An: Thanks to SamDeanWinchesterLove, IheartORANGE, adryrules99, Princess Cutie, SoStephSays, and lilerin91 for reviewing. I'm back with a bigger update. Oliver's ready to reveal his feelings. RR and always

Oliver hopped in his car at 7:30 to head to the Stewart's house. Though he was nervous about having to reveal his love to Lilly in front of Miley and Jackson, Oliver felt like a millions bucks. He was dressed casual, but nice. His hair looked good, and he just couldn't seem to wipe the smile from his face. The whole time he was driving, Oliver kept picturing what the look on Lilly's face would be and her reaction when he gave her the gift. There was nothing but optimism and true love occupying his head.

Oliver manage to arrive a little early; something he was never known for. He pulled into the Stewart's driveway, noticing that the only car present was Miley's. After getting out and locking his car, Oliver made his way to the front door and rang the doorbell.

"Hey Oliver." Miley greeted. "Lilly told me you were coming over tonight. Come on in."

"Hey Miley, thanks." Oliver replied, stepping inside.

"How was your visit with family?" Miley asked, making idol conversation.

"Good. We had some real nice weather and I had a great time" Oliver replied.

"Good." Miley said.

"Where's Lilly?" He asked, sitting down on one of the living room chairs.

"Oh, she'll be here." Miley assured. "You're just a early for a change."

"Sorry. I was just a little eager to see her." Oliver explained.

"And not me!?" Miley made a fake scoffing noise.

"That's not what I mean." Oliver laughed. "I didn't really get to see her much before I left last week."

"Hmm, what do you have up your sleeves this time?" Miley asked, folding her arms across her chest and staring Oliver down, which made him nervous.

"Oh, ok. I'll spill it." Oliver gave in. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box.

"A box?" Miley tiled her head. Oliver laughed silently to himself and removed the lid. He held up the golden bracelet.

"Wow. That's a beautiful bracelet." Miley complemented the piece of jewelry from a distance.

"Isn't it though?" Oliver said happily. "Here. Take a closer look at the heart. Read what it says."

Oliver carefully handed Miley the bracelet, box and all. She lifted the heart up and read the engraving aloud:

"I love you..."

"I bought it when I was out of town." Oliver explained, smiling. "It was kinda pricey, but it'll all be worth it when I see the look on her face when I give it to her."

Miley paused for a moment before slipping the bracelet back in the box and closing the lid. With a slightly sadden look on her face, she looked up at Oliver (who was still grinning ear to ear) and slowly handed him back the box. She bit her lip. "But Oliver..."

"We're home!"

Oliver's head shot up when he heard Lilly's voice coming from the back door. We're home? He raised an eyebrow in suspicion, but wasn't prepared for what he was about to see when the back door swung open.

There stood Miley's older brother Jackson and Oliver's best friend and potential lover Lilly...

Holding hands...

Gazing into each other's eyes...

Laughing softly...

In love...

"Back with the sna-...O-Oliver..." Lilly's eyes had met Oliver's in mid sentence. She blinked and immediately tried to pull her hand apart from Jackson's, but he eventually grabbed it back. "You're...early."

All of the color from Oliver's face was gone in an instant. Mouth agape, eyes zoned in solely on Lilly's hand which was laced with Jackson's. His hand holding the special gift for Lilly lost all of it's control and box landed on the floor with a dull thud and a rattle.

"Hey Oken. You dropped something." Jackson pointed at where the box had fallen. Lilly had been gently nudging him to let her hand go, which he did in order to close the door. His other hand had a bag of groceries in it.

Lilly, now free, took small steps towards Oliver. "Whatcha got there?" She asked, reluctantly bending down and reaching to pick up the box on the floor. Oliver quickly snatched it and shoved it in his pocket before she got close.

"Nothing..." He murmured out one line and then went back to being still and inattentive.

"So are we going to get this party going or what?" Jackson asked impatiently.

Oliver just got up from the chair and took one step toward the door. His movements were almost like that of a sleep walker; physically able to move, but mentally unaware of the fact.

"Where're you going?" Lilly asked, concerned.

Oliver wasn't even facing Lilly anymore. "Home." He spoke in quiet, monotone voice. "I'm not in the party mood."

"You can't leave. I just got here." Lilly explained as she kept stepping towards Oliver, who was on the move again himself.

"Tired. Jet lag." Now Oliver wasn't even forming sentences.

"I thought we were going to talk!" Lilly called after him, but she was ignored. Oliver had reached the door and just touched his hand to the knob when Lilly dashed up beside him.

"Oliver!" She exclaimed, pulling on his left arm causing him to fall back and face her. Oliver yanked away from Lilly's grip. Lilly couldn't tell what the look was in Oliver's eyes was, but it was definitely one she had never seen. Without saying another word, Oliver left the Stewart's house. He didn't even have enough strength to fully shut the door behind him.

Lilly stood at the door way for a few moments before closing the door. She slowly turned her heard around to face Miley and Jackson.

"Wha-What did I do?"

Oliver stumbled into his room. How he even had the function of his brain to drive himself home safely was beyond him. He took a few wobbly steps forward and then crashed to the floor right in front of his bed. There he knelt; his upper body slumped over the bed and his head buried in his hands.

Oliver remained motionless for quite some time. He didn't know how to feel. Was he to be furious and with whom? His sweet Lilly? No. She was heaven-sent. She could do no wrong!

Maybe that was a misconception...but Oliver wouldn't dare rage on her. No sir. Not his Lilly.

But he certainly wasn't going to let her off the hook that easy...

So just how does one deal with this kind of pain?

Simple: Oliver just shut down. He knew he couldn't live his life any other way.

Making his decision, he picked his head up from the bed. Taking a deep breath, he ran his hands down his face. His eyes shut themselves, for they felt very heavy. This was final. This was how he was going to cope.

He didn't care to see his "best friend" anymore. He didn't care to see anyone anymore. No one was to see him like this. Shun the world and the pain goes away? Isolation is the key to heart ache?

"If this is how she wants to live, then so be it." Oliver spoke aloud. "From this point on, the world can think Oliver Oscar Oken is dead."

Tragic, isn't it? Drama, drama, drama. I feel so bad for Oliver as I sit and write this, but this story is about the ups AND downs he faces. Battle one goes to Lackson, but look for Oliver to fight back in his own way in the coming chapters. I just had to make that clear before I get flooded with flames and hate mail. An update will probably be posted tomorrow. Keep reading. It's only going to get more interesting from here.

-drummer8907