School Day

"Don't you think that's a little much?" Jackson asked Avi as she entered the kitchen. She was wearing an ultra-mini denim skirt, bright red silk tube top, and leather jacket along with black leather boots and a chain belt. Her hair was left down in loose curls and she had on a black cowboy hat. Despite the fact that she looked fabulous, sexy, and everything was obviously expensive, she stood out like a sore thumb, or as Robby Ray said setting eyes on the young rock diva:

"Sweet nibblets, Avi. You'll stick out like a mustang in a pack of mules."

"Thanks, Dad," Miley said placing her fists on her hips. "So I'm a mule?"

"Mr. Stewart," Avi said grabbing an apple and tossing it up and down a few times. "People are gonna recognize me, I might as well dress like myself." She took a bite of the apple. "These are good. Are they organic or something?" She took another bite and examined her manicured nails. "So, when's the limo getting here?"

"I'm driving you," Jackson said. "So pile into my sports car."

"You mean that pony of a car I spotted last night?"

"That's the one," Miley said grabbing her bag and motioning to Avi to follow.

"Jake, Jake, how was Romnia?" Amber asked.

"Was it wonderful?" Ashley asked smiling obnoxiously.

"Did you bring anything back for us?" Amber asked and giggled.

"Beware the attack of the bitches," Lilly said to Oliver as they stood to the side.

Oliver slowly turned to look at Lilly. "How are you not exhausted?"

"Three caffeine pills taken with Starbucks double shots," Lilly said and blinked one eye at a time in quick succession.

"Hey, Lilly, Oliver," Jake said approaching the two. "Have you two seen Miley?"

"Not since last night," Lilly said. "We spent all last night out, so don't be surprised if you tried calling her and she didn't pick up."

"No one would be surprised if her brain never picks up," Ashley said, causing Amber and her to laugh and do their signature "Oooo, Tsss."

"Now, girls," Jake began and smiled at both sides. "There is no need to be throwing insults."

Just then, a few shouts were heard down the hall, followed by Dandruff Danny bursting through the doors and shouting, "Avi Beach is here!"

"That's interesting," Jake mused as Amber and Ashley ran through the doors to see the rock diva.

"What's so interesting, Jake?" Lilly asked.

"Well, last night at Hannah Montana's birthday extravaganza, Avi said she was going to school with Hannah today," Jake said. "Does Hannah go here?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Oliver said. "Don't you think this place would be filled with reporters if Hannah went here?"

"It is filled with reporters," Lilly pointed out all the reporters, half of them leading the way as Avi, following Miley, came into the hall and the other half snapping pictures of Jake.

"Well, it wasn't until today," Oliver said.

"Move it, people, move it," Miley yelled, trying to push her way to her locker.

"Good morning, Lilly," Avi said. "I love the hat."

Lilly smiled and greeted Avi, complementing everything from Avi's hat to her boots. Oliver stood rather dumbstruck again.

"I didn't know that you knew Lilly and Miley," Jake said. "What happened to your day with Hannah?"

"Oh, well, you know, we rescheduled it to a vacation in the Swiss Alps next month," Avi said. "Plus, we did a few charity concerts together over the summer, and I never get to see Miley now that she's not around when I visit home."

"And Lilly?"

"I met her and Oliver last time I visited Miley about a month after she moved here," Avi said. "I mean, Miley and I did grow up a block away from one another."

"Miley, you never told us that you knew Avi Beach," Ashley said.

"We're like best friends to her," Amber said to Avi.

"That's funny," Avi said. "I smell something foul."

"Probably Oliver," Amber and Ashley said together. "Oooo. Tsss."

"No, more like a pair of leeches floating in the air," Avi said.

Miley began to laugh, until she realized no one else was. "No one understands?" Miley asked. "Sweet nibblets."

"Who says that?" Amber asked.

"It's not catching on," Ashley added.

"Back off before I bitch off at you," Avi said seeing Miley frown at the dissing of her favorite catch phrase.

Amber and Ashley, taken aback, slowly backed away and then turned and ran.

Lilly noticed the look Jake was sending to Miley, and suddenly understood that he wanted to speak to her alone. "Hey, Avi, how about Oliver and I show you the water fountain with the freshest water in the school," Lilly said loudly sending looks at Oliver.

"Uh, yeah," Oliver agreed. "You know, in case you get thirsty."

Avi shrugged and agreed. "Sounds good to me."

As soon as they were gone Jake smiled at Miley. "It's nice to see you again."

"You too, Jake," Miley said, feeling the color rise to her cheeks.

"I tried calling you last night," Jake said.

"Oh, uh…" Miley bit her lip, not knowing what to say.

"Lilly said you were out," Jake said. Miley nodded hoping that Jake wouldn't want any details. She leaned back against her locker and Jake leaned on one of his arms next to her. "You didn't write very many e-mails over summer."

"Uh, well…" Miley had been extra busy being Hannah during the summer since she couldn't travel too much during the year. "I was just preoccupied a bit."

"You, uh, did you, um, by any chance…"

Just before Miley could ask what he was getting at, the bell rang.

"I had better find Avi and get to class," Miley said standing straight again. She looked at Jake for a moment, hoping he'd kiss her. He just stared back, trying to gain up the courage to. But after a moment, Miley couldn't delay any more.

