A/n: I love you guys. Haha. I read every review.

While writing about Miley's sister, I tend to picture Minka Kelly (from Friday Night Lights and that new movie The Roommate oh and she was in 500 days of summer, she played Autumn at the end) she's fucking gorgeous.

Vamoosing Hearts

Chapter 5

Hmm. It's occurred to me as I tell this story that I'm focusing solely on Nick and myself, here. I guess, in essence, that's how it's supposed to be. The petty bullshit of high school hierarchy and nasty things said in notes passed around English or on FaceBook pages don't really matter all that much. Those words can hurt and they can be stupid or ignorant, but, at the end of the day, my story is about the journey I took with Nick when he came blowing into my life like an unexpected summer rainstorm, making everything take on a different hue and coloring my world in hazy greens and yellows.

Damn. My English teacher would have been proud of that romantic schlock I just thought of there.

No matter. I still hate the asshole.

Back to the matter at hand.

I was simply gawking at his walls.

"Oh my God," I said out loud just as he walked in. I heard the door close and turned around. My God, was he gorgeous.

His hair was wet, so I assumed he just took a shower and he smelled like axe. Mmmm.

I bit my lip once I saw him, remembering last night's events.

"Oh good, you're up," he said and I nodded and looked down, still biting my lip. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh… you know. Terrible," I laughed warily as the sound of my own voice was like shouting in my ear. He nodded understandingly.

"Well if you need anything just ask… unless you wanna go home right now," he said, unsure and I nodded awkwardly and looked back at his walls.

"You drew all these?" I asked softly and turned back to him for an answer. He nodded shyly and shrugged.

"I tried picking up when you were sleeping… but I guess it's just naturally like this." Yeah… it did not look like he tried picking up. His room looked like the art room at school but with a bed and darker lighting.

"These are amazing," I told him and looked closer at one that caught my eye. It was so vibrant, but at the same time the colors were so dull. It kind of played a trick on my eyes. But I can remember it perfectly. It was a setting of a yard with a badass swing set and a metal slide. It was raining in the picture. The sky was a light gray and there was a lightning bolt striking the slide. But that was it. There were no people. Just that scene.

"Thanks," he said and I touched the painting lightly with my finger, tracing the lightning bolt.

"So you're a closet artist?" I speculated and looked at him unsure. He shrugged and sat down on his bed.

"You're the only one to see all of this." Wow, right? I know. I was really shocked, considering his reputation, I thought a bunch of girls have seen his room… or even his best friends… his mom?

"No one else has ever been in your room? No other girl?" I challenged, not believing what he was telling me. He shook his head and laughed.

"I know what you're implying, but that's what the guest house is for I guess." I forced a chuckle, but really, Nick? Too much information. I didn't wanna know what he did in the guest house with girls.

"But you're so good, I mean… why hide it?" I asked and sat next to him, he sat for a moment, not moving. I could tell he was trying to think of an answer. I waited patiently for a good 2 minutes.

"People wouldn't accept the fact that I'd rather spend my days inside drawing rather than running around bases. And then people think of me and they think of what? Partying?" It's really annoying for me to think back to this kind of stuff and regret how I reacted. I knew he was lying but I didn't press him on it and I wish I had. It would have changed things if I got the truth right then and there.

I guess that's just another thing to shove into my vault of regrets.

I nodded at the answer he gave me and it got silent.

"Do you like art?" He'd asked and it was such a simple question, yes or no, but the minute he asked me that, I thought back to that day we were coloring together.

"Uhm, strictly coloring books," I joked and he chuckled, then got quiet for a second. Something was on his mind and all I could think was 'Oh goodness, did I give away too much?'

"I had a friend when I was little that loved to color. We'd hang out and just spend our time coloring." He chuckles sadly and my heart dipped, wondering if he was talking about me.

"What was your friend's name?" I pressed.

His head tilted a little in thought and he frowned. "I have no idea. We didn't go to the same school and she left when we were like ten. Wow…funny how I can remember her, like, general outline. But no face or name?"

Relief washed over me and sadness began to creep in at his confession. "Must not have been that good of a friend, then."

"Better than most," he murmured.

My head was really starting to hurt so I laid back on his bed and chewed on my lip and stared at his walls some more, taking in the beautiful artwork. There were a lot of drawings of his friends. Some drawings you could tell came from his imagination; others you could tell were inanimate objects. It was a variety, really.

"I'm not sure I know what you want out of this."

My eyes closed and I breathed one deep breath before opening them. "I just want to be friends with you. And I'm sure you think that's really stupid, but it really is what I want. I want to remember my Senior Year and not be invisible…or the chief's daughter. I want to know what it's like to be one of…you."

