Chapter Twenty-One.

Miley.
I shook my head trying on another bikini. I didn't understand how it was possible that all of these looked so much better when I tried them on in the store. I didn't want to look bad in front of Nick, yet, I couldn't find the right bikini. This would be the first time he'd see me in a bathing-suit in a year, I had to at least look hot for it. But, of course, my swimsuits decide to ruin my day again.

"Miley, c'mon!"

"Coming!" I yelled back down, rolling my eyes at how much my mom was rushing me.

I glanced at the multiple bathing suits on my bed before finally choosing the baby blue one. It would at least bring out my eyes. I threw it on, grabbing shorts and slipping them on as well with a baggy T-Shirt. I ran downstairs, waving a little to them.

"I couldn't find my suit," I mumbled, grabbing a few random things I'd need, shoving it into Nick's bag.

"Just go before everyone starts calling about why you aren't in front of the cameras yet," My mom pushed taking steps closer to the door as a hint to leave.

Nick chuckled and grabbed onto my hand, once again leading me outside. These past two days, everything had changed between Nick and I. We were comfortable around each other again and the awkwardness was finally gone. We could finally talk about everything again, not just the topics that were considered "safe".

I rubbed my thumb up and down Nick's forefinger, knowing it drove him crazy. The good type of crazy, though. The reassurance kind of crazy. Instantly he began to smile before raising his eyebrows at me. I met his eyes, making sure to pull off the innocent face. He smirked, taking his other hand and drawing circles on my stomach while we were walking.

"Nicholas," I warned.

He looked up at me, that same innocent reflection I just wore appearing on his face. I heard a click and grinned. Go ahead, I wanted to scream to the hidden camera, take your pictures. Looking at how it was turning out, I was beginning to think I'd want something to remember this vacation by.

"What?"

I shook my head, grabbing his hand to get it to stop moving.

"Is there a problem?"

Trying to hide my smile (and failing) I glared at him. "Not anymore."

"Good, I wouldn't want you to be upset."

I scoffed. "Am I ever upset when I'm with you?"

"All the time," he shot back.

"No I'm not," I protested. He gave me a look. "Only when you're lead me on," I clarified. "The rest of the time I'm faking it."

"Really?" He asked, playfully shoving me. "That's good to know."

I laid down my towel, taking off my clothes to leave me only in the swimsuit underneath. I grabbed the small backpack Nick carried, grabbing my tanning lotion out of it. I began to slather it on my skin before glancing up at him.

"Can you get my back?" I smiled cheekily.

He took the bottle from me, putting it on his hands, then rubbing it into my skin. The second his hands started running up and down my back I got those goosebumps. There was nothing better than the feeling of those, and nothing could convince me otherwise. Stop it, Miley. He has a girlfriend, I scolded myself.

"Here," he handed it back to me.

"Thanks," I sat on my towel, putting the lotion into the bag again.

Nick sat down while I laid on my back, letting my skin slowly become darker. It took about thirty seconds to feel like I was being watched by someone other than the paparazzi. At first I ignored it, but after awhile it creeped me out. I opened one eye, automatically meeting Nick's pupils.

"Why are you watching me?" I laughed. Actually, I was surprised. I think any other teenage boy would be looking much lower than my face when I was on my back in a bikini.

"I'm observing you."

I nodded, sitting up and resting my chin on the palm of my hand. "And what have you learned from you're observations?"

"That you're more beautiful than I thought."

Instantly I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. "You aren't so bad yourself."

"No," he shook his head. "No one can compare to your beauty."

"You have a girlfriend."

"I have a best-friend, too," he smirked. That seemed to be our excuse for a lot of things recently. All of these sweet comments weren't because we liked each other. We were just best-friends. "Besides, I was worried that you might be forgetting how pretty you are."

I couldn't stop that smile from coming out this time. I stood up to give him a hug as he somehow pulled me onto his lap.

"How was I lucky enough to get you in my life?"

He rolled his eyes. "You're hardly lucky. You deserve way better than me."

My head snapped over to him as I suddenly turned serious. "Don't you ever think that. You're the best person I could ever ask for."

"You're so much better than I am," he protested as I stared at him incredulously. How can he even think that? "I don't know how you don't see how amazing you really are. The effect you have on the world."

I bit my lip as he brushed his thumb over my cheek. Then, I don't know how, but I subconsciously leaned in a little bit. He was so amazing, yet somehow, he didn't see that.

