Chapter 2: Forgotten

(The next day)

Miley stepped backstage with a smile on her face, the joyous roar of a satisfied crowd still ringing in her ears. Her heart was racing from her big finale.

"Hannah Montana does it again!" Robbie Ray said, joining her backstage. "Honey, you were amazing out there!"

"Thanks, daddy", she said, breathless.

"Sure thing, bud. I s'pose you're tired of hearing this, but I'm proud of you."

"I know, daddy, thanks. Is Lil- I mean Lola around?"

"Yeah, I just saw her", he said. "She caught sight of the food and bolted, but she said she'd be right back."

"Hannaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" a squeaky, nasally voice said. Miley turned to see Traci running up to her. "Great performance! Loved that big finish."

"Thanks, Traci", Miley, or Hannah rather, said. "I just do what they tell me."

Traci giggled, her deviated septum pulling her voice up a few octaves. "Well, bravo! And do I have some news for you! Remember how we just happened to run into Brad and Angelina at that clue last night?"

"Yeah", Miley said. "How could I forget?"

"Well, because they thought you were such a great person at the club, they came to the concert! And- you're going to love this! - invited you to come to Hawaii this week!"

"Are you serious!?" Miley gasped.

"Totally serious! They said they're taking a huge group of lots of important people along with them in their private jet. And they invited you and one guest to come along!"

"Whoa… that's so nice of them!"

"Yeah", Traci said. "So nice of them to let you go and bring one guest. Just one guest…" A devious smile played on her lips, her eyes locked on Miley expectantly.

Miley smiled humorlessly. "Okay, Traci. You gave me the news, so you can be my guest."

"Yes!" Traci proclaimed. "You're a great friend, Hannah!"

"Well, I try", Miley said. But she suddenly remembered that her dad was standing behind her the whole time. "Uhh, Traci? Could you excuse me for a minute?"

"Sure", Traci said. "But hurry. You'd better start packing your bags. I heard them say they're taking off at seven, sharp from the first gate at the airport!" With that, she departed.

"So", Robbie Ray said. "You planning on getting permission from anybody, or are you just gonna hop on that jet?"

Miley sighed longingly. "Daddy, please! Can I go? I haven't had a break or gone on a trip in the longest time!" She looked up at him with the best puppy-dog eyes she could muster. "We have this whole week off of school anyway."

"Miles… this is so short-notice. You didn't even pack anything."

"I know, but I've got time", Miley said. "We can go home, get what I'll need, and be back with time to spare!"

Robbie Ray sighed, scratching his fake moustache.

"Don't forget, Hannah!" Traci said as she walked by. "Seven, sharp!"

"How long is this shindig gonna be?" Robbie Ray asked.

"Brad said they'll be landing home Sunday night", Traci said. "Five days of pampering and luxury!"

"Oooooooh, please!" Miley begged.

He sighed once more. "Well… all right. They're good people; I've met them."

"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Miley said.

"See you at the airport, Hannah!" Traci sang. "Don't be late!"

"Don't worry, I'll be early!" Miley called to her excitedly as she left.

"Thanks, daddy", Miley said, giving him a bear hug.

"You're welcome, bud", he said, returning her embrace. "Now let's go home and get you packed."

HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM

Once again, Miley found herself running up her walkway and jamming her house key into the front door lock. She flew through the door and threw her purse on the couch, not knowing that it was open and half her stuff spilled out of it when it landed.

"Geez, Miley", Robby Ray said as he came through the door. "You don't have to be there till seven. What's the rush?" But she was already upstairs, raiding her spinning carousel of clothes. She loaded her suitcase and gathered everything she was brining in record time.

"Okay, dad", Miley said, dragging her monster of a suitcase down the stairs. "Ready."

"You sure you got everything?" he asked as he put mustard on a sandwich.

"Yep, I'm good", she said, piling her stuff by the door. "Let's go!"

"Right now?" he said. "We practically just got here. It's not even quarter to five yet."

"Come on, dad. I said I'd be early!"

"Fine", he said impatiently. He wrapped up his sandwich. "I'll make it to-go."

"Thanks, dad", Miley said. She opened the door and he carried her massive suitcase out. She went to retrieve her purse to find half its content scattered on the couch. "Oops", she said, hastily gathering everything back up and running out the door. But not quite everything. Her cell phone had slid behind a pillow and was left behind.

HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM HM

(Later that evening)

Lilly jogged up Miley's driveway with a smile on her face, a DVD in one hand and her pajamas in the other. She rang the doorbell and looked inside. There were no lights on in the entire house. Lilly's heart sank; no one was home. She looked at her watch. Seven minutes early; now six.

"Maybe she's just not home yet", Lilly reasoned to herself. She sat down by the door and waited for her best friend's return.

Every now and then, she heard threatening rumbles of thunder in the distance. They minutes dragged on, but Lilly stayed put. Almost a half hour passed when she called Miley's cell phone. When she got the voicemail, she hung up and texted her. But after fifteen minutes and a quick voicemail message with no reply, Lilly gave up trying to call her. She shut her flip phone disappointedly and looked up at the sullen gray sky.

It had been close to one hour since she arrived, and it was beginning to rain. Within minutes, the sky opened up and the rain came down in sheets. Lilly tried to wait it out under the thin roof above the front door; it didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon. She looked into the dark house, wishing Miley would somehow appear and welcome her in. But she knew; her best friend had forgotten her again.

Lilly stepped out into the pouring rain, forlorn. She simply left the DVD and her pajamas on the doorstep. All alone, she made her way home, not caring that she was getting soaked to the skin, or that bright lightning and earsplitting thunder raged overhead.