Sweet nibblets, that was awkward, Miley thought as she dodged through the halls, looking for Avi, Lilly, and Oliver. She finally found them at Oliver's locker.

"Well?" Avi asked.

"Did he ask you out of kiss you or something?" Lilly asked excitedly.

"No, we just had a quick, awkward conversation," Miley admitted.

"Sweet nibblets, what's the hold up, girl?" Avi asked.

"I don't know," Miley said.

Lilly walked into the lunchroom to see Amber and Ashley walk away from Avi and Oliver at the front of the lunch line and head toward the table Miley was sitting at. Lilly arrived there at the same time and took a seat across from Miley and next to Oliver.

"I don't understand the people at your school," Avi said to Miley and Lilly. "I insult them and they keep coming up to me as if I'm going to tell them, 'You're right. I'd rather be your bud than Miley's.' Please, someone tell Beavis and Butthead to take a step back."

"Any moment," an oblivious Miley replied staring across the cafeteria where Jake was ordering his lunch.

"Can I have your one-of-a-kind blue Burberry mittens, scarf, and earmuffs for when I go on tour this winter?" Avi began testing Miley's attention.

"Sure."

"Oliver, can you get me some sporks from the lunch line?" Avi asked quietly turning to the boy next to her.

"I guess so," Oliver said hesitantly. "Why?"

"Miley, can I do your hair in a ridiculous style?"

"Sure."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Lilly asked as Oliver got up and began to make his way towards the utensils.

"Better me than the bitches," Avi replied. "Plus, Jake's gonna get here before Oliver gets back."

A moment later, Jake sat down on Miley's other side. "Hey, Miley."

"Hi, Jake," Miley replied, snapping out of her stupor. Oliver returned just then. "Oliver, what are you doing with all those sporks?"

"Nothing," Oliver said dropping them.

"So, I'm not supposed to do this," Jake began, ignoring everyone but Miley. "But, I'd like to invite you on set for the shooting of the second episode of season three of Zombie High."

"Really?" Miley asked.

"It's a flashback episode to before I was the heroic Zombie Slayer and before the princess was a zombie."

"You mean Hannah Montana will be on set?" Miley's voice dropped about an octave.

"Yeah," Jake said. "I'd like you to meet her."

"Actually, I probably can't make it," Miley said.

"I haven't even told you when it is," Jake said

"Well, you know, I joined this community service thing," at this point Avi, Lilly, and Oliver all began to massage their foreheads, "and it's taking up just about all my time out of school except to do homework and sleep."

"Smooth," Lilly quietly said rolling her eyes.

Jake looked rather upset. "You know, Miley, I don't get you. I guess I understand why you never treated me like a star, but I can't tell if you like me or just want to break my heart. I try to do something nice, and you suddenly push me away. What do you want?"

Before Miley could reply, Jake stood up and took his lunch to another table.

"You know that you're going to need to tell him eventually if you ever want to date him," Avi said before stealing a French fry from Miley's plate.

"I didn't even know about that episode yet," Miley said.

"If you want my advice, I say go to him now and tell him you're sorry for being such a stuck-up bitch. Ask him the date and tell him you'll see if you can clear your schedule. And then, between now and then, you tell him the truth."

"When am I going to have time to do that?" Miley asked.

"How about the Disney Children's Charity Event?" Avi asked. "I'll even be there to back you up. And you know that Jake's going to be there signing autographs at least. And you'll probably be there performing."

"Not happening," Miley insisted. "I'm not telling him about the other me."

"It sounds like you have multiple personalities when you say it like that," Oliver said. "Just, how many other people live inside you, Miley?"

"Very funny, Oliver," Miley stuck her tongue out.

"I hate to say it, but Avi's right," Lilly said. "And you have got to bring me to that event because I hear that Zac Efron is single and he is so hot."

"That's not for another two weeks," Miley said.

"Miley," Oliver said. "Just go apologize before Amber and Ashley claim him."

Miley nodded and went to talk to him. As soon as she was out of earshot, Avi asked, "Who wants to bet she screws up again before the week is over?"

"You know, Jessica," Jackson said taking a seat next to a girl clearly more popular than him. "I'm a close, personal friend of Hannah Montana and Avi Beach."

The blonde girl next to him rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, you were Avi Beach's first boyfriend or something?"

"Well, actually, yes," Jackson said.

"I'm not going to date you, no matter how many fake claims you come up with," Jessica said.

Moments later, Avi, wearing dark sunglasses and staying low with her head bent forward, came up to Jackson. "Hey, Jackson. Can you break a hundred? I want some fries but the lunch lady won't take a bill larger than fifty."

"I can't break it, but here's a few bucks," Jackson said pulling a few bills out of his wallet. "Just pay me back later."

"Thanks, Jackson," Avi said. She lifted her sunglasses and quickly pecked his cheek before sneaking back through the crowd again.

"That was…" Jessica began.

"Avi Beach," Jackson said. "I was going to invite you backstage to her concert tonight, but since you were so adamant that you won't date me, I'd better be looking for someone who can appreciate me."

"Wait, Jackson…"