A/N: Congratulations, readers of my FanFics! Today (about a week since my last login?), I give to you...THE SEQUEL. The Sequel to Never Give In is here! Yes! And I realize that this chapter is very short, but it's more like a prologue or a foreword than anything. I'll still call it a chapter; it's near 2000 words. I won't be responding to reviews posted on the final chapter of Never Give In, but I will DEFINITELY continue responding to my rabid readers and their questions or comments as they come. So, for those who enjoyed Never Give In, enjoy it's sequel, When Two Become One!
Chapter 1: Summer's Eve
Something big is about to happen. Something neither of us are ready for. Something that will change our lives. Be ready, Miley. Be ready for anything.
It was so very chilling for her to relive that moment that had happened several weeks ago. That moment in time, when Miley Stewart had been relaxing at the beach, tanning her body, stretched out on a dry beach towel, enjoying the caress of the gentle breeze as it tiptoed across her figure, the gentle aroma of her amazing girlfriend wafting along the air currents. She had been peaceful lying beside the blonde that day, peaceful and calm and pleased and feeling nothing but positive energy.
Shame our summer's halfway over, she had commented. It never seemed to last long enough. Then again, it was even shorter given that she was sitting in her room with school starting the next morning, reminiscing.
Well, it's not that bad. I mean, you'll be there to help me, and I'll be there to help you, right?
Miley had laughed lightly at this, seeing her girlfriend's cheeks growing pink. Help? I might have to carry you this year like I did last year.
Carry me? she had asked incredulously. I never asked you to carry me anywhere or through anything, Miley.
The blonde had sat up then, looking irritated and hurt, but the expression had melted when she saw Miley's gentle smile in contradiction of her accusing tone.
I know that. You know that. But my primary goal isn't to carry you. It's to love you.
They had kissed, but their passion was so fiery that they migrated back to the car, then back to her girlfriend's home where they spent the rest of the afternoon making love to one another, losing count of the orgasms and falling asleep, exhausted and exhilarated, in one another's arms. And as they'd drifted off, she had said the fated words to Miley in a mumbled voice:
Be prepared for anything, Miley my love.
Her girlfriend's words had been kind. They had been truthful and supportive and provocative in regard to the mind's eye in what the future might hold.
The words on the letter were icy and menacing. Nothing like her blonde-haired lover's were.
I can't tell you who I am. I can't tell you where I am. I can't tell you anything, really, other than that I know who you are and where you live. I know that you are Miley Stewart, attending Seaview High School. You and I are...connected, to say the least. Your father Robbie works and slaves to provide for you, but there's nothing he can do in the end because the government steals away his hard-earned money and leaves him with very little to provide for you, let alone himself. It's pitiful, Miley. I...I hate knowing that your situation is easily fixable and yet I do nothing. I...can't reach out because he will push me away. But...you're about sixteen or seventeen now, right? I've been thinking long and hard for a great while and I've decided that eventually, you and Robbie will face a great change, whether he likes it or not. Something big is about to happen. Something neither of us are ready for. Something that will change our lives. Be ready, Miley. Be ready for anything.
The person, with a semi-untidy scrawl and a light lilting slant in his characters, had signed "RJS" at the bottom. Miley didn't have the strength or the will-power to show the letter to her father. It was the first she'd ever received from such a cartographer.
P.S.: I have a feeling that you will be receiving quite the Christmas present this year. You should like it, if nothing else. And, if we could keep this just between us for now, I'd really appreciate it. Robbie might freak out a bit if he read this, don't you think? I know this must be creepy, getting a letter from me of all people, but you deserve to know about who you are.
Miley was both eager to hear from the writer again and dreading his next letter. This seemed exactly like what a stalker or a rapist would do and say, like some pedophile found her attractive and wanted to sweet-talk his way into her pants. Sorry, dude, but there happened to be a fiery blonde-headed teenager standing in the way of everything that would hurt the brunette, even so much as one chocolate-colored curl.
A sigh. The room seemed to shrink a bit in trepidation and foreboding. Something indeed was going to happen; Miley could feel it in the air. There was an electric tension in the sagging room.
The ceiling creaked. Even at seven in the evening, the place seemed creepy. Already the police sirens were wailing in the distance. Probably just another stabbing or a gunshot to the head. Just another hooker. Happens every day.
"Miley, you alright?"
Her father had poked his head in, the stubble on his chin and down his neck standing out against his tanned skin, his dirty blonde hair hanging loosely around his ears. Miley had to smile at her father; even when he knew something was wrong, he still had an understanding and compassionate twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Just thinking about the summer and school, daddy."