"You underestimate yourself, Nicky," I grinned at him. "You've changed people more than you know."

Nick leaned in too, leading me to the conclusion that he just gave me permission to do what I wanted so badly to do. And just like that, our lips connected. It wasn't like fireworks, at all. It was so much more than that. It was like being a little kid on Christmas day, seeing Santa came. I swear, there was no better present than his kisses.

We sat there for awhile, just kissing, nothing going through either of our minds until Selena flashed through my head. It was just for a split second, but it was all it took for me to pull away terrified, jumping off of his lap.

"I'm so sorry," I stuttered, tears instantly coming to my eyes. Did I really just kiss him? He was taken. Stupid, stupid, stupid move. "I didn't mean to do that. Oh my – Nick... Oh my God."

I didn't know what to do. Then, without thinking, I followed my instincts, running back to the house. It took five steps for the tears to start falling, and about ten steps to see that we could never – ever – be just friends, then, fifteen to realize that I just ruined the one chance we had left. We were over, and it was time to finally let him go.

Nick.
"Miley!" I called after her. But she didn't listen, just continuing to run. "Miley!" I yelled louder, pushing my hand through my hair. What did we just do? I mean, that felt amazing, but what was I thinking?

I groaned, sitting back down before grabbing her towel and slowly walking home. I definitely wasn't in a rush to get there, though, figuring our parents would ask all about why we were coming home separately or if Miley told her mom – which she most likely did considering Miley tells her mom everything – they'd both sit there, looking at me disappointed when I walked in.

However, when I got in the house it there was nothing different. Our parent's didn't stop talking to one another and Braison didn't look up from his computer. I frowned at how wrong it felt acting as if nothing was wrong, walking into the kitchen. How did Miley pull off her brave face for months? I could barely do it for thirty seconds. I hugged my mom, nodding.

"Have fun?" she asked. And a part of me was shocked. Miley had ten minutes before I got home to talk shit about me, freak out, speak with her mom, yet she didn't. Where was she, anyways?

"Yeah," I put on a half smile. "It was definitely eventful."

Tish looked around the room. "Where's Miley?"

"Upstairs, I think. She seemed tired when she got in." The lie rolled off my tongue way too easily. Normally, I'd stutter, but when it came to protecting Miley it was so easy to think of a fib. It's as if it was a natural instinct.

My mom and Tish began talking again as I decided it was my time to leave. The news was blasting in the other room, but I passed it mindlessly, walking upstairs. Passing the rooms I sighed, thinking about how it was possible for a date that started so great could turn around and end so horrible. Couldn't just one thing go right for once?

I shook my head, just wanting to go to sleep. All this was doing was making me stressed and worried – I couldn't handle it. But then, I heard something, impulsively freezing as I peeked through the crack into Miley's room. She didn't hear me come down the hallway, I knew she didn't, but I couldn't move. She sat there, her entire body trembling.

I wanted to go over and hold her. I wanted to tell her that everything would be alright. I wanted to tell her that it was okay – I loved her. But I couldn't. Because I'm the one that caused her to be like this. And if I was wondering about that before, the dog tag she was clutching as if it was her life gave it all away. This was my fault.

She kept crying, ignoring her phone. Someone tried to call her repeatedly, but she acted as if she didn't even hear it. I knew she did, though. I should have known she was playing her own character again, putting on an act that she was strong, okay, and happy. I should've seen that she was still fragile and one little thing would crush her. That we were still the same teenagers we were four years ago, and that she couldn't handle something like this.

I slowly backed out of the room again, going outside into the backyard. I couldn't keep doing this to either of them – Miley especially. She was hurting too much, and to know that all of that hurt was because of me was just too much. It was time to end this all. I couldn't keep pretending to love Selena this much. I did love her – I won't even try to deny it – but just one small glimpse of Miley and I knew I would give it all up for those blue eyes. I'd give it all away for her. I could be in love with a billion girls, but in the end, she'd be able to beat them all out just by standing in front of me.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling down until the name I wanted was highlighted. For a moment, I hesitated, but then I remembered the state I just saw Miley in. That was enough to have me pressed send.

"Hey, Baby," Selena cooed on the other end as I shut my eyes, knowing exactly what I was about to do to her.

"Sel," I took a deep breath, wondering how to do what I'd be doing next. "We need to talk."

Happy Summer ;)