Again... I feel uber horrible for not telling you guys the 'secret.'
and even more horrible for what I'm about to say.
BE PREPARED. What I'm about to say...
is..
this is the second to last chapter.
HOLD IT! *closes her ears* okay go.
*You people scream and cry and gasp and whatnot*
Sorry. My apologies. But, we all want the happy ending, don't we?
I'll make another chapter, but it'll be more like an epilogue. I know, I'm sad that it's ending too, This was my favorite story I've written and actually was fully committed to completing. Besides the other one I have on YouTube.
But, like williamswheelbarrel told me, "I'm going to be so sad this story is going to be coming to an end but I guess all do right?"
And basically, she's right. :p
well, You'll find out the secret in this chapter.
WARNING: Very long chapter. :) But for this specific chapter, that's a good thing. :p
PEACE.
-Shae Shae
P.S. I won't disappear as a writer on here. I have other stories to complete. I'll finish up "The Friend Zone" and then I have another Nalex story in mind, similar to "I Am Legend", if any of you saw that movie. Basically, the world pretty much ends, and well....I'll post up a trailer. Don't worry, it is a love story. :p
Chapter 12: Finally
So two weeks passed, and Nate basically avoided Alex. He was committed to making Alex smile again. Unfortunately, all it did was send Alex the wrong message. She spent every day crying in her bedroom. Shane came to visit her many times, as well as Mitchie. Mitch thought it was useless to try and help Alex. It seemed nothing she did was going to help.
Shane had to keep taking her in his arms and comfort her. He felt so pissed at Nate, his own brother. All these years, Alex kept everything bottled in, and when she finally threw it all out on the table in the open like that, all Nate could say was "I need time." He wasn't willing to fight for his best friend, to get her back. To make her truly happy once more.
But Mitchie and Shane missed going out on dates and stuff. Alex told them they could, but they were such good friends they knew that would just be the wrong-and hurtful-thing to do. So, they decided they would both just head over to Alex's place. Mitchie needed help with convincing that Nate was such an oblivious boy. Shane could help with that. And Shane needed Mitchie to help talk about her love life and such.
"Hey Alex." they both greeted as they walked through her bedroom door.
Mitchie looked around Alex's room. She sighed.
"I can't believe you're parents allowed you to stay home from school this long." Mitchie said.
"Well, we already notified the school. I'm not missing much. No big dance or school show." Alex said.
"Well, yeah, but we all miss you at school. Especially, Nate.." Shane said. He mumbled the word Nate-they knew it hurt her hearing his name. All her painful memories just came flooding back when she heard his name.
"Oh well then..now he knows how much it hurts for me to not be with him." Alex mumbled, chewing bits of popcorn while staring at her T.V. screen.
Shane and Mitchie gave a look to each other. It was really harder than they thought, to help Alex cope.
They needed her back though. She wasn't going to be here long. The only way she would stay was if Nate told her..he loved her.
But they felt that that was so far away from happening. But now that Nate knew the truth, it seemed so close as well.
Basically, their lives were getting more and more complicated every day.
"I'm sorry, Alex, but..look, I know he hurt you, but he does love you deep down. He just needs time to figure out." Shane said, rubbing her shoulder for her comfort.
"Great. Now you sound just like him! How much more time does he need, Shane? It's been three days that I've been gone, and he still hasn't had the guts to say "I love you."!" She said, practically screaming it in his face. Tears were streaming down her face as she did so.
Shane didn't know what to say, so Mitch decided to step in for him. "Alex, he's a mess without you. Please just come back for your remaining days here. We need you. He needs you. Now more than ever." she said.
"I can't, Mitch..I told you, it hurts too much." Alex said.
"Where does it hurt?" she asked.
"Right here." Alex replied, pointing at where her heart was.
It was like they were little kids again, as Shane watched the two react. But the pain was more surreal than just a mere cut on the knee, or the lunch bully taking your lunch money.
"I've checked all his texts, his voice mails..he still hasn't said the three words I've been waiting to hear..it's all that I know could fix everything, you guys. All he says is "I need more time, please." she said. "And you both know I don't have that kind of time. I've given him practically my whole lifetime for him to figure out his feelings."
