4th July 2011

"I think he doesn't love me anymore." Demi chocked on her water as her best friend blurted those words out. How for the love of god could she even think that, let alone, believe that?

"What?" Miley looked at Demi with sad eyes. She shrugged and played with a curl that was hanging down by the side of her face. Demi was currently curling her hair and had just taken a break from it to drink something.

"I think he doesn't love me anymore. He forgot… I can't believe he forgot! On a day like this you'd think he'd remember our anniversary. But he didn't!" Demi grabbed the curling iron again and took the next section of hair in between her fingers to curl it.

"I don't think he forgot… He would never forget something as important as your official one year anniversary slash your unofficial three year anniversary." Miley groaned annoyed.

"See? Even you remember! But when I woke up today he didn't say a word other than good morning to me - then he got up and made breakfast. Then I fell asleep again and all I found was a note saying he was out with the guys and that he'd see me later at the party. He doesn't love me anymore!" Demi shook her head, not quite understanding that Nick would do something like that.

"I do not believe this for a second, Miles… He didn't forget - he can't. Nick is too romantic and he's too scared of losing you to forget something as important as this. Not that he will lose you or something. I'm just saying, that he loves you too much and stop saying you think he doesn't love you anymore!" Miley sighed and looked down, now playing with her nails. They were black - one of her favorite colors.

Demi had told her that black didn't go with the outfit but she didn't care. Nobody looked at her nails ever anyway; why would somebody suddenly care what color they were?

"But how can I think what you just said if he didn't do anything affectionate towards me this morning at all? He barely even mumbled a 'good morning' to me anyway. He got out of bed immediately and I haven't seen him since." Demi took another part of her hair and curled it, biting her lip and thinking about this herself.

Nick couldn't possible forget. He wasn't like that and even if he - dare she think this - even if he didn't love Miley anymore he'd remember this date; this day until the day he'd die. According to him Miley was his first love and he's spent three years with her anyway already. And she was just with the couple two days ago. He stuck to her like glue, not letting go of her at all. The only time he had to, was when Miley had to go to the toilet - and even then he almost would have gone with her.

"I think you forgot but Nick isn't an asshole anymore. He is the corniest and cheesiest guy ever. He is so attached to you; I think he'd forget his name if it weren't for you. A week ago he introduced himself as 'Nicky' and later apologized saying that it was the nickname his girlfriend would call him and his actual name was Nick. He is so confused sometimes… anyway, that boy is attached to you like… I don't even know what!"

Miley sighed and shrugged, looking into the mirror, finding Demi's eyes. Demi sighed too and dropped her hands for a second, seeing how sad Miley was about this. Unfortunately Demi had no idea if Nick even had something planned for them or not. But Miley was right - how could someone forget their anniversary if they got together on a day like the 4th of July?

This is why Demi knew that Nick would never forget this day. He just couldn't. And if he did she'd beat him up until he'd buy Miley everything she ever wanted… and maybe a little more.

"If you say so… If he doesn't do anything special tonight at all… I'll hate him for a year. And then we'll see how he can go on without me." Demi laughed and patted Miley's shoulder dropping the last curl that she just finished.

"That's my girl. And now, moving on, are you ready to make my hair look perfect?" Miley giggled and got up. Demi sat down and grinned at the mirror. Miley rolled her eyes.

"Hey! I saw that! Unroll your eyes again, young lady!" Miley sighed and rolled them the other direction, laughing as Demi nodded satisfied.

"I hope you do know that you can't 'unroll' your eyes." Demi shrugged.

"I don't really care. You don't roll your eyes at my happiness." Miley kept herself from rolling her eyes this time and nodded.

"Yes sir - I mean, Madam. Now, what style would we like today? Slightly curly, a lot wavy, straight or extreme curls?" Demi looked up for a few moments and then shrugged.

"Let's says lightly curly with a love of wavy - can you do that?" Miley nodded and started right at it, mirroring what her mother had done in the past.

"So… boytoy coming?" Miley raised an eyebrow curiously, waiting for Demi's reply.

"Uhm… psh, who are you talking about? No, there's no boytoy…" Miley giggled at Demi's red face and patted her cheek.

