"So, Miley. Tell me about what's been going on in your life lately," Abby pleaded, before taking a bite of her cheeseburger.

Miley smiled at Jesse's little sister, who wasn't so little anymore. "Well-"

"Did you break up with that guy yet?" Abby interrupted.

Miley laughed. "Um, yeah. A while ago...we're over."

"Great!" Abby cheered. "Now we just have to break Jesse and Amber up!"

"Abby, no. I told you we can't do that," Miley said quietly.

"Pleeeease," Abby said, sticking her lower lip out.

Miley laughed. "That may have worked when you were in elementary school, but not now that you're thirteen!"

Abby slammed her fist on the table. "Darn it."

Miley laughed. "Sorry."

Abby shook her head. "I hate Amber," she grumbled.

"Me, too," Miley replied sadly. She glanced across the backyard and saw Jesse and Amber cuddling on the bench. She shook her head and couldn't help but let the thought cross her mind...I wish that was me.

--

"So, then it's settled. September 13th is the official start date for the tour?" Lola asked excitedly.

Hannah nodded. "Yep!" she squealed.

"Thank you, gentlemen. Good to see you," Robby Ray said, shaking hands as he walked around the table.

A few minutes later, it was just Robby Ray, Hannah, Lola, Mike, and Jesse in the room.

"Celebratory pizza on me!" Robby Ray announced.

"Oh, I am SO in," Oliver said, yanking the hat off his head and ripping off the fake facial hair.

Hannah laughed. She pulled the wig off her head, as Lola did the same. "Let's go!" she shouted, linking arms with Lilly. They started to skip out of the room, when Miley noticed something. "Hey...Jesse. Aren't you gonna come with us?" Miley asked.

"Nah, you probably just want to be with your friends and your dad."

Miley raised an eyebrow. "But, Jesse, you are my friend."

Jesse shrugged. "Kinda thought you hated me after yesterday."

Robby Ray exchanged a look with Lilly and Oliver and led them out of the room quietly.

Miley looked down at her shoes. "Well, no..." she replied honestly. "I just hate your girlfriend," she stated bluntly.

Jesse nodded slowly. "I can understand that."

"Yeah...she's kinda of...not nice," Miley said slowly.

Jesse walked closer to Miley and looked right into her eyes. "I'm sorry. She didn't mean to upset you."

Miley shook her head. "See," she said, "that's the thing. She did mean to upset me."

Jesse held up a hand. "Now, hold on, Miley. How do you know that?" he accused.

Miley laughed cruelly. "Jesse, I can tell when a person is a mean bitch. I'm not dumb."

"Hey, don't call her that!" Jesse shrilled.

Miley shook her head again. "Wow. It is so sad that after all these years, you're still the same guy you were back then."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Miley rolled her eyes. "When you first started playing in my band you were the biggest womanizer I had ever met. You always picked the ditzes. The clingy, annoying, fake bitches. And then you dumped them. And moved on to the next. It is clear that you are still the same, and your choice in girlfriends is still the same."

Jesse snorted. When he spoke, his voice was loud and cold. "Well at least my girlfriends never cheat on me, the way Jake cheated on you."

Miley froze. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I can't believe you just said that," she said, her lip quivering.

All at once, Jesse realized what he had just done. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and comforting. "Oh...Miley. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." He leaned forward to give her a hug, but she backed away from him.

"Stay away from me," she seethed, backing away.

"Miley, please," Jesse pleaded, the pain evident in his eyes.

Miley stayed silent for a few moments, thinking. "Amber is really not nice," she said quietly.

Jesse nodded. "I respect your opinion, but I really like her. I may even love her."

"Love?" Miley questioned, looking directly into his eyes.

Jesse nodded again.

"You may?" she repeated.

"Yeah. Maybe," Jesse said flatly.

Miley shook her head again, tilting it to the side slightly. "Jesse, there's no maybe. Love isn't a maybe."

Jesse shrugged. "I'm just not sure yet."

"How long have you been together?" Miley questioned.

"About six and a half months," Jesse responded.

Miley shrugged. "Well. I really don't like her. So don't expect me to ever be around her, okay?"

Jesse nodded in agreement. "Okay."

With that, Miley turned and walked out of the room.

"Hey," Jesse called after her. Miley stopped and turned slowly. "What about pizza?"

Miley looked at him wistfully. "You lost your chance."