Chapter Twenty

"Get ready!" Demi came onto the bus, a huge smile on her face.

"What?" I looked at her, confused. We'd just came from performing and the bus was leaving soon. What was there to get ready for? "Just do it. And look nice."

So Nick was up to something.

"He knows I hate surprises," I grumbled, going for the shower. "Find me a dress while I go rid myself of this stage sweat. Then, while you're on the phone with Nick saying I'm getting ready, make sure he knows how much I hate surprises, 'kay? Remind him. A lot."

"Alright, diva, I will," she laughed, pushing me closer to the shower.

I went into the bathroom, taking off the wig and quickly washing my body. I wonder where he planned to go. Did he plan anything or was this a quick meet up? No, I had to get dressed up, this wasn't spur of the moment. Or it better not be, at least.

"Hurry up!" Demi yelled as the bus started moving. Now I was really confused. I thought I was going on a date...

I got out, drying off, putting on the wig, and wrapping a towel around me as I opened the door. "What dress am I wearing?"

"This one," she held it up, smiling.

I tilted my head to the side. "I know I have a lot of clothes, but I really don't remember that one."

"Nick requested you wore it. He told you to consider it a gift."

I rose my eyebrows. "Wow. He's going all out, huh?"

"Well, he does love you."

"I'll try it on," I took it in, putting it on and opened the door again. "Can you zip it?"

Demi nodded, coming in and going to the back. "Miley, you look amazing."

The dress was purple and went mid-thigh. It was strapless with a small décor that gave a silver to contrast it. I looked at myself in the mirror. I saw a sick girl that needed a lot of make-up.

"Nick said to let you spend ten minutes max on make-up," Demi informed me.

"You aren't really going to listen, are you?"

"He had a feeling you'd try to convince me out of it so he's giving me money if I do."

I rolled my eyes. "Nice to know you can be bought."

"Hey, you only get five minutes for your hair."

"This has to be a joke," I laughed. "I'm gonna look like shit!"

"Miley, calm down. You're going to look gorgeous no matter what. But hurry up!"

I rushed, putting on foundation before some blush, bronzer, and eye make-up. It didn't look half bad for ten minutes worth. As for my hair I just made it into a simple side braid. If I said so myself, I cleaned up nice compared to how I appeared a few moments ago.

"Ready?"

"Well I don't get more time, so…"

"Here's your phone," she handed it over. "Hey, have fun tonight, okay?"

I smiled, nodding. I wouldn't lie, I was really excited.

"When the bus stops, we'll be at an airport, okay? You're going to walk to nearest plane and get on."

"Where am I going?"

"I can't tell you that."

"What will we be doing?"

"It's a surprise," she shrugged, walking away. "But trust me, you're gonna have a blast."

"I better, he knows how much I don't like surprises like this."

"You are the worst girlfriend ever," Demi laughed. "Just be laid back for once and cut him some slack, okay?"

"That's a joke. It'd make his life too easy," I smirked as the bus turned and Demi looked out the window. "He really loves me, doesn't he?"

"More than anything in the world," she confirmed. "He always has."

"We were just two kids," I started with my southern twang, trying my best to imitate Rachel McAdams, "but we really loved each other didn't we?"

"Miley, you know that you really did. And you still do."

I smiled a bit, messing with the hem of my dress. It was a nice dress, I wish there was a pricetag so I could pay him back for it. God knows what else we're doing tonight that Nick spent money on. He spoiled me and I knew it.

"Okay, here. Go out! Have fun, you're telling me everything when you get back so don't do anything you'd want to keep a secret!"

I rolled my eyes, walking out of the bus and just standing there for awhile before heading to what I knew must be his plane.

"Hello, Beautiful," he smiled at me as soon as I got there. "How's it goin?"

I shrugged a little. "Hear it's wonderful in California."

"I've been missing you, but it's okay, 'cause tonight we're gonna fly… Literally."

I laughed, going in and giving him a huge hug. "I don't know what you're doing, but it obviously took effort, so thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. You're gonna have a long night," he grinned. "Hope you aren't tired."

"I'm never tired. You're the wimp."

"I'm not tired either," he walked us past the pilot to our section of the plane. He sat us both down before covering us with a blanket.

"Thank you for the dress," I smiled. "I love it."

"I love it too. You look really good in purple," he complimented. "But there's one thing I don't like…"

I cocked my head to the side. "What?"

He wasn't supposed to insult me on a date.

He stroked my fake hair, staring at it before shifting his eyes to meet mine. "Take it off."

"The wig?" I choked. "Nick, no."

"Please, I want this date to be perfect."

