The lights flipped on and a loud cry of "Surprise!" Echoed throughout the living room. When someone screamed out "Come on guys, you know we don't yell, we SING!" Then everyone laughed and sung the word "Surprise!" The look on Mitchie's face was priceless; she was clearly shocked, but not as shocked as I was. I turned around and saw who had their hand around my waist and one hand over my mouth. When I got a good look at him, I screamed and started hyperventilating like a crazy person.

"You got to be kidding me!" It was Zac Elfron.

Everyone in the room just burst out laughing at me. I was so upset that I just ran out of the room crying. I was lost in my own little world when I heard a gentle, teasing, voice say "Mitchie is in there yelling at everyone for laughing at her best friend." I jumped when the stranger tapped me on the shoulder. I looked at the stranger and just said, "Who are you?"

The guy just chuckled, "I'm the NORMAL one. I'm Jackson Stewart, Miley and Mitchie's big brother." Since their families are so close, Miley and Mitchie are more than BFFs they are basically sisters - just like Shelby and I are her sisters.

I guess this is where I tell you the big secret (as if Mitchie doesn't have enough of them), Miley Stewart is really Hannah Montana. See I met Miley shortly after I moved here and she was really nice but I knew she and Mitchie were hiding something. Miley came for a surprise visit last year and we all had a great time. One day there was a Hannah emergency and I caught her running out the front door in full Hannah mode.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, but everyone in that house is so ridiculously famous and Mitchie kept it from me," I said angrily.

He laughed again. "It is perfectly understandable. Believe me, I know what it is like to be the ignored one with no talent." He continued, "But here's the thing. When you see what they go through you start to appreciate your normalness even more. Why do you think we created the Hannah persona? It is so that our family can be left alone and she could be an ordinary girl - did you know that song was just as much about her double life as it was about Mitchie?" I did not know that, I knew Mitchie helped her write it.

"I once told Miley, I know our Dad loves us both but his attention isn't focused on me, so I'm able to get away with a lot more. She's my sister and I'll always have her back."

"But it so hard to deal with this." I said. "We're nobodies at school, just once it'd be nice to be popular." Jackson just looked at her, "Did you know that Miley is picked on and bullied all the time at school? You should talk to Lilly."

I was shocked, "No way? She's beautiful, talented, friendly..."

"Yep. She does outshine everyone at school, but she doesn't want anyone to discover her secret so she isn't the most social person and is actually really shy - especially around boys." He cheered her up by telling some of the more humorous adventures of her family and dealing with the secret, as well as stories about his nemesis the evil Ricco.

Sierra was laughing hysterically by the end of it.

"See, Sierra, the one thing you have to realize is. Not only is Mitchie's life about to change - because let's face it; she's always had the talent to be a famous singer, just not the confidence, but you and your friends as well."

He continued "Once the media gets a sniff of you, they rarely let go and your entire life will be turned upside down. You need to know that it does pass and they do move onto other things fairly quickly - they really don't care about the family and friends of celebrities, but it is something that you'll have to deal with. It is a lot to take in, but once you realize these are your loved ones it becomes easier."

"Thanks, this really helped. Who in the house knows the secret? I don't want to accidently let it slip," I asked.

Jackson chuckled, "Everyone in the house is a trusted friend. Not everyone knows, but don't worry about it if you slip. The one thing you have to know about this crazy celebrity world is it is very small and insular. Once you break down the walls and become a member, it really is like having one big nosey, family with many annoying, overprotective brothers and sisters that you don't want." He held out his arms and said, "Welcome to the family."

He held my hand as we walked back up to the house. Standing there watching us with a smirk on her face was Mitchie, she was holding hands with Shane Grey who was just smiling at us. I felt a big blush and freak-out coming on but I tried to be cool by saying, "S'up? Why you looking all 'Specious?"" Imitating a character from a movie we just watched.

Mitchie just burst into a fit of giggles, "S'up?" Between her giggle fit she said "Are you gansta now?" Shane then burst out laughing. Jackson, looked at us and shook his head "You guys have things to talk about," and walked in.

Now that the tension was broken, Mitchie ran up to me and gave me a big hug. "Are we all right now?" She asked. I just laughed, "Never better." She grabbed Shane's hand and introduced us, "Shane this is one of my best friends - Sierra. Sierra meet the Jerk." He just smiled at me with that thousand-watt smile and said with a lear, "So, I hear you want to have my babies?"

I turned into a pumpkin and screamed, "Mitchie! I'm going to kill you!" I jumped on her and we started play fighting. After a few minutes, Shane reached out a hand to pull us off the ground and then we just pulled him down and started tickling him.

After a few minutes, Shane out breath said, "I give, I give!" Then kissed both of us on the cheek. After we stood up and straightened ourselves up, I looked at both of them holding hands. "So what is going on with you two?"

Mitchie blushed, "We're close friends with some benefits?"

"What does that mean?" I asked.

Shane looked at Mitch before answering, "It means we're close and dating but right now since I'm touring for the rest of the year, we're not exclusive, but I do get to do this." He leaned down and gave Mitchie a very passionate kiss.

I cleared my throat and they broke apart blushing. "Mitchie, I never want to hear you whine about not having friends again! Only I get to do that!" I felt a pair of hands grab me. And looked into Shane's serious face, "Don't be silly Sierra, any friend of Mitchie's is a friend of ours." He said kissing me on the forehead.

"You know, I don't know why people call you a Jerk." I said, laughing.

He grinned, "I know, right?"

Mitchie, just hit him in the arm, "Jerk."

I wiggled my eyebrows at him, "You know, you can dump her and i'll totally have your babies." He burst out laughing. I can't believe how at ease he made me feel.

The rest of the day went by in a blur of jokes at each other's expense, friendly competition and just general normalcy. Jackson watched me and made sure that I remained at ease with everything and I just smiled at him.

I don't think I've ever seen Mitchie be this happy. She loved being the center of attention and being around people who just got her. A couple of times Jason from Connect 3 just randomly yelled out "Group Hug" and we all laughed and just grabbed each other. I even spent some time talking with Zac and Christopher who were really sweet guys. Ashley, Tess and Carter (Caitlyn's friend) were really awesome girls.

Tess was a little standoffish at first, but Mitchie forced her to be nice. Christopher's girlfriend Jessica was sweet and shy, this was her first time being around Chris' friends so she was trying to take it all in. They started dating last year and spent a lot of time together this summer.

By the time the party ended, I felt really close with these people. I know it's only been a few hours but it was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I was excited to find out that everyone was staying for the full week and tomorrow all of us girls were going to spend the day together.