December 19, 2006
Nick was released the next day, but his Mom wanted him to take it easy at the hotel. He really wanted to go see Miley, but his Mom insisted he stay there. Miley however did come over later in the day and play some guitar with the boys, just kind of messing around and what not.
Kevin had given his dad the business card from Disney and while waiting for Nick to get out of the hospital, Kevin Sr. had called and talked to Eddie. They had a meeting set up for after the new year, when they would be officially dropped from their current label. The boys were ecstatic, and so was Miley. Knowing that they might be part of the same music family was amazing.
Now, the 3 older Jonas brothers, Miley, and Brandi were all going to Six Flag Magic Mountain. It was somewhat of a Disney promotional, but not entirely. Miley did have to make an appearance on the main stage that night, as well as the Jonas Brothers, but for the day, they were totally free. They rode the rides and ate lots of junk food. They were having a great time.
Joe was flirting with Brandi. She was an older woman, you know, and had blonde hair. She pretty much blew him off, though (in a nice way) and hung out more with Kevin. They were closer to the same age and had more in common.
Nick and Miley were basically inseparable all day. They rode all the rides next to each other, and walked next to each other the rest of the time. Brandi had promised her parents that she wouldn't let Miley out of her sight while she was with Nick, but Miley, being the sneaky girl that she is, told Brandi that her and Nick were going to go on The Riddler's Revenge, a ride in which Brandi was afraid of. Joe and Kevin weren't all that interested, either, so they stayed behind while Nick and Miley got on the ride.
Somehow, unbeknownst to Brandi or the 2 older Jonas boys, Miley and Nick managed to not even get on the ride, but instead, snuck off to talk. They found a bench in a somewhat secluded area and sat down. Miley sat with her legs up on the bench, facing Nick. Nick sat normal on the bench, but had an arm up on the back of it and was turned facing Miley.
"I can't believe they haven't found us yet!" Nick said, after they had been sitting there awhile.
"They're probably freaking out!" Miley laughed. There was a bit of an awkward silence for a moment.
"So…" Nick started, not really knowing what to say.
"Why didn't you tell me about your diabetes, Nick?" Miley asked, straightforward.
"Way to be nonchalant!" he retorted back, and then looked over to his one hand that was clutching the back of the bench. He stared at it for a moment, and then looked back to Miley. She was waiting for an answer. "I don't go around advertising this, Miley," he said as he untucked his medical tag from the inside of his shirt.
"But Nick, it's me," she pleaded.
"I know. Miley, I wanted to tell you, I just couldn't. I didn't want you to think I was weak or something, like you needed to take care of me," he told her. He hated talking about his diabetes. It was still fairly new to him and he was a bit embarrassed.
"But Nick," she pleaded again, "lots of people have diabetes. Do you know how many people you could reach with this?"
"But what if people don't look at me the same. I don't want people feeling sorry for me. What if it ruins my career?"
"Having diabetes doesn't ruin a career, Nick. Having a mullet might," she laughed and finally got him to smile, "but having diabetes won't."
"I just don't even know how I'd come out with it, you know. It's been a year, it's not like it's something new that we just found out about," he said. "I just don't want any sympathy."
"You don't have to be this strong all the time, Nick," she said, grabbing his hand. "It's okay to let your guard down." Her big blue-green eyes looked at him, glistening with tears. She cared so much about him, in such a short period of time. How was he supposed to handle this? Nick held onto her hand for a moment and looked back at her.
"I know. I just don't know what else to do," he said softly, turning away from her now. She suddenly regretted saying anything. She didn't want to upset him; they had been having so much fun.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. Let's just have fun, today, okay?" Miley asked, hoping he could just forget she had said anything. He looked over at her and he could see how bad she felt.
"Okay," he said, squeezing the hand that he was still holding onto. "Let's go have some fun."
Just as they got up to walk away and go find something else to do, they were stopped.
"Destiny Hope!" Miley heard Brandi yell. Miley and Nick both stopped as they heard Brandi approaching. Miley shut her eyes and squeezed Nick's hand a little tighter still. "Where have the two of you been?" Brandi demanded to know when she finally caught up to them.
"Here," Miley said, with a little attitude.
"Right here?" Brandi asked, crossing her arms, unsure of her sister.
"Yes. We've been sitting on that bench just talking for the last half hour," Miley said, matter-of-factly. Nick just stood there not saying anything. His brothers weren't there, but they would sure give him a hard time later. "Where are the boys? Or did you lose them, too?" Miley said with a 'tone'. Brandi scowled at her.
