Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot!
Chapter 11: Love Story
Miley's POV
"So tell me..." Charlie's voice drew me out of my reverie. "What's on the agenda for you and Mr Gray when you will be all alone in LA?" The glint in his eye and his amused expression had me groaning in frustration. Would he ever learn?
"Charlie!" I growled. "Nothing is going to happen. We're going for business, full stop."
"You call the Grammys business?" His shocked expression was almost laughable.
"Whatever. He will be working and so will I. I need to finish designing Taylor's dress ASAP so we can get on with the wedding plans."
"Oh right... the plans you are supposed to work on with him." There was that triumphant expression once again.
"Do you really want me to call security and have them throw you out?" I threatened, my mood growing darker by the moment.
"No need, I will go of my own. I can tell when my questions are unwelcomed." He let out a dramatic huff as he sauntered out of my office. Yes, sauntered!
I had already gone back to my designs when I heard a soft knock and a person entering.
"I promise you I will call security if you ask me one more question about what is going to happen between Nick. I already told you-" I stopped immediately when I lifted my gaze just enough to notice a pair of black shoes... Definitely not Charlie's shoes. "Oh hey!" My cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as a smiling Nick walked over to me, meeting halfway for a friendly hug.
"Should I be scared?" He raised his eyebrows teasingly as I released him. "Of security." He explained under my questioning eyes.
"No!" I laughed. "I thought you were Charlie... He's just been bugging me-"
"I could tell." His deep laugh echoed across the room. "Does that guy fall in the category of your best girl friend?" He whispered, leaning over the table for effect. "Isn't that what girls do? Tease each other about guys?" Unable to contain my laughter, I threw my head back, hiding my pink face with my hands.
"He's... pretty unique." I gave in.
"Well I'm glad to know I'm your number one topic of conversation!" He teased again, chuckling loudly as I bit on my bottom lip to stop myself from getting any pinker. "I'm just happy to know I'm not the only one who is given grief here." His amused expression had me melting in ways I couldn't begin to describe and it took all my self control to act normally around him and not like a lovesick teenager. I was 24 for god's sake! "My brothers." He explained at the sight of my curious expression.
"Should I be worried?" I teased back, deciding it was better to enjoy our playful banter and teasing instead of turning bright red at the mere mention of our past and future.
"All they seem to talk about is Miley this and Miley that..." He explained, laughing softly at my horror stricken expression.
"Oh my god, that must be aw-ful!" I exaggerated, pressing my hand to my mouth in disbelief. He mimicked the adorable habit he had taken so long ago: shaking his head in a way that made his curls bounce from side to side as he released a chuckle.
"Isn't ex-girlfriend talk banned from the 'list' of 'brother talk'?" He joked back, smiling amusedly at my discomfort. I certainly did not like hearing 'ex' in front of girlfriend when he was referring to me.
"Looks like it's in the priority section of your brother's 'list'." I teased, smiling widely at his scowl. "So, why are you here? Apart from wanting to distract me from my work." I poked my tongue at him, waiting for an answer with glimmering eyes.
"Wedding plans..." He explained, adding "and LA plans" as an afterthought. I chose to ignore the second part, hoping that he would give me a bit more time to get used to the idea of flying out with him and spending time together in the same house.
"Did you run the beach idea by Joe and Taylor?" I asked, suddenly interested in my friends' wedding choices.
"Yup... All set." He took a look at the brochure he was holding between his palms. "There are amazing private beaches in New Jersey that can be 'rented' for a few hours." No need to say I was impressed by his research. I nodded my head slowly, lost in my thoughts. "So that means we'll need to drive up there and make a selection. Taylor and Joe trust us completely to choose 'the perfect spot'". He grinned. Did he just... yes he did... we were going to have to spend hours in a car together? How much time did my friends think I could handle with my ex boyfriend?! Oh no... They were going to hear me from me. "So I thought we could drive up this weekend and have a look... Unless you would rather wait till we get back from LA. There's no rush." Ugh that dang LA trip... why had I agreed in the first place? "Miles?"
"Uhm... yeah?" I lifted my gaze up to meet his amused chocolate brown eyes.
"Did you listen to anything I said?" He chuckled.
"Oh yeah, heard you loud and clear." I grimaced.
"So...?"
"So?" I scrunched up my nose, thinking too 'loudly' in my opinion. "Everything sounds great, looks like you've done your research!" I smiled half heartedly.
"And you have nothing to add?" He raised his eyebrows sceptically. Why did he have to know me so well?
"And..." Oh... he wanted my opinion. Smart woman, Miley. "I think we should go after the LA trip... I have quite a bit of work to get done before then." I lifted up my sketch pad for illustration.
"I was hoping you hadn't changed your mind about the LA trip." He smirked, pulling out two tickets from his pocket. "Because I already have the tickets."
"Nick!" I scolded, half annoyed, half scared he knew I wouldn't back out.
