Nick slowly bent forward and placed his lips onto Miley's. And left them there for only around 2 seconds, but to Miley and Nick, it felt like an eternity. When he stopped and moved back again, Miley just stared at him. They didn't say anything, because they didn't know what to say.

"Nick – I can't believe you just did that!" Miley suddenly exclaimed letting go of his hands and quickly standing up. "Don't you already have a girlfriend – Selena?"

Nick suddenly realised what he had done. He had kissed Selena, his girlfriend (as Miley had just pointed out), but he hadn't ever felt like that whilst kissing her. The magic had just never been there with her – and he hadn't realised that until that very moment.

"I'm so sorry, Miley," he said, getting up. "But why don't you understand?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" she shouted. "I understand perfectly clearly. I am dating Justin. You are dating Selena. I love him and you love her. We are over – yet you just kissed me!"

"Oh, really!" Nick suddenly raised his voice to match Miley's. "Then how do you explain what just happened?"

"What just happened was that you kissed me!" Miley yelled.

"Well – DUH!" Nick shouted. "But what I mean is how can you explain the feeling that me and you both know that we felt as we kissed? Huh?"

Miley was just silent. She took two steps forwards toward Nick and just turned around and fell onto the sofa. Tears started pouring down her cheeks and fast.

"Miley – I said that I'm sorry," Nick started sitting down next to her. "But I am NOT sorry for just having kissed you. I am sorry for ever letting you go. I am sorry – but I love you."

Miley looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.

"Do you know what," she whispered.

"What?"

"I have never cried this much in my whole life. Since that day two years ago – I have cried whenever I saw you. Whenever you were near. Whenever you dissed me to anybody. Especially your darling Selena!"

"What! I have never dissed you! And you should know about the press making up all of these rumours about what we say or do! I mean – come on – you're their number one target!"

He looked into her sparkling blue eyes and waited for a reply.

"Damn you!" Miley suddenly shouted and raised her arms. Nick was ready to flinch away – as he was sure that Miley was about to hit him. But she didn't. Instead, she raised her arms and hugged him like she had never hugged him before. She used all of the strength in her body so that she could hold him close to her. He hugged her back, as a single tear started to slide down his left cheek. Miley was crying as she began to speak.

"Damn you, Nick for hurting me. Damn you for loving me. And damn you for making me love you!"

Nick just laughed as he held onto her. He never wanted to let go of her, but he had to. He pushed her away and held her face so that she was facing him.

"Miley – you are truly an amazing person," he whispered.

"Back atcha!" she laughed. He joined in and held her close again. They were just sat there hugging for what seemed like hours.

"Miley! Are you in there?"

"Shit!" Miley suddenly hissed letting go of Nick. "Justin!"

"Just tell him that you don't need him," Nick mumbled, still holding her hands.

"What the heck are you talking about? We can't be doing this! We'll hurt Justin and Selena. And it's just not fair to them!" she whispered furiously letting go of his hands.

Nick stared at her.

"Well – what do you want me to do then?" he asked making direct eye contact.

"I think that you should leave," Miley whispered.

"Fine," Nick sighed. "If you do want to be with Justin and pretend for the rest of your life – then you can. I just want you to be happy. And if you're happy pretending then…"

"I didn't say that!" Miley hissed at him. "Just leave for now. Let me think about it!"

"Okay," he grinned. Miley's heart skipped a beat. He had just grinned that special grin that made her love him even more each time that he did. After all, he had always told her that that was a special smile just for her.

He leant forwards. Miley started breathing faster than usual, but she didn't know why. He'd kissed her before – so why was she suddenly so worried about it? But he didn't kiss her. He wiped away the tears that were still on her face and ran his fingers under her eyes.

"I love you," he whispered and leant forward again, but just to kiss her on the cheek. She shook her head.

He sighed and looked at the door, where Justin was still banging. It was as if another pair of hands had joined him there and were knocking with him.

"Demi! Are you there?"

Nick and Miley looked at each other, their eyes wide. How were they going to get Nick out without Justin or Selena noticing?

"Just follow my lead," Miley mumbled as she walked towards the drawer on her right. She took out two keys and passed one to Nick.

"When I leave, I'll lock the door and say that no-one's in here. I won't let them see inside. Then – when you're sure that the coast is clear – you can unlock the door from the inside and leave," Miley whispered into his ear. He nodded at her and touched her face softly. Miley walked backwards to the door and unlocked it. Before she left, she looked at him and half-grinned. He grinned back and Miley left.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

"Miley!" Justin sighed. "Finally!"

He grabbed Miley and hugged her tight. Miley felt slightly sick inside, after what had just happened. How could she do this to Justin? He was such an awesome guy! Why was she hurting him? Even if she didn't mean it. Was she cheating on him? No! She couldn't be. Right?

"Is Demi in there?" Selena asked reaching towards the door handle.

"Nope!" Miley suddenly exclaimed and beat Selena in grabbing the door handle. "It's empty," she continued as she locked it.

"Oh," Selena looked confused. "Do you know where she is?"

"Maybe she's on stage," Justin suggested as he held Miley around her waist.

"'Kay," Selena shrugged as she walked away, leaving Miley and Justin alone in the corridor.

"Well, beautiful. The press are here, the shows started and you look stunning. But, I'm afraid that you can't be seen too close to me. Unless you want the press or the audience to see," Justin grinned at her.

"I'm sure that the press will love it if they see us together," she mumbled. She was still so confused and worried. What would he think if he knew what she'd just been doing?

Justin just laughed and leant towards her ready to kiss her, but Miley pushed him back. He looked at her confused.

"My lip gloss will be too sticky," she shrugged innocently. He nodded, but you could tell that he still wasn't too happy.

"I should go," Miley said and ran towards Mandy's dressing room. She opened the door and looked around.

"Schmanders!" she yelled.

"What's up, Schmilers?" Mandy smiled as she came out from behind a few of her other dancing friends.

Miley pulled her to the side of the room and filled her in on what had just happened. Mandy's eyes just got bigger and bigger as Miley went on wit the story.

"So what are you going to do?" Mandy asked, trying to take in what she had just been told.

"I don't know," Miley moaned. "Justin's just so sweet and perfect, yet Nick's perfect for me!"

"Come on guys, we're almost on," Katie, one of the other dancers called from across the room.

"Listen, Schmiley, whatever you decide, I'm sure that you'll make the right choice. And remember, I'll be beside you whatever happens, cause you're my best friend and I love you," Mandy smiled.

"I love you too, Schmanders!" Miley hugged Mandy tight and then they both started to walk towards the stage.

"Thank you!" They heard Nick yelling to the crowd and then running backstage with his brothers. As he passed Miley, he didn't stop, but secretly gave her a small smile so that no one else would notice. Her stomach tightened and never before had she felt so worried about going on stage and performing '7 Things'.