Disclaimer: I own absolutely none of any crap you could possibly think I do.

I also apologize for not updating this for so long. My laptop broke down and no one knows about this story except for my readers. Read On!

"... And that was when she fell down the stairs right into Angelina Jolie. It was classic."

Leave it to Mandy to embarass me. I looked at the clock. It was almost time to go. Demi was hanging out with me and Mandz backstage still. I think most of the stars and audience had left. This had been an amazing night. I could only imagine how free I would feel once I finished handling absolutely everything.

"Miley? Miles!" Someone called my name repeatedly.

"Oh, sorry. Whazzup?" Laughter followed my awakening.

"Could you be any more of a nerd, M?"'

M. Mandy calls me that. I saw her look a little left out. I didn't feel bad or guilty, though. It was nice hanging with people my own age again. It made me feel as if I had some innocence left. I didn't have to do things out of my comfort zone.

"Mmmm, probably. But you still love me anyway, Dem."

"I still ak myself why everyday, too."

"How rude," I said this playfully. "You know that if I somehow disappeared off the planet you'd go crazy. I mean, crazier."

"Ha ha. You're hilarious. I just can't get enough of you." Sarcasm dripped heavily from her tone.

"That's what they tell me." I shot a bright smile in her direction and watched as she smiled back. The more we hung out, the more I missed how it felt to be a teenager. The less I thought about Mandy. Oh shoot, Mandy. Maybe we should have that talk now. Yeah, now would be best.

"We'll be right back D."

"That's cool. I should be going soon anyway. Call me later okay? Bye. Nice meeting you Mandy."

"You too," Was all my soon to be ex best friend said. She turned to face me. Neither of us said anything. Now I felt the guilt rushing to me. Why now?

"I guess this is it, huh? Rollercoaster's over. You have the Beach Girl5 and I have my life back. We both got what we wanted." Once of us had to speak up and I was trying so hard not to cry anymore tonight but I couldn't help it.

"Yeah Miles. I guess it is over. Remember the motto okay? 'I'll lean on you, you'll lean on me, and we'll be okay."

We had lived by this motto since the day we met. Now it was time to let go.

"How could I forget? Mandy, we're fixed. Can you believe it? We did it. It'll never really be goodbye. I promise. If you ever fall you know the number to call."

"How could I forget?" This is what we do. We laugh and make fun of each other. 'Cause we're friends. Forever and always. This moment called for a hug. So we just stood there and we hugged. It felt good. Done embracing, we two turned towards opposite directions and walked. A new path was ready to be taken. Although, I felt even more open and liberated than I had earlier dreamed I would, I just had to look back one time. Sure enough, she was looking at me too. We would need each other. And I knew I was headed back to my world. Where only a sixteen year old superstar and her 'brothers' could live on together. Where she can breathe them in and have no fear in exhaling.

the Weekend

"Bet you I can hold my breath longer Joseph."

"Wanna bet?" Uh, I coulda sworn I just said 'bet you I can...'

"Um, I mean. Yeah." He tried to make the 'yeah' sound cool but he wasn't even close.

"Riiggggghhhhttt."

I was currently in the Jonas' backyard in L.A. They had a concert here for the next four days. We were coming in and out of the pool and lemme tell you, Nick has definitely grown up a little since the last time we went swimming. Hey, if you saw him right now you would definitely agree with me. I guess I should go over and talk to him. I jumped out of the pool and wrapped my towel around me. I was wearing a simple black bikini that accentuated my curves and made my long legs look even longer. Of course, I was wearing a long white t-shirt over it wanting not to seem like I was trying hard or anything.

"Hey, Nickaroo!" Wow, did that sound as stupid as I thought it did?

"Nickaroo?" Yep, guess so.

"Oh like you never came up with a bad nickname. Why aren't you swimming?"

"Why aren't you swimming?" Was his retort.

"Oooh, someone has a smart mouth. Really though, why aren't you?"

"I don't know. Just thinking I guess. Wanna sit with me?"

