Chapter 25.

Nick.

Today was Liam's funeral.

I stared through the doorway watching Miley busy herself cooking, something she'd suddenly become obsessed with much, to my disappointment, seeing as the oven was getting more quality time with her then me at the moment. She had been desperate to go today but both her parents had shut down the option straight away, however they had decided to go with Taylor, which to me seemed rather hypocritical, although I wasn't going to argue with their decision.

"Miles…" I called out to her only to realize she had her headphones in.

I walked over and loudly knocked on the kitchen door so not to scare her, she'd been so jumpy lately I suppose it was to be expected. Miley spun around pulling the chords out and gave me a fake weak smile her hair up in a messy bun with what appeared like flour all over her hands as I dropped my bag and walked over to her.

"You're home early, I'm making you cookies because I know you like them and I was so unsure over which ones I should make because you like the chocolate ones but you also said you liked the nut ones, then again were you only just saying that to make me feel better? Because I'm not really good at cooking, so I decided to make both." She finished her rapidly long sentence as I just stared at her completely worried.

Miley wasn't the same anymore.

We hadn't kissed since Las Vegas or even slept in the same bed, she was avoiding me at all costs…she was avoiding everyone and refused to leave the house. It was like someone had just flicked a switch in her head and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't turn the light back on inside of her.

I moved over and she turned away busying herself with the mixture.

"Hey…" I whispered putting my hands gently on her hips.

"Hi Nick."

I kissed the side of her head concerned. She was trying to be brave, but it wasn't working with me. "Why don't just take a break for a bit?" I whispered in her ear and she squeezed some dough. "Why don't we go for a walk or something to get you out of the house?"

"Mom and dad said I shouldn't leave the house."

"And when have you ever listened to them Miley." I retorted harshly.

The dough dropped from her hands as I sighed.

"Miley look at me."

"Look I'm busy can we just-"

"Miley turn around and look at me." I stated seriously.

Miley reluctantly turned around letting out a sigh as I pinned her easily against the bench our faces inches apart as she stared at me. "What's going on with you? You're acting so angry all the time." I asked worried moving one hand to her cheek, "I know this is hard but you're being so distant with me Miley. Why?"

She just gave a laugh looking away as I dropped my hand, "What do you want me to say Nick? I'm sorry, because right now I don't feel like making out with you, is that what you want to here?" She spat at me turning back as I looked down at her. Ouch that hurt.

"No I just-"

"Look if your going to just criticize me you should leave."

"Miley I'm not trying to-"

"Yes you are!" She hissed staring at me annoyed, "You are always telling me what to do and how I should be feeling, but none of you understand, so why can't you all just stop telling me how I should be acting!" I stared at her broken face and moved my hand up again but she looked away.

"I love you Miley, I just want to help." I whispered.

She didn't say anything and just turned around going back to the cookies.

"Do you not love me is that the problem?" I hissed growing annoyed.

I stepped back as Miley spun around again looking pissed off,

"No Nick that's not the problem! Why would you think that?"

"Oh I don't know." I retorted sarcastically, "Maybe by the way you aren't sleeping in bed with me anymore and we don't kiss, we don't even talk anymore." Miley eyes looked away concentrating on something interesting on the ground. "I thought you were okay in Las Vegas, well not okay but I thought you were coping but now I don't think you are Miley. I don't know how to help you."

"Well maybe you should go watch someone you love burn to death, then maybe you'd understand." She responded seriously and instantly I saw regret cross her features and she turned away.

"You loved him?" I whispered quietly. "You loved Liam?"

Miley didn't respond, but honestly I wasn't surprised.

"Miley talk to me, I'm not mad just tell me what your feeling so then I don't have assume or guess what's going on." I whispered as I moved over and she leaned over the bench as I heard the first small sob escape her lips. Just hearing it made me feel the pain and I pulled her over towards me,

"I don't know why…" She whispered her eyes glazed over as she looked at me, "He was my first crush and…I suppose in a way even though I hated him for what he did to me, inside I still couldn't tell anyone partly because of Taylor but also because…"

"You loved him and you didn't want him to get hurt."

"It wasn't love." She whispered shaking her head, "It wasn't like you and me Nick, we are in love I know that. It was just…it was different he was the first boy I actually felt something for and I don't know when everything happened I just feel like a part of me is gone now."

