February 2, 2007
The past week, well, basically since Nick and his family had moved in, Miley and Nick were inseparable. They were literally together at least 75 of their waking hours, either at her house or his.
"Good morning, beautiful," Nick said into the phone. Miley was still in bed and had put her phone on speaker.
"Urgh muferd," Miley groaned.
"Come on, get up. I have a surprise for you!" Nick said, excitedly. She never understood how he was such a morning person.
"Nick, it's like," Miley said and paused as she opened her eyes and looked at her clock, "it's 8 in the morning! Let me sleep!"
"Not a chance. Come let me in," Nick said.
"What?" Miley asked, thinking she hadn't heard him right.
"Come let me in. I'm walking to your house," he told her.
"Fine," she said and trudged out of bed. She walked down the stairs and into the living room.
"Good morning," Trace said.
"Morning," Miley deadpanned. "Where are Mom and Dad?" she asked him. They were usually up by now.
"They went out for something, not sure what, though. You look nice," Trace laughed at her. It was then that Miley realized she probably looked like crap.
"Oh no!" Miley said and ran into the bathroom. Her hair was everywhere and she had on sweatpants and an old t-shirt of her dad's. "Trace! Let Nick in when he gets here! I have some work to do!" Miley yelled at her older brother. He walked over to the bathroom door.
"He's coming here? Now?" Trace asked. Miley nodded. "Why?"
"Because he wants to see me. But not like this!" Miley said, trying to tame her hair.
"If he wants to see you at 8 in the morning, I'm sure he'll see you any way that you are, Miles," Trace told her. He was really protective, but he liked Nick so far. He hadn't done anything to upset Miley, yet.
"Trace!" Miley whined to him. "Please?" she pouted her bottom lip out at him.
"Nope! Walking away!" Trace chuckled as he left the doorway and went into the living room.
Ding dong!
"Oh my God! Trace please!" Miley yelled at him.
"Can't hear you!" Trace called back as he covered his ears, even though Miley couldn't see him.
"Ugh!" Miley screamed at him as she walked past him and to the door as she put her hair up in a ponytail. She opened the door and saw Nick standing there with a small bouquet of flowers. They were a yellow and white mix of roses, orchids, and pansies.
"Good morning, again," Nick said and held out the flowers for her to take.
"Good morning. What are these for?" Miley asked, taking them from him, giving him a quick hug, and closing the door as Nick walked inside. Trace looked like he was going to puke. This kid was too nice.
"It's Groundhog Day, Miley," Nick said, as if she should have known that. They walked into the kitchen and Miley grabbed a vase and filled it up with water.
"Okay?" she said, confused.
"I thought it was a good excuse to get you flowers," he replied.
"Well thank you very much," she said and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"I'll have to get you flowers more often!" Nick said.
"Or just let me kiss you more often," Miley told him and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
"I think I could do that," Nick said and kissed her this time.
"Eh-hem!" Trace said as he 'cleared his throat' and walked past the kitchen. Nick jumped off of Miley and he turned about 50 shades of red. Miley laughed at him.
"Let's go upstairs!" Miley said and grabbed his hand.
"Are you sure that's okay?" Nick asked.
"My parents aren't home," Miley told him.
"Miley, I don't want us to get into trouble," Nick said to her. He was always the mind of reason.
"Fine. We'll go hang out in my living room. That way, we have a little privacy!" she yelled the last part a little louder so Trace could hear her from where he was in the living room.
"You don't need any privacy," Trace said as he saw Miley and Nick walk out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.
"Trace," Miley warned. "I mean it."
"So do I," he said as he looked back at Miley, and then at Nick. Nick didn't say anything.
"Come on," Miley said as she grabbed Nick's hand and rushed up the stairs. They reached her room and she went inside.
"Miley, I thought," Nick started to say as she let go of his hand.
"I'm just getting my blanket!" she said, grabbed it, and started to walk out. "Here," she said and handed him the cover.
"What?" Nick asked, taking it from her.
"I need to brush my teeth! They're gross!" she laughed. He laughed back and he waited outside her room while she went into the bathroom. She came back out and they walked back down the stairs on the other side of the hallway down to her living room. Nick sat down on the couch and Miley grabbed the remote. She sat down next to him and bundled herself up in her covers and leaned into him. She turned on the TV and started surfing the channels.
"You warm enough in there," Nick joked with her as he tugged at the cover a little.
"Yup," Miley said and continued to look for something to watch. Then she stopped. "Did you want to come in here with me?" she smiled at him.
"If you don't mind," Nick said and kissed her cheek as she opened up the blanket to let him in. They settled on Steel Magnolia's, one of Miley's favorite movies. Nick wasn't as thrilled about it as she was, but he didn't completely hate sitting with his girlfriend under the warm covers for 2 hours.
