"Stop!" Miley laughed and ran around the living room. Nick laughed too and ran after her. So maybe Miley had thrown a full buck of water at him just because he said he was hot and she was bored. But that wasn't her fault, right? He challenged her! So ever since then, Nick chased her around the whole house.
"Never! You totally ruined my hair!" Miley laughed only more and ran into a room she hasn't been in yet. She had lived at Nick's for a week and she only has been in the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom and Nick's bedroom. The other rooms… let's say she couldn't find time to explore the whole house.
Miley closed the door and leaned against it, still giggling. He wouldn't find her in here - she had a feeling he wouldn't. Miley only then noticed her surroundings. A piano, a drum set and a few guitars. Miley looked around the room stunned. This was the room. The room Nick told her about - where he wrote the song for her. 'Stay' - he said - 'The song's called Stay.' Miley chuckled slightly and walked over to the piano.
Her song would sound so much better if she played it on the piano. Miley played a chord on the keyboard and sighed. She wanted to sing her song to Nick. But not now, she knew it would have to wait some time. Miley sighed and sat down at the piano. She started playing more chords, trying to figure out how to get the tune of her song.
She figured it out soon and started playing it. She didn't sing to it though; she just played and let the music guide her. Miley sighed and stopped playing after some time. She suddenly gasped. Nick! He would be looking for her. But actually, he wasn't. Miley turned around, only to meet Nick's shocked eyes. He stared at her amazed.
"You never told me you could play the piano as well." Miley blushed and looked down.
"Well… you never asked." Nick chuckled and walked up to her. He hugged her and kissed her head.
"Whatever… you play amazingly, did you know that?" Miley shook her head and hid it in his chest.
"Whatever you say, hunk." Nick laughed and shook his head. She started calling him that after Nick had walked out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. So maybe he did it intentionally and only said he didn't know Miley was in the room to get her to see him without a shirt on.
Somewhere, not so far away, a very distraught Trish Stewart sat on her couch. She was frustrated. Ever since Miley had shown up a week ago, things had changed. Not only hadn't she heard of Miley again - not even a phone call to let her mother know she was alright - but she also had any idea what she should do. She only knew one thing but she really didn't want to do that. Though, seeing it was her only chance, she did the undoable. She called her ex-husband.
Trish Stewart was many things; a mother, a sister, an ex-wife. But she was also a coward. She realized that the second Miley walked out of her living room that morning. And now, a week later, she had proof that she was indeed a coward - probably the biggest of man-kind. She was scared to see her ex again after all those years. But she needed to know the truth. She didn't want to ask Alex because she thought it would seem stupid of her to just ask her daughter if she got beaten by her drunken father. So after two days she did what Miley told her to do.
And at that moment, Trish was waiting for him to arrive. He said he'd come by the end of the week. With that he meant Friday which it was at the time being. Trish had sent Alex away to save her any trouble it could cause. Though it kind of scared her to be alone in a house with her abusive ex, she had to do it for Miley.
The doorbell rang. Trish jumped and looked at the door. This is it, she thought, time for the truth. She grabbed the handle shakily and turned the knob. And what she saw; she definitely liked. She couldn't deny that. In front of her was a man that not only looked nothing like her ex, but also looked a lot hotter than her ex. She looked him up and down discretely. She concluded that the man in front of her was not her ex-husband in any way.
"Can I help you?" The guy chuckled and shook his head.
"No, but I can help you. Don't you remember me Trish? I mean, it's been what? A few years and you just forget how the love of your life looked like?" Trish glared at him and stepped aside.
"Come in… and you're not the love of my life!" They walked into the living room together. The man who was indeed Trish's ex laughed as he sat down on the couch.
"Haven't changed anything, have you?" Trish kept on glaring at the guy on her couch as she plopped down on a cozy chair opposite of him.
"Shut it, Tom. You're only here for one reason and that is to tell me the truth about what happen back then. What you really did to Alex and Miley." Tom winced as he looked away from Trish.
"Why do you need to know? Haven't they told you enough?" Trish scoffed and shook her head.
"No, in fact, Miley hasn't told me anything. The only person to tell me something about it was Alex. And as I found a week ago, Alex lied. She told me that you beat her up. But Miley told me - after years of lying - that it was exactly the other way round. She said that you let Alex watch while you beat Miley. Now tell me, who told me the truth?" Tom sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. He really hated bringing up all those things. And he really hated talking about them as well.
"Miley told the truth. Alex watched while I hit Miley and I made them both promise not to tell anyone. I guess one of them kept their promise." Trish closed her eyes and shook her head. Tears were already brimming in her eyes and soon enough they spilled over. She put her head in her hands and cried. Tom watched her cry. He felt really bad. So bad, it was almost impossible.
