(AN- Sorry, I'm re-posting it because my computer is being weird and won't let me read it, so I'm going to repost it and see what happens. By the way, yes, this is a Jiley, Loe, and Alexa/Nick story! I think writing it from a different point of view will help me continue to write 8WW.)

C h a p t e r 2

P o r t l a n d, O r e g o n

"Alexa Rae, you've got to tell us something." Nick sighed worriedly. "You're at least," he paused, scanning her bony, fragile figure. "Twenty five pounds or so underweight and the Alexa I knew wouldn't starve herself for anything in the world."

"If I tell you, you two have got to promise not to tell anyone." Alexa sighed, her eyes flickering around wildly.

"We promise." Kevin chimed from the drivers seat, giving Alexa a quick once over in the mirror, his eyes narrowed in concern.

"And please don't do anything rational." Alexa added quickly, brushing her side bangs out of her vision once more.

"Just tell us." Nick pressed, laying a reassuring hand on her shoulder, only to jerk his hand back when Alexa flinched. "He beats you." He breathed in disbelief. "Alexa, your uncle beats you, doesn't he?" Nick didn't even wait for an answer as anger built inside.

"Nick, you promised." Alexa pleaded, on the verge of tears. "Please don't do anything. All I really need now is my friends and…Joe." It hurt to say his name aloud after so long.

Kevin and Nick exchanged an uneasy look, both going rigid, oblivious to Alexa as they pulled into a parking lot with at least six tour buses parked. Kevin stopped and parked the minivan and with the help of Nick, Alexa skidded to where the Jonas Brother's tour bus was parked. She opened the door and walked up the steps with both brothers behind her. Alexa barely made it five feet when she felt as though Freddy had punched her gut, again.

Joe…and Lilly; intertwined in each others arms, tongues shoved down each other's throat. Only when the door slammed shut did Joe jump back. "Hey, you can't be here. The concert doesn't start for another seven hours." He babbled, rubbing the back of his neck while Lilly stood at his side, blushing madly. "I know what you want." He nodded knowingly. "An autograph."

"Wow, you can be so conceded." Alexa breathed, venom slowly leaking into her voice.

Joe looked taken back. "Excuse me?" He frowned, folding his arms, shooting Lilly a look.

"You heard me, Jonas." Alexa spat, shaking her head in disbelief, her eyes watering with every moment. "I said- you can be so conceded. Need me to spell it?"

"You don't even know me." Joe defended himself, slinging an arm around Lilly's shoulder as she glared icily at Alexa, both didn't seem to recognize them. "So you have no right to be trashing me like that."

"Wrong again." Alexa blinked rapidly, shaking her head sadly.

"I will admit that you do look vaguely familiar, was it a Meet & Greet?" Joe asked, looking angered and bewildered, unaware of the fact that Miley had hopped aboard the bus as well.

"You knew me as Allie, your brothers as Alliekai." Alexa said, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at Joe with burning eyes. She swallowed before continuing. "Wish I could tell you there's a kiss like something more than in my mind. I see it could be amazing, could be amazing. If we were a movie. You'd be the right guy. And I'd be the best friend. That you'd fall in love with. In the end we'd be laughing. Watching the sunset. Fade to black. Play that happy song…" A tear escape Alexa's eye and Miley pushed herself forward until she stood in Joe's way, blinking in disbelief.

"Lexa?" She whispered before launching herself onto Alexa, grasping her cousin in a tight hug. "I can't believe it's you! I've missed you…"

"At least one person has." Alexa said tearfully, staring at Joe as she spoke. He took a tentative step forward and Alexa tore herself from Miley's grasp, backing straight into Nick.

"What happened to you?" Joe murmured, his eyes narrowed as he scanned Alexa over.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Alexa said bitterly.

"It's not what it looks like?" He offered.

"Oh, ok." Alexa snorted sarcastically. "Lilly was choking and you were saving her by trying to dislodge whatever crap was in her throat out by you tongue. I see now, I missed you too Joe."

"Lex, it's not like that." Joe sighed.

"Bull. Shit." Alexa shook her head. "How long?"

Joe decided to play stupid. "How long…what?"

"Don't fucking lie to me Joseph." Alexa snapped. "Just tell me."

"Two and a half years." He sighed, glancing down, unable to meet Alexa's smoky gray gaze.

