AN: Thanks so much to everyone who's reading, reviewing and favouriting this story! It means sooo much to me, I never thought I'd even have 1 person reading it, so thanks!! This chapters a bit slow and boring, but still I hope you enjoy it! I at a friends boat all day tomorrow so I dunno if I'll update tomorrow night or something, I might, it depends on if I can start to write chapter 8 today... Anyways hope you like it, reviews make me happy :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 7

(Nick's POV)

As I reached the top step of the basement stairs I heard a screen door shut. Miley, she'd gone out back. I slowly made my way out the door to the yard, trying not to startle her, and saw her sitting by the pool, her legs dangling in the water, her back facing me. I could hear her sobs from here, and it broke my heart seeing her like that.

I gently sat down beside her, mimicking her current position, my legs making swirls in the warm water. Neither of us said anything for a few minutes, until Miley broke the silence.

"What are you doing here Nick?" she whispered.

"I came to see if you're alright," I responded, looking at her. She turned to face me, her crystal blue eyes meeting mine.

"I'm fine, go back inside."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong Nick."

"Then why'd you run out of the room crying?"

"Because the story was sad, this day's been totally overwhelming, I just needed time to think."

I looked into her eyes, searching for the truth. I didn't believe her. I know it was a sad movie, but something must've caused her to get that upset, and I wanted - no needed - to know what it was.

(Miley's POV)

"Miles, come on, we both know that's not true," Nick pleaded. The way he said my name, his velvet voice floating over the word, as though he was meant to say it, his chocolate brown eyes piercing mine. I looked away; I couldn't take it. I just stayed silent, staring at our feet in the water.

"Miley? Come on, tell me, does it have anything to do with that?" he asked, pointing to my dog tag.

I grabbed it in my hand, "No, that's something else, none of your business."

"Then tell me why you're crying. I can make it better, I can fix it."

I jumped up off the pool deck, startling Nick. He rose to my height, facing me. "Fix it? You think you can fix it? You can't fix it. No one can." I yelled, tears pouring down my face, "Just go, leave me alone. Please Nick, I beg you."

He just looked at me, in complete shock at my outburst. I turned around, walked into the house and ran up the 2 flights of stairs to my room, thankful at this moment that my room was so far away from the others.

(Nick's POV)

It took me a few minutes just standing there, to realize that she wasn't coming back. I walked back down to the basement, and sat down in the single couch, all slumped over.

"She okay?" Demi questioned.

"Uhm… yeah… I think so," I hesitantly replied. Was she really okay?

A few minutes later, Miley tiptoed down the stairs, all freshened up, and took a seat on the big couch in between Joe and Kevin. Joe turned to her and asked her something, putting his arm around her, pulling her close. I'm not usually jealous, but at this moment I wanted it to be me Miley found comfort in, not my brother, who really didn't know anything. The movie was over now but no one wanted to go yet so Demi put another one in, a happier one.

"I'm hungry," Selena mock whined, "snacks anyone?"

"I'll go," I said, anxious to get out of the stuffy room.

"I'm coming, I wanna pick my own food," said Joe, following me as I went up the stairs to the kitchen.

Demi's mom was just leaving the kitchen with something when we arrived. "Hey boys, how are you?" Mrs. T asked turning around to face us.

"Hi Mrs. T, we're good, yourself? Just came to get some snacks." Joe answered for the both of us, as I opened the fridge to get some sodas.

"Sounds good, have fun," she said, leaving the kitchen completely.

"What's with you and Miley?" Joe said, coming over to me. Crap, I thought, what was I gonna say to that?

"Nothing…?" I tried.

"Then why aren't you sitting next to her? I know you like her."

"I don't like her," I denied.

"Fine, you're on the path to liking her," Joe said sarcastically.

I didn't bother denying it, Joe knew me to well. I just grabbed a few bags of chips, put them in bowls and started going back downstairs. "Go sit next to her," Joe whispered to me before sitting himself down in the single chair I was previously occupying. I chucked a bowl to Selena and Demi and sat down next to Miley with another bowl of chips in my lap.

She took a quick look at me, then put her head down and reached into the chip bowl. "I'm sorry," she murmured, almost inaudibly.

"For what?" I whispered back, even though I thought I knew, I wanted to hear the words coming from her mouth.

"For running out on you, again."

"You seem to be making habit of it, Miss Miley," I joked, earning an accepting giggle from Miley. We both turned around, facing forward again, and watched the movie. She may have thought I was going to let it go, but I wasn't. I was going to find out her story, because she deserved to have someone understand her.

~xoxox~

Soon the movie was over and it was really late. Kevin, being the sensible one decided we should all leave, despite how much we all wanted to stay. We didn't get a chance to hang out that much, but we were all in L.A. for a while and it was nice seeing your friends again.

We all trudged up the stairs, tiredly, Miley following closely behind me.

"I just need to call my dad to come pick me up, Demi," Selena said once we reached the front door.

"What? No, we'll take you home Selena," Kevin stepped in.

"Oh, okay, thanks!"

We stood around the door, Selena made the first move to leave. "Bye Miley, it was great meeting you," she said, going over the hug her, "Bye Demi, see you soon," she finished hugging Demi.

I went next, "Bye Miles," I said hugging her tightly, "See ya Dems," I didn't bother hugging her.

Once the goodbyes were complete and we were just about the head out the door, Joe whispered to me. "Aren't you going to ask for her number?"

"What? Uhh… uhmm… no!" I whispered back

"Fine then, I will," Joe replied, turning to Miley, "Hey Miles, can we get your number?"

"Oh, uhm, sure," she said, startled, and took Joe's phone from him, typing in the correct digits.

~xoxox~

(Miley's POV)

I was lying in bed, some 40 minutes after they had left, contemplating the events of the day. He almost found out, I could've told him, but I didn't. He didn't need to know. It's not who I am anymore. Just then my phone vibrated, I forgot I hadn't turned it off. I picked it up off the bedside table. '1 New Text Message' it said, 'Unknown number'. I swiftly opened it, reading the words aloud in my head.

'Heyy Miles, sup? Nick here, u sleeping?' Nick? How'd he get my number?

'How'd you get my number?'

'U gave it to Joe remember? I stole it from him. Haha :P'

'Oh, forgot.'

'U nvr answered my question, sup?'

'Uhm, about to sleep, u?'

'Couldn't sleep, had to say night to u first ;)' Was Nick flirting with me? Awkward.

'Haha, well night, studio tomorrow, early!'

'Night, hey we got a show next Saturday, u wanna come w/ demi?'

'Uhm, maybe, tlk to her. Bye'

'Night Miles, sweet dreams'

I sighed, closing my phone and shutting it down. I was excited for what my life had coming, but worried none the less.