So these chapters seem a whole lot longer when I actually write them on a document then when I upload them here it's just like...okay whatever haha. I tried to write as much as I possible could but I still feel like it sucks...and I can't figure what to do. I just wish you guys could watch what goes on in my head because it's a million times better. Well I have testing all this upcoming week so I don't know when I will have the time to sit down and write but my goal is to have the story finished some time in June, so expect a lot of updates between now and some time in June. I I hope you all enjoy...

The Heart Never Lies

Chapter Nine

You know that nauseating feeling you get when you're nervously waiting for something...or someone? You don't know what's going to happen or when, you just have this gut wrenching feeling that nothing is ever going to be the same after the undoing. But until then, you just sit and twiddle your thumbs.

Waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

Waiting some more.

And waiting until you can't take another single second of the silent hysteria of voices in your head have been leasing upon you. Whip after whip, those gnawing voices make you question and doubt everything. All of this was me as I sat in Starbucks waiting for Selena and whatever mystery secret she was hopefully going to share with me. I had walked through that door about eight minutes and thirty-seven seconds ago.

Not like I was counting.

After mine and Selena's encounter in the bathroom, I finished the rest of the night acting perfectly normal. But trust me, it was difficult to act like I hadn't spoken to her about finding out about the information my friends have been keeping from me. If there really is a secret. No one suspected a thing though.

All things considered, the previous night was actually pretty magical which was causing me to have conflicted feelings about being there.

I wiggled my toes, remembering the cold sand beneath them from last night. My midsection tingled as I still felt Nick's strong, comforting arms around me. My neck was heating up just like it did when he breathed against my skin and spoke.

"Are you scared of the water?" He whispered, making this simple question seductive.

"Huh?" I was lost from staring at the moonlight flickering across the rolling waves, anticipating what tomorrow would bring.

His hands were moving in a different position. "Ready?'

What.

I screeched from being swept up in his arms, bridal style. My first instinct was wrapping my arms around his neck, trying to get as far from the ground as possible.

"Nick!" I screamed as he walked closer to the ocean.

"What? It's not like I'm going to drop—" He fake attempted to release me. "—you."

I didn't even try to hold back my laughter. "This is not funny, the water is probably freezing!"

Secretly, I was hoping to get in the water, just to cool off my heated skin.

He was now mid calf deep in the water when he lowered me so that my butt was skimming the surface. I gripped him tighter.

"Nick, come on." I looked down at the water as if it were a monster coming to get me. "If I go in, you're coming with me."

"I'm already here." He whispered then dropped me.

I was soaked and the water splashed everywhere. Before I had time to relax he scooped me up again and spun me around. Our laughter was inevitable. When my feet finally touched the ground I pushed him away and started splashing him. He came charging toward me so I put my hands out in front of me in vain. I fell on my behind again but he had captured my lips for a brief kiss before picking me up and setting me back on my feet. I pulled him in for another kiss and there we were, kissing in the ocean with smiles as big as the sky.

"Now my skin looks like raisins." I looked over my shoulder at Nick as we walked up the beach. "But it was worth it."

I heard him laugh then he came up and wrapped his arm around my waist. "I love being with you."

I was honestly surprised by his genuine words. I wasn't expecting it but that didn't stop my smile from becoming permanently apart of my face.

"Me too." I replied sheepishly.

We walked a little father up the beach and I was dreading leaving.

"You don't have to go just yet do you?" He said, reading my mind.

I glanced up at my house that was just up ahead. I saw one light on and it came from the living room where my dad played the piano. He was probably waiting for me but I figured he could wait just a little longer.

I smiled brightly up at him. "Of course not."

"Good." He huffed, then sat down on the sand, pulling me down onto his lap.

I sat straddling him with my arms loosely draped around his neck. "I've never acted like this with someone who wasn't my boyfriend."

He closed his eyes but didn't say anything. That night I just felt like I needed to say something. I've been keeping quiet for to long. He's supposed to be my friend, more actually. Well at least that's the way he's been acting. I thought he would have made us official by this point.

"I really like you Nick and I know you like me back." He opened his eyes and looked at me. "I'm just a little confused is all."

"I knew this would come up."

My insides were jumping with anticipation. On one hand I was scared that he would just end everything but on the other I had to do this. I had waited long enough.

"Miley, I do like you. A lot actually." My heart was going so fast, I thought it had actually stopped. "But, I don't have girlfriends."

I looked down, mindlessly twirling the wet fabric of his shirt between my fingers. "I know, I hear the things people say about you at school."

I felt him tense. "I know you do. And that's why I'm surprised you haven't kicked me to the curve yet."

"I like you to much to do that."

We sat there for a while just looking at each other. Good, we were getting somewhere. But this wasn't good enough. If he didn't want to be together officially then I couldn't just hang around. Then Selena popped back into my head. Was she his girlfriend at one point?

"You said you don't have girlfriends." He nodded. "Have you ever had one?"

He tensed again but nodded anyway. "One."

"Why just the one?"

"It's...uh, complicated."

"It doesn't have to be." I whispered.

I was getting antsy and also a little nervous.

Okay, I was very nervous.

He chuckled a little. "Miley, you are something." He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck. I wrapped my arms tighter around his and started playing with his hair.

