Miley stopped the car and looked to Oliver. He was sitting up straight in his seat, face firm and stony.
"Ready?" She asked.
Oliver nodded.
Miley took his hand and led him down memory lane. The high school was decorated and looking in top shape.
Entering through the front door they stopped at the desk and smiled at a young woman who was giving out name tags.
"Hello!" The woman smiled with a friendly wave.
"Sarah?" Miley gasped.
"Ooh Miley! It's been so long!" Sarah squealed.
"I read about you in the paper. You own your own company for helping the needy. You're a huge success."
Sarah blushed slightly. "Oh no biggy. I hear your music school is going great Hannah." Sarah winked.
It was true, after high school the pop star came out and told all her deep secret. The news only made her small business boom with new undiscovered talents.
Sarah grinned at Miley but stopped when she saw the dark shadow looming in the corner.
"Hey Oliver." She said quietly smiling weakly.
"..Hello." He nodded feeling nervous.
Sarah quickly wrote down their names and handed over their tags and ushered them into the gym.
"See, not so bad huh?" Miley said squeezing Oliver's arm.
"Guess not." Oliver said.
Soft Music was playing and light conversation was skipping through the room. The lights were dim and tables were stationed everywhere with white clothes.
"Let's get a seat." Miley offered.
Finding a place near the back the two sat down.
Oliver was taking it all in, the music, the people. Most he didn't even remember and was thankful for the name tags.
After sipping the sour punch unfortunately they were spotted. Mark, from Oliver's senior math class, came walking over with his wife Kat, from Miley's junior Spanish class.
"Hey man!" Mark said giving Oliver a strong manly man hand shake.
"Hi!" Kat giggled excitedly at Miley.
Oliver was already annoyed. After listening to the two go on about their job and family he felt ready to hurl. That was supposed to be him.
"So what about you?" Mark asked. "What have you been up to?"
Oliver frowned and thought bitterly. Well gee wiz I'm working at a job I now hate. And my wife died and sometimes I wish I would too.
"Uh I'm an accountant." Oliver said hastily.
Miley gave him and reassuring smile.
"What about you Hannah Montana?" Kat giggled, again.
"Her name is Miley." Oliver shot back.
"… Right." Kat frowned.
"I own a small music school." Miley said looking to Oliver.
"Well, that's interesting." Kat said.
"Hey look!" Mark shouted pointing two a couple in the back. Dragging Kat along the two left.
"You did wonderful Oliver." Miley said.
"I feel a little sick." Oliver admitted.
A minute later yet another couple came up. Oliver tried his hardest to pay attention but after the millionth time of explaining his job and life so far it was getting old. It wasn't till someone brought out the big guns did Oliver want to leave.
"Hey Oliver. Listen man I'm sorry about your girl." Will from his English class said late in the evening.
Oliver's entire body froze.
"Yea." Another person piped in. "Sorry about Lily."
Don't say her name! Oliver's mind screamed. Don't ever say it!
Miley was there in a flash, right by his side, holding his hand. Her heart ached along with Oliver as people gave their condolences about her best friend and Oliver's lover. But the pain remained.
Turning from the party Oliver walked into a hallway. His hands were balled up into fists and he looked away as Miley ran after him.
"Oliver! Wait! Please you're doing so well. You need this! And so do I. We can get through this!" Miley pleaded.
"Stop it! Just shut-up! You don't get it Miley you really don't! She was everything to me. My wife is… gone she's dead and she's never coming back! You don't understand how that feels!" Oliver's body was on fire his voice was loud and thunderous.
"Don't you ever say that Oliver." Miley hissed. "Lily was my best friend. I lost her too. You're not the only who's hurting."
"Could have fooled me." Oliver sneered.
"It's been two years Oliver. I'm trying to move on! Lily wouldn't have wanted to see you this way!" Miley's cheeks burned as salty tears poured down.
"I can't move on!" Oliver's voice cracked and he slide down the white brick wall onto the floor. "She's dead. She's dead. Lily." He cried softly.
Miley held him close and let tears pour. The night was old. The moonlight shone through the windows. In the distance you could hear music and faint chatter. If you walked into the hallway you'd hear muffled cries of a widowed man still wearing his silver wedding ring. And see a woman whose face was pale and looked more like a little girl dressed in big girl clothes.
…
Miley took Oliver home. She put him to bed and snuggled up next to him. He welcomed her presences well and they cuddle together. The sheets were warm and smelled of lavender.
Oliver's arms around Miley gave her comfort. Miley's head resting on his chest gave Oliver a restful sleep. There were no nightmares tonight. No goblins to case away and horrific sights of a dead girl. No, tonight there was only the two of them and a safe feeling of now.
….
Ok so there's another chapter. I don't have much to say. I love everyone's reviews and I like hearing your thoughts. This was rather short but I really wanted to get another chapter out there. More to come please stay faithful.