Chapter 1
Start of Something New
Dear Lilly,
I miss you so much. I want you to know that I am not mad at you for choosing not to go to Paris. I'm actually so proud of you. Although I wish you were here with me, I'm happy you stayed to go to Stanford because I think we both knew deep down, that is what you wanted to do. Coming to Paris wasn't really what you were meant to do this year. There's always time after college to go all over together, right? Plus, Stanford needs someone to add some style to those dorms and what better person than you?
Anyway, I know you start college this week and you must be so excited! We started filming the movie. Tom Cruise is such a hunk and I wish you were here to see him. Daddy isn't one to fan girl with me. I really think this movie is going to be great! I am so excited for you to see it though it'll obviously be awhile.
Well it's time to start filming again. Good luck with the first week of school! You're gonna have an amazing time! Let me know all about it.
Love and Miss You,
Miley
Lilly sat at her new desk as she placed the letter down on it. She re-reads the letter about three times a day. It still got to her sometimes, the fact that she and her best friend are thousands of miles away from each other. They were supposed to be here at Stanford together, that was their plan. Ever since they were younger, they talked about going to college together and sharing a dorm for four years while living out the college experience, but Miley was in Paris filming a movie that Lilly knew was going to be a huge hit.
Lilly was more than happy for her. In fact, she would have been furious with Miley if she had turned this opportunity down. When she first found out, she wasn't even mad that Miley rather take the role than attend college with her. She was mad because Miley couldn't tell her that. Then when Miley asked her to go to Paris, she was very willing to go. In the end, she just couldn't do it. She wanted to go to college, especially after Oliver mentioned that Miley might get another movie gig, delaying college further.
So this explains why she was sitting in a Stanford college dorm room by herself. It wasn't just any college dorm, it was her dorm located on the third floor of the Penro Building. It was supposed to be shared, but for now it was okay. It would be okay. She supported Miley's decision and she supported her own decision.
Lilly opened one of the draws on the desk and placed the letter inside a folder that rested inside the draw. She decided every letter she received from Miley would go in that folder for her to re-read when thing were getting hard or simply when she was missing her best friend. These letters would be the perfect thing to cheer her up when she was going through her Miley withdrawals.
She had just gotten hit with a sudden case of Miley withdrawals. It had occurred when she was hanging up one of the many collages she had made to hang around her dorm. She reminisced about every event a picture was taken at, and it made her teary eyed. It was hard being here by herself, knowing no one but Jackson and Siena. She got along with Siena, but they were more just acquaintances. Then Jackson was always with Siena, as it should be seeing that their relationship is going stronger than ever. The idea of doing this college thing scared Lilly, but she knew she'd be okay.
Speaking of relationships, the picture of her and Oliver sat on the nightstand next to her bed. It was a simple picture but it was one of her favorites. It was one that Miley had snuck in. It was when Oliver returned with the news about Jake being a dirty little cheater. Lilly had her purple shirt on with the black vest, while Oliver wore a patterned t-shirt with a blue button down over it, sleeves rolled up as that was Oliver. They were looking at each other and the only thing you can see is the pure love and happiness between them. Every time Lilly glanced at that picture, she was filled with butterflies, and also with the strong wanting to see her boyfriend again. She missed him more than words could even begin to describe.
But she was happy to finally be sitting in that Stanford dorm room. She had worked long and hard for this; 13 years if you want to be exact. She worked her butt off in school all these years, being at the top of the class in order to accomplish getting into Stanford, and now here she was. It happened because she took her school work seriously and therefore was rewarded with being accepted and being able to attend the school of her dreams.
Lilly walked over to her bed and sat down on it. It was comfortable for a dorm bed. She looked around her dorm and smiled at the new décor and organization she had done. It suited her well and she was very satisfied with the outcome. She was also secretly happy that the room was all hers. Because Miley had withdrawn from Stanford so late, all the other students attending already had their dorms, meaning Lilly would have her own. She wouldn't feel right with another roommate. Miley was her roommate and will be her roommate once she re-enrolls.
"I DON'T WANNA!" Lilly heard a young voice shout in the hall before bursting into tears. Lilly felt her face gently scrunch up in confusion. That no way sounded like a college student.
Lilly pulled herself up off her bed and made her way to the door and gently but quickly pulled it open. There in front of her stood a girl about her age with a little girl. The little girl had long brown hair with big blue eyes. She was stomping her foot and throwing a tantrum while the girl Lilly's age looked stressed. Lilly watched one of the many boxes the girl was trying to balance fall and she bent down and picked it up and held it for her.
"Carly! Knock it off right now or I swear there will be no Beauty and the Beast tonight. Do you hear me?" The girl said sternly.
The girl also had brow hair, but it was a lighter brown than the young child. Lilly noticed the similarity between the two as the shouting and crying child soon settled down to a whimper.
"This is our room," the girl indicated the room next to Lilly. "Go inside and sit on the bed with Ruby. I'll be in soon and I'll put on a Disney movie for you."
Carly grabbed the stuffed Dalmatian off the floor, gave her mother a quick smile, and hurried into the room giggling. The girl then turned to Lilly.
"Thank you and I'm sorry about the noise. I'm gonna try my best to keep her entertained and quiet at all times." The girl said as her and Lilly walked into the dorm that belonged to her. "You can just set that box down on the desk."
Lilly set the box down as the girl placed the other boxes on the bed next to Carly. She let out a sigh of relief and turned toward Lilly.
"Sorry I didn't introduce myself," the girl said as she extended her hand. "I'm Gia and this is my daughter, Carly."
Lilly smiled and shook her hand. "I'm Lilly."
Lilly actually suspected that Carly belong to the young mother. It seemed obvious. Lilly thought it was a noble thing that Gia brought Carly with her to college.
"Mama!" Carly shouted. "Mama! Is that your new friend?"
"You don't need to shout, sweetie. This is Lilly. And I guess so," Gia said with a smile. Lilly smiled back. Maybe she wasn't going to be friendless all year after all. "I don't mean to be so straightforward, Lilly but would you like to get lunch with me and Carly? It's been awhile since I had a girl friend to talk to. We can take my car since I have the booster seat for Carly. It might be nice to make a friend before orientation next week."
"I'd like that. Let me just run next door to my dorm and grab my bag." Lilly said as Gia smiled at the response.
Lilly made her way next door, grabbed her bag off of her bed and proceeded back out into the hallway, locking her door behind her. She returned next door to Gia's dorm, where she found them getting ready. Carly was sitting on the edge of the bed singing "Be Our Guest", swinging her feet to the song. Gia was placing her cell phone in her bag and humming along to her daughter's voice.
"Come on Carly," Gia said extending her hand; a few minutes after Lilly had walked back in. The three of them headed out of the dorm, with Gia locking the door behind her. "I figured it's probably better for me to get us food before the unpacking begins. She is sure to be cranky if I start unpacking before she ate."
"I can imagine. It took me forever to unpack and I'm beyond starving. What do you feel like having?" Lilly asked as the trio made their way toward the elevator.
"Lucy's Imagination Land!" Carly exclaimed.
"Oh sweetie," Gia began. "I can take you there another time. We don't want Lilly to not have a good time."
Carly's face dropped and Lilly noticed that the girl was about to burst into tears. She saw the worry on Gia's face at the fact that the tantrum was about to be thrown in front of the many students moving into their dorms.
"Don't be silly! Of course I'd love to go there," Lilly said smiling down at Carly. Carly broke into a huge smile and began clapping excitedly. Lilly then looked up at Gia and returned the smile that Gia was giving her. Gia mouthed a "thank you", which Lilly returned with an understanding nod.
After the elevator took them downstairs, Carly began skipping toward the exit, with Gia and Lilly following behind, keeping a very close eye on her.
"She is so cute," Lilly complimented. "How old is she?"
"Thank you so much. She's just turned four about a month ago. She's my entire world." Gia said gingerly. "I hope you don't think badly of me because I have a daughter. I had her at fourteen after my first time."
"I don't think badly of you at all. I think it's wonderful that you stepped up at such a young age to raise her. She's really a riot and adorable." Lilly said.
"Watch where you're going!" A female voice shouted. Lilly and Gia looked down the hall to see two girls, one blonde and one brunette scowling at Carly. Carly's faces crumpled up and she began crying loudly. Gia and Lilly quickly rushed over to the little girl and the two older ones.
"Sh, it's okay baby. It's okay," Gia said while taking her daughter into her arms. "Mama's here."
"You're her mother?" The blonde snapped.
"Is that a problem?" Lilly snapped right back.
"How old is she? Isn't she a little young to be a mother?" The blonde said back.
"Christina, just ignore them. It's not worth it," The brunette said right as Lilly opened her mouth to talk back. "Just teach your daughter to look where she is running so we don't have to be inconvenienced."
Both girls turned down the hall and began walking, leaving behind a stunned Lilly and Gia. Carly's sobs turned into sniffles. It was after that moment Lilly realized that maybe college was going to be a lot rougher than she first thought.
Dear Miley,
Well I survived the first week of living in a college dorm, barely. I am now friends with the girl who is in the dorm next to me. Her name is Gia and she's our age. She is studying to be a pediatrician. She has a four year old daughter named Carly, and she is one of the cutest little girls I have met in my life. The president of the college is allowing Gia to have the dorm for her and Carly, which I think is great. She even told me if it wasn't for this, she wouldn't have even gone to college cause there is no way she could have possibly left her. Of course, I miss my best friend like crazy. I wish you were here to meet them. I think you'd like Gia and trust me, you'd love Carly.
How is the movie going? I'm sure you're outshining everyone, including Tom Cruise! I mean I know you're probably having the time of your life. I am so happy for you Miley, don't think otherwise.
So, we thought Amber and Ashley were bad right? Well there are girls here that make them look like saints. I never thought I'd actually miss them.
Anyway, it's time for class. I miss you!
Love,
Lilly
The letter made Miley's stomach flip upside down. She missed home so much. She missed her best friend so much. She loved that she had the opportunity to be in a movie like this, but that didn't change the fact being so far from home was hard. I mean this was Miley being in a movie that was destined to be a huge film. Miley. This wasn't Hannah, this was real life and something masked by a secret and for that she was excited. She just wished she had her best friend with her.
Jesse was another person on her mind. She missed him as well. Her feelings for him were so real. It did comfort her that he was out doing things with his band. She wouldn't be able to handle the thought of him sitting home without her. He's been texting her nonstop, which brought a sense of comfort to her. Though missing him made her sad.
Miley looked out at the beautiful Paris night sky. She hated feeling so homesick. She really did. But that was the price she was going to pay. She just hoped that in the end, it benefited her. She already couldn't wait for the filming to be over so she could be back home going to Stanford with Lilly. Until then, she'd just have to stay positive. Yeah, stay positive.
Thank you for reading! All reviews are appreciated and more than welcome! I know Miley's part was short for now, but I promise you it's going to pick up.
COMING UP IN CHAPTER 2: Lilly starts her first day of classes without Miley and Miley meets a student from Stanford studying abroad.