"No, they are out looking for the two of you!" Brandi yelled again. She didn't usually get angry with Miley, but her parents had warned her about taking Miley and the boys, just because of photographers and things like that. "I'm sorry," she said, finally calming down, "let's just get you over to the stage. You've got to start getting ready."
"Fine," Miley said and started walking. That's when she realized her and Nick were still holding hands. She looked down at their fingers entwined. Nick looked down at them as well, and they both looked up at each other and gave a small smile and took off after Brandi.
They met up with the boys at the stage. People were already gathering around it, and the stage manager had to get Miley, Brandi, and the Jonas Brothers backstage somehow.
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"He said, I've been to the year 3000. Not much has changed but they lived under water. And your great great great grand daughter, is doing fine; doing fine," Joe sang into the microphone and ended the song.
The Jonas Brothers had taken the stage about half an hour ago. The girls were going crazy. Joe loved it. He just ate it all up. Nick and Kevin thought it was cool, but not for the girls, just that they could have that many people like their music.
"Ladies, ladies!" Joe said into the mic. They all screamed. "I know, I know, I love you all, too!" he yelled. "Alright, well I hate to leave you guys because you've been great! But I've got to hand it over to someone who is a pretty cool chick!" The girls started screaming again.
"We're really lucky to have been able to get to know her. She's funny and tough and witty. She's pretty, too," Kevin said, "isn't she Nick?" as he looked over at his brother across the stage. Nick didn't even hesitate, mostly because he was so pumped up with adrenaline.
"She's gorgeous!" Nick yelled into the microphone. The girls all went crazy again. "Yes, it's true! Let's bring her out here!"
The girls all started cheering "Hannah! Hannah! Hannah!"
"Miss Hannah Montana!" Joe yelled. Miley came out in her blonde wig. Nick liked her better as Miley, that's for sure.
"Hey everybody! How we doin' tonight? How'd ya'll like the Jonas Brothers!" she asked and everyone went crazy. Miley laughed, "yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
The Jonas Brothers did their final bow and as they ran off the stage, Nick grabbed Miley's hand for a second as he passed by. She smiled at him and started her portion of the concert.
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The ride back from the park was pretty fun. They were all still pumped up from the concert and the fans and everything. Brandi was driving her SUV with Kevin in the front seat. Miley was in the middle of the back seat, with Nick on one side and Joe on the other.
"So when do you guys move in? Do you know yet?" Miley asked them.
"Moving in? Are you guys moving here?" Brandi asked, shocked.
"Yeah, our parents put an offer down on a house a few days ago," Kevin said to Brandi. Then he turned to Miley, "the second week of January."
"This is going to be so cool! I can help you guys move in!" Miley said.
"So where is the house?" Brandi asked Kevin.
"It's actually right up the street from your house," Joe said before Kevin could get a word out. He was feeling somewhat left out.
"Really?" Brandi asked.
"Into Ricky and Jean's house," Miley said and Brandi raised her eyebrows.
"That's quite a nice place," she said.
"Yeah, it's awesome," Nick said, finally speaking up. "We each finally have our own room."
"That's cool that you guys are moving in so close. I guess ya'll will probably be hanging out a lot, then, huh?" Brandi said as she looked back and Nick and Miley quickly, before turning back to the road. They both blushed. "Good thing Miley's room is on the second floor. We wouldn't want anyone sneaking in, now would we?" Brandi smiled.
"Brandi!" Miley said, embarrassed. Nick just smiled.
"I like you too much to sneak into your house," Nick whispered so no one could hear. She smiled back. Wait, did he just say he liked her? He did!
"What is that supposed to mean?" Miley whispered back. "Do you sneak into girls' rooms that you don't like?"
"No, I mean, I just, I wouldn't want to get caught and not be able to see you," he stuttered out into her ear.
"Oh, I see," she whispered and then pulled back and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Secrets, secrets are no fun, secrets, secrets hurt someone," Joe said, getting annoyed.
"I'm going to hurt you Joe if you don't stop. One night, just be cool, k?" Nick asked. Joe just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms and didn't say another word until they reached the hotel.
"Thanks for the ride Brandi," Joe said, getting out.
"It was fun getting to hang out with someone my age for once. I'm always with my brothers, which isn't bad, but it can get old sometimes," Kevin said to Brandi. Nick and Miley were in the backseat whispering again.
"It's cool. You can come hang out with me and my friends anytime," Brandi said.