He sighed, leaning against the doorway, crossing one jean-clad leg over the other, socks clean but worn from use. "Seems like it went by too fast, huh, darlin'?"
Miley nodded, smiling a little. "I was just remembering the day that Lilly and I went to the beach together. It was such a nice day, and everything was so peaceful."
Robbie chuckled. "Got some first day jitters, I reckon."
"Maybe," Miley said, tipping her head lightly, attempting to assuage her father with an excuse rather than the truth. It seemed to work, for he winked and stood up.
"Just stay calm, Miley. Come play some cards with me while the night's young."
And they played all sorts of card games by candlelight, glad that they were alive and with each other and not alone or on the streets. They had each other. Even if the power was never on, it didn't mean they couldn't enjoy what they had.
And Miley was content and soothed after the laughing and joking that she and her father always shared, the bond between them as strong as ever. They knew when something was wrong or something had changed. Robbie even knew her daughter so well as to be comforting and supportive, even so long after the rape in June.
The rape. In June.
Miley sat bolt-upright in her small bed. Tomorrow would be the first day of school. Which would mean that Jake would be there.
Holy. Fuck.
"D-daddy?"
Floorboards creaked. He was at her door surprisingly quickly, wearing an old white shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. "What's wrong, Miley?"
"Daddy...tomorrow's the first day of my Junior year."
"Nervous?"
She curled into a ball. "Daddy...Jake gets out of jail tonight. He'll be at the school tomorrow with me."
She could almost feel the temperature of the room fluctuate as Robbie's anger flared. "Stay away from that trash, Miley."
The brunette nodded. "But...what if he comes to apologize?"
"Turn away. Don't listen. He'll only end up trying it again, no matter whether he's gay or straight."
Miley was silent for a moment. In a choked voice, she finally managed to string words together, still having some mild difficulty during stressful situations even this long after the car crash.
"Is...is that what you think of Lilly?"
Silence. Anger was replaced by regret. "Miley, no, that's not what I meant at all," he said quietly. "Lilly's different. You can't trust us boys. We don't always think with our brains. Lilly's got a good family. Strict, sure. Harsh, agreed. But she's got good upbringing. She has a brain and uses it, Miley. If she goes back to how she used to be, I'll eat my hat, but I think she's changed for the better."
Miley nodded. She believed her father could see her by the light of the moon outside the window. "Thanks, daddy. You always help me so much."
"No problem, darlin'. Now get some rest. You've got a long day tomorrow."
Miley nodded. "Goodnight, daddy."
"Goodnight, Miley."
With that, he shuffled back down the hall and into his room while Miley pulled the covers and sheets up to her chin. Lilly would be there tomorrow. Her favorite blonde-haired girl. The girl she could always count on. Yeah, Lilly would watch out for her. The blonde always did. Miley smiled. That girl. Always managed to get her heart racing just by looking at her with her adorable, loving eyes. Miley loved that look because Lilly was the only person who gave it to her and she was the only one to receive it. And Miley fell asleep with the image of Lilly plastered to the forefront of her mind's eye.
Outside her window, a shadowed figure rested his head gently against the glass. It'd known exactly where to find the Stewarts. Exactly where they'd been when it'd last seen them. It sighed, placing a black, glove-covered hand on the glass, gazing longingly at the girl in the bed and out into what it could see of the hall where Robbie had disappeared to. It knew they were sleeping. It knew it was trespassing. But it did not have malicious intentions. It had no interest in becoming like Jake Ryan, only interested in its own pleasure and not the well-being of others. No, this shadow was interested in the family because it truly wanted to help them. It felt its heart skip a beat when it saw the letter on Miley's nightstand, folded and inside the envelope it'd addressed to her, but tangible and in sight. Miley had read what it'd said to her. She knew, then, that it was planning something.
A tear dripped down its cheek. "Goodnight, Miley. Goodnight, Robbie," it whispered forlornly. It slowly drifted away from the window and back out to its black car down the street, driving away slowly and insecurely, distraught with guilt and sorrow at what'd happened to them. It had vowed upon writing the letter to Miley that something needed to be done, but now it was truly convinced. It would do everything in its power to help the struggling family, even if it ended up dead or exiled in the process. Nobody deserved to suffer like that, ever. Especially when it had the ability to change their situation. Determination set in.
I will help them. No matter what it takes.
So...yeah. Questions? Comments? Then push the pretty button below. I love all you guys and hope you'll stick with me for another story; this one's gonna get more rocky than the first. ~Kyttin
