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Part Two

"Nine out of ten people who drink iced tea are smarter than those who don't," Bobbi Sue said. She swirled the ice cubes around in her glass with a straw.

"Why's that?" I asked.

"I'm not sure exactly. I think it has something to do with phytochemicals." She took a long sip.

We were sitting under a big umbrella on the beach, watching the waves and drinking iced tea. This was the life.

Bobbi Sue took out her daily planner. "Now, the first thing we have to do is find the nearest mall and buy ourselves some cute new clothes. My treat. And then -" She flipped to the next page. "Pedicure and manicure. I think one of my nails is chipping off."

"I know the perfect place," I said, bubbling with excitement. "I went there last week when I was Hannah."

She inspected my hand. "Yes, but look what they did to your nails. We'll have to go somewhere else."

I didn't point out that my nails only looked that way because they were real.

"Gypsy won't be here until tomorrow," she went on, "so we have all day to play. If we head out to the mall after lunch, we'll be back in time for a late dinner. What do you think?"

What did I think? I thought she was the coolest person I had ever known, times ten. "Sounds great!"

Bobbi Sue nodded and scribbled something in her planner. "Excellent."

"Who's Gypsy?" I asked after a moment.

"She's my Dutch Warmblood mare. She's gorgeous. Dark bay, seventeen hands. Sweetest temperament. You have to meet her."

I didn't understand anything she just said, but whatever. It sounded like fun. "Sure."

I glanced out toward the water and spotted Oliver jogging up the beach. He zipped right past us on his way to my house, and didn't even notice us sitting under the umbrella. I called his name.

"Hey, is that you under there, Miles?" He turned around and peered under the umbrella.

I guess it was an honest mistake. I don't usually sit under an umbrella wearing sun glasses and drinking iced tea with my very hip older cousin.

"Hey, Oliver. This is Bobbi Sue." I nodded toward her. "Bobbi Sue, Oliver."

"Oh, call me Bobbi." She gave Oliver a polite smile and then went back to writing in her planner. She didn't look up again.

Oliver shrugged. "So Miles, my grandma is coming over for dinner and guess what she's bringing with her?"

"Her yappy hairless poodle?"

"Nope. Even better." He rubbed his stomach. "Her famous prize-winning chocolate cake."

I had yet to taste his grandma's famous chocolate cake, but Oliver couldn't stop raving about it whenever she came for a visit, so I figured it must be all that.

"You're not gonna do that chocolate cake rap like you did last time, are you?" I lifted my sun glasses and looked up at him.

"No, you're right. That one's so ninth grade. I'll make up a new one." He started thinking.

"Yeah, you do that. But do it waaay over there." I pointed down the beach.

"Okay." He nodded agreeably, then realized what I'd said. His mouth dropped open. "Hey!"

"Oh, I remember you now." Bobbi Sue finally looked up. "You're the guy Luann told me about. She had a crush on you when she was here."

"Really?" Oliver's eyes widened.

I cleared my throat.

"I mean, whatever." He crossed his arms nonchalantly.

I gave him a well-deserved scowl, then turned to Bobbi Sue. "What's Luann up to these days, anyway?"

"Oh, you know. Daddy sent her off to boarding school after she set the bathroom on fire. I haven't seen her since last Christmas, but I hear she's doing well. As well as someone of her temperament can possibly be, of course." She took another sip of her iced tea.

Oliver stepped toward me. "So Miles, you want to come over tonight and try some of my grandma's famous chocolate cake?"

"I do, but..." I hesitated. "I haven't seen Bobbi in so long and I was really looking forward to hanging out with her today. But could you save me a slice?" I smiled hopefully.

If he was crushed, he didn't show it. He just shrugged and looked away. "Sure, okay. I'll catch you later?"

"Yeah."

When he was gone Bobbi Sue looked over at me with raised eyebrows. "So is that your friend?"

The way she said it confused me. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just...he doesn't seem like someone you'd be friends with."

"Why not?" My voice rose in pitch. "What's wrong with Oliver?"

"Oh, come now, don't fret." She patted my knee. "It's all right. It's not like you're dating him or anything."

I felt my throat tightening, and it took a great deal of effort to speak. "I am dating him."

"Oh!" Bobbi Sue gasped. She looked something very close to horrified. "I had no idea! This changes everything!"

"How so?" I felt a little queasy.

"Well, I have to be honest. I always pictured you with a blond. Blonds and brunettes have especially good relationships. They last twice as long as couples with the same color hair."

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She had to be joking. "You don't think I should date Oliver because his hair is brown?"

"Oh, it's not just that. I would never discriminate based on hair color alone. I just would have thought you'd be with someone a little more mature, that's all."

