Chapter Eleven.

Nick.

"You are sentenced to one hundred and twenty hours community service,"

The gavel hit the block as I looked at the judge, it was a lengthy sentence for the crime considering we had never breached a law but acceptable regardless. I exchanged a look with my brothers and shrugged, they had the same looks across their faces. It was only a hundred and twenty hours, nothing more then a slap on the wrist really.

"What community services specifically your honor?" Our lawyer asked,

The female judge waved her hand at us, "Go outside, you can pick. There are a few options at the moment. Court adjourned, next case please!" She announced quickly,

The policeman gave us a look to move along so all three of us with our lawyer rushed from the box as a weeping woman took our spot, "I'M INNOCENT! I didn't mean to drink and drive, I thought it wasn't alcoholic!" The new case pleaded straight away as our lawyer pushed us to move,

"Quick before she changes her mind and calls you back,"

We moved quickly through the court following our family members who had been sitting in on the trial and verdict. The whole family kept up our pace until all of us were out the doors and a few large paces away from the courtroom. Instantly thankful hugs were exchanged between the married couples as mom pulled me into her arms.

"Thank god Nicholas,"

She let go of me and kissed my cheek moving to my brother's,

"Right the options are…"

Our lawyer held a piece of paper in his hands, "Picking up trash along the Pacific Highway, picking up trash in a park, picking up trash in the city." He read out and frowned, "Working for a cancer charity to help with their weekly fundraising event,"

"Seriously?" I asked surprised by the last option

"I'll take the cancer charity thing," Joe stated looking at Demi, "No orange outfits,"

"Me too,"

"Yeah I will too," I responded as he nodded,

"Right I'll go tell the police, everyone is happy? Don't want a retrial?"

"Hell no, this sentence is fine!" Kevin stated hugging Dani,

"Okay good,"

"Thanks," I stated as our lawyer nodded walking away,

"So want to go out and celebrate?" Dad asked excited,

We all just stared at him as I motioned to the media outside, "And what dad? Walk outside to them all screaming in our faces wanting to know what our sentence was? No thanks, I'll take going home as my main priority." I stated seriously as everyone nodded in agreement,

"Well actually I have to get back to work, so does Joe." Kevin stated smiling,

"And me," Dad added,

Kevin just stared at our father and nodded a little unsure, "Yeah…"

"What? I'm still apart of the business, I may not be the-"

Joe hit dad on the back smiling, "We know, you've told us, a billion times."

"Nick want to come to work too?"

I snorted and shook my head laughing, "I quit, remember?"

"Of course you did," Dad stated a smirk on his face, "But Nick I'm ready to employ you any time you want. Surely you've gotten over your issues and not everyone hates you anymore, you can't just stay at home bored for the rest of your life. Just give me the call and you can have your old position back within a second." I stared at my father who smiled like a true businessman would when trying to seal a very sketchy deal.

"No dad," Kevin spoke up, "I'm the boss, I pick who's being hired. Nick quit."

"I did," I agreed nodding,

"He's not being employed by the Gray Company anytime soon,"

"But-" Dad started,

"No Paul," Mom hissed, "Just drop it, now go to work all of you. Nick honey," She turned smiling, "How about you come home with me and the girls, we're looking at paint color charts for the nursery."

Joe instantly laughed, "Oh Nick that sounds so much more fun then work!"

"Shut up Joe," Demi snapped harshly, "This is our baby we're talking about here."

"What? Babe it was just-"

"No this nursery is important you realise that right?"

Joe started to nod as she huffed, "Babe seriously I was just joking," Joe stated,

She was having one of her days, the moodiness came and went but today she'd had nothing but nasty comments to say, "At least Nick is willing to help with the baby unlike you, seriously if you don't pull yourself together I don't know how we are going to raise this child. Don't think I won't take our daughter away from you Joseph,"

"It might be a boy!" Joe quickly retaliated,

"NO! It's-"

"Okay Demi," Mom stated quickly pulling her back away from Joe,

"Okay let's go to work," Kevin stated awkwardly "Bye guys,"

He pushed a hurt Joe away as dad frowned and followed them walking towards the back exit. I stared back to the eager girls, Demi still with the evil look in her eyes which I definitely didn't want to have to face today.

