A/N: To make up for lost time, I'm writing chapter five! I still can't get over all the lovely reviews I have gotten! Actually this chapter was one of my favorites and Anna is, like, my new favorite character. Just so you know: Jen is kind of a "hippie" like person who settles every argument, Miley is, well Miley, Haley is very adventurous and Anna is a very spunky, feisty, outspoken and occasionally bratty girl who I consider my best work! (I took the name and appearance from Anna-Morgause, but the personality is all mine!) Haley won't be in this story, except for the mention of her name, she might end up with Jake or an OC, but I don't really know. So, this is dedicated to her!
ANNA POV:
Ugh. Nick? He's just really not my type. I prefer Joe. But he's dating Molly—Millie—MILEY! Ugh! Anna, get a grip. You know Nick likes Miley. And Joe likes Miley, but he's been spending more time with this girl named Haley or something. And obviously Kevin likes Jen since they've been dating for practically ever. But, what about my dating life? Hel-LO, Anna exists too! If the "pairings" or whatever end up Nick and Miley, Joe and Haley, and Kevin and Jen WHAT ABOUT ME? First I have to get Miley with Nick. But what about me? NO! Ugh, as I said before, ANNA, GET A GRIP! You—well, I thought I liked Nick but no, you—I kind of used him to get closer to Joe. But Nick's so nice and I can't hurt his feelings! And I was just plain bratty to Mi… MILEY! Gotta' remember that name. I have to a) Get Nick and Miley together and b) get with Joe. Oh please, Haley, fall off a cliff! Now what am I doing right now? Heh, right, I'm kissing Nick. Well more like he's kissing me, considering I'm just standing there like a dead pole. Wait, why is he pulling away? Wait, why am I TALKING TO MYSELF? Ugh, I really think I need a psycho. Wait no, psychiatrist. I think.
"ANNA!" Nick yelled. I'm guessing he's been trying to get my attention for a while now. Oh, well, he'll survive. Gosh, am I really that friendship deprived that I have to talk to myself. Wow, just give me twenty years and I'll be thirty-five, sitting in an old home and knitting by a fireside. Fifty years later I'm eighty-five and my life's pile of mail is sitting on the front porch. Two letters. One, checking if I'm still alive, and the other, is the next door neighbor telling me to stop making so many fires because the smoke is "killing him". Wait! Anna, talk to Nick. Open your mouth and speak.
"A LITTLE SMOKE WON'T KILL YOU BOY!" I screamed loudly. Nick looked at me, confused.
"Oh, um, right, hehe, funny story. But what were you trying to say to me?" I stammered, as my face turned bright red.
"I just wanted to know why you weren't kissing me. You don't like me, do you?" Nick replied.
"No." I stated bluntly, then I gasped and covered my mouth, "well… you don't like me either! You're just using me to get over Miley!"
"Well I'm not stupid, it's not like I can't see those looks that you shoot Joe!" He fired back.
"True, true. So why don't we break them up?" I suggested, a devious smile spreading across my face.
"Anna! THAT'S… actually not a bad idea." Nick agreed, trying to look devious, and guilty at the same time but actually resulted in looking nauseous.
I burst out laughing, clutching my side as I fell to the ground, trying to be graceful but I ended up whamming my head on the nightstand and knocking a truckload of books on the floor.
"Oh my gosh! Is everyone alright?" Miley burst in, wearing a navy shrug over a black tank top and black cut-off jean shorts, and a nervous expression on her face.
It was Nick's turn to burst out laughing. Rolling on the ground, his mouth was open and he gave a real laugh. Miley looked really sad seeing us laugh like that so I sat up.
"Yeah, I just hit my head on the dresser, laughing because Nick made this weird face when I was suggesting my plan. It was half devious and half guilty and I tried to fall down laughing but I hit my noggin instead! We are definitely one crazy couple! So about that plan," Miley looked like she was about to cry so I decided to make her feel better.
"Continue." Miley choked out. I noticed Nick making wild motions with his hands, moving them crazily around his neck (A/N: you know the "cut it out" sign?).
"Nick you have messed up hand gestures! Anyways, the plan was for Nick and I to break you and Joe up! Because I know how much Nick still likes you even though he dated me. He just decided to date me to get over you so he used me! But I technically used him too because I like someone else and the person that I like is dating someone else. So if we break up you and Joe maybe you'll go running back to Nick because he constantly talks about you and he kisses me—well you don't want to know about that but truth is, I like Joe, so breaking you up would equal me possibly dating Joe, you definitely dating Nick, Jen still dating Kevin, and Haley could just fall off of a cliff and die!" I exclaimed in one breath. Ugh, I hate my blabbermouth.
Nick looked like he was about to murder me. If looks could kill I would have died a long time ago. (/AN: I just love the "if looks could kill" phrase!)
A strangled sound escaped Miley's mouth and she looked like she was going to cry.
"I'll just—" I started.
"DON'T MOVE!" Nick and Miley yelled. Hah, they are so alike. Matchmaker Anna; no that doesn't sound very brave. Anyways, Anna to the rescue!
