"What? Miley Ray, explain! What do you mean no verbal, written, electronic, and through-another-person communication? And no physical contact?" Lilly yelled through the phone agitatedly.
"That's the third condition Lilly!" Miley blubbered into her Blackberry from the corner of her bed, clutching a pillow tightly to her chest. "It was the only choice I had!"
"Well can't you talk to him?" came the blonde's erratic static-y voice.
"That's communication, Lils, listen!" Miley shot back almost angrily as her shoulders shook from another sob.
"Miley, Miley, breathe. Please, breathe." Lilly soothed with heavily laced worry. "Honey, where are you right now?"
"In my room," the brunette sniffled as another tear falls. "W-Why?"
"Listen to me very carefully." Miley nodded, even if Lilly couldn't see her. "I want you to go out there. Find Joe-"
"B-But I-"
"Let me finish!" Lilly cut off, took a deep breath, and continued. "Find Joe, and if he really loves you, which I'm sure he does, then you'll work something out. You always do."
"Even if we can't communicate? Maybe this isn't working out. How could it work out? Lils, I love him, I do, but it's just so-"
"-hard?" Lilly murmured. A relationship like that, no wonder Miley was having second thoughts. But Lilly was not a best friend for nothing. She knew Miley would never give up that easily. She would never give up, not on someone like Joe. "I know it's hard, but everything about your life is. I know you'll do the right thing…right Miles?"
"Y-Yeah." Miley nodded softly. Sometimes, it feels as if Lilly is right there next to her. Before she hung up, Miley smiled at her best friend's last words. It's okay.
"Miley? Miley?" A voice called from outside the door as a soft knock was heard. Miley opened the door.
"Hey Demi." A weak smile.
"Miles, I'm so sorry." Demi murmured and instantly crushed the brunette in her arms. Before long, she pulled away and looked Miley in the eyes. She had never been more sincere. "Please don't give up. Joe is really worried about you when you bolted into your room like that. I know it hurts, but please, please go see him." Demi explained with concern as Miley flashed her a smile.
"I'm planning to."
The door clicked, and Joe's eyes shot up nervously. What would Miley say? Is she mad that his mother was doing all these? Is she annoyed with him? Would she stay? Is she done trying?
Despite all the questions running wildly in his mind, Joe could not bring himself to say a single word for Denise was still behind them, daring them to make a wrong move.
But Miley…she was—smiling? Why was she smiling? He certain is not. Then, Miley took a seat on the couch beside him. Joe could only stare in wonder. Then, she turned to him.
Their eyes met.
Miley smiled.
Reassurance.
That was all it took for Joe to know that they're okay. She still loves him, and will continue to do so for a very long time. Before long, Joe smiled back and Miley knew he understood. He may be dense at times, but she silently thanked God, not this time.
Suddenly, Joe got a bright idea.
"Guys! Yo! Can I borrow a guitar?"
"Why? Writing a new song?" Nick laughed, knowing exactly what his brother had in mind before grabbing Kevin's light brown acoustic guitar and tossed it to him. Joe caught it swiftly, but that did not stop a [very manly] shriek from Kevin.
"Be careful with Hannah! Geez!" The eldest ran in frantically.
"Hannah? Really?" Miley stifled a giggled, but ended up laughing out loud at the irony.
"If you would stop kissing females without a pulse, I'd like to begin my songwriting, Kevin." Joe teased, only to receive a glare from his brother. He then took a secret glance at Miley, hoping to catch her eye long enough to tell her this was for her. What he saw wasn't what he had expected. Miley had a glossy look fixated upon the guitar—she was…in deep thought?
Seeing the one-sided exchange between the two, Demi piped up.
"What's up, Miles?" She asked, startling Miley out of her trance. Suddenly, Miley lifted her head with a goofy smile plastered on her face.
"Thank you Kevin! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!" the brunette cried as she pounced onto the oldest bro, smothering him with little kisses all over his face.