Me being in love with him like I am I just had to say yes. He was smiling at me and if I didn't sit down my legs would become traitors.

"Why not? Whatcha thinking about?"

"Things. People. Girls." I waited thinking he would elaborate but he didn't.

"Girls, huh?" I gave him 'the look'.

"Yeah Mi, girls." I loved when he called me Mi. It was personal. Everyone usually called me Mile(s) or Miley. Only Nick called me Mi. "Well, just one girl I guess. I go crazy everytime I see her. She's beautiful and has brown hair. Her legs are really long and I love how she makes me laugh at her stupidity everytime she comes around. Sometimes I think it's dangerous for her to be around Joe. Especially when they share lame jokes that end up running through my head for the rest of the week. I even get a little jealous at moments because they're so close. But Kevin's not so bad. The sad part is that I don't think she knows a quarter of what I feel for her."

He looked at me with such helpless eyes. I couldn't help but think he was talking about me.

"Are you trying to tell me something Nick?" I hoped he was.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Well, maybe you should ask her how she feels." I was trying to encourage him.

"Yeah I guess. But how and...when?"

"Anyway you want to and when it feels right." I tried to search his eyes for some kind of clue. I was confused now. Please say something, Nick.

"In that case, I care about you, Mi. The way I know you used to care about me."

I knew it. I guess I was so shocked I didn't say anything so he got up and ran inside. Nice going Miley. You scared him away. At this point in the day, it didn't matter what I felt. I knew I had to go after him.

Upstairs in Nick's Room

I knocked and knocked until it was made clear he wouldn't answer anytime soon so I just waltzed right in. Before I knew it the door was being closed and I was being turned around and gently guided swiftly towards a corner of the four walls around me. Then I felt lips touch mine. I tried my hardest to protest so I could speak but once again I weakened at his touch. I kissed back only making things deepen. When I needed air I pushed him back with the softest touch I could, not wanting to offend him. I'd be lying by denying enjoyment in the last half minute.

"I'm so sorry. I couldn't help it. I understand if you're mad at me. Just please don't leave. I need you with me." Those were his first words. All I could do was smile. I think he got it, too.

"Don't be sorry. I liked it." With that I took a step towards him and brought him to his bed. Once done, I sat on his lap (he always loved that) and kissed him again with all the intensity I could. Somehow I guess it was so much, I found us standing again. Thank god he was still in his trunks. He looked hot. I put my hand on his stomach and made my way slowly to his chest. I heard a muffled moan come from his mouth and smiled inwardly with delight. As if it were timed, I felt the smile get bigger when he put his hands on my waist and they hungrily made their way towards the small of my back and even lower. That's when his fingers got to my butt with palms to follow. I couldn't help but burst out laughing and pull away when he squeezed.

"Way to ruin a moment, Mi." He sighed. He really was perfectly cute. "It's not my fault you have a cute butt." As he said that I felt another squeeze and heard a squeal escape my lips. Then he started laughing.

"Now you're being mean, Nick." I said jokingly.

"No, you're being mean."

"And how is that?"

"You're smiling and it's tempting me to do things." I saw his cheeks redden.

"Oh look, you're blushing." It was fun to tease him. Maybe I am kinda mean. Ha ha.

"What does this make us? A couple?" He asked this with a lot of anticipation I felt kinda pressured. He must've noticed. "I'll just follow your lead, okay?" I nodded in reply to his choice of words.

"Boyfriend and girlfriend is fine with me, but I think we should work our way up to things. Okay?"

"I agree. So do we do the same thing as last time? Public or not?"

"If it doesn't come up then it doesn't need to be talked about."

I knew I was kind of jumping into things but the way he kissed me and talked to me it was hard not to forgive him for everything. (a/n in this story the only bad miley pics are the vanity fair ones) I trusted him even more this time if that was possible. We didn't need to discuss it either.

"I gotta go soon." I didn't want this event to end.

"Nooo," Nick whined. "Can you ask your parents if you can stay longer?"

"I could try. But no promises."

