Chapter 11

Miley.

"I think we should go out today…"

I placed Devonne's hat on her head giving Nick a look, "Like we should go out out, Devonne's at school, everyone is at work and we deserve a day to be together." Nick announced picking up Devonne's school bag as I just looked at him unsure about the idea of us going outside together.

"We'll get recognized…"

"So?"

"So I don't want you to get abused by Demi fans."

"Well I can take it."

"I don't think I can Nick." I responded seriously,

"Miley-"

I turned around giving Nick a look, "Nick you've barely left the house, you haven't dealt with this new world yet. Everyone hates you, and if we go out together it will just make everything so much worse." I announced seriously,

I picked Devonne up opening the front door as Nick sighed, "Miley we can't live like this, like we're hiding. It's ridiculous I was found innocent remember?" He stated throwing his hands in the air dramatically, "I love you and we deserve to be able to do normal couple things, like go to the movies and the beach without having to worry we're going to get attacked."

"So we're a couple now?"

Nick's expression instantly fell, "I just…I thought because we-"

"Because we kissed a few times that makes us together?"

Nick just shrugged a hurt expression on his face, "Well yeah but-"

"You haven't asked me yet."

"Asked you what?"

I looked at Nick and stepped outside, "To be your girlfriend, so how can we possibly be together?" I questioned in retort,

I didn't wait for a response and instead headed towards the back gate. Taking Devonne to school every morning was a hard task because we couldn't let the paparazzi see her, so we decided that leaving one car in the back street was the best way for us to be moving her around. I slipped out the back gate as Devonne looked at me confused,

"Why is daddy upset?"

"He's fine," I stated,

I opened the car door placing Devonne inside as she instantly went for the seat belt and I turned to see Nick looking frustrated and confused, "So if I asked you to be my girlfriend right now what would you say?" He asked slamming the back gate as I looked at him and rolled my eyes,

"I'd say no,"

"Why?"

"Because I expect something a little more romantic then that proposal."

"What like take you to a restaurant? To the beach? Oh that's right we can't go out because you reckon we'll get abused." He snapped at me,

I turned around to see Nick giving me deathly glare as I slammed the car door closed. Why was he being like this?

"I'm only looking out for you Nick! I don't want you to get hurt!"

"I don't need anyone to look after me Miley!"

"Yes you do-"

"No I don't"

I huffed and flung open the car door climbing in without another word I slammed it shutting myself inside. A moment later he climbed in a long side me, I stared out the window unwilling to look at Nick right now. He just didn't understand the world anymore, sure I believed he didn't kill Demi but the rest of the country believed he was guilty and that I'd gone crazy! Going out was not a simple event now, it needed to be planned. I heard Nick sigh frustrated as he started up the car but he didn't say anything, the car trip to Devonne's school was completely silent neither of us willing to back down,

"Be good, okay?"

I leaned over kissing Devonne as she smiled, "I will, bye mommy,"

"Bye baby,"

"Bye Von,"

I moved back as Nick kissed her head and she smiled hoping out of the car. We both sat and watched as she ran amongst the other kids and then disappeared inside the school building.

"So we going to talk or not?"

I shrugged looking at Nick; "I don't know? Are you going to actually listen to me for a change?"

"Jesus Miley," He hissed throwing his hands down on the steering wheel, "What's with you at the moment? One minute you're all over me, and then next we aren't together! You are giving me whip lash here, you do one thing and say another."

"I'm trying to protect-"

"Stop with the fucking excuses," He hissed,

Nick turned glaring at me, his eyes billowing with rage "I can look after myself, I went to jail Miley, I didn't have you in there to protect me," He mocked as I felt tears coming to my eyes, "And the world can't be as fucking harsh as that jail was, look at me Miley I could take most people down before they had a chance to throw the first punch. I can protect my fucking self."

I looked out the windscreen staring down the road, "I know you're concerned or what ever bullshit but Miley do you really think I can't cope facing the world?"

"You don't understand how bad things have got Nick." I whispered,

"I know how bad it is," He yelled at me, "I know no one will ever accept me again but I don't give a fuck. I don't need to fit in anymore, because I only need my family and hopefully you to stay with me, because I don't care what the rest of the world fucking thinks."

"Nick please-"

"Just at the moment, I have no idea what you're thinking because you are being such a god damn bitch! I mean running off all the time, what is with that? And suddenly you come back but then you won't tell me what happened? Miley this is getting ridiculous, I now you miss Demi but for god's sake she's dead Miley and she doesn't give a fuck about you anymore. So move on and get over it!" He yelled,

There was a deadly silence as I looked down at my fingers,

"You finished?" I whispered meekly,

"Miley-"

"Are you done?" I spat,

"No, I'm not." Nick whispered slowly, "Miley I'm beginning to see why everyone thinks your crazy, and I want to help you."