Nate
The next morning, Alex decided she would go to school today. She wouldn't have the kids at school thinking she was a lovesick trainwreck, depressed over..some boy. Even if that was the truth. And he wasn't just some boy, he was her best friend. That boy meant a lot to her.
Taking a look at herself in the mirror, she knew she looked like a mess. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying so much. Her hair was messed up. Her pajama top was even backwards. How'd I miss that? she thought, as she saw the tag on the front side instead of the back. Overall, she looked...like crap. She looked lifeless, hopeless, depressed.
Walking through the cafeteria doors - it took her a long time to decide if she would really go to school today or not - she spotted Mitchie, Shane, and Nate. As soon as she walked in, he looked up, with..with hope in his eyes. She could tell he really did care.
But she wanted him to suffer a little too. To see how she felt. After all, she knew faking a smile was much, much easier. She wanted to look like everything was fine, and that what had happened on the day of the Talent show had no big effect on her.
"Alex!?! Yes, you came!!" Mitchie squealed, jumping up to hug her.
Alex chuckled at Mitch. "Well, I figured I should. Today's, well..you know.." She said, not wanting to complete her sentence. They understood what she meant, anyways.
Alex and her parents already mentioned the big news to the Grays, well...except for Nate. Everyone knew that it was best he found out himself, on the last minute. Max told his friends at school.
Alex looked over at Nate, who was still staring at her. But this time, he had a sympathetic look upon his face. She didn't want his sympathy. He's the reason she was so upset while she was gone, why should he be so sad for her? She broke their moment when she saw Miley settle down next to him with her lunch tray.
Alex looked over again and saw them talking. But, Nate didn't have a lunch tray. Miley was trying to offer him food, stuffing an apple in his face, unsuccessfully. He shoved it away, and smiled, chuckling.
Alex sighed. It used to be her that could make him smile and laugh like that. Now, Nate was probably getting butterflies with Miley again, and she'd be just 'some girl' in his life again.
Though, she knew it wouldn't have to be like that if he returned the feelings.
She was lost in her thoughts when Shane cleared his throat, after Mitchie nudged him with her elbow.
"Uh, so Allie, Mitchie and I were wondering if you could come over today to help us with our essays? Since you don't really have to do it anymore, anyways." he asked.
"Why? Mitchie's the best writer out of all of us, you know that." She replied.
"Well, I can't take all the credit," she smiled, "but you know what they say, 'the more the merrier,' right?" she smiled, grinning widely.
Alex was suspicious. Shane and Mitchie were both smiling as wide and big as their mouths would let them. Something was up, alright, but she knew she'd have to help them, even if Nate would be there. Plus, she secretly wanted to see Nate. She wanted to implant the image of him in her mind and his voice, so she would never forget him. She always loved him, and always will, she knew.
"Fine." She responded.
"YAY!!" Shane yelled.
Mitchie and Alex looked at him with their eyebrow raised. All three of them ended up laughing.
Nate
Alex rang the doorbell as she waited for someone to open the door. Her notebook was in hand. She kept thinking about everything that was about to happen the next day..it was such a big change. She'd grown fond of this whole place, it was her home. Everyone there was a part of her life, and it was hard to see life without all them. Especially Nate.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the door was opened, and she saw Frankie running to hug her. "Allie!!!"
"Frankster!!" She chuckled, ruffling his hair.
"So where's Shane and-" She looked up, seeing Nate standing there. Apparently, he was the one who opened the front door for her.
Frankie saved the two from their awkward moment. "Shane and Mitchie are up in the office area." Frankie replied.
She nodded, smiling at him to thank him.
Nate stood there the whole time, trying to read her. He knew her so well. She was faking a smile to hide all the pain. The kind of smile I'd see her bare on her face whenever Miley was around..
Man, I'm really stupid! He thought, slapping his forehead angrily.
"Yes, you are." Frankie said. Nate blinked at Frankie. Damn..Frankie must be a genius or something..or..psychic. Nate thought.
"No, I'm neither, you're just really easy to read at times. Just like Alex. But you've been too..too stupid and oblivious to care." he said, before walking off.
