I slammed the door to my neighbor's car, slipping my sweatshirt over my head and pulling it down. I walked to the entrance of the school, opening the door and pacing towards my locker with my head hung low. It's been two days since finding out about Jacob, calling Trace, and my fight with Dylan.

Last night I cried myself to sleep, not quite sure whether it was because of Jacob or Dylan's words. As much as I wanted to deny it, not everything Dylan said was a lie. He made a point, and it seemed careless of me to just go straight to Nick. I should have tried harder to get a hold of Dylan, let him know that he's truly the only one there for me.

Meet me at the gym during your lunch period. – Jason

The small italic letters read across my blackberry screen, the red light flashing to alert me of a text message.

"Hey Miley," Marcus said, his voice suddenly becoming closer. I looked up to see him standing right behind me. Flipping my hood back, I looked over at him.

"How did you know it was me?" I grinned, blinking a few times feeling the soreness kicking in.

"Your shoes," I looked at my feet. I was wearing my Sperry-topsider slippers, with my tights ripped right below the calf.

"Of course," I nodded, a silent thank you for him holding the door open for me.

"How was your night?" He began to turn the knob on his lock, placing his backpack onto the ground.

"It was alright," I lied, opening my own locker. People didn't need to bear my problems.

I felt a slight breeze as I put my backpack down, looking past Marcus to my right to see who made the wind.

Nick was looking directly at me, his eyes puffy as well, hinting at lust. I quickly turned around, not wanting to deal with his silly eye games right now.

"You okay?" Marcus asked, placing his arm around my shoulder, helping me shut my locker.

"Yeah," I looked at Nick again, shaking my head. "I'm good."

We walked into our homeroom together, saying hello to our teacher before taking our seats. I zipped open my backpack, searching for my headphones. My Dr. Dre beats were quickly placed over my ears, my ipod beginning to play the melodic tune of Eminem speaking about his problems.

…

If a day at school could be clearly defined as chaotic, this would have to be the one.

After homeroom, I walked with Marcus and Jason towards my first period. I told both of them what had happened, hearing all their sympathetic feelings towards me and how they wish they could help me. But they both knew that there was honestly nothing one could do for someone who had to deal with death firsthand, there's only being there for that person a hundred percent and helping them get through this safely. I'm not one of those girls you would read about in stories that ultimately turn to self harm to cure all of their problems. Hurting yourself doesn't get you anywhere but six feet under. I don't want to be there until I know I've lived my life to the fullest I could have, with no regrets – pure love has completely surrounded me my whole life.

The bell rung, I cursed it off stepping into Jason and eventually Marcus' embrace.

"I'm going to talk to you more at lunch today, okay?" Jason said, looking directly into my eyes.

"I'm there for you superstar," Marcus whispered before walking the opposite direction of Jason, late to his first class because of me. Both guys walked with their heads hung low, only making me feel more ashamed of myself. There was just something about me that made every one else around me, feel for me. They couldn't help but know how I felt, and go through it all with me. I made people like me without me even knowing it; these types of things only made me want to throw things at a wall.

I walked quickly towards the gym locker room, not wanting to have much of an interaction with anyone. The only one who understood me, was Sydney; the girl who read through it all, came up and gave me a hug whispering "I understand," in my ear before taking off in the other direction without another glance.

"We are going to be playing a soccer tournament today! This will be our unit for the next two weeks!" my gym teacher yelled out enthusiastically. I didn't want to hear this, because why would I want to try in gym?

I have always had a problem with gym being a requirement. It shouldn't be one for those students who participate in sports, who have practice or a game every single day. It should only be for those who need it – obese or possibly unhealthy in some other way type of people! Not me, who has been playing sports all day every day for the past eleven years of my life. (Yes, since I was four)

"Miss Teacher, I don't really feel too good today, may I please sit out?" I put on my pouting face, coughing with my eyes strained a little for show.

"Yes, but I really hope you're better for the rest of the tournament because you are a leader out here Miley," the teacher said. I shrugged, taking a seat on the bleachers. It's only been a day since hearing about the death of a person who I love – gym class is the least of my worries.

…

"Wait, so he just started ignoring her? And he didn't tell anybody why? SHUT UP!" Becky had been having a very stupid conversation sounding exactly like this for the past ten minutes with Heather. I notice that the girls have problems much less important and harsh that mine. Nobody came seem to understand me, so the only thing I can do is leave. Dylan isn't here for me to run to, and of course I can't go to Nick – according to this little game we play, he must come to me.

I picked up my backpack, motioning for Liz to follow me outside towards the basketball courts. She followed dutifully, keeping up with my quick steps.

"Freshman!" A random guy yelled as we stepped outside. Liz almost flipped them off, but instead she just scowled.

We headed off towards the side of the building where we normally would sit and watch the boys play.

"Liz!" A girl came rushing up to my friend, speaking very quickly. "I need to ask you about the homework that we had last night for English, I really didn't understand what the notebook assignment was and from what point of view we were supposed to-"

Liz cut her off, "Lemme see your notebook." The girl handed over her notebook, walking away slowly towards her backpack where it had her research and other necessary things for the assignment. Liz looked back at me; I nodded in approval telling her it was okay. I slowly looked around the court, seeing the daily pitiful attempt at boys basketball. My breath caught in my throat suddenly, I was pushed up against the wall.

"Um, excuse me?" Cody was standing in front of me, his arms on either side of my head, with his body dangerously close to mine. He was one of those guys on the varsity football team who thought they were hot shit because they played varsity and assumed they could get any girl they wanted to. Unlucky for him, the act was translucent since he was incredibility unattractive.

"Hey, how you doing?" he asked, making me grimace in disgust once again. I looked around for Liz, or someone else to help me escape. Of course I was alone out there with a lot of older guys.

"Leave me alone, I thought me ignoring you for the past week was enough of a sign that I didn't want talk and wasn't interested," I growled, trying to step out of his grasp. Why must they always be violent?

"Yeah, I just thought you hadn't gotten much of a chance to get to know me yet, so here I am. Right in front of you, asking for you to get to know me. Nick got nothing me girl, he's just a player with no right mind on how to treat a girl," I looked away, seeing Nick standing just a couple feet away on the basketball court watching this. I begged him with my eyes to come and get me out of this lunatic's hold. He looked hesitant at first, but then dropped the basketball in his hands making his way to me.

"Hey, Cody just back off," Nick said, reaching out to get me out of Cody's grasp. Cody scoffed, taking a step towards Nick as he removed his hold on me. I gladly took a step away from the wall, watching a scene unfold right before me.

"What did you say? I do believe I was having a chat with Miley before you rudely interrupted us. She surely doesn't want to spend time with a guy like you, who clearly cannot treat a young girl right," Cody said, clearly hitting a nerve as Nick's fist balled up at his sides. He took a step closer to Cody about to take a swing at him. I stepped in, not going to allow him to get in trouble because of me. As much as I would have liked to listen on as Cody would explain why Nick is the way he is – so hesitant about the topic of young girls, Brooke as the prime example. She was only a year younger, but something happened when they went out for however long it was, and it scarred him.

"Don't even go there Jones," Nick growled from behind my arms holding him back.

"Shh," I whispered staring straight into Nick's eyes. He was zoned off in another world, taking a few moments to finally notice me.

"Yeah, but there's just that thing about being a fucking asshole to girls that makes you attractive eh?" Cody couldn't help himself. There was a fire in his eyes. Something else went down between them that neither of them would let on about.

Nick's face swelled with anger, he almost knocked me over as he reached for Cody's face. I yelled for help from RJ who was another one of the many people just watching from the sides.

"She doesn't go out with douchebags, so why would she waste her time with me if I was one?" Nick smirked, grabbing Cody and slamming him up against the building of the school.

Cody didn't seem scared or intimidated at all, just kept the grin on his face that he had since he walked over to me from the beginning. "She just doesn't know what you've done. I bet she'll run away the moment she hears what happens. Or what you're capable of, Nick Jonas."

Nick snapped, releasing his anger out in one punch to the face. Cody was knocked to the ground, lucky to still be conscious. RJ had now run over to Nick, pulling him away from the accident immediately and walking quickly inside so nothing else happened. I shook my head at Nick as he looked back at me before entering the building. His face was expressionless.

"Are you okay?" I leaned down on the ground, trying to help Cody stand up or stop the bleeding from his head in some way.

"Your boyfriend is a lunatic, you have no idea what he could have done to you if I didn't come help," his voice trembled with the pain from the hit.