Miley looked up at me and I felt mad sure, but in a way I understood. "I don't feel scared anymore or worried about him." She whispered staring up at me. "And I don't know how to cope with that, I have nothing to worry about in my life anymore and I just feel so nervous all the time because it feels like this isn't real. I'm so used to being scared of the world that now it just doesn't feel right, it feels too perfect."

"That's not a bad thing Miley."

"I know it's just…I'm trying to adjust to not having to worry about little noises I hear in the night and everyone finding out the truth." She whispered leaning back on the bench staring at me. "I'm not intentionally being withdrawn it's just I'm trying to grasp that it's over now, that I'm okay and that we're okay and at times that's hard for me to understand."

"Come here." I whispered.

She looked at me giving a sigh, "Why?"

"Because I think you need a kiss."

A small smile came across her face for a second and then she bit her lip taking a few steps closers to me as I clutched her hips pulling Miley's body onto mine. I began to tease her leaning down only to move back and Miley became impatient with this and leaned up to me and I smiled.

"Time solves problems Miley." I whispered.

"No." She shook her head, "You solve my problems."

Her lips landed on my quickly and instantly both of us began demanding more, Miley's hands clutched onto my shirt harshly and within seconds I was against the wall as we battled. Miley's hair was soft through my fingers as I gently grasped it while her hands harshly pulled the shirt from me and her hands found my body touching it. I could feel us get carried away and I was aware of where this was going as I pulled away staring at her,

"What?" She whispered confused.

"You do realize where this is going to-"

"Don't even finish that, you made me a promise. I am ready so if we don't do this now well…I'm going to loose it completely. Shut up and kiss me." Miley hissed and I smiled as I pressed my lips against hers.

We were going to be okay, but only time would heal all of her wounds.

Miley.

I felt Nick's fingers trailing down my bare back as I woke up.

My body was aching but in a completely fantastic way, I was so exhausted and decided I would rather just lay here feeling Nick's skin against mine then even consider getting up. I smiled at his touch and suddenly he stopped I felt his lips against my head as I bit my tongue.

"I know your awake I saw you smile." He whispered giving a small deep laugh.

I opened my eyes and stared across at him. Nick just smiled and leaned down kissing my lips gently as I closed my eyes again getting to feel, for once, completely and utterly safe being here. I opened them again as Nick continued to stare and I pulled my hand out of the bed and ran it through his curls giving a smile and suddenly his phone started blaring.

We both instantly groaned as he leaned over to answer it.

"No don't." I whispered.

Nick sighed, "I have too…I have college today anyway."

He grabbed onto the phone and answered it walking out of the room leaving me alone as I sat up pulling the sheet around my chest. I had college too but I'd skipped so many classes I knew I'd be so far behind, thank god the movie was over now I just had to concentrate on catching up on my studies. I stood up leaving the sheet behind and quickly slipped straight into the bathroom for a hot shower in hope it would wake me up. The water eased my pains at least and I smiled thinking about last night. Nick was right time would help me adjust to everything and I couldn't hide forever, even if I wanted too.

I reluctantly left the shower and got changed still tired.

"Miles." Nick stated knocking on the door.

"You can come in I'm wearing clothes."

Like it would matter anyway.

Nick opened the door and poked his head in just to make sure before opening the door as I combed through my tangled hair. I stared at the dumb smile across his face like he had won the lotto and I frowned,

"Why are you smiling so much?"

"Because…"

"Because why?" I retorted quickly.

"Because, I'm going to college."

"Me too." I responded staring at him curiously.

"You are?"

I looked at his surprised expression and nodded.

"Yeah I can't stay here forever."

"No more cooking?" He questioned.

"No more cooking."

"Good because those cookies you made were-"

"Don't finish that sentence." I responded seriously as he laughed and pointed towards the shower and I nodded. He motioned for me to leave and I frowned, "I'm not leaving I still have to do my make up and dry my hair, you can shower with me in here if your in that much of a rush."

Nick looked at me uneasily, "I think I'll use the other shower then."

"Wise choice, you never know what I might have done if you'd stripped in here."

Nick raised his eyebrows, "In that case maybe I-"

"No you made your decision get out."

