A/N: Hey everybody! As promised, I responded to all the reviews people left. All ten of them! Seriously, I'm floored. I wasn't expecting this story to become that popular just by the first chapter! And it really makes me smile that so many people like this idea, and think that I've kept the characters pretty much the same. You have no idea how much that made my day. And I stuck to my word and updated on time! I plan on doing that for this story, and if I don't feel free to send me a strongly worded PM. Haha, anyways, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

This is what I've been reduced to.

And the sad thing? It's only been two weeks. Quite possibly less than that. It only took me a few days to realize what was truly going on. With his sense of humor, good looks, good grade point average, and nice personality, it's a wonder I didn't have a crush on him a long time ago.

You see, when a guy has all of those things, that's when I tend get a bit loopy. The personality and overall character are really important, trust me, but Oliver is also really good looking. I have a thing for tall guys. With shaggy brown hair. And tan skin. And brown eyes. Guess what? He has all of those things. And maybe it's only because all the really hot bad boys in movies wear these, but when a guy wears a plain white shirt, I basically melt right then and there. And, of course, guess what he was wearing this morning when I saw him walk in to school. Just guess.

A plain white t-shirt.

No, don't do this to me, Oliver. Is he trying to make my freakish girl hormones take over my body? Is that really necessary? Plus, it was a long weekend, and I had heard he went hiking in northern California, so when he walked in the school, he was tanner. And his hair was all swayed to the side, another characteristic I'm fond of.

I highly doubt he even knows what he's doing to me.

You know, up until about five years ago, things were much simpler. Ah, I miss the days when I though boys had cooties. So much easier back then.

But you know what's weird? Well, besides the whole situation already. The glances at me? The ones that started after I saw him at work? They haven't stopped. They're still there, strong as ever. Only now it's a bit more awkward, considering my glances have become increasingly more frequent. We catch each other's eyes all the time. Like, at least three times per class period. You'd think we'd stop after having that happen so often, but no. We're just crazy sophmores.

Speaking of which, it's the end of the year and I really don't want to have to attend any form of summer school. Focusing time. With finals coming up, and that huge concert coming that I've been begging my mom and saving my money to go to, I also can't risk anything that might make me more stressed out or upset my parents. I've gotta be completely clean. Like a whistle.

But when you think about it, whistles are actually pretty dirty and disgusting. Seriously, they're filthy. It's a little piece of metal with a hole in the top. And it goes in your mouth. Do people even know how many germs are in there? And really, spit can't be that sanitary. A dog's drool is more sanitary than ours. And that thought kinda scares me.

Oh, darn it! Focus! Who cares about whistles? I need to be concentrating on what mitosis is, I thought. My teacher continued to nearly bore our class to death with his monotonous voice when, half way through his slide show, the door to the class room opened up, creaking loudly enough to grab the attention of every student.

It was Oliver. And quite frankly, it made me happy. But I couldn't even show that, because then I'd look stupid. I mean, who slightly smiles and blushes during a presentation on the process of the typical form of cell division? No one that I know. Luckily, though, he had put a sweatshirt on, so I saved myself the embarrassment of drooling. Nah, just kidding. Almost.

Darn. I like him a lot more than I thought I did.

I caught his stare for the second time that day, and then we both looked away and went back to what we were doing. Just as I was analyzing my notes to be sure I had copied everything correctly, a small note in the shape of a triangle popped out of nowhere, making me jump. Noticing the bubbly handwriting of my best friend, I pried open the note and read it.

Don't think I didn't see that. Something's up. And you're gonna tell me. Meet me today after school, at Rico's.

Crap. She knows. And I'd been trying so hard to hide it.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A few hours later, I was sitting at Rico's Surf Shack right along the beach, receiving my change after paying for my Berry Blast smoothie. Miley, having already gotten hers, immediately grabbed my forearm and led my down to a highly secluded section of sand, far away from anyone who might overhear us.

"So . . ." I said awkwardly after a few moments of uncomfortable silence, genuinely not wanting to start this conversation.

"Lilly," Miley started, cutting me off. Not that I was really going anywhere with that. "What was that? Today, during Biology? When Oliver walked in, you went all googly eyed and looked him over head to toe, like you did when you had a crush on Lucas."

Ugh. Lucas. Or, should I say Lu-kiss-every-girl-in-school. That two timing, backstabbing, conniving little brat. Ugh. I hate him. But trying to act nonchalant about the situation in front of Miley, I shrugged. "He walked in the room, I saw him, and looked back down at my notes. So did everyone else in the class."

