It's been in the past for a while
I get a flash and I smile
Am I crazy
Still miss you, baby
It was real
It was right
But it burned too hot to survive
All that's left is,
All these ashes

Joe had no idea on what to do. He wanted to strangle this girl for breaking his heart, but at the same time run up and kiss her. "So, great show guys" she smiled.

"Guys, could you excuse us please?" Joe asked, with no emotion being shown on his features. Lola knitted her eyebrows together, what was Joe doing? This girl broke his heart, why is he even talking to her?

"Yeah, sure" Lola answered for all of them as AJ stepped into the room and out of the doorway so the five of them could pass. Lola stopped at the doorway and turned to look at Joe. She gave him a weak smile, which he returned.

She then stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. But, Joe knew they were listening. All of them, even Selena. She had now been recruited into the group, which means all rules of snooping imply.

"Why are you here?" Joe asked, standing up from his position on the floor. AJ took a few steps forward, leaving still plenty of room between them.

"I just wanted to check up on you guys. I've been reading a few articles and it seems like you guys have got it going for you right now." AJ softly smiled.

Joe nodded, "Yeah, that's because we have a great group of friends and people who love us who stand by our side, helping us along the way."

AJ winced, "I didn't come here to talk about the past Joe."

"Then what's the real reason you came AJ? 'Cause I'm dieing to know!"

AJ bowed her head, "I missed you guys, ok?" she mumbled.

Joe couldn't quite make it out, "Huh?"

AJ lifted her head and looked him dead in the eye, "I missed you guys! You … mostly. I missed your lame jokes, your crazy dance moves, that gorgeous brown hair, seeing your face light up when you were given a new tambourine, watching you perform, borrowing your hair straighter, the list goes on." AJ sighed.

Joe didn't look fazed at all, "I thought you said you hadn't come here to talk about the past."

AJ laughed softly, "And your incredible come backs. Those I missed too"

Joe didn't smile, he didn't laugh, however his heart was tearing apart again. But, thankfully she couldn't see.

"AJ. It's over, ok? I'm done with you and the past. I've moved on. Just go home, ok?" Joe sighed, taking a seat on the couch.

AJ shook her head, "I promised myself that I wouldn't leave until we sorted everything out."

"You want to sort things out now? What happened to the AJ I knew where she'd say 'I got a tour coming up and I think its best if we go our separate ways…you know, just in case.'" Joe snapped.

AJ rolled her eyes, "I'm different now! I don't just leave constantly. We're recording a new CD and we won't be going on tour for a while! We can see each other again. It will be just like old times!" she smiled.

Joe shook his head, "Oh yeah AJ? Well, what's gonna happen after the CD's released and they want a tour. Huh? What's gonna happen then?"

"We'll figure something out…" she answered in a less confident voice.

Joe burst into laughter, "Wow. Déjà vu! Funny, I thought you said that last time. Look where that got us…"

AJ sighed and took a seat next to him on the couch. "I loved you Joe."

"Yeah, I loved you too" Joe lifted himself off the couch and glided towards the door, he turned around once more, "But, you broke my heart". He then grabbed the doorknob with his hand, turned it and opened the door. 5 bodies fell upon each other onto the ground.

"Ow!" Kevin exclaimed, "Who is that?"

"Crap. I knew I should have worn converse and not heels!" Selena cursed.

"Ok, who is sitting on my leg!?" Miley exclaimed.

"Sorry…" Nick blushed.

Joe looked down at them, his eyes now glassy.

"Show's over guys. Time to go home." He muttered, then exited the room.

AJ sat motionless on the couch, watching as Joe walked away.

Lola sprung up from the floor, "Why'd you come back!?"

AJ's mouth began to open, but nothing came out.

"Why'd you have to come back!?" Lola screamed again, "Everything was fine until now! The pain was finally starting to fade away, he was...he was finding love again"

Lola ran out the doorway. The room was silent. AJ cradled her head in her hands, "Why can't things just go back to the way they used to be?" she whispered.

Selena stood awkwardly by the doorway, she didn't know anything about their history and yet, it was playing out right in front of her. "Things change. People change." Selena whispered, looking off into the distance.

Miley sent her a confusing look, what the heck was this girl talking about?

Miley watched the digital clock next to her bed change from 11:59 to midnight. She hopped off her bed, grabbed her backpack that was resting next to her dresser and skipped towards the window.

By the time she had made it to Nick's house it was 12:05, she began throwing rocks at his window.

The window opened, "Miley?" Joe rubbed his eyes, then squinted them trying to make is vision clearer. "Sorry Joe!" she gasped, "Just uh, just go back to bed. Forget this eveeerrr happened" Miley exclaimed.

Joe didn't respond, he just went back inside. Nick soon hopped out of the window and climbed down the window and the two were off.

"So, how's Joe?" Miley asked as she dumped the contents of her backpack out onto the blanket set up.

"He's…" Nick started, "Ugh, Miley we don't know what to do. Mom has been baking cookies, offering him a day off to go to Six Flags with the family and he still won't leave his room. Dad's been talking to Big Rob about maybe, taking the door off the hinge so we could keep an eye on him, but that doesn't work for me! Kevin and I, the whole family is worried. Even Frankie has noticed a change in Joe."

Nick took an apple slice out of the container and took a bit out of it, "You see what AJ does to him? It was like this when she was around, he was either hyped up and happy or miserable and always hiding in his room. He was destroying himself over her."

Miley nodded, "maybe, maybe he doesn't have to go through that again. And…maybe I know a way we can get him out of his room."

Nick knitted his eyebrows together, "We've tried everything Miles. Trust me, nothing is going to work."

Miley smiled reassuringly, "Oh trust me. I'm 100 percent sure this will"

I know it's short, sorry! But, I'll make the next chapter longer. Trust me! I'm shooting for like a 6 pager :) So what's your opinion on this chapter? I really wanna know! If your lucky I'll have another chapter up by tomorrow!

xxEmilyKearsexx