Chapter 4: Joe Knows
"How much did you hear?" I asked him, afraid of what he'd say.
"From, 'Who else?' and the rest," he replied. "So you're Hannah Montana." I yanked him down to the ground with me, since I was already there after running into him.
"You say this to anyone, including your family and Tracy, and I will burn you alive."
"So how did you fake that phone call earlier from Hannah? Was it Hannah?"
"No, it was Tracy. She's one of Hannah's BFFs."
"So does Lilly turn out to be Tracy?"
"No, Lilly's Lola. The other best friend."
"Oh, Lola. The freaky girl with weird hair. And no one else knows your secret."
"Except my Dad and Jackson."
"Who's Jackson?"
"My brother."
"So you're going to Tracy's party with Nick?"
"Yes."
"And tonight's family function?"
"Concert in New York City."
"So how long have you kept this a secret?"
"Since Hannah Montana became famous."
"So you already..."
"Knew you guys? Yeah."
"Well, Nick's going to love this." I pulled him closer to me so that I was whispering.
"I'll tell Nick when I'm ready to tell him. Like I said, you tell anyone and I'll burn you alive. If my secret gets spilled, Miley Stewart is over and my life will be filled with crazy fans everyday of the week, every minute in one hour." I threatened.
"My lips are sealed."
"So Hannah..."
"No. Hannah's blond. Miley's brunette. When I'm brunette, I'm Miley. When I'm in my blond wig, I'm Hannah."
"Well, do you think you can change into Hannah because Nick's planning on having Hannah come over here and sing a song with him?"
"I always keep a spare pair of Hannah clothes in my back pack. I'll get changed and Hannah will accidentally come here, not realizing that her recording time was rescheduled and Miley had to go home sick so she called Lilly to come and get her. Got it?"
"How do you think of this stuff so fast?"
"You get used to it after a while."
"This is all weird. I thought you looked a bit like Hannah."
"So did Nick."
"Do you like him?"
"What?"
"Well, you know that he likes you—er, Hannah. So do you like him?"
"Hannah's nice enough to be really friendly but Miley's the one who likes him," I explained.
"Ah. Well, you get changed. I'll tell Nick that you went home sick. And say that I ran into Hannah, asking her if she'd like to sing with us and that she's in the bathroom checking herself out in the mirror before she comes to sing with us."
"Good, you're catching on. Oh, wait! I left my backpack in the studio."
"Well, I'll go get it saying you feel really sick and that you need it for your homework and that I would be happy enough to deliver it to you. That way you can change. And I'll wait for you outside the bathroom door to change, that way when we get back it'll seem as if we were chatting like old friends."
"This scheming is coming naturally to you, Joe." He nodded with a smile. He left to get my backpack and I leaned against the wall, waiting for him to come back.
Pretty soon my backpack showed up, but it wasn't with Joe. It was with Nick. "Thanks Nick!" What was I going to do now? I couldn't walk in the bathroom, change, and then come out as Hannah.
"I'm sorry you don't feel well."
"Stupid lunch meat. No one knows what's in them." Food poisoning could work as a sickness, right?
"You do look a little green." I felt a little green. He wasn't supposed to drop it off, Joe was.
"Maybe you should leave before I puke."
"Well, I wanted to say thanks for suggesting me into dating Hannah on Saturday."
"She's a real good friend."
"I wanted to have her come over here and sing with us but she's writing a new hit."
"Well, when she's done writing a hit—or a song she thinks will be a hit—she usually comes straight over here to record it. So maybe you'll get lucky." I felt even more green now.
"Well, I should go before you throw-up all over the floor." He stepped away from the bathroom and I rushed in there, as if I did have to puke. I quickly changed into Hannah, making sure the wig was completely tight and everything. My outfit was good to go, sparkly, glittery, Hannah-y.
I hurried out, and back to the recording studio. I fluffed my hair, making sure I was Hannah-perfect.
"Hannah!" Nick seemed ecstatic that I was here, even though I've been here all this time as Miley.
"Nick! Joe! Kevin! What are you guys doing here?" I asked, already knowing. Joe smiled at me—as Miley Stewart.
"Recording a new song," Kevin said. "Nick, what luck! Hannah's here and now you should ask her."
"Ask me what? You've already asked me to Tracy's party."
"Will you sing this new song with us?"
"Sure!" How could I say no to a new song?
"But first, we have to hear your hit."
"My what?"
"Your hit. Miley said that when you think you've written a hit you come straight over here." I did say that. But a new hit? What was I going to sing?