"Hey guys, so what's the topic?" Alex asked, as she plopped on the couch in the room.
Shane and Mitchie were gathered around the computer desk. Mitchie was scribbling down words on her paper madly. Shane was tapping his pen against his temple, as if to look like he was putting on a thinking face.
Alex leaned up a little and saw Mitchie already writing on the fourth paper, half-down. Shane's first paper was including only one paragraph. And not even a full one. Only three sentences.
"Looks like you need some help, hairmeister." She said, grinning and resting her hand on his shoulder. Mitchie looked up for a bit and giggled. She and Mitchie used to call him that whenever he took more than thirty minutes to finish getting ready. And at the rate that Mitchie was going, she could tell Shane was still trying to think of what to write for an even longer period of time.
He chuckled too. "Yeah, I'd really appreciate it. I keep asking my own girlfriend for help, but she keeps telling me she might lose track of what to write."
"Sorry." Mitchie mumbled, not looking up at all. She really was concentrating.
"Well, you still haven't answered my question. What's the topic?" she said.
He looked hesitant. After a few seconds, he looked up at Alex. "Heartbreak."
Alex nodded her head. "Well, let's get to work."
"So what..is it supposed to be a short story? Or some type of poem?" she asked.
"She said whatever we want." Shane said.
She opened up her notebook and walked out of the room. She came back with Shane's acoustic guitar.
"How about a song?" She asked.
"Um, yeah, she said that was good too." he replied. He was wondering what she had in mind.
She started strumming chords and had a tune in her head. She began writing down the lyrics on her paper.
Shane started drumming a beat along to the song with his hands.
After Alex finished writing, Shane took the paper and looked it over. But the ending is what stood out to him the most.
"Hear the operator say the number's no good
And that she had a world of chances for you
She had a world of chances for you
She had a world of chances
Chances you were burning through
Chances you were burning through
Chances you were burning through
You've got a face for a smile, oh you know"
"Wow." was all that could come out of his mouth.
"So...do you like it or..is it..too girly or something?" She asked.
"No, no it's good. I'll turn it in tomorrow. It's surefire to win an A+, Allie. Thanks a lot." He said, grinning.
Mitchie was finally done with her paper, and happened to glance over at the door. Nate's door was open. He was laying on his bed, his head facing the ceiling. He was turned the other way around, his head was at the end were the feet were supposed to go. She saw him texting.
"Uh..now that you've finished it, Allie, do ya think you can play it for us?" She grinned. She kind of wanted to see Nate's reaction, even though she knew it would hurt him. But he did kind of deserve it..right?
"Um..sure, Mitch." Alex replied, nervously. She never played one of her songs in front of some other person besides Mitchie and Nate.
Again, she began strumming the intro.
"You've got a face for a smile, oh you know
A shame you waste it when you're breaking me slowly
But I've got a world of chances for you
I've got a world of chances for you
I've got a world of chances
Chances that you're burning through
"I've got a paper and pen
I go to write a goodbye and that's when
I know I've got a world of chances for you
I've got a world of chances for you
I've got a world of chances
Chances that you're burning through
Oh, I'm going my own way
My faith has lost its strength again
Oh, it's been too hard to say
We're falling off the edge again
We're at an end
We're at an end"
She thought about how ironic one of the lines were: she would really be saying goodbye soon. The lines 'we're at an end' meant how her and Nate were..basically over. She'd fallen and felt helpless. But she needed to 'go her own way' whether it was being forced to or not. She needed to.
"Maybe you'll call me someday
Hear the operator say the number's no good
And that she had a world of chances for you
She had a world of chances for you
She had a world of chances
Chances you were burning through
Chances you were burning through
Chances you were burning through
You've got a face for a smile, oh you know.."
she ended. It was hard for her to sing it without her mind somehow always flowing back to Nate. Very hard. She thought about the song. She had given him a world of chances. He ignored it all, burned through it and was completely oblivious to it all.
Mitchie glanced over again at Nate, who had stopped texting as his hands lay flat across his chest. He was blinking forcefully. Blinking out the tears.
You do deserve it Nate. This is just so you would know how much you've hurt your best friend. Mitchie thought.
