Once again, I'm soooo sorry for the wait. My friend borrowed my laptop's power cable, so I couldn't use it for a couple of days. But here's a long update to try and make up for it. Please tell me what you think!

Liam POV

Nick and I were sitting on the railing of the dock by the water, waiting for the girls to finish up. Besides the jet skis, there was now a motorboat tied to the dock too. When did they get that?

"What's taking them so long?" he asked impatiently.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure, but they always take this long. Maybe it's harder to get into a bikini than we think."

Nick chuckled, then turned to look at me, a calculating expression on his face. "So, you and Miley seem close."

I nodded, wondering where he was going with this. "Yeah, she's a great girl."

"Greater than you can imagine," he declared, and I looked at him curiously. He looked deep in thought.

Realisation hit me then. "You still have feelings for her, don't you?" The question was a little personal, but I really wanted to know.

His eyes measured me for a moment, then he sighed. "You can never fall out of love with Miley," he declared, and I was surprised at how honest he was.

"So, that's why you're here?" I couldn't help but ask.

He shrugged. "Yes, and no." He saw my confusion and elaborated. "I lost her a long time ago." He sighed. "I messed up, and I hate myself for it, but I didn't come here to get her back, I just like being around her, even if it's just as her friend. Besides, the way she used to look at me...she's now looking at you that way."

I couldn't hide my shock. "What?"

Nick chuckled. "And don't think I don't see the way you look at her. Or the death glare you sent me earlier."

I scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Miley would never have feelings for me. She's Miley frickin Cyrus, she can have any guy on the planet."

Nick nodded. "She probably could, but right now, you're the guy she wants."

I shook my head. "No offence Nick, but I think you're delusional."

He laughed. "Nope, I'm just right. I've known her for years, and I know that look of hers very well. The one she gets when she looks at you."

This guy was insane. "You're crazy," I chuckled. "Besides, I've got a girlfriend."

He slapped his leg, making me jump. "That's it!" he exclaimed, which brings me right back to the fact that he's crazy. "That's what's holding you guys back. It's so obvious!" He laughed out loud. "Miley's nuts about you, but she would never steal another girl's boyfriend. And you want her just as much, but you can't admit that to yourself, because you're already taken."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"Think about it for a second Liam," he interrupted, before I could start denying it. "When you see her, how do you feel?"

"Umm, happy?"

He nodded. "And how did you feel when you saw her with me?" I kept quiet, so he continued. "You were pissed, and you know it." I had to admit that he was right. "And lastly, how do you feel when you kiss her?" I wanted to tell him that it was none of his business, but he seemed to understand my expression and held up his hands defensively. "You don't have to tell me. Just think about it for a second."

I frowned, but did as he instructed. How did I feel when I kissed her? I felt...content, and happy...and my stomach felt all funny...and I never wanted to stop. I wanted her to want me, and to smile at me, all the time... The realization hit me like a speeding truck. Who would've thought that it would take Nick Jonas to make me realise it.

"Okay, maybe..." I started, feeling a little stupid. "Maybe I'm a little attracted to her."

"A little?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, a lot. But that doesn't make a difference. I'm supposed to be in love with Laura."

Nick nodded. "Alright. But just remember, every guy on the planet would kill to be in your place. I don't want you to punch yourself in the face someday for missing your chance. Miley's perfect. She's the most amazing person I've ever met, and I've met some pretty amazing people. And I would give anything to have her love me again, but that's not gonna happen. Trust me Liam, it's not a fun feeling."

I just had to ask. "If you're right, which you're not, and Miley has feelings for me, which she doesn't, why are you so nice to me? And why are you telling me all this?"

He smiled. "I like you. You had to see the last douchbag she dated. Justin." He rolled his eyes. "He was such an ass. And he was only using her for her fame." He sighed. "Okay, I didn't know him that well so I might be wrong. But I do know that he didn't make her happy. She deserves someone who can do that, and I can see that she's happy when she's with you. Besides, you're the first guy she likes that I don't hate." He laughed. "And now that we know each other, I can tell you that I'll tear you limb from limb if you ever hurt her."

A smile slowly spread across my face. I couldn't believe it, but I liked Nick Jonas. He really was a very loyal friend to Miley, and he would do everything he could to make her happy, even if it meant trying to get her together with another guy, despite still loving her. That was pretty admirable.

"Wow," Nick's voice brought me back to earth and I saw him staring ahead. I followed his gaze to see the girls coming towards us in their bikinis, Miley right in the middle. The sight made me swallow, like it did every time. "Jeez, when did she get those curves?" Nick asked. "She grew up damn good."

Feeling the little surge of anger again, I elbowed him in the side, receiving a knowing chuckle from him.

"Who knows how to drive a boat?" Miley asked when they reached us, hands on her hips as she looked at all of us.

"I do," I volunteered and she smiled.

"Great! I knew I could count on you." She squeezed my arm, then ran over to the boat and jumped into it. I felt butterflies flapping around in my stomach at her touch, and now that I knew how I felt about her, it made me feel a little freaked out. Boy, was I in trouble.

I watched as she bent down and looked in a container on the boat, and gulped at the sight of her tight little butt, before averting my gaze. She soon produced a folded up tube and a small electrical pump, then came back over to us again.

Nick and I took charge of inflating the tube while the girls started applying sunscreen to their bodies. The tube turned out to be big and round, something you could lay or sit in, almost like an oversized bowl, which was big enough to carry about two people safely, but I'm sure four could be squeezed in.

"Could one of you please do my back for me?" Miley asked as we were tying a rope to the tube. She was holding a bottle of sunscreen in her hand, looking as sexy as ever as she looked at us.

"You go ahead," Nick said, sending me a subtle wink as he took the rope from me to tie it to the back of the boat.

Miley smiled at me when I walked over and handed me the bottle. I took it from her and watched as she turned around and moved her long, silky hair over one shoulder. I squirted some of it into my hands and rubbed them together, then slowly placed my palms on her sun-kissed shoulders. I felt goose bumps jump up all over her skin, probably from the cold cream, and her shoulders slump a little when I started rubbing it. After her shoulders, I moved my hands down her shoulder blades and to her back. She giggled a little when my hands ran over her ribs, obviously ticklish there, making me smile. Lastly, I let my hands travel down to her lower back, running over the little indentation of her spine and the little dimples on either side. They brushed against the top of her bikini bottoms, then around to her hips, the lump in my throat never disappearing.

"Done," I croaked out, not wanting to stop, but knowing that I had already taken longer than I needed to.

She slowly turned around and I saw a red tinge on her cheeks. She looked up at me through her long lashes and I wondered if she had any idea how sexy that looked. Probably not. She was so humble, and she had no idea how incredibly mouth watering she was.

"Want me to do you?" she asked, and my mouth dropped open.

"Do I want you to do me?" I asked, my eyes obviously wide.

She sent me a confused look for a moment, then her own eyes widened when she realised how suggestive that actually sounded. Her cheeks reddened even more and she chuckled in embarrassment.

"I mean, do you want me to do your back? With sunscreen?"

"Oh." I'm sure my cheeks were just as red at this point. When did I become such a bumbling idiot around her. "Yeah, please."

I handed her the sunscreen and took off my shirt. I was sure I saw her look at my chest and stomach for a second before I turned around. A moment later, I felt her small hands on my back, spreading the cream. God it felt good. She worked it into my shoulders, then down the rest of my back. The way her fingers dug into my skin drove me insane and I started counting to ten and back to calm myself down as she rubbed my lower back. Her fingers moved over my hips and ribs one more time, then up between my shoulder blades, then disappeared.

"There," she said softly, and my eyes snapped open. I hadn't even realised they were closed.

"Thanks." I turned back around to smile down at her.

"Hey lovebirds! We don't have all day!" Melissa called to us and we looked to see that all three of them were already sitting in the boat, watching us. I felt my face heat in embarrassment, and quickly changed the subject.

"So who's going first?" I asked, motioning to the tube. "I'm guessing we can go two at a time."

Carly and Melissa scrambled out of the boat and into the tube, making the rest of us laugh at their eagerness. Miley and I got into the boat with Nick and I went to stand at the controls, familiarising myself with them.

Nick and I untied the boat, then I started it and slowly headed out onto the water.

Miley POV

"Who wants to learn how to ride a boat?" Liam asked, and I was by his side in an instant. Nick also came over to us, wanting to learn, and Liam chuckled at our enthusiasm. He pointed to different controls and explained to us what they were, then pointed to parts of the beach where it was dangerous to go, because of rocks and stuff.

We learnt pretty fast, for when it was Liam's turn on the tube, then just laughed at Carly and Melissa's cheers of enjoyment when Liam sped up and went flying over the water.