"I believe there is since your blushing… don't lie Demetria, just tell me - is boytoy coming or not? And what's his name?" Demi looked around the room, mumbling a few things that Miley obviously didn't catch.

"What was that?"

"Yes, he's coming, his name is Chad." Miley squealed and accidentally burnt Demi's ear while doing so.

"Ow! Watch it!" Miley bit her lip.

"Sorry… so, his name is Chad… where's he from?"

"College." Miley laughed and shook her head at Demi's funny reply. She made it sound like that answer was obvious.

"I figured… if you don't want to tell me then don't - fine. So, how old is he?" Demi bit the inside of her cheek. If she was completely honest, she wasn't sure.

"Uhm… 19? I think… something around that age at least. Why do you care anyway?" Miley shrugged and ruffled Demi's hair a bit, smiling at the affect it had.

"Just asking… I had to find some other topic to talk about other than my boyfriend possibly either forgetting our anniversary or him not even loving me anymore… what do you mean you think he's around that age - at least? He could be 16 for all you know!" Demi giggled.

"He's in college - I doubt he's sixteen. And even if he were - he is incredibly cute." Miley laughed and patted Demi's shoulder.

"You're done." Demi checked her hair and then smiled at herself in the mirror.

"Thanks cutie. So now, to the make-up." They were pretty fast with their make-up so the last thing they had to do what put their dresses on which wasn't that hard to do. They were decked out in the usual theme - red, blue and white. Miley grinned at herself as Demi did some poses in the full-length mirror.

"We look major hot, my friend. And now, let's go. We're almost late." Miley snatched her bag - which was also blue, red and white (her mother designed it for them) and they walked out of her room at her house, arms linked and all.

"Even if we were late - they call it 'fashionably late' now, you know? We'll be the highlights of this bash - like always. They can wait a few more minutes to put their eyes on us; to be grazed by our presence." Demi raised her eyebrows and looked at Miley.

"You sure are not cocky at all." Miley giggled and shrugged.

"Have to boost my esteem in case of someone forgetting something important tonight. If I make myself feel better right now, I'll feel good then too. I won't feel as great as right now but as close as it can get and that should be enough." Demi shook her head and nudged Miley gently.

"Why do you still think he'll forget? He's Nick - he will remember; I bet he does." Miley looked at Demi doubtfully.

"Do you know something?" Demi shook her head.

"No. And if I did, you know I would tell you - which is probably why Nick didn't tell me. It's because he knows just as well as you that I can't keep a secret to safe my life. So no, I don't know anything." Miley sighed and nodded.

"Okay then… let's just hope he really didn't forget."

"And even if he - dare I say it - did forget; we'll have the time of our lives without him… well, maybe not the time of our lives but we'll have a hell lots of fun, okay?" Miley giggled and nodded. But as soon as Demi looked away she sighed. She hoped they would have that much fun; but she hoped even more that he'd remember…

"Okay, so far, no sighting of the possible enemy yet. That could be good or bad; you decide." Miley sighed and took a sip of her coke. He had to come - he said he would. He couldn't have forgotten that too, right?

"Great, way to boost my esteem Dems. Practically all I said before we came here has just been blown away by your observance. How about you don't tell me that you don't see him but you tell me if you do?" Miley was being extremely sarcastic but that was just because she was so pissed off already. They had been there for about an hour now and yet, there really was no sighting of Nick yet.

She was getting frustrated. He did promise to meet her here - anniversary or not, that was a promise he should be able to keep since he's always been to the parties before. Why was this year different? Was it because they already were together? That had to be the worst excuse to not come ever, right? But he still hadn't shown up.

"Okay, sorry… well, do you want to go to the beach? I'm sure that'll get your mind off him right now?" Miley sighed, knowing that the beach won't be the best way to get her mind off her boyfriend. But she shrugged and nodded.

"Okay." They walked to the beach, with linked arms once again. This year was one of the years were the rest of her friends weren't in town but partying at college or somewhere else - just not in town. So Miley and Demi spent their time on the beach.

It had already been two hours when Demi suddenly squealed. It wasn't a usual squeal - it was a full-on Demi squeal. Loud and right in Miley's ear. She practically flew backwards and held her head, groaning a little.