"More mature?"

"He has a rather boyish quality to him, don't you think? You're almost sixteen, Miley. You need a real man."

"But I like Oliver." I didn't know what was happening, but I felt strangely close to tears.

"Of course you do, honey," she crooned. "Letting go of childhood is a painful process. But I'm here to help you."

I didn't know what to say. I liked my life the way it was. I was happy with Oliver. But Bobbi Sue was smart and she had way more experience than me. What if she was right? What if Oliver wasn't mature enough for me? What if I never grew out of my childhood? I didn't want to act like a fifteen-year-old forever!

I heard grunting and heavy footsteps coming from somewhere behind us, followed by a voice that sounded suspiciously like Lilly's.

"I mean, so what if she's pretty?" she was muttering to herself. "Why do guys care so much if a girl is pretty? I bet she's not half as much fun as me. I bet she can't hammer a nail into a piece of wood. I bet she can't do cool tricks on a skateboard. And you know what, I can be pretty darn pretty when I want to be!"

Lilly stormed around our umbrella and saw me. "Hi, Miley." She plopped down next to me and sighed.

"Lilly, this is my cousin Bobbi Sue."

Lilly glanced over at her. Her eyes were clouded, but as she took in all of Bobbi Sue's glory, a shy smile broke out on her face. "Oh, hi! I like your dress."

Bobbi Sue ran a finger along her shoulder strap. "It's a lucky find, isn't it?" She smiled at Lilly. "Now here's a smart little thing. Nice to meet you. It's Lilly, right?"

"That's me." She sighed again.

"What were you moaning about back there?" I asked.

She waved a hand. "Oh, it's nothing. Jackson just won't shut up about this girl he met at Rico's this morning. She's pretty, she's smart, she has a cool car...blah blah blah."

Bobbi Sue watched her curiously.

"Short story," I explained to my cousin, "Lilly has a crush on Jackson."

Lilly gasped. "I do not!"

"And she's in denial." I patted Lilly's head.

Bobbi Sue nodded knowingly. "I see..."

"I do not like Jackson," Lilly insisted. A bloom of color rose to her cheeks. "Why do you always accuse me of that? I only hang out with him because you're always off with Oliver."

"Not true! I call you all the time to hang out with us and it's always Jackson this, Jackson that. Last week you skipped fifth period to help him search through the cafeteria garbage can to find his cell phone. You smelled horrible all afternoon and I had to sit right behind you."

Lilly opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off. "And last night you went from door to door asking people if they'd let you borrow a hammer. Think about it, Lilly. You're at my house more now than you were when we were friends."

"I am not." She made a face.

Bobbi Sue watched us with an amused expression. "Aren't you two adorable? Let's calm down now and see if we can't work through this rationally. Lilly, if you like Jackson and he hasn't noticed you yet, there's a sure fire way to steal his heart."

Lilly pursed her lips together. "I don't like Jackson."

This was totally unfair. Was Bobbi Sue honestly going to be supportive about this? How was Jackson in any way more acceptable as a boyfriend than Oliver?

"Why is Lilly allowed to date a guy with the same color hair, but I'm not?" I demanded.

"Well, that's simple. Jackson has little hope for the future, and this might be his best chance at happiness." She swirled her ice cubes again. "Now, Lilly, listen closely. The best way to get any guy's attention is to show him that you are an intelligent, educated woman. Read a lot, quote interesting facts, dress like you've already been to college and know a lot about the world. Dazzle him with your superior mind. It's a tried and true turn on." She smiled proudly. "That's how I won my man."

I rolled my eyes. "That's silly."

"Well, believe what you want, but I've never seen it fail." Bobbi Sue rolled her ankle round and round, showing off her perfectly tanned foot.

"I don't like Jackson," Lilly repeated.

"If you say that one more time," I hissed in her ear, "I'm going to get up right now and go tell him you like him."

"You wouldn't!" Her eyes grew very round.

"Ladies, ladies," Bobbi Sue interrupted. "Let's not ruin a perfectly delicious glass of iced tea on a perfectly delightful morning. We're all friends, aren't we? Lilly, have some iced tea. It'll make you smarter."

Bobbi Sue, Lilly, and I spent the afternoon at the mall. A half hour in and I had completely forgotten that Bobbi Sue disapproved of Oliver. She was by far the most fun person I had ever shopped with. She knew all the hottest styles, all the fashion no-no's, and she had her daddy's credit card. I didn't bother to ask if she could afford to buy us all new outfits; she didn't seem too concerned about it herself.

It was well after dark when I finally parted with my dear cousin and snuck down to Rico's to find Oliver. He was leaning against the counter trying on sun glasses.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"I need some new shades. What do you think of these?" He turned toward me with a lopsided grin.

