Chapter Ten.

Miley.

"I can't do this-"

"Miley you can okay!"

"I'm don't know all of-"

"Miley," Demi grasped my shoulders, "You know enough okay?"

"What if-"

"Stop!"

"But-"

I sat in the storage room my latest test paper in hand glancing at the score, sure it was a pass but it wasn't overwhelmingly fantastic. Tomorrow was the day my life could change forever and I didn't know how to handle that, I'd never felt this amount of stress or weight upon my shoulders. I needed to do this. I had to pass, I had to prove him wrong.

"I'm just concerned that I-"

"Shut up or I'll get Nick!" Demi warned casually.

"How is that going to help?" I proclaimed frustrated.

Demi just stared at me with raised eyebrows, "Well I don't know, maybe he can take you to the locker room and calm you down, he seems to have some interesting tactics to-"

My eyes widened as I stared at her horrified, "He told you?"I spat through gritted teeth.

"No Selena did-"

Anger washed through me as I felt mortified! He'd promised he wouldn't tell! "Oh my god he told her? Of all people he had to tell Selena? I'm going to kill him" I yelled clutching the test, the paper crumpling in my fists.

"Whoa!" Demi stated as I went to stand up only for her to slam me back into my seat, "Calm down, don't get angry he didn't tell anyone okay?" I looked at her feeling my cheeks heat up as I twisted my fingers together, well this was akwardly embarrassing "Selena saw you guys, she was looking for Justin and found you two in a compromising position."

"Oh my god!" I almost yelled realising, "Everyone is going to find out, I'm going to be-"

"Miley!" Demi stated hitting my arm, "Stop! Let me finish! Selena only told be because she was worried about you, she won't tell anyone-"

"Why?" I responded nervously, "What does she want?"

Demi rolled her eyes, "She doesn't want anything, Selena actually likes you, and she doesn't want you to be just another girl on Nick's list of accomplishments in the force." Demi whispered quietly as I just sat there feeling a confusing amount of emotions,

"I don't want to be on his list either," I added after a moment.

"So why did you kiss him?" Demi looked at me as I bit my lip,

I shrugged staring down "I like him, a lot."

"Oh god Miley! This is not good, I thought you'd eventually lust over him but not this soon!" She proclaimed half angry, half confused, "Have you been training at all or have you just been making out with him?" I instantly shook my head trying to defend myself from her judgmental expression,

"That was the first time I swear, and he kissed me I didn't-"

"He kissed you?" She asked confused.

"Yes! I wasn't exactly expecting it- I mean I was the second time but-"

"Whoa just stop for a minute, Nick Jonas kissed you?" She asked.

"Yes!" I spat feeling flustered, "He did I just-"

"Nick doesn't kiss girls."

"What?" I yelled, "Yes he does! His reputation-"

"Girls kiss him Miley, they make the first move with the exception of Sel, always"

I just stared at her trying to wrap my head around what Demi was trying to say while she squinted at me. "If he kissed you…" She trailed off shaking her head at me intrigued, "The whole game he's been playing changes, because clearly this isn't one sided like normal."

"He said I was special…"

Demi rolled her eyes looking at me, "Nick probably says that to every girl he's ever spoken to and had intentions with," I felt my heart drop a little while Demi continued to stare at me, "Yet he kissed you, which may mean that maybe, just maybe he actually meant it for a change."

"What should I do?" I felt myself ask, "Do I pretend like it didn't-"

"Have you trained since then?" I nodded and she looked at me, "And…"

"Nothing." I responded. "But he still acts the same, like nothing happened."

"And he hasn't told anyone which is so not Nick either, I mean he tells Joe everything to do with girls which of course means the entire force knows within minutes." Demi proclaimed leaning back on her chair as I stared at her completely confused,

"So what do I do Demi?" I asked seriously because I didn't have a clue.

A knocking fell on the door as we both looked towards it,

"Come in," Demi stated,

The door opened and I felt my chest tighten as I looked at the pair of eyes before me. Nick smiled pushing open the door the rest of the way, as Demi instantly sat up staring at me with wide eyes biting her lip grinning,

"Speak of the devil we were just talking about you Nick…"

I glared at Demi as Nick looked at me, "Oh really? What about?"

"Training-"

"Oh yeah it's going great." Nick responded.

