A/N: HOLY! I know, I'm so so sorry for not updating as I said, it's been so busy and well I really lost all my interest in writing that a lot of my stories took the backseat. I truly apologize, but in honor of my 20th birthday, I decided to share my birthday celebration with a present to all my loyal readers. :) Thank you guys so much for your encouraging reviews, and hopefully this update will sustain you for a little bit. It's not exactly long, but I seriously had to push myself just to write it. In all honesty I have no idea where I'm taking the story, but if anyone has any ideas or suggestion. Let me know.
Plus, for any Sarah Dessen readers, her new book which I got for my birthday is freaking AMAZING! :) She is a writing genius.
Chapter Seven
The Warmth of an Embrace
Nick led Ashley inside the empty house, flicking on the lights aimlessly, before leading her up the stairs and down the long hallways of the Jonas' Manor. Standing just outside his bedroom door, he turned to take in the girl at his side, his eyes tracing over her shivering form, her wet clothes clinging to her body as he wrapped her arms around herself, he let out a quiet sigh. Enveloping her in his arms, she buried her face into the crook of his neck, as she let the sobs come.
Pushing open his bedroom door, he led her inside, closing the door behind him. She slowly gathered her composure before she pulled away from his embrace. Her eyes locked with the warm comforting brown that stared back at her. Losing herself in the familiarity, and before she knew it, she took the last step that separated them. Closing the small distance them, her lips collided with his, capturing his lips into a kiss. Reality seem to disappear.
--
Miley stood outside watching the rippling water that fell from the edge of the never ending pool at the Oken's estate. She turned slowly to meet the gaze of the blonde hair boy starring back at her. Standing before Cody, she felt at lost. He knew. He knew she had something to hide, and even as she stood there before him, she couldn't bring herself to break down the walls she had put up.
Opening her mouth to speak, the words just escaping her lips before a voice called out interrupting the couple, "Miles, we better get going. It looks like its going to pour."
Turning her head, she saw Adam standing at the screen door. Shifting her gaze back to Cody, she frowned, "I better go."
Turning on her heel, she headed up the steps to the back deck, before she felt a firm hand grasping her wrist. Stopping in her tracks, she turned back before her eyes met the green starring back at her, "I'm here for you Miley... whatever it is..."
Nodding her head, he release his grip. With quick steps Miley made her way over to Adam. They exchanged quick goodbyes with everyone inside, before she led Adam out to the car. Sliding into the seat, she drove them back to the Stewart's home.
--
Resting against the headboard, Nick buried his face into the palm of his hands. The duvet was loosely covering his bottom half, leaving his naked torso exposed. Letting out a deep sigh, he glanced over at the sleeping figure beside him, his eyes roaming the smooth curve of her body as she slept.
He felt the bed shift lightly, as Ashley tangled in sheets moved slightly, her breath still even, as she slept.
Reaching out lightly he traced the trail of dried tears that fell across her cheek, before he took a breath. There was so much he didn't understand, because at one moment in time, she made sense. She helped the aching feeling that he felt after Miley left. Even in the midst of all his confusion, he knew that one thing would always be the same. Settled there beside in that moment, was comfort.
Flashback
He stood watching the falling raindrops on the little patch of cement, the dark thundering sky hovered above him. Gripping the silver phone in his hand, he let out a sigh, before slipping the phone back into his pocket. And that's when he heard it, the sound of footsteps shuffling behind him, as he turned quickly in the direction of the noise. His eyes landing on the creeping figure, before they came into view.
A glimpse of blonde locks came into view as the flash of lighting filled the air, before his eyes met the green pair starring back at him. With cautious step, she made her way towards him, before she spoke, "Hey..."
Nick swallowed a breath, before he managed to find his voice, "Hey..."
She gave him a shy smile, before she closed the small distances between them, "You looked lonely out here, I thought you could use some company... I'm Ashley."
He nodded in greeting before he extended a hand, "Nick."
--
The hours passed that night quickly, before the found comfort in the arms of one another. Passing the minutes away with glass after glass of champagne. The found themselves later that night tumbling in movement, before collapsing in bed. With swift movements, and clumsy hands, peeling away the layers of clothes from each other body, they moved as one as they danced a dance of passion.
That was the first night of the bittersweet never ending cycle.
End of Flashback
He allowed the memory to replay in the back of his mind before he felt the bed shift. He saw the fluttering of her eyelid, as it took in the faint glimmer of light peeking through the window. Taking in her surrounding before she sat up quickly, the thin sheet falling off her body exposing her bare back. The long curtain of blonde hair cascading down her back before she wound her arms tightly around her exposed chest, gazing across her shoulder her eyes met with Nick.
Even in the dim light of the room, he could make out the guilty expression behind her eyes, the sense of insecurity. With a warm smile, he patted the side of the bed. With hesitant movement, she shifted her weight onto the bed, before she tugged the edge of cotton sheet wrapping it around her body. Settling into the spot he motioned for her to come to, she felt his arm lift before resting onto her shoulder, pulling her in closer to him allowing her head to fall against his bare chest. The sound of their steady breath as she allowed herself to feel comforted in his arms. She couldn't explain it, even in their long strings of a never ending cycle, never once, had they ever truly had a moment like this. Ashley couldn't seem to placate her over thinking mind, but she didn't say a word, she just embraced the moment allowing the sound of Nick's steady beating heart lull her back into a slumber.
--
Miley led Adam through the Stewart's family home, the echoing sound of her footsteps reaching from wall to wall. She reached the end of the long hallway just outside the guest bedroom she had set up for Adam, turning to meet his observant gaze.
She opened her mouth to speak before closing it quickly as his voice filled the air, "That was some intense conversation you must have had out their with Cody, Miles."
Meeting his gaze, she knew he was watching her with careful eyes waiting to find a flaw in her facade, but it quickly shattered because she knew, he knew her better than she knew herself. Struggling with the words, broken paused in-between fragments sentences, "He... he.. wanted to know about that night..."
Like a wave she could envision the exact scene replaying through her mind as she shuddered in fear. He was slow in his movement as he took a step closer to her, before encompassing her in his arms, rubbing small circles on the small of her back, as she let the tears fall from her eyes. He knew the story, quite well in fact. Even when she had first left for London, when he met her the first day of orientation, he knew that she was something different. Guarded. Defensive.
And when the story unraveled, he couldn't help but feel anger. They build their relationship on healing her. And he thought he had succeeded, but the girl in his arms wasn't the girl that was healed from the emotional scar, she was the girl he first seen. The scared timid little girl, just ready to forget her past.
"I thought things were fine Miles, that things were better." He said quietly.
He could feel the small shiver running through her body, "It's so hard you know, to be in love with him. But I can't help but see his father every time I stared into his eyes... It doesn't matter now... he has Ashley."
Letting out a sigh as he felt her arms tighten around his waist, he could still feel the tears seeping into his shirt as she clung onto him. He wanted nothing more to help ease the pain. Without another word exchanged, he held her allowing her to free the burden she had suppress for so long.
A/N: A little Nick/OC and some Madam. Is it weird that I love Ashley's character? I know many do not agree with me, but we will see if I can finally work in some of that Niley you guys all want. I think its a long way coming though, just because I would need to step it all up, and not rush things. So until then sit tight. And fall in love with the complexity of a messed up family dynamic/ friendship relationship. If that even makes sense. Please review, it would probably encourage the writing process to flow through me. :)