"So, was it better than the last 100 times you've watched it?" Nick asked Miley when the movie was over. He didn't get a response and when he looked down at her sleeping in his lap, he couldn't help but smile. He wanted to wake her up, but he knew he had woken her up once already this morning, so he let her sleep for awhile. He turned on Fuse quietly and watched that for awhile.
Nick felt Miley stir a little and turned down the volume, but she was already awake. She opened her eyes and looked around, a little confused, and then looked up at Nick and smiled, remembering that he had come over to see her.
"Good morning, again!" Nick said as he helped her sit up.
"Why'd you let me fall asleep?" Miley asked.
"I didn't know you had until the movie was over!" Nick said. Miley started laughing. "What?" he asked her.
"You watched almost a whole hour of that movie when you didn't even have to!" she said.
"It was good," Nick somewhat lied to her.
"Whatever," she said and looked down at what she was wearing. "I need to go change."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I'm still in my PJs!" she told him, as if he should have known.
"And?"
"And it's weird to be in PJs all day!"
"I like it," Nick said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her towards him.
"I'm sure you do," she said.
"I didn't mean it like that, Miley," he told her, blushing a little.
"I know you didn't. I'm just messing with you!" Miley said and patted him on the shoulder. "So what are we doing today?"
"Why?" Nick asked. He was full of those today.
"Because I want to know what to wear!" Miley told him.
"Well, I figured we could go down to the beach if you wanted to," Nick said. Miley nodded her head in agreement. "Okay, then that's what we'll do. We'll figure the rest out later."
"Awesome. I'll be back in like 10 minutes," she said. Nick just looked at her. "Okay, fine, like 15!" They both laughed as she walked out of the room.
A little while later, Miley came out and was dressed in dark jeans, a white lightweight sweater, and a light blue jacket. She had white flip flops on, because even though it was February, they would take their shoes off once they got to the beach anyway. She had a little bit of makeup on, but not nearly as much as she usually did, and her big sunglasses were on top of her head and she had a white hat in her hand. She plopped down on the couch next to him and put her head on his shoulder.
"You still tired?" he asked her.
"Nope, just wanted to be next to you," she said and curled up into him.
"You look cute," he told her.
"Well thank you, Mr. Jonas. You don't look so bad yourself!" she said and traced a white curvy that went across his green shirt with her finger. "So, how are we getting there?" she asked him. He hadn't thought about that. They couldn't just walk anywhere they wanted to, especially in LA.
"Umm, well, we could ask Kevin?" Nick said, suggesting to Miley that he really didn't know.
"Great. I get all dressed up and have no where to go!" she over-exaggerated to Nick.
"I'll call him, hang on," Nick said and pulled out his phone. It rang a few times and Kevin picked up. Even though Nick had the phone to his ear, Miley could still hear Kevin, because he tended to talk loudly when he was on the phone.
"Hey bro, what's up?" Kevin said.
"Not much. Hey! I'm at Miley's. Do you think you could come pick us up and take us to the beach?" Nick asked his brother.
"Dude, you need to get a car!" Kevin whined into the phone.
"Getting a car wouldn't fix that I'm 14, Kev," Nick told him, chuckling to himself, and Miley laughed as well.
"Fine. I'll come pick you and your girlfriend up," Kevin teased.
"Shut up!" Nick said into the phone. He blushed, but tried to hide it from Miley.
"I'll be there in a few," Kevin said.
"See ya," Nick said and hung up the phone before he could hear a goodbye from Kevin.
"Why'd you get embarrassed when Kevin told you that he'd come pick you and your girlfriend up? Are you embarrassed of me, Nick?" Miley asked him, getting a little upset.
"No, not at all. I just haven't really told them that we are official yet," Nick said, starting to get nervous. He knew Miley was about to blow.
"Why not?!" she demanded to know as she stood up and looked at him. He looked so helpless on the couch with her towering over him, staring him down.
"I just haven't yet. I don't want to ruin this!" Nick said, trying to defend himself by standing up also.
"Ruin this? You think that telling people will ruin this? Nick, what's going on?" Miley asked him, putting her hands on her hips.
"If you want me to tell everyone, fine! I will!" Nick yelled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I just figured we could use some privacy!"
"Privacy? Nick! I'm not talking about calling up People magazine and wanting to do a spread about us. I'm talking about your family!" Miley said, not understanding.
"I told my mom," Nick said, trying to make Miley feel a little better. It didn't really work.
"Well la-de-freaking-da!" Miley said and flung her hands up in the air. "I told my whole family about you! I even called my Mamaw!" Miley said, getting really upset now. Her eyes were starting to glisten over and her face was starting to get blotchy.
