A / N: I'm really really happy with the story and the first chapter and everything, so I'm continuing! I promise I'll update as fast as I can, but sometimes things get in the way. For instance, the two projects I have due this week and the test I have Monday. But, for now, I'm just continuing the story and hoping you guys enjoy it.

Thank you, reviewers! I love you all sooo much!

Enjoy!
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TYING MY SHOES

What was going on? Who was that girl on the floor, lying there like she's been knocked over by a football player? Why is she crying? And who is that other girl running up to her, trying to get her up? Why does the blonde girl keep screaming, 'Oliver?'

It was like I was looking through a two-way mirror. I could see her, but she could not see me. But I knew that, soon, I would feel her pain, understand what she was going through. But for now, I wanted to live in the delusion that the love of my life had not just left and I was not going hysterical as Miley tried to snap me out of it.

---

I snapped back into reality as I felt a strong pair of arms quickly pick me up and start running with me. I was vaguely aware of somebody screaming before I finally realized that the screaming came from own mouth. I tried to shut up but it wouldn't stop. Why won't the screaming stop?

"OLIVER!" I screamed once more before slipping into a dreamless, loveless, unconscious state, letting my mind shut off and pray to God that this was the worst nightmare I'd ever had.

---

One day before two.

Two became three.

Three became four.

Seven became fourteen.

Fourteen became thirty.

Thirty became sixty.

Before I finally realized that he was gone.

---

My eyes opened lazily. Was I in my room? No, no I wasn't. I was in a familiar yet at the same time completely new surrounding. I tried to turn my head to the side but it wouldn't budge. Had I been sleeping this whole time? How long had it been?

"Lilly," I heard somebody whisper. Miley. I remembered Miley. She was always there. Sweet, sweet Miley. Had she been there this whole time?

"M-Miley," I croaked.

"Lilly," she said, just a bit louder.

"Why. Why are you so far away?"

"I don't want to scare you."

"Sc-scare me?"

"You scream if anyone comes too close."

"Have I been asleep this whole time?"

"No. You woke up and went to school and ate and slept. But you barely talked, Lilly. You threw your skateboard at the wall. You threw your school books into the ocean."

"Oh. Where am I?"

"My room. You've been staying here. You wouldn't go into your house."

I got up and flexed my fingers. They felt old. Stiff, like sandpaper. So I hadn't been sleeping the whole time. But I couldn't remember a thing after it happened. Hopefully I hadn't scared Miley too badly. I caught sight of a heap of blankets and pillows on the ground. "You slept on the floor?"

Miley nodded. "Jackson slept in here, sometimes, too."

I nodded, understanding the information but not entirely processing it. Jackson? I knew him. Yeah. Miley's brother. I thought he hated me. Or disliked me, at best.

"How-how long has it been, Miley?"

"Two. Two months."

"Oh. Oh gosh. I'm sorry if I scared you, Miley. But I'm better now. I think I can function again. I'm so sorry."

Miley slowly walked to me, outstretching her arms. "Don't be. I completely understand." She didn't give me a hug, just stood there, waiting for me to come to her. She didn't want me to start screaming again. I walked slowly over to her. My feet felt like cement blocks. They were unfamiliar to me. My whole body was. I gave Miley an awkward hug before letting go and trying to smile.

It must've looked like something else, because worry flashed in Miley's eyes. I sighed and blinked, still feeling like an alien. "What day is it?"

"Saturday."

"Cool. I'm. I'm hungry," I said, managing a small smile.

Miley smiled and we walked slowly to her kitchen. It felt good to finally be aware of myself again. I would not of anything but the present and the future. It was only going to be happy days from now on.

I found it easier to smile as I spotted Miley's dad. He had always been like a father to me, protecting me and chiding me like my dad used to. "Hi, Mr. Stewart!"

He was caught off-guard, but he recovered quickly and said, "Hey, Lills! How ya feeling?"

"Good. Hungry," I said, feeling goofy. It felt weird to try to be normal when I wanted to march back up the stairs and throw myself in my catatonic state again. Or possibly throw myself out the window.

Jackson bounded down the stairs but stopped short when he saw me. "Hi."

"Hi," I replied, trying to smile again. It came somewhat easily.

"So, what do you wanna eat, Lilly?" Miley's dad asked me in a voice that was almost a whisper.

"Blueberry waffles," I said without even thinking about it. My mind probably knew a million things I wanted to eat now that I could actually comprehend things.

Mr. Stewart walked around the kitchen, preparing my waffles, and a thought hit me. I bet it was embarrassing to have a sixteen-year-old girl go full out crazy in your house when you had so much else going on, like a secret pop sensation and a hormone-raged senior.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out.

"Don't worry about it," Billy Ray answered, understanding and knowing that I didn't want to explain my apology.

Miley sat down next to me, staring at the kitchen counter.

"How's Hannah?" I asked, trying to make up for the silence she had probably endured these past two months.

Miley smiled. "Really good. Just had, like, four concerts and a bunch of CD signings and stuff. They made Hannah boots! It cracked me up!"

I laughed. Miley looked at me and smiled, her eyes warm and comforting. "I'm sorry to you, too, Miles."