"GAAAAHH! Miley have you completely lost it?" Kevin struggled from under her, leaving the others to watch with total bewilderment, especially Joe. Before anyone can pose a question however, Miley's phone rang loudly as she rushed to get it. That was the ringtone she reserved for only Daddy.
"Daddy where are you? I want to come home now!" Miley nearly screeched as her eyes shone brightly. Joe's face faltered, and his heart fell. She was leaving him? As he opened his mouth to protest, Nic slapped a hand on his mouth, eyeing his mother.
"Miles, is everything alright? More importantly, are you okay?" Robbie asked, concerned to hear the sudden change of plans.
"Not exactly, but everything is about to get wonderful! I'm not quitting the tour, I just want to go home for a few days for…ya know, that girl that you're always writing songs for." Miley explained quickly and discreetly. If you want to fool your enemy, you have to fool your friends first right? Although, she did try to subtly reassure them that she'd be right back.
"Alright baby doll, I'm confused, but I'm sure you know what you're doing, so…anything for you." Robbie grinned when he heard his daughter cheer from the other end of the line. "And also, I called to ask you to come home too, just for a week or so."
"Oh, why?" Miley calmed, and was now confused.
"You know how you've been nagging and nagging for me to get a girlfriend already?"
"Yeahhh…" Miley dragged out, excitement slowly filled up her tone.
"Well! I think I found the one! I really want you to meet her! I'll be home all week, so come back anytime!"
Miley couldn't help but giggle at her father's excitement. "What's her name?"
"Belinda Miller." Robbie laughed again, and this time, Miley could hear a woman's voice joining in.
"Ah, the beautiful snake."
"Miley!"
"What? That's what it means!" Miley grinned innocently before bidding her father farewell. And that was that.
"You're leaving?" Nick spoke up first. Joe was already getting up to leave. He didn't want to hear her answer—her rejection. "Leaving Joe? Just like that?"
"No you idiots!" Miley defended quickly before she felt a glance from Denise and shivered. "W-Well, yes, but just for a few days. I need to go home to grab something, and my dad also wants me to meet his new girlfriend." She smiled when she felt Joe's footstep stop.
"New girlfriend? Ah! Who is she?" Demi cut it, excited for Miley. "You might have a new mom!"
Miley's grin weakened at the thought, but quickly shook it away. "Well, I've never met this woman…"
"Just a few days right?" Kevin suddenly cut in, asking the question that Joe had been holding in.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." Miley smiled, then murmured the next part. "We'll be together then. I promise."
Turning around, she was relieved to see everyone's smiling faces, and even more so when Joe gave her an approving nod.
'It's gonna be just fine.' Miley grinned to herself.
-I can make the rain stop, if I wanna, just by my attitude-
"I can't believe you, mom." Joe groaned, flopping himself onto the couch, finally speaking his mind now that Miley's not there to see the ugly conversation. "I just don't get why you hate her so much, she's been nothing but respectful to you. And me."
"…" Denise glared silently.
"Mom…what's going on?" Nick the sensitive one whispered. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"
She sent Nick a glare, clenching her phone even tighter until her eldest son gently removed it from her grasp. Kevin quickly scanned through the history of that phone until he came across a text from his uncle, Denise's sister's husband.
"Aunt Linda is cheating on Uncle Jayden?" Kevin whispered as Denise nodded.
"To think my own sister would do that, it's disgusting!" She spilled as she rubbed her temples in distress. "Not to mention that Jayden Stewart is your father's best friend since middle school. Now there's this huge tension between your dad, his best friend, and my entire family."
"So?" Joe cut in curtly. "Don't tell me you think Miley's like Aunt Linda because she cheated on Uncle Jay!"
"Joseph! Your dad says that Belinda is cheating on your uncle with his brother!" Denise shot back.
"Wait, what?" Nick cried out. "What is Uncle Jay's brother thinking?
