Publicity

35

Nick's POV

72 hours before the photo shoot.

My lips started to feel sore that I failed to kiss her back with any enthusiasm; she detected this and slowly pulled away from me. After we disconnect I opened my eyes to see her pursed plump lips in a ghostly shade of blue.

"I think we should take a break." Miley declared, removing her hands that were previously cupping my neck as she moved away.

"Yeah," I agreed quietly.

Miley had come up with an idea to help us loosen up before the photo shoot; I shared her discomfort and nervousness and agreed to it. She told us that she won't have sex with me like Ter suggested, but we could try kissing in hope that'll somehow make us get used to each other's touch. It didn't really make any sense but I guess desperate times produce desperate solutions—that I stupidly agreed with.

"How does this help us again?" I asked after a while of silence, Miley turned to me, her legs were crossed as we sat side by side on the couch, a small distance between us.

"Dumbass," She retorted instantly "I told you, the more we kiss the less awkward tension between us there'll be."

"What? That's not what you said." I pointed out.

"No? Well, I just thought of it. Does it sound dumb?"

I shook my head a little "N-not really, a little maybe."

She sighed "We'll just keep doing this until I think of something else." She paused "Do you think this is working?"

"A little." I shrugged "I think it kind of does,"

Miley covered her face with her hands in frustration and sighed louder "We'll just...let's just keep doing it." She repeated, I gave a small nod, though my lips still felt sore so I didn't immediately went over and kissed her again, on the other hand she didn't pause and leaned over to me and closed the distance between us.

The kiss felt dry and nervous, it also felt like there was emotion being held back. The kiss felt like that all the half hour we've been doing this. I didn't complain, it's not like I could do anything to change how it feels. The kiss felt so empty I felt like it was okay to open my eyes, but a part of me wanted it to remain closed and force myself to feel something.

Miley let out a frustrated groan against my mouth and tore away. "It's not working." She announced and frowned "Are you even trying?"

I was confused. "I...I don't know. How do you want this to feel like?"

She shrugged and threw her hands up "I don't know, Nick, maybe not awkward, maybe stop being so nervous and held back?" She pointed out.

"You're holding back too." I said.

"Maybe if you didn't give me such a nervous vibe I wouldn't be holding back!" She shot back, crossing her hands over her chest. I looked away from her blaming eyes and let out a huff. "It's not working because kissing isn't the problem." I corrected "Mario Testino doesn't want to photograph us kissing."

When I mentioned Mario Miley blinked as if she had a realization and became really aware and nervous of the situation, I congratulate myself for successfully making her a nervous wreck. "What should we do?" She asked in a tiny voice, she sounded like she was really desperate for my help and didn't go on her usual ways of doing everything herself.

I shook my head, unsure. "We don't even know exactly what our problem is."

"My problem is that I don't want you touching me, perverted bastard."