I ended up being able to stay until later that night with mine and Nick's parents' permission both, of course. Now we had to decide what to do.

"Nick, I should probably go home and get some clothes to put on."

"But I like what you're wearing."

"I'm not wearing anything, Nicky."

"Yes you are. You have on a bikini. A very nice bikini and I think it makes you look even more beautiful."

"Aww really?" I pretended to fall for his teenage charm. And I was sure he believed me so I bursted that bubble. "Well too bad, cause I am not gonna walk around your house half naked no matter how cute you think my butt is." He took my hands and just smiled at me.

"What are you smiling at?" I gave him the 'weirdo' look.

"Nothing. I can't just smile at a pretty girl?" All I could respond to that with was a roll of my eyes. He was thinking. This is bad.

"I have some of your clothes here, Miles. I'll get them for you. Just wait right here, okay?" When have I ever listened to him? Never. That's why I followed him to his walk in closet. He opened a dresser drawer and half of it was filled with clothes of mine I had long since forgotten were here. I watched him look through all of them trying to pick out an outfit. As he turned around, he was wearing a shock struck expression when he realized my eyes on him.

I observed the clothes in his hand and held them up. "I see you picked the shortest pair of shorts in there and the most revealing shirt you could find."

"Well sorry for being a teenage boy with needs. Besides, it's summer and I didn't want you burning up outside. Please?"

"Only because it's hot out." He gave a look of pride thinking he had won. My swimsuit was dry by now and I had come over in it so I didn't have undies or a bra. For this reason, I just put the fabric on top of my bathing suit but I had to take my t-shirt off. Just to torture him, I did it in that spot slowly. He was practically drooling and clearly trying to keep his cool.

"Oh, i'm sorry? Should I change in the bathroom?"

"Um, um no. Right here is f-fine." He didn't notice the triumphant smile on my face.

"Are you sure? I don't wanna make things awkward."

"No, not awkward at all," While he spoke I saw his eyes on my chest and how they slowly moved down the rest of my body. Wow. He is so whipped.

I wiggled into the purple shorts I was given that stopped higher than mid-thigh and glanced at the shirt before objecting.

"Nick, give me a different shirt. Your mom's home and I don't wanna wear this."

"Fine. Here you go."

"Thank you, this one is better." It flowed away from my stomach luckily because it was a little see through and one of the sleeves hung off my right shoulder. I put on a clean pair of socks last. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"Whichever you want. 'My Girl'?" He remembered. "I know how it's your favorite movie." This made me hug him. I took his hand.

"Let's go watch it."

During the Movie's End

"Thomas J. No! He's dead." I looked up at Nick. We were in the living room all by ourselves watching the movie. "How are you not crying?" I could guarantee myself my cheeks were red from the tears I couldn't hold in. Her best friend just died and she's still got that chicken bone in her throat!

"You do enough crying for the both of us Mi! Besides, there's a happy ending remember?"

After the Movie

We were back outside near the pool's edge. Nick's head lightly rested in my lap as I played with his curls. How is it possible for him to be so darn adorable? All we did was look at each other.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look right now?" The sun was setting and the light reflected off my face.

"Only a few hundred times, Nicky." I giggled at his sweet nature.

"Well, you still look beautiful."

"Still? Since when does beauty expire?"

"You know what I meant, Mi."

"Yeah I know. Have I told you how handsome you look right now?"

"Are you trying to mock me?" he suggested, kidding. "It literally did get a bit hotter when you came out in your swimming suit." This made me blush and I never blush.

"Stop it, Nick."

"You don't believe me? It's the truth. And lucky for me no other guy can tell you that." His arms wrapped around my torso as he sat up. "Miley Ray Cyrus, you are perfect. Do you know what next week is?"

I thought and realized. Our anniversary. Third year of our existence together. But wait.

"Aren't you gonna be in a different state like everyday that week?"

"Yeah, but I'll find a way to make it. Trust me. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I've already got a few surprises up my sleeve even."

"Oh really? Any hints."

"Not really just that you'll love it."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I..."