Nate
"Instead of just invisible.."
Alex's phone began to vibrate a little as she read the screen.
Call from...
Shane
"Hello?" Alex called into her phone.
"Alex! I was right, I got an A+ on my paper! Thank you so much, Allie, it really means a lot. You know that bumped me up a full grade?" Shane said excitedly.
She giggled. "No problem, Shane..but um, you know I've got to-" she began.
"Oh..um...right," he said, the excitement fading away, "I'll..I'll just meet you later then?" he said. He felt little tears threatening to come out of the corner of his eyes.
"Yeah. See you and the others there. Remember, 11:15 tonight." She said.
"Got it. Um..y-you-know-who asked me to ask you to bring RockyBear with you. And, your necklace. The one you-know-who gave you when you made the oath?" He said.
"Uh..um, okay. Well...I never have taken it off, no matter what. I won't take it off ever." She said.
"Good. Uh..I gotta go, Allie. You-know-who's still confused why everyone's so sad today. He's getting..pissed."
"Okay. But make sure you don't tell him. I want to be the one to tell him." she responded.
He nodded. "Got it. Bye 'lil sis." He said.
"Bye hairmeister." She said.
"Dude, can I borrow the car keys?" Nate asked.
"No can do. Mom doesn't want any of us to go out today. You, me, Jase, and Frankie." Shane replied.
"Why not!?!" He asked, frustrated.
"I..I can't tell you..yet." Shane said.
"Well if you can't tell me then there's no reason why I can't go out then, can I?" he asked.
Shane didn't want to fight with him any longer. He was already annoyed enough with the fact that Nate was still wanting to hang at Miley's today. He might've gotten so pissed that he'd spill about Alex if he decided to argue any longer.
"Fine, here." Shane said, throwing him the keys.
"Wow, that was easier than I thought." Nate said, easing up a bit.
"Yeah, yeah, you're just lucky I know how to keep a promise." Shane replied.
Nate
"Hey Miley." Nate said, as he walked through the Cyrus' front door.
"Hey Nate. So I was thinking about our plan." Miley said, hesitant.
"Okay. So what do you have in mind?" he asked.
"Well...." she said, still hesitant.
"Come on, Miles, just tell me. I really need help with this right now." He said.
"Well...tell her..tell her your true feelings. You love her." She said.
"Well, of course that's the easy way out, but...but I still don't know, Miley.. I think I still love you." he said, looking into her eyes, and hodling her hands firmnly.
"No! No, you don't, Nate! Why can't you see it? Look, at first I think I was just a little jealous of Alex, so I dated you. But all this time I could tell how much you love her. You really do, Nate. It's just...you're too..chicken to admit what you're really feeling." She said, breaking his gaze and letting his grip loose.
"No, no I love you, Miley." Nate said, leaning in to kiss her.
Unfortunately, it was a success.
Alex gasped, feeling small tears fall down her eyes. She heard everything. Everything.
A few minutes earlier, Alex headed over to the Grays' house to finally tell Nate the news. But he wasn't there.
"Sorry, Alex, honey, but he's headed over to Miley's place. I specifically told him not to, but Nate kept arguing with Shane, and well..it would've effected your whole secret." Denise said, when she opened the door.
"Um..okay. I'll, I'll just head over there, I guess," She replied, "Thank you Denise." She said, hugging her before she left.
She rang the doorbell.
"Uhh...hey, Alex. Ooh, I'm about to pull a hair prank on Miles, wanna help?" Jackson said, as he opened the door.
"Hey, Jackson. It's not that hair trick where you replace her shampoo with dye is it?" she asked.
"Noo....." he said, trying to hide the shampoo bottle behind him, "wait, why?"
She knew that it was a lame prank, since there were wigs nowadays, but she wouldn't tell him that. Miley was nice to her all this time. She didn't deserve it.
"Um..'cause it's a lame prank. I suggest you just find her um...purple..t-shirt and hide it." It was irresponsible, but not mean. Not nearly as bad as what Jackson was planning to do.
"Thanks." he said.
"Uh, is Nate here? I kind of need to tell him something.. It's really important." she asked.