"Wait!" Joe stood up abruptly, deep in thought. "Wasn't there one guy who didn't come to Uncle Jay's wedding 6 months ago because it was set the same date as his wife's anniversary?"
"That's him." Denise sighed gravely.
"So what?" Demi asked, finally starting to catch on to this whole affair. Joe turned to her, a stern look in his eyes.
"Uncle Jayden's brother…he has never met Aunt Linda."
Everyone gasped at this newfound realization before Demi cut in.
"What about pictures? People take pictures at weddings, there's no way your uncle's brother didn't see them!" She reasoned.
"No, I heard Uncle Jay was furious at his brother, and didn't even send out pictures, saying that just because his brother lost his wife doesn't mean he has to ruin Jay's wedding." Kevin remembered.
Everyone was silent for a long moment, letting the new information sink in. And then…
"You hate Miley because Nick and I, two brothers, fought over her! You think she'd be like Linda?"
Denise hesitated.
"MOM!"
The dark-haired woman finally sighed.
"You're right Joseph…" She groaned again, unwilling and hesitant.
"SO…?"
"I'll explain everything to Miley."
"AND?"
"I'll…apologize?" Denise offered.
"AND?"
"You two can be together…"
"AND?"
"I'll…buy you some chicken cutlet sandwich to mayonnaise?"
"AND?"
"And what Joseph?" Denise snapped, wondering what else she'd have to do.
"Oh nothing, I was just seeing what else you'd offer." Joe grinned sheepishly before going to embrace his mother. "Thanks mom."
Denise sighed yet again before smiling softly. "Miley is a good girl, take care of her."
"Like I need you to tell me that." Joe smiled, before whispering. "Everything will be okay mum, I promise. I learned from the best." With a wink, the boy disappeared into his room.
-Sometimes it gets lonely, but I know that it's only a matter of my perception-
"DADDY!" Miley squealed as she leaped into her father's arms.
"Hey Miles!" Robbie laughed. "You're finally here!"
"Where is she, where is she?" The energetic brunette hopped.
"Right in the kitchen. Say hi to Belinda!" Before Miley can say anything, Belinda turned and flashed her a big smile, sending shivers down her spine. That smile…was not natural, Miley noted. "Linda, this is my little girl, Miley."
"Oh. I thought you said you only had a son, Robbie." Belinda inquired.
"No, I said I have a son. I never said I didn't have a daughter." Robbie laughed as Miley smiled weakly, backing upstairs.
"W-Well dad, I'll just head up to get the…thing…for that girl." She laughed weakly before retreating to her room. A few minutes late, she heard her father call.
"Miley? You in here?" Robbie yelled, coming into her room.
"In here!" came a muffled voice. Robbie instantly looked to the closet and entered the Hannah room, surprised to find Miley in a pile of clothes, if not in there at all.
"Miles, what's going on? Did something happen? I thought you quit Hannah already." He asked, worried. Miley popped her head out of the spinning clothes rack, a wig in hand. "What's going on?"
"Daddy…" Miley sighed, taking a seat next to her father on the steps. "I'm in love with Joe."
"Are you?" Robbie asked, surprised. Miley nodded and hugged her father's arm.
"Yes. I know he's made his share of mistakes, but daddy, nobody's perfect, remember?" The brunette nudged, earning a nostalgic smile from her father. "Come on, sing with me! Nobody's perfect, you live and you learn it-"
"-and if I mess up this time," Robbie grinned.
"Nobody's perfect." They finished together in harmony before Miley twirled around in her wig, bowing to the invisible audience as she giggled to no end.
"Daddy, I need to talk to you about Belinda too. But first, Joe's mom doesn't seem to like me very much and..." Miley started.
-Whatever it takes to be, what I was meant to be, I'm gonna try-
"Hey Joe, good show, good show." Regis came up to pat the younger man in the back, glad that the talk show ended without another chick fight like last week when Bieber was here.