"Me too," I fought. "Nick…"

"Please," he begged again. "Why don't you trust me?"

"I do, but I hate how I look without it. I'm hideous!"

He smirked. "Beg to differ, beautiful."

"You have to say that."

"I'd never date an ugly girl, so…"

"Nicholas," I warned. "You're acting famous again."

"Miley," he mimicked me. "I am famous."

"That doesn't-"

"Hey! You're changing the subject," he chuckled, lightly tugging a strand. "Please."

"You're really going to make me do this?"

"Why do you find it so intimidating?"

"Easy for you to say, it's not your hair," I grumbled.

He shook his head. "Miley Ray, you know that you have nothing to be scared about with me. Now let's go, this fight is getting old."

I stared out the window, thinking about it in silence. He let me. Maybe he knew I was going to give in. We sat there for maybe ten minutes before I found myself sliding the wig off.

He subtly leaned down and pulled me closer to him. "You're just as gorgeous as you were ten minutes ago. Maybe even more."

I cuddled next to him, wrapping my arms around his torso. "You have to say it."

"Wouldn't date an ugly girl."

"Ass."

He laughed a little before looking at me and I looked at him. "Do you know how lucky I am to have you?"

I nodded. "Bald. Sick. D-"

"Beautiful," he corrected. "Stunning. Courageous."

"Nick, you don't see it, but you're wrong."

"No, you are," he smiled cheekily.

"Let's change subjects, okay?"

He nodded, but both of us were content on a comfortable silence for awhile. It was pleasing to hear, because it was silence with him. It was ten minutes until either of us spoke again.

"I've been wondering something for awhile," he started. I shifted so I was looking at him, his face drawn about with lines of utter confusion. "Back in Tybee, when you could've called anyone, you called me, and I guess I never understood out of all the people… Why'd you pick me?"

"You know I figured you'd asked that one day, and I have an easy answer ready for you," I smiled, looking directly at him. "Because you're the only one who always knows what to say to make me feel better."

"Why else?"

I hadn't been expecting a challenge. "What?"

"I don't want a prepared answer, I want to know other reasons."

"Because I knew you'd come."

"And?"

"I needed you."

"And?"

"Because you're the only one who I knew would always pick up. Every time."

"Even on stage," he finished what he'd told me so many times when he was worried. "Miley…"

I knew he had no rhyme or reason for saying it. He just liked saying it. I hummed. "Nick…"

"Are we ever going to talk about Tybee?"

I looked up at him, the light from the plane illuminating his face. "We both know what happened."

"It was wrong."

"But it was amazing," I reminded him. "There's no point in talking about it."

"Yeah, you're right," he shrugged me off. "Did Demi tell you what we're doing tonight?"

"Was she supposed to?"

"Did she?"

"No."

He smirked. "Good. Because I need you to be completely surprised. Now, why don't you get some sleep?"

"Why don't you?" I challenged.

He stared at me, smiling a little. "How can I sleep when someone as beautiful as you is sitting right next to me?"

I couldn't help but blush. "I'm not gonna comment on that."

He pulled me closer, resting his hand where he always put it when we were snuggling on the top of my head, just above my ears. Usually it was on top of hair. This time it was just skin.

"You know, out of all the girls in the world, you're the only one I can honestly think of that looks just as good bald as with extensions."

He was just saying that.

"Go to sleep, Angel. You'll need the energy."

"Thank you," I gave up, murmuring. "You don't have to do this."

My eyes were shutting and I knew it wouldn't be long until I was fast asleep.

"I want to," he whispered.

I knew right then that I had the best boyfriend in the world. And after the transplant, if there was a transplant, if I lived through it, I'd tell him Yes. Yes, it would be a dream to marry him someday.

:::

"Miley," he called softly. "Mi, wake up, we're here, Angel."

I stirred and I couldn't help but wonder where 'Here' was.

I opened my eyes but it was all black. I tried again. Shit. Fuck. I didn't want to ruin this date. I tried to open them again. Why couldn't I see? He laughed a bit.

"Don't freak out, it's just a blind fold."

"Thanks for the warning, ass," I muttered.

He took my hand, carefully leading me off the plane.

"Where are we?"

"It's a surprise."

"I don't know if you remember but I hate surprises," I reminded him. "Nick, please tell me?"

"L.A.," he gave in, sighing. "I'm not telling you more than that, though."

I heard words but they were so garbled they sounded like a different language through the blindfold. I gave up searching for clues as to where we might be going.

Once we were in the car, limo, or bus – I couldn't see so I didn't really know – I turned to where I assumed Nick was sitting. "Can I take this thing off now?"

