Hey!!! I know, I know, don't flame me- I am STILL alive. Sorry, though. This chapter took a long while to write and so many stories have been banging in my head, I've been focusing on them too. And school work- my teacher- Gosh. Not really an excuse though :( -MEGGEM

MILEY POV-

(Age-17)

"Dad?" I whispered gently, tip-toeing into the house. The floor was cold and the air even cooler. I snorted. Amazing how that a hillbilly who lived in Malibu couldn't stand the heat of May. Since my shoes had gotten lost someplace in LA and my leather jacket- well, God-only-knows where that was- I was shivering by the time I reached the terrace.

Whoaaa... Going up the stairs made my head-spin. That was weird. I only had 2 beers- no, no, wait. There was the one outside of Club Coleslaw, and then that one INSIDE CLub Coleslaw. And I vaguely remember having a jello shot contest with some Chad Dylan Timbererg or someone. I winced. Okay, there was definately more than two. But I didn't drive home! Having a chauffeur was the best. Daddy wouldn't mind about having to pay Garrett an extra 250 for picking me up at 2 AM...right?

"Dad?" I hissed. No response. I sighed with relief: this way, I wouldn't have to explain to him why I was hours late.

But stepping out onto the terrace, none of that seemed to matter.

There was my father, in the moonlight, with his arms tightly wound around some woman.

I couldn't retain my gasp.

In a flash, Dad and the woman sprang apart, faces red and blinking quickly. I frowned.

"Bye, Robbie," said the slut. She gave him a small smile and kissed his cheek. My world was tinted with crimson.

"Bye, Issa," said my father and he showed her toward the door. Yeah- good-bye, Issa.

As soon as the devil was gone, Daddy turned 'round to face me and said nonchalantly, "What?"

I shook my head with disbelief. "So that's why you wanted to get home. To see...her." I spit out the last word with disgust.

Dad scowled. "What are you doing home so later? I thought we agreed after the show, you'd be back, 11:30, sharp."

"I guess I wasn't home late enough."

For a moment, I thought my father looked ashamed. But soon anger replaced the brief emotion.

"Where the hell are your shoes?"

I didn't respond. Whatever I said, it wouldn't be the truth, because actually, I didn't know.

"And your jacket?"

Again, BLANK.

"Miley, this is unnacceptable. You're home late- HOURS late- hair messed up, sober, and without any shoes. Do I understand you were partying all night?"

"I'm not THAT sober," I sniffed and touched my hair. Yowch- it was crazy.

Throwing my Hannah wig on the couch, I placed both hands on my hips. "Like you have the right to tell me what I can and can't do. Dad, I'm 17! Seven-teen! I'm allowed to hang out on the town!" I yelled forcefully. My father didn't move an inch.

"Is that what you were doing? Hanging out on the town? I thought the term was 'being irresponsible'," he shot back and I made an aggravated noise. Without another word, I swung around and stomped to my bed. My dad didn't call out or ask me to come back. Like I would anyway.

Falling on the bed made me want to vomit (which I did frequently that night). Nausea was pulling at my intestine and I groaned. Last night came before me in bits and pieces:

"Hey, baby girl, you were great!" Daddy pulled me into a tight embrace when I stepped off stage, smelling of...cologne?

"What y'all get dressed up and smelly for?" I poked his ribs teasingly, but with a hint of suspicion hidden deep in my tone. He averted the gleam in my eyes with a shrug.

"I like smelling good!! And it's the 'I Love Lucy' marathon tonight; three hours of Lucy, no commercial break!"

I laughed heartedly, the cologne forgotten. "Yeah, well, go enjoy yourself. I'm gonna go see...Tracy. Joy. It'll be a wicked party, though."

Daddy frowned. "Hold on, honey. Curfew is midnight- remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Alright- bye!"

I shoved him toward the exit and hustled through screaming fans to reach the limo door. Garrett shuffled me inside and soon, we were speeding down through LA, the techno lights flickering on my face.

