead of sweat of his forehead and took in a deep breath of air. "She deserves it," he continued.
"I think so too."
"She completely worked her ass- wait, what?" Nick's eyebrows were furrowed with confusion. He looked at Miley and tilted his head. "Then what are you guys still talking about?"
"It seems she doesn't want the part," Mr. Platt held his thick glasses in frame and leaned back into his chair for full support as he saw Nick's face swallow with frustration.
"You don't want the part?" Nick turned towards the silent girl. He crossed his arms and peered closely into her features. Miley backed up into the wall and bit her lip as she was scrutinized by Nick's gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she defended herself. Nick threw his arms up in frustration and looked at Mr. Platt dubiously and then back to Miley.
"Are you out of your mind? You are ridiculously talented," Nick faced her as he ranted.
"Selena is way-," Miley tried to get out, but Nick seemed ready to attack her with words.
"Selena is in New York, Miley. You are the best chance this play has. You're perfect for the role and you know it. When I acted with you, I felt like we really were Nathan and Adelaide on stage."
"But," Miley whimpered out. She was at a loss for words. Her eyes met his chocolate brown orbs and all her defenses melted down.
"Plus, it'll be fun. Demi is Sarah. I'm Nathan. You'll have fun," he reassured her. She darted her eyes frantically across the room, trying not to look him directly in the eye. "Come on," he reached for her soft fingers and stroked them.
"Okay," she sighed. She didn't like that she forfeited so easily but something about Nick had made her succumb to peer pressure. He gave her an encouraging smile. "Okay," she said a little stronger.
"Okay, I guess it's settled," Platt slammed his palms on his desk and perched forward, staring intensely at Nick. "I think you're making it a habit of sticking up for Miss Stewart here," he chuckled. There was tinge in his voice that hinted that Miley didn't know something- an underlying secret between the two guys.
"Whatever," Nick mumbled as he swung his hand on Miley's wrist. Within seconds, he dragged her out into the empty drama room. Everyone had already gone home and Selena was on a plane to New York.
"What was that about?" Miley asked once they were alone. Nick turned to her and shrugged off the question.
"Nothing. Do you need a ride home?" He lifted up his backpack effortlessly and glided over to her, grabbing her bag in the process.
"Yeah…" she trailed. He gave her a short nod and swung his keys into view. Miley followed him out the door and awkwardly dug her hands into her pockets.
If he didn't want to tell her, she wasn't going to pry it out of him. She would respect his privacy.
"What are you hiding?" the words flew out of Miley's mouth before she could think. They were entering the school's back parking lot now and the night was drifting among them.
"Nothing," Nick looked at her as he rolled his eyes. "Why do you think I'm hiding something?"
"Just the way Platt talked right now and just…" she couldn't quite place her finger on it but something about Nick was off. He opened the car door and they both got in. Miley buckled in her seatbelt and turned to look at Nick who was uncomfortably shifting his position.
"I think you're reading too much into things," Nick answered, putting his keys into the ignition and purposely not making eye contact with her.
"You sure I am?" she tried to verify his answer again. Nick sighed and rumbled the engine.
"Yes, Miley, I'm sure," he backed up out of the parking space. "You need to give me directions. I've never been to your house," he changed the subject as he exited the school.
"It's not that far from here."
"Then I should have made you walk," he joked. Nick twisted his head as Miley playfully scowled at him. She gave him a light push on the shoulder and stuck her tongue out.
"Shut up," she wittily retorted.
"Its' my car," he wise cracked back. Miley shook her head, watching Nick in the corner of her eye. He had a playful smirk that was currently dancing across his chiseled face.
"Left up here," Miley quickly shot out as he neared the traffic light. Nick skillfully changed lanes and turned. "So how's Selena?" she opted to go into a deeper conversation topic.
"She's okay for the circumstances and stuff. You know, it kind of sucks, but she's handling things pretty well," he explained.
"She looked so broken today," Miley shuddered as she recalled the vision she had seen earlier today. The whole group was consoling her until she decided to go to the airport right away. Miley guessed that Nick went with her to drop her off at the airport and then came back to school.
"Yeah, she was super close to him. She was crying all the way till the airport," he confessed. "Right up here?" he guessed as the road started to fork up. Miley nodded and Nick turned the steering wheel.
"You drove her to the airport?"
"Yeah, her family came with her luggage and I drove her," he kept his eyes on the road.
"Left up here," Miley said from memory as she saw the neighborhood opening. Nick nodded and turned into the suburb. He looked closely as she gave another direction to turn into another street.
"I rushed back and everyone said you were still in that meeting with Platt. I wanted to make sure you got the role," he gently confessed as she told him to pull over. She looked at him in silence and nodded softly.
"Thanks for the support," she responded.
"No problem," he replied. She gave him a gist of a smile and climbed out of the car. He rolled down his window as he watched her walk towards the door. She rang it and her mother opened up moments later.
Once he made sure she was inside safely, he gave her a nod goodbye and pressed the gas pedal. Miley watched as his car sped down her street.
"He's cute," Tish whispered as the mustang disappeared from view.
"I know. He has a girlfriend," Miley sighed, locking the door behind her.
A/N first, sorry it took such a long time to update. My grandfather was in the hospital cause he fell and then my summer school class got canceled, and I really needed that class as a back plan just in case something happens to my college admission. Long story. It stems out of how anal my AP chem teacher was for my senior year. But yeah, I finally updated it! And guess waht? I moved chapter 12's events into chapter 11 (I basically switched the two chapters) SO THE NEXT CHAPTER IS BAM IN YO FACE kind of thing. I'm so excited. No one's guessed the twist so far and yeah, haha. this chapter drops a major hint on whats going to happen later on in the story and in the next chapter. So, I'm free tomorrow and the day after so read this chapter quick so I can update and finally get the next chapter out of my system (I'm really excited about it). And thanks for the 26 reviews last chapter. You all are so wonder full =D Oh, and thanks mrsjamespotter for the graduation congrats. And yeah, thats basically it.
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