Let's Be Nothing (I Heard it Lasts Forever) // niley

38

Nick

"Hello?"

"Miley," I said breathlessly "Where are you?"

"I'm going to class, I have to hang up."

"I know, its important listen—"

"Can it wait? I can get in trouble."

"This is serious, where are you?"

"I can't talk now." She said sharply.

"Just tell me where you are!"

"Mr. Jonas, why aren't you in class?" A teacher came up to me; hands crossed over his chest.

"I'm going right now,"

"Well you're late. Do you want to get sent into the principal's office again?"

"Does everyone know about that?" I muttered under my breath.

"You better go now young man." He told me sternly, I mouthed a cuss before putting the phone next to my mouth "Meet me after school,"

"You're grounded." Miley reminded, her voice in a hushed tone like she was trying not to be heard. I could picture her in class, hunching over her desk.

"Right. Football practice then,"

"Kay," She sounded unamused but also a little annoyed...and a little scared.

"It's really serious." I told her, hoping a caring tone in her voice would surface.

"Alright. See you."

---

During football practice I was really distracted on the field; I kept glancing at the bleachers to see if Miley was there yet or not. At last she appeared and sat herself amongst the usual jock-fanatics. She looked worn out and it broke my heart not knowing why; I haven't checked in on her for what feels like weeks. What am I missing from her life?

She came at exactly when coached called break, so without hesitation I sprinted towards the bleachers, ignoring the fact that Chord and his posse was throwing me dirty looks. I came up to her breathless, and she didn't even bother to meet me in the middle at first. She took her time to get up and descend the bleachers.

"Are you feeling okay?" I popped a question.

"Yeah," She said distantly "What do you want to talk about?"

I paused "If something's bothering you—"

"Nothing's bothering me," She denied quickly, her voice shook like how it always does when she's lying.

"You can tell me,"

"I said nothing, Nick." She said sternly.

I looked at her, I knew there was something she's not telling me, something's bugging her, scaring her, it wasn't nothing. It was everything. How could I tell her about her friend puking her guts out in the girl's bathroom this morning when she seems like her life's already falling apart?

"What's so important?" She asked, snapping me back to reality.

I tried to think hard. Should I tell her now? "Are you really okay?" I asked.

She sighed "I'm fine."

There it is. She's not fine. It might be big. I just can tell, but I can't tell what it is. This Lily news can survive for another day. I'll have to put it aside, I can't put more on her plate.

"I just want to know how you are," I said "You haven't been looking well."

"That's what important?" She said almost in mock disbelief.