"What? Why are you squealing?" Demi's mouth dropped slightly and shook her head slowly.

"Uhm… just to test my vocal chords. Ah!" Miley jumped again and shook her head, confused.

"Why would you do that now? Why would you feel the need to do that now? And why did you have to test them right in my ear?" Demi giggled innocently and shrugged. Miley had sat back onto the rock she had fallen off of and sighed, rubbing her head once again.

"Great, I think I'm getting a headache… gee, Demi, my day couldn't have been worse and now this too…" Demi sighed but then a small smile crept onto her face.

"Well… maybe you're day is about to get way better?" Miley rolled her eyes.

"How is it supposed to get better? My boyfriend barely greeted me in the morning, let alone did not reply to my almost whispered 'I love you', he only left a note saying he would meet me here but has not shown his face yet - mind the fact that said note did not include a written 'I love you' either; I haven't seen him all day and to top it all off it's our anniversary and I thought he would maybe be so kind to remember it but I guess I was wrong. So tell me, how is anyone supposed to make me feel better; to make this day better?" Demi looked at Miley with big eyes, having not expected such an outburst.

But instead of Demi answering, someone else did. Okay so, Miley had not been expecting to hear that voice - at least not coming from behind her back - which she supposed would be in the water nor had she been expecting to hear that voice before she'd get home. But obviously, she heard the voice right now - sounding exactly the same way - apologizing - like she expected it to.

"With the biggest apology ever?" Miley closed her eyes and shook her head, keeping the small smile off her face. No matter how big he had messed up, she was always glad to hear his voice. He did come after all. Demi giggled and quickly departed, wanting to run and find Chad anyway. She had forgotten about him before.

Miley turned around and looked at Nick, with a raised eyebrow, interested as to what he had prepared to make up to her. He was standing there with a single rose, so beautiful it almost hurt to look at it. Nick always knew she appreciated those little things; beautiful, little things in life - just like those rose. Miley smiled a little and walked closer to him.

"I'm so sorry that you… that I acted like I did today. But this all had a reason behind it. And, believe it or not, the reason it smaller than my hand. It's in my pocket and this could not be any less romantic." Miley giggled and finally reached him. He sighed and shrugged, handing her the rose. Miley took it and smelled it, smiling at the mere smell of it.

"I love the rose… but it's bigger than your hand… and it hasn't been in your pocket - which brings me to my question: what is your surprise that's supposed to make up for your being absent the whole day?" Nick smiled and took Miley's hand gently. He shrugged a little and then buried the other in his pocket where Miley had assumed the present was in.

"Okay, I didn't plan to say anything special or anything which makes this just slightly awkward… Uhm, you might think we're too young and a whole lot of other people might think so too. But thinking back, my parents were both 17 and we're almost 20 - and, believe it or not, I do remember our anniversary so we have been 'unofficially together' for three years anyway. And I've started to like you after two months so…

Well, what I'm saying is… well, I love you. So there, not written, not whispered… do you want me to shout it? I can, if you want. I love Miley Ray Stewart and that until the day I die!" Miley giggled as a few people turned their heads towards them and smiled at the two before turning back to their business. She blushed delicately as Nick smirked and pulled whatever it was in his pocket out.

"Anyway, what I'm saying is that I think we're not too young and it doesn't have to happen now but in a few years… so, to finish my not-so-great speech…" Nick opened his hand and showed Miley a nice little box. It didn't look that fancy, but Miley gasped as she saw it. She glanced at her left pinky finger.

Nick saw her glance at her finger and nodded, softly, smiling at her as he saw how happy she looked without even opening the box. He slowly opened it for her and watched her face glow from happiness. Miley shook her head slowly and placed a hand over her mouth. She didn't gasp nor did her hand really fly to her mouth like it would've happened in all the romantic movies but more like in slow motion.

"It's… so beautiful…" Nick smiled and grabbed the content of the box in between his fingers. Miley slowly raised her hand and let Nick put the beautiful ring onto her finger. It had a little diamond on it - not too big but certainly not small either - and what Miley didn't know yet, there was something graved in it as well.