"No," he said and I jumped turning to the other side of me. How'd he get over there? "Be patient, it's worth it."

"This better be the most romantic thing anyone's ever done for me," I grumbled. "Are we really in LA?"

"Miley, I wouldn't lie to you when you're wearing a blindfold and walking around bald just for me. Trust me, we're really in LA."

I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Nick to remind me that I was ugly as fuck right now.

"We're here, sir," the driver stated.

He shuffled and then grabbed my wrist again. "Ready, Miley?"

"Of course, I love walking around without seeing."

"You'll get it off in like two seconds, okay? Stop. Stand here."

I listened.

His voice was farther away next time he spoke, but it was right in front of me. "Okay, take it off!"

"I can take off the blindfold?"

"Well, you can't take off the wig!"

I'd ignore that. I could kill him later, right now I was too excited about being able to see again. I took it off gasping, my jaw dropping as I did. "Nick…"

This was not LA.

Click. He took a picture with his phone of me before smirking.

"Welcome to France, Miley," he motioned with his hands.

I stared up at the Eiffel tower. This was amazing. I didn't understand why we were here when we were supposed to be in Connecticut but I didn't care. This was… He outdid himself this time.

"Wow."

"C'mon," he took my hand. The sun was just rising and the streets were mostly deserted.

"Where we goin?"

"I didn't take you here to stare at a building," he laughed. "We're having breakfast here."

"On the Eiffel tower?"

"Is that what this place is called?"

"Yeah, I do think so," he nodded. "Did you know it's illegal to fly over Paris so I had to take you to an outskirt just to get here?"

"I'm gonna laugh when you find out that's just a rumor," I laughed. "But really, baby, this is incredible."

"Well, I mean we still haven't had our first kiss as a couple yet, so I figured what's better than a first kiss facing an LA skyline?"

"A first kiss facing Paris' skyline," I leaned up, kissing his cheek. "You're perfect, Nick."

"I know," he gave me a cheeky smile and I looked around at the few waiters and turned confused again.

"Are we the only ones here?"

"I know how you feel about people seeing you," he told me softly. "I didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

I felt my heart swell. He was a pain in the ass, yet one step away from perfect. He was perfect for me, though.

"Nicholas Jonas, I do not deserve you."

"But you do, Miley," he grinned. "Now come on. I hear the view here is amazing. Pick a table, any table."

I was waiting to wake up in bed, realize this was all a dream, but it wasn't happening. This was real, a guy really did all of this for me.

"That one," I pointed to the one in the corner where you could see two sides of a view.

We went over there and he pulled out my chair for me like a real gentleman would. I smiled, sitting down. I had forgotten what a date with Nick Jonas really was.

"I wanted to come here at night, but with the time differences and everything… Now was the only time without it affecting tour."

"Nick, this is wonderful," I promised. "It's the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"Good, because it took a hell of a lot of planning."

"Well, I appreciate it," I grinned. "You know how much I love you, right?"

He nodded a bit. "I do."

"Wanna know what I love most about being with you?" I asked.

He faced up, genuinely interested. "What?"

"I don't feel famous with you," I was so amazed. His eyes tinkled with confusion but it was true. "Do you know how amazing that feels? To not feel famous? It's wonderful."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm not a superstar, or the girl on the cover of all the tabloids to you. All I am is Miley, that's it. Just Miley. Some days even Destiny," I laughed. "I'm just a normal girl to you."

He shook his head at once, grabbing my hand from across the table. "You are anything but normal to me."

"I know," I squeezed it.

We both sat eating our entrees for awhile before he looked back up at me, then down, up again, down again.

"What?" I laughed.

He shook his head. "Nothing, Angel."

"Tell me," I whined.

He looked up, the triumphant smile of a five year old on his face. "I was right and they were wrong."

"About?"

"You."

"What about me?" I smiled.

"They said I should give up," he shook his head. "I said you were the same girl you were five years ago."

"But I'm not."

He grinned cheekily, grabbing my hand. "But you are, Miley. The same easy-to-please girl… or impossible, depending on your day."

I rolled my head back, laughing before staring at him again. "This is why it's always been you, that laugh? No one else gets that."

He smiled a little. I did too.

It was easy to pretend like nothing was wrong with him. It didn't matter how sick I was, I'm pretty sure if I showed up to this date in sweats he wouldn't care, he was just Nick.

And he loved me.

uhh, i think I'lll just go hide from the angry mob ready to kill me because it took so long to update now...

and now you know why. fluff chapters are borrrinnnggggg. but they have to happen. sigh.

tell me what you thoughtttt?(: