The bus pulled to a stop in front of a large building, I jumped out into the pouring rain and ran inside. A large man in a dark suit had been holding the small door open for me.

Because my wig is not on, no one even glances my way, though footsteps behind me signal Karl's constant presence. He has almost no personality. I had tried to engage him in a conversation before but I only got curt answers or silence in response. He refused to ride in the tour bus with me, choosing to drive in a car behind. That way he could always watch me or something like that.

When I found the dressing room with the temporary label ''Hannah Montana'', I stepped inside and closed the door against the outside world (and Karl). A quick glance around showed an empty room. White everything; couch, table, a simple set up. So I plopped into a chair set before a large vanity mirror to wait.

It took about two minutes before my personal stylists burst through the door. They hurried to start pinning my hair up, one of them pulling out tweezers for my eyebrows, then on to make-up. It seemed to take forever, but I'm used to them by now. The final touch was the wig.

I looked down at myself in the mirror when I stood up. They all left and I spotted an outfit on a hanger that had not been there earlier. So I undressed (setting my phone on the table beside me) and slipped that on, the strapless green shirt clamping tight to my skin. The dark skinny jeans doing the same. Shoes were under the rack, so I stepped into the heels.

The team left a few pieces of jewelry on me, so I fingered the emerald necklace while peering at myself in the mirror. It would be at least an hour before the interview would begin. The blonde wig would be itching like crazy by then. But, that was not the problem. I had nothing to do.

So I dropped onto the white couch (which was hard and uncomfortable), and obtained my cell phone from the table in front of me. There were no new text messages for me. No missed calls. No requested video conferences.

I sighed and set it back on the table. I had learned long ago that before an interview it was not a good idea to just walk around the studio. Sometimes it would distract people from their jobs or I would get into some sort of mischief.

I remembered the way I used to spend free time before an interview while I was still in high school. These memories tended to appear quite often. They had been my best friends through my adolescent years and two of the few people to actually know who I was. We would sit in whatever room they appointed me, playing cards, eating chocolate covered fruits, teaching each other to play an instrument, or just talking. Time always went fast when they accompanied me to concerts and other Hannah-related events.

The phone in front of me seemed to be calling my name. I pulled it up to my face and began scrolling through the contacts, flitting to the L's. But it wasn't there, and I knew that. When I made the choice to not go to college with her at California State University and begin Hannah's career full-time, we had stayed in touch for just a few years. It had not lasted and the last I heard from her was about four years ago.

Then it was on to the O's. Where Oliver's name should have been there was a line between names Olivia and Oscar. He and I had gone our separate ways when I moved to New York after high school. We tried talking over the phone, but it was never the same. I did not have the schedule to fly down and visit them. He had gone to a community college near Malibu. It had been at least five years since I had heard from him. His voice, smile, and the way his eyes would light up when -

My phone lit up, blaring my ringtone and causing me to jump. I hit send before even peeking at the screen to see who it was.

"Hello?" I held it up to my ear and the voice on the other end made me pull the phone away and cringe.

"Hannah," Tracey squealed. "There is a party tonight and you have to come."

I so did not want to do anything. "I'm in LA, Trace."

"I knooow," her nasally voice made me sigh. Lilly used to hate her so much, and I had begun to realize why. "I am too. I'll text you with the deets. See you there. Ciaaao."

Apparently just being in the same town meant that I was going. I could just not go and Tracey might not even miss me at all. It could be such a large party that I would say that I had been there and never even saw her.

The door opened and Karl stood there, signaling my cue to go. It was much sooner than I thought and wondered how long I had been thinking of my old friends. I wandered past Karl and hurried through the dark studio, following someone with a clipboard and headset. We stood away from the curtain while waiting for me to be introduced.

"Will you sign this for me, please?" I accepted her offered pen, beginning to scribble on a scrap piece of paper that she had on the board.

"What''s your name?"

"Lilly," my hand paused and my heart lurched inside my chest. It had to be a coincidence.

My eyes had moved to look at hers through my lashes. To brush it off the bizarre reaction I asked, "one 'L' or two?"

"Two."

I finished and she thanked me just in time to hear "…… a warm welcome to our guest, Hannah Montana!"

When I stepped out from behind the curtain I was met with thunderous applause. I raised a hand and waved as I clunked my way to the open seat next to the host. Looking as delicate and lady-like as I could, I lowered myself into the chair and waved once more. Though I could not even see much of the audience through the lights.

"Hannah, so nice to see you again."

I flashed a grin. "You too Alex."

"How are things going with you, then?" she placed a hand on my knee when she leaned forward to speak, taking it off on the word 'then'. It was things like that which I noticed during interviews.

"Busy," I let out a breath of air and giggle as the audience laughed.

She nodded and sat back in her chair. "I'm sure! About to end your 'For Now' headlining tour. I bet you are a busy girl!"

Smiling and shaking my head, I leaned back into the chair before speaking. "Actually this is my last interview before the final show tomorrow."

"And where will that be held?"

"It is going to take place at the Staples Center. It is sold out."

"Wow!" the audience let out a sigh. "But I was able to score everyone here tickets to her concert tonight!" Yells of appreciation were yelled out, and I waved to the crowd for acknowledgment after Alex spoke.

"So Hannah," as soon as everyone calmed down, she addressed me again. "Did you know what you were getting into when you first started singing? Did you think it would come to this?"

I knew what she meant. When I first started singing all-together. But, to me, the question meant after high school which ultimately led to the loss of my closest friends. That was when I began tours that lasted longer than a few weeks and spent all my time in recording studios or at parties in New York. When it all became 'glamorous'. Nothing came without a price.

"Well Alex," I spoke without even thinking about it. "My current career has come with quite a sacrifice."

Her eyes got big and she leaned closer to me as if we were sharing a secret. I could feel the audience leaning in too, and I was sure the cameramen were getting a close-up of my face. "What do you mean?"

I was still wondering if it was a good idea to say any more when the words spilled from my lips. "I lost two of the best friends I ever had."

The crowd made an 'awww' sound, as if they were actually sorry for me.

"Do you regret anything then?"

I made myself laugh. "Don't we all?" which caused the crowd to laugh again.

It seemed Alex did not want to let it go. "Really. I mean, career choice-wise. Would you go back and change things if you could? Get your best friend's back?"

Lilly and Oliver's faces popped up in my head, smiling at me. "Yes."

---

This is going to be a four part story (already written).

I wrote it all one Saturday afternoon.

Double_I_4_My_Guyz thanks again for Betaing this story (all four parts of it).

Please review! [x