"Not me," she stated smugly, taking a sip of her smoothie. "I was looking at you. Ever since you saw him, you seemed different. Whenever his name pops up in a conversation, you're suddenly much more interested. And you said nothing happened between you two . . ."

I rolled my eyes. Hopefully it was a good cover. "Nothing did happen, Miley. You're overreacting. There's nothing going on. I swear." It wasn't a total lie. Our little glancing contest isn't anything major, is it? I don't think so.

"Lilly, just admit it. You like him."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

I put the back of my hand against my forehead. Sometimes Miley is just like a little five year old. She'll annoy you until you tell the truth. She will succeed, and she won't take no for an answer. "If I say yes, will you shut up?"

Her eyes grew to twice their normal size. That can't be healthy. "I knew it! I knew it! When I saw you today, and with the staring contests, and seeing him at work . . . I knew it!" Her smile was idiotic and it showed off her professionally whitened teeth. God forbid Hannah Montana has teeth even slightly normal colored.

But unfortunately, her smile was contagious, which blew whatever cover I had managed to maintain.

"Miley, it isn't that big of a deal," I promised, not even lying. What was she so obsessed about?

"But Lilly, it is a big deal! Come to think of it, I can totally picture you two together . . . and I'm not gonna lie, he's pretty cute, too. Aww, what if you two started dating!"

"Miley, I barely know him. Sure, he's been in most of my classes since the sixth grade, but that doesn't mean I know every aspect of his life. And I wouldn't want to, either. That'd be creepy. Besides, how many people in our grade have you known since you moved here in seventh grade?" Miley thought about it, then shrugged, which to me meant that she knew almost everybody. So did I. "Okay, now out of all those people, can you tell me at least three things that a good friend would know that you, not a good friend, know?"

For a moment, the question confused Miley. Eh, I can't blame her. Even I was getting a bit frazzled by my wacky wording. "I get it, Lilly. There are people in our grade that I know nothing about, and Oliver is one of them," she stated.

I interrupted her, "Exactly."

She shot me a glare, and then continued to talk. "But, Lilly, you and I both agree that Oliver seems like a really cool person to talk to. And now you know where he works. Besides, if your mom makes you get a job this summer, you could work there. You'd be working partners and first talk about work, then slowly morph and evolve it in to your likes and dislikes, and then next thing you know, POW! You two are dating!"

I can't even describe the weird look I gave her. "Miley, have you actually thought about this before? And what you said could take months to happen. It's not just gonna be as quick as you said. Miley, it's fine. Whatever. Just let it go."

"No, Lilly. I won't. You like him, and we already thought he'd be a nice guy, so we're going to make this happen. You two will be friends by the end of this summer, at the very least. I can guarantee it."

Is it weird to say that sometimes she scares me?

"Seriously, Lilly. I saw the way you looked at him. You really like him."

I sighed. "Miley, I also look that way at my poster of Orlando Bloom, and that relationship is obviously never going to happen."

"I know this is hard, but focus. For just a minute," she said, grabbing my shoulders to make a point. Ugh, last time I tried to focus I started thinking about whistles, and then Oliver walked through the door, and I had to be stupidly obvious, so now I'm here. Really, boys never get you anywhere.

I glared at her. Now she's got my full attention. "Lilly, we'll make it happen. Within a month, you two will be friends. Maybe more, if you're lucky."

"Why are so intent on making sure everything works out this way? You've helped me do things before when I've liked a guy, but this is a whole new step. Why?" I couldn't keep that thought from racing through my mind this entire time. What if things didn't pan out the way we planned? I'd make a complete and total idiot of myself, that's what.

"Come on, Lilly. You know you want this. And you know I can do this. Just trust me."

My guilt factor kicks in when she says stuff like that, and she knows it. Miley stood up, dusted the sand off of her, and took a sip of her smoothie while holding her hand out for me. She helped pull me up, and I took the first sip of my smoothie since I'd gotten it a while ago. Yum.

"So, Lilly, can you trust me to make this work?"

I looked at her hesitantly. "I guess so . . ."

Miley gave a satisfactory smile and then skipped along the shore, looking for sea glass. God, what have I gotten myself in to?

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Silly Miley and her crazy antics. And you wanna know a little secret? Everything Lilly mentioned that she liked in a guy, that's pretty much me right there. Seriously, every single word of it. Well, except for the brown eyed part. I prefer guys with blue eyes, but still. It's the same basic idea. Anyways, the amount of reviews for the last chapter completely blew me away, and I'd love it for everyone to do it again. Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed, added this to their favorites, or put it on alert! That's means so much to me. So . . . yeah. Drop a review, and I pinky promise you'll get a response. Bye!

xoxo,
Parakeet17