"YEAH! DON'T MOVE!" Joe's voice echoed in the hallway as he bounded into the room and leapt on Nick's bed. Oh my god, he heard that?
"You guys were trying to break up Moe?" he exclaimed, appalled.
"Moe?" I asked, a smile on my face.
"Yeah! My name with Mile's!" Joe said in a "duh" voice.
A choked sob escaped from Miley's throat and she slowly sank to the floor, her eyes wide and misty.
"LEAVE! NOW!" Nick yelled and threw books at my head until I grabbed Joe's hand and ran out of the room.
"Sheesh. He's grumpy." Joe muttered.
"No kidding. And he kisses like a dog!" I complained, wiping my mouth.
"Hey, at least Miley likes it." Joe laughed.
"I bet you don't!" I shot back.
"EW! I would never kiss Nick! I'm not gay?" Joe exclaimed.
"Well you could have fooled me!" I joked.
"Well—well…you're a pigeon-eating-sour-monkey-gorilla-head! HAH! Beat that!" Joe yelled, pumping his fist in the air excitedly.
"What I meant to say before was that I bet you don't like kissing Miley!" I said.
"W-what?" Joe stammered, his eyes going wide.
"I don't think you like Miley! I think that you thought you liked her but you really don't because you're spending all this time with Haley!" I accused, dead serious now.
"Well, I know for a fact that Nick's using you to get over Miley, Miley's using me to get over Nick, I'm using Miley because I like Haley and… someone else, and you're using Nick because you like ME!" Joe finished.
"So Miley obviously knows that "Moe" is no more and neither is… well I actually don't think that there's a name for Nick and I so… I guess that's not happening either. So the couples are: Nick and Miley (Niley), Kevin and Jen (Ken)… wow isn't he some Barbie stud or something? Anyways that leaves you, me and Haley dateless." I said, counting off my fingers.
"Wow… let's go play Monopoly!" Joe exclaimed.
NICK POV: (Back to Nick and Miley)
Miley sat on the ground, crying.
"Why—how could you?" she forced out.
"Miley I—" I started.
"You hit me and you loved me?" Miley asked me forlornly.
"I meant to hit Joe but you threw yourself in between and then you told me you hated me and we couldn't be friends, so I started crying and bumped into Anna."
"So technically I used Joe to get over you, you used Anna to get over me, Anna used you to get closer to Joe, and Joe used me because he likes Haley and Anna and…wow." Miley said, half laughing.
"Nick what really hurt me was that I was so upset I didn't want to be smiley Miley anymore! You broke up with me, and then I became some gothic creep, and then you hit me and Joe dated me and now…now…now I just need someone!" Miley screamed in frustration.
"Miley I didn't like your change! I just, it was all of my fault, okay? It was all of my fault!" I mumbled, feeling a tear slip down my cheek. Miley stood up and I saw she was crying freely now.
MILEY POV:
Nick started to cry. I walked over to where he was lying on his bed and crawled in next to him. I wrapped my arms around his chest and he kept crying. So did I. We just held each other for the next 20 minutes or so, as if the other would disappear.
"I really do love you." Nick whispered.
"Me too. And I never want to let you go so please don't leave me." I begged.
"Fine. Now can I kiss you?" He asked. I smiled and accepted the offer. Finally our lips met and I kissed him with all the passion and love I could muster, almost laughing in ecstasy when he responded. At last everything was as it should be…I think.
"So, what do you say to Pinkberry, Sir Prince Nicholas?" I asked.
"Anything for you, my sweet Sir—excuse me, Ma'am Sir Princess Miley." Nick replied, smiling broadly.
"Then skip we must!" I declared and the two of us started skipping.
"WAIT!!" I shrieked loudly
"Ow." Nick whined, rubbing his ear, "I'm right here and I think you just killed my eardrums."
"STAY HERE!" I yelled, again in Nick's ear.
"Hey! I already said no screaming in the Nick's ear!" Nick yelled back, in mock offense, "Why'd you do it?"
"Because it's fun!" I retorted, grinning.
I went into my room and rummaged through my closet. I smiled and twenty minutes later I walked out into the hallway and lightly punched Nick in the shoulder.
"What was that for?" He asked.
"For making me go Goth! I bought all black clothes! I'm giving them to Lilly!" I shrieked. I was wearing brown Junk Food pants with Live, Love and Life on them; a long sleeved brown and blue layered shirt, and some mascara and lip gloss.
"Okay. Now can we go? The male species cannot be separated from Pinkberry for more than 24 hours and still stay alive!" Nick grunted and fell to his knees, "dying, help!"
"Alright let's move!" I yelled, "You know the longer you stay on your knees the longer it's going to take to get there." Nick shot up, grabbed my hands and dragged me out the door, running five blocks to Pinkberry.
I gasped for breath, holding my side. Nick was sweating, but he was fine. I guess I hadn't been running that much since my daddy's accident.
Nick and I ordered just a plain yogurt with no toppings. After about half an hour we were both finished.
"Let's go to the beach!" Nick suggested.
