Hello Beautiful

Chapter 1 - Worth It

Miley Stewart paced the floor of her fairly large room. She pondered on her love life. Mainly, about her feelings for a very special person in her life. She was interrupted by her father walking into her room, a glass of hot chocolate in his hands.

"Hey bud, you look like you could use some hot cocoa." He said while sitting down on the edge of his daughter's bed. He outstretched his arm, offering the hot chocolate to her.

"I guess." She murmured while sitting next to him and taking the warm cup he offered.

"Well, it sure look like you could use it." He commented, and it was true sense she had been walking around the house for the past week with a concerned and puzzled look always on her face.

"How do you figure that?" She asked, taking a sip of the hot chocolate.

"You look like your struggling with something. Anything I can help with?" He answered, his gentle voice calming her slightly.

"I don't know, but…how do you tell someone you love them. As more then a friend." She said, looking at the floor. A lock of her wavy brown hair falling across her face.

"Well, should I even try to ask about who he is?" He said with a warm smile.

Miley grimaced at the word 'he'. Why did everyone have to assume that she was a he?

"Let's just say that it's someone that's very close to me, and I don't want to loose them." She cleverly responded. She wasn't ready just yet to reveal her secret.

"Then I suppose it's up to you." He replied, a slight bit of question in his voice.

"Daddy! Your suppose to help me, not leave in the dark." She said while taking a large gulp of hot chocolate.

"Darlin', there isn't a single thing on Earth that I could do to help you in this situation. It's up to you to break it to them." He answered while placing a hand on her shoulder.

"That's the wrong answer." She muttered into her hot chocolate.

He chuckled before standing up and walking out of the room. He wanted to know who she was talking about, but he'd wait patiently for her. When she's ready, she'll tell him. Until then, he'll have just guess.

She slowly finished her hot chocolate, setting the empty cup on her nightstand. How was she ever going to tell Lilly that she loved her?

She sighed loudly, when her phone began to vibrate. She pulled out her iPhone and checked her text messages.

She had one new message from Lilly. Her heart instantly lifted at the sight of Lilly's name. This had been happening a lot lately. That was one of the reasons that made her except the fact that she was head over heels for her. Her best friend.

"Lilly landing in 40." She read aloud. This at first made no impact on her, but then she realized exactly what this meant.

She ran down the stairs and exclaimed, "Lilly landing in 30 seconds!"

Robbie Ray instantly looked up from the newspaper in his hands, he was in the kitchen.

Jackson hurriedly jumped up from the couch and ran to the front doors. He swung them open and jumped back just as Lilly came rolling in on her skateboard.

"And she sticks the landing!" Lilly exclaimed while unhooking her helmet and picking up her skateboard.

"That was a close one, but luckily Jackson Rod Stewart was there to save the day!" Jackson said while sticking out his chest.

"Can Jackson Rod Stewart save the day by taking out the trash? It's smellier then Uncle Earl after pig wrestling season!" Robbie Ray responded.

Jackson deflated his chest and slowly went to take out the trash with a sad look on his face.

"So, does Hannah have any plans tonight?" Lilly said in a peppy tone. A smile lighting up her face. But she had no idea how her smile was giving Miley's stomach butterflies.

"Nope, this is the first Saturday Hannah's had free in a long time." Miley replied, secretly noting that Lilly's green skater beenie looked so cute on her beautiful blond hair.

"Awesome! Hey Mr. Stewart, can I sleepover tonight?" Lilly asked while peering around Miley to look at her father who had returned to reading the newspaper at the kitchen counter.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt, so why not?" He answered.

"Yes!" Lilly exclaimed. "Hey, lets go down to beach today, I've been wanting to catch some waves for long time." She added, returning her attention to Miley, who was thankful to get Lilly's dazzling blue eyes back on her.

"Sure, lets go." Miley replied, willing to do anything for her.

As Lilly raced out of the house, Robbie Ray surreptitiously watched his daughter. She had a longing look on her face as she watched Lilly run out of the house towards the beach.

She bit her bottom lip and began to walk after her best friend.

"Hey bud." Robbie said, he couldn't help but wonder.

