Publicity

4

Miley's POV

"It was horrible," I said to Mom who was focusing on her phone "The Terry guy makes us...do stuff."

"Stuff?" She cocked her eyebrow towards me.

"Our management basically have trust issues." I continued ignoring her "I mean, they had to hire a PR specialist to see if we would touch each other. I'm not dumb, I know how to smile for the camera just like I know how to hold my 'boyfriend's' hand to make it look like we're dating."

"We know, Miley, but they wanted to see how it would look. And of course we have trust issues when all you do is shower hate towards him." She said, putting her phone down.

"I know you're not completely down for this relationship, believe me, so am I, but you need to take a good look of how the media sees you before and after we did this thing."

"Mom," I tried to stop her but she raised her hand up to silence me.

"You keep whining about not wanting to do this and if I hear one more word about it then you're not only getting into rehab, I'm going to make them give you a straight-jacket." She threatened.

"Stop.talking.about.rehab." I hissed.

"Then stop whining and complaining, the deal is set. This is an advantage, Miley. Before those pictures came out the headlines of you are all about your drunken shenanigans, at least that news is off the table, finally. Now we can rebuild your reputation, maybe even a better one."

"Mom, Hollywood loves the idea of conflict and problematic badass bombshells, before this bullshit came into the picture I was doing perfectly fine." I defended myself "And have anyone ever thought of how stupid this is? Making your love life very public; no one fucking cares about who I am dating, and even if they do they'd be tired at some point. No one gives two fucks. Admit it,"

"No one? What about me, Miley? Have you ever thought of me?!" She yelled "While you were running around stoned with pasties on your tits I was worried..I was ashamed."

I hesitated as her expressions became hard as stone. "Yes, Miley. I was ashamed. Your antics were out of control, you were losing yourself in drugs and alcohol and sex, I was so relived when Nick's manager called me, at that time no one considered hiring you for anything."

Anger swept over me and I balled my fist in rage. "So you were desperate for me to make money?!" I demanded "Is this what its all about to you?! Of course, you didn't care-"

"I care, Miley, and I thought that with Nick you could be fine, better, I found someone to look out for you that unlike any of your friends would lead you to harm!"

"Harm?!" I yelled "He cheated on me! You knew! You were there, You saw me cry, fuck, mom, You were the one who wiped my tears and cradled me like a baby!" I stopped in my sentence and inhaled a sharp breath, I swallowed the lump in my throat and blink to get rid of the tears. "No harm is worse than the one he gave me.." I pointed to my chest "In here."

"Honey-"

"It hurts, Mom." I began to whimper "And it hurts more to see you trusting him over anyone else to look over your shameful daughter."

"No, sweetie, it's just-"

"I am a shame, aren't I, Mom?" I whispered darkly "I'm so much of a shame that you threw me away for someone else to look out for. I'm just a burden to you."

Mom fell silent, and her eyes watered, I watched her lips trembling as she opened them slowly. "You are my lovely, amazing, talented daughter, and you are not a shame. I am proud of you, and you mean so much to me, I wouldn't throw you to just anyone to take care of. Trust me, Miley, I had a reason to ask him, I wouldn't leave you in the hands of just anyone. I chose him because I knew he would do it better than me, maybe I could say he's special."