a/n: This is when the M hits… wheeee. (: Lol.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Twenty One

Chapter Six

Morning After

"You love me?" Miley slurred, stumbling back as she took a seat on the bed. "I don't care that you love me, Nick." She snapped at him.

Nick stared at her, clearly hurt from what she just said. It was like a million needles were pricking at his heart at the moment and felt like it would burst out of his chest at any moment. Finally, after all these years he had worked up the courage to tell her how he felt, but now she didn't even care.

"You don't care?" He asked softly, gulping back a burning feeling in his throat.

Miley stared at him, her vision blurring up a little before her eyes. She shrugged her thin shoulders and threw up her arms. "You're just being so c-confusing." She hiccupped. "How do I-I even know that you really even mean it?" Tears pricked at her eyes, but she looked down, avoiding Nick's eyes. "How do I-I really know, Nick?" Her tone softened.

"Because I mean it when I said it. I love you Miley Ray Stewart… with all of my heart. You have to believe me…" Nick's voice softens as well as Miley refused to look up at him. "I love you." He repeated more confidently. He took a seat next to her and held her face in his hands, his thumbs grazing over her cheeks as he wiped her tears away.

Miley closed her eyes; she couldn't bare looking into Nick's eyes at the moment. It would only hurt herself even more if she did

It was killing Nick deep inside that Miley wasn't saying anything back to him; he was scared. Did she not love him back? Were his worst fears becoming a reality? He did all he could do at the moment; he leaned down, pressing his lips hard onto hers again, hoping she would respond back to him.

Miley loved the feelings of Nick's lips on hers; after a few moments, she finally responded and started to kiss back, quickly deepening the kiss. Nick could taste the expensive wine on her lips as they continued their passionate lip lock.

Moments later, they were lying on the bed; hands intertwined in each other's hair as the kiss got fiercer as the time went by. Clothes started to shed away from the two bodies slowly. First their shirts, then the pants and now they were left in only their underwear.

Nick knew he shouldn't be doing this right now because he knew it would be taking advantage of her because she was too drunk to notice what they were doing. He wanted to stop himself from tasting her lips, but he just couldn't resist it any longer. He had waited so long and now he wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through his fingertips.

For the longest time, Nick had wanted Miley to be his first time, but he never thought he'd be lucky enough for it to happen. He had lost himself to a party girl back in Boston at one of the first college parties he went to. Oh, how he wanted to take that night back, for all it brought him was regret, not pleasure. He should've waited; he wished he could've just waited a bit longer.

He knew he was ruining the moment by thinking too much at that time; he watched as Miley stripped down to nothing, exposing her bare form to him. He took his time, admiring all the curves on her body that he had never noticed before, taking in how perfect she looked as she laid naked right in front of him. Right at that moment, he felt like he was the luckiest man on Earth. His hand ran over her smooth skin slowly, enjoying every moment of this.

Miley shook involuntarily under his touch, her breath getting more and more ragged as his hand traveled up and down her bare torso. Nick's hand was soon replaced by his lips and she groaned out in pleasure from the feel of his soft lips on her body, leaving tingles after his kisses. It was starting to drive her crazy how insanely slow he was going with his movements; she just wanted him so badly.

Nick's lips traveled up and down her stomach, leaving soft butterfly kisses all over it. His lips went up again and met hers in yet another passionate kiss. They separated and brought his lips to her ear where he left a soft kiss near her ear before he continued to travel down, his teeth grazing over her soft, smooth skin. He felt a sudden movement underneath him and looked at Miley, feeling her hands pulling down his boxers, then he felt her hand grasp around his manhood.

His breath got caught in his throat as Miley began to stroke him up and down slowly. His eyes slid close and a low groan escaped from his swollen lips, enjoying what Miley was doing to him. He put his hand down on hers, stopping what she was doing. He then, pinned her hands down to her side as Miley pushed her head back onto the pillows. He positioned himself over her and pushed into her gently, watching her face quickly contort in discomfort.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked, scared.

