14 reviews. You guys have made me like the happiest person in the universe. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you, ok? lol

Please don't hate me, because it's been like 25 chapters and we still don't one official couple. It's like sad. Buuuuut, we are almost there with Smitchie. I still don't feel like they're ready yet so I know I will kill you with waiting, but it will definitely be worth it.

I really hope I didn't screw up on Niley...

T W E N T Y - F I V E

~4 Days Later~

The bell before the final class of the day rang out, but Shane wasn't facing that last hour. He couldn't handle it, being so close to her, breathing her in, it burned him like a fire smoldering through his veins until he was ready to throw his head back and scream.

Shane snatched his things exiting the room in lightning quick speed throwing himself down the hallway that grew crammed with rushing bodies. He was sprinting to the back doors to the field knowing his "friends" were out there, as well as others knew, doing whatever.

But Shane didn't care anymore. Without her… he just didn't want to care anymore. He was nearly about to exit the building when she caught him, leaning against the lockers barely 5 feet away with disappointment smeared over every inch of her beautiful face.

He couldn't help but gawk at her lips that were pursed, glossed and stirred hunger within him. He suddenly had this ache to just touch her anywhere. Slowly and involuntarily Shane moved his eyes to her disappointed, chocolate brown orbs. He instantly felt a painful tug on his heart. She didn't say anything, but didn't look away either. Her eyes were blank of anything but disappointment as if she knew he was ditching class and that she knew he knew it was wrong.

Abruptly he had an urge to turn around and go to class just because she was there, watching him. He wanted to make her happy, make her proud of him, because no one else was. Shane wanted so fucking badly to see her smile at him, her eyes sparkling, and hear her warm laughter flow through his ears like the most beautiful melody.

Even as the final bell rung and all bodies abandoned the halls, she didn't move. She remained arms crossed, leaning against the locker with her eyes on him, lips pursed and eyes tight.

I'm sorry Shane inhaled a rickety breath and walked through the doors.

---Mitchie's P.O.V---

I shook my head watching Shane pass through the doors, his head bowed knowing what he was doing was wrong. My lips were curling into a grimace but as soon as the doors shut, tears sprout in my eyes inevitably. It hurt so bad to look at him. Why was I such an idiot? Why didn't I just kiss him?! I love—I really screwed us up.

With a long sigh, I adjusted my book bag comfortably on my shoulder and began my stroll through the now clear halls. I already made sure to get a pass as soon as I saw Shane running through the halls, knowing something was up. I still wasn't sure what he was doing, but I was going to find out.

---No One's P.O.V---

Ignoring the yanking and pinching in his heart, Shane trotted to the field seeing Justin and all the guys lighting up their cigarettes. Shane only had one once and didn't plan on going back there again. Drinking was his worse habit and he gave up on that as soon as Mitchie and him starting talking. He wasn't drunk when she fainted no matter what Alex had have said on the subject. He didn't want to drink, do drugs, or anything bad when he had Mitchie, his own addiction.

Now that he lost her, Shane was ready to pick up on his brother's habits, even if he didn't know Nate had never done anything like that in his life. Jake Ryan smirked, sinister swerving in his baby blue eyes when he saw Shane approaching.

"Finally decided to join us again?"

"You know it." Shane smirked as the other guys whistled and hollered, except for Justin who managed to see right through his act. He wished the annoying voice in his head that fucking sounded like Mitchie would shut up!

Oliver offered a smoke but Shane shook his head, leaning against the shed next to Justin feeling a little more comfortable next to him. He had no idea Mitchie had snuck out of class and was watching from only 10 feet away, arms crossed and waiting for him to screw up.

"So," Jake started turning to him and Shane's stomach plunged knowing where the conversation was going. He could see Mitchie's hurt, disbelieving eyes burning in his brain and tried his hardest to not wince at the pain, gritting his teeth together. "How that's bet coming along?"

Hidden behind the trees, Mitchie bit her lip and closed her eyes. He didn't lie.

Shane looked away from Justin's watchful eyes and uncomfortably laughed. "Um not really coming, man." He couldn't stop thinking about how betrayed she looked, like he might has well have took a machete and carved his name into her heart before slicing it into a million pieces.

"Really," Jake paused but his lips broke into a grin. "I guess we better have Cooper go pick up some condoms huh?"

The area was blackened by their laughter as Shane blushed in horror. Even Justin was howling along with them. I'd rather do that than break her heart. Shane thought squeezing his eyes shut again.

"Well I haven't seen you guys hanging around lately." Jacob murmured thoughtfully. He was always the less perverted, kinder one of the group and Shane wondered why Jacob even hung out with them, besides being on the football team.