"Miley! I just wanted to have it be us for awhile," he said, taking her in his arms. He had never yelled at her before like that. She had never yelled at him like that either. He held onto her, even though she wasn't holding him back. She kept her arms crossed and didn't lean into him. "Miley, please. I just wanted us to do our thing for awhile."
Miley eased up and leaned into him, but didn't grab a hold of him. He held her tighter and whispered in her ear.
"Miley, you're probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. Don't be mad at me, please?" he pleaded in a whisper with her. She smiled into his chest and uncrossed her arms and wrapped them around his back.
"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I'm just so excited about us and I wanted everyone to know."
"I understand. I just think we should try to keep it quiet for awhile," Nick said and kissed her quickly.
"Alright," she said and smiled at him. "So if people ask, we're just friends?"
"Yeah, just friends," Nick said, even though it pained him to say that to her.
"But we're more than just friends, aren't we?" Miley said with an evil grin.
"Oh yes we are!" Nick said and pulled her into another kiss, this time, a little longer.
"Mmmm," she said after she pulled away. "Thank goodness!"
"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her to the stairs. "Kevin will be here any minute!"
They went upstairs and saw Brandi in the kitchen with Noah and Braison.
"Hey guys! What's up?" Miley asked as they walked in.
"Not much. Just making lunch for the munchkins!" Brandi said.
"Hey!" Braison defended. He was, after all, 13. Brandi ignored him.
"What are you guys up to?" Brandi asked Miley and Nick.
"We're heading out to the beach," Miley told Brandi. Nick, even though he knew Brandi liked him, was still nervous around her family and didn't tend to say much.
"Cool, do I need to take you?" Brandi asked.
"No, Kev's coming to get us," Nick said, finally!
"Oh, alright. Well have fun!" Brandi said.
"We will!" Miley said as her and Nick went to exit the kitchen. They heard a car horn and assumed that it was Kevin. "You go ahead. I'll be there in a minute!" Nick nodded and walked out the door. Miley walked back into the kitchen and looked at Brandi. She looked a little pale and her eyes were bloodshot. She was either really tired or had been crying. Neither of those options sounded good to Miley, though.
"Did you forget something?" Brandi asked when she saw Miley enter the kitchen again.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Miley asked. She didn't wait for a response and drug Brandi into the living room.
"What's going on?" Brandi asked, hoping that Miley wouldn't ask what Brandi was thinking she would.
"Have you told Mom yet?" Miley asked her older sister.
"No," Brandi said, looking down at the ground.
"Brandi!" Miley said. "Does Trace even know?"
"No," Brandi said again.
"You need to tell someone!" Miley exclaimed.
"I will! Just give me some time!" Brandi yelled at her sister.
"Has he called again?" Miley asked, softer this time, knowing her sister was getting upset.
"Yeah. He called last night. Miley, I don't know what to do!" Brandi said, tears forming in her eyes. Miley hugged her.
"Everything's going to be fine," Miley told her sister, reassuringly. "Do you want me to stay with you?"
"No, you go. Nick's waiting for you. I'll be here when you get home."
"Okay, but call me if you need anything. I mean it," Miley told her sister sternly.
"I will. Love you," Brandi said as she watched her sister walk towards the door.
"Love you, too!" Miley said as she turned around. "See ya Brais! By Noah!" Miley yelled. She heard them tell her goodbye and before Miley turned back around to the door, she looked at Brandi one more time and mouthed to her "Tell Trace."
Miley walked out and opened the back door of Kevin's car where Nick was waiting for her.
"Way to take long enough!" Kevin joked to her once she was in the car.
"I was talking to Brandi," Miley told him and gave him a knowing look.
"How is she?" Kevin asked as he put the car in reverse and backed down the driveway. He was truly concerned about his new friend.
"She's okay," Miley lied. Kevin knew and shot her a look. "Fine, she's terrible. She looks like she hasn't slept in days."
"What's wrong?" Nick asked. Kevin and Miley ignored him.
"That bad, huh?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah. He called again last night," Miley told Kevin.
"Who called?" Nick asked. Still, the other 2 ignored him.
"That son of a--" Kevin started to say but stopped himself. His grip on the steering where tightened.
"She'll be okay. I think she's finally going to tell Trace," Miley explained.
"That will be good for her," Kevin said, knowing that Brandi's brother could be there for her better than anyone.
"What's going on?" Nick asked louder. Miley and Kevin looked at each other.
"I think we could tell him?" Miley said in almost of question.
"I guess it would be okay?" Kevin said in the same form.
"Tell me what! What's going on with Brandi!" Nick asked louder still.
"Promise you won't tell anyone. I mean it!" Miley said and stuck out her pinky finger. He latched his pinky onto hers.
"Pinky promise," he said and leaned down and kissed her hand as she did the same to seal the deal.
"Brandi's dad has been calling her," Miley told him.