"Just keep going." Miley replied out of breath.

Nick quickly obliged to what Miley had told him and continued on with his actions, thrusting slowly in and out of her as he kissed her neck fiercely. Moans of pure ecstasy were roaming throughout the room from both of them as the two adults continued and were soon at their highest peaks, ready to release their inner joys. Sweat was building on the pair's bodies, glistening in the bright moonlight that was shedding into the now darkened room.

One final push, then Nick pulled out of Miley, immediately collapsing onto the soft comforter besides Miley. He noticed that her eyes were closed, but her chest was still heaving up and down from what they had just got done doing, then her breathing began to slow a little and she had fallen asleep. Nick just continued to lay there, watching how peaceful she looked and then it hit him. He knew that Miley wasn't going to remember any of this tomorrow morning and that he had taken just advantage of her when she was at such a vulnerable state.

He began to feel disgusted with himself for his actions, but he knew that what he did couldn't have been so wrong because it felt so right at the moment. He realized something else at the moment… during their entire arousal, those three words that he had wished so badly to leave Miley's lips never did. She never told him that she loved him. His eyes began to darken with sadness. What if this didn't really mean anything to her? Negative upon negative thoughts started running rapidly through his mind. He loved her with everything in him and he knew for a fact that if she didn't feel the same way; his heart would be torn into a million pieces.

Miley started to stir a little in her sleep and it alarmed Nick when he saw her hand searching for something. Her hand felt all over his chest and she subconsciously snuggled her face into it more. Nick heard her inhale deeply and relax again before falling into slumber. He slowly wrapped his naked body around hers and held her before sleep caught up to him and he fell asleep as well.

-*-

Demi stomped furiously up to her dorm room; she unlocked the door in a swift moment and threw her bag onto the floor before heaving herself onto her bed. Angry tears filled her dark make-uped eyes as she let her emotions get the best of her and she began crying uncontrollably. She sat there, the back of her hand swiping across her face every few seconds. She didn't care if her make-up was running or not, no one was there to see her anyways.

She wished Miley had stayed longer at dinner, so that she wouldn't have had to ride in the car with Joe after they had another stupid argument. She wished Miley was here right now with her, so that she could be comforted and loved at the moment, but she knew Miley had a lot on her mind and needed to clear some things. She just really needed a best friend at the moment, but no one was going to be there to answer her cries.

"2 years my fucking ass." Demi muttered bitterly as she took off the ring Joe had given her a few months back, throwing it across the room. "You rather choose a road trip over spending time with me." Her voice shook with hurt as another sob escaped her lips.

After Miley had left the restaurant, Joe had brought up the subject about going out of town for a few days with the guys. It ticked Demi off that Joe was oblivious to the fact that on that same day that he was leaving, it would be the two year mark of their relationship. She was dropping subtle hints, hoping that Joe would notice that she was upset with it, but he never got what she was trying to say. Frustrated, she started to yell at him…

"Seriously Joe?" Demi asked in disbelief after a moment of silence.

"What?" Joe asked, looking up from his plate of spaghetti. He was confused to why Demi's tone sounded so cold. They were just having a really good conversation.

"Do you not know what next Wednesday is?" She asked.

"Yeah… I told you, it's the day the guys and I are driving up to Oregon. I thought I just told you that." Joe scrapes his fork around as he swirls another forkful into his mouth.

Demi rolled her eyes, "I can't believe you forgot, Joe." She seethed. "How could you fucking forget?!" She yelled at him.

People in the restaurant were beginning to stare at the two of them, but both didn't quite seem to notice their little audience.

"What the hell are you talking about Demi? And really? Do you need to yell at me? I'm tired of all your fucking mood swings lately. It's like I can't say anything without getting bitched at by you." Joe retorted.

"I only bitch at you because you've been acting so stupid lately. Always going out with your friends and when I want to tag along, you never let me. It's always 'Oh, it's just the guys.' or 'Can't you just let me have a night alone.' I guess I'm less important to you than your friends are because apparently you're choosing to spend time with them instead of with me on OUR two year anniversary." Demi picked up her napkin and threw it at his face. "I don't even know you anymore, Joseph."