"Yeah so Miley was just telling me, you're methods sound very-"

"What do you want Nick?" I cut her off looking at him.

Nick stared at me apprehensively for a moment, like he was trying to work out what we'd been discussing, before smirking, "That is not the way to treat a man who just went out to buy you lunch and coffee Miley," He announced pulling out a sandwich from behind his back and a coffee,

"Oh my god!" I stated jumping up, "Thank you that's exactly what I needed-"

"Where's mine?" Demi snapped.

Nick handed over my lunch and coffee turning to Demi shrugging, "Ummm I think it's still at the shop, your lazy ass can go and get it yourself!" He stated turning back to me as I reached for my bag,

"How much do I owe-"

"It's cool," He responded,

"Are you sure?" I asked,

He stared at me with the same look I hadn't understood the other day, it was like he wanted to say something yet he couldn't. "It's fine," He finally stated giving me a smile, "How's everything going?"

"I'm officially stressing,"

Nick shook his head, "Don't, you've got this."

"My test says otherwise."

"I think you need to relax-"

I shook my head, "I can't relax, so much is on the line-"

Nick gave me a look tilting his head, "Now remember what happened last time you wouldn't stop talking?" He stated staring at me still smirking as I felt my cheeks heat up, "Exactly, I'll see you this afternoon,"

"Okay," I murmured biting my lip,

Nick grinned and stepped back only to stop, "Oh and almost forgot, dessert."

He pulled out a lollypop offering it to me as I reached out only for a new hand to jump between us grabbing it. Demi looked between the two of us and frowned, "Yeah I'm still here, in case you forgot while you were flirting with one another-"

"Don't be a bitch Demi," Nick murmured.

"Don't add another girl to your list Nick." She retorted brutally.

"I'm not going to add-"

"Okay!" I stated awkwardly, "Bye Nick, thanks for lunch I appreciate it!"

He just stared at Demi before nodding and walking out closing the door. I turned to Demi who instantly smirked, while I stared at her embarrassed. "I can't believe it…" She announced looking at me shaking her head, "I think he likes you."

I rolled my eyes, "Look let's just forget I brought it up-"

"Hell no! Miley he has the hots for you."

I groaned, "I need to study-"

"No, you need to shop."

I turned to Demi completely bewildered as she leaned down, "I knew it!" She proclaimed shaking her head pulling up a bag as I noted the familiar pink and white writing, "You forgot about Joe's party tomorrow didn't you? The lingerie party?"

Demi opened the Victoria Secret bag and laid out a red and black lacy bra.

"Oh shit I totally-"

"Good thing I didn't forget for you!"

"What?" I spat as she threw the bra at me.

"Let's just say I thought you might need a little incentive to go tomorrow and I knew you wouldn't go and buy lingerie so I did it for you." She stated casually throwing me the panties as my eyes widened, "Hopefully they fit, I took a guess but hey if they're too small I don't think anyone will care-"

"These are…" I stared as I held them up tilting my head, "Practically nothing."

I traced the material and realized, "And transparent! "

She shrugged, "They cover enough-"

"Are you serious?" I hissed.

"Yeah deadly, you're wearing it Miley."

"But everyone will stare at me!" I whispered nervously and she smirked.

"They may, but you and me both know there is one pair of eyes that you actually want to stare and trust me Nick will." She announced pulling out what I assumed was her own outfit, which was far more modest then mine,

"Why can't I wear that?" I spat,

"Because you're a stick Miley, you can pull that off and look hot, I wear it and I look kind of slutty get the point?" She stated holding up hers, "We're going to look gorgeous!"

"But what if Nick doesn't like it?" I murmured seriously.

Demi gleamed, "They're red."

"Red?"

"Nick like's red,"

"How do you know that?" I hissed,

"Let's just say I know a lot about Nick from the girls." She murmured winking.

"I'm going to look like a whore!" I announced holding up the bra

Demi just rolled her eyes, "It's a lingerie party Miley everyone is going to look like a whore! Especially the ones who fancy your man." I closed my eyes shaking my head quickly,

"He's not my man,"

Demi smiled "But he might be in the near future-"

The door opened as I looked up expecting to see Nick again only to be faced by Jason whose eyes for a change were not focused on me but the bra I was holding. I instantly dropped it feeling mortified as I watched my uncles eyes widen in absolute horror, a vein surfacing on his neck while his entire face turned red.

