Here is the next chapter! Thank you to bitter-peaches., DrizztyMizty, A Cromwell Witch, Ali, and BLOSSOM 109 for all of your reviews. I appreciate it. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please update once you've read it. I'd love to hear what you think, and feel free to contructively criticize my writing.

Enjoy!

Miley blinked a few times to allow her eyes to adjust to the harsh sunlight. She felt a headache lingering, and all of her muscles felt tired. She was drained. She could feel a slight ocean breeze coming in through an open window. When Miley finally opened her eyes completely, she thought, Why am I downstairs? She searched through last night's memories and remembered what had happened.

"Mom," Miley whispered to the wind. She breathed out a sigh, and found that she was resting on something very comfortable. She tilted her head slightly upwards, and saw that it was Oliver. Her eyes bulged. Whoa, okay! Time to get up! She rushed to try and get off of Oliver, but he had a firm grasp on her, around her waist.

"Oliver," Miley said quietly. Her voice was hoarse from crying. "Oliver, wake up."

"What…" Oliver mumbled, still half asleep.

"I want to get up," Miley laughed.

"Mhmm."

"Oliver!" Miley shouted jokingly. She tried to push him away.

"Fine, fine! I'm up!" Oliver said tiredly, opening his eyes. He saw that Miley was so close to him, and he didn't know why. He then realized that he was holding her to himself. Oliver quickly let go. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Miley laughed, standing up and stretching. "You hungry?" Miley asked, walking into the kitchen.

"Yeah, of course," Oliver replied. Miley grinned.

"Dumb question; you're always hungry."

Oliver followed her into the kitchen and grabbed two glasses. He went to the refrigerator and poured them both orange juice. He set the two glasses down on the table, and then excused himself to the bathroom.

"Hey Jackson," Oliver said, passing Jackson on his way to the bathroom.

"Oken," Jackson nodded, entering the living room area.

Miley started making pancakes for herself and Oliver, glancing every so often at Jackson, wondering if he heard what had happened the night before.

"Hey, Mile," Jackson said to her as he entered the kitchen.

"Hey. You want a pancake or two? Miley asked. Jackson looked confused; Miley never offered to do things for him.

"No thanks," Jackson replied. "I have to go to work soon," He added, sounding as if something was eating at him. Miley noticed this, and set the spatula down. She looked at Jackson right in the eye. They held each other's gaze for a few silent seconds. Miley sensed what it was that was bothering Jackson.

"What?" Miley questioned defensively, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Look Mile, you know I hate this as much as you do," Jackson started. Miley cocked an eyebrow, her stare not faltering. Jackson sighed.

"Should I stay home today? Do you want someone hear with you?" Jackson was cautious about how he phrased that question. He did not want to make her feel weak--she hated that.

"No," Miley said firmly. Her voice began to raise, "Why does everyone insist on--" She cut herself off before she started yelling. After a moment, she cleared her throat. "No. No, I'm fine," She finished calmly. She picked the spatula back up and flipped the pancakes.

Jackson, watched her, looking for any hint of her telling a lie. After a few moments of silence between the siblings, Jackson spoke up again, " Alright, I guess. I'll see you tonight." Then he turned and left for Rico's.

When Oliver came back downstairs, Miley set their plates down on the table. They both sat, and began eating quietly.

"I'm sorry you had to see that last night," Miley told Oliver in a small voice, looking down at her plate. She began to toy with her food absentmindedly.

"It's fine, Miley, things happen," Oliver replied.

"That was really embarrassing," Miley said looking up at him. "No one except Jackson and my Dad have ever seen that happen. It's been so long since the last time--I don't understand… why now?" Miley rambled on, confused, tired, and sad.

"Um, Miles," Oliver started. Miley looked at him. "Honestly, I don't really understand what happened. I just heard you hollering, and my first coherent thoughts were to go see you, and wake your Dad up." Oliver finished his last pancake and pushed his plate forward, awaiting an explanation from Miley.

Miley opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again. Her eyes darted back and forth across the table, as if the answer she was looking for was etched somewhere in the wood. Finally she looked back up at Oliver.

"Give me five minutes. I'll be right back," With that, Miley ran upstairs.

She slammed her bedroom door shut and sighed. I guess I have to explain myself.

Miley began looking for something to wear. She put on a pair of jeans, a tank top, and Lilly's old basketball sweatshirt that read: "Seaview Middle School" on the front, and "Truscott" on the sleeve. She then proceeded to pull her hair up into a messy bun, then slipped on her black converse. Before finally exiting her room, Miley grabbed her cell phone off her nightstand, slipped it in her pocket, and then walked out.

When Miley reached the bottom of the stairs, she stopped and took a deep breath and let it out. She reentered the kitchen and scribbled her Dad a note on a piece of paper, explaining that her and Oliver were going to the beach. She finally turned back to Oliver.

"You ready?" Miley asked.

Oliver stood up from the couch.

"Yeah. But where exactly are we going?"

"Just to the beach so I can explain myself." Miley told him. "C'mon,"

Together, they walked out the backdoor and began walking to the beach. After a ten minute walk in comfortable silence, they had reached the beach.

"Let's go to the rock, where I told you my secret identity," Miley said softly, not wanting to sound suspicious to any bystanders.

"Okay," Oliver grabbed Miley's hand reassuringly, and pulled her to their spot. The entire walk there, she was very distant. She was staring off into space unaware, it seemed, of anything going on around her.

"Miley," Oliver said, waving his hands in her face in an attempt to get her attention.

"Oh, sorry," She said snapping back to reality.

Miley was bracing herself for telling Oliver the story, but felt slightly discouraged when he let go of her hand, and put his hands in his pockets.

"Do you want to sit?" Oliver asked.

"Um, yeah. Probably a good idea," Miley agreed.

They sat down on the rock nearest to them. Miley drew her knees up to her chest, and hugged them. She took a deep breath.

"So," Miley began softly. "I never really told you what happened when my Mom died," Her voice cracked on the word "died." She pulled herself together before continuing.

"Miley, you don't have to do this," Oliver told her.

"No. Really. I do," Miley looked at him, raising her voice. "Just give me--" She groaned in frustration as her anger began to peek again. "We were all in my Daddy's Camero. Me, Jackson, Dad, and Mom. We were all having so much fun, it was totally normal. I looked out the front window, and their was a crazy driver… God damned drunk!" Miley yelled. "My Dad swerved to avoid the car, but it hit us anyway. We flipped three times down an embankment," She winced as if experiencing it all over again. "We stopped when we hit a tree. Jackson and Daddy were out cold. Mommah heard me screaming," Miley whispered, letting a few tears fall. "I was so scared. I didn't understand. She turned to me all…bloody." Miley let out a sob. "She told me it would be okay! She promised me!" She yelled. "If it was all okay, why did I have to see her die?! What the Hell did I do wrong?" She finished, punching her knee in frustration.

Oliver jumped off the rock, and pulled Miley off with him. He embraced her in a hug, while she cried into his shirt. He slowly rubbed her back, trying to soothe her. He didn't let her go until her crying subsided. Eventually she pulled away from his embrace, and wiped her eyes with the sleeves of Lilly's sweatshirt.

"Are you okay, Miles?" Oliver asked wearily.

"Yeah," Miley breathed in deeply, and then let it out. "Thanks Oliver."

So, how did you like this new chapter? Please let me know.

-Rage and Grace