Joe cringed at his full name; a sudden rush of guilt running through his body. How in the world could he have forgotten the two year anniversary of the day Demi walked into his life? She was the best thing that could've happened to him and now one faulty mistake could cost him all of that. He got up, quickly going after her.

"Demi, I'm sorry that I forgot." Joe tried.

"Sorry doesn't cut it. Just take me home." Demi spat at him.

"Demi—" Joe reached out to take her hand.

"Don't fucking touch me." Demi scolded, pulling her hand away from him. "Now just take me home." She stood in front of his car with her arms crossed firmly in front of her chest.

Joe was gonna have to do more than just apologize to her. For one, it wasn't the first time he had forgotten about their anniversary. It was the fifth time and Demi was getting fed up with it. It was like he didn't care that they were together or not anymore. It was just him and his friends that overpowered everything else.

Demi sat there, wiping away more tears from her eyes as she saw her phone light up and Joe's name flashing across the screen. Automatically, her fingers pressed the ignore button, but soon her phone had lighted up again and she saw it was Joe once again. She didn't want to talk to him tonight. She didn't want to talk to him for the next few days for that matter. She needed time to herself and she was going to give that to herself. She switched her phone off, throwing it onto the table before slipping underneath her covers; still clothed in the dress she went to dinner with. Surprisingly, it was quite comfortable and once her head hit the pillows, she was knocked out cold with sleep.

--

Miley could feel the bright sun burning at her eyelids, instantly making her wake up. Her eyes squinted as she opened them. Her head was throbbing and she groaned in response, her head hitting something hard when she had leaned down again. Her eyes shot open again and she stared at someone's bare back in front of her. She had a one night stand with someone?! In her father's bed?! She sat up simultaneously and continued to stare at the person's body in front of her.

"Oh my gosh." She grasped the covers firmly in her hands and pulled them over her bare body, feeling violated with whoever was there sleeping besides her. She looked over at the clock her dad had hung up on the wall, seeing that it was just past 8 and her dad wouldn't be waking up for another hour or two.

She silently thanked God before getting up, still holding onto the sheets before walking to the other side. Shock washed through her when she realized who it was. One part of her was so confused on how it was Nick, while the other half was overjoyed that it was Nick. When in the world had he come back to L.A. and when did the two of them even have sexual intercourse with each other…?

Miley racked her brain as best as she could, trying to find answers to all of the questions rummaging through her mind, but her thoughts were cut short when she heard the bed shift. Her head jerked back over to the bed and she saw Nick rubbing his eyes tiredly before their gazes locked and they stared at each other.

Nick was afraid of Miley's reaction; he sat up and looked around for something to cover himself up with. He spotted his boxers on the floor besides Miley's feet, but didn't want to get up and expose himself even more to a flushing Miley, so he just sat there, looking awkwardly away at everywhere, but at her face.

"What happened Nick?" Miley asked as she saw Nick eyeing something on the floor. "When did you even come back to L.A.?" She whispered.

"Last night." Nick managed to say. "We did something…"

Miley's eyes darted around the room, spotting the empty bottles of wine and tequila. "We were drunk and we slept with each other?" She murmured in disbelief as she looked at Nick.

Nick shook his head gently before standing up; Miley blushed instantly and averted her eyes away from him as she saw Nick pick up and slip his boxers back on. "You were drunk… I was sober…" He answered.

Miley froze and looked back at him with wide eyes. Nick started to walk up to her, but she stepped back, stopping him. "I-I need to process all of this." She stammered. "I-I…"

"I just want to know one thing, Miley." Nick whispered, not wanting to take another step forward.

"What is it?" Miley asked, almost inaudible.

"Do you love me?" Nick asked softly.