I was surprised at how well Liam and Nick got along. It was as if they had some kind of an understanding that Nick never had with most of the guys I hang out with. He especially disliked Justin. A lot. But he seemed to genuinely like Liam, and as I watched them talking about water sports, I could see that the feeling was mutual. The thought made me smile. Both of them were very important to me, and seeing them become friends was truly amazing.

We stopped a while later and pulled on the rope to bring the tube to the boat, containing a laughing Carly and Melissa, completely soaked from the fun. With a bit of trouble, they managed to climb into the boat and started talking all at once about how cool that was.

"You guys can go next," Nick said, referring to me and Liam, to my surprise. "I wanna see what this baby can do," he explained, pointing to the controls.

Laim shrugged. "Okay."

I nodded. "But remember Nick, you break it you buy it," I warned playfully while he just rolled his eyes and started to shoo us towards the tube.

"Yeah yeah Miles. Don't worry. Master Obi Wan here taught me well," he said, slapping Liam's back. "Now get in the damn tube so I can have my fun."

We laughed and did as we were told. Liam climbed in first, kneeling to keep it from tipping over. He held his hand out to me and helped me in with him until I was sitting next to him. The tube wobbled a little and I automatically grabbed for the sides, making Carly laugh.

"It's easier when you lie on your stomach," she explained. "That's what we did."

Liam and I shrugged and laid down, our heads peering over the front as we looked for a place to hold onto. There were only a few handles, and we ended up being squished quite close together, not that I minded.

Nick started off slow, but quickly sped up, being the boy that he was, and soon I was bouncing around as we flew over small swells in the water.

"Aaaah I'm gonna bounce off!" I cried, being a little scared and having the time of my life at the same time.

"Hold on!" Liam called back laughing, then to my surprise, put his arm around me to keep me down. I instantly shifted closer, feeling safer with him, and ended up pretty much half way underneath him. His chest was pressed against my back and his head was on my shoulder, one of his legs thrown over mine. Now this is more like it.

Now that I felt safer, I was having so much fun I couldn't stop my little combination of laughing and screaming. The sound of Liam's laughter next to me made my heart swell, and I found myself wishing that this summer would never end. In that way, I guess I was quite similar to Ronnie, who only had the summer to spend with Will. The thought of it coming to an end made my stomach drop, so I quickly pushed it from my mind and tried to enjoy the moment as much as possible.

"Oh shit," we both said simultaneously when we saw quite a big wave forming in front of us, behind the boat. I ducked my head and Liam's arm tightened around me, then we hit it. We bounced into the air, and a moment later, I found myself at the end of the tube, inches from falling off. Liam was on his back, having managed to hold onto one of the handles. The others on the boat were obviously not watching us, because they didn't slow down.

As soon as Liam saw me, his eyes widened and he grabbed my arm with one hand. He pulled me back to him, and I found myself on top of him, staring down at him with wide eyes. His arms wrapped around my waist protectively and I realised that our faces were mere inches apart. I swallowed when I saw his eyes jump to my lips for the blink of an eye. Umm...

I wanted nothing more than to lean down and kiss him, but I knew I shouldn't. The way his eyes were looking into mine made me think for a moment that he wanted the same thing. But that couldn't be true. Right?

The tube went over another little wave and we bounced. Our heads banged together, breaking the tense moment, then we burst into laughter, reaching up to rub our foreheads. I cautiously moved off Liam and repositioned myself next to him, getting myself away from temptation. He put his arm over me again when I started bouncing up and down like crazy again, and we cheered and laughed for the rest of our ride.

We spent hours out on the water, just enjoying ourselves. Liam showed me how to drive the boat again and stood by me as I took it for my first run. It was exhilarating, and soon enough I was a pro at it. When the sun started setting, I invited everyone over to my house for dinner, where my mom and Mammy had cooked up a storm, glad to have more mouths to feed for a change.

It was the perfect day, and as I looked at Liam, I dreaded the end of the summer and having to go back to LA.

So what did you think? This is pretty much the last appearance that Nick will have in this story. I love niley, so I wanted to create a friendship between them, but this is a miam story so I'll be focussing on them. But anyway, please review! And I promise you won't have to wait that long for the next update again. Oh, and we're getting closer and closer to some miam action...just thought I'd let you know haha. I'm trying not to just jump into it, because that would be kinda unrealistic. But bare with me, it'll happen:) So yeah, review and I'll update!