"Yeah, upstairs in Miley's room. First door on your right." He said.
"Thanks." she said, then heading upstairs.
As she reached the doorknob, she heard Nate say, "No, no I love you, Miley."
Alex covered her mouth with her hand to silence her whimpers, as tears began streaming down her face faster than ever. It would be no use, though, as her cries would soon enough grow louder. So, she ran away as fast as she could.
"Alex? Where are you going, you just got here?" Jackson said.
But she didn't answer and just kept running. She ran out of the front door and eventually collapsed on her bed muffling her cries and keeping her door locked.
So because of that, sadly she didn't hear the rest of Nate and Miley's conversation.
Nate
Miley didn't kiss back.
"Nate, stop it! What the hell!?! We broke up, remember!?! Gosh you are so messed up." She said, sitting down to take a breath. She was furious at Nate at the moment.
He sighed, sitting down on a chair. "I just..I really do think I love you, Miley. I can't help it." he said.
"But I keep trying to tell you, Nate..you don't love me, you love her." She said. "I mean, when you kiss me, I don't think it's ever as passionate and real as what you feel with a simple kiss with Alex on the cheek, or on the forehead."
Nate shook his head. "I don't think so."
"You love her."
"I don't think so."
"When you see how hurt she is, you can't help it but to give up all your time and try to cheer her up. You love her."
"No, I don't think so."
"You have so many special traditions and insiders and memories together, it's something you share together. It's a special bond you have together. Apart of why you love her."
"But I..I don't."
"Because she just gets you. I see the way you look at her when she's sad. Or when she's happy, you smile with her too. You're there to keep her safe. Because you love her."
"I..I don't."
"And her? She cares about you so much, Nate. She knows everything about you as if you were like twins. She loves you for that."
"No she doesn't. It's just a phase."
"She always misses you. She's hurt whenever she sees you with someone else, Nate. She's the only one who can make you smile. She loves you."
He shook his head.
"She's perfect for you, Nate. I know for a fact that you can't live without her. She can't live without you. Don't tell me that's not true."
"...."
"See? And do you know what that's called, Nate? The feeling like you can't live without her? The feeling that she's your other half? The feeling that she's..your world, the air you breathe, the smile you wear? Do you know, Nate?"
"What?"
"It's love. You love her Nate. How many times do I have to tell you? You. Love. Her. It's as simple as that. "
"I..I don't."
"If you don't love her, then tell me why you're so hesitant with your answers."
He was speechless. Part of him knew Miley was right, but if he really did love Alex, he thought it would all be different.
He'd always seen her as that little girl who he would always run around in his backyard to play tag, to watch movies with, to play hide-n-go-seek with.
When they were younger teenagers, he always thought of her as the girl who thought she wouldn't be able to get a guy, or thought she would be unsuccessful in school.
Recently, he'd thought of her as just his best friend, the one he shared everything with, all the secrets, the tears, the laughs.
But he didn't understand that that was what a true relationship was about, a relationship of more than friendship. It's what brought two people together.
Nate
Once Alex unlocked her door, she sniffled and wiped her tears away with her arm.
"Mom? Dad? I think we better schedule our departure earlier than what we planned."
Nate
Nate walked in his room and slammed the door.
He buried his face in his hands. It was all too much to take. The feeling of having someone tell you you love your best friend was..was weird. He knew he could never picture her gone from his life, ever. He cared a lot about her, he knew that. He knew he did love her. But he'd never thought of it in a way of..of an intimate relationship kind of love.
He stood up from his bed. He wanted to go to Alex's and talk everything out.
"Hey, Shane I'm gonna head over to Alex's, kay? I need to tell her something." He said, as he saw Shane on the counter, eating an apple and watching TV from there.
"You're too late, dude. She's not gonna be there." Jason said, calling from the couch.
"What? Pfft, you're lying." He said, heading to Alex's.
He didn't see anything there. Everything was empty. It looked as if the house had no life in it anymore, not unless the Russos were living in it.
He rushed back to Shane and Jason.
"Dude, what happened to all the Russos' furniture? Every thing's gone." he said, panicked.
