Everybody's laughing in my mind. Rumors spreading bout this other guy...

I spent the past week at home on my bed staring at the ceiling for hours. I haven't picked up my soccer ball, iPod – not even my cell phone or laptop. I haven't talked to anyone except my parents. And even to them it was either a nod or a mumble. In true honesty, I had shut myself away from the world and didn't have an intention of going back. Sometimes all I wanted to do was stay here and feel the comfort of my own blankets tangled between my legs or the familiar purple pillow that I would just hug onto to stop the pain attacking my chest. Because right now, these little things were what I called perfect; just being able to tolerate a day without wanting to just break myself into a million pieces. Everything from my old life – old school, everything from before a week ago, was perfect too but in a different way. I was happy. But that was all gone now. Every last bit.

You know why? Yup, you guessed it correctly. It was my best friend who I hadn't spoken to in a week. The guy who left his own birthday party that he spent weeks preparing for, just to come comfort me after my ex-boyfriend broke up with me over the phone. The same guy who spent all summer at my beach house with me (as apposed to playing football all summer) as I cried myself to sleep remembering my grandpa who died right before school got out. Yeah, the guy who would jump in front of a bus for me. Take a bullet for me! And how did I repay him? Well…

…

"Who is that guy?" a random girl in my lunch pointed out, awfully loud which caught my attention as well as the rest of the lunchrooms'. Nick's gaze some how found my own, his eyes dropping slightly as he stood up. I shook my head, signaling for him to stay put. As usual, he ignored me, getting up to come and accompany me outside.

"Let me handle this alone, please," I groaned. I wanted to make things better with Dylan, and having Nick there would not make it any easier for me. Not the slightest.

"Fine. But…" he contemplated for a moment, thinking of what he could do for me if I decided I didn't like the way the conversation was going. (How could I read that just from his expression? – No idea.)

"I'm a big girl, I can handle myself," he nodded in understanding, slowly turning and walking back into the lunchroom. I took a deep breath, ready to face the one person who I had been keeping in the dark for way too long.

"Dylan," I walked over to him, his face lit up as he heard my voice. He smiled lightly at me, meeting me halfway and hugging me like never before. It was urgent, tight, and full of lust.

"I missed you so much Miles you have absolutely no idea! I can't believe I'm telling you this, but I totally went home and bawled after our fight that day. Seeing you with him," he turned to look at the window where he was spotted earlier by students at my school – some of them still staring now. "I couldn't help but be jealous. I was always there for you, and well, I just felt like I wasn't needed anymore. I didn't like feeling that way."

"It's not like I liked feeling as if you didn't care for me or value my opinion either Dylan," I spoke softly, not wanting to be passive aggressive.

"I understand Miles, you just need to understand how I was feeling as well." His facial features showed that he honestly didn't sleep much for this past week, and he smelled like sweat and rust. I waited for him to continue his explanation as I continued analyzing his every move. He did the same, and we stood there just staring blankly at each other for another minute or so. With us, nothing was ever rushed – it could never be.

He sighed as if he was completely exhausted, finally giving up to the fight. "Sometimes it feels like the worlds on my shoulders. Everyone's leaning on me," he took a deep breath, calming himself slightly before continuing. "And I just finally cracked Miles, there was too much for me to handle."

"Me too Dylan, me too," I quickly walked into his arms as he welcomed me willingly. I knew that whatever was going on between us was over in that moment. We both accepted our faults, and that no matter what we would make it through everything else together – just because we're that lucky to have each other.

His smile grew as well as his muscles, his flexing showed me that he was ready to do the usual Dylan. He lifted me up into the air, spinning me around and yelling, "I missed you Miles!"

The autumn air suddenly filled with the soft cries of laughter escaping both of our mouths, the entire day seeming to get brighter by the second.

"So, will you go to the funeral with me?" I asked, finally able to catch my breath.

"Of course. I'm always going to be there for you, and I know he meant a lot to you Miley. You never forget your first love," he nodded in understanding. How he knew about my feelings for Jacob, I was unsure. Yet, it didn't really matter to me because all I knew was... I got my best friend back.

…

"Hold up, tell me the truth about that guy that you looked completely in love with today during lunch. What happened!" Sydney squealed as she took my hands, bouncing up and down rapidly on her seat.