"I guess we should pry them away from each other," Kevin said as he looked into the backseat and saw the 2 younger teens cuddling and giggling and whispering, completely unaware that anyone else was even in the car.
"Probably," Brandi said. "Hey Miles?"
"Hmmm?" Miley asked, not turning her attention away from Nick.
"We need to get up to the room, Nick," Kevin said.
"K," Nick said, not really paying attention.
"Guys!" Brandi yelled at them, bringing them out of their trance and into a state of complete embarrassment. They shyly smiled at one another.
"I'll won't see you for awhile. Until after Christmas," he told her. She knew that already, but this was the last time she would see him until he came to move in.
"I know, don't remind me," she said, "I'll miss you."
"I'm going to miss you, too, Miley," Nick said, wrapping her up in a hug.
"Call me?" Miley asked, pulling away slightly.
"Every day," Nick replied.
In the front seat, Brandi and Kevin exchanged numbers and said their goodbyes as well.
"Thanks for going with us today, Brandi," Nick said, getting out of the SUV, followed by Miley.
"No problem, she said.
"See you soon, girly," Kevin said, wrapping Miley up in a hug.
"Not soon enough," Miley said into Kevin's shoulder, looking at Nick. He was standing there with his hands in his pockets, swinging back and forth a little. He didn't want her to have to leave, but he knew she had to.
Miley climbed back into the front seat of the SUV and she closed the door. Rolling the window down, both sisters waved to the brothers as they turned around before they walked back into the hotel.
"You're crazy about him, aren't you?" Brandi asked Miley as they pulled away.
"You have no idea!" Miley giggled.
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December 20, 2006
"Ahhh!" Nick screamed at his computer screen. He was so frustrated and he couldn't take looking at the screen anymore. They were back in Jersey until January.
"What's up?" Kevin asked, walking into Nick's room after hearing his brother cry out in despair.
"I can't find anything to get Miley for Christmas. We decided that we would send each other a gift in the mail, and then open them on Christmas day on our webcams, since we won't see each other until after Christmas. But that's never going to happen if I can't find something for her," Nick said, all in one breath.
"You just need to calm down. What have you been looking at?" Kevin asked, sitting down on Nick's bed.
"Anything and everything. I think jewelry is too personal, and too couple-ish," Nick told his older brother.
"You aren't a couple?" Kevin asked.
"No!" Nick said, turning back to the computer screen.
"Could have fooled me," Kevin laughed. Nick shot him a glare.
"Not funny, Kev. I need help," he begged.
"Fine. How much do you want to spend?"
"I really don't have a limit. I mean, I'm not buying her a car or anything," Nick said.
"Okay, what about just writing a song for her?" Kevin suggested.
"I kind of already did, I'm working on it. But I was to get her something to open, too," Nick explained.
"You think of everything," Kevin joked.
"Except a gift for Miley! Help me!" Nick pleaded.
"Fine. Get up. Let me see what I can find," Kevin said and practically pushed Nick off the chair.
After about another hour of looking, they finally found the perfect gift. Nick got out his credit card, typed in the number, and had it shipped overnight to Miley's house, just to make sure she'd get it in time. Little did he know that she was having the same problem 3000 miles away.
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"Braison! I'm not getting Nick a piano! I don't have that kind of money. And he already has one!" Miley told her younger brother, who was helping her pick out a gift for Nick, along with her older brother Trace.
"Write him a song," Trace suggested. "I've heard some of them you wrote about him, they're pretty good, Miles."
"And how did you hear them? And they are not about Nick!" she defended. Trace just sighed and looked at his little sister.
"Look, it's not like I'm excited that my sister likes a guy this much, but ever since you met him, all you've been writing is love songs. It's pretty obvious," Trace said. Braison agreed with a nod.
"Whatever. Come on, I need to get him something!" she said, turning back to her computer. She was pretty desperate by now. Christmas was only 5 days away!
"What about a skateboard?" Braison suggested.
"You could get it personalized," Trace told her.
"That would be a great idea, except I wouldn't be able to get it done and to him in 5 days," she said and sighed as she went back to looking for something. Just then, she came across the perfect gift for Nick. Braison and Trace agreed and she grabbed her purse and got out her credit card. He was going to love it!
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Thank you guys so much for the reviews…as always. Let me know which parts you like. I'm sorry this isn't very long…I'm having a rough time in school right now, so I don't have a whole lot of time to be writing. I think I know what Miley and Nick are exchanging, but if you guys have any ideas, please let me know! Also, there is NOTHING going on between Kevin and Brandi…they are just about the same age and have a lot in common. Thanks again!