Miley shook her head and put her arm around my shoulder, hesitantly at first, but then confidently when I didn't flinch or shrink away. I leaned me head on her shoulder, eternally grateful for everything that she had done for me.

---

I prepared myself to face a day of school that I would actually be aware of and possibly even remember. I remembered how much I had hated that tedious process. Trying to figure what to wear; getting everything ready for the next day; making sure all your homework was done.

Miley started to climb into the heap of blankets, but I yelled out, "Wait, Miley!"

She stopped and turned to face me. "What?" she asked, her eyes wide and worried. I had been fine this weekend, laughing and smiling, and she was probably worried about me slipping into that state again.

"You sleep on the bed!" I said, fluffing the pillow for her.

She smiled, but shook her head. "No, you sleep on the bed. I want you to be comfortable."

"I'll be more comfortable if I know you're comfortable!"

"Lilly," she sighed.

"Fine, then. I'll sleep on the floor with you!" I grabbed a pillow off her bed and threw it next to Miley.

"Lilly!"

"I'm not listening!" I smiled at her and snuggled into the blankets on the floor. They were actually pretty comfortable.

"Gosh, Lilly. You could just sleep on the bed. You're so stubborn," Miley said, rolling her eyes at me.

I smiled. "I know! But that's why I'm your best friend!"

Miley laughed and rolled over on her side. "Good night, Lilly."

"Night, Miley." I said, closing my eyes and sleeping dreamlessly.

---

I stared at my shoes and my brain tried to put together the simple task that I had been doing since I was four years old. Tying my shoelaces.

Miley laughed at me as she saw me trying to repeat the whole 'rabbit in the hole' thing. I never remembered, but I knew that I remembered how to tie my shoes. My brain finally clicked and I tied my shoes without difficulty.

"Oh, hush, Miley. I'm just tired," I said.

"Sure, sure," she answered, still giggling.

As soon as we reached the front of the school, my feet turned away and walked towards the commons entrance, away from the place where he used to wait for me.

I sighed as I felt hundreds of eyes on me, probably waiting for me to run out the door and start screaming. I wondered if I'd ever done that. Probably.

Surprisingly, I still remembered my locker number and the combination, even though I'd forgotten how to tie my shoes. I shoved my needed books in my backpack, noticing that most of them were new and in great shape. Oh. Right. I'd thrown most of them in the ocean.

School passed uneventfully, except for the fact that whenever I walked into a room, kids would stop talking and then whisper frantically. They could be a little inconspicuous. And kids would always whisper to each other when they though I couldn't hear. I wished I couldn't hear.

As soon as the last bell rang, I was out of my seat and at my locker, carelessly throwing my books in my locker. I knew I had some homework, but I couldn't exactly remember what. Oh, well. I'd probably written it down somewhere.

Miley tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to face her, smiling.

"How was your day?" she asked me, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Pretty boring," I said, making sure my face was clear and untroubled.

"You wanna come to my house again?"

I thought about it. My mom was probably really stressed, having to work all and then come home and know that I was off going crazy at Miley's house. "Nah. I don't want my mom to worry anymore. But thanks. So much."

"Anytime! See you later!" she walked away, waving.

"Later!"

I took the longest possible trail home, avoiding any shortcuts or detours. I let distractions distract me. I let interesting people interest me. But, it was inevitable. Pretty soon, I was standing right where I had been that day, thinking only of eating when I got in and homework and math problems and sleep.

As soon as I stepped in the door, I knew that it was a bad choice. All those feelings came rushing back to me, almost paralyzing me as I my book bag slid off my shoulder. It fell with a thud that was deafening to me, and I quickly picked it up, running out and closing the door behind me. I couldn't be in that house with all those feelings with no one to dilute them.

I ran and ran and ran until I was in front of Miley's house, panting. The sky had gotten cloudy, and I hoped it wouldn't rain. Rain depressed me. I knocked on the front door that felt like my own door. I spent so much time here.

When the door opened, I expected to see a worried Miley. Instead, I was greeted by a shocked Jackson. "Hey, Lilly."

"H-hi. Um. Is Miley here?" I asked. The sky got even darker.

"Um, actually, no. Sorry. She's got a Hannah thing. She's been really busy lately," Jackson said, scratching his head.

I nodded. "Yeah. Okay. I'll-I'll go home, then. Thanks," I said, turning around and starting to walk home. I didn't want to go home. Maybe I would just keep walking until I couldn't anymore.

"Wait!" Jackson called after. I turned around. "Stay! You can stay here whenever you want, even if Miley's not here. Unless, unless you don't want to. Um. Yeah."

I smiled. "Really?"

"Of course! You don't have to feel uncomfortable since it's just me!" he said, grinning.

I wouldn't feel uncomfortable around Jackson. It would just feel a bit weird. I was just used to being Miley's friend around Jackson, not just a normal girl sitting around in his house. I almost ran towards the door and I bounded in, hoping to avoid the rain that was most likely coming soon.

"Excited?" Jackson said, laughing and closing the door.

I smiled again. "I just hate rain."

"Me, too."

I smiled yet again. It actually felt comfortable to be around Jackson like this. "Thanks for letting me stay."

He smirked. "Thanks for staying."

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Oooh! What's coming in the next chapter? You'll have to wait and find out! I have lots of ideas so I think the next update will come soon!

-Kiso