A/N: Ok so I know it's been a while, and I swear Amy and I have a reason... it's called College. The devil of the world. And we have been completely and utterly overloaded with getting back into the school routine, so we apologize.
Just somethings to note... thanks for all the amazing reviews! I, Tiffany, know that Dinner is spelled with two n's, and that diner is a place of establishment for eating. lol. I'm not sure if Amy knows it though. lol. I'm totally kidding, I guess I didn't proofread well enough. The whole Olivia and Ellie thing... I gotta say again, that it's dued to my lack of editing skill. But Amy was the one who totally made Bri come into the whole thing, so you guys gotta take it up with her. lol. I'm totally kidding, we made a mistake. So... in order to rectify the situation, Bri isn't Kevin's girlfriend, and if you would be so kind to ignore the fact that it said Bri, and replace it with the Ellie, we would be so happy.
Hopefully this update won't let you done, after the huge cliffy, though I'm sure we will be recieving a lot of hostile reviews, which the way the story is turning. But please remember me and Amy have this all planned! And hopefully we will deliver.
Disclaimer: We do not own anything... sigh... though at this point, if I owned the Jonas Brother I would probably smack Nick, and tell him to grow some balls and man up. hahah. But that's just me.
Chapter 11
What is Best
Joe stood outside Miley's doorstep, barely aware of the raindrops falling down on him. He stood quietly, trying to calm himself, his right hand slowly formed a fist and he brought it forward. The sound that vibrated through the door as he knocked made him feel even more nervous…it was now or never. Seconds later he heard shuffling within before the door swung open.
Looking up into the face of the girl standing in the doorframe, Joe felt his body shiver. Miley looked breathtaking in a simple pair of sweat pants and a fitted tank top that clung to her body perfectly. Her eyes widened as she took in Joe's disheveled appearance.
"Oh my goodness…Joe? Did you run here? It's raining!" She exclaimed.
Joe nodded before he gestured towards the door asking to come inside from the cold air.
Miley opened the door wider allowing him to step inside. He followed her in and swiftly closed the door behind.
"Joe what's wrong? What are you doing here?" Miley asked breathlessly as she padded across the floor towards the linen closet, she pulled out a dry towel handing it to Joe. She was shocked to see Joe in such a state and started to panic as she waited for a reply.
Joe hand gripped the towel without looking at Miley directly in the face. He swiftly tried his hair and body before he spoke, "I need to talk."
Flashback
Joe's POV
I ran my hand through my hair as I placed the phone down. My thoughts were racing and all I could do was stand there in shock. A sudden chill ran up my spine in the realization of what had just happened, I had to grip the marble bench to stop myself from falling. I wasn't sure what my decision was but I knew I had a lot to think about. Immediately my thoughts wondered to Miley and how this would affect her.
My feelings for Miley were just beginning to make sense to me and yet...I didn't know what I was supposed to think of them or do with them. The inner battle that I had been fighting with myself was getting harder and harder each and every day. I wasn't aware of what I was allowed to feel but what I did know was that I was falling for her. Ever since I admitted this to myself I had a mix of emotions but mostly I was scared…I was scared that these feelings could potentially destroy both of us. In that moment I knew what I needed to do.
--
Resting back against my desk chair, I let out a deep breath willing myself to calm down. I sat there breathing deeply for I don't know how long before I eventually leant forward to grasp the large wooden desk to push myself off the chair. I grabbed my cell phone that was resting beside my laptop and slipped it into my pocket.
Dragging my feet, I forced myself to leave the solidarity of my den and passed through the gallery hallway. AS I walked down the long hall, adorned with pictures and photographs my eyes drifted across a familiar frame. It sat neatly on a black wooden table amongst an arrangement of other frames filled with family and friends. This one photo stood out from the rest. In a single four by six inches of colour her striking blue eyes stared out at me. Her long tendrils of brown curls cascaded down her perfect shoulders.
