Chapter Twenty-One

Demi's POV

Demi watched as her friends said their last goodbyes and exited. She gave them one last wave before she went back over to the bed and sat cross-legged on the bed. She stared at the phone for a bit before she sat it directly in front of her, not using it, just tapping it and thinking...

Of a time not so long ago when she had Selena and Joe as her best friends, a different time, a happier time. At least for her. She would give anything to have it back, except she also knew she couldnt live without Miley in her life either.

She spread her legs out on either side of the phone as she continued to stare at it, hoping it would ring and a certain someone would be on the other side or that she at least got the balls to call them up and say...hi, I miss you... I hate you... I love you...

She shook her head and sighed. She never would. She didn't have the guts then and she didn't now. And she didn't think she ever would, which was why she was here in the first place. She didnt think she was good enough and she never would be.

She swiped a stray tear away off her cheek and laid down on the bed as she let the rest fall.


Joe's POV

"So? A solo album?" Nick asked Joe as him and his brothers sat having lunch at Fred Segel's.

"Yeah. I have a couple of things I need to get off my chest." Joe picked at his food as he watched his brother's expressions, nervously.

Kevin and Nick exchanged looks and then his older brother said as he looked back at Joe, "I think it's a great idea."

"Me, too." Nick agreed. "Can I ask a question, though?"

Joe nodded, curiously not expecting the question that came out of Nick's mouth.

"Did you write songs about Demi?"

"Uh..." This time he really he really fiddled with his food. "Yeah. I've sort of had a lot of feelings about what's going on."

"Do you think thats such a good idea?"

Joe sighed frustrated. "Don't worry, Nick. I'm really good at hiding who my songs are about unlike someone."

"What do you mean?" Nick asked suddenly looking up from something he was staring at under the table.

"Nevermind." Joe said, shaking his head. "I'm...going to see Demi, guys."

"Woah! No." Kevin said firmly. "I DON'T think that's a good idea. So no, Joe."

"I want to see her." He worried about her and he missed her. God, did he miss her. And he wanted to apologize.

"Demi's going through a rough time partly because of you." Kevin said. "She's hurting right now and I think you just need to give her some time."

Joe thought about what Kevin said. "But I don't want to be too late."

"Too late for what?"

"Demi is MY best friend. I don't want to lose her."

Kevin and Nick exchanged looks across the table again and Joe could tell from their expressions that he knew what they were thinking. It was already too late.


December 1st

Miley's POV

Miley tossed and turned on her bed as she kept gazing at her phone on her nightstand hoping it would buzz with some kind of message or call and then it did but it was the "La La La" by Auburn ringtone she was hoping for. It was "A Year Without Rain" which meant Selena. She swiped the phone off the nightstand and brought it to her ear tiredly answering it. "Hey, Sel."

"Hey, hey, hey." Selena said, more chipper than Miley was ever in the morning. "You, me, breakfast."

"Is there something you need to discuss?"

"Yes. I think it's pretty important." Miley noticed Selena's tone change to a serious one and she sighed.

"Alright, but I'm picking the place."

Selena met Miley outside of the restaurant and they walked in together taking a seat at a more private booth in the back thankful that even the paparazzi wasn't up this early. "Thanks for having breakfast with me although I know you may not want to talk about what I need to talk about."

Miley looked up at Selena slowly, suspicious. "What?"

"It's Joe." Selena said and Miley just stared at her with no reaction. "I need to know if you've forgiven him."

Miley scoffed. "As if." She said as they waitress came over, dropped off two glasses of water and took their orders and as she walked off Miley asked, "Why?"

Selena pursed her lips. "Nick called me-"

"What?" She interrupted not believing it after she had been waiting on him to call or text her. "What for? Why didn't he call me?"

Selena nervously bit at her nails. "He and I don't think that what he wants to talk about, you'll want to hear."

"Oh, please." Miley said. "Nick knows he can tell me anything. Is it about Joe?" Miley took a sip of her water.

Selena nodded slowly. "Mmhm."

"Just tell me Selena."

"He wants to see Demi."

Absolutely not. She started to shake her head.

"I think it'll be good for her." Selena said interrupting what Miley was about to say.

"How will that be good for her? I think he's only thinking about himself. As always." Miley raised a voice a notch not even noticing.

"I read somewhere that if people who go through what Demi go through never face what hurts them then they'll never get past the hurt." Selena looked down at her fingers. "I really need my best friend back, Miley."

Miley sighed looking at Selena's sad face. Great, since when was she the horrible one? "You don't know that that's true, Sel. Maybe it's best if she doesn't ever face it. Maybe it's best if she just moves on with her life."

The waitress came by and set their plates in front of them but neither Selena nor Miley reached for their food.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Miley but I think it's you that hasn't forgiven Joe yet. This has nothing to do with Demi."

"It has everything to do with Demi!"

Selena immediately shook her head at Miley. "No. I think Demi's forgiven Joe. She says nothing but great things about him-"

"Thats because it's a sickness! She can't do anything but blame herself!" Miley yelled attracting the attention of the few people up to eat breakfast in this diner. "With her, she's always going to be the one to blame. But you know better and Joe knows better."

Selena sat there soaking in Miley's words. "So what are you saying?"

Miley shrugged wishing she could take back the words but thankful that they were out there.

"You told me that Demi blamed herself for our fight." She said more like a statement than a question. Miley said nothing so Selena slowly nodded. Miley didn't want to just outright blame Selena for making Demi hurt and when Selena stood up, she wanted to pull her back down and apologize but she didnt. "Alright. I see. I'll go and I'll leave you alone."


HAPPY NILEY DAY!

I'm trying more than one POV lately so the chapters are gonna be longer than my others. My excitement from Niley day produced three chapters so...REVIEW and tell me how excited you are. Chapter {1/3} today.