"Well aren't you smart? They're probably already on the airplane already." Jason said, frowning.
"AIRPLANE!?! W-what would they be doing on an airplane!?!" He said, upset because no one told him about this.
"FLYING. Duh. But if you even care so much, they're on their way to Mexico, where Alex's dad's old home is." Shane said, biting into his apple.
"What? Why? Why are they moving?" he asked, sad.
"If you weren't such a bad friend, you'd know by now. But no. We have to sit here and explain it to you." Jason said.
Frankie cut in, wanting it to hurt Nate with what he was about to say. "Her parents divorced. Alex's mom decided she'd move to L.A. With her step husband, and Alex, Max, and Mr. Russo are heading to Mexico."
Shane nodded. "You're supposed to be her best friend, Nate. But everyone else was there for her while you weren't."
Nate grabbed the car keys. "Miles? Change of plans. I need to head to the airport right now. Apparently Alex is boarding a flight." Nate spoke into his cell phone.
"What!?! No, that's gonna ruin the whole thing!! Uh, I'll meet you there." she said.
"Where are you going!?!" Shane called as Nate walked out to his car.
"To get my best friend to stay!" he said, determined. He jumped into his car.
"WAIT!" Jason said, jumping into the passenger seat, while Frankie and Shane jumped in the back.
"What!?!" he said, pissed. He needed to stop Alex as fast as possible.
"We want to come." Shane said, shrugging.
Shane texted Mitchie and his mom and dad to follow. He had a good feeling that he was going to tell her he loved her.
M: No way!! Eep finally! I'm on my way right now! Love you. :)
S: I'm serious. Ha, I know right? Hurry up. Love you too. ;)
Shane, Frankie, and Jason grinned the whole time on the way back to the airport.
As soon as they reached the airport, they all practically jumped out of the car and raced to the entrance.
"Jase, what's her flight number?" Nate asked.
"Uh, 413. Gate 6B." Jason responded, depending on his memory.
"Okay, 6B, 6B." Nate mumbled, trying to find the Gate entrance.
"There it is! Gate 6B!" He said, and they all ran to the designated area.
"Attention passengers, flight 413 to Cancun, Mexico is ready to board. Please have your tickets and passports ready at the gate entrance." a woman said over the intercom speaker.
"Hurry!" Nate called to his brothers. He watched as the door closed and he felt like he'd lost all hope.
"Attention passengers flight 431 to Leon, Mexico is ready to board. Please have your tickets and passports ready at the gate entrance." another voice announced.
"Oh, it was flight 431 not 413." Jason said, realizing his mistake. "It's gate 4E." He said, and they all ran again to where they knew for sure this time, was where Alex would be.
Nate was a little pissed at Jason, but he had no time to yell at him right now.
"Alex!" Nate called, seeing her about to hand the flight attendant her tickets.
She turned around, as well as Jerry and Max. She looked upset, but couldn't move.
"Um, ma'am? Your ticket, please?" The lady asked.
"Uh, excuse us, ma'am, but do you think you could hold the plane really quick?" Jerry asked.
"I'm sorry sir, but we've got a lot of other passengers, we can't delay the flight for just three of them." she said.
"Well what if that boy over there with the curly hair, yeah, what if that boy is my daughter's best friend, and she just happens to be in love with him?" He asked.
She blinked. She remembered having the same experience. And in fact, the pilot was her best friend that she loved.
"I'll go talk to the captain." She said.
"Thank you." he replied. She nodded in response.
Alex turned back around and tried giving her passport and ticket to the other woman. But the woman rejected her.
"No. You need to stay, ma'am. He's your best friend. What if he loves you back?" She asked.
She shook her head. "I'm about 99.9 percent sure that that's not what he wants to tell me." She said.
"Still. Look at him. He's almost crying. Just five minutes, at least." She asked.
Alex sighed and turned around to Nate, seeing Miley come up from behind him.
"What?" She asked, her arms folded across her chest.
"Lex, I'm sorry that I made you cry and I hurt you like that. You know I'd never do that on purpose."
"Right. Just like you're sorry you don't love me?" Alex said.
"I..look-" he began.