He relaxed and leaned back, pulling his legs on his bed and laying his head next to mine on his pillow. "Popularity comes with a price. I'm not sure you understand how big of a cost it could be."

It could steal my soul. But I would get to be with you…

Instead of telling him that, I yawned. He shifted closer and settled into me, pulling my face onto his chest and draping his arm across my back. "You make no sense," he sighed.

"Haven't you ever just wanted to be someone else for a little while?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah. And the façade gets old really quick… hence my hidden talent." His head settled into the pillow and I raised my face to look at him staring down at me. "I'm sorry about last night."

"Don't… worry about it, it was … fine," I insisted.

He was quiet and unmoving until we heard the garage door opening.

"Hmm, that's weird," he had said, "My mom's home… it's only 2," And once he said that I shot up like a bat out of hell and looked at him panicked.

"Oh my God, my dad!" He looked at me confused and I sighed and grabbed my shoes, noticing they were cleaned, but didn't say anything due to the fact that my thought process is quicker than my lips. "I have to go home! He has no clue where I am! I never got in touch with him last night!" I said urgently and his eyes widened and he got up quickly, chasing me out of his room, slamming his door on the way out.

"Wait, at least let me drive you!" He exclaimed as I booked it down the stairs and through his kitchen, waiting patiently for him.

"Who's this?" I turned around at the sound of a woman's voice, and was greeted by his mom, who was looking at Nick waiting for an answer.

She focused her attention on me once I turned around; her eyes widened momentarily then went back to normal. Can you guess? Yeah, she recognized me. I knew it right away, too. I prayed she wouldn't say anything.

"Mom, this is Miley, but we're kinda in a rush, so I'll see you when I get home," he said quickly and I saw her expression turn to confusion before he ushered me out of the house. Suddenly it was like he was in a bigger rush than I was.

"I can walk, Nick," I said but he insisted on driving me. When I got into the passenger side of his car, I noticed the floor mat was gone. I bit my lip and didn't say anything, hoping he wouldn't say anything either.

But then I remembered that he morphs back in forth between a big jerk and sweet guy.

"If you're wondering, my floor mat is drying on the grass. I had to wash it off this morning."

I glared at him and rolled my eyes. "Look, I didn't plan on throwing up in your car, okay? Jeez…"

He pulled into my driveway and I got out immediately, before he could even turn the car off. I ran into the house and was expecting my dad to be in my face, but he wasn't. I closed the door but something stopped me and I turned to see Nick walking in behind me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered angrily.

"Making sure you're okay," he answered and I rolled my eyes. Did he really think he would protect me from my dad's shouting?

"Dad!" I called out and then winced at how loud my voice was. My head started pounding again and I mentally kicked myself.

"He's at work," Marissa appeared, walking out of the kitchen, her arms crossed, looking at me with a smirk. "But you're lucky you have such a great sister who covers for you without being asked," she finished off and I gaped at her.

"He thinks you told me to let him know that you were staying at a friend's… but from your current appearance and the boy standing behind you… I can see you were not at just a friend's," she laughed lightly and I touched my hair, feeling how tangled and out of place it was. I was a mess.

"Aha… Marissa, it's not what you think," I said and then turned my head around to look at Nick. He raised his eye brows, pulling his lips between his teeth. I sighed and turned back to face Marissa. "Marissa, this is Nick, Nick that's my sister Marissa." I introduced them and Nick scooted past me and walked forward to shake her hand.

"Hi Nick, nice to meet you."

"You too… uhm do you think this whole thing could stay between the three of us?" He asked nicely, throwing his charm out there, and Marissa made a face as if she was thinking then turned to go back into the kitchen. I began to follow her but Nick didn't move because he was obviously checking out her ass in those damn booty shorts. So I gave him a little push forward, earning a death glare as he tripped over his own foot. I smiled at him and he followed me into the kitchen.

"Marissa, Dad really doesn't need to know about this," I told her and she rolled her eyes.

"Miles, calm down. If I was gonna tell him you went and did God knows what last night with the neighbor, I wouldn't have covered for you," she said and I let out a sigh of relief. "I was in high school not too long ago, sis. I understand," she said and walked to the stairs. She turned around and smiled at Nick, "Will I be seeing you around here often?"

"Oh my god," I whispered, barely audible and looked at Nick, biting my lip. He looked wary at first and turned to me and then he flashed a charming smile and turned to Marissa.

"I don't doubt it." My insides were screaming and jumping with joy. In that moment I kind of forgot that this was just a game. In three weeks it would've been over.

Q: Do you have a secret/hidden talent?