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

40

Miley

By the time school was dismissed that day I still haven't shaken off the thought of Ariana playing me an unpublished, confidential part of Nick's interview. It was haunting my mind, I was supposed to know something from it...but a huge part of me kept ignoring it and trying to suppress any emotion.

I went about my day and went home, I wanted to check on Lily but yesterday she finally told her parents about what's going on and now she's attending therapy. I'm happy for her, and I'm so proud. Imagine coming out about something you've been hiding for so long, it was brave and I feel like I couldn't relate. I haven't confronted myself or anyone about the things I hide, but I shouldn't right? Seeing how I'm such a person without exterior.

I feel like there's nothing I'm hiding.

Being at home is always quiet and lonely, but today I felt unusually and excruciatingly lonesome. My list of the people I could talk to was one by one crossed out in my mind; Lily—doing therapy. Ari—I think I pissed her off. Lautner—not sure about him, he could be busy with football or gay stuff. Plus, he hadn't hung out with me today. Selena, Demi, Taylor? A good distraction, but not the one I need right now.

Nick.

So it comes down to the last and should be the most obvious option. My best friend, anyway. Even though it feels less like it. But anyway, I formed a text.

Miley: u still grounded?

He replied when exactly a minute passed, giving me enough anxiety.

Nick: yes
Nick: but im back on grocery duty, so I can say I'm getting close to complete freedom

Miley: so u cant hang out?

Nick: im leaving in 5 mins
Nick: if u want to hang out I'll stop by the Target near ur house and u can come by and watch me push around a trolley like a slave

Miley: sounds tempting
Miley: are u gonna be in trouble tho?

Nick: nah I'll just tell mom they don't have Lil Debbie or whatever shit she wants me to get at our local Walmart

Miley: alright cool ☺
Miley: see u in a bit then

Nick: if ur there and u don't see me at the entrance find me at the ice cream isle

Miley: I know

Nick: ik but act like u don't know I might need u to help me shoplift some ben and jerry's cos mom sure as hell didn't give me enough money to buy the luxury items I crave

Miley: lol okay
Miley: im going rn see u

Nick: ok bye

After our text-based conversation I left my house and walked to Target, which was luckily so close to my house, when I neared the big white building I spotted Nick's classic mustang in the parking lot; and just in time the devil himself climbed out of it and started walking to the entrance.

"Nick!" I called, running up to him.

"Hey," He breathed with a smile.

I nervously smiled back; it felt forced and a little weird. Why does it feel strange to notice he looks happy to see me? And why do I feel obliged to smile back? I could just ignore it, it's more natural.

"So, what did you do to finally be let out of the house?" I asked.

"I ate all the food," He said like it's no big deal "So mom was like 'Are you serious? You're here for 24 hours and you ate all the food? Are you bored or hungry? You know what, you need to get more now!'"