"Jackson? Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Oken, what's up?"

"Here's the thing, I like this girl, and I don't know if she likes me back-" started Oliver, before Jackson cut him off.

"No."

"Now, come on Jackson, I didn't even ask the question," exclaimed Oliver.

"You don't need to. Whichever girl you think you like, you don't actually like her. And goodness knows you don't need to waste any more time dating random girls, or else by the time you figure out who you really like, she'll be gone."

"Jackson, what the hell are you talking about?" asked Oliver.

"You'll figure it out, sooner or later," said Jackson, with a knowing look, "Plus, while Miley is gone for the summer, don't you think you should hang out with Lilly? So that she's not stuck flying solo, you know? If you had a girlfriend, who would she hang out with?"

"That's true, I guess. Your right, it wouldn't have worked out between me and Gina anyway. Good talk," said Oliver, slightly sarcastically, looking down at his phone, "Hey, look Lilly just texted me about a beach party tonight, I guess she really does need me around, usually she and Miley would invite me as a total afterthought."

"Yeah, buddy, I know, I'm a genius," said Jackson, wiping down the counter, "When's the party, maybe I'll come."

"Tonight at 7, you should dude, you work too hard."

"Yeah, Rico's a slave driver," agreed the older boy.

"Hey, Nose-Whistle, I mean, Wally," said Jackson, walking up to the class nerd.

"What's up, Jackson!" responded the boy with, of course, a whistle.

"I'll pay ya five bucks to go over there and ask Lilly Truscott to dance."

"She'll say no! She might even hit me!"

"Nah, she'll subtly turn you down by making Oliver dance with her," said Jackson, but after a beat he added, "I'll getcha ice if she hits you. Chances are someone is going to hit you at this party, Lilly or not."

"That's true," answered Wally, with a shrug of his shoulders.

He released another whistle and approached Lilly, who, predictably, dragged Oliver out to the floor with her. The two were awkward for a moment, but got over it immediately; they looked like any other couple on the dance floor.

Took ya long enough, thought Jackson, raising his cup as he caught Oliver's eye.