"Sir" Demi stated moving to stand up,

She quickly threw her own clothing back into the bag giving a small nervous laugh,

"How can we help you Sir?" She asked.

I quickly opened my test paper trying to not look at my uncle who I hadn't spoken to in a week,

"I need some paper," He announced, his tone reflecting the anger.

"Oh sure, here you go Sir-"

"Thank you Lovato, I do hope you're not leading anyone astray."

"No Sir, we're just studying, that's all."

"It doesn't appear that way." He snapped.

"Sir-"

"If I see any of those articles again, you will be having a meeting in my office understand?" He hissed as I turned the page keeping my lips sealed, "And I mean both of you, I thought you'd be more cautious Miley considering tomorrow is your finals."

I closed the paper and shrugged grabbing my textbook,

"Well I'm going to fail anyway," I stated looking up, "Right Sir?"

I just stared at him and he stepped out slamming the door,

"Holy shit, that was embarrassing!" Demi announced,

"You have no idea," I responded shaking my head.

Nick.

"Did you hear?"

I looked up at Joe, who was leaning on my desk his chin in his hands like a child.

"Hear what Joe? You found me a partner?" I asked optimistically,

"No, but I found details on your future partner."

"What?"

He nodded his head to the right as I gave him a confused look, as he did it again. I turned seeing Miley had relocated to Demi's desk studying, since Demi had gone downtown to cover an absent officers patrol.

"Miley?" I murmured confused,

"She likes red," He whispered to me.

"What?"

"Okay so I heard this from George, who heard it from Jane, you know brown hair works in reception anyway she said that Demi and Miley got caught in the storage room by the Commissioner." I just stared at him and nodded, right?

"Demi tutors her there, I saw them at lunch Joe so what?" I whispered.

"Did you see them in their lingerie?"

"What?" I hissed loudly leaning closer as Joe smirked.

Miley's head turned towards us as she gave an intrigued look,

"Hey Miley," Joe stated nodding at her,

Miley shook her head giving a sigh turning back to the book as I glared at Joe waiting for an answer. "Supposedly they got busted in the lingerie they're wearing tomorrow night! The Commissioner almost had a heart attack and threatened to fire Demi and fail Miley."

I shook my head in disbelief, "No way!"

"Yes that's what Jane said, anyway supposedly Miley's is bright red."

"Red?"

"And lacy, barely anything covering, God I can't wait."

I looked at my brother who was almost drooling as I slapped his arm disgusted.

"Get lost Joe," I hissed.

"What? If you don't want her," Her stated biting his lip, "I'll have her."

"She isn't a piece of meat Joe."

"No," He stated staring at Miley, "She's a hot babe who I'd do in a-"

"Fuck off."

I pushed him off my desk anger flourishing through me. I disliked Joe talking about women like that but hearing him say that about Miley was disgusting. Joe turned and stuck up his middle finger strolling away like a complete dickhead. I knew that story was bullshit, Miley wasn't like that she wouldn't wear something so revealing, would she? Demi would though and if peer pressure was pushed on her hard enough Miley would be the type to crumble.

I stared at her turning the pages her mind lost in another world of police force codes and regulations. I needed to tell her, that I knew the truth but every time I went to open my mouth I felt myself terrified of how she'd react. I didn't want to bring up those memories when it was clear they were still such an unstable topic for her, especially not right now she needed to concentrate.

"Why are you staring at me?" Miley suddenly asked,

She turned looking at me clearly noting me from her peripheral vision.

"I was admiring," I retorted smartly,

"Well stop it's distracting,"

"How about we go train then?"

She looked at me then at the clock, "But you don't finish for another-"

"Who cares, it's the last session might as well get in some more time."

"I don't want to get in another fight with the Commissioner today," Miley proclaimed staring back to her book closing it. "However I probably need a break from this before I self combust, so I accept the idea. Let's train."

I stood up as Miley followed my lead and I looked at her intrigued…

"So you had a run in with the Commissioner?"

Miley huffed shaking her head, "I wanna kill him,"

"You've mentioned that once or twice now."

I saw her eyes dart towards his office as she turned away, "He's a judgmental dickhead," Miles announced as I saw the look in her eyes, that the words she was saying although true weren't entirely her feelings towards him. Miley missed him, I assumed they hadn't spoken all week which had most likely meant that all her family ties had been cut.

