Lessons Learned

Something Missing

Miley's POV:

It's hard to believe, now, that my life was going great, 10 years ago. I mean, now, it's a mess. Sure I have my best friend and her fiancé, but, that's about it. 10 years ago, I had the two best friends in the world, a boyfriend who I was totally in love with, a thriving musical career, and a wonderful dad and brother. What more could a girl ask for? Here, let me explain how this all changed.

Flashback:

I was 18. I had graduated from Seaview High a few days ago. I was happy. All in one day, that changed….

I had just had arguments with Lily, Oliver, Dad, and Jackson, all in one day. Heck, I don't remember what they were about. They were those kinds of arguments where in the end; you can't remember what started them. There were tears running down my cheeks, so, I thought, maybe I could get the comfort of my loving boyfriend.

I was walking to his house with his cell phone. He had left it at my house this morning…I mean, yesterday. I was being snoopy. I know I shouldn't have, but, I turned it on. I looked into his address book. Big Mistake. These were the names I saw:

Hannah Ryan (his mom)

David Ryan (his dad)

Oliver Oken

Miley Stewart

Lily Truscott

Dylan Harbrooks (friend)

Frankie Muniz (self explanatory)

Andrew Johnson (friend)

Zac Efron (self explanatory)

Calvin Hunter (friend)

Cory Dale (his manager)

Sarah Channing

Wait, wait, wait, who is Sarah? I decided to call the number to find out. Bigger Mistake.

"Jake Ryan! I love you and all, but, hun, stop calling!" That is what she answered. Now, this voice didn't sound like it could belong to someone like… his grandma. It sounded young. That scared me. I snapped the phone shut, completely jumping to conclusions, not that I knew that then. Tears started falling harder. I couldn't believe it. He was…cheating on me. Or so I thought. I thought he was a person who could never hurt me like that. I guess I was wrong. I ran to my house.

I threw the door open and ran up to my room. Without realizing what I was doing, I started packing. I packed everything I could fit in my suitcase and duffel bag. I stored them in my closet so if anyone came into my room, they wouldn't see it. That night, I ate my dinner in silence, thinking of what to do. I got back to my room and wrote a quick note telling them that I loved them, I was sorry, I had to go, and I knew what Jake was up to. I didn't tell them where I was going. When I was sure my dad and Jackson were asleep that night, at 2:00 AM, I got out of bed and climbed out my window, out to the curb, with my backpack and duffel bag. I walked down the street so they wouldn't here me. I pulled out my phone and called a cab. I had 750 dollars in my wallet; I used some of that to get me to the airport. I didn't have a car. I caught the 5:00 AM flight to JFK, in New York. By the time I got there, I had $500 left. It was 10:00 AM (I really don't know how long it would take). I got a cheap motel room. The next morning, I decided to go to the Starbucks down the street.

I walked into the coffee shop, and ordered a coffee. As I was going to find a table, I bumped into a girl. "Oww," we both said, clutching our foreheads. "I'm sorry," we both said. "No, it's ok," we said in unison, again. We laughed. Then, I got a good look at the girl. She had dark hair and a petite figure. Her eyes were brown and happy. This girl looked familiar. Then, it hit me. "Gabi?" I asked. The last time I had seen her was at the Tipton four years ago.

"Miley?" she asks.

"Oh my god!" we both exclaim.

"Wanna sit down?" she asks me. "You know, catch up?"

"Sure," I said. She led me over to her table. She was the only one sitting there. "So, what are you up to?" I ask. "Are you still dating Troy?"

"I'm a sophomore at NYU, and yes I'm still dating Troy, he goes there too. So, how about you, still dating Jake?"

I looked down, so she wouldn't see the tear that was forming. She did, however. "Oh my god, sweetie, I'm so sorry, what happened?"

"Well, you see…" Before I knew it, I was spilling out everything from yesterday's events.

She put her hand over her heart in an apologetic way. "I'm so sorry that happened to you," she said.

"Yeah, well, I'll get over it," I lied, but, I didn't know that then. "Now, I'm just looking for a place to live, you know."

Her eyes brightened. "My roommate graduated last year, she moved back home. I'm looking for a roommate. I have an apartment a couple blocks from here."

"Seriously?" I asked, not believing my luck.

"Yeah, come on, I'll show you!" she says. We get in a cab and drive for a few blocks. We get out in front of a pretty nice looking apartment building. We go up to the third floor. Room 318. I looked around. In the living room, there was a couch, a love seat, a TV, and a coffee table. The kitchen was decent enough, nothing gourmet or anything like that, but it could work. There were two bedrooms and a bathroom. "So, you wanna move in?" she asked.

"I think I do," I reply.

I enrolled in NYU. I had all control of my Hannah money, so I could afford it. When I

was twenty two, I graduated. Afterwards, I decided to create another identity. Lexi McDonald. That's what I named her. I couldn't be a singer, because my family could easily recognize my voice. So, I decided to be an actress. I loved to act, almost as much as I loved to sing.

End Flashback

Lexi is famous. 10 years later, I'm still living with Gabriella, but, we have a better apartment. That will change soon, because her and Troy are now engaged.(took them long enough) I have the best friend a girl could ask for (Gabi) and there's Troy who is a good friend too. I am rich and famous, to be completely honest. My life should be great, but…it's not. There's something missing.