That was the last thing she had expected Nick to ask her at the moment. Of course she loved him, but she didn't know if she would tell him she did or not. She just stood there, acting dumbfounded. "Of course I love you, Nick. You're my best friend." She replied lamely.

Nick's heart dropped as the last sentence left her lips. She only loved him like a friend. Miley saw the disappointment play in Nick's eyes and suddenly felt guilty for lying to him. "I shouldn't have flown down here." He said quietly.

"Nick." Miley said urgently. "Why did you come down here? You told me you had other plans…" She swallowed down hard.

"I came down to surprise you for your birthday, Miley, but I guess when I tried to hide the surprise; you took it the wrong way because when I got here. You were already celebrating. Alone. I was going to keep my promise Miley. I hope you knew that I was actually going to go through with it." Nick said softly.

"Can you blame me for thinking that you wouldn't? It broke my heart when you told me that you were canceling your plans with me to go hang out with your friend that you won't even tell me what their name was." Miley shot back.

"Why would it matter who my friend was, Miley? It doesn't matter anyways because me coming down here was obviously a mistake because you don't even love me back." Nick spat back angrily.

"I thought you would tell me if—" Miley stopped midsentence as what Nick said finally hit her. "You told me that you loved me…?" She asked softly.

"It doesn't matter if I did or didn't." Nick answered.

"Yes it does, Nick." Miley countered with hurt by the tone he was giving her. "It makes everything matter."

"Why would it?" Nick asked.

"Because if you hadn't told me you loved me, I wouldn't have been able to admit that I love you too." Miley answered quietly.

"Don't play with my emotions anymore, Miley. It hurt enough the first time when you didn't say it to me last night and now you're just going to kid with me?" Nick asked, shaking his head.

"I'm not playing with your emotions any—" Her hand flew to her mouth and she jetted to the her father's bathroom, barely making it to the toilet bowl before the contents spilled out of her mouth. She coughed continuously as the alcohol left her system from last night and into the bowl.

Nick knelt down next to her, caressing her hair in his hands as he rubbed her back gently. "Are you okay, Mi?" He asked, listening to Miley struggle.

Miley shook her head and sat onto the floor. "I feel everything, but okay, Nick…" She coughed.

Nick was about to stand up to get Miley something to drink, but got pulled back down by Miley's cold hands. "Miley—"

"Don't leave me, Nick." Miley's eyes filled with tears. "It's been hard enough not being able to see you for the past few weeks. Please don't leave me." She hated sounding so vulnerable right now, but she couldn't help herself. Nick had told her that he loved her, but she couldn't even remember it and now that she's confessed that she loved him, he didn't believe her. All she could do was cry.

"Miles, don't cry." Nick sat down next to her and pulled her into his lap. "Who said I was going to leave you, Mi.?" He comforted her. "You know I hate it when you cry… especially if I'm the reason why you are." He murmured.

"I'm sorry." Miley whimpered.

"Don't be." Nick whispered back.

"I love you, Nick." Miley whispered onto his bare chest; she closed her eyes and just laid her head onto his chest, scared to look up or hear what Nick was going to say.

Nick could tell by the way Miley had said it, she had truly meant it and he could feel his heart flutter as he replayed the three words in his mind over and over again. He could sense Miley's breathing hitch a little as he put off saying those exact words back to her.

"I love you too." He whispered into her ear, feeling Miley shiver in his arms. "And I was stupid enough to never tell you before." He added.

With that, Miley looked up at the guy she had loved since she was a kid and new tears glistened in her eyes. Happy tears of course. Nick leaned in and kissed the tears away with his soft lips and closed his eyes, leaning his forehead upon Miley's.

"I thought you stopped crying." Nick whispered.

Miley, too had closed her eyes. "They're happy tears." Miley breathed onto his lips.

a/n: Blaah. Omg, I'm sorry that I made you guys wait so long and I repaid you with such a crappy part D: Ugh, school's already a drag and it's only been two weeks and I'm in over my head with homework. I'm sorry, but maybe reviews will make me feel a tad bit better? (: