Disclaimer: Based on real events, but some things are made up to help the story. Slight AU. Goes in a different direction.
Chapter 15 - February 12th, 2017
"All you have to do is stay a minute, just take your time. The clock is ticking so stay. All you have to do is wait a second, your hand on mine, the clock is ticking So stay." - Excerpt from Stay, Zedd ft. Alessia Cara
Control.
That was something Nick seemed to be lacking recently. Control over his emotions, control over his excessive gym work outs, control over life...
Perhaps Nick could've tried harder... but he had. He had given it his all... and then some. But honestly? Maybe a part of him didn't want that control. Maybe a part of him—deep, deep, deep down—wanted him to not try at all. But things had certainly changed, no doubt about that. Fifteen days ago, his life had been completely different. It was hard to imagine that life now.
But, if you count the fact that he'd been living that life for a few years, maybe it wasn't that hard to imagine.
Fifteen days ago, Nick wasn't friends with Miley. Fifteen days ago, Nick had been half the person he was now.
A lot could change in fourteen days, but Nick didn't think that he could change that much. But he had. He had changed so much. He was so much happier now. And he knew the most powerful source of that happiness. And sure, it was safe to say that he had been happy fifteen days ago. But that happiness was nothing—nothing—compared to his happiness right now. And he knew why. It was so obvious. You didn't need to know Nick to know that.
Miley.
It was all thanks to her that he was so much happier. Nick could truthfully say that she was his best friend—of course, he would never say that to Demi (Miley's best girl friend) else suffer the consequences from Demi (AKA screaming, raging, etc.)—though some might say otherwise—cough, cough, Liam Hemsworth, cough, cough. But all was pretty much good. Nick had been happier than he had been in a long time.
Say, like, three years.
A loud knock distracted Nick from his thoughts. He looked up and called, "It's open." And it was. Nick had only gotten back home a few minutes ago and hadn't bothered to lock the door. Risky, he knew, but honestly, he was too body-drained to do anything about it. He figured that his chances of getting robbed while he was noticeably in his house (the car outside kind of gave that away) was slim.
Demi entered before closing the door behind her, locking it with an audible—and satisfying—click. "Geez, why was it open?"
Nick chuckled. "Why can't it be open?"
Demi paused. "There are a million reasons why, and I would explain it all to you, but honestly, I don't have the time to waste my life on you—and I don't really care." Her words were accompanied with a very Demi-like smirk, and she strolled over to him, taking a seat by his on his couch. "Yikes. You must be really tired if you're sitting on this thing." Disgust laced the word 'thing.'
Nick laughed. "I would be offended... but I agree with you."
"Who wouldn't?"
Typical Demi. Nick stretched slightly. He watched Demi. Finally, he said, "You've changed."
"So have you," she said, her dark eyes trained solely on him. She reached out and brushed her fingers against his arm. "You're growing nightly muscles," she teased. He huffed a little. He hadn't noticed how much he had sharpened his physique, and he flushed a little. Demi sighed softly before a slight scowl—barely there—graced her features. "I can't believe you and Miley stalked me and Joe."
"In my defense," Nick laughed, "Miley was the one who suggested it."
Demi hit his arm lightly. "Jerk. You're supposed to be defending your love life, not letting the sharks at her."
Nick quirked an eyebrow. "Sharks?"
Demi hit him on the arm again, shaking her head in mock-disappointment as she attempted a stern look. "You know what I mean! Besides, I bet Miley's gonna be in a load of trouble with Liam." She smirked and joked, "I'm pretty sure it's on the news: 'Niley Reunion!' Or 'Niley Resurfacing!'" She nodded at him sympathetically. "You know how the press are."
"Maybe," Nick admitted. "I actually think I did see that somewhere."
Demi rolled her eyes. "Making headlines again? What's it—the millionth time this week?"
Nick grinned. "Don't worry, Dem. We aren't stealing your spotlight."
"Damn right you aren't!" Demi scoffed. "But it all amounts up to the same thing: a whole pile of nothing. You either fall with the plans, or you don't."
Still In Love Somehow
"Miley, you're not answering the question!"
Miley glanced over at Liam, still frowning. "You're overreacting! People hang out all the time!"
"Not ex-lovers!" A scowl worked on Liam's defined jaw. "Not people who were so close like that! You know how I feel about that Jonas kid!"
Miley's frown deepened as she watched Liam run a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. He only did that when something was really bothering him. Miley touched his arm lightly and was relieved when he didn't shrug away. This meant that his anger was dying down, which was good because sure didn't feel like arguing and reassuring her fiance for the millionth time. "Liam..." she said helplessly, watching his blue eyes burn into hers.
His gaze seared into hers. "You have to tell me the truth, all of it."
"I'm not lying," Miley argued. "Now you're blaming me for not telling you what you want to hear. Did I ask Nick to come to Demi's place? No. Did I know he was going to show up? No. Did I expect him to stay the night along with Joe and the rest of us? No! Honestly, Liam, how can you blame me for something I have no control over! It's like you don't trust me!"
"I do trust you." Anguish marked Liam's deep ocean-colored eyes. Then, he frowned. "Nick stayed over?"
Whoops. Apparently, in her frustration, Miley had said that. Liam had just assumed she and Nick had gone to the cafe. "Joe did, too. And Demi was there," she told him.
"How come this is the first time I'm finding this out?" Liam demanded.
"Because yesterday you just kept going on and on and on about how I should stay away from Nick!" Miley retorted.
"We were talking about Nick Jonas," Liam said incredulously. "How did him staying over not cross your mind?"
"It just didn't," Miley shot back, furious. "God, Liam!"
"God me?" Liam stared. "Miley, you don't know how it feels like! You don't know how if feels when your fiance's old boyfriend comes back for her!" Miley watched him wordlessly as Liam continued to power on. "You don't understand how hard it is for me! I love you, and I can't stand losing you!" He was shaking, and his eyes were raw and full of anguish.
"Maybe I don't," Miley hissed furiously, "and maybe I never will! But do you even understand how hard this is for me? It's like being torn in two. I have so much history with you, and I have so much history with Nick, too! But he was my friend before he was my boyfriend! It was hard to give him up—not just as a lover but as a friend, Liam. You can't blame me for wanting to reconnect."
Liam watched her, gaze raw and genuine. His voice cracked. "I don't want to lose you."
Miley watched him, silent as she thought. He was genuine, and he certainly wasn't faking the bruised look in his eyes. She knew Liam loved her, and she knew that he didn't mean to say everything. It was just an outburst—something he would regret. She had a lot of outbursts, too. She would lash out when it really wasn't deserved because she was feeling horrible, and she would regret it hours later, when she had a clearer head.
Liam had good intentions at heart, and she knew that he was only worrying about her—even though it could get a little aggravating. Liam was a relatively calm person, but lately, he had been more explosive—and Miley knew it had everything to do with the whole situation with Nick. She knew it was partly her fault... but surely Liam had to understand how she saw it.
Maybe he could learn. Maybe they could both learn.
Finally, Miley pulled him close to her, letting herself linger in the comfort of his embrace. He wrapped his strong arms around her, and she sighed a little into his chest. Then, she looked directly into his eyes. He stared back at her, unwavering. "I don't want to lose you, either," she murmured softly, the right thing to say coming easily to her. She embraced him again.
He leaned down and kissed her. Miley felt emotions swirling in her chest and wondered why she felt so relieved. "I love you," he told her unwaveringly.
She smiled. "I love you," she echoed.
He smiled, and something flashed in his eyes. Miley pretended she didn't recognize it as relief.
Still In Love Somehow
"This is all your fault, Nicholas!"
"My fault? How is this my fault? I'm not the one who convinced you to go spy on Demi and Joe!"
"You're the one who didn't stop me," Miley countered.
Nick smirked. "But you said it was all worth it."
A smile spread across Miley's lips. "Yeah, I did," she admitted with a rueful smile.
Nick felt warmth spread through him. He didn't know how and when Miley had showed up at his house but god he knew he was the luckiest man on the earth. She was sitting on the carpet with him in a white t-shirt and jeans. Her fingers—thank god—were utterly devoid of jewelry, and her hair was in a utilitarian ponytail that she had adopted as of the late.
He watched her. "Miley?"
She looked up to meet his gaze, as they had done a million times before. Her gaze seemed to soften, and he tried to ignore his heart strings drumming loudly in his chest. He felt as if she was pulling him closer with those magnetizing blue eyes, but in truth, all she was doing was smiling—none of that fake crap she fed Hollywood. A real smile. Slightly crooked, somewhat shy, and just so Miley.
"Yes?" Her long lashes framed out her brilliant irises.
A crooked smile tugged at his lips. "I forgot what I was going to say," he announced.
She laughed, and he felt like melting all over again. Did she realize how much the smallest of things she did affected him? "How come?"
"I don't know." He was lying.
"Maybe you just get lost in my eyes," she teased.
"That's totally viable," he teased though he knew his words were true. There was definitely no 'maybe' about it. He found himself getting lost in her eyes all the time. Her eyes were just the most perfect shade of blue. Sometimes, they looked green, and sometimes they looked gray and silver. But right now, they were blue... Bluer than the bluest sky.
