Yet another story is brought into play.

Things were normal. My career was steady and my fans were supportive. My friends were still the same, despite the creepy dating thing; they were still the goofballs I remembered and loved. Even now, during the final school year, the two were a bunch of kids. I wasn't really one to talk because I had my immature times as well, so really, I was just a kid with them. We were three best friends. Two of which who were dating and one who was a teen pop star. Yep, perfectly normal. It was almost too good to be true.

"Miley, come on! By the time you're done, all the clothes are gonna be gone!" Lilly complained loudly from downstairs, half of her inside and the other half out as she stood between the frame of the front door impatiently. I walked down the stairs, finally deciding on a casual dress to wear on our shopping spree. There was a half price sale on today in most of the stores and Lilly jumped at the chance to finally renew her wardrobe after a few weeks of re-wearing older clothes. I let her borrow my Hannah clothes at times, the ones that I'd never worn and I never minded when I didn't see them again in my closet. But most of the time, Lilly enjoyed earning her clothes and her other possessions and even though I didn't feel like I needed anything from the mall today, I wasn't going to deny a request for some girl time.

I didn't like to admit it, because maybe it was just me, but I felt that Lilly and I were falling apart. I was starting to realise that I didn't know everything about Lilly anymore and I couldn't predict her every move and thought like I could a few years ago. She had a boyfriend, I had a busy life, and we had upcoming exams to study for. Things were hectic and we were seeing less of each other. And I hated that. My best friend needed to be treated more like a best friend, but I wasn't sure if she wanted our old bond back as much as I did. I mean, maybe I was disrupting her time with Oliver. Cutting into the moments they could spend staring into each other's eyes, knowing what was being said without words. It was strange how this thought sickened me.

"Move it!" Lilly growled, delivering a hard smack to butt as I dawdled by her. I shrieked and then glared at her, but her bright blue eyes and playful smile extinguished all of my anger, so I just shook my head and rolled my eyes good-naturedly. I couldn't stay mad when I knew today was the day we would connect again. She closed the door to my house and we travelled over the deck, Lilly's excitement encasing me. Whether it was because she was thrilled about the idea of new clothes or spending time with me, I wasn't sure, but I was still happy. She wanted me with her, I wanted to be with her, it worked out.

"I can't believe I've gone up a size!" Lilly fumed as she paid for the assortment of jeans, skirts, shirts and jackets piled on the counter top next to the cash register, waiting to be bagged. Considering my light-hearted mood, I decided to poke some fun.

"Maybe it's time to shorten your six meals a day back down to three, like the average human. Just because you're in a relationship doesn't mean you can let yourself go, Lil. You still have to look pretty for me too, you know." I reached out to jab her in the stomach, but her hand slapped mine away, a bit too aggressively for my liking. I silently questioned her with a tilt of my head and a furrowed brow, but she didn't inform me of her problem, simply mumbled an apology. What the hell?

She grabbed her bags and I trailed after her, wondering when we started keeping secrets. I still had a sense of knowing when something was wrong with her, but I couldn't figure out its origin or what it was related to any longer because I didn't know what went on in her life. Before, our lives were basically one of the same, but now, they're separate. We are separate. Lilly and I, we're just moving further and further from each other and I want so much to grab her hand and pull her back to me, so we can share everything again. I hated feeling like a stranger to her.

"Lilly, wait up!" She didn't. I jogged up to her and took some of the bags off her hands. She couldn't ditch me if I had her stuff.

"What?" she snapped. I was a bit surprised by her sudden temper and thought that maybe she really did take offense to my earlier joke about her weight.

"I didn't mean the stuff I said before. You're just finally getting some curves on those bones and Oliver is gonna be pleased when he sees a beautifully defined woman walk through his front door." I caught her biting her lip, trying to gnaw away a smile. I lounged my arm across her shoulders, knowing this sign pointed to a good destination. "My little girl is growing up," I said, watery emotion soaking my tone. She giggled and I knew I was safe.

"You're such a drama queen, Miles. I'm not upset over what you said, I've just been really pissy lately. Sorry if I freaked you out."

"You didn't. Nope, not at all," I lied smoothly. Lilly raised an eyebrow and beamed. She knew I was lying too. I shrugged and lead her to the food court. It was time for her to be refuelled; the grumbling from down south told me so.

We were coming back together; we had our very own nights where it was just the two of us. We were sharing secrets again and I felt our friendship linking us back as one. Things were truly back to where they should be and I knew I was a fool to think it could stay this way forever. I could see the differences right in front of me. I could see Lilly drawing closer to me and further from Oliver, but I just couldn't understand why. They were in love. Why would the tight bonds be coming loose? How could two people that were so close just suddenly come apart? I was too scared to ask these things to anyone but myself.

But I should've seen it before it was shoved right in my face. I should've known the peace breaker was something major, but I just hadn't paid enough attention to the clues that Lilly laid out for me. She wanted me to catch on. All this time she was dropping hints and I just overstepped them and unseeingly skipped into La La Land where Lilly was my best friend again and nothing was upsetting the balance between us. Though, that's just it. There was something between us and it was making things unbalanced. It was right there, within Lilly, and I didn't even know it. How the hell could I have missed something so huge?

The odd cravings. The mood swings. The weight gain. The distant boyfriend. It was all pretty obvious and yet, it eluded me and when I was finally able to hear the truth, it still stunned me to the point of a brain shutdown. Lilly sat on my bed, hands rubbing her slightly protruding belly and I watched, still not able to fit the pieces together until she raised her eyes from her stomach and met mine. The blue orbs of determination and anxiousness kick started my heart and made my insides knot. The revelation was dawning. I swallowed and Lilly sighed. She was ready.

"Miley, I'm pregnant."

Oh snap.