"Thank you." Joe smiled tightly before turning back to Demi, who was gulping down a good liter of Smart water in the hallways. "Hey Demz."
"What's up?" Demi sighed contently, having finally eased her dried throat as she wiped away the excess liquid with the back of her arm.
"Wow, so ladylike." The brunet laughed at his friend's messy overall look, earning a jab in the ribs in return. "Ow! Geez, violent much?"
"Shut up." Demi glared and proceeded to brush her hair.
"So um…what do you think Miley's doing? It's been a week, and she hasn't called either." Joe muttered nervously, causing Demi to give him a look.
"Joe, Miley might have a new mother. A week is barely enough time to know a person, let alone her dad's girlfriend, mind you. Quit being so antsy!" Joe breathed at Demi's command, and sighed.
Suddenly, clicks of heels against the hollow and empty hallway caught the duo's attention. A blonde woman was walking towards him. Her eyes met Joe's, and they shared a look—hers mischievous, his confused.
"Why is she looking at you?" Demi whispered.
"How the hell would I know?" Joe shot back. "She is kinda pretty though."
"Weren't you just anxious about Miley? What, sudden change of interest?" Demi chuckled as Joe gave her a threat-less glare.
"Miley's beautiful. Don't even compare." Just as he looked away from Demi, the woman was right in front of him.
"Hi." She breathed, also seeming nervous and slightly uncomfortable.
"Why does she look familiar?" Demi whispered harshly to her friend. Joe brushed her off.
"Um…hey." Joe began awkwardly.
"Joe of JONAS, right?" said the blonde, a shy smile grazing her features as she held out a hand. Joe hesitantly took it with a nod.
"H-H-Hannah Montana!" Demi cried out loud, pointing an accusing finger as she finally remembered where she saw the girl.
"T-That's me!" Hannah laughed nervously, still holding hands with Joe. Seeing that, Demi quickly broke them up by squeezing between them.
"So you're not married to some French guy or kidnapped by an Italian artist for sculpture modeling?" Joe blurt out, earning weird looks from both girls.
"Honey, David is dead." Hannah laughed, already feeling more at ease before she looked at Joe again. "Um…could I talk to you for a moment without Demi?"
Demi stopped. "You know my name?"
'Crap!' Miley winced, then smiled tightly. "O-Of course, I've been keeping up with new artists too, ya know?"
Joe hesitated, but what's the harm? It's not like she's going to kidnap him or anything.
"So um, Joe?" Hannah asked again. "It's just a quick collaboration of music talk."
"Oh! Yeah, no problem, this way." With a hand lightly around her back, Joe led her to his changing room.
Once the door closed, Miley pounced. With her arms around Joe's neck and her legs around his waist, she claimed his lips harshly, pushing forcefully against his closed mouth. Once Joe's brain registered the situation, he shoved the girl back as harshly as he could and slapped her right across the face.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING YOU SLUT!" He roared without a second thought as he wiped his lips furiously as if they were poisoned.
"Ow…" Miley clutched her cheeks in pain as tears streamed down her face. "Wh-What's that for?" She stuttered.
"FOR KISSING SOMEONE WHO HAS A GIRLFRIEND!" Joe seethed, his lips pulled back into a growl, not regretting anything. "Forget about your music! Get the hell out of here! I'm calling security!"
"Joe, it's me!" Hannah sobbed, pulling the wig from her head as she curled up against the couch with a tear stained, bruised face.
Joe whirled around, ready to yell at her before he saw her. Everything came crashing down. He regretted everything now.
"Miley?" He murmured. "Mi, is that you?"
Miley looked up.
Joe gasped.
-Whatever's broke, I can make it unbroken. Turn the lead in my hand into something golden-
Hello boys and girls! Yeah yeah, I haven't updated since forever ago, but fellow high schoolers, try to understand. -_- damn stupid hw. Anyways, here it is!