"Nate...I just have one thing to ask you." Miley began to ask.
Alex saw Miley, and frowned. "Um, hey Miley." She said, smiling half-heartedly.
"Hi Alex." she smiled, feeling sympathetic. "Alex, I swear I don't love him back."
"But..he still loves you." She said.
Miley thought for a bit. "Nate?" She asked, as she walked around him to Alex's side, and put her arm around Alex's shoulder.
"Yeah?" He asked, feeling nervous.
"Look at me and Alex. Who do you really love? And after that, don't tell me you can look me in the eyes and tell me you love me." She said.
Alex looked down a little. She was certain that Nate would say he loved Miley.
Nate looked at Miley. He thought about how she'd been bratty at times, and was completely selfish. But at the end of the day, she wasn't a bad person. She cared, and she was a good friend who always wanted to help. But right now, that's all he could see her as. A good friend.
But then there was Alex. He looked at Alex, seeing her tears fall down her cheeks. He felt a short pang in his heart. He knew it. He knew he always hurt whenever she was hurt. He cried if she did. He would smile because she would. She looked back up for a bit, and he looked into her eyes and saw all the memories they shared, in her eyes he "saw the times she hugged him and told him 'It'll be alright, bud. Everything will work out fine' when he was crying. How she'd always find a way to make him laugh and smile when he felt down. How she just understood him, how she always had his back. And up to now, she was still there supporting him every step of the way.
And so he looked in Miley's eyes, and said, "her."
Alex looked up.
"her. Miles, I love her. I really do." he said.
Miley could see the true sincerity in his eyes and heard it in his voice. She sighed, and smiled. "That's all I wanted to hear, Nate. Well, my work's done. I'll just..step to the side now." she said, then stood beside where Mitchie and Denise were now standing.
Alex didn't see how that really proved anything, though. She wanted to hear it from him. She wanted to hear him actually tell her he loves her. And then kiss her like she'd always dreamed of.
So she headed back to the gate hall.
"Lexie?" he called. She stopped in her tracks.
"Lexie, please don't go. Please don't leave me." He said. He felt tears coming out of the corner of his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Nate. I have to. It's best for the both of us." she said, even though it hurt for her to say it.
"But you can't just leave me like this. I need you Alex, please." He said. One, two, three tears.
"I'm sorry, Nate." She said, stepping into the hall.
"No, you can't!" He said, grabbing her arm.
She felt the anger rising up in her again. She turned around and felt tears pouring out of her eyes.
"Then give me one reason why I shouldn't!?!" She said, dropping her handbags and waiting for an answer.
"Because...because I can't live without you, Alex! Okay? I can't..I can't picture it for one second: you being out of my life forever, without it hurting me. I need you in my life, Lexie. And..and I know you don't need me anymore, that all I've been doing is hurting you. But I know I need you. I'd probably die without you by my side. Without knowing you're close to me everyday." his voice cracking.
"If you take those steps into that plane and I watch it fade into the distance, I'd break down and cry. I need you Lexie. You're always the one person who knows exactly what I'm talking about at all times, who knows exactly how to make me laugh even when I'm crying. You're the only person who can make me smile, ever."
Her voice cracked as she spoke. "W-what are you trying to say, Nate? That it's better I stay here and keep watching you live your happy life with another girl? With me having to marry some, some man I'd only know for about four years and try to be happy with him, but I'm not?"
He took a step forward and held her face in his hands. "No..no," he whispered, "What I'm trying to say is..I love you, Alex. I've realized I've never felt what I feel with you with any other girl."
She blinked at him, trying to process everything in her head. "Y-you mean it?" she asked.
He nodded. "With all of my heart."
And for the first time, they kissed. He picked her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist, and then spun her around as they kissed and wrapped their arms around each other. They pulled apart, and they smiled as Alex whispered, "Finallly."
"WHOOO!!!" Everyone cheered. Majority of the aiport passengers stopped and stared. Applause was surrounding the two.
"Finally!" Mitchie, Denise, and Miley whispered to each other, grinning and cheering along with the others.
Nate chuckled. "Have people really thought we were meant for each other for this long?"
She giggled. "Pretty much. So have I." She said, grinning.
