Disclaimer: Based on real events, but some things are made up to help the story. Slight AU. Goes in a different direction.

Chapter 30 - February 27th, 2017

"'Cause you're the one that I want, you're the one that I need. Won't know how to move on if we don't do anything about tonight, about tonight, about tonight. Put our hearts on the line, there's no going back. Walk away with the words if we never ask. I hope I'm right about tonight." - Excerpt from About Tonight, Megan Nicole & Ryan McCartan

Is it me? What's it mean? Does he know what I'm feeling?

Miley shook her head absentmindedly at Nick. "You're such a dork."

Nick grinned lopsidedly at her. They were currently in his house, and they were sitting on the carpet (cue awful couches reminder). Miley was leaning against the couch, limbs splayed out lazily, and Nick was lying on his back with his head on her lap. From another person's point of view, they could've been a couple. But they weren't. His touch warmed her up immediately, making her smile. "I'm a dork," Nick repeated, a lazy smile growing on his face. He turned to her. "So what does that make you, pray tell?"

Miley rolled her eyes. "It makes me better than you," she teased.

Nick shot her an offended look. "Excuse you?"

"What?" Miley feigned innocence.

Nick grumbled sullenly and mumbled incoherently under his breath before relaxing lazily on her lap. Miley ran a few fingers through his unruly curls, a goofy smile forming on her lips. Nick closed his eyes, sighing contentedly, and Miley stifled her laughter. Then, Nick opened his eyes, smile teasing and natural. His eyes bore into hers intently, but Miley didn't break the stare.

"Today is Monday," Nick announced.

"What do you want? A prize?" Miley scoffed.

Nick huffed. "I'm just waiting for you to completely get rid of me—I know it'll be coming around."

Miley shook her head seriously. "I could never get rid of you," she murmured in a low voice. She blushed instantly as she realized she had spoken the words aloud. She blushed even more when she realized that Nick was only teasing. But Nick only met her gaze back with the same intent stare, as if he was staring straight through her soul. She changed the subject. "Joe called earlier—I swear, I've never heard him sound so excited."

Nick grinned, and Miley smiled back, relieved at the change of subject. "Yeah. He'll be good for Demi—and vice versa." He turned to Miley. "Does this mean you believe in miracles?"

"I don't know," Miley admitted softly. "I guess. Sure. Why not?"

Nick closed his eyes again. "It's nice relaxing, isn't it?"

Miley smiled, leaning back contentedly against the couch. "Yup."

Miley closed her eyes, bathing in contentment. She felt Nick's weight shift on her lap before it was gone entirely. Puzzled, she frowned but didn't open her eyes. She sat cross-legged now. Then, she felt Nick's calloused fingers wrap around her wrists. She smiled softly but kept her eyes closed. She shivered as she felt his warm breath wreathe around her. "Miley..." he murmured in a sing-song-y voice.

Miley opened one eye and took a sharp intake of breath. She hadn't expected him to be so close to her. "Yes?"

His eyelashes fluttered. "Are you hungry?"

Miley choked back her laughter. "Now I know you're joking." She couldn't cross her arms as his fingers were still wrap firmly around her wrists. It seemed as if he had no intentions of letting go. "You suck at the cooking thing." He pouted, and Miley couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her lips. "Sold-out tours, concerts in front of millions, talking to Joe, no problem. Cooking..? Crisis." Miley feinted horror.

Nick glared crossly. "How dare you."

Miley stuck her tongue out at him. "Yeah. How dare I. Whatcha going to do 'bout it?"

Nick crossed his arms. "Fine. Starve. See if I care."

Is it real? Can he see my heart on the ceiling?

Miley pulled him close into an embrace. "I'm sorry. You're a great cook," she teased, exaggerating the words and adding so much emphasis it made him crack up. He leaned into the hug, and Miley smiled softly. Then, she pulled back and got up. "You can cook. I'll just..." She contemplated her words. He raised a brow, and Miley grinned. "I'll just supervise you."

"Yeah right," Nick scoffed. He grinned. "By 'supervise,' I'm pretty sure you mean 'do it all by yourself as I stand there awkwardly.'"