I turned and just stared at him as Nick just looked at me, I knew he was just blurting everything out and maybe he didn't mean most of it but I wanted to hear this. "Because I can see it in your eyes, you still think Demi is here. Not with us, but I can tell the reason you want to solve this murder so bad is because you think Demi's going to come back. But she's not Miley, and in running away all the time you're losing everyone else. You're not doing this so we can all live happily ever after, you're doing this because you're still trying to grasp onto Demi's life when everyone else has already moved on."

"Okay," I whispered simply,

"Okay? That's all your going to-"

I pushed open the door and climbed out not even bothering to close it. I bit my lip refusing to let the tears fall as I started walking, that had hurt more than I expected it would, it hurt a lot. I kept walking as I waited for Nick to call after me, because I knew he would regret what he'd said but when he didn't call out my name, I just felt my heart breaking. Had I really screwed up everything? Did Demi really not care about me anymore? Was I really trying to keep holding onto her, when everyone else had moved on without her, without me?

I just kept walking and walking until I didn't know where I was.

Then I stopped realizing he was right. I had no one left now.

Sure I had Devonne, but did I really? If she knew what was going on, would she in fact be with me? Or would she have decided I was crazy too? I put my hand up and waved down a taxi knowing there was only one place I could feel at home.

"Los Angeles cemetery," I announced,

My mind played tricks on me as I stared out the window, thinking of times with Demi and it almost felt like she was still here. If I kept thinking of those memories she would always be here, and why was that so bad? What had I done so wrong that everyone deserted me or decided I was crazy? I paid the taxi driver and climbed out realizing it was raining, that's all I needed right now.

I got to Demi's grave and smiled sitting down looking at the withered flowers,

"Hey Demi, what's happening?" I asked simply,

I felt a tear fall down my face as my lip quivered and I leaned down putting my head on the grass. The cold rain started to soak my skin mixing with my tears. Soon they turned into sobs and before long I was screaming until I just couldn't do it anymore.

She was still here, even if no one else believed me. She would always be here with me.

I laid down crying, "I miss you so much, no one understands, no one gets me."

"Do you think I'm crazy?" I asked to silence as I cried,

"I just want you back, I want everyone back. I want to go back to before..."

Nick.

"I just can't believe you were so stupid!" Selena yelled at me,

"Nick you shouldn't have said anything to her, she's not crazy!" Joe continued the yelling as I just sat there taking the onslaught, "She isn't okay but Miles isn't damn crazy! Miley was Demi's best friend Nick, her best friend." He repeated, "Of course she acts like Demi is still here because it's helping her cope with the knowledge that Demi was murdered practically in front of her."

"Do you realise how stupid that sounds?" I muttered,

"It's not stupid!" Selena snapped, "Don't you ever feel like Demi is still here?"

"No,"

"Then there is something seriously wrong with you, not her." Sel spat,

"I didn't mean to upset her,"

"But you did, you knew exactly what damage you were going to do."

She was right, the second I started yelling at Miley I just burst. Everything I'd been trying to ignore, inner feelings of confusion just spilled out and I couldn't stop them. I reached far beyond the point of turning back, so the more I yelled the worse everything got to the point where I'd just gone too far. Half the stuff I didn't even know I felt, until I was yelling them, hell I still wasn't even sure I believed half of what I said.

Joe sat down on the armrest of the sofa shaking his head not understand, "And you just let her walk away? Why would you do that Nick? If you love her-"

"I didn't want to upset her more." I whispered honestly

"Bit late now." Selena spat,

There was silence for a moment as I leaned back on the sofa closing my eyes. I regretted what I'd said, I did, but at the same time some of the things I said were the honest truth. Miley did need to move on.

"Do you think we should go look for her?" I asked,

"No." They both responded without hesitation,

"I'd be surprised if she ever comes back." Selena announced,

"Don't say that."

"What? It's the truth Nick!"

"She'll come back, Devonne and Daniel-"

"She'll take them back, you wait." Joe hissed looking at me his eyes terrified, "Miley will take them from you without a second thought Nick, one day they'll be here and then they'll be gone. We've already been through this, we all yelled at her too but god nothing like what you said. You practically murdered her too, just like you murdered-"

"I didn't touch Demi," I spat,

"You sure? Because-"

"I didn't, and like you're so innocent,"

"What's the supposed to mean?" Joe yelled at me furious,

"Why did Miley run out the over day?" I retorted to both of them.

Joe and Selena stared at me completely confused but I wasn't stupid, "I can read Miley like a god damn book, and when she ran away a few weeks ago, it was because of both of you not me."

'Nick what are you-"

"Well why else would she have run out and left? It wasn't because of me. Think!"

"I have no idea Nick, it had nothing to do with us." Sel stated seriously,

"Unless," Joe whispered looking at Selena, "The phone."

"What?"

"What if Miley cracked the code?"

"So? That's a good…Oooooh." Selena whispered stopping.

"What?" I hissed, "Why are you both-"

"In which case-"

"Shit." Joe hissed,

Joe and Selena just stared at one another looking horrified, "She left because of what we text Demi, right before she died." Joe reasoned as he closed his eyes leaning back letting out a huge groan, "Could this get any fucking worse? She most likely thinks we went and freakin killed Demi, Selena."

