Before the Fame

December 31, 2007

A few days passed and I was deep in thought as I had been since the day Nick and Miley broke up which was now an official week. Miley avoided hanging out with us as she had done since the sound check a few days previously, but Nick was beginning to come out of his emotionally detached phase.

Apparently my work wasn’t necessary, but I began to wonder what would happen between Nick and I now. I mean, it’s not like I wanted him to start a relationship with me, but I couldn’t help but not be able to shake my feelings for him away. I had been doing a fantastic job masking my feelings towards him since the concert a few days previously, but the current predicament made things more complicated.

All of us were in New York City in the hotel lobby goofing off and having fun when Mr. Jonas walked into the room. All eyes landed on him when he spoke.

“I gotta talk to you guys,” he said to all of us. We gathered around him stopping everything we did and gave him our full attention. The order was Demi, Joe, Nick, me, Kevin, and then Miley.

“As you guys know today is New Year’s Eve and we’re not here in New York without doing something so as expected, the boys and Miley are going to perform We Got the Party and Hold On. Make sure you guys go out and buy nice clothes tonight because after you go on, you can enjoy the party that will be there,” he explained.

I gaped at him as I’m sure the others did except Joe. He was actually excited.

“Sweet! We get to perform tonight?! How awesome is that?” he asked excitedly. We said our own form of agreement as Mr. Jonas nodded his head before exiting the room.

Miley walked away from us and sat by the piano playing a few random keys while everyone else went their separate ways. A sigh escaped my lips as I began to walk over to where Kevin was when Nick’s soft voice stopped me.

“Sam, can I ask you something?” I heard. I turned to face him, the shock evident on my face.

I shrugged in return. He turned to lead the way his dad went and I began following him feeling 4 pairs of eyes following my figure exit the room with Nick. He led us to upper floors, the roof to be exact even though it was freezing outside, but even wearing jeans, a thick, black coat, Converses, and a black t-shirt he led me out here. I was grateful to have decided to wear what I did even though I still felt like I was getting frozen outside.

“Sorry if it’s cold. I just wanted to have some privacy to talk to you since I haven’t really done that in days,” he said honestly.

“It’s no problem..you said you had something to ask me, right?” I asked in a shaky tone as the wind blew.

“Yeah.. I was wondering since we have this New Year’s Eve party if you wanted me to be your escort?” he asked in a slightly nervous tone.

It took everything in me not to let my mouth hang open, but I couldn’t help but let the small smile form on my lips as a blush crept to my cheeks.

“Oh-um, sure!” I answered clearing my throat to get the excitement out and answered with a more calm, “sure” instead.

A smile formed on Nick’s lips as well as a light laugh escaped them soon afterwards.

“Great. Um, I’ll pick you up at 7,” he said just as calm as my response was.

“OK. I’ll see you then,” I agreed shivering slightly as a stronger breeze blew this time.

“We should head back,” he suggested. I nodded in return leading the way back to the others.

…

“Are you serious?!” Demi exclaimed excitedly, but sort of loudly causing the passers-by to stare at us even with our sunglasses on.

We had decided to go shopping soon after Nick and I’s “talk” for my outfit for the date. Demi volunteered to go as well as a certain someone else whom I didn’t want to come, but came anyway.

My eyes landed on Miley whom was inside of the store choosing something for her to wear while Demi and I stood outside in the cold air talking.

“Yes, but can you keep it down? I don’t want the entire world to hear you!” I whispered harshly bringing Demi out of her excited phase (slightly).

The huge smile disappeared as she merely grabbed me by the hand and shopped liked there was no tomorrow. Dress after dress was picked and I couldn’t stand any of them until my eyes landed on a perfect one.

I found matching shoes, earrings, and the works at another store, but both Demi and Miley agreed on the dress. Eventually, we made it to a McDonald’s realizing that we were starving by the end of it all but didn’t want to go back to the hotel just yet.

I’d ordered a salad with my usual nugget count and a small milkshake as Demi and Miley ordered whatever they wanted. Demi went to the counter to get our food while Miley and I occupied a booth. I hadn’t expected Miley to start talking to me so when she did my eyes quickly landed on her face to make sure it was definitely she whom were speaking and not my imagination.

M: You’ve seemed pretty happy today. Did something happen?

I had to restrain the urge to choke on air when she asked me this. How was I supposed to respond to that?

S: It’s no big. I’m just excited about the party is all. I’ve never been to New York and spending it with you guys is gonna be awesome.

M: Thanks. Um, thanks for not going after Nick, you know? It’d be really hard for me to deal if you guys ever started dating not too long after we broke up.

S: Nick broke up with you, right?

M: Yeah. It sucks but someone had to do it.

S: What do you mean?

M: His reasoning as to why we should break up was because his love for me wasn’t there anymore and he was tired of arguing constantly. I wanted to work things out, but he said he was tired of working things out.

My mouth stood open at her words. Nick said that to her?

S: Wow.

M: Yeah so I wouldn’t try to go after him if I were you. I’d hate to see you guys argue all of the time and then he breaks up with you coldly like he did to me.

D: So Sam is just supposed to be afraid of giving him a chance?

I was surprised to see Demi return, but I didn’t expect her to stick up for me like that.

M: I’m just saying. Maybe she should turn her attention to someone like Joe.

D: *scoffs* Joe doesn’t like Sam like that and neither does she.

M: OK so who does Sam like because Nick is just going to use her!

D: How do you know that? How do you know Nick is going to treat her like he did you? You don’t know anything!

M: Fine! Date him! See if I care!

She got out before storming out of the McDonald’s with her food. I’d felt so bad for Miley, but Demi’s words were what my inner thoughts were thinking too.

“I can’t believe her!” Demi exclaimed in a whisper.

“What?” I asked in confusion as I began eating a nugget.

“It’s like she’s trying some psychological trick to guilt trip you into feeling bad for her and not ever date Nick! That was so wrong! Sociopathic bitch!” Demi fumed.

“Wait, are you angry because of what she said about Joe and I?” I asked realizing that was exactly when she got angrier.

“Well, I mean you guys don’t like each other and stuff so yeah,” she admitted trailing off at the end.

A laugh escaped me as I grabbed my things as well as Miley’s dress and shoes, etc. that she left behind as well.

“Come on. We should head back,” I got out.

“What’s so funny?” Demi asked helping me as she grabbed her things, too.

“Nothing, nothing. So we should call the guys to help us with this,” I suggested. Demi nodded in agreement and whipped out her phone calling the guys.