"Sorry." His adorable smile had my head spinning. Would he ever stop sending me in a whirlwind of emotions? "I'll pick you up at 5 pm Tuesday evening. Be ready." He flashed me his dimples before walking out the door, leaving me, once again, with my head spinning. It amazed me how he could be in and out of my office by the time I blinked.
"Are you crazy?" I shrieked. "No way!" I shook my head fiercely. "How am I supposed to spend hours with my ex boyfriend, Taylor? Planning your wedding?" I waved my hands in the air for effect.
"Aw come on, Mi, it won't be that bad. Plus, you're a 'great team'." She winked. Oh my god. She was spying on us.
"You were listening in on us when he told me that, weren't you?" I narrowed my eyes at her, daring her to lie.
"Well... I wouldn't say I listening in... I just..."
"Let me guess!" I huffed. "Happened to be passing by?" She shrugged her shoulders in response to which I groaned loudly. "I repeat Taylor! I cannot do this! I cannot spend hours with my ex boyfriend planning your wedding!"
"Are you saying you don't like spending time with the guy?" Taylor raised her eyebrows at me. She thought it was amusing! Ugh, the little evil plotting witch!
"I-" Damn it, I didn't have an answer for that one.
"You like spending time with him, Mi." She told me kindly as she sat beside me on her couch. "You know it, he knows it, his brothers know it. Even Denise, Paul and Frankie know it!" Oh great, someone help ME!
"Have they said anything?" I narrowed my eyes at her for the 'I don't know how manyth' time.
"Denise might have mentioned how good it was to see you two getting along." There was that smirk again... why is it that everybody thought they knew better than me? It was obvious Charlie and Taylor wanted me back with Nick... But how did they know that was what I wanted? How did they know that would be me happy? Oh, who was I kidding? Even I knew it and since I was – I admit – pretty slow, it meant everybody around me knew. Fantastic. Just great. It was only a matter of time until he found out.
"His family loves you, Mi... You know how important that is to Nick. No girl could compete with the spot you have made for yourself in his family..." She told me sincerely, almost making my eyes water. I had always called them my second family and I knew that if I messed up things with Nick once again, I would lose them for good. There was no way I could handle that. And that was exactly why I had to control myself and accept that being just friends with Nick was for the best. Maybe that was all he wanted in the first place? I couldn't and I wouldn't presume he wanted more. I could only speak for myself when it came to our friendly or not so friendly 'relationship'.
"Hey there, you look like you are lost in your thoughts?" Demi's voice surprised me as stood on the balcony, letting the cold air hit my warm cheeks.
"Dems?" I smiled widely at the sight of my best friend, pulling her in a tight hug.
"What are you doing here?"
"You didn't think I wouldn't come by and add to the teasing, did you?" She joked.
"You know, too?" I groaned, lifting my hands to cover my blushing cheeks.
"Taylor filled me." The singer grinned. "Aw come on, we've always talked about our crushes." She reassured with a wink.
"That was when we were 15, 16, Demi!" I half scolded. "We're 24, we're not mean to have crushes!" I huffed dramatically.
"There is not age for such things as crushes! Crushes is just the first level of a love story, my dear. We both know you and Nick have crossed that level a very long time ago." She smirked at the sight of my gaping mouth.
"Did you fly all the way in just to give me grief about my 'blossoming friendship' with Nick?"
"No... I flew in to get an original Miley Stewart dress for the Grammys." She smirked.
"You can get one of those in LA." I rolled my eyes playfully. Truth be told, I was more than touched by her wish to wear the clothes I made.
"But I want one that nobody has seen... I believe you can help me with that?" She cocked her eyebrows challengingly.
"Of course I have one just for you..." I gave in, incapable of resisting any sort of challenge thrown my way. They just called my name!
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear!" The dark headed grinned at me, showing off her pearly white teeth. "Back to Nick..." Not again! I rolled my eyes. "What's this I hear about him getting drunk and spending the night at your apartment?"
"You make it sound so scandalous!"
"Oh it is!" She winked. "At least tell me you got something good out of it?"
"Demetria!" I scolded. "Are you implying I would take advantage of a drunken man?"
"Not a drunk man, my friend... A drunken Nick. We both know there's a huge difference there." Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she added: "Plus, who ever said you would have been taking advantage?" And with that, she entered the apartment in search for warmth, leaving me baffled. Had she officially gone mad?
I've just realised I said they were 24 years old in the trailer and I keep writing down 25... So gonna have to correct the previous chapters where I wrote down 25 instead of 24! For some reason they were 25 in my head... sorry about the mix up – not that it changes much :P. Lol.
I'm on a roll and I'm supposed to be studying for exams :S This is my escape whenever I get fed up with studying... that way, everybody thinks i'm studying and they don't send me back to my room to study! Hehehe devious plan :P Lol. wish me luck
Think you can help me get to 200 reviews? That would mean the world :D
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