"Yeah dad?" She asked while stopping to look at him.

"That uh, that friend you were talking about earlier…are you gonna tell them?" He tried to find the right words.

Miley looked at the floor. He probably knew it was Lilly. He was too smart about these things.

"I dunno, it's gonna be hard. I don't think they feel the same way back, but I…I might tell them. I dunno." She replied, fighting with herself.

"Well, whether you tell them or not, just remember that I'll always love you. No matter what you do or who you love, I'll always be proud of my baby girl." He reassured her.

He must know. He just gave her his approval, he had to know. But he wasn't saying anything. I love my dad. Miley thought to herself.

"Thanks daddy." She replied with a warm, thankful smile.

"No problem bud, but you better get goin' before Lilly realizes your missing." He said while returning his gaze to the newspaper.

Miley set off towards the beach. She found Lilly ordering food at Rico's.

"Whatcha getting?" Miley asked while sitting on the stool next to the one Lilly occupied.

"Nachos. Want some?" She said while twirling in her seat, a happy expression on her face.

"I guess I could have one or two of yours." She answered with a smile. Watching Lilly be happy made her happy.

"Here you go, toots." Rico said as he set the basket of nachos and cheese in front of Lilly. She instantly began shoving nachos into her mouth. Sometimes she could be more of a pig then Oliver. Speaking of which, he walked up behind them.

"Hows it goin ma ladies?" He said with a grin.

"Were not your ladies." Lilly said through a mouthful of nachos. They could barely understand what she said.

"Have you seen the surf today? It's crazy out there!" Oliver said, waving away the comment, before taking a step back. Lilly had jumped out of her seat leaving an empty basket (of what used to be nachos) behind.

She ran to the changing rooms, coming out a few minutes later in her blue bikini top and Roxy swim shorts. She picked up a yellow surfboard that had been shoved into the sand much earlier by Lilly, and headed off down towards the beach.

"Come on slowpokes!" She called behind her at Oliver and Miley.

"I am not a slowpoke!" Oliver prostested as he grabbed his own surfboard that had been placed off to the side, and running after Lilly.

Miley sighed and followed her friends. Miley had no intention of learning how to surf. She had never liked sports too much. Surfing and skateboarding were no exception.

She slowly made her way down to the beach, sitting in an empty blue chair. She watched Oliver and Lilly paddle out on there surfboards.

They both began to ride on a fairly big wave. Oliver clumsly slipped and fell into the water with a loud girlish shreik. Miley could see Lilly laughing as she continued to ride along the wave.

The wave came to an end and Lilly hopped of her surfboard and landed on the sand, she had ridden the wave all the way up to the beach.

Oliver resurfaced and got back on his board before paddling towards the beach.

Lilly ran up to Miley with a great bit of enthusiasim.

"Did you see me? I was awesome! Unlike Oliver." She excitedly spoke.

"Yeah, you were amzing." She agreed.

Oliver slowly strolled up next them, Miley raising to stand up next to Lilly, who barely had any water on herself. Unlike Oliver who was drenched.

"I meant to do that." He quietly announced.

"Just like you meant to wear nice shoes?" Lilly teased.

"Don't make fun of the water shoes. Chicks dig them." He defended.

Both Miley and Lilly erupted in a fit of laughter.

He stuck out his tongue and turned around, crossing his arms.

"You'll be sorry. Nobody mocks Smokin' Oakin and gets away with it." He said loud enough so that they could hear him even though he was facing the other way. "Nobody!" He playfully hissed while quickly spinning around to face them.

They kept laughing and giggling.

Oliver shook his head, girls could be so weird. He turned and grabbed his surfboard before running back out to the water.

"It's getting way too easy to make fun of Oliver." Miley commented before sitting back down on the chair.

Lilly went out to the water and dragged her surfboard back up to were Miley was. She plopped down on it and looked up at her.

"What's up with you lately?" Lilly asked in a concerned, yet soft voice.

Miley was sort of taken back by this random question. Was it that obvious that she'd been distracted all week? She'd been secretly trying to find a way to reveal her love for Lilly, but she sure as heck wasn't going to say that!

"I dunno, just been thinking I guess." Miley answered, just realizing just how lame that sounded.

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Come on Miles, you can tell me. I'm your best friend." She smiled for reassurance. But if Miley told her the truth she might not be her best friend anymore. But was it worth the risk? I mean, they say that the best of friendships can get through anything. Can Lilly get over the face that Miley loves her?

"Well…it's complicated." She answered, turning her gaze to the sand.

"Is about a boy?" Lilly perked up. Her guess made Miley's stomach churn, everyone asumed it was about a boy. Why?

"No." Miley muttered.

"Um, your family?" Lilly tried again, moving to sit next to Miley on the blue chair.

"No." Miley murmured. What if she guessed right? Miley couldn't lie to Lilly. It was like a weakness. And if she did lie, it wouldn't be believable.

"Oo! Something Hannah related!" Lilly said, almost certain that that was what was bothering her so much.

"Lilly, it's about you." Miley blurted out. She hadn't realized that she'd said it outloud until she saw the confused look on Lilly's face.

"Me? What'd I do?" She asked like Miley had just accused her of stealing a priceless airlome.

"Nothing, you didn't do anything wrong." Miley admitted, not meeting Lilly's eyes.

"Then why are so tensed up over me?" She asked, she was even more confued now.

"It's complicated." She replied again. Not wanting to reveal her true feelings yet.

"Miley, I can handle the truth." She said, getting more concerned.

"Lilly, I…I don't know how to tell you." She confessed.

"Just say it." She urged.

"What if you hate me afterwards?" Miley asked, looking up into her eyes.

"I promise, there is nothing you could say that would make me not be your friend. Trust me." She replied strongly, but was getting worried. Miley looked so nervous, so scared. Her eyes didn't have their usual twinkle in them.

"Promise?" She asked. Was she really going to do it?

"Swear." Lilly confirmed, it was killing her. She had to know what was chewing Miley up.

"Lilly…" She was choking on the words. She couldn't get it out.

"Miley just spit it out already!" Lilly said with a slight annoyed tone.

"I love you as more then a friend." She blurted out, her eyes immediately grew wide and turned to stare intensily at the sand as if her life depended it on it.

Lilly felt like someone had just slapped her. This was so unexpected.

"Wh-what?" She said in a squeaky voice that was anything but her own.

"I shouldn't of said anything." Miley quickly said in almost a whisper before standing up and running towards her house. Leaving a confused, shocked, and totally dumbfounded Lilly behind.

Lilly quickly came to her senses and stood up.

"Miley!" She called, but she was already out of sight.

Oliver was now running towards Lilly from the water.

"What'd you do to her? She took off like the roadrunner on that cartoon!" He said like he was impressed.

"Oh man!" She answered while running off in the same direction Miley had just gone.

Miley found it very easy to run in the sand when you were crying and hurt.

What was she thinking? Lilly definitely hated her now. Why did she blurt it out? Their friendship was probably over, and if it wasn't, it'd never be the same.

She pushed open the backdoor to her house and weakly shut it, she ran up the stairs, tears still rolling freely down her face. She hurriedly ran into her room and shut the door behind her, careful not to slam it. She went over to her bed and jumped onto it. Hiding her face in her pillows.

Lilly ran into the Stewart Residence. She spotted Miley's dad, who had the most confused look on his face, but he was right were they had left him.

"Mr. S! Did Miley come in here?" She quickly asked, like it was an emergency, but maybe it was.

"What the Sam Heck is going on Lilly?" He asked while standing up and setting down his newspaper. He walked over to a table by the television and picked up a clean towel. He turned back around and tossed it over to Lilly who caught it gracefully.

"Well, Miley kind of told me this, uh, secret and now she's really upset." Lilly fumbled over the words.

"She told you she likes you?" He asked with a gentle smile that faded quickly.

"She told you?" Lilly asked while vigorously drying her hair with the towel.

"Not yet, but it has been a little obvious lately." He informed her.

"Do you think I should go talk to her?" Lilly asked, she didn't want to further mess up their friendship.