"Well if we hadn't had a fight with her maybe she wouldn't be dead Joe!"

"What Demi did was reckless,"

"She was scared Joe, she panicked!"

"She didn't even think."

"What the fuck is going on?" I yelled interrupting them,

Both Selena and Joe turned looking at me realizing I was still present, Selena sighed and shook her head, "Nick it's a long story, and nothing that we need to worry about right now, correct Joe?" She spat looking over at my brother, who gave a laugh pressing his fingers against his temple,

"Doesn't it have to do with everything going on right now?"

"No," Selena spat, "Miley-"

"Ran because she thinks we murdered her best friend."

"So that-"

"Nick's mad because she keeps running away, so this is basically our entire fault, just like Demi's death because if we hadn't fought with her she would never have been at Miley's that night. She would have been with me." Joe hissed at Selena while I just sat there completely speechless as I looked at the two of them,

"You…you had a fight with Demi and-"

"Nick shut up. For once just shut the fuck up." Sel hissed,

She moved over to Joe and began to whisper something, as I stood up confused. I clutched my hair and paced away trying to work out what just happened? So Miley had cracked the code and lied about it. She found something on Joe and Selena, which clearly she thought meant that they were guilty, but by the way they were talking they weren't? What the hell did they fight with Demi about though? This was too much for me to handle right now!

"Nick we'll explain once Miley comes home." Selena announced,

I turned around as Joe gave a light laugh, "If she comes home."

"What did you fight with Demi about? Did you kill her?"

"No, but god I wanted to." Joe spat furiously.

"Joe!" Selena hissed,

"What?" He spat standing up, "Demi went behind my back, you're back she-"

"We're home!"

Instantly the fight fell silent as we heard mom's voice radiate from the front door. I huffed and pointed at the two of them, "This isn't over, you are both going to explain what the hell happened with Demi, or I will be talking to the cops. And don't think I won't I still have Miley's gun for protection if either of you try something," I snapped,

They both just stared at me speechless as I walked into the hallway only for arms to wrap around my legs. I smiled picking Devonne up and pulled her into a hug, mom gave me a sad smile looking flustered. "The school is nice, hard to find but nice…I haven't told her about Miley, I can't," Mom announced,

"That's okay, thanks for picking her up,"

"No problem, did I hear yelling?"

"No of course not, Joe and Selena were just talking loudly…"

Mom gave me a look and I shook my head confused, "You okay?"

"Uhuh,"

I kissed Devonne and placed her on the floor as she instantly ran into the lounge room. I listened to my daughter suddenly giggle as Joe laughed too and I quickly walked in to find Joe hugging Devonne while Selena smiled,

"How's the princess?" Joe asked,

I glared at the two of them feeling panicked, what did they do to Demi? Clearly it was bad because why else would Miley have run? Was Devonne safe with him? Were any of us?

"Did something happen?" Mom asked,

"No." We all quickly responded,

"Okay," She stated hesitantly, "And Miley?"

"No word."

"Any ideas?"

"None." I responded,

"Okay well-"

"NICK WHERE ARE YOU?" A voice screamed,

I looked around confused and quickly moved back out the hallway assuming the voice was screaming from the front door. Instantly mom, Joe and Selena followed as I turned to see Noah standing there clutching her car keys,

"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?" She screamed,

Noah lunged at me as I looked at the teenager confused dodging her attack,

"What? What do you-"

Then suddenly she just started crying, "What did you do!"

"Oh Noah," Selena whispered moving forward and brought the girl into a hug as I just stood there my mouth hanging open.

"What did you do?" She chocked out, "What did you say to Miley?"

"Is she okay?" I whispered,

Noah sobbed shaking her head, "Demi's family found her, she was at Demi's grave asleep in the fricken rain! They rang mom and dad because when they woke her up she wouldn't stop crying!" She sobbed shaking her head. "They dragged her from Demi kicking and screaming and took her to the first place they could think of…"

"Where?" I asked scared,

"A rehabilitation centre for mental illness."

My eyes widened as I stared at Noah sobbing, "She's not crazy! Miley's not crazy, she kept saying that she was upset, that you'd made her upset and questioning whether she was crazy. Mom and Dad forced her to sign into the centre, and then these doctors came and took her away, she was screaming for them to stop. This is your entire fault!"

I just stood there staring at Noah crying, "She only signed it because Miley said you called her crazy, that everyone thinks she's crazy."

"No, no I didn't mean it like that." I whispered scared, "I didn't,"

I chocked on my words as I felt mom's arm come around me,

"Nick it's okay, she's going to be fine, we'll just go and get here okay?"

"No you won't!" Noah screamed looking at us hysterical,

"Why not?" Selena asked,

"Because the doctors announced she was medically unable to make decisions for herself, and believes it's your fault. Mom and dad have applied for a restraining order on behalf of Miley against-"

"WHAT?" I screamed, "No they can't do this-"

"All of you, the entire Jonas family."

"No," I chocked, "No they-"

"You will never be able to see my sister again now,"