Miley noticed how tired Lilly looked at school Friday morning. She looked like she was very disoriented and she squinted against the suns slightest rays.

"Hey, Lilly, how are you doing?" Miley asked as she sat own next to Lilly, fishing for an explanation.

Lilly grumbled, "Mmpf… I got a headache,"

"Oh… I'm sorry… You drinking enough water? You getting enough sleep? You eating enough food? Any of those reasons can cause headaches," Miley inched closer, trying to read Lilly's sudden discomfort.

"Yeah… Yeah, I'm sleeping fine," Lilly furrowed her brow, seemingly troubled. "I'm eating, I'm…" She paused, and sighed, "I'm drinking,"

Miley wasn't sure why Lilly had hesitated. Lilly had seemed distant for the past month. She had continued to come over to Miley's house every week, but she was always very quiet and seemed to have something else on her mind. Miley was determined to get to the bottom of it. "You want to spend the night tonight?"

Lilly didn't answer right away. She looked like she was debating the thought with some trouble. After a few moments, she answered. "S-sure,"

"Good," Miley smiled, "I'll clean my room tonight so it'll be presentable,"

Lilly nodded, and then the bell for homeroom to begin rang.

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Lilly got home after school and went straight to her room. Her mother wouldn't be home until late in the evening. She sat down on her bed in silence. After a long period of not doing anything, she reached for a picture that sat on her dresser that was next to her bed. It was a picture of Miley and her on the beach, with their arms linked, and the sun setting a vivid orange behind the ocean waves. Oliver had taken the picture with his new camera he had been carrying around and bragging about all day. Mostly he had taken horrible pictures of seashells or blurry hermit crabs, (not to mention far away pictures of the backs of girls heads that he liked) but when Lilly saw how well the picture of Miley and her had turned out, she harassed him until she and Miley got a copy of it.

Lilly stared at the picture, at their happy carefree faces. She stared at Miley, with her beautiful smiley, and her long brown hair blowing in the wind. Tears welled up in her eyes and she had to set the picture down. She lowered her head into her hands and whispered. "What the hell am I supposed to do with these feelings?" Her voice shook.

After another eternity of no movement, Lilly stood up slowly, and expressionlessly walked over to her closet. She shuffled through her Lola clothes and shoes and old skating gear, and pulled a half empty bottle of whiskey out. Lilly had gotten it from the liquor cabinet in the house that her mother kept for special gathers of the sort. She had a lot more where that came from.

Lilly walked back over to her bed and sat down again. She twisted the cap open and shut her eyes tightly as she threw back her head and guzzled down the sour liquid. She pulled it away from her lips and coughed, choking down the last of the bottle.

"It's not fast enough…" she thought to herself. "I need more… please, I need more…I don't want to feel this anymore…"

Tears found their way down Lilly's cheeks, as she staggered back over to her closet, and exchanged the empty bottle of whiskey for an unopened bottle of Cream Sherry.

She didn't really care what it was. As long as it did it's job fast and took her away from herself, and this world. She opened the bottle, and once more, held it to her lips, starting the same nightly routine she had been practicing for the last month.

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It was 7:30 when Miley had finished her chores, her homework, and cleaning her room. She sat on her bed reading her assigned Chemistry chapters for he weekend, but she just couldn't concentrate. Sighing, she closed the book and reached for her cell phone that sat beside her. She had a weird feeling in her gut, and for some reason, it let her thoughts to Lilly.

Miley flipped open her phone and texted Lilly.

Hey Lil. How you doin? You can come over anytime =)

Afer her phone notified her that the message had been sent, she flipped it closed and sighed, stretching out onto her bed with her phone resting on her stomach. She closed her eyes and waited. After several minutes that seemed to drag on, her phone vibrated and she picked it up and flipped it open. It was from Lilly.

I dnt know how im do ing. I dnt knw wht 2 do wth myslf. I hat e ths. I shldnt cme. Ull hat e m e.

Miley was completely confused and concerned by Lilly's response. She quickly texted back.

Lilly, I don't understand. Come over, okay?

Several minutes later, Lilly replied with only:

Ya ok.

Miley waited anxiously in the living room for Lilly to arrive. About 15 minutes later, Lilly stumbled onto the porch steps. Miley rushed outside and knelt down over Lilly.

"Lilly, are you okay? What's going on," Lilly mumbled and swayed as she was doubled over, and Miley immediately knew that something wasn't right. "Come on, let's go up to my room.

Miley helped Lilly stagger up the steps. She could smell what smelled like alcohol on Lilly's breath, but had a hard time piecing things together. They got up the steps and into Miley's room, and Lilly collapsed onto Miley's bed and started to sob.

Miley slowly lay down next to Lilly and placed her hand on Lilly's arm. "Lilly…" she whispered softly, "Tell me what's going on… are you…?"

"I'm drunk," Lilly sobbed, "I'm pathetic, and I'm drunk,"

Miley's eyes widened as her fears were confirmed. "Lilly… how long has this been going on?" Her voice quivered. She was afraid of the answer.

"A month," Lilly choked and slurred, "A month, and I can't stop, I don't want to, it makes it all go away,"

"Lilly…" Miley felt tears of her own sting her eyes, "Why? What is it you want to go away?"

Lilly curled into a ball, and Miley wrapped her arms around her, "My feelings…" She mumbled.

"Feelings of what?" Miley stroked Lilly's hand softly.

Lilly hesitated and continued to weep. After a long silence, she finally spoke. "My feelings for you," She whispered.

Miley didn't speak for a long time. She was deep in thought, not sure if Lilly was speaking out of drunkenness, or if she was really going through so much pain because of her. "Lilly…" She finally whispered.

Lilly was asleep as tears continued to leak from her eyes. Miley sighed and pulled Lilly closer. She held her in her arms and fell asleep too.

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Lilly woke up the next morning in Miley's arms. Miley felt her stir and sat up.

"Good morning, Lilly," She smiled softly.

Lilly squinted around the room, looking defeated. She couldn't look Miley in the eyes. "Miley…" she muttered, ashamed, "Last night… did I…?"

Miley leaned forwards and pulled Lilly into a warm kiss. After pulling away she looked at Lilly, who stared at Miley, dumbfounded.

"Lilly… I have feelings for you too, so you don't have to run away from them anymore... we're going to get through this together,"