I stroked my fingers lightly across the scar forming on his face, remembering everything Nick has done for me so far. "Yeah. He's just an awful guy. He saw me getting harassed by a stalker, came over to help me, and even got the dude to back off. I couldn't ask for any better help from a complete stranger who barely knows my name."

Cody went silent, not quite knowing how to reply to my sarcastic yet heart filled response.

…

"What happened!" Liz came rushing over to me, completely baffled at the site of me on the ground with my back against the wall with Cody looking asleep next to me – a bruise slowly forming on his face as the blood subsided.

"Cody came on to me, Nick stepped in, end of story."

"Wait, Nick? As in…" her voice trailed off as her eyes widened.

"Yeah, Nick," I groaned, knowing what would be coming.

Brooke came rushing over to me, a distasteful look on her face. "What did you do to him! He's probably going to get expelled for that!" She yelled at me, coming closer so she could try to intimidate me – or get in my face. Neither of which worked. For one, I could kick her ass with ease, and two, Liz stepped in front pushing Brooke away from me.

"Excuse me Elizabeth, I don't think you want to be doing this," she shook her head. Liz being the good friend she was, nodded her head in response.

"I know exactly what I'm doing, and there's not one thing that Miley did wrong. If Nick gets expelled, it's because he deserved it. And you're just going to have to deal with your ex – the guy you love, leaving the schoool and forgetting about you more than he already has."

"AH!" Brooke yelled, stomping off in the other direction.

"Mmm – ow," Cody groaned as he rolled over. "Loud noises, why loud?" He mumbled before completely passing out.

"Maybe we should call the nurse…" RJ appeared again, alone this time.

"I got this," I stood up, grabbing my bag and walking away from the thing I wanted to escape most. Drama.

The building seemed dimmer than when I exited it at the beginning of the period. The walls were painted the royal blue and silver, dutifully following the colors of our school; the floor was tiled with its specks of marble hidden within. The stairs being on of the only things out of match. As I walked up each step slowly, I couldn't help but notice the figure on the ground at the top of the staircase with his head in his hands. His skin was red, his back up against the lockers in the hallway as soft groans escaped his lips.

I attempted to walk by him without making him look up.

"Miley, I'm really sorry," he said. Nick's voice was broken up, his eyes sincerely apologetic.

"I'll talk with you later," I mumbled before turning on my heel into the nurses' office.

"Hello, how may I help you?" The old lady asked. I turned around, noticing I wasn't alone in the room. In the corner was a guy who I had met on one of the second weeks of school. He looked completely stoned.

"Um, there's a junior boy outside who accidently fell down the stairs as he was running to catch the basketball. His face is all scraped up, and he might be unconscious. We didn't want to move him in case he had a concussion."

The nurse stood up immediately, calling someone on her speed dial to come watch the boy who was in her office. "Thank you dear," she smiled wryly at me before taking off out the door and down the stairs.

When I followed her, I saw Nick standing there with his hands above his head, his eyes searching for mine to meet his. When I finally did, he smiled before looking down.

"Why do you always do that?" I asked, letting curiosity get the best of me. "You've done that so many times, it drives me insane."

"Hey I'm no lady gaga but you can take a ride on my disco stick," his grin filled his whole face for a split second before I slapped his shoulder – my cheeks a full on red.

"That makes no sense you weirdo," he smiled taking me up in his arms.

"Love doesn't need to make sense," I allowed him to keep me in his body, my face lightening up with happiness and anxiety. I couldn't help but feel nervous around him – especially when he dropped the love sentences.

We stayed in that position – his arms wrapped securely around my waist, my own lingering around his hips, our bodies so close we could appear to be doing the tango. My head was in the crook of his head beside his shoulder, while his lay on the side of my own. Any passerby could tell that this was more than brother sister relationship that we had led on. That moment, when everything feels perfect.

"Miley?" Jason said from behind me. Nick growled.

"You again..."

"I have a little thing to settle with you Nick," Jason returned just as harshly.

Not again...

Happy thanksgiving. Tell me what you're thankful for. Tell me what you love.

Sorry this took almost two weeks to be updated. My life is crazy right now. The next update with be coming within the next three days. Love you all. Please review.

Emily. Whisper hello, i miss you quite terribly.