"No big deal, we were just fighting and well," I stopped myself so I could actually think about what we did – or rather what we came over. I smiled to myself, feeling my whole body fully whole again. "We made up and know that we will always have each others backs."

"Aw! I wish I had a best guy friend. Is he gay? They're always the best of friends you have no idea, I mean they are just the best people in the world!" she exclaimed quite animatedly.

I just laughed at the thought of Dylan being gay. "He's not gay, probably the straightest dude I've ever met." I chuckled trying to imagine Dylan liking another guy in that way. With no such luck, I stood up from my table searching for Jason – hoping he could walk me to my next class seeing as the bell just rung for fifth period.

I stood at the front of the lunchroom for four minutes, hoping that he'd show up. When he didn't, I walked towards Mr. Lucas' class just praying that he wasn't pissed at me. Or that whatever Nick had said to him didn't hit him too hard. I know they don't have the best relationship with each other, but I didn't think that Nick would literally just tell Jason to stop hanging out with me. Let alone, believe that Jason would listen to him.

Probably the worst history class I had all year, but thankfully I knew I would be seeing Nick right after this ended. And that by itself, was enough to make me forget about my raw feelings and anger, allowing me to just sit and stare blankly at my teacher for an hour – just getting by.

…

"Um, excuse me Mrs. Cunningham I have roses for a miss Miley Cyrus," A girl appeared at the door as her hand dropped to her side. I stood up, walking over to the teacher who was reading the note.

She smiled at me asking, "Who is Dylan?" I felt my cheeks blush immensely as I walked back to my seat with the flowers.

I carefully took the note out of the bouquet, my fingers shaking slightly.

I missed you. Thanks for forgiving me. You're the best girl friend I've ever had. I love you a million red m&m's miles.

-dylan

"Why would Dylan send you red roses?" Nick's whisper came a little too arrogantly. His ignorance sent my smile away, replaced by a look of pure nothing.

"Um, he knows I hate pink ones?" I shrugged my shoulders, turning back to the front of the class, smelling the roses that my best friend sent me.

The rest of the class was awkward, and it didn't get any better as the day went on. People kept talking to me about Dylan and the roses. At the end of the day, everyone knew me as the girl who got roses sent to her. I hadn't seen Jason all day either, which did not make this day any easier for me. And, Marcus left school early for a football game. So basically I had no one there for me. Except, Nick. And he was no help as he stood by me with that sad look. Those eyes that killed me. His expression never changed, every time someone would come talk to me about the roses or my best friend's chivalrous actions, he would just stand on the sidelines. I could tell what was going on, I just didn't want to accept what he was basically saying to me.

The look on Nick's face clearly stated what he was thinking. That should be me…

…

"Now, today is the last lady knights home game of the season! And the Ireton royalettes have prepared a small dance number to kick off the game!" the announcer's voice boomed from the booth upstairs. I sat on the bench with my teammates as our coach began with his speech to us just as he did before every game. Though, most of us were watching the dance team behind them.

"So today is a really big day ladies," the coach bent down on his knees after taking a step closer as the music boomed in the background. "We have to win this in order to advance into the playoffs and have home field advantage for a least one more game."

"Yes coach," the team announced in unison. The stadium went black for a moment as the lights adjusted dramatically onto the field for dramatic effect.

"Let's get ready to rumble!" the announcer said as the other team headed onto the field taking the place of where the dance team just stood.

The crowd came to their feet, clapping and cheering as we took the field ourselves. "One, two, three, KNIGHTS!" we chanted, running onto the field and taking our positions just like we had done for the past month or so. I looked over at the stands from where I was on the field. It felt like worlds away. Us, and them.

"Okay guys," I walked onto the field joining the circle that the starters had formed at the top of our eighteen box. "This is our time. Nobody else can change our fate, it's all us. We are the ones who will control the outcome of this game. You wanna win? Show these "studs" up here on this field, right now, and show everyone who the real champions of this league are, alright?" everyone nodded and put their hands in.

"Dominate on three," we all nodded, nervous smiles on our faces. "One, two, three, dominate!" From the moment the refs blew the first whistle, I couldn't remember anything. I was in a trance, there was absolutely no thoughts going through my mind other than I needed to win, and this game was in my hands.

It was my time.