"Maybe I should go see how she's doing first. That'll give you a minute to get your own mind set straight so you'll know what you're gonna say when do talk to her. Did you tell her how you felt back?" He questioned.

"Well, no." She quietly murmured.

"Well she's gonna want to know. Think about it." He said before turning to walk up the stairs, and then knocking on Miley's door.

"Miley, can I come in?" He quietly asked, but Lilly could still hear him from down the stairs.

"Yes." She could hear a muffled reply from Miley. It hurt her heart that she had made Miley sad. She could hear Miley's dad open her door then walk in and close it.

She went over to the couch and slowly sat down on it. What was she going to say to Miley? She hadn't even thought about it. It had all happened so fast.

Miley…loves me? Lilly thought to herself. What am I gonna say to that? I don't love her back. I'm not a…I'm not gay. I can't be. Is Miley? It's just a phase, probably. Or is it? Oh my god, what if Miley really does mean it? What if she loves me? Do I love her? Well of course, she's my best friend, but as more then a friend?

Meanwhile up in Miley's room, Robbie Ray shut the door behind him.

"Hey bud." He quietly said as he took a seat the the foot of his daughter's bed.

She still had her head stuffed between two pillows. She grunted weakly.

Robbie wanted to smile at this, but couldn't. He knew he'd have to come up with some dad advice, but he had nothing. He'd never thought that his daughter would like other girls. But he was supportive of whatever she wanted. Even if it was Lilly.

"I guess Lilly didn't take the news too well?" He asked before she slowly sat up straight next to him.

"She just had this look on her face, and I broke down. I ran away before she could say anything." She confessed. She was already at rock bottom, there was nothing else to loose.

"Well, you've got a visitor downstairs. She got here a few seconds after you did. Want me to send her up?" He asked while wiping the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

"I guess." She mumbled, she really didn't feel like talking to Lilly. But, she had to know. She had to hear Lilly out. It was only fair.

Robbie Ray stood up and walked over to the door, but before he left he turned around and spoke one last time. "I hope everything works out for you, bud." He said giving her a hope-filled smile.

"Thanks daddy." She replied. Knowing that her father supported her made it a lot less hard, but it still felt like the world was on her shoulders.

He shut the door and walked down the stairs. He found Lilly sitting on the couch, her eyes were glazed over, she was somewhere else.

"Lilly." He said waving a hand in front of her face.

"Huh?" She came back to her senses.

"You can go up now, but if your gonna let her down, promise me you'll go easy on her. She's already pretty upset." He said while picking up the towel that had been thrown over the couch's back.

"Right." Was all she said before walking over to the stairs and slowly walking up them.

Miley sat on the edge of her bed, hugging a pillow close to her chest. As if it would protect her.

She was nervous. Scared. Worried. Anxious. Everything.

She heard a faint knock on her door. Her stomach twisted, it felt like a pretzel.

"Come in." Miley called, it didn't even sound like her own voice. It was like a stranger said it, not her.

The door slowly opened and Lilly peeked through. She pushed the door further open and walked in. She turned and closed it. Then turned back around to look at Miley. Miley's face was red and splotchy from her tears.

"Listen, I know you probably don't feel the same way so you don't have to worry about it. You probably hate me now, but I'm fine." She said while standing up and placing the pillow on her bed.

"No, Miley, I like you." Lilly replied, trying to sound a little cheery, but failing entirely.

"But just as a friend, I get it." Miley frowned. "I get it."

"Well, I don't know." Lilly said her face going from nervous and sad to confused.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Miley asked, was she just trying to get her hopes up?

"I thought I knew, but then I started to think about it…and now I don't know. I mean, it's complicated just like you said." She replied while taking a few steps closer to Miley, eyes looking at the floor.

When she didn't say anything, Lilly decided to keep talking.

"Maybe, if you just give me a little while, I can give you a real answer." Lilly replied, she looked up into Miley's eyes.

"Deal." Miley said without thinking. It might take a while but, it was worth it. She just had to show no extra attention to Lilly, treat her like she usually treated her. Don't advance on her. Keep it like nothing changed. This was going to be hard. But a challenge worth taking.