"Oh my God." Alexa shook her head. "Anything else you two would like to confess now that I've caught you? Or leaving that for me to find out like this?"

"Lex –"

"Don't fucking call me that." Alexa hissed. "I don't want to waste my time, but to make it official, we're done." She said before slipping away and walking outside with the biggest migraine.

"Alexa? Alexa Rae Grace? My goodness." Denise swept her into a quick hug. "Three years. Three years too long. How have you been?"

"I've been ok." Alexa lied, rubbing her temples. "Do you have an Tylenol or something?"

"Yes, of course. I'll go get you some." Denise nodded cheerfully as a younger boy stepped out from her shadow.

"This can't be Frank the tank, can it?" Alexa forced a smile onto her face.

The boy beamed. "It's tankster to you." He grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist in a quick, warm hug.

"Hey there. How old are you now? 14?" Alexa asked with a soft laugh and a cough.

"No, I'm only 10!" He declared, shaking his head vigorously.

Alexa crouched down to his height. "How old do you think I am?" She teased, ruffling his small head of curls.

"You're Nick's age…." He paused in mid-thought. "19?" He guessed.

"Good boy." Alexa nodded with a hint of light in her eyes.

"Here sweetheart." Denise smiled. "How did you get here?" She asked, holding out a water bottle and Tylenol.

"I ran into Nick at the local store." Alexa admitted. "And he drove me here."

"Ah…" Denise nodded slowly. "Frankie, why don't you go on the bus?" She suggested.

"Ok." Frankie chirped before walking inside.

"Care for a walk, Alexa?" Denise questioned with a firm, motherly look.

"Sure." Alexa nodded slowly before they turned and began walking.

"What's happened to you, dear?" Denise asked in concern. "You look pale, you're figure is a twig, and you don't have your bright expression like you usually do. What's going on?"

"I never doubted your trust, Denise, but I hope you can keep this as quiet as possible." Alexa said, glancing at her worn out shoes.

"Of course, dear. Anything." Denise nodded.

"My uncle isn't exactly…the most gentle uncle you've ever met." Alexa said uneasily.

Denise tipped her head to one side curiously. "You mean he abuses you?" She exclaimed.

"Not just…" Alexa sighed.

"You mean --?" Denise gasped.

"Yes." Alexa nodded.

"You've grown up into a beautiful young lady." Denise sighed, putting a comforting arm around Alexa's shoulder. "It was such a shame that you and Joe…broke up, he was heartbroken for such a long time."

"You mean heartbreak lasts for five minutes?" Alexa cried.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Denise pressed cautiously.

"Joe never actually broke up with me. I did it just now." Alexa wrapped her arm around her neck and twisted her hair around, letting it fall on her shoulder. "I caught him and Lilly in the bus."

"Oh!" Denise gasped. "Joseph…." She sighed. "Are you alright?"

"I just want to reconnect with…everyone before I have to go." Alexa gave a half shrug.

"Alexa, you aren't going anywhere." Denise shook her head, flushing. "Your uncle doesn't deserve you. You're coming on tour with us until we get back home."

"He'll come after me, Denise, I'm scared." Alexa whimpered, resting her chin on Denise's shoulder.

"It's be alright, dear." Denise assured her. "We'll find a way."

"Hey Alexa Rae, you ok?" Nick rhymed, walking over to sit next to her as she sat against the wall.

"I guess." She gave a half shrug. "Are you guys done with sound check?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "We've got almost four hours to kill." He watched as Alexa's face twisted and Nick bit his lip. "I mean, uh, we have four hours left to…spare?"

"Oh, ok." Alexa nodded.

"Yee doggies, Miles! You were right!" Robby Ray hollered, stepping in front of the quietly talking pair with a broad smile. "Alexa? You've grown, darlin'. Come here."

Alexa forced a small smile onto her face before she stood up and was enveloped in Robby Ray's arms. "How've you been?"

"I've been alright, Uncle Ray." Alexa admitted, taking a small step back. "It's been too long."

"We've tried calling you –" Robby Ray started.

"I left my phones in the Hannah closet." Alexa interjected, feeling the warmth of the fabric of Nick's faded varsity jacket. "Along with my lovely wig."

"You don't need a wig now, you little imp." Robby Ray chuckled, ruffling Alexa's hair gently.

"All I need is my contacts." Alexa gave a small smile. "But I'm not really sure if I'm into that anymore."