Miley grinned. "What can I say? You can't cook."

Nick shook his head resolutely. "I'm cooking. And you..." Miley crossed her arms. "You are not going to distract me in any way," he said in mock-warning.

Miley smirked. "If you didn't want me to distract you, you shouldn't have invited me in the first place."

"B-b-but—" he spluttered. "You're the one who invited yourself!"

"Pah." Miley waved it off. "What's the difference? You didn't kick me out."

Nick smiled in that soft way of his, and Miley looked him straight in the eyes. For a fleeting moment, she felt like time had stopped. But, like always, she had to come back to reality at some point and face the facts. Miley tore her gaze away from Nick's and headed towards his kitchen, putting a bounce in her step. She heard him chuckle as he followed her.

'Cause every word is a dare, every smile is a sting. Could it be that I care? This could change everything about...

Still In Love Somehow

Tonight, do I lie? Should I say what I'm thinking?

"Miley."

Miley turned, and Nick smiled. He didn't know what he was planning on saying, but all he knew was that he just wanted to see her. He loved how natural and beautiful she looked without make up caking her face. Her naturally long lashes fluttered, and a stunning blue peeked out behind them. Her hair was down and had a sort of natural waviness to it. Her sun-kissed skin was framed out by her platinum curls, its natural brown peeking out.

She was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and dark gray shorts that show-cased her long tanned legs. Her feet were bare, and she had glossy silver ovals for nails—gaudy, perhaps, but it wasn't like they were going to last long, anyway. Around her left wrist was a gold bracelet that printed out the letters Animal Luver in its curly elegant script. She put a hand on her lip, watching him expectantly.

He realized he'd been silent for too long.

But his words got stuck in his throat.

Tongue is tied to the sky, my heart is sinking.

"I-I-I—" he stammered nervously, biting his lip—a nervous habit that stuck with him throughout his entire life.

She tilted her head, smiling lopsidedly at him. Then, she turned and strolled into the kitchen. Nick watched her numbly for a few moments before hastily following. He grinned and leaned against the doorway as he watched Miley look through his fridge. She eventually gave up and shot him an exasperated. "How come there's nothing in here?" she complained.

Nick chuckled. "There is."

Miley picked up a package of hotdogs in one hand and a bag of bacon in the other. She raised an eyebrow. "This is your idea of food?"

Nick stuck his tongue out at her. "No one said you had to be a vegan."

She lifted her wrist, and Nick caught sight of the gold band around her wrist spelling out the words Animal Luver. Miley raised a brow. "Excuse me if I love animals."

"You're excused," Nick joked.

Miley put the hotdogs back in the fridge. Then, a mischievous smirk lit up her face. Before he knew it, a bacon bag thudded into Nick's face. His eyes widened as it dropped to the floor. Miley was on the other side of the room, clutching her stomach from laughter. Nick raised a brow. She had... hit him with... bacon? He chuckled, picked up the bacon, and chucked it back at her.

She squealed and skidded out of the way. The bacon landed on the spot she had been. He grunted, and she picked up the bag. She flung it at him, and he gasped, diving out of the way. He landed heavily on his stomach, groaning. Miley laughed at him, and Nick groaned again, clutching his stomach as he got up. "Thanks for helping me up," he said sarcastically.

"Sorry," Miley snickered between giggles.

"I'm going to get you!"

"No! Please no!"

Nick darted to his feet, chasing after her. Miley squealed, thrilled at his attempt. She was tricky and smart—she dove under tables and leapt over chairs with surprising agility. He had nearly forgotten how athletic she was—the girl could run. He chased after her, but she managed to choose the trickiest paths, and he ended up tripping over his own feet half the time. He also nearly face-planted into a wall.

"Get back here, Destiny Hope Cyrus!" he yelled.

"Don't call me that!" she called back, darting into his room.

'Cause you're the one that I want, you're the one that I need. Won't know how to move on if we don't do anything about tonight. About tonight. About tonight.

Nick ran into his room, cornering Miley, who didn't look terrified. If anything, she looked amused. She even crossed her arms. Nick walked towards her leisurely, almost sauntering. He backed her up against a wall and smiled devilishly now. He reached out and untangled her arms. He held up her arms and circled her wrists with his fingers. "You're my prisoner now," he announced.

Miley smirked and glanced at her wrists almost ruefully. "I don't think so."

She pulled her wrists down towards her waist and pulled them back. His hands fell around her waist naturally, freeing her hands. Her fingertips brushed against his shoulder, and Nick locked eyes with her. Her blue eyes were utterly mesmerizing. She stared back, confidence radiating off of her like a mystical aura. Her lips parted, like she was going to say something, but no words left her perfect lips.

Put our hearts on the line, there's no going back.

"I think..." he murmured, voice husky. "I think you are my prisoner."

"If anything, NJ, you're the prisoner."

He sensed the truth behind her words. He had always been ensnared in her web of blunt honesty. He had been captivated by her beauty when he had first met her on the first of many June 11ths, and it was even better when he had gotten to know her. The various June 11ths had always tugged at his heart strings, but it was Miley that completed them. Whether it was herself in the flesh or a picture or a song or a movie.

She made sure every June 11th was about her.

Walk away with the words if we never ask. I hope I'm right about tonight.

He smiled at her. "True enough," he conceded.

Miley wrinkled her nose adorably. "Did it take you that long to realize?" She leaned closer, as if to emphasize her point. The only thing that did was make shivers course down Nick's spine. "Or..." She smiled, amused at his expression. It took Nick a moment to realize he wasn't breathing. "Breathe, Nick," Miley breathed with a soft smile on her lips. Smiley Miley. She shook her head. "Come on. You have to go grocery shopping."

He quirked a brow. "Um..."

Miley rolled her eyes. "Come on, Nick." Then, she smiled. "At least you're breathing again."

With my breath on the edge, will you be there to catch me?

"Thanks," he said stiffly, "for reminding me." He took a deep breath exaggeratedly to prove a point to her. She grinned lopsidedly, and Nick felt a smile warm his lips. Despite what Miley said about how smiling made her uncomfortable... well, actually, that was true. She would joke it off. But she was smiling right now. She was comfortable... with him. The thought made him smile.

She watched him, confused. "What?"

A smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe you're right."

Take a step, cross the bridge, jump into the deep. 'Cause you're the one that I want. My everything. Won't know how to move on if we don't do anything about tonight.

She smacked his arm. "Really?"

He grinned and released her wrists, stepping back. "Is it not okay for me to quote for your songs?" He waggled his eyebrows at her, and that made her crack up. She smacked him lightly on the chest before exiting his room. He chuckled and cast one last lingering glance at his closet door before turning back to Miley. She reached the door. "You're certainly one of a kind," he mumbled under his breath.

He hadn't thought that she had heard (he hadn't intended for her to), but she did. She turned to him with a distant smile on her face. "Thanks."

About tonight, about tonight.

Nick followed her out, and they were back in his kitchen. Miley shook his head. "Yeah, I'm making a salad," she said grumpily. She turned to him. "That is, assuming you have the ingredients." He blushed bashfully, and Miley grinned before scouring through his kitchen. Nick didn't know what to do, but he headed towards his fridge and pulled out the bacon. He began to fry it. Miley turned to him, wrinkling her nose. "Really?"

"Yes, really," he said, mimicking her tone.

She stuck her tongue out at him before rummaging for the ingredients for a salad. When he turned back to her, he saw a rainbow of vegetables on the counter top. He raised a brow at her. He didn't remember having all that. Miley grinned. Nick reached for a bowl, but Miley reached for the bowl at the same time. Their hands met, his wrapped warmly around her small one.

Put our hearts on the line, there's no going back.

He met her gaze and hastily pulled his hand away and got a different bowl. "Sorry about that," he mumbled.

She smiled, winking at him, as she prepared her salad. Soon, Nick's bacon finished cooking. He piled them on a plate and began to set the table. He brought his bacon to the table (which was, like, the only thing he could cook despite Miley's teasing that he 'couldn't cook anything') and grabbed some utensils. He grabbed some glasses and poured some organic grape juice in them.

Miley came to the table with her salad. His eyes widened. He wasn't a big fan of salads, but Miley's salad blew him away. Tomatoes and oranges were the first, spread out in a delicate pattern. Zucchini, cucumbers, and carrots filled the inside, the leafy green underneath it all. Some strawberries and grapes were sprinkled on top. Some avocados completed the masterpiece. Miley had decorated it in a way that seemed delicious.

That was certainly a new one.

He grinned. "Wow."

Miley grinned. "Want some?"

Walk away with the words if we never ask. I hope I'm right about tonight.

Instead of speaking, he merely nodded eagerly. She scooped some of the salad into her own bowl before handing him the salad bowl. He scooped some in his bowl and chewed into the crunchy vegetables and fruits. "Mmm." He smiled at her. "This is good, Miles. I don't know what you did to these vegetables, but they taste... like nothing I've ever eaten before. Absolutely delicious." He wanted to say so much more than that... He wanted to thank her for everything.

Cause you're the one that I want. My everything. Won't know how to move on if we don't do anything about tonight. About tonight, about tonight.

Nick took a ginormous bite of his bacon which made Miley look at him awkwardly. "What?" he said defensively.

She made a face. "Did you just wrap your bacon around my salad?" He nodded resolutely. "Gross."

He sniffed. "You're just jealous you didn't think of it first."

Miley laughed out loud at that, and Nick blushed but took a great chomp of his bacon wrapped salad just to prove his point. She grinned, and Nick simply melted at the sound of her laugh.

Put our hearts on the line, there's no going back.

Nick turned on the radio and grinned as Demi Lovato's Body Say song came on.

"Dance with me," Nick said, standing up. Miley grinned and got up. He twirled her, and they ended up laughing. He grinned. He bowed exaggeratedly before taking her hand and dancing with her. Then, they were just swaying in the kitchen with his arms wrapped snugly around her waist. Her arms were locked around his neck, and a slight smile was on her face.

Walk away with the words if we never ask. I hope I'm right about tonight.

"Miley," Nick whispered.

Her eyes locked on his steadily. "Nick..." she breathed.

They say first kisses were the best thing in the world. They were liars. This was better than a first kiss.

They were both leaning forward, and all of a sudden, her lips were on his, and he was kissing her. It was soft and sweet, and everything he ever felt for her came pouring out of him. The rush of kissing her again after so long was so magical, and the static crackled in the air. He gasped against her lips, but they continued to kiss, their lips locking perfectly, as if they were made for each other.

All thoughts of Liam and everyone else were banished from his head, and his entire world focused on Miley.

Nick felt like flying. He felt like he was soaring through the air and would never ever fall, not as long as she was there right by his side. Kissing her was amazing. It was better than flying. It was heaven. It was better, better than everything else—all his achievements, all the fame he had gained in his life, everything. How could any of that be compared to her? It couldn't. Nothing could, and nothing would ever.

They pulled back in need of oxygen. Miley smiled softly. "You taste like bacon."

Nick blushed. Yep. Totally what he expected to happen right after that.

But she leaned up and kissed him again, and all he could feel, see, breathe was her.

This was what invincibility felt like, not that killing himself each morning crap.

I hope I'm right about tonight.

QotD: Who loves Megan Nicole's music?

#ME

A/N: Hey, it's Darky! You know, I had this entire chapter planned out, so I don't even know why it took so LONG. I'm so disappointed in myself... But hey! Niley kiss! BUT—this is not the end of the story! I'm such a sadist (joking, joking) for the future chapters... Or maybe I'm just lying and just saying that to rile you up. You never know. Hehe, but I just need to get my thoughts in order.

Check out my Niley videos? I need new ideas for that. Appreciate it! xD

I update every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday if you don't know my updating schedule!

Oh, and the words in italics that went on through the story were song lyrics: "About Tonight" by Megan Nicole and Ryan McCartan, hence the quote.

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