A little later....

"YEAH!" I shrieked and roared with laughter as the singer was passed through the crowd. 'Lola' and 'Mike' were next to me, hollering at the dumb-struck other band members, who were watching helplessly as their leader was thrown into chaos like feeding time at the aquarium.

"More drinks?" a rhinestone-clad teen swaggered to us, hands clutching beverages, some of which I didn't even know the name of. I simply giggled, took a glass and sucked it down like water.

Oliver took one too, and tried to throw it down like I had. No such sauve in that boy. He choked up, dropping the cup and rasping. "Smooth," he squealed. "That's...smooth."

Lilly was making eye-contact with another crazy-haired teen across the dance floor. He winked at her and she gasped. "Miles?" she shook my shoulder. "Do...you think Ollie-Pop would mind if I...danced with that guy?"

In unison, we glanced at the convulsing 'Mike Standley' and at in the moment, he dashed to the men's room, leaving behind only a purple fedora and the smell of strawberry shampoo.

"I think 'Ollie-Pop'," I snickered, "has other things on his mind."

Lilly bit her lip, fluffed the dark blue wig she plastered to her head, and strode away, only to succeed in tripping over her high heels. I sighed.

Meanwhile, the singer had SOMEHOW found his way back to the stage and was shaking off faux feathers. "Alright- here's a little song for all you crazy kids!" He pumped his fist and a rock 'n' roll song blasted from the speakers. My eyes looked up at the band and a shaking blond head caught my eye. The drummer, in back, was going insane on the precussion. I continued watching him, until the song ended and he flamboyantly smacked the cymbal. A flicker of a smile was on my lips.

The Drummer wiped his brow and stood up, taking a long swig of PowerAde. I observed the blond headed boy until he disappeared into the crowd.

"Hey, Miles!" Oliver trotted over, face turning a little shade of green as he ran. "Where's Lilly?"

I bit my lip, and glanced around.

A little ways away, Lilly had both arms wrapped around the 'other boy', dancing to no music whatsoever and looking absolutely content. Oliver began to follow my gaze, and, thinking fast, I gripped his wrist, pulling him away from a crushing demise and into fresher air.

"Mi-Hannah- where are we- OUCH, dude, watch it- where are- look, OW!" I ignored his bumbling words and yanked him directly into...the Drummer.

"Oh, sorry," he clapped Oliver on the shoulder who blew out his cheeks.

"Yeah, yeah..." my shaggy haired idiot rolled his eys. "Her fault." Childishly, he pointed at me. I shrugged.

"Sor-" I began, but the Drummer only smiled.

"Don't YOU worry about it," he chuckled and ruffled my hair. My cheeks flashed scarlet.

And he was gone. Strode away, lost again in the crowd. I sighed and turned to a guy on my left, supporting a monstorous liquor bottle in his arms.

"Can I have some of that?"

I didn't see the Drummer later that evening, but his gently hands and spiked light hair were clear in my mind. Oliver hadn't, luckily, seen Lilly and the 'other boy' and I hoped he would never know. Maybe it was a one time thing- she called me later (I THINK) to ask how her Ollie-Pop was doing and where to hook up. She didn't mention the rainbow haired guy, didn't even seemed flushed at her arrival. But there was a crooked glint in her eye- the freedom of being with another was like fire in her pupils.

Dad's footsteps were like gunshots at my door and I waited, anxious for him to enter and discuss the evening. That was how it always was. A little spat, followed by small smiles and a kiss goodnight.

But...not know. Not tonight. The footsteps faded away, crossing to another room, not in my domain to whisper ,"Love you, sweetie."

Not tonight.

It wasn't the only thing that had changed. Something in the air was different. I couldn't identify it, couldn't even tell if it was really there. But if it was, and I think it was, I didn't like it.

I certainly did NOT like it.

Next chap. will be present day (well, the future really), with Sally and older Miley. This is only the beginning of a long, sad story. Hope I didn't mess it up :)

-MEGGEM