After a few minutes of admiring her beautiful face, but eyes drifted to the man that held her in his arms. My heart instantly ached in pain. Tears slowly filled my eyes as they met the brown eyes of my brother that I longed so much to see again. The happy expression on his face made me smile, the memories of those days came flooding back, the memories I held so closely to my heart.
As my heart welled with emotion it also chattered into a million tiny pieces knowing I would be letting him down with my decision. I was breaking the one promise I thought I would always be able to keep. However a part of me knew that if I stayed the repercussions would be so much greater then if I stayed. I picked up the wooden frame with one hand, as my other brushed away the fallen tears.
He was my brother and she was my brother's whole world. He had unfairly been taken from that perfect world and here I was selfishly trying to take his place. I wanted to fix the missing void in her heart that he took with him the day he was snatched from this world. I struggled to grasp these thoughts that were invading my mind. As the tears feel my decision was final. I had to leave before I grew more attached. It was unfair for me to be harboring these feelings and I would end up with one broken heart, if not two.
With that thought I set the frame down back to its position on the wooden surface. Grabbing my keys I headed out the front door, swiftly locking it behind me. It was raining, and the sound of the tiny droplets falling on the pavement filled my ears. Without a second thought I ran. I had no destination in mind…I just ran allowing my mind to be freed of all thoughts.
--
My footsteps hit hard against the pavement splattering water up my legs and soaking my feet. I was drenched from head to toe as the dark sky continued to unleash its fury. I turned the corner and without even realizing it a familiar house appeared in front of me. My feet had taken me to the one place that now not only broke my heart, but scared me. Without allowing myself to immerse in such thoughts, I ran up the black asphalt towards the steps that led to her front door. I couldn't turn back now! My fist collided with the door.
End of Flashback
No One's POV
Joe's eyes finally met the Miley's as she stared at him in confusion. She simply nodded and held her hand out for him to take. She led him towards the couch where they sunk into the cushions. Miley still had a hold of his hand…more of a comfort thing then anything else. She was concerned and tried to warm his hand up while waiting for him to speak.
Joe watched Miley rub his hands. Letting out a huge sigh he decided to speak up, "I'm leaving California!" his voice quivered. The words weren't meant to come out so bluntly, but now that they were said he couldn't take them back.
Those three words clung onto the silence as Miley's eyes widened. Before she could respond her mind went blank with shock. Joe interpreted this as she didn't have anything to say, so decided to continue.
"I got a job offer in New York City. This amazing record label wanted me to be a producer for a new and upcoming artist. Can you believe it? This is like a dream come true for me Miles and I wanted to say goodbye before I left," the words came fast and with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
Miley had been staring into space trying to take in what she was hearing. Finally she broke her gaze and looked up into Joe's eyes, "Goodbye?" she stuttered out.
Joe nodded, "I'm leaving tomorrow. They wanted me to fly out there tomorrow to look over the contract and hopefully deal with all the paperwork. I'll be gone for a few days, and then I'll head back to California to get my things."
As he continued to speak it was as if he was punching her in the stomach, each word a new blow. She tried to grasp the situation at hand as she watched the man in front of her. She couldn't put a finger on the unsettling feeling that now consumed her body. Her heart raced out of control as she replayed his words through her head, trying to wrap her head around the news.
The situation was this…Joe was leaving…he was leaving California…he was leaving his home…he was leaving her. He was going to follow his dreams and get back to his musical roots. It had to be a dream, Miley couldn't cope if it wasn't a dream but there was nothing Miley could do to wake her self up from this unbelievable dream.
Joe is Nick's older brother and therefore Miley considered him her older brother as well. She had already lost one family member through no choice of her own, and now she was going to lose another. The thing that hurt the most was that this time there was a choice. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to react to this, should she be happy? This was his dream after all and an amazing opportunity. She wanted to be happy for him, but he was leaving her…she would now be alone without him.
