Chapter 2: Falling In Love With Someone You've Never Even Met
Normal POV [with Miley and Lilly]
Lilly stepped out of the dressing rooms and twirled around. "What do you think?"
Miley looked up from her cell phone. "I'm sorry, what?"
Lilly sighed. "Miles, you've been totally preoccupied with your phone since we got here," she complained. "What is so important?"
Miley tucked her phone into her pocket. "Nothing."
Lilly could tell that Miley had lied, but she decided not to press the subject.
"So," Lilly said, "what do you think?"
Miley forced a smile. "You look gorgeous, Lil," she answered truthfully. "Shane Gray will totally fall for you!"
Lilly gave Miley a gigantic smile. "You really think so?"
"Lilly, I know so!"
As Lilly went back into the dressing rooms to change out of the dress she was wearing, Miley took out her cell phone again.
Who are you, musicislife92, and why do your messages always make me smile?
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"So, all you know about this girl is that she hates her life?" Shane rose an eyebrow.
"For the millionth time...yes!" Nate exclaimed, exasperated.
"How did you meet her–?" He stopped. "Or–how did you start talking to her?"
"I don't see how this is really any of your business," Nate said.
"How much does this girl hate her life?" Shane asked then.
"What do you mean? Like, has she ever tried to–?"
Shane nodded. "Yeah."
Nate shrugged. "I don't know. When we talk, it's about everything...and anything. We don't talk about our lives, or how much she hates hers–"
Shane interrupted him. "Does she know that you're...you?"
Nate looked at him, confused. "What, does she know that I'm Nate, from Connect Three?"
"Yeah," Shane answered.
Nate shook his head. "She's not a fan, so I haven't told her who I am."
"Don't you think you should?"
"Why?" Nate wondered. "She hasn't told me who she is, either." He stopped.
"What's up?"
"Is it possible to fall in love with someone you've never even met?"
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"Aw, look!" Lilly suddenly exclaimed.
Miley jumped. She hadn't been paying attention at all since they had left that clothing store. She would agree with Lilly, or nod her head ever so slightly, so Lilly would think she was paying attention. But her mind was on the messages she and musicislife92 have been sending each other back and forth, since September. She didn't know who he was, or where he lived, but he didn't know who she was, or where she lived, either. She knew Lilly, and Oliver, would freak and tell her how dangerous it was to be talking to someone she didn't know over the internet. That's why she hadn't told them. She was loving the chats that she and this guy were having, and she was starting to wonder just who musicislife92 was.
She jumped a little more when the phone in her pocket vibrated.
Lilly had stopped and was staring at Miley.
"What?" Miley wondered, pulling out her phone.
"I just had a ten-minute conversation with myself," Lilly told her best friend.
"Wow, how'd you do that? It must've been hard," Miley joked.
Lilly stared hard at Miley, clearly not amused.
"Okay," Miley apologized, holding up her hands in front of her face. "I'm sorry."
"Who the hell is on your phone, and why the hell are they so important?" Lilly was still looking at Miley, hands on her hips.
"Uh–" She stopped.
Should I tell her about our conversations? I can't, they're private. But--
"Miley!" Lilly rolled her eyes and groaned. "You zoned out. Again!"
Miley sighed. "Is it possible to fall in love with someone you've never even met?"
"Oh, my God!" Lilly squealed. "You like a member of Connect Three!"
"What? No, I don't!" Miley protested.
"Which one is it, huh?" Lilly wondered, apparently not hearing Miley's denial. "Jason? Okay, maybe not him...Shane? Ooh, you better not like Shane. That leaves us with–Oh, my God!" she said again. "You like Nate!"
Miley grabbed Lilly by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Lilly! I do not like Nate. I do not like Shane, or Jason. I do not like Connect Three."
"Sure," Lilly agreed. "Keep telling yourself that."
Miley rolled her eyes and remembered the message she had on her phone. She opened it and instantly smiled.
Hey, UnderneathXthisXsmile92, I think it's time you knew my first name. It's Nate, yours?
Miley smiled as she typed back.
Musicislife92, do you have something you want to tell me? You're not a member of Connect Three, are you?
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Nate frowned as he got that last message.
Crap! Should I lie to her?
Shane noticed his friend's change in attitude. "What's up?" he asked.
"I took your advice and told her my name," Nate started explaining.
"And...?" Shane prompted.
"She asked me if I was from Connect Three. What should I say?"
"Why don't you try the truth?" Shane asked.
"No...she doesn't like Connect Three, why would I tell her I'm a member of her least favorite band?"
"You know," Shane said, a smile playing across his lips, "they say that relationships that are based on lies never last."
"What relationship? I don't even know where she lives, how can we have a relationship?"
"Do whatever you think is best, Nate."
Nate picked up Shane's laptop–with Shane's disapproval–and wrote her back.
UnderneathXthisXsmile92, that's crazy. Of all the people you could be talking to, what are the odds that it's Nate Williams, from Connect Three? You didn't think you were that special, did you?
Nate bit his bottom lip, hoping that the last line wouldn't make her angry. He sighed with relief–and with disappointment–as he got her response.
Ha, Nate. SPECIAL, to be talking to that jerk? Please.
Nate glanced over at Shane, who was busy watching Jason.
She thinks I'm a jerk?
Nate squared his shoulders and typed her back.
How do you know that Nate is a jerk? He could be really sweet, and caring...and romantic.
By the way, you still didn't answer my question...what's your name?
"Dude," Shane said. "Do you know what Jason is doing?"
"Sorry," Nate answered. "I've been too busy with this girl."
Shane instantly forgot about Jason. "What did she say?"
"She says Nate is a jerk."
"Nate–?"
"Me, Nate. Nate, from Connect Three."
"I take it you didn't tell her who you really were."
Nate shook his head. "Not so much, no."
"You got another message," Shane informed Nate and went back to looking at Jason.
Nate opened it and smiled.
You talk about him like you know him. How do you know that he's NOT a jerk?
Oh, and my name's Miley.
Nate's smile got even bigger.
Miley...that's a pretty name, he thought. I wonder what she's really like...
Erg. Yeah, I guess it's okay...
xoxo
Heather