He wrapped his arm around her waist as she wrapped hers around his shoulders and rested her head on his right shoulder. He gave her a light peck on her lips.
"So...I'm taking this as a yes that you can stay, right?" He asked.
She stopped in her tracks. "Um...Dad?" She asked.
Jerry sighed. "Well, I don't know Alex, we already booked a flight and I already told my cousins we were going to stay over there." he said, frowning because he wanted to stay. He too was always waiting for Nate and Alex to finally have their moment.
"Oh, Jerry it's okay. I'm sure you can move back in. No one's claimed it yet." She said.
"Yes, and we'll help you pay for it." Paul said, while hugging his wife.
"Well..I'm not sure. I wouldn't want it to feel like we're being a burden." he said.
"Stop worrying. Jerry, we're buds. Ever since junior high. Stay please. We want to help. It's the best for our kids." He said.
Alex looked at her dad, biting her lips. Nate looked at him too, his eyes hopeful.
"I don't see why not..my kids grew up in that house, it just..wouldn't be the same if we moved."he said, smiling at Alex.
"Thank you Daddy! I love you." She said, running into his arms, as he gave a kiss on her head, "I love you too, sweetie."
"Well, since everything's settled, we should head back and move them back in." Jason said.
Once Alex had basically everything she had with her put back in her room, she sat on the floor, and listened to her iPod.
"Hey." Nate said, walking in.
"Hey, Nate." she said.
He gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"What was that for?" She asked, grinning.
He shrugged. "I don't know. I just missed you." he said.
She grinned and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Lexie, I've been thinking.." he said.
"What is it, bud?" she asked.
"Well..first off, you don't have to call me bud anymore." he said.
"But I want to. You know," she said as she took his hand in hers, "I've realized why I fell in love with you, Nate. I can..I can be myself around you. You're my best friend, and I just..I never want that to change. Showing how much I care about you, I noticed that's how I showed that I love you." she said, smiling.
He sighed, kissing her hand. "I don't deserve you."
"Of course you do, bud," she said, taking his face in her hands. "You're the sweetest, most caring boy I know. I wouldn't want anyone else."
"No, I mean..it just, it took me this long to realize you're, you're the perfect girl for any guy. I've been so close to you for so long, and I never took a chance or thought of you in the way that you thought of me. Meanwhile, other guys jumped at every chance to try to get a date with you."
She smiled, feeling so in love.
"What I've been thinking about while you skipped school, was..I guess I was too afraid of saying that I really do love you. I guess I was afraid that our relationship would change and that everything would be awkward instead of us just talking casually like our friendship."he said.
"Nate, you don't have to be afraid. I fell in love with my best friend, and our friendship is something that just...brings us closer. I wouldn't change it for the world. Our friendship isn't going to change just 'cause we're dating and everything." she said.
"You always know what to say." he said. "come with me, Lex." he said, reaching out his hand.
"What are you thinking, Nathaniel?" She said. She always used his full first name when she was suspicious.
"Just..come on." he said. She shrugged and took his hand.
He led her outside and stood in the middle of the street.
She saw him take a deep breath before shouting, "I'M IN LOVE WITH MY BEST FRIEND ALEXANDRA RUSSO!!!" afterwards he looked in her eyes and grinned.
She smiled, happier than she'd ever been. "I love you too, Nate. Always have and always will." She said and grabbed his face and kissed his passionately.
She was feeling head over heels in love. Now, it wasn't just their usual 'best friend' kiss. This was the beginning of their most passionate kisses they'd ever shared with anyone. The kind of kiss they told each other they'd share with that special someone when they were 16.
Now, look at them. How ironic could life be?
But for Alex, her life was, like a fairytale. She'd gotten her happy ending. She'd found her special someone a long time ago. Nate didn't know his was right under his nose all along.
And now, they were inseperable. Nate fell asleep knowing that, for sure, Alex would be the one he wanted to marry and to grow old with.
How can something..something you can't see or touch, or hear or taste, be so powerful even when it moves in such mysterious ways? Well, it just finds a way and works everything out. It's..magical. It's something out of this world...It's...it's love.
