CHAPTER THREE
More Than a Contest to Me
Miley's Point of View
When Jake and I returned, the contest had not yet started. I squeezed Jake's hand, and that's when I realized that we'd been holding hands since going to the mall, while going around the mall, and going back. It's pretty long, believe me. People must have thought we were a couple.
I took my hand away. "Are you ready?"
We started walking again. "Miley?" Jake said. "I think I'm beginning to feel sick..."
"It must have been those fries," I told him. "You can't go join. I guess we'll have to back out," I continued, disappointed.
Jake had had too many French fries while we were at the mall. He just nodded. "No, you can't quit. It's kind of against the rules. I can have a substitute." Oliver walked by, and Jake started going after him, despite the sickening feeling he has. "Oliver!"
"Oh, no, you don't," I whispered to myself, particularly talking to Jake.
"Can you join the contest with Miley? It's a kissing scene, but I'm sure it'd be okay..." Jake was saying.
"I guess." Oliver shrugged.
"Thanks. I'd better go home before I throw up," Jake said. "Bye."
"Bye," Oliver and I said together, waving.
"So this means I have to kiss you," Oliver said, turning to me.
I shot him a glare. "Yeah, and this means I have no choice."
"This would be so weird," Oliver muttered.
"Just think of it as kissing Hannah Montana. You would have loved to kiss her, right?" I asked.
"Yeah, but that was before I found out that Hannah Montana was my best friend!" Oliver replied.
I shushed him. "Not so loud!"
"Oops, sorry," Oliver said.
We sat down and the contest started. The performances were seriously awesome. By the time the second-to-the-last participants were performing, I planned our own performance. "Okay," I told Oliver. "Here's the deal. Your name is Seth and my name is Marissa."
"You took those names off of The OC, didn't you?" Oliver interrupted. "You could have at least gotten the right pair."
"Whatever, I don't even watch that show," I said. "You think of your lines and I think of mine. No dorky lines, okay? If I don't get that kiss with Jake, the least I could do is win this darned contest."
Oliver nodded. "How long should each performance be, anyway?"
"No longer than a minute. Now quick, get ready. It's our turn soon." I sighed nervously.
The host cleared his throat when the performance was over. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's give them a round of applause! Our next pair is bound to be interesting, since it involves a kiss and Jake Ryan." The people gasped excitedly.
We came onstage. "Sorry, but Jake won't be able to make it."
The audience groaned, but some just shrugged, like it didn't matter anymore, anyway.
Oliver and I quickly did what we had to.
I spoke first. "What did you want to tell me, anyway?" I asked in a realistic tone. "And why are we standing in the middle of your garden, soaking wet under the rain."
"Sorry," Oliver said. I noticed that he didn't seem nervous at all. "I guess it's more romantic."
"Romantic?" I asked.
Oliver shrugged. "Yeah."
"Does that mean that you like me?" I asked coyly. Note that I'm still pretending.
"Yeah, ever since I met you," Oliver said like he meant it. But he didn't in real life, right?
I looked down. "So..."
"So..." Oliver lifted my head slowly, and I know the kiss was coming.
He leaned in, and I did too, ever so slowly. Then his lips brushed against mine. I close my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck. For a moment, I forgot about acting, and melted as the kiss got deeper.
ooHMoo
"Whoa, what's that?" Lilly said, her eyes on the trophy.
Yeah, that's right. Our little kiss won the contest. But I was too confused to react to Lilly's question.
We entered her room.
"It's our trophy," Oliver said.
"So that means you got to kiss Jake?" Lilly asked. Then, she paused. "Wait a minute," she said. "Oliver, did you say 'our trophy'?"
"Yeah." Oliver nodded. "See, Jake kind of got this sickening feeling, so he went home and I came to substitute for him. And I had to kiss Miley. You should have heard the crowd when we did the kiss. It was deafening."
"So you kissed?" Lilly asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
I nodded without a word. "Oliver, keep that trophy, will you?"
"Sure," Oliver replied.
I felt kind of awkward around Oliver now, after the kiss.
Especially if the kiss is the kind of kiss that would tingle to every part of your body.
"Promise me that nothing happens to our friendship after this," I whispered to Oliver. After that, I said good-bye to Lilly and left.
As I walked, home I still can't take my mind off of the kiss.
While I studied my songs in my room, the phone rang. I answered after the first ring. "Hello?"
"Hey, Miley." It was Lilly. "I have to ask and tell you something."
"Oh," I said. "What is it?"
There was a long pause. Finally, Lilly replied. "It's about Oliver..."
(A/N: If you haven't read it yet, there's an anonymous review from someone who calls herself or himself Reader4ever. It says, "I'm sorry but I think that you are a very bad author. All of your stories are lame, predictable, and make no sense. I am sorry but I felt the need to speak up here." I'm not affected, but it did make me strive harder. Anyway, I think I'll do a love triangle of Oliver/Miley/Jake for the first time. Not yet sure if I really want to, though. And for those who commented on the song on My Stepbrother the Zombie Slayer - Under Disguise - thanks! Please review this chapter and tell me if you agree with Reader4ever.)
