Smokin' Oken

Chapter 2: Telling Lily

Disclaimer: Yeah, I still don't own Hannah Montana, or Mitchel Musso, to my great disappointment.

A/N: I got a surprising amount of requests to continue this story, so being the pushover that I am, I am bowing to their wishes. It will not be a very long story, just so you know; probably not more than 5 chapters.

Oliver and I walked back from the beach not holding hands. But about halfway there, Oliver started playing the thumb-rubbing game, which quickly progressed into the finger-brushing game, which in turn progressed into us quickly diving behind a tree to have a quick, yet deep, kiss.

"You know," I told him when we were done behind the tree, "This relationship is not going to be all about the physical aspect of things."

"Of course not," he answered, "I respect you far too much for that."

I was touched by his mature-beyond-his-fourteen-years attitude, that is, I was touched before I noticed him giggling behind his hand. I smacked the side of his head.

"I'm serious, you moron," I said, "I really, um, I really like you." I blushed as I said it, wondering at how hard it was to say those four simple words.

"Miley, seriously," he said, finally taking my hand and swinging me around to face him. "I really like you too, and I really do respect you."

"Good," I replied, thinking thank goodness our first awkward talk about our feelings as a couple is over. Couple. It sounded so weird, thinking about me and Oliver as a couple. He'd been just my best friend up until like fifteen minutes ago, and now we were kissing behind trees.

As soon as we came within sight of Rico's, we immediately dropped hands. Although we hadn't discussed it, I got the feeling neither of us wanted other people to know about us just yet.

This included Lily, who popped over as soon as she saw us appear on the path leading from the beach.

"Hey, guys," she said, "Everything okay?"

Oliver and I shared a look, and then I replied, "Yes, everything's fine. Lily, I've got to talk to you." Reluctant as I might be to share my newly gained secret, she was my best friend, and we'd even sworn an oath to always tell each other the truth. So I really had no choice.

I led her away from Oliver, who ambled over and began talking to the guys gathered around playing basketball.

"Lily, you know how I said that I only loved Oliver like a brother or a pet fish?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, um, I was wrong. When I was talking to him today, we both felt something, and we um, well, we like each other." I cringed, waiting for her reaction, not really sure what to expect.

Lily's reaction surprised me more than anything else that day had, which is saying a lot, considering all that had happened.

"I knew it!" she cried, jumping up and down, and causing half of the boys playing basketball, including Oliver, who gave me a worried look, to glance over at us. "I knew you liked each other!"

"What? How could you possibly know? I didn't even know until today. And keep your voice down, Lily; you're attracting attention."

"I hang out with the two of you every day, hello," she said, rolling her eyes at me, but thankfully lowering her voice. "There are some things that can't escape even my notice."

"So, what do you think?" I asked then.

"About you and Oliver?"

"No, about the weather. Yes, about me and Oliver. What have we been talking about for the last five minutes?"

"I'd say you get the Lily stamp of approval. Just as long as you don't give each other cute little nicknames, in which case I may have to throw up."

"Me too," I said, and then Lily and I walked over to join Oliver.