Heyhey! Alrighty, so I'm posting another oneshot. But there's just a small warning before ya'll read it. Nick isn't portrayed in a very pleasant light here, don't go all hatemail on me... it's just a fic. I love Nick and never actually expect him to act like this, but I liked the song "Stay" by Sugarland and wanted to write a oneshot based on it. Anywho, enjoy.
| | Stay | |
I've been sitting here staring at the clock on the wall
And I've been laying here praying, praying she won't call
It's just another call from home
And you'll get it and be gone
And I'll be crying
Bri rolled over in her bed, wrapping the warm blankets around her, and snuggled into the pillow. She blinked twice, adjusting her vision to the bright sunlight that reflected off of the snow outside and seeped in through the blinds. Immediately, her eyes found the small silver clock that hung on the wall and she noted the time. It was almost an hour past noon, she’d wasted half a day in bed.
The tinny ringtone of the cell phone that lay on her bedside table was an unwelcome alarm and, doing her best to ignore it, she rolled over once more, pulling the deflated pillow over her head. It muffled the sound of footsteps walking around the bed to answer the phone and, reluctantly, Bri listened in to the conversation taking place.
“Hello?” his low husky voice was recognizable, even through the pillow.
Silence.
“Sorry, babe. The bus got delayed so we stopped at a hotel.”
More silence.
“I love you too.” These final words were hollow and empty. There was no real emotion behind the jaded phrase.
His weight pulled the bed down and no sooner had Bri shifted in her place than a warm hand reached out and trailed across her bare shoulder. She could feel the hard calluses that only came with years of guitar. With a frustrated sigh, she pulled the pillow from over her head, his hand falling from her shoulder as she did so.
“Morning…” he said softly. Even that one word had more love behind it then his earlier conversation had had.
Bri sat up, adjusting the tank top she wore. She wanted nothing more than to look behind her, to see his bright smile and the curls that fell in front of warm chocolate brown eyes, but she couldn’t face him, not after that phone call.
She had fallen asleep in his arms the night before, his warm breath heating the back of her neck. Everything in her wanted that moment back. Everything in her wanted his strong arms wrapped tightly around her, his feet entangled with hers. What she didn’t want were the thoughts that ran through her mind in that moment, prayers he’d never go. As his breathing steadied, she shut her eyes, tight and pleaded with God that the cell phone would never ring, but God had no intention of forgiving her for this or any other time before it.
“Miley?” Bri whispered, voice shaking as she attempted to hold back the tears that stung her eyes. The memory of last night had gotten to her.
And I'll be begging you, baby
Beg you not to leave
But I'll be left here waiting
With my Heart on my sleeve
Oh, for the next time we'll be here
Seems like a million years
And I think I'm dying
What do I have to do to make you see
She can't love you like me?
Why don't you stay
I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely
Don't I give you what you need
When she calls you to go
There is one thing you should know
We don't have to live this way
Baby why don’t you stay
The bed rose as he stood up, walking around to sit next to her. She quickly wiped away a stray tear with the back of her hand and turned away. She wouldn’t let him see her weak like this. After all, he had always told her that she was the one who kept him strong.
“Bri, you know it’s all just publicity…”
“Does she know that?”
A thick silence fell upon the two and, no longer able to hold herself back, Bri looked at him. His face had fallen and all his attention was focused on the silver ring he spun around his left ring finger. He looked innocent, so much like the boy she had met years before, the one who made her smile when he belonged only to her.
“Nick, why can’t you just stay. Why do you always have to lie and run off-“
“You’re right,” he interrupted.
There was a momentary silence as she took in what he had just said, “S-so stay. Don’t go to California. Don’t take her out. Just be mine. Please.” Her voice caught as the tears that had been welling up finally rolled, one by one, down her cheek.
Nick’s soft hand wiped each away, his thumb gently gliding against her cheek.
For a short moment, a smile flickered on Bri’s face, then quickly disappeared. His soothing touch would never completely be hers.
You keep telling me, baby
There will come a time
When you will leave her arms
And forever be in mine
But I don't think that's the truth
And I don't like being used and I'm tired of waiting
It's too much pain to have to bear
To love a man you have to share
Why don't you stay
I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely
Don't I give you what you need
When she calls you to go
There is one thing you should know
We don't have to live this way
Baby, why don't you stay
“I promise, the next time I’m here, she won’t be in the picture.” He replied evenly. Then, without hesitation, his lips met hers. Gently, his hand slipped into her tangled hair, making her forget the argument if only for one moment.
She gave in, responding enthusiastically to the kiss, her mind urging her to end it. But she couldn’t, and after several long moments the two pulled apart, cheeks flushed and breathless.
“I promise,” he repeated.
Bri shook her head to herself. Fireworks always went off, chills always ran down her spine, and always, he followed it with a promise. A promise that Miley would be gone. Miley Cyrus: the press had a field day when Nick announced the two were indeed together. Publicity, he explained to Bri, it’s all for publicity. But she knew better. Miley cared about Nick, she wanted him around, but he’d constantly make excuses to see Bri.
The guilt Bri felt was nothing compared to the desire to be his only girl. She found herself wishing the press would find out, praying Miley would dump Nick, but “Niley” would never end, Nick would never keep his promise.
“It’s too much,” Bri finally spoke, unable to look him in the eyes, “I can’t be this nobody. Miley loves you and you can’t drop her.”
I can't take it any longer
But my will is getting stronger
And I think I know just what I have to do
I can't waste another minute
After all that I've put in it
I've given you my best
Why does she get the best of you
So next time you find you wanna leave her bed for mine
Why don't you stay
I'm up off my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely
You can't give me what I need
When she begs you not to go
There is one thing you should know
I don't have to live this way
Baby, why don't you stay, yeah
Nick’s eyes pleaded with Bri not to do this, but his gaze only strengthened her will.
“I don’t have to live like this. You know that as well as I do. You keep making promises but you never keep them.” Her voice shook and this time, she wouldn’t let him wipe away her tears, it would only make her feel worse.
“Bri, I-“
“Nick, please. Just go.”
He nodded, having nothing to say, and stood up avoiding her piercing eyes. He didn’t want her to see him like this, he knew he had made a mistake. Too far had he let the situation go and now there was no fixing it.
“Just do me a favor,” she said quietly, from behind him.
“Yeah?” his voice was hopeful.
“The next time you want to come and visit –“
Nick spun around to look at her. She wanted him to come back. He’d do anything.
She shook her head, it wasn’t what he was thinking, “Don’t. Just stay with her.”
Comments appreciated. Thankies. =)