"Well don't worry about him concentrate on tomorrow."

"Yeah when I prove him wrong." She spat.

"Exactly, that's what I wanna here, confidence!"

We went our separate ways at the locker room to get changed, although I saw the blush fall across her cheeks as she gazed at me. All I'd wanted to do was kiss her again in training, but I couldn't because she needed to concentrate and to do that I needed to keep my hands off her. Tomorrow night though, well that definitely wasn't off limits and I planned on not just kissing Miley but some how attempting to tell her that I'd learnt the position she was in with the Commissioner.

As I pulled on my t-shirt I couldn't help but wonder about Miley, about why she hadn't left this city like so may other victims families had? It was clear the New York she loved was gone and her uncle was a monster, so why stay? I felt stupid for asking it a moment later because it was obvious; she dealt with that shit just so Miley could keep her grasp on the lives her parents left behind.

By the time I got out Miley was already attempting to murder the punching bag,

"You know that isn't criteria on the exam right?"

Miley turned and smiled shrugging, "I know, but it makes me feel better."

"Okay come on let's do this,"

"You think I can?" She asked unsure.

"Of course, I have trained you well grasshopper." I stated faking a Chinese accent,

Miley just glared at me, "If you call me that again I'll-"

"Hit me? yeah good joke."

"No, I can distract you in other ways, like continually talking."

I groaned holding up my hands, "No! I can't deal with that! Women and their constant chatter it could kill a man!" Miley just stared at me again as I smiled, "However it appears I have acquired a solution to it have I not?"

Miley looked at me nervously, "About that…"

"About what?" I asked wanting Miley to say it. Instantly I saw the embarrassment come to her face as I frowned, "Why are you blushing now? You're a good kisser, it will get you a long way in life-"

"Okay stop talking." She stated quickly,

"Only if you kiss me."

Miley sighed, "Let's just train okay?"

"Okay but we're continuing this discussion tomorrow night."

Miley's instantly looked beyond awkward and I knew I was pressing her buttons, which was so hilarious to me.

"Can we just train, I need to concentrate,"

"Okay then let's go,"

Miley was ready, it was clear by about ten minutes in when she'd already disarmed, arrested and tackled me. I was proud to say the least, she'd put in the work and it had paid off after a month I had no doubt in my mind that tomorrow she'd kill the physical and shooting components, it was the written and psych section which was more questionable.

"You're perfect!" I proclaimed towards the end of the session,

Miley instantly looked at me confused, her hands dropping from their defensive posture. I realized the mistake I'd made and smiled at her,

"I mean at fighting, you're ready," I explained.

"You think?"

"I know you're ready, you have been since day one."

"Day one?"

I looked at her and grinned, "Miley you know all this stuff, you always have even before you joined the academy. Have you always wanted to be a cop?" I asked as she looked at me and shrugged,

"Kind of…since I was nine I suppose."

Her eyes stared at me blankly for a moment as I saw yet another opportunity.

"Were you parents in the force?" I questioned carefully.

Miley looked at me for a second before nodding, "Yeah they were."

"Mine too," I stated, "Dad was a detective, mom was the receptionist. I wonder if our parents knew one another?" The question I asked literally had only come to mind in that second, because I'd never really considered the fact that yes our parents at some point would have worked together.

"My parents don't work anymore." Miley announced.

"Neither, my dad joined the army"

Miley looked at me intrigued but her expression still solemn,

"Why did he quit the force?" Miley asked.

"September 11, he wanted to protect the country instead of the city…"

I hesitated as I looked her straight in face, knowing I couldn't lie any longer.

"That's noble." She whispered simply. "You must be proud?"

Miley looked at me attempting to keep her mind intact by firing out questions. I however was faced with the hardest question I'd receive from her, I looked down licking my lips sighing,

"He died on his second tour,"

I saw the instant regret wash across her face as she looked completely uneasy staring at me, her body wanting to get a way from the situation while her mind tried to think of something thoughtful to say. It was normal, this was always how people reacted and I'm sure she knew the signs far too well.

"I'm sorry Nick, I didn't know." She whispered her eyes downcast.

"It's okay, he died trying to save lives…"

Miley nodded her eye shifting towards the door, but I had to say it, I couldn't keep walking around with it on my shoulders.

"Just like your parents did Destiny." I stated without a second thought.