Chapter Two.
A week later and I was stepping onto the bus I'd be spending the next three months on. My family and I had informed Disney on the matter of cancer, but other than them I had requested no one else knows. I just, didn't want to be treated differently, I guess. I wanted things to be the same.
If Nick and I ended up ruining our friendship with this tour and becoming a couple again, then I wanted it to be because of me, not the cancer. If Nick and I ended up ruining our friendship with this tour and gave up on us, well, he would never do that if he knew. Then, if Nick and I decided to actually stay and maintain our status as best-friends – who am I kidding? That won't be happening. If I was positive about one thing before stepping onto the tour bus, it was that this tour, these next few months, would either make or break Nick and I. Because we couldn't be best-friends when we were together. It was just too hard.
Then, I wanted to see how Demi and I could spend literally every waking second with each other without her pitying me or seeing if I needed anything every four seconds. Would we get sick of each other or just grow stronger? I wouldn't know if I told her, she'd be too protective.
I didn't want this to change anything.
"Miley!" Demi squealed when she saw me get on the bus, coming over to give me a hug.
I smiled, wrapping my arms around her as well. It was me, Demi, and Selena sharing a bus together now that I talked Disney into readjusting the buses. Obviously they couldn't exactly split Demi and I up and I guess it made more sense to have the three girls together, but were they aware of how awkward our bus would be? I mean, I could pretend to like Selena with no problem, I've been doing it the past three years, but Demi? Demi and Selena weren't even civil.
"Demi!"
"I have so much to tell you!" she gushed as I threw my bag on the bunks we had picked out the other night.
"Alright, so you start talking while I pretend to listen."
I felt a pillow hit me in the head within ten seconds.
"I was kidding!" I laughed, sitting at the table.
"Okay, so, I was walking-"
She stopped, turning to the sound of an opening door. I watched as Selena walked in, her hair covering half of her face. She hesitated a little bit but then finished walking in, closing the door behind her. I knew that considering I was in her position because of her three years ago it was okay not feel sorry for her, but even I did. She looked so helpless. She looked so alone. And that was definitely the worst feeling in the world.
"Hey, Selena," I smiled a little at her as she faked a smile back.
I loved how we both knew we weren't really friends. That we secretly didn't like each other from both sides. She stole my boyfriend, I stole her best-friend. Both legitimate reasons to be pissed off. Maybe we'd never move on. By now not liking each other just came natural.
"Hi, Miley."
"Yeah, so, I was walking downtown last night and you will never guess who I saw," Demi began again as I shot her a look to at least acknowledge Selena. I don't know why, though. We both knew she wasn't going to.
I shrugged, thinking for awhile. "My brother."
"You're so funny," she spat out sarcastically.
"You're the one who dated him," I muttered, walking to the fridge and pulling out a water bottle, throwing Demi a Coke in the process.
"Biggest mistake of my life," she shook her head. "Your family really knows how to break hearts."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I crossed my arms getting defensive. I wasn't a heartbreaker. No, maybe Trace was, but I didn't break hearts. I loved people with everything in me and got my heart broken. That's just how it always went.
She chuckled, nodding her head where the other buses were located. "Have you seen Nick?"
"Yeah, I just talked to him last week, actually. And he's doing great," I informed her. "We both are. We're just, best-friends that are gonna have the time of their lives on tour."
"And, how many times did you two actually hang out as best-friends?"
"Does Tybee count?"
She had that glint in her eyes. "Does Tybee count? Do I really need to remind you what happened in Tybee? Of course Tybee doesn't count."
"Then we haven't."
"Oh, yeah, then. No problem being just friends."
I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm.
"Shut up."
"Or what?"
"Hm, maybe we should get started on you and Joe," I suggested, leaning into the table. I'd have fun with this one. "I mean, you two... You can't be friends for the life of you. You're worse than Nick and I."
"No one can be worse than you and Nick," she argued. "Everytime you two see each other you practically undress each other with your eyes."