Shane could have laughed at that statement, in fact, he did but not as bitterly as he had on the beach or in front of Alex, just a really painful laugh that had all the guys freeze, never seeing their "leader" in that state.

"Yeah because I screwed everything up!"

Jake shrugged smirking. "So what? As long as you get her—"

"No," Shane almost growled shutting the guys up. Justin was shocked at the emotions swallowing his eyes he hadn't seen since Mandy, but this time they were a thousand times worse. "I care about her Jake. I don't care what the hell I have to do with Chad or anyone else, but I fucked the best thing that has ever happened to me because of this bet. Mitchie she's …she's special. Nothing is worth losing her and I ruined everything because I was selfish and stupid and I … I don't deserve for her to even forgive me or hell, look at me again. I wish I never did this and if she ever talks to me again, I would apologize until I can't breathe. I wish I never did this because I … just really, really care about her."

Silence took over the atmosphere until the group of guys burst into laughter not including Justin and Jacob. Jake was practically on the floor, but Shane didn't care. He feel slightly better get his thoughts out of his head for 2 seconds.

"Dude," Jake snorted. "What the fuck happened to you? This chick really messed with your head! Are you seriously going soft on us?!"

Shane smiled, taking it all as a compliment that he changed from the jerk he was only 5 months ago. "Yes, say whatever you want, Shane Gray is soft, whatever."

Jake look almost disgusted. "Whatever man, have fun with Chad." He jeered with another laugh before the guys left leaving Shane, Justin, and Jacob standing there.

"Thanks for not laughing." Shane half-smiles at them, the best he can through the ache that returned. Both boys smile, patting him reassuringly. Mitchie shakes her head, but deep down she knows he wasn't faking, but her head just won't listen.

"No problem, man. Shane, you really have changed, which is a good thing. I'm proud of you." Justin smirks.

Jacob nodded in agreement. "So what are you going to do about Mitchie?"

"There's nothing I can do." Shane sighed. "I need to leave her alone; I've messed up her heart enough."

They frowned sympathetically. "Thanks guys, but do you mind leaving me alone for a bit?"

"Sure man." Justin nodded and they walked off.

Shane sighed again rubbing his temples and leaned against the shed feeling another headache blooming. Applause echoed from a few feet away and he jumped up watching Mitchie walk out from the shadows with an amused smirk and clapping slowly.

"What a performance, Shane."

His tired eyes slightly fell close in confusion, but his heart was working on overtime just seeing her standing before him. He could see it behind the sarcasm, was a broken smile. "What are you talking about, Mitchie?"

She shook her head slowly, the smile never vanishing. "I'm talking about all those lies you just told your friends just trying to fool me as if you had no idea I was watching. Hilarious Shane, really."

His eyes widened yet somehow her words added pain to his already sore heart. She already broke it; couldn't she just leave him alone? "You're kidding me right?" Shane was now the one staring in disbelief. How could she think so low of him? Just when I thought the pain couldn't get any worse…thanks Mitchie.

Mitchie laughed, her eyes swelling with water about to set free. "I—I can't even believe how stupid I am for thinking you cared. Really, all you wanted was to sleep with me…for a bet!" She wiped her tears, but they were swimming down her cheeks inevitably. "I shouldn't be surprised right? Same guy that took one look at me at his house…and was disgusted. Why would I ever think you cared? Why did I let you in? Why did I let you break my heart?"

Shane wasn't letting himself breakdown again. One of them had to be strong. He watched Mitchie continue to laugh softly to herself and he realized she…loved him. His face swiped blank but…I love her too.

"Mitchie, are you even listening to what you're saying? I'm still that same guy—little boy that played Barbies with you in your bedroom, that you told all your secrets too, that slept over almost every night both of us lying for hours in your bed to just talk about everything until we weren't making sense anymore, that played soccer with you and Nate in our backyard, and was always there to tell you how proud I was of your amazing singing. I'm still him, Mitchie, just older."

Mitchie had to look away. "Lies Shane. He doesn't exist." She recited his cold words glancing back right into his eyes.

Shane couldn't take this, whispering "fuck" again under his breath but definitely not for the same reasons. He stepped closer until her air was his air, hands placed on her hips tighter than they needed to be, and his eyes were smoldering in hers. Mitchie squirmed. "Get off me, Shane, now! I hate you!" She screamed.

But it didn't matter. Once he had her in his arms, he spun them around slammed her against the shed and didn't care if it left a bruise the next day. He needed to touch her, right now.