Trish on the other hand felt like a terrible mother. She always blamed Miley for everything and favored Alex in everything. She never even asked Miley how she felt about the past. And even if Miley hadn't been the beaten one - Trish could've considered her feelings and not judge Miley for something as ridiculous as that.
"I can't believe it! I can't believe I shut Miley out so much…" Tom sighed. He wanted to comfort Trish if he was completely honest. He never wanted to leave her in the first place - she made him leave understandingly. Who would keep their abusive husband and father in their house? Trish looked at Tom.
"Thank you, Tom, for telling me. I really have to talk to my daughters." Tom winced a bit. Her daughters? That one hurt. Trish noticed his pained expression and looked at him confused.
"What?" Tom shook his head.
"Nothing." Trish shrugged and got up. She wiped her eyes and walked over to the front door. Sniffling one last time, she opened the door.
"You can leave now, Tom. Thank you for coming by and telling me the truth. I have to fix a lot of things." Tom sighed and got up. He walked over to his ex-wife. She looked vulnerable. He wanted to at least hug her goodbye but restrained himself.
"Can you… can you keep me updated with whatever happens in the girls' life?" Trish looked at Tom for a long time. He looked kind of embarrassed that he asked and kind of sad that he even had to ask. She then smiled softly.
"Okay. I'll e-mail you the details." Tom chuckled and nodded. Only Trish would say that.
"I think I'll go with that." Trish smiles sadly and pats Tom's shoulder. Tom nodded at Trish and left her house. Trish sighed and closed the door. She looked up the stairs. Suddenly she got angry. At herself for believing her older daughter and angry at Alex for lying. She stomped up the stairs and right into Alex' room. She needed one last piece of proof before she'd believe everything. She needed Alex diary.
Trish searched through Alex' drawers. She didn't find it in there. She actually searched the whole room but couldn't find the little book. She knew how it looked like - she gave it to Alex as a present. But she just wouldn't find it. That was until she was about to walk out and she hit something hard under the carpet. Trish knelt down and pulled the carpet up to find the book.
She grinned and grabbed it. She knew that Alex would be here soon and no girl wanted to find their mother reading their personal stuff. But Trish needed it for proof. She read through the pages quickly. No page really said anything interesting… until the newer ones. It was around Alex' 18th birthday when the entries started changing. They stopped being nice and cute. Trish frowned as she read through one entry.
"They are all so gullible. Like Mom actually believes me little victim act. She really thinks that a victim of abuse would blabber about this to everyone. Just look at little Miley. I mean, I feel kind of bad for being this way with her, but she's taking what's rightfully mine - the attention. How come on her birthday, I'm being ignored? I love Miley, I do, but I hate her at times like these. She's an attention seeking whore sometimes. I'm sorry to even write this though. It's not her fault. Maybe Dad did all this - can I even call him that?
Oh well, the bottom line is that I can lie to my Mom and she actually believes me! Maybe I should talk to her about it, but then again… Why would I ruin something that's working out so perfectly? On Miley's last birthday, she got a card saying unimportant words. I got a car - what does that show? Mom prefers me more. That's what it's all about, right?" Trish put a hand over her mouth to prevent a sob. Alex would never write that - then again, it was her hand-writing. Trish shook her head and closed the diary. She threw it back under the carpet and angrily walked downstairs. She would have some talking to do - and it wouldn't be only talking, she knew.
Miley laughed as Nick sat on top of her.
"You do realize that you're really heavy and I am really weak?" Nick shrugged and leaned forward. Instead of kissing Miley like she thought he would, he put his lips to her neck and purposely blew some breath on it, tickling her. Miley giggled and struggled under him, but he just kept on blowing on her neck.
"Stop it! You know I'm ticklish!" Nick chuckled and shrugged again.
"You know I don't care." Miley pouted, though she giggled once in a while.
"I hate you." Nick stopped what he was doing and looked at Miley alarmed. He was so gullible. Miley looked away from Nick's face to act as if she actually did hate him - which she didn't.
"Are you serious?" Miley bit her lip and looked back up at Nick. She then burst out laughing. Nick looked at her shocked.
"You don't joke about something like that!" Miley kept on laughing.
"You should know me well enough to know that I don't 'hate' people or things. So whenever I say I hate something, I don't mean it, alright?" Nick looked a little pouty, making Miley giggled and put her hand on his cheek. She rubbed her thumb over it softly which got Nick to close his eyes.
"Besides, I could never hate you. I love you too much." Nick smiled and opened his eyes. He kissed Miley gently. Miley kissed back and leaned up a bit, making Nick lean back. They were now in a sitting position but Miley soon enough climbed on Nick's lap. He locked his arms around Miley's waist. Just as things were about to get heated, someone coughed awkwardly behind them.
