Chapter Thirty-One
Three months later
Miley wrapped her arms around Joe's neck as she jumped on his back and swung her legs around his waist. "Giddyup horsey. Take me to the king."
"Mileyyyy, you're getting heavy. This is not like it was when you were fourteen."
Miley sent Demi her pouty face across the room but Demi was hardly paying attention to them. "Demiiii," she whined, "handle your boyfriend."
Demi's gaze slowly went to them. "What."
"Miley's implying that we're dating Dems," Joe fixed his eyes on her questioningly, "what's up with you?"
Demi's gaze went back down to the problem in front of her, her full plate of food. "Nothing. Im just tired."
Miley slid down from Joe's back and went over to the couch, sitting herself down next to Demi. "Okay honey bunny." She raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. "Do you want to go upstairs and take a small nap?" Miley gave her a slight wink so that Nick and Joe couldn't see it.
"Maybe a small one." She nodded and dropped the fork on her plate standing up alongside Miley. Miley put one arm around her shoulder and guided her up Joe's staircase.
"I know this is hard for you sweetie. I know that being in that treatment center didn't heal you all the way." Miley looked over at Demi and pursed her lips. "But if Joe is your best friend you're going to have to start talking to him about these things. You don't have to avoid it. He's trying to prove himself and basically if he can't handle it then he's not right for you."
"I know, Miles. It's just..." Demi sighed. "I get so nervous and tongue tied around him."
"He thinks you walk on the moon though." Miley rolled her eyes a little. "You know I hate to admit this but I've been around Joe these past few months and I've seen a real change in him." She said as they turned into Joe's room. "It's nothing but Demi, Demi, Demi with him so loosen up sweetie. I could be wrong but I bet you could tell that boy just about anything."
Demi sat down on the bed and gave Miley a small smile. "Alright. Thanks Miles." Miley sat down next to her and gave her a quick hug.
"So should we stay up here or go back down."
"Maybe we should wait a few."
"Why?"
"We're in Joe's room so I'm gonna take advantage of it."
Miley chuckled and joined Demi at the drawers.
"So... you know how I've been planning to get my own place, away from the folks and everything?" Nick asked, looking over at Joe.
Joe nodded and turned his gaze from the floor to Nick. "Yeah, I guess."
"I've been thinking... what if I asked Miley to move in with me...?"
Joe shook his head quickly and put his hand up. "No. Nononono. No."
"What's wrong with that? I've been trying to show her a reason to trust me, to trust that Im not going anywhere."
"Nick, you always get in too deep with this relationship. What if Miley's not the one?"
"What if Donald Trump started parking cars? Since when did we start asking ridiculous questions. Of course Miley's the one." Nick crossed his legs and arms staring directly at his brother. "That's not even a real objection, Joe. You could've at least tried harder."
"Okay, picture this. You're thirty. You hit your midlife crisis or whatever and then Miley's face starts looking like old news. You want to move on to the next thing. Keep in mind, this is thirty year old Miley. And then someone like Selena is single by then and she starts looking really... new."
Nick held his hand up to stop Joe. "Is this dumb story gonna go on for much longer?"
"Why don't you ever listen to me? You and Miley always break up. Something's got to be wrong there."
"Why did I even ask you?" Nick stood up and walked around the couch still looking at Joe. "Whatever happened to 'you and her keep finding each other so you obviously belong together'?"
"I don't know, maybe I felt differently about love three months ago."
Nick sighed and sat on the table next to Joe's seat on the couch. "Joe, Demi will come around. You've just got to wait. Don't mess this up."
"I'm trying. I've been trying for three months."
"Well maybe you should try harder."
The next day Demi, Miley, Selena and Taylor were all shopping together and Miley had her arm slung over Demi's shoulder. She was busy trying to clear Demi's mind of all her problems. "Oh my God, Demi. This jacket is so hot. It's so you." She let go of Demi and grabbed onto the spiky jacket and turned to Demi. "Try it on. Now."
Demi smiled. "I actually do like that one." She took the jacket from Miley and swung it onto her shoulders, posing in the mirror in front of her. "What do you think?"
Taylor nodded in appreciation. "Hot, girl."
"I think..." Selena came up behind Demi and put both of her hands on each one of her shoulders and smiling at her in the mirror's reflection, "it's perfect for when we go out this weekend. Wear that black dress you bought earlier and we've got ourselves a winner."
Demi turned to them in one quick movement. "We're going out this weekend? Where?"
"Joe thinks we should go for a quiet night out at the movies and I kinda like the idea of being in a dark theatre with Nick if you know what I mean." She winked at the girls and they all chuckled.
"That was subtle, Miles." Selena sat down on one of the comfy chairs by the heel section and they all followed suit.
"Hey guys, can I tell you something?" Demi whispered.
"Always." Miley said, keeping one eye on a cute pair of heels while still listening to her best friend.
"It's been three months and no girls and I think maybe Im ready to you know, take that next step with Joe." She said nervously fiddling with her fingers. "Maybe he's ready to stop messing around and be in a serious relationship."
"Maybe..." Taylor trailed off unsure of how to answer that.
"What do you really think?" Demi knew what Taylor thought of Joe but she still wanted to hear her opinion.
"Im absolutely not sure, Demi. Joe showed me that I didn't know him as much as I thought I did."
"I think it's a great idea." Selena said smiling super wide and scooting her chair closer to Demi. Miley and Taylor exchanged looks before looking at Selena confused.
"You do?" Demi tilted her head to the side, gazing at her friend.
"Joe has tried so hard for three months straight. Do you really expect him to wait forever? What kind of friend would you be if you mistreated HIS feelings like that? Plus, he loves you and you love him." Selena stared into Demi's eyes getting her point across. "Have faith. Also, life has disappointments and we'll get through those together too."
"True." Miley said, nodding in agreement.
"Okay, it's settled then." She sent them a small smile. "I'll tell Joe this weekend."