Shane leaned in, breath glossing over her skin hot as fire, and Mitchie couldn't move, not that he would let her. He chuckled huskily against her neck, kissing it gently and her dream ruffled her thoughts, biting back her moan. "You have no idea how bad I want you." He whispered in a low, rough voice that Mitchie could only label as sexy. "Badly, I just want to touch you, kiss you until you can't breathe."

The world could have been erupting into flames, and neither of them would ever notice. Shane's lips crushed over hers ravenously in a slow, open mouthed kiss that made both of them groan from the contact secretly both of them had been hungry for. He got what he wanted, Mitchie couldn't breathe. His kisses were hot as hell.

And it was her first kiss, but she deepened it expertly, brushing her cool fingertips over his cheek in a slow motion and he adored the feeling. Her fingers reached up, knotting through his locks and obviously yanked the right way, pulling herself closer, because a low, pleasured moan rumbled from the back of his throat.

Shane was nowhere near done with her. Roughly he grabbed her hips, pushing their bodies together and intensifying their burning kiss. God, Shane couldn't think of a time he felt like this, with a sensation pulsing through his blood like a liquid fire. He wanted to scream, but all in a good way. Shane was positive about his feelings at the moment as Mitchie was kissing him like she had done it her whole life.

Mitchie was floating on cloud nine, hands digging through his hair and pressing their hips together but she wanted more which scared her. But right now she couldn't think with the sparks that electrified her lips, chorusing through her entire body. Why did I reject this?!

Shane eagerly slid his tongue along her soft bottom lip that blazed his mouth with a sweet, cherry flavor. He smirked chucking on her lips when she moaned and he didn't hesitate to plunge his tongue into her mouth. Mitchie tensed up slightly, unsure of what to do, but Shane went gentle, knowing this was all new to her, stroking his tongue along hers and her eyes widened with another moan that rolled from her chest.

Abruptly she tugged again on his hair and Shane pushed her back against the shed, hovering over her body and let his hands travel around over her stomach and around her hips until slithering up the back of her shirt and tracing his warm hands over her curves. Mitchie finally broke away, panting so loudly it sounded like a drum to her.

Her cheeks were hot, lips tingling with a painless burn and her fingers slid away from his hair to touch her lips. But Shane continued slightly bending down to kiss her neck again slowly, letting her back arch under his touch. As a flashback of her dream, he began licking and sucking on the skin but Mitchie wasn't shocked or afraid. Her feelings were secure.

But he still hurt her, lied to her and she couldn't just accept that.

Mitchie sighed, suddenly feeling anger boil up that he was taking advantage just like he did with Alex when she was worked up, and shoved Shane off of her with narrowed eyes. Shane gawked back at her, cheeks adorably flushed, hair tousled, and lips swollen but his eyes were a burnt yellow clouded by lust, at the moment, not love. Mitchie couldn't see the love, but it was there, he knew strongly it was.

She would have giggled at how confused he looked, if she wasn't so pissed off at him. "What's wrong, Mitch?" Shane asked, not understanding the interruption unless she wanted to go his house or something, he would happily take her there.

"First, don't call me, Mitch. I'm still mad at you and whatever you said to your friends, truthful or not, wasn't an apology, Shane. Second—"

"I am sorry, Mitchie." Shane whispered, all sensuality gone from his body. He intertwined their fingers, hot against cold, and tried to not kiss her again, which seemed even harder than ever before after their impassioned, erotic make-out.

"I'm so fucking sorry about lying to you, yelling, and laughing at you and…breaking you heart. I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't expect that I would…that things would get like this. It was a long time ago when the bet happened, before we became friends again, and I'm sorry this happened. I wasn't lying; I care about you. I didn't think this would go this far. I thought it would be in a week and we would move on. I didn't think I would fall…I'm sorry."

Shane laughed a bit at himself, cleaning his damp eyes before looking back at her. Her eyes were so full of so many things, one of them sorrow and another shock but he could see the love she had hid so well and that made all the pain evaporate.

Mitchie slowly sucked in a heavy breath. "I believe you, I forgive you, and I care about you too. You're very special to me, Shane. But you can't build a relationship on a lie. How am I supposed to know you care?" Mitchie bit her lip somewhat painfully. "How can I trust you?"

Shane has all the answers, but can't verbalize them. He just wants to go back to kissing her where he could control everything and it wasn't complicated. He didn't have to have answers for that, or worry about trust, you just touched and showed affection.

Mitchie grazed her fragile, cool fingers over his cheek, rubbing her thumb over his plump lips. "I'm sorry." She let her hand fall back before turning around and leaving. But this time as he watched her walk, he didn't feel unbelievable anger or even that much pain.