"Gee, knock it off, lovebirds." Miley jumped and turned around. Demi stood there with arms crossed and an annoying smile attached to her lips. Miley blushed and slid off Nick's lap, though he kept his arms around her.
"You know, if you two weren't so cute, I'd kill you. And you have exactly two options. One, I barf in front of you. Or two, you stop being so damn cute and I won't have to barf. By the way, I'd pick option two because I don't feel like bad breath." The couple on the couch laughed.
"Oh well, what if I picked the first option." Demi glared at Miley as she sat down opposite of the couch.
"Then I will hate you for the rest of yours and my life." Miley pouted playfully and dug her head into Nick's shoulder. Demi wanted to groan but it just looked too cute. Nick pulled her closer and kissed her head. Demi suddenly 'awed'.
"Okay, I can't hate you two." All three laughed. A ring at the doorbell made them all look towards the door at the exact same time. Miley looked at Demi pointedly.
"Well, looks like Joe has the decency to still ring before he enters." Demi rolled her eyes as Miley got up - much to Nick's dismay - and walked over to the door.
"Well, at least we have the decency to not make out in front of you!" Miley giggled and shook her head. She grabbed the doorknob as she turned back to Demi once again.
"So you sleep while you make out with your… boyfriend…" Miley trailed off as she looked at who was outside the door. She just stared at them with big and watery eyes. Nick and Demi walked up behind Miley because she was so quiet suddenly.
"Hey, Miles, what's… wrong?" Nick stopped talking as well the second he saw who was at the door. He put an arm around Miley subconsciously as he stared at the two people standing there in front of them. Demi stood next to Miley, her smile leaving her face.
"What are you two doing here? Mom, what are you doing here?" Trish looked at Miley with eyes, so sorry that you thought she hadn't felt anything else in her whole life. And next to the very sorry looking Trish, stood a very guilty and regretful looking Alex. Miley looked back and forth between the two, confused as hell.
"We… wanted to… to apologize and… can we come in?" Trish's voice was quivering. Miley looked up at Nick for support. He nodded slightly, though he was unsure himself. Miley sighed and nodded too, answering her mother's question. Trish sighed relieved and grabbed Alex' hand, pulling her in after her. Miley sighed and looked at Demi and Nick.
Demi softly rubbed Miley's arm and looked at her apologetically.
"It's going to be fine." Miley closed her eyes and nodded. Nick rubbed her shoulder as she closed the door and they walked into the living room together. Trish and Alex were already sitting on the couch, looking down and not saying anything. When the trio walked in they both looked up. Demi sat down on a chair while Miley and Nick found a seat on a love seat. It was quiet for a longer time. Until Trish spoke up.
"Miley, we are more than sorry for all the trouble we've caused. I can't describe how sorry we are. Whatever you want us to do, we'll do it." Miley sighed and looked down, playing with her fingers.
"I don't know if I can forgive you. I'm sorry, but… you've done too many bad things to even count them on two hands! And I really can't forgive you after a week." Trish looked down and bit her lip. Alex suddenly looked at Miley angrily.
"Why do you blame this on us?! You could've told Mom that it was you who Dad beat up all along?!" Miley, Demi, Nick and Trish all stared at Alex shocked. What got into her? The one to set her straight was not Demi or Miley, it wasn't even Nick. Trish turned to Alex fuming.
"How can you say all that stuff?! No victim of abuse could say aloud that they have in fact been abused by anyone, let alone their father. I can't believe I actually thought you were telling the truth when you told me all this crap." Alex looked down bashfully.
"I'm sorry… Miley, I'm really sorry. For all the crap I've done in your life and all the things I've made you go through. I tried to be a good sister but I just couldn't take it… when you got all the attention. I know what you're thinking right now. I'm an attention seeking whore - well, guess what, back then I thought you were the whore. I know that you weren't. I just thought that… on special occasions - like your birthday or something - I hated when you got all the attention while I was not as important. And now that you've taken Nick from me… I'm not saying that I resent you for that because we can't decide who we love. And seeing as you love each other, I can't be mad at neither of you. So, once again, I'm sorry." Miley looked at Alex with watery eyes. Her leg was shaking indicating she was not only nervous but also contemplating whether or not to believe Alex.
But Alex' eyes were so sincere… Miley looked at Nick. He looked back at her. Without even saying or doing anything, Miley knew what Nick was saying. He told her to forgive Alex. Miley closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. Then she looked at Alex. Alex' lower lip was quivering. Miley smiled slightly and opened her arms up a bit. Alex let out a relieved sigh as she lunged forward and hugged Miley.
"Thank you, Miley. You have no idea how much this means to me… you forgiving me, I mean." Miley patted her back comfortingly.
"Yeah, no problem." Alex pulled back and sat back down next to her mother. Trish looked at Miley with teary eyes.