…

"I can't believe it! We are like five minutes away from being the number one seed in the semi-finals for tomorrow!" Liz said, taking a large gulp from the water bottle that people were passing around.

"Shh!" and the bench went silent.

"Ladies," coach said, his voice cracking at the end. "You all know what I'm going to say. The passing could be better, and all we need to do is slow down. You are all rushing out there, and we just need to relax – but not too much that you let them forget who the champs are, all right? Now get back out there!" and we all took the field as the injured girl who was down on the field exited in her coaches arms swiftly.

Come on Miley, this is your time to shine. My mind was running wild as I scanned the stands, trying to find some reassurance in my own beliefs. I caught Nick's eyes, getting a nod from him as well as a smile. Then, I found Marcus' own eyes, getting a jersey pump and a yell. Then, I knew that whatever I was about to do, I'd be supported. And that people believed in me. Well, that's good enough for now.

"Kick their preppy little asses Miles!" I turned quickly to meet Dylan shouting and getting people to jump along with him, holding a sign with my name and jersey number on it. I blew him a kiss, running onto the field and getting into the zone.

Before I knew it, we were all huddled up as we were earlier in the game, except this time – we were screaming and almost in tears.

"We did it!"

"Knights! Knights! Knights!"

"We won!"

"Champs again!"

"HELL YEAH!"

At this moment, everything was perfect. I wouldn't want this any other way.

…

"Good game Miley," my coach said, picking up his bag and beginning to walk off the field, following all the other people before him.

"Thanks coach," I mumbled, continuing to remove all of my gear and throwing it into my bag. I wasn't quite ready to meet all the screaming fans yet, so I took my sweet time by the bench.

"Nice job Mile!" Sydney and Liz walked past me, patting my shoulder on the way and winking. "See ya Monday!"

"Bye guys," I laughed, standing up and beginning to meet the inevitable. (Yes, the crowd that was still waiting for the rest of the team to go through their tunnel.)

"Miles," he was standing right at the end of the bench, his hands dug deep in his pockets. A smile hinting at his lips.

"How did I do?" I grinned slightly, sarcasm dripping from my voice.

"You were brilliant," he said, running over to me and lifting me up over his head and spinning me in the air.

"Ah! Haha Nick come on – stop!" I giggled uncontrollably, his strong hands holding me up as he held the same proud look. Next thing I know, his lips are on mine, his hands cascading down the sides of my body as my feet lightly touch the earth again. Shock hits me dead in the face, my lips barely moving against his.

He pulled away shortly, smiling as he pulled a piece of hair that was escaping from my braid behind my ear.

"Oh hey Miley!" then came Dylan's voice from the distance. Nick took a step closer to me, pulling me close to his body.

"Tell me whats going on with you two," he whispered.

"Are you seriously jealous right now?" I countered, my breath trickling at his neck.

"No, I'm not jealous! I just don't understand," his face changed from slightly annoyed, to on the edge of furious. "I'm just mad that you would have the indecency to lead on me on like this, and then just leave everything we've worked for, or rather everything that I have tried achieving with you, in the dust." And with one swift motion, he was gone.

"You did not just do that!" Kasey then appeared in the spot that Nick just held, her hands on her hips as she emanated heat from her petite little furious face.

"Hey, relax dude," Dylan finally reached me, placing his strong arms around my shoulder protectively.

"Well hey, I wouldn't get involved with a heartbreaker if I were you, especially after the things that he's done to girls like you in the past, Miley," Kasey sneered. "It's in your best interest, to back off."

Dylan and I watched her stomp off as if this was her house, and someone just took a major dump on her lawn.

"What was that about?" Dylan asked, his eyes concerned as he lead me towards the crowd by the parking lot that still had not disbanded yet.

"Nothing," I grumbled. I just wish Kasey's words meant nothing to me. But they did, and that's what I hated most. Because people tell me the same things she just told me, every day that they see me with him. They all say the same thing. That he isn't right for a girl like me.

Well hey hey hey chikas! :) i think i love this chapter. and the next one too. PLEASE REVIEW FOR ME.. i need help with some things. Don't be a silent reader. i take anonymous reviews people! Anyways, i hope your new years was awesome (didn't party too hardy now did ya?) and your winter break was as amazing as mine, if not better!

Review for me please. I love you to pieces.

Em. Whisper hello, i miss you quite terribly.