Shane wasn't sure what happened, maybe it didn't even happen, but he watched her walk back into the building loving the feeling of having her fiery lips over his. And, maybe he didn't, but Shane thinks he smiled.

'I care about you too.'

Nate listened to the patter of his converse against the sidewalk, staring out at the bright, vivid blue skies that were decorated by giant puff balls, clouds, and finished with a blinding, golden star called the sun.

Alex's wise words echoed through the silent air. She was right, as she always will be about everything. Shane did hurt Mitchie, like she said he would, even if it was all accidental. And she was right, that no one would ever love Miley like Nate did. Why should he stand back and let someone else take her heart when he already had it? He was a little – a lot – worried he would mess her up, but if they loved each other, they could make this work.

After talking to Caitlyn, he found out she was at the park by the school and rushed over without another thought. He needed to see her; he needed to see that Smiley smile that gave him strength no one else could, and look into those stunning, blue eyes that made him breathless and no one else could.

He smiled, leaning against the rusty, silver gates of the park and just watched fascinated by every breath she took as she sat on the black swings, moving herself in a pink hoodie, jean shorts, and barefoot with her waves of golden brown locks brushing behind her with the wind. Just gorgeous, so simple, but gorgeous.

Nate finally opened the little door and silently walked over to her, slipping into the next empty swing. Miley didn't stop, didn't look, and didn't move. He chuckled throatily how stubborn she could be, but he loved it. "Hey." Nate mumbled casually.

Miley scoffed. "Hi."

He smirked in amusement, just wanting to see her blow up. "How's it going?"

She finally stopped, scraping her bare feet into the sand forcing the swing to halt its movement and faced him frowning. "Sorry, I don't have any more hearts for you to break. You can leave now, Nate."

He pretended to wince. "Ouch Miles, those words are like fire."

"Good, burn the hell out of yourself."

Nate finally dropped his game and sighed, getting up, and crouching beside her. "I'm sorry Miley. I hope you know it was all a lie."

She met his eyes, her own glistening with tears. His heart broke. "Why would you lie to me, Nate? That…fuck that really hurt! What did I do wrong? Please tell me." Miley begged, only making him feel crappier, but he took it happily knowing he deserved the punishment.

"Nothing Miley, you never do anything wrong, ok sweetie? I know I hurt you and I'm so sorry, but it was to protect you. I thought it would be better, because you don't need someone like me in your life. But, I can't live without you, Miley."

Finally the smile he craved returned. She giggled sitting beside him before climbing into his lap for a warm, forgiving hug. "Just don't ever lie to me again, ok?" Nate nodded quickly and squeezed her before smirking and began tickling her unwatched sides.

She shrieked jumping back into the sand and both of them started laughing. Miley swiftly got up and ran as Nate chased her for their tickle war. It had been so long since Nate felt so light like Miley restored him or something. He loved it and he loved her. Nothing was going to change or stop that.

Miley laughed and ran back to the swings to protect herself, but Nate just runs behind her, pushing the swing so she has to grip on for life and both of them are practically in pain from all the laughing. But she was ready to cry how her and Nate were playing around at the park like they had years ago. Now she understood why Mitchie was so desperate about the old times her and the Grays had, because it was the best years of her life.

Nate finally stopped pushing her, tip toeing around and held the swing so it stopped its motion. Before she could even feel confusion, he leaned over her lap to kiss her tenderly both of them nearly sighing at the sweet, passion that had been there for years.

But Miley pulled away, chewing on her inner cheek for a second. "I-I'm sorry Nate but…"

He chuckled, hiding his disappointment."Yeah I get it, too fast, sorry."

Miley nodded, but she smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek. "I'm not saying no, forever just not right now, not after how things have been going, ok?" And Nate nodded with a real smile, full teeth and all which she immediately gave back.

Maybe, it wasn't over.

Nope and neither is this story. =) Gosh guys, really these reviews are crazy but thank you!! I hate how this story is almost over, but we have a few more chapters. There probably will be a little epilogue that will be totally cliché and cheesy, haha.

Hallelujah to my Niley fans! And I apologize to the Nalex fans, I'm just not good with them. They're very cute, I was a fan when Nick dated Selena, but I can't really write about them, so I'm sorry and I hope you're not disappointed and like stop reading this story.

Well…that was a fun Smitchie seen huh? LOL yeah kinda awkward yet awesome to write, but overall I loved how this chapter came out and have plenty of more to write!

Questions:

Do you agree with Mitchie's decision on their relationship? (can't be built on a lie)

Anyone else get JB's new album and agree that it is fantastic? (lol)