"So are you coming Nick?" Demi asked glaring,

"Actually I have plans with Luce,"

"Oh," Demi stated smiling relieved. "Good, and Selena?"

I laughed shaking my head, "No, she's on a lunch date."

"With a guy?" Danielle asked intrigued,

"Yeah Justin something, he's loaded with cash supposedly, younger then her, need more be said." I muttered as Demi just looked at me,

"What's wrong with her dating a younger man,"

"Nothing I just mean-"

"Stop judging my best friend Nick!" Demi hissed at me,

"I wasn't-"

"Look it's good she's got someone Nick and you don't, so I wouldn't be judging right now! I mean look what happened with Miley-"

"Okay, I'm just going to go." I announced wanting to escape, "Have fun with the paints,"

Mom and Danielle both gave me an uneasy smiles their eyes wearily on Demi who looked ready to blow at any second. I took a few steps back gave a quick wave and practically sprinted to the back door, anything to get away from my best friend deathly glares.

The subject of Miley was still a touchy topic with Demi, she was still coming to terms with the fact Liam had drugged her, like the rest of us basically. Emily was sending me updates on a daily basis, and every day she was getting more worried. Miley wasn't crying, she wasn't upset and she just didn't seem to care about what had happened. However progress had been made, I'd spoken to Miley, once. So it wasn't exactly progress, and she had talked to me for less then a minute on the phone but still she hadn't yelled, screamed or said that she hated me. It was a step in the right direction in my opinion.

The next step was now. I pulled out my phone getting up a message as I climbed into my car.

Lunch tomorrow?

I pressed send and started up the engine contemplating. What if she said no? Was I going in too strong, too soon?

My phone buzzed as I picked it up hopeful…only to see my lawyer calling.

I groaned outwardly and answered, had the judge changed her mind?

"Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"You start community service tomorrow at five am,"

"WHAT?" I yelled, "FIVE AM?"

Our lawyer laughed, "Yep, and I hope you have gloves…"

"Gloves?" I asked confused.

"You're making flower arrangements every week for the Saturday charity luncheon," He announced as my eyes just widened, flower arrangement? As in…

"You're going to work at a florist under the charge of…let me see," I heard the shuffling of flowers as I froze, oh my god, there was no way that this could possibly happen, "Miley Stewart, wait…that can't be right because that's-"

"My ex fiancé," I whispered closing my eyes, "Fantastic,"

Miley.

"I got coffee!" Brandi sing songed,

I glanced up from the front counter and gave a weak smile as she placed one before me sweeping away towards my fretting sister. "God could this get any worse? Hello? Hello? Do you speak English?" She yelled on the phone as Brandi laughed handing her a coffee, "No, no I don't want to be redirected to- I said no! I just want to- No I don't want a free trip to China, can you please just tell me where our delivery is…?"

"Who is she talking to?" Brandi asked leaning on the counter beside me,

I shrugged not really caring as I looked through our bills for this month.

"You okay? You seem tired," Brandi noted,

"FOR GOD SAKE! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE MY SHIPMENT IS!"

I looked up at Emily who hastily hung up the phone and stomped her foot down, "I swear to god I'm never ordering any flowers from overseas again, Miley you are going to have to do it, because I can't! I don't know how you can even speak to these people!" She snapped at me,

"I'll do it, okay?" I responded staring back at the bills,

There was a deadly silence as I felt a hand rest on my back, I turned looking at Brandi who stared at me giving a small smile. "You okay? You look really tired and pale, maybe coming back to work wasn't a great idea."

"I'm fine," I responded,

"You don't need to lie to us, if you're not you can tell us." Em stated carefully,

I shrugged looking at the two of them, "I'm just tired,"

"Why?"

"Does it really matter?" I hissed at them,

Brandi shook her head and retracted her hand, "So do you know how Nick went at court today?" She questioned as I frowned shrugging,

"No, why would I?" I asked,

"Because…" Em stated matter of factly, "You two are talking again."

I rolled my eyes picking up the coffee taking a small sip, "I wouldn't constitute a thirty second phone call where he asked me how I was, to which I replied I was fine is exactly talking, not in your terms anyway." I responded feeling my stomach swirling as I quickly put the coffee back down,

"But still you've forgiven him, you're talking to an extent." Brandi stated smiling, "It's good,"

"Uhuh…wait how did you know Nick's case was today? I didn't,"

I looked up between my sisters confused as I saw the guilty look in Emily's eyes as she tried to distance herself without looking obvious. "You've been talking to him? Behind my back?" I asked hurt,

"No, he's just worried Miley, we're all worried, we just want to help you."