"Why would your dad calling her upset her?" Nick asked, confused.
"My dad isn't her dad. My mom had Trace and Brandi with another guy, and then met my dad," Miley explained to Nick.
"Billy Ray adopted Trace and Brandi shortly after him and Tish got married. Tish's ex wasn't in the picture at all and Miley's dad stepped up as dad for the other two," Kevin told his younger brother.
"That's why Brandi and Trace call my dad, 'Dad'," Miley said.
"Why is he calling her?" Nick asked.
"It's complicated," Kevin said and looked at Miley.
"When my mom and dad got married, David, their dad, got really mad at my mom. She was the one that left him, but he was the one that stayed away from his kids. David threatened my dad a few times, but it went away after time," Miley explained.
"So what does he want now?" Nick asked, looking at his brother and then at Miley.
"He pretty much just wants to upset her for taking my dad's last name. He knows that she's emotional and somehow he got her phone number. He wants her to come live with him. She really did love her dad when she was little and that's what makes this so hard for her. She feels like she should have gotten to know him," Miley said.
"She needs to tell your parents," Nick said to Miley.
"Duh!" Kevin and Miley both said.
"She's just scared to. She doesn't like bringing him up to Dad because she feels like he gets upset. He doesn't get upset with her at all, but instead with David and how he treated my mom and her kids," Miley told Nick.
"Wow. That's crazy," Nick said, not really knowing what to say.
"Tell me about it," Kevin said.
"I'm glad she had someone to talk to about it, though. Thank you, Kevin," Miley said, placing a hand on his shoulder from the backseat.
"Anytime, Miley," Kevin replied. After about half an hour of small talk after all that, they arrived at the beach.
"Thanks for the ride, Kev," Nick said as he pulled out a blanket from the backseat that Kevin always kept in there since they had moved to California for such occasions as this. Miley thanked him as well. The two put their sunglasses on and adjusted their hats.
"No problem. Call me when you're ready to come home," Kevin said as he put the car into gear. They watched him drive off and they walked down the wooden boardwalk and down the stairs to the beach.
It was cool outside still, since it was February. It was about 60 degrees, but it wasn't windy, so it was good. The beach was pretty empty though, thankfully. They picked an area where no one really was, but that was somewhat close to the water and Miley helped Nick lay out the blanket.
Nick sat down and spread his legs and patted the blanket in the now empty spot, wanting her to sit with him. She sat down where he had motioned to and leaned back against him. He put his arms around her, right under her arms and held onto her. She put her hands on top of his and they just sat there for awhile.
"I love California," Nick said. They were both silent for a moment longer.
"I love it here, too," Miley finally said. "But I miss Tennessee sometimes."
"Really?" Nick asked.
"Of course! Don't get me wrong, I love it here. I'm doing what I love and having so much fun. But Tennessee is where my heart it," Miley told him.
"I know what you mean. Jersey is really where I belong," Nick said, understanding her completely. "What's Tennessee like?"
"It's amazing. There's so much space and the people there are always nice. We have a farm there, you know," Miley said.
"Yeah, you told me that once," Nick said.
"Oh, well, I absolutely love it there. We have dirt bikes and four wheelers. And my Mamaw keeps my horses for me," Miley explained, closing her eyes and picturing it. After a moment, she spoke again. "I wish I could spend more time there. But I will someday."
"What do you mean?" Nick asked her.
"When I'm older, I'll have a house here in LA, of course, but I want one in Tennessee, too. Next to my house there now. We own a lot of land and my dad's already told us which lots each of us kids gets if we want it," Miley laughed at the thought of all of them being older and living in Tennessee so close to each other.
"That sounds fun," Nick said, picking up on what she was laughing at.
"It would be. I've always wanted the perfect little house. You know, white picket fence, big yard, a golden retriever, and of course roses that I would tend to everyday," Miley sighed at the thought. "I'd be too busy for all that, though."
"Who knows," Nick said and pulled her up closer to him.
"You think my career's going to go under?" Miley asked, jokingly of course.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure you're going to tank really soon!" Nick laughed at her. "I just meant, maybe by then you won't be as busy."
"I sure hope I'm not this busy years from now. I want a family and stuff," she said, snuggling into him.
"Me too. Seems so far off, though doesn't it?" he asked her, looking out into the ocean.
"It sure does, Nick," Miley replied and leaned even more into Nick and closed her eyes and just felt his warmth. She felt him kiss the top of her head and she couldn't help but think that one day, her and Nick would be living in that house in Tennessee, with that golden retriever, the white picket fence, and a few babies of course.
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Wow! I was not planning on this chapter being so long! I wanted to add more to it, but I figured I'd save that for the next chapter. Hope you guys liked it! And I have no idea what Brandi's dad's name is, but I needed some Brandi drama.