Then, she sighed. "I should get going..." Her tone was wistful.
He met her gaze beseechingly. "Don't leave me alone..."
His tone was meant to be teasing, but the words turned out genuine and raw and—if he was to be so blunt—completely and utterly heartbroken. He tried to hide his emotions, like he always did, but he gave up eventually because he knew that she could see right through his 'okay' façade. It wasn't worth pretending anymore. Instead, he looked up at her.
Her gaze, if possible, softened even more so. "Nick..."
"Stay," he whispered, moving closer to her so that their gazes were level.
She closed her eyes for a brief heartbeat. Then, she wrapped her arms around him. She felt warm and safe and like home.
She didn't say anything... and she didn't need to. All she did was hold him.
Somehow, that was exactly what he needed.
Still In Love Somehow
Liam stared at his phone, frustrated. He had given up checking the door. The least Miley could do was call him, right?
Liam put his phone down, harder than intended. He ran his hands through his dark unruly hair, closing his eyes. Was Miley getting sick of him? Did she want... Nick? No, she couldn't. She told him she loved him. Liam felt his heart race furiously in his chest. There was no way Miley would... dump him, right? She was his fiance, for God's sake. And she meant the world to him.
But Miley had been hanging out with a lot of her old friends, particularly Demi, Joe, and... Nick. Liam didn't mind Demi. She was a wonderful girl with a lighthearted personality. Demi was rather like Miley, with a wonderful charisma that drew others to her. Liam knew that Demi and Miley had been close back in the day, but both girls had matured now. They had also found their friendship. It was inspiring, really.
And Joe... Joe was Joe. Joe could make a joke out of anything and everything. Joe also had his sights set on Demi, so Liam didn't have to worry about Joe ever making a move on Miley. Besides, Joe was Liam's friend... Joe would never do anything like that. Plus, Liam knew that Miley saw Joe as something akin to a brother. Joe and Demi were good people, Liam knew that.
But Nick...
Nick had been the one who had stolen Miley's heart and ripped it apart. He was the one who had wanted to eradicate every trace of her... and then some. He wanted to break down Miley's walls and steal her heart again. Liam couldn't let that happen. What if Miley got hurt again? Nick had always been Liam's least favorite Jonas—and not just because of the thing with Miley.
But Miley had always had a soft spot for the Jonas brother. He remembered the times when Miley would listen to Nick's songs and dance and sing along. He remembered how bright and happy her blue eyes were. And once... he remembered wanting to talk to her and seeing her listening to Wedding Bells by Nick. But Liam had brushed that off as nothing.
It didn't seem so much like nothing right now.
Liam wondered if Miley still felt the same sparks he did when they kissed. He was always dazzled, and he remembered how she would always smile after he kissed her. Her smile would be a happy one, if slightly dazed. Maybe a little awestruck, like she couldn't believe that it was actually happening. He remembered the hope and love swirling in his chest.
Did Miley still feel the same way about him?
The whole thing was just so messed up and confusing. Not to mention quite depressing.
Liam pulled out his phone as he sank further into the velvety comfort of the couch. He listened to the first thing that popped in his mind: The Climb.
The song lulled him. Miley's angelic and powerful voice was soothing against his anxious mind. It was utterly inspirational.
"Hey, you."
Liam twisted his head to see Miley. A faint smile flickered on his lips. "Where were you?"
A wry smile graced her lips. "At Nick's," she said truthfully, her eyes meeting his.
Liam faltered. "You've been spending a lot of time with him lately," he murmured.
She laughed as she headed over to her dog Emu. "You're not worried, are you?"
Liam frowned.
If you only knew...
QotD: How would you describe yourself?
#Quiet #Shy #Dependent #Determined #Stubborn #Sarcastic
A/N: Hey, it's Darky! Did things a bit different and did it out from Liam's point of view. And yes. I know I did this before... just different. Everyone's going to see this different, and Liam's not being unreasonable about this. He's being the average boyfriend: defensive, concerned, worried, anxious, etc. I know I took, like, a billion years to finish this chapter, but... um... well, I got nothing.
No excuse, I mean.
Hey, technically, it's still Friday.
Ehh... I don't really like how this chapter turned out... But oh well.
And man, 'The Climb' is seriously awesome... Gotta love that song. Guess what song I was listening to while writing Liam's POV? #TheClimb
And OMG, 'Stay' by Zedd ft. Alessia Cara... My new non-Miley, non-Hannah song obsession.
Review your answer to the QotD! Tell me your thoughts? I appreciate it though you don't need to. But who doesn't love reviews? ;)
- Darky