"Miley… I don't even know how to tell you how sorry I am. I was horrible to you, I know that now. And you might be wondering why I only apologize now. And the truth is I did as you told me. I called your father and talked to him. He told me the truth. Then I looked through Alex diary to confirm it a last time. And then I talked to Alex about it and guess what? She admitted it. And now… I fell even worse for not believing you at all! And you might really hate me right now and I totally understand that. But please know that… I never meant to neglect you. If Alex wouldn't have lied in the first place things would have been different… and I can't change the past. But I want to change the future. I want to restart all this. And I'd like it if you forgave me for all the things I've did." Miley once again looked at Nick. He nodded, this time making it visible to everyone what he thought. Miley just walked over to Trish and hugged her.
Trish started crying and hugged her daughter tighter.
"I'm so sorry for everything… I just- I…" Trish then couldn't get out another word. Miley just hugged her. She didn't feel like saying anything. Besides that, she didn't want to say anything and she didn't have anything to say anyway. Every girl's eyes were watery, two out of the four girls were even crying. And Nick? Well, he enjoyed watching Miley reconnect with her family. She had been heartbroken that past week and now, seeing her somewhat happy - though she wasn't necessarily showing it - made Nick happy as well.
"It's okay Mom. I think I get it. You didn't know." But Trish shook her head.
"But it's not okay, Miley! It's the exact opposite of 'okay'! Just think about it. If Alex hadn't lied to me then you would have told me the truth and I would've been horrible to her. But I only now get that both - getting beaten and watching your sister getting beaten - is traumatizing. I don't know why I haven't realized it earlier. I'm sorry… both of you, I'm sorry." Alex joined the hug and the three Stewart women started crying in each other's arms. Demi - being herself - felt left out so she rushed over to them and hugged them too.
Nick shook his head at the scene. It looked ridiculous how four women could hug at the same time. But after they pulled apart and he saw Miley's smiling face he started beaming. She was finally happy! Nothing was in their way anymore. No sister, no mother and no family fights. Miley looked at Nick and saw him smiling at her. She flew over to him and hugged him tightly.
Alex, Trish and Demi smiled at the two. That was until they kissed each other. At first they found it cute, but when it seemed like they forgot that the three other women were in the same room, Demi turned to Alex and Trish.
"And I told them before; if they weren't so cute I'd kill them." The three women giggled as the couple finally broke apart. Miley blushed and looked at Alex worryingly. But Alex shook her head.
"No, don't feel guilty. As I said before, you can't control who you love. And you two obviously love each other. By the way, I saw this cute guy at a bar three days ago and he is definitely boyfriend material. Not like Nick who was like 'let's be un-exclusive because maybe I'll meet the love of my life today'. Seriously… looks like you found her." Miley blushed as Alex motioned towards Miley. Nick slightly nodded and looked at Miley.
"I think I have too." Miley bit her lip and hid her face in Nick's chest. Demi groaned.
"They're being cute again! I hate how they make me hate them but at the same time coo at how cute they are." Trish chuckled and looked at her younger daughter and her boyfriend.
"You two are adorable… and it's sickening." Miley stuck her tongue out at her mother and shrugged. She really didn't care if her mother and friends thought that it was sickening to watch them what they call 'being cute'. She looked at Nick and sighed.
She actually wanted to sing him the song she wrote for him. Though at the time they weren't together and she was actually heartbroken and pretty much telling him to leave if he wanted too, it also showed that she loved him. She didn't necessarily say that in the song, but wasn't it enough that she told him that she wanted him to find what he might have been looking for. That she was what he was looking for was not her fault, was it?
Nick glanced down at Miley as Demi, Trish and Alex started talking about random things, just making up the time that they lost this past few weeks. Miley had her attention now back on the other three women, giggling a few times whenever they said something funny. He smiled at her softly as he hugged her a bit closer. She looked up at him and looked into his eyes. He smiled a little more and quickly kissed her gently. Miley smiled at him and put her head on his shoulder as she kept listening to the other women. Nick put his head on Miley's and smiled a little.
This was how he imagined it. The perfect woman in a perfect world where nobody wanted them anything bad. They all were happy. But Nick somehow knew that something was still to come. And that something would get Miley to shed a lot of tears and him a lot of worries. But he knew that they would manage this last obstacle without any scars and it would make them stronger than ever… it just had to come.
The second last chapter :( It's almost over but there is the big (kinda big, actually, but whatever) finale. I might take longer for it though I got a three day school week coming along which means I'll have four days to write this chapter but then there is Guilty As Charged and I just had this awesome idea for a new story - and I know what you're thinking: A new story again? Shouldn't she finish with the ones she's got on her plate now? Yeah, I know, I know, but still... anyway, I hope you liked it and let me know if you did. Thanks for reading :)
Twitter: christkind09