"What?" He exclaimed. "What're you talking about?"

"It's been a while." Alexa shrugged. "The pipes are pretty rusty and the world has forgotten about Allie."

"Don't be thinking that, bud." Robby Ray assured her. "But I respect your decision although I do expect a duet every once in a while."

"Never gone for long." Alexa smiled wryly.

"It was good seeing you again." Robby Ray said softly, patting Alexa's shoulder before he walked away.

"Hey Alliekai." Nick said gently, coming up behind her. "If you're hanging with me, you've got to have some better threads then an old pair of sweatpants and my old jacket." He taunted.

"Then what're you expecting we should do about that, Nick J?" Alexa smiled.

"I'm a guy, it's going to sound pretty weird." Nick confessed.

"Are you suggesting we go shop?" Alexa smirked.

"Although you do look pretty nice in my stuff…" Nick said, mimicking her small smile. "I think you might need some clothes for the rest of the tour."

"I guess." Alexa produced a smile. "But I'm pretty broke."

"No big." He shrugged. "I've got it."

"You wouldn't!" She gasped, folding her arms.

"I can and I will." Nick stated firmly. "Let's go." He pushed her from behind and grabbed Miley as they passed her, dragging the both of them to the minivan.

"Wow I feel good." Nick commented dryly. "I'm being yelled at for spoiling my best friends."

"Well if you put it like that…" Alexa and Miley exchanged a mischievous look.

Nick held up his hands and took a sip of his milkshake. "You two wear me out faster than before."

"We've got a lot of catching up to do." Miley giggled.

"Oh boy." Nick groaned, shaking his head. "This is what I get? Never again." He sighed jokingly.

"C'mon Nicky, you know you like it." Alexa produced a lopsided smile as she reached over and swiped the whipped crème off of his milkshake.

"Can't say I hate it." He admitted, bringing the cup defensively towards himself, covering it with one arm.

"See?" Alexa gave a half shrug. "Anyways…how's Jake?"

Miley hesitated, unsure if Alexa really wanted to her about her love life. "It's good." She coughed. "He's in Thailand for his latest flick."

"That's cool." Alexa nodded, grabbing a fry. "A Zombie thing or something else?"

"Um…it's kind of a Zombie thing." Miley said. "But it's more action-ish."

"Action-ish? I'm not even going to ask." Alexa rolled her eyes. "So what about you Nick J?"

"I went out with this one girl for most of our sophomore year." Nick confessed. "But it didn't work out that well."

"Oh, that's too bad." Alexa flashed him a sympathetic smile. "Anyone now?"

"Single." He shook his head. "What about you?"

"I was single until about two or more hours ago." Alexa snorted, shaking her head in disgust. "But here, in Oregon, I wasn't really aloud to go out."

"No one asked you out?" Miley asked in disbelief.

"They did." Alexa corrected. "But I couldn't."

"That's sad." Miley sighed. "Three years without a guy? I couldn't live."

"You are the biggest drama queen ever." Alexa laughed, bumping shoulders with her and wincing.

"I am Hannah Montana she has drama." Miley announced.

"Dork." Nick muttered with a gleam in his eyes.

"You sound like a commercial for TNT." Alexa told her. "We know drama."

"Truth be told." Miley nodded solemnly as Nick pulled his phone out and stared at it.

"Kevin's picking us up in fifteen." Nick reported.

"Cool." Miley nodded, toying with a golden ring. "So….Lexa…." She mused aloud. "Whose bus are you crashing…I mean, uh, err,….sleeping on?" She stammered, flushing slightly.

"I'm not sure yet." Alexa admitted.

"You don't have to decide now…" Nick assured her quickly with a swift glance at Miley.

Miley and Nick seemed to be telepathically arguing as their eyes burned through each other.

"I'm still here." Alexa said, waving a hand in between enemy lines.

They ignored her and kept their arguing.

"Well…I think I'm going to go join the carnival now and before I do, I'm going to go swimming in ice cream." Alexa blurted and their heads whipped around to face her.

"What?" Miley shrieked.

"Huh?" Nick's eyebrows furred in confusion.

"Good, you two are still alive." Alexa smiled in satisfaction.

They rolled their eyes and picked at their food until Kevin arrived. "What'd you buy? The whole mall?" He asked skeptically, his eyes widening at the sight of Miley, Alexa, and Nick dragging shopping bags to the minivan.

"Nope." Miley shook her head cheerfully, jumping inside after throwing the bags inside.

"More like…half." Alexa offered, squeezing in behind her, still comfortable in a pair of Nick's old sweatpants and varsity jacket.

Kevin just shook his head and drove back to the venue.

Alexa stubbornly shook her head. "I'd rather just wait out here." She protested.

"And I'd rather you come with me." Nick returned with a heart melting smile that must have worked because Alexa nodded in defeat and followed Nick onto the Gibson tour bus, where Denise and Paul were sitting at the small table in front of the bus and Frankie was playing his Webkinz not too far beyond them.

"Hello Alexa." Denise smiled while Paul glanced up and gave her a small nod and a smile.

"Hi Denise." Alexa said uneasily, it had been too long since she called her by her first name. "Nice to see you again, Papa J." She added politely.

"You too."

"Come." Nick murmured in her ear.

They entered the lounge and Alexa stopped, backing up a few paces and crossing her arms.

"Can we talk?"

Joe Jonas looked desperate. That's the first.

"Nothing to talk about." Alexa shook her head as Lilly couldn't even meet her gaze.

"You know it and I know it." Joe snorted, his arm still comfortably wrapped around Lilly's petite waist making Alexa shift in discomfort.

"I know there's nothing to talk about." Alexa cocked an eyebrow at his expression curiously. "So get over yourself Jonas."

"I can't." Joe's eyes narrowed slightly. "I messed up."

"Did your mom tell you this or did you figure this out all by you wittle self?" Alexa challenged.

"Don't fuck with me." He hissed, his grip on Lilly tightened.

"Why? Gunna make out with Lilly in front of me? I'm real scared Joe." Alexa snapped.

Joe's eyes had narrowed into dark hazel slits and he stiffened, but he was at a total loss of words against her until Nick slipped into his vision. "So what have you been doing with my brother, huh?" He accused.

"Leave Nick out of this." Alexa stated calmly, her eyes flaring angrily.

"Why? Nick has something that I don't? That's why you're going for him? Or are you jealous?" Joe smirked.

"Joe!" Lilly shrilled.

"Yeah, actually." Alexa nodded, grinding her teeth together. "He doesn't stab me in the back."

Lilly gasped, her hands flew to her mouth and covered them and Joe bared his teeth like a dog, a sick, twisted dog.

"At least he had the balls to say goodbye." Alexa lifted an eyebrow ever so slightly. "Something you didn't."

Nick tugged at her arm. "Let's go." He urged.

"Listen to your boyfriend, has-been." Joe snarled.

They both whirled around in time to see Lilly smack Joe's cheek with her palm. "That's enough!" She flushed angrily, digging her nails into Joe's arm with her other hand. "We used to have such a good time together! I want that to happen again. What happened to the all of us that makes us act stupid? Ok, I know why Alexa is pissed off and I'm really, truly sorry." Lilly admitted. "But we all need to act like adults, especially since Frankie is still on board the bus."

"Hey, um, Lilly?" Alexa sighed.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"You…wanna talk?" Alexa offered, anxiously twisting her bangs around.

Lilly's mouth twitched and she nodded.

"I won't let you talk to her." Joe growled under his breath.

"Joe, let me go." Lilly ordered. "Now."

Joe reluctantly released his hold on Lilly and she got to her feet, motioning towards the bunks, where Alexa followed.

"Lexa, it really is good to see you again." Lilly gave a small smile. "I just hope that we can still be friends….I know Joe and I being together for more than half of your leave was the worst things we could have done and I really didn't mean for it to turn out the way it did, but Joe helped me through a rough time and I know why you loved him so much."

Alexa nodded slowly, it wouldn't be too hard to get used to Lilly Truscott again. "What happened?"

"Pardon?" Lilly asked in surprise.

"What'd Joe help you through?" Alexa said quietly.

Her face twisted in pain at the memory and she glanced down. "Lucas raped me."

"Oh." Alexa gasped ever so softly. "I'm sorry."

Lilly nodded. "But I wanted you and Miley…and even Oliver there, not anyone else!" She exclaimed, her voice cracking and trembling with fear. "You're one of my best friends, I hope you can forgive me for what happened and if you never ever want to talk to me again, then I completely understand."

Alexa paused, her mouth twitched. "I've missed calling you one of my best friends, Lilly Truscott."