With the smile still plastered across his face Nick grabbed me around the waist and I giggled staring up at him as he kissed me on the lips gently, "You okay?" He asked and I knew he didn't mean physically, after all last night, well, it had been a huge step and basically my first actual time . I nodded smiling at him. "I'm fine, you however smell really bad like sweaty and it's really gross."

"You didn't think that last night." He responded bluntly.

"Out Nicholas."

"Fine."

He turned and opened the bathroom door only for a familiar figure to be there, we all jumped in fright as Selena's eyes bulged. "What the hell are you both doing in the bathroom? Together…why didn't you hear me knocking on the front door?" She yelled furious storming in and instantly pulled a disgusted face turning and staring at Nick sniffing the air. "Why do you smell so much like…oh my god you guys had SEX!"

I opened my mouth to deny the claim but Nick's smirk gave no fault.

"Oh my god, ew get out you smell bad!" Selena hissed and slapped Nick disgusted as he stepped out the door laughing only for the door to be slammed in his face as Selena turned staring at me mouth open. "Was it good?"

"We aren't discussing this Selena." I responded leaning back on the shower.

"Why not? I mean this is huge Miley! I can't believe you had-"

"I know what we did I don't need you to keep reminding me."

The ironic thing was that Selena had been hanging around like a bad smell, if she wasn't around watching me, waiting for me to crack, she'd be texting repeatedly to ask me things that were completely unimportant. She felt guilty that Sel had let me go with Liam but right now I was just happy to see she was just the same sexed up best friend I had always known…

"So…was it-"

"Sel!"

"What?" She hissed walking over starting at me determined to find out more, but no way was that happening. "I'm your best friend and I've told you everything."

"You more forced me to listen to your boy adventures." I responded.

"Well…yeah but-"

"But nothing we aren't discussing this."

"Fine we're going shopping."

"No I'm going to college." I announced.

Selena instantly tilted her head, "You're leaving the house?"

I gave a small nod, "Yes I suppose I am."

"That's good." She responded calming down a lot moving her hand onto my arm, "That's really good, maybe we should go have coffee after your classes, I have to like do this dissection thing which is completely beyond gross but we still should go out." I smiled and nodded, sure what was the harm in it.

"Yeah okay we should do that."

"See it's like nothing has changed." Selena informed me.

"Everything has changed Selena."

"No not really." She responded giving me a smile, "I'm still your best friend, we are both still in college your still giggling about the pool boy and your family is still….well annoying." I looked at her, okay that was right, but still things had changed and as I looked at her I knew I had to embrace the reality that this was my life now and it was good.

"Guess what I got in the mail…" Sel announced.

"What?"

"My invitation to your movie premier thanks bitch, even though it's like in six months sending them out early or something?" She questioned and I raised my eyebrows, wow they'd set a date for that thing.

"Wait I haven't even been invited yet."

"Unlucky." She stated smiling. "You going to take Nick."

I laughed nodding, "Of course I am."

"Why do I feel like he's going to knock you up and you'll get married."

My mouth dropped and I instantly shook my head, "No…no. The other way round yes but not any time soon." I responded and Selena smiled. "I want to marry him one day, I told him too. He's my soul mate I know it."

Selena grinned, "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks Sel."

"Miles I'm leaving!" Nick yelled.

"No come and say goodbye to your girlfriend!" Selena yelled.

I heard a huff downstairs; it wasn't that he wouldn't normally, it was more he most likely wanted to avoid Selena. Ten seconds later Nick opened the bathroom door and walked in giving Selena a smile and walked over kissing me on the head,

"Bye baby."

"Bye."

"Ew you two are gross."

"Then look away." Nick retorted as I smiled.

"I can't it's like…gross but so cute."

I kissed Nick on the lips and he pulled away.

"Guess what?"

"You got a ticket to my movie premier in the mail?"

Nick frowned and shook his head, "No…that's random."

"Then what?"

"I just became your manager."

"What?" I asked confused staring at my boyfriend as he laughed.

"Miley." He whispered. "You just got offered a million dollar contract deal with a record label."

"WHAT?"

A/N- Sorry for the delay I had an 18th party yesterday and I got caught up watching SNL (funniest thing EVER) but anyway...this technically is the last chapter but...I'm having an epilogue so it isn't really. Anyway hope you are having a good weekend :)