Miley’s blue eyes glistened with delight as she galloped off behind the makeup artist. Watching her in disgust, I shifted my weight while I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I stood firmly next to Gabby while the director was explaining the scene to other cast members. Glancing at Gabby, I saw her staring at her shoes nervously as she bit her lip, her eyes glazed over as if she was in deep thought. Shifting my eyes back to stare at the blonde hair that hung over Kati’s face as she sat frozen in her chair, I let out a frustrated sigh.
How could she do that…?
~ Flashback ~
Filling my lungs with the early morning air, I reached for the silver handle on the studio door and flung it open in confidence. Biting my lip, I surveyed the almost empty room. Walking further into the studio, I heard a faint sniffing as if someone was softly crying. Scanning my eyes through the studio, I weaved through the set gripping my latte as the soft cry became louder and louder.
What is that…?
A wave of concern rushed through my body as I froze in my footsteps about 2 feet away from a girl curled up in a chair. Her perfect brunette waves fell over her tear stricken cheeks as she buried her face in her hands, gasping heavily through her soft tears. Biting my lip, I stepped in front of her chair as I watched her seem to suddenly struggle to stop her tears noticing I was there.
“Um…are you okay…Miss?” I said setting my latte aside and tenderly placing my hand on her shoulder gently hoping not to scare her too much. A slight panic surged through my body when the girl snapped her puffy, red, eyes up to lock with mine. Her face was flushed, while a slight runoff of mascara rested under her eye. Struggling to take a breath to stop her tears, I filled my lungs with air taking in the fear and hurt filling her eyes along with the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Oh…my…goodness
When you see the one and only, sunny, always-happy Miley Cyrus crumbling right before your eyes, you know something terrible has gone wrong.
“Hi, I’m Nat…I’m a small role in the production today…and well, are you okay, do you need me to get you something…?” I choked swallowing harshly as I tried to grasp the idea that I was in front of Miley Cyrus…Disney’s superstar. Her puffy eyes fastened on me as she sniffed a couple of times, unable to force a smile on her face. Miley silently reached out her delicate hand as I met it with mine, shaking it lightly before sitting down beside her. Side smiling sympathetically at her, I searched her eyes for the reason for her tears as she tried her hardest to get herself back together so she could talk to me.
“So…” her soft southern voice choked as she fixed her eyes on the concrete floor ahead of her chair, “are you excited to be on the show…” Her voice drifted as if she was required to say that…Miley Cyrus had definitely left the building.
“Miley, are you okay? You can tell me anything…I mean I’m not exactly Doctor Phil…I have more hair…and an Australian accent…but I can try…if you want to tell me of course,” I struggled, ignoring her custom question, hoping to be at least a little bit of help. Seeing Miley Cyrus broken like this…was scaring me just a little and I wanted to fix it as soon as possible. Miley bit her lip as she wiggled her feet and stared at the ground. Water started to rise to the edges of her eyes and I immediately regretted asking her as a tsunami of guilt crushed into me.
Stupid, stupid, stupid Nat…
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me, I just wanted to see if I could be any help, your right, I should probably just stop talking and get out of your business, cause its none of my business, you know, its yours so you can keep it to yourself if you’d like, sharing it is not mandatory, especially not to m-” I rushed trying to stick a sort of band-aid over my mistake, but I was cut off by Miley’s sweet voice that was coated with sadness making my spine tingle.
“Do you know who the guest star is on this show…today?” she asked quickly snapping her eyes on me as she bit her lip drawing back the tears that were trying to rise to the tips of her eyes. A bit shocked at her question, I shook my head slightly letting her know that I couldn’t recall anybody at the moment…nor could I tell where she was going with this.
“The Jonas Brothers…that’s who guest starring…” Miley’s sweet southern tinted voice faded as she returned her stare to her shoes. A light bulb flashed on in my head.
Oh…I knew that
I had been told about 2 weeks ago when I had gotten the part for the show, that the Jonas Brothers would be a guest star in the show…even if they were only filming 1 or 2 scenes… I flipped out, with squeals, screams, and everything in between. I mean…who didn’t want to spend a day with the one and only Jonas Brothers?
“And…with the Jonas Brothers is…,” Miley paused swallowing harshly, “Nick Jonas” Miley cleared her throat slightly as I froze in my chair.
Practically the whole world knew about the ‘secret’ relationship of Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas, the Disney dynamite couple…no matter how many times either of them denied ever having a relationship…everybody knew it happened…and everybody knew that the breakup couldn’t have been pretty. Unable to push anything out of my mouth, I locked my gaze on Miley’s quivering lip as she rushed air through her nose.
“And did you hear who was coming with the Jonas Brothers?” Miley said fiddling with an imaginary piece of lint stuck to her skinny jeans. Unable to make since of exactly why she was upset, I sat there, my eyes shot wide open as if everything had frozen to the sound of Miley’s words.
“Two girls…probably one of them being his new girlfriend or something….and he probably just came to rub it in my face that he’s over me…or trying to hide the fact that he’s not…no, Miley, no Miley…that’s not it” Miley said softly finally settling her tears and lowering her voice as she started to talk to herself. The fear and sadness tearing through her eyes cut through me as I sat frozen and speechless on the ‘director style’ chair. An uncomfortable silence swept through the room as Miley did everything from biting her lip to pulling her hair to keep from crying. The silence encased us with an awkward feeling as Miley sat engulfed in deep confusion and thought.
“How am I going to face him…he’s all I think about anymore, and I blew it…like an idiot…” Miley burst through the silence gaining frustration in her voice then pausing in slight confusion as I sat back watching her blue eyes glisten with thought, “Ugh…what is wrong with me…I couldn’t have been happier the moment he left the stupid tour…dumping me…please! Who dumps me...I should be happy about it…my life is better without him…ugh…who am I kidding…” Miley rambled sighing heavily. She was obviously completely lost in her own thoughts and utterly confused…and I was speechless. Every feeling that she had locked up in her brain was pouring out right in front of me…every flaw…every problem…everything.
“But why should I be worried about seeing him again…its his loss…he should be missing me…I shouldn’t be missing him…I don’t like him…I despise him…don’t I?...ugh…he’s probably fine with out me…but he probably arranged this whole thing just to see me…of course he did…no, why would he do that…this is horrible…why did I ever-” Miley rambled wiping the tear straight off her face.
“Miley, sorry to interrupt…but what exactly happened?” I asked timidly hoping she wouldn’t kill me for trying to get into her business…but, hey, it was a logical question to ask, since I couldn’t make since of any of the rambling coming out of her mouth, all of it was making my brain hurt. Miley swallowed harshly, her glistening eyes shot wide open.
~ End Flashback ~
Everything she said after that hit me like a brick wall. The entire story that nobody knew…was put right out in front of me told by Miley Cyrus herself. Because of the guilt and regret coating her voice, I instantly knew she was telling the truth…I just couldn’t believe it. Honestly, I felt horrible for Miley. The tears sitting on the edge of her eyes, her confidence shaken, it was scary to see Miley Cyrus break…and though what had happened between her and Nick was barely forgivable, you couldn’t help but want only a happy ending for her. Miley was broken…so broken that she would spill her guts to a complete stranger. I thought that Miley just might have deserved a second chance, but after what she said to Kati and Gabby…I had no longer had any sympathy for her.
You think that someone who felt so guilty and regretted so much would try her hardest to make things right…to make up for her mistakes…but every word that came out of her mouth just a second ago had clearly shown…nice, sensible Miley was gone, and had been gone for a long time…and now, there was no telling what she was going to do.
“Nat,” I faint voice seemed to echo from beside me snapping me partially out of my thoughts. Biting my lip, I turned my gaze towards the brothers who stood by the table of refreshments and snacks. Nick had turned around to face Kati, his eyes bright and his cheeks pink while he shined a sunny smile in her direction. Giggling at the fact the Joe was making kissy faces behind him, I turned my gaze toward Kati who wore a gleaming smile, and her glistening blue eyes lit up like stars as well. My heart flipped at the vision of the two, Nick’s nervous gestures, and Kati’s shy smile, it was like a fairy tale, and you could tell that both of them had gone crazy for the other. Sighing softly, a wave of panic fell over me. Miley Cyrus….would wreck it all….and may have already accomplished half of it, with just a few words.
“Nat,” Gabby’s voice shook me completely out of my trans as I whipped my head around to lock with her apple green eyes. The studio lights beat down on me, as my stomach twisted at the worry of what Kati was thinking…of how Nick’s glistening eyes would disappear if she believed what Miley said.
“Um…yeah,” I murmured trying to erase the thoughts from my mind. Gabby’s eyes were glazed over as before while she stared at me with a slight look of concern plastered on her face.
“What Miley said…” Gabby stared but was quickly cut off by the ordering voice of the director as he walked toward us.
“Girls, if I could have you stand over here…” the director motion toward a table that stood in the middle of the set section that was modeled like a backstage dressing room. Stepping over to where the director had motioned us, I took in a big gulp of air, trying to rush all of scenarios out of my head.
Miley really wouldn’t do anything to hurt Kati…or Nick…would she?
“I’m going to talk with the camera crew so we can block the scene, you guys can go over lines, expressions, anything you’d like. Makeup might be coming for one of you soon, if they do, don’t panic, we will tell you what is going to happen as soon as you come back.” The director explained softly as he walked off to the cameras in the corner of the open set. Clearing my throat, I collected my thoughts together and tried my hardest to focus on what I was here for…which was acting, but the focusing wasn’t going so well. A small silence surrounded me and Gabby while I stared at the black painted floor trying to forget about Miley’s lies.
“Nat…” Gabby’s soft, now timid voice shook me yet again as I snapped my gaze on her.
“Yeah,” I responded quickly sliding a smile on my face.
“What Miley said…is it true?” Gabby said her eyes full of worry. My stomach plummeted. This could be my chance to make sure that Kati didn’t believe Miley, and maybe, just maybe, she and Nick could leave the studio unharmed and as happy as they were when they walked through the double doors. Telling her friend, would possibly be as good as telling it to Kati. I had to make sure they knew.
“Well-” I started about to explain what had happened earlier this morning and Miley’s real story but I was quickly cut off by a sweet southern voice ringing through my ears making me cringe.
“Hey guys, how is the scene working out?” Miley greeted us with a wide smile as I tried my best to look happy to see her. Gabby smiled brightly at Miley before swallowing and taking a deep breath.
Uh-oh…Gabby…don’t ask her…don’t ask her…please don’t ask her…
“Good…um, Miley, can I ask you a question?” Gabby said timidly as Miley’s smile transformed into a soft, caring, concerned expression.
“Yeah, anything,” Miley side smiled as I fixed my eyes on my shoes praying Gabby would be called off to makeup before she asked anything.
“Well, what you said over there…about what happened between you and Nick…is that all true?” Gabby asked as I let out a sigh of disappointment. My chance to help anything was now gone. With Miley here, there was no way I could tell Gabby that Miley had been lying, otherwise Miley would kick me out faster than you could say lights, camera, action. Plus, there was no way Miley was going to tell to truth to Kati’s friend and ally.
Nothing good can come out of this…
“Every word…unfortunately,” Miley said topping her voice off with a hint of sadness…the perfect key to make Gabby completely fall for her charade. Gabby’s jaw slightly dropped as she shook her head in disappointment and Miley’s eyes sharply switched to stare me down. She knew that I wanted to tell the truth about all of this…but her piercing stare was a reminder that she had almost full control on what happened in the show…and I had to choose between saving something that was completely not my business, or my acting career. I locked my eyes on Miley’s stare, shooting her an unafraid expression as I frantically panicked inside my head. Glancing over at Kati who was mouthing something to Nick from across the studio. Hopefully her beaming grin and glistening eyes meant she didn’t believe a word Miley had say…but I couldn’t risk it.
I have to do this for Kati
“Gabby, Miley is lyi…” I stared my stomach dropping as Miley’s eyes shot wide open and Gabby’s turned her attention toward me…but I was cut off, yet again.
“Natalie!” I friendly voice hollered from the corner of the studio as I snapped my eyes up to find a lady motion for me to come there as her sweet smile greeted me, “Makeup is ready for you,” I let out a grunt of frustration as I glanced at Miley who wore a slight smirk. Running my fingers through my brunette hair I turned on my heels, briskly walking toward the lady, praying that Gabby would somehow find out the Miley was lying, that somehow Kati would still believe in Nick, that somehow the nice Miley, the real Miley would come back, that somehow all this would be saved and no hearts would be broken.
I have to do something…
Red A.L.E.R.T :
Situation: The important relationship between Operative Adams and Subject Nicholas Jonas has been put on high a.l.e.r.t. Outside sources has reported a force working against Operative Adams; how this circumstance will affect the initial Operation is unknown.
Opposing Force {detected}: Miley Cyrus [ a teen star and sensation that has shown signs of disfavor to the relationship between Operative Adams and Subject Nicholas Jerry Jonas – please consult profile of Opposing Subject Cyrus for more information – NOTICE: Opposing Subject Cyrus’s actions are uncertain, certain possibilities and scenarios remain open]
Supporting Force {detected}: Natalie Batos [a now existing subject in course of Operation that has proven to show best interests in Operative Adams – please consult profile of Supporting Force Batos for more information]
Biting my lip, I let out jagged sigh as I watched Nat’s brunette bob bounce along as she walked briskly toward the makeup artist. Shaking my head slightly, I tried my best to erase the pounding head ache that was taking over my body. Shrugging off attempting to figure out what Nat was trying to say before she was called to makeup, I stared at the floor, playing with my feet while I pushed the though of all that Nick had done to Miley through my head.
How could he do that...?
I gulped, feeling my stomach rising to my throat. Shaking my head, my brain struggled to grasp the bombardment of shock that was surging through my body. I could barely believe any of it…none of it seemed real…but Miley’s sweet southern voice rang through my ears with the convincing truth. The Nick Jonas the world knew and loved…the Nick Jonas Kati couldn’t stop thinking about…was a jerk, fraud, and phony, and there was no changing it…no matter how much I wanted to erase it all away like an etch-and-sketch pad.
“Don’t worry about it Gabby, it’s his fault he’s a jerk….” Miley said softly as I closed my eyes softly letting the disbelief race through my head. I had found it a little odd that Miley was acting like this… suddenly decided to tell me and Kati about everything that happened between the two when she had kept the story silent for all this time…but I shrugged it off quickly thinking Miley was just making sure we didn’t get hurt. Clearing my throat, I gathered myself up to look Miley straight in the eyes side smiling at her sympathy. I nodded quickly then swept my eyes over to Kati. She hid her face slightly inside the packet of lines for the show, biting her lip slightly in concentration while her hair fell over her eyes, shielding them from the world.
Oh, no…Kati
Kati was probably one of the most fragile people I knew, no matter how mature and controlled she could act in serious situations and shocking circumstances, she was breaking inside and that made my stomach twist. Rage bubbled up inside of me as I envisioned the red in her eyes, puffy and worn out from crying after she was left alone only thinking about that everything Nick had said or done for her was all an act. Clenching my fists, I bit my lip while surveying the studio trying my best to hide my frustration, but I felt like I was needed to scream my lungs out. My best friend was in pain…all because of some stupid stuck up rock star. As the studio lights beat down on my face, and Miley’s confident laughed filled the room as she talked to the Disney channel stars that stood next to me ready to shoot the scene, I completely zoned them out as if I wasn’t in a big time LA studio, glaring at nothing but the back of Nick’s head. The only thing I could think about was saving Kati from getting her heart broken any more than it already was…
Mr. Nicholas Jonas…you’ve messed with the wrong best friend
Reader Note: The director uses the term 'blocking the scene' - that is basically a fancy word for organizing placement during a scene so that everyone can be seen.