"Why? I don't need help! I'm fine!" I hissed,

"Miley we almost lost you," Emily chocked out, "Again. You-"

"I'm fine, look I'm-"

"Miley what Emily's trying to say is…" Brandi stopped and looking at Emily and turned back to me unsure, "We just thought you'd react differently to all of this, it's like you're okay with what Liam did to you."

I frowned angry, "So you want me to be upset?"

"No Miley we just-"

I picked up the bills and shook my head, "You know what just stop okay? I'm fine, just leave me the hell alone and maybe concentrate on your own god damn lives instead of trying to interrupt mine." I walked away leaving my coffee behind,

I purposely knocked past Emily and headed for the back room, throwing open the door. Noah's head instantly looked up from her homework as she pulled out her headphones,

"Hey, I just need to finish this-"

"Get to work! Now!" I hissed at her,

"Miles I just got one more-"

"Maybe if you didn't go and screw your boyfriend last night you would have already finished your homework. You are supposed to be working now Noah, get out and go do something productive or you won't get paid!" I yelled at her,

Noah just stared as I felt a presence behind me, "Noah come on, let Miley have the room. You can do your homework on the front counter," Brandi stated quietly, "Don't worry I'll pay you regardless,"

Brandi glared at me as my younger sister jumped up collecting her belongings and rushed out past me without making eye contact. I quickly turned slamming the door sucking in a breathe as I closed my eyes trying to calm down but I couldn't because...

I was starting to remember.

It only happened last night, up until then I'd just been in denial, pretending like the whole thing just didn't happen because to me it hadn't.

I didn't remember it.

Last night though these memories just hit me as I lay in bed, of that night, of Liam kissing me even though I told him to stop. Remembering how scared I felt, how much I just wanted him to leave me alone. The pain I was feeling, I remembered all of it and now I just didn't want to process it, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't even distract myself with work because what ever I did everything would bring back those memories.

I moved away and sat at the table looking at the bills my hands shaking, I'd been staring at them all morning yet I hadn't paid a single one. Every time I tried to I thought of him, of what he almost did to me. I'd thought it couldn't be possible, that everyone was wrong but I remembered it.

I closed my eyes as I sniffled trying to hold it together but I couldn't,

The way his hands wouldn't let me go.

The way he had me pinned against the wall.

His lips forcefully invading my mouth

The snap of his belt buckle,

I opened my eyes as a few tears fell, I quickly wiped them away trying to put my focus elsewhere. I just had to forgot about Liam, about Mandy, about all my friends who I'd stupidly trusted and believed that they'd look after me. More tears started to fall as my phone rung. I wiped them away quickly and grabbed it looking at the text,

Lunch tomorrow?

Nick

I shook my head my lip quivering as I quickly got up a message. How could I possibly have lunch when right now I could barley manage a sip of coffee without feeling sick,

Can't working.

I dropped my phone onto the table pressing my fingers against my temple rubbing it slowly, I just wanted to forget again. My phone started blaring as I looked down expecting Nick's name only to see an unknown caller. I sniffled quickly wiping my eyes as I answered,

"Hello, Miley speaking."

"Hey Miley it's Theresa from the cancer charity board."

"What?" I asked confused wiping my eyes,

"Oh…I spoke with your sisters? About a few volunteers coming over to help with the flowers, because you're being so generous we thought it was the least we could do." She started as I nodded remembering,

"Yeah, yeah of course Theresa, how can I help out."

"Well the first function is this Saturday,"

"I know,"

"So we're sending three guys over, they are doing community service. Had some problems with law enforced and what not, is that okay? I just thought I'd call and make sure, I promise they haven't done any major crimes the department told me they're completely safe." She responded as I nodded,

"That's fine, help is help regardless,"

"Okay great I've informed their lawyer five am Saturday morning correct?"

"Yeah, I'll be here waiting,"

"Okay thanks Miley,"

"Thanks Theresa,"

I hung up and let my head drop onto the table, frustrated, exhausted and most of all feeling completely lost.