Miley couldn't understand why this was happening to her nor did she know what she would say. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't realize Joe had been watching her so intently.
She finally managed to muttered out in shock, "I... wow... I... don't... kn..know... what to say."
Mentally hitting herself she realized how insensitive she was being. This was Joe, the one who was there for her, she should be happy for him. After everything he had done for her and sacrificed to help her put her life back together she was being so selfish, "What I'm trying to say is...Oh my god...Congratulations Joe. You deserve this."
Still sitting close to him, but no longer holding his hand she immediately flung herself off the couch and into his arms. He happily wrapped his arms around her. As his arms enclosed her in the embrace she felt the butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach. Her heart raced out of control as his fingertips brushed across her back sending shivers up her spine. She clung to him with everything she had.
AS he held her tightly the pieces started to click together, everything made so much more sense when she was in his arms. The emotions came at her with full force as she rested her head against his chest.
She was in love with Joe Jonas…and now he was leaving…
Miley's tiny frame relaxed into his body as he held on to her. Joe slowly rubbed his hands up and down her back, taking in huge breaths. He couldn't help but feel guilty at how much he loved having her in his arms. Kevin's words slowly crept into his thoughts:
Her heart belongs to Nick
He knew it had once belonged to Nick, and felt guilty for thinking that it could one day belong to him. As they continued to hold each other his world began to spin, nothing mattered more in his world then Miley and she made him feel whole.
Joe couldn't bring himself to pull away, he knew full well that once he let go he couldn't go back. He wanted to cherish this moment while he could; a single tear fell down his face. He was in love with Miley and he knew he needed to walk away before his heart broke even more. This was the hardest thing he had ever had to do…besides bury his younger brother…letting go of another person he loved hurt more then he could cope with.
Taking in a deep breath Joe stepped back, pulling away from the embrace. Miley shifted her gaze to meet his. It was obvious that a layer of tears had fallen down her face as well, her beautiful blue eyes slightly red from her silent crying.
"I guess this is goodbye…" Joe's words were hardly audible, but to Miley they sounded like he had yelled them.
Miley could swear she also heard her heart brake, her breathing caught in her throat rendering her unable to speak. Taking in a number of deep breaths she finally spoke, her words filling the silence of the room, "Goodbye Joe" the confidence in her voice wavering.
Turning on his heels, he knew he had to get out of their before he changed his mind. He could see the hurt on her face and it was eating him up inside. Gripping the handle his heart called out for him to turn back and kiss her senseless, but he knew better then that. His brain yelled at him to just leave…it was for the best.
Joe pulled the door open but not before turning back one last time. His eyes instantly landed on the beautiful woman that stood before him. She was clearly struggling to stage composed just as much as he was. Softly, so softly that she wouldn't be able to hear, Joe whispered, "I love you…" knowing he couldn't leave without saying it.
Finally exiting the house the cold air hit against his skin…by this stage he was numb…so numb he couldn't even feel it. Joe cried. Walking away was hard, but knowing that he could never go back was even harder. Underneath the pouring rain his heart fell to pieces. Feeding himself words to calm himself, the words he need to hear, he whispered, "It's for the best…" before holding his head high and running home.
Back in the house Miley continued to stand in the silence of her empty house. It had never felt this empty before…the tears fell thick and fast down her face. Her heart was calling for him to stop…to turn around and tell her that he loved her. She wanted more then anything to ask him to stay…but she couldn't, she wouldn't. He had done so much for her…she could do this for him.
As she stood there watching him walk away she said the words that she needed to hear, the words to keep her from braking, "It's for the best…"
If only they knew... that it wasn't for the best.
A/N: hahahahahahahah... so who is upset with how this chapter ended? Anyone? lol. I promise you guys, this isn't the end, we totally have this planned out. And I'm hoping when the time comes, you will be happy. This story is actually taking so much longer than I expected.