"Go on. Sing your new hit," Kevin urged.
"Um, maybe not," Joe started. "Don't you have a concert in New York City tonight? You probably don't want to ruin your voice too much before that concert." Both his brothers stared at him.
"Thank you," I mouthed to him. He just nodded.
"Yeah, but didn't you say, when we were on the Hannah set, that your voice doesn't get raspy before big concerts because you do this sort of vocal stretch or something?" Kevin wondered.
"I did say that, but this concert isn't very big." I lied.
"Really? It's all over the news about your concert. You didn't know?" Nick piped in. I did know that.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean it's big."
"The newscaster said that your manager said it was the biggest concert you've had yet."
"I'm denying that fact. Don't want the nerves to up-root during the concert and then crack. That'd be embarrassing."
"Well, we wanna hear the song," Kevin said.
"Alright." How was I going to ever get out of this situation now? I began singing a song that I've been thinking about. I don't think it will become a hit but it was the newest one I had. Joe looked at me wide-eyed.
Today's gonna be a bad day
I know that's true
Every girl seems beautiful
When I'm the darkest hue
I hide behind the rainbow
In the shadow of the sun
Everybody's with another
And I'm alone
But looking at you
I know I'll get through
I may not be beautiful
And I may not be with someone
But I know I'm wonderful
And I know it's my world
Lookin' through the mirror of my life
I know the glass does not lie
Through my reflection
The girls all walk around in brand new shoes
All I have is Converse
Slippin' and slidin', fallin' and dyin'
Could this be worse?
But looking at you
I know I'll get through
I may not be beautiful
And I may not be with someone
But I know I'm wonderful
And I know it's my world
Lookin' through the mirror of my life
I know the glass does not lie
Through my reflection
My life to you may seem a mask
Hiding from the reality
I was never the center of attention
But I do have enemies
But looking at you
I know I'll get through
I may not be beautiful
And I may not be with someone
But I know I'm wonderful
And I know it's my world
Lookin' through the mirror of my life
I know the glass does not lie
Through my reflection
Lookin' down at the pond
There's no hiding from myself
It's just me
And no one else
That I can be
I may not be beautiful
And I may not be with someone
But I know I'm wonderful
And I know it's my world
Lookin' through the mirror of my life
I know the glass does not lie
Through my reflection
Nick was clapping like crazy! "That was amazing!"
"Thank you."
"Well, shall, we get started on our song?"
"We shall, Kevin, we shall," Joe said. Kevin grabbed his guitar. Nick grabbed his guitar and one of the mics. Joe and I shared the same mic. He took a highlighter and highlighted the parts that I was to sing.
Nick: There's a once in a life time chance
To work it and dance
I'm looking at you tonight
Baby, we can have a blast
Hannah: Turn up the volume
Turn out the lights
Just let it flow
Every thing's just right
Joe: Let the music soar through the roof
We'll get away tonight, they'll have no proof
There's no time to waste
Come on, make it break
Livin' the party
Nick: The dance floor's burnin' up now
No stopping, no way no how.
Come on get up in your chair
Scream and shout
Hannah: Turn up the volume
Turn out the lights
Just let it flow
Every thing's just right
Joe: Let the music soar through the roof
We'll get away tonight, they'll have no proof
There's no time to waste
Come on, make it break
Livin' the party
Hannah: Come on, come out
Scream and shout
Feel the beat
Move your feet
Take a chance
Do your dance
Just be who you wanna be
Joe: Let the music soar through the roof
We'll get away tonight, they'll have no proof
There's no time to waste
Come on, make it break
Livin' the party
Kevin began his guitar solo.
Hannah: Turn up the volume
Turn out the lights
Just let it flow
Every thing's just right
Nick: Come on, come out
Scream and shout
Feel the beat
Move your feet
Take a chance
Do your dance
Just be who you wanna be
All: Let the music soar through the roof
We'll get away tonight, they'll have no proof
There's no time to waste
Come on, make it break
Livin' the party
Hannah: The party's just begun
But it's time to go home
The music goes off
Nobody wants to go
The song ended with Nick shouting "Yeah" into the mic and Kevin going up and down the guitar to finish his incredibly long solo.
"I thought it was great!" I shrieked.
"Me too," Nick agreed with me. Did he seriously like me that much? To agree with me and do everything for me as Hannah and Miley?
"Oh, sorry boys. I gotta scat. Dinner with the manager to discuss the new album. Call me." I raced out the door. I was sooooooooooooooo going to be late for dinner.