"I have to be honest with you Nick." I took a deep breath. "I love being with you. But we can't continue acting like a couple if we aren't one. I can't do that to myself."

"I know. I know." He whispered. "I guess I'll just have to make you my girlfriend, then." He lifted his head and was smiling.

You have to understand, this moment was surreal for me. I was honestly expecting him to deny me but we'd keep acting the way we've been. But that moment was heaven. So you see people, we didn't become official until that night. You have thought we were already a couple but we weren't. See how little you all really know.

Now, here I was waiting for some information that I didn't think I wanted to find out now. But I couldn't turn back because Selena had just come through the doors. She stopped and looked around for a moment until she spotted me in the back. She always looks so shy and tired. She always has her hair up in a messy bun with loose strands falling in places. She's usually wearing some kind of sweater and jeans. She's still pretty, very pretty actually.

"Hi." I said, releasing the breath I had been holding.

I watched her intently as she tucked a loose strand of her black hair behind her ear.

"Um, I don't know why I'm nervous, I—"

"I was just like you."

I stopped, surprised by her outburst. But I listened carefully.

"What do you mean?"

"The way you are with Nick. I watch you two and remember what him and I had."

"So... you two were together?" I just knew Selena was that one girlfriend.

She nodded. "We were in love actually."

This was news to me but all of you already knew that.

"For how long?"

"Since middle school, actually. But things ended last year." Her voice cracked and I watched as a little tear slid down her cheek. "Nick, he's a good guy. But I don't want you to end up like me okay? If there is any advice I can give you, just get out while you can."

"Wait, why?" My brain was scrambling for answers, or was it my heart?

"You'll end up loosing something you never wanted in the first place but when it's gone you'll realize you can't live without it."

I was confused beyond belief. Was she still hung up on Nick? Is he what she lost? Nope, not even close.

"I don't understand, what did you loose?"

She looked at me like she was the one who was confused. "You really haven't heard about me have you?"

"No, that's why I'm here. I see him give you food and whisper to you like you're the most precious thing in the world. No one tells me anything. Not him, Demi, or Joe."

"...Maci hasn't?"

"No, she just...she's just a bitch. But the other day she did make a comment about me being pregnant."

That's when it hit me. When Selena looked down and her demeanor changed, that's when everything started to make sense. That's why he always carried the condom with him.

"And." I leaned over and patted his pocket. "This."

His hands coursed through his hair and his nostrils flared. "Christ, Miley." He muttered. "I didn't bring that intentionally. Well...maybe I did. I don't know! I always have one with me." He paused and stared out the window. "Just in case." He whispered then nodded. "Just in case."

Just in case. Kept running through my head.

"You were pregnant?" I whispered.

She stood up swiftly. "I can't talk about this with someone who doesn't know me. But just be careful."

I tried to stop her but she was already out the door. I still had more questions. Many more. I had to talk to Nick. But I texted Demi instead. Surely she knew some things, she's the one that told me Nick was the one who needed to tell me.

I told her to come down to Starbucks and she said she'd be there in a few. What I wasn't expecting was Nick and Joe to walk through the doors with her.

"I hope you don't mind but I thought Nick and Joe would like to come along." She said as she sat across from me.

I didn't get to answer because Nick leaned down and planted a kiss on my lips in front of the whole store. "Hey." He smiled.

"Hi." I blushed. If only that wonderful display of affection was enough to make me forget everything.

"So, what did you want us down here for?" Demi asked. I actually just wanted you, Demi.

I shook my head. "Can't a girl just want to spend time with her friends?"

Just then Nick and Joe excused themselves so they can get us some coffee.

"Looks like it's not just friends anymore." Demi wiggled her eyebrows. "Spill, girly."

"Well, it just happened last night."

"You guys finally...you know?"

You and the sex Demi, but that's what I love so much about you.

"No!" We both laughed.

"What are you guys waiting for anyway?" She asked.

"I don't really know. I wanted to on one occasion but he didn't. That hurt a lot."

Demi shook her head. "Nick, refusing sex? That's a new one."

I looked down at my hands, remembering the...once pregnant girlfriend he had that I had just spoken to moments ago. Suddenly, Demi reached across the table and stroked my arm.

"Don't worry about it, it's good if you think about it. All of his hookups meant nothing. The only other girl he..." She trailed off.

I needed more answers and I needed them from someone. "I was thinking me and you could just hang out tonight."

Her bubbly personality was back. She was like a switch. "You mean a sleepover? I haven't had one of those in a loooong time! This going to be so much fun!" She clapped her hands together.

"Coffee, anyone?"

"Please." I said, taking my latte from Nick's hand.

Joe and Demi were instantly wrapped up in their own conversation. And now I didn't feel so awkward like I used to. Now I could be wrapped up with Nick. But the thought of him having a child haunted me.

"What are you doing tonight?" He asked.

"Sleepover with Demi." I wiped my upper lip.

"Man, I was hoping to have you all to myself." He kissed the perfect spot right behind my ear.

I giggled like a school girl and gripped his bicep. "You could have me right now."

"A little daring today, aren't we Miss. Miller?"

"That's just what you do to me, Mr. Jonas."

"Come on, let's get out of here."

I took his hand happily, and said bye to Demi and Joe. That was the moment I realized I'd go just about anywhere with him. No matter what.

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