"Okay." I was upset that Nick and I were still friends, who just happened to kiss as a sign of friendship, but I didn't think he could figure it out. Just as I was about to put the phone to my ear, Nick grabbed it away from me.
"What was that for?" I asked, irritated.
"You're still upset, Miley." Nick replied, calmly.
"So?" I was annoyed that he was getting so smart.
"So, why are you? Come on, I'm trying to be a good friend!" Friend? That was the last straw.
"Because Nick I don't want to be just friends! I'm still in love with you and all you do is play games and I'm sick of it! Goodnight! And goodbye! (A/N: At first I was just going to have it "Because I'm still in love with you!" But I liked the song references! Lol. And for those of you who don't know: it's about nine o' clock PM.)" I cried, feeling tears come down my cheeks as I ran for the door. People had started to stare at me. I was on the street when I saw headlights. I screamed and covered my face with my hands. Suddenly I ended up on the sidewalk. I kept crying and tried to get up but I felt arms around my waist. They were Nick's arms. I sighed inwardly.
"Why do I always end up in this position?" I cursed. But Nick hugged me, and I stood stiff, refused to hug him back and eventually he spoke.
"Miley I love you. I always have! And I want nothing more than for you to be my girlfriend. So, will you?" He asked.
"B-but you always say that. And then you leave me." I whimpered.
"I won't. I promise." He murmured.
"For sure?" I replied skeptically.
"For sure." His gaze never wavered and his voice remained firm and confident. I nodded once.
"I believe you." I whispered.
"Now please stop running into the street!" Nick exclaimed as he pulled me to my feet.
"Well, sorry but I didn't mean to!" I protested.
"Details, details. Let's call the two lovebirds back at the house and invite them to come with us." Nick suggested.
"Oh, and don't forget Lilly and Oliver." I put in.
"Okay. I'll call Joe," Nick started.
"And I'll call Lilly." I finished.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Lilly, it's Miley. Nick and I—"
"Made up,"
"And—"
"Did a whole lot of making out. Yeah, yeah, I know." Lilly's tone was bored.
"Oh well then. I guess if it doesn't matter then I shouldn't invite you to the beach. Did I mention Oliver would be there?" I laughed.
"OMIGOSH, Oliver?" Lilly squealed excitedly, "I—uh—I mean, I don't care whatever. Just count me in, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know." I said, using the same tone lacking amusement that Lilly had used previously in our conversation.
After that I called Oliver and used the same technique about Lilly to get him to go.
"Okay, great. Now all we have to do is go back to the house and get you a bathing suit." Nick sighed.
"Nope, I already have mine on. We always go to the beach after a fight. Remember, Nick?" I asked.
We leisurely strolled to the beach, our hands firmly entwined together. We borrowed some towels from Rico, who warned us that most people would be leaving in the next five to ten minutes.
"Somehow everything's going to' fall, right in to place…" I had changed all my ring tones. Nick's was CrushCrushCrush; Lilly's was Hallelujah; Joe's was Emergency; and everyone else's was Thnks Fr Th Mmrs.
"Hey, Lilly! What's up?" I asked.
"Stomach flu." She moaned, "Ollie's here to help me."
"I'm sorry. The stomach flu really feels like crap." I empathized.
"Bye."
"Lilly's not coming." I announced, " She's got the stomach flu."
"Yikes. I hope she feels better." Nick said.
"DJ DANGA IS HERE!" Joe yelled. I jumped.
"Joe, please don't do that!" I begged.
"Fine." He stomped. "But we found this awesome cliff thing that's about ten feet high and it's such an awesome diving board."
"Great!" Nick and I started running, with Joe closely behind.
ANNA POV:
I slowly started walking towards the small precipice, an increasing feeling of dread growing the pit of my stomach.
Nick and Miley held hands and decided to jump first.
"ONE, TWO, AND THREE!" Joe pushed them off before they were ready.
"JOE!" Miley screamed as she fell into the dark abyss. But she swam skillfully to the sand and climbed back up the rock.
"Joe. I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You." She muttered, through clenched teeth. Right then, shivers wracked her small body and she fell to the ground, coughing and gasping. Nick hurried to get a towel and wrapped it around her. She opened the towel and made a gesture for Nick to come closer. He picked her up, held her, and kissed the top of her head.
"Okay, forget that. I'll kill you later. Anna should go next and then Joe. How does that sound?" Miley suggested. The others readily agreed.
"Okay, Anna, ready?" Joe asked me.
"N-no. I think I'm too cold." I quickly lied.
"Please. Seriously, get ready."
"No, I just seriously can't jump in!" I argued, with more force this time.
"Why not?" Joe asked.
"Uh—because I can't dive." I replied, proud of my answer.
"So, who cares? Just cannonball or something." Joe tried to persuade me.
"Can't do that either." I said, putting on what I hoped was a convincing sad face.
"Pencil jump?"
"Nope."
"Belly flop?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Fine. I'll just push you in." My eyes widened and I frantically tried to respond.
NO POV:
Joe gave a push and Anna let out a bloodcurdling scream as she fell backwards into the murky waters.
"Joe!" She screamed, "I can't swim!"