"You have one wild imagination, don't you?" I got up, walking around to the bunks. I climbed on top of mine as Demi followed, sitting next to me on the bed.
I smirked. "I think you sleep on the bottom."
"Really? I thought we just had to share a bed all tour," Her annoying sense of sarcasm came back out.
"How do they expect me to put up with you for three months?" I complained, rolling my eyes as Demi grinned, getting in my face.
"We all know you love me."
"Keep dreaming."
"If you insist." She laid down on my pillow, grabbing it all and taking all of the blankets. The blankets and pillow to my bunk.
I groaned, watching the obnoxious smirk on my best-friends face just get bigger. This was gonna be a long tour.
:::
"C'mon, Miley. It doesn't matter how long it takes you to take a shower, you're still gonna need to see them today," Demi yelled from outside the one bathroom we had on the bus. "Then, after you see them today, you get to see them the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and the day after-"
I opened the door, taking my stuff with me to my bunk. "Shut up."
"The princess is finally done!" she threw her arms up.
If only she knew why I was in there so long. I bet she wouldn't be so damn impatient then.
"You are the biggest pain in my ass," I muttered.
"Back atchya. Now let's go. We're gonna be late," she pulled my arm impatiently, trying to drag me out the door.
"Hold on, Demi, Jesus," I fought out of her grip, going over to Selena's bunk. Surprise, surprise, I wasn't the only one hiding out. "We're leaving now if you wanna come."
Her eyes twitched to look over at Demi before she let out a shrug. "I'll catch up."
I gave Demi, who was wearing a thin glare, a pointed look, walking outside with her and into the venue. I bit my lip before letting what I was thinking out.
"I don't like her either, but it doesn't mean you need to be such a bitch."
"Right, but you don't like her for some stupid reason that happened a year ago-"
"Oh, yeah, because your reason is so much better," I spat.
She crossed her arms. "At least my reason is because she insulted me. Not because-"
"Miley! Dems!"
I rolled my eyes as we both began speed-walking to Joe in a race to tell him our side of the story. He let out a sigh as we came over. Our arguments definitely weren't a secret. And they weren't exactly fun to listen to either. But, that was part of the deal. We've never agreed before, and we probably wouldn't in the future, but that was Demi and I for you. And I wouldn't change it for anything.
"What's the fight about this time?" He groaned.
"She called me a bitch," Demi told him as he raised his eyebrows at me.
No. This was not my fault. I was the one being nice to fucking Selena out of all people. I would not get the blame when I was actually doing the right thing.
"Because she was being a bitch!"
"She was a bitch to me first," Demi turned, yelling at me.
"So, what? Don't get me wrong, I don't like her either but at least I don't shoot her a glare every five seconds. Or give her a look that my ass is better than her!"
"Well, you should be more understanding! She went out with your ex three fucking years ago and you guys weren't even friends! Get over it!"
"You're telling me to get over it?" I asked, raising my voice. "Really? She's your best-friend-"
"Don't even go there!"
"Where? The truth?" I spat out.
Joe sighed, stepping in between us. He wasn't even surprised at our fights anymore, they were so frequent.
"Guys, stop."
"She's-"
"Demi," he turned to her, putting one hand on each of her cheeks. "Stop it. Both of you."
"Hey, guys," Nick walked up innocently, giving us both a small smile before meeting eyes with me. He shyly showed his teeth. "Hey, Miley."
"Hey," I nodded as he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me, making me feel as if nothing was wrong. Like I didn't have cancer, like this wouldn't be the longest tour in my life, like we never broke up. He let me pretend for a few seconds.
"Undressing each other," Demi mouthed to me.
I laughed, shooting her a playful glare.
"Trace," I mouthed back.
"Ew!" she exclaimed.
I giggled as Joe closed his eyes, shaking his head. Our fights never did last. They were probably the worst fights I've ever had with anyone before, but they always ended within minutes. We'd never had a fight last more than a day before. We were both just so honest that sometimes we went a little overboard. Luckily we understood eachother enough to move on. More than most people could do.