"I think they make you look like you're in the Mafia."

"Really? That would be cool."

"Not if your mom was on the job and she caught you strolling down the street wearing them."

Oliver shuddered and took them off. "Good point."

"What happened to your old ones?"

"My brother flushed them down the toilet because I accidentally stepped on his Lego giraffe." He looked down sadly. "I didn't do it on purpose. Bruno was in the way."

I patted his shoulder. "Oliver, you have such a sad home life. Try these." I handed him a new pair.

He slid them on, then lowered them slyly to check me out.

"Nice." I nodded. "But don't try that move on anyone else, okay?"

"You got it." He pushed them back up.

"Hey, are you gonna pay for that?" Rico popped up from behind the counter. He had whipped cream around his mouth.

I didn't really want to know why.

Oliver placed a twenty dollar bill down on the counter. "There you go, Rico. Freshly minted with only one crease."

Rico inspected it. He held it up to the light, sniffed it with his nose, then ran it through some kind of scanner. "You're five cents short," he concluded.

"What? The sign says twenty dollars." Oliver pointed to said sign.

"Yes, it's twenty dollars plus an authenticity verification charge."

"Dishonest salesman say what?" I asked, hands on my hips.

"I have to verify that your twenty dollar bill is authentic," he explained. "Two days ago, I was cheated. Someone gave me a counterfeit."

"Why is that our problem?" I demanded.

"Because I don't trust either of you. There will be a five cent charge for every transaction. Pay up, or drop the shades."

Oliver dug through his pockets. "I don't have a nickel."

"Don't give him any more money. This is ridiculous!" I grabbed Rico by the collar. "Drop the verification charge, or I'll climb over this counter and -"

"I found a nickel!" Rosalita popped up from behind the counter. She had whipped cream all over her face, too.

Now I really didn't want to know.

"Fine. I'll let it slide this time." Rico gave us both a slitty-eyed glare. "But next time, don't come over here if you can't pay up."

Oliver and I dismissed his warning and headed down the beach. The temperature was dropping and I felt goosebumps on my bare arms. I loved the beach at night. You could hear and feel the waves more than see them, and if the night was clear enough, you could look up and admire the stars.

"So what are you doing out here?" Oliver asked as we walked.

"Bobbi is at the gym working out, and she didn't invite me to go with her."

Oliver scoffed. "And here I thought it was because you couldn't last a day without me."

"Well, that too." I rubbed my arms. "Oliver, she's tireless. We shopped for five hours straight, then spent another two at the salon. We tried on dozens of outfits and walked at least ten miles. My feet hurt."

I stopped mid-stride and sat down on the sand. I slid my shoes off, then let my toes wiggle through the warm sand. Oh yes, much better.

I lifted my gaze and caught Oliver watching me. He had an intrigued, admiring look on his face, and it made me blush.

"What?" I asked.

He smiled. "I'll be right back. Don't move."

I shrugged and played in the sand. Ten minutes later he returned carrying his video camera and a piece of chocolate cake.

"Oooh, is that for me?" I clasped my hands together.

"Yup, I saved you the last piece."

I devoured the cake. It was, indeed, the most delicious chocolate cake I'd ever tasted. If Oliver had started rapping right then, I might have joined in.

I was almost done when I noticed Oliver was recording me. "Hey...what're you doing?"

"Nothing."

I dipped my finger into the chocolate frosting and drew myself a moustache. Oliver laughed.

"Now listen up, young man," I said in a deep, sophisticated voice. "You put that camera down right now. It's not polite to tape a lady when she's eating."

I reached out to grab his arm but he backed away. Determined to catch him, I stood up - and tripped over a hole I'd dug with my heel.

"Oh, you are in so much trouble." I jumped up and tried to steal the camera from Oliver. "Turn it off! Erase that part! You are not allowed to have evidence of me falling over myself."

I tripped again, but this time I caught Oliver's arm and brought him down with me. We both laughed, and he tried to get up again, but I grabbed his wrist and held him down. We lay there on our backs in the sand, staring up at the sky. There were no stars, but the moon glowed beneath the clouds.

Bobbi Sue was wrong. She had to be. How could Oliver be less mature than me if I was having as much fun as he was right now?

I turned my head and looked at him. He was holding the camera up, recording us. I smiled into it, and then he turned it off and set it aside.

For a long moment neither of us spoke.

"Miley?"

"Yeah?" I waited, holding my breath. This was a perfect opportunity for him to say something romantic.

"Wasn't that the best piece of chocolate cake you've ever had?"

I sighed. "Yes, Oliver. It was."

And maybe - just maybe - Bobbi Sue was right.