"Not as beautiful as the owner but, you know, as close as it can get." Miley giggled and raised an eyebrow.

"You seem cocky, my boyfriend." Nick looked at her confused until he shook his head.

"I was talking about you… if you accept, of course."

"Well… what is the request? You didn't exactly word your question, sir." Nick chuckled and rubbed his neck nervously. It was a habit of his that Miley knew all too well.

"Well, my question would be… will you agree to one day be my wife? Not too soon, but… one day?" Miley giggled and showed him her pinky.

"I believe I already said yes?" Nick chuckled and shrugged.

"But this ring would be… an engagement ring…" Miley smiled and looked at him, as if the answer was obvious.

"Uhm… do I even have to answer?" Nick chuckled and nodded.

"Yes, I really think you should - that would make it much more romantic." Miley rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, because this proposal was just so romantic, right?" Nick raised an eyebrow.

"Should I take it back?" Miley shook her head quickly.

"No! I just thought… you'd drop on your knee or something. I mean, you are incredibly romantic and you just handing me over the box without making a big deal out of it seems… not as romantic as the speech you gave me when you apologized to me for not even really cheating on me more like hurting me - which was about nine months after you did hurt me; around the time you found out I fell for you but that doesn't matter right now. I'm just saying that I'm surprised this speech wasn't as big and heartfelt as the one you gave me a year ago."

Nick nodded slowly, taking in that Miley could talk like that without really breathing. He still wasn't used to her babbling so much - and actually making sense.

"Uh… okay, I'm not sure what you really just wanted to say… but if you want I can drop on down on my knees and beg of you to say yes in the most romantic way I can think of right now." Miley laughed and shook her head.

"I'm fine with you just asking me. You know I'm not that into the big things. You asking me like that was enough. I was just saying that I thought you'd be more romantic. I don't want you to be more romantic. I just assumed… I'm gonna shut up now." Now it was Nick's turn to laugh.

"Can you say one more word and not leave me hanging here?" Miley rolled her eyes.

"I thought the answer was obvious…" Nick shook his head. She was something else alright. Any other woman would be crying out of happiness right now yet Miley was standing there, arguing with him about things like that. Well, they weren't really arguing; more like a playful banter.

"No, I want to hear you say it. Shout it like me and make everyone look at us… and maybe congratulate us?" Miley grinned and nodded.

"Good then, you shout your question and I'll shout the answer." Nick raised an eyebrow.

"How will I know you'll say yes?" Miley rolled her eyes.

"I already said yes to you once - why would I?"

"To embarrass me?" Miley giggled and shook her head.

"Nope, won't do that. I love you too much to do that." Nick smiled and kissed her cheek softly.

"Okay then… Will you, Miley Ray Stewart, love of my life, marry me and make me happy for the rest of my life?" People's heads turned, of course, and a few even gasped. Miley heard a squeal and knew that it was Demi that had squealed. She giggled happily and nodded.

"Of course I will, Nicholas Jerry! I couldn't be happier! Oh my god, I love you so much!" Demi had squealed again but Miley had thrown her arms around Nick's neck and had kissed him before she could hear anything. And then she was lost in her own world - in Nick's arms. She knew she belonged there and nothing and no one would ever get her away from there. And now they made it official. And neither could be any happier.

Forgotten was the day spent apart and mostly pissed at Nick. It was as if Miley couldn't even remember that time - the time she thought she hated Nick again. She now was back to loving him more than her own life. And she'd do that for the rest of her life as well. That was something both were sure of. That they'd love each other for the rest of their lives.

So, I only updated this because of a review I got yesterday - which was in the middle of the night, by the way - saying that they are waiting for the update since AUGUST which clearly has been way too long ago. I don't know who reviewed so I can't make a clear shout-out but whoever the anonymous reviewer was - I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting this long and I hope this chapter somewhat makes up for it. I know there wasn't a lot of Niley but... there was a little commitment, wasn't there? And there were a few funny... scenes too, right?

Anyway, I really hope you liked it and enjoyed it and, I'd be more than happy if you all reviewed... to let me know how many people still read this story... okay, thanks for reading :D