"And you two are gonna be sharing a bus," Joe muttered, walking away.
Nick looked at us confused, making eye contact with me again and asking what Joe was talking about. I shook my head annoyed, rolling my eyes as well as he nodded, completely understanding.
"Hi, yeah, can you guys maybe talk out loud while I'm still here?" Demi smiled at me obnoxiously.
"We were just discussing how me and you were fighting."
Demi nodded. "But we're over it now so it's all good," she wrapped her arms around my neck in a hug laughing.
"Hey, Sel," Nick smiled at her as she walked in and I had to resist rolling my eyes. Did he really have to be friends with all of his exes? Seriously?
I looked at Demi who was giving me a pointed look that had I Told You So written all over it. I made a face at her as Selena walked over us. I inched towards Demi as she stifled a laugh and Nick gave me a warning look. He gave me a warning look. Demi was the one who was making it obvious, but of course it's me he glares at. I scoffed. Well, then.
"What's up?" he asked her.
He didn't ask me that. Then again, precious Selena didn't get a hug. I think I won this game.
"Same old. You?"
"Same, just hanging around with Miley and Demi. I'm excited. I have a good feeling about this tour."
"Oh, me too," I muttered sarcastically.
Nick's head snapped over to me and I simply put my arms up in apology. I just couldn't hold that comment back and by saying that he practically forced me to say something witty. Demi was out of control with her giggling now and I smiled, pulling her away.
"I never wanna hear you yell at me for being rude to Selena again," she let out between laughs. "That was priceless. You were burning a hole through her head with that glare. Jeez, calm down the jealousy. Best-friends this tour, remember?"
"If I wasn't jealous what would you have to laugh at?" I sneered.
"Selena flirting with Nick." She motioned behind me to where we were standing before as I snapped my head back to look at them.
I wrinkled my eyebrows. That was hardly flirting. She was like, five feet away from him. Literally. If anything they looked more awkward than Nick and I did I personally thought that was impossible.
"Told you you were jealous."
I crossed my arms. "I never denied it."
She shook her head, a small grin playing her lips. "You're a wreck."
"Hey," I stated, imitating the way Joe put his hands on her cheeks. "I could say the same about you and Joe."
She laughed, pulling away from me before turning serious again, motioning behind me.
"You're gonna get yourself in trouble with that mouth of yours," Nick spoke up before I could turn around.
When I did turn around, my mouth had an obvious smirk displayed. I could feel it. "Old habits die hard. Too late to fix it now."
"Optimistic as always," he stated as I let out a cheeky smile. And I was worried it would be awkward. This was Nick, the only person I could always be myself around besides Demi. Of course it wouldn't be awkward.
Suddenly I clutched my stomach, groaning in pain before realizing what I was doing. Demi and Nick were both holding one shoulder, bending down to me.
"Are you okay?"
"Mi, you alright? Mi?"
"Guys, I'm fine," I stood up, my stomach still hurting but pretending it was all okay. I knew I'd have a high fever by tonight. Then again, I'd rather just have a million fevers than start chemotherapy next week.
"You sure?" Nick asked unsurely.
"Yeah, it's just menstrual cramps. It's all good."
Demi looked at me through worried eyes, and I knew she'd be the first to know. She was just too suspecting already. "You've been having these random menstrual cramps for the past two months, Miley. Maybe you should get it checked out."
"I'm fi-"
"Miley," Nick gave me one of his pointed looks.
"Nicholas," I hissed out his full name for the first time in years.
He put his hands up walking back over Selena as I sighed in disappointment, facing Demi.
"You know he's right, right?"
I nodded, crossing my arms. "I already did get it checked. They said nothing was wrong," I forced a smile.
She shrugged, pulling me back over to Joe. Sometimes, I wish she'd call my lie. Just to make me tell the truth.
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