A/N: I'm up for any suggestions/challenges. Hit me guys, inspire the muse.

Schooled
by Melissa

28 year old Lillian Truscott was teaching a sophomore biology class. She never foresaw herself becoming a teacher really. A recruiter had stopped by a class when she was in college and the idea was planted. She eventually sought employment at her old high school. It was familiar and comfortable. Definitely a different feeling sitting behind the teacher's desk, rather than in front of it.

The bell was about to ring, judging by the overly excited looks on her students' faces. 'God, was I ever that young?' she thought to herself.

"Read chapter 18 in preparation for a quiz on Monday." This was met with groans. "Hey. At least I've telling you about it." A few kids chuckled. A few more were busy thanking the Powers That Be. Ms. T., as she was affectionately known, was one of the more well liked teachers among the faculty.

The bell rang and the children ran out the door. Lilly smiled to herself and went about the classroom picking up forgotten pieces of paper. She was happy it was Friday too. Not sprint out the door happy, but happy none the less.

There was a soft knock at the door. Lilly turned to see one of her favorite students.

"Hi, Miranda. What's up?"

"Not much. Forgot my book." The young girl with raven hair walked up to one of the front desks and picked up the wayward tome. "There's a lady waiting outside your door. I think she may be looking for you."

Lilly smiled. "You think she's looking for me?"

"Yeah. It was weird, because at first she called you Lola."

The grin disappeared off of her face. "W-what?" Only a few people had ever called her that name, and only one of them was female. The same one she hadn't spoken with in 10 years.

"That's what I said!" The girl beamed. "But then she called you Lilly. Do you want me to send her in?"

'Do I have a choice?' the blonde woman asked herself. "Yeah. Send her in."

"Okay. Have a good weekend!" With that, Miranda disappeared out the open doorway.

The biology teacher was still rooted to the spot where she stood, eyeing the doorway to her classroom warily. She had a feeling her weekend just went up in flames.

With good reason.

28 year old Miley Stewart stepped into Lilly's classroom. She wore tight dark jeans, and a light blue sweater that made her eyes appear one of their lighter shades. Her dark hair still had its natural waves, and was a bit longer than Lilly had remembered it. There was a bit of light makeup, nothing crazy, to accompany a pair of cowboy boots.

Every step the newcomer walked into the room, the teacher took a step back until her backside bumped into her desk. A small picture frame wobbled and fell forward, clattering as it hit wood.

All of the adrenaline, and perhaps more, dumped into Lilly's circulatory system. Fight or flight indeed. The blonde was sure that she had a deer in headlights thing going on. She was caught somewhere between anger and taking the new comer into her arms and never let her go.

"Hi Lils."

She recovered momentarily. "My name is Lilly," she replied coldly.

Anger it was then.

Miley looked confused.

Lilly clarified. "You don't get to call me that anymore."

The former pop star sighed. "Okay. I deserve that."

"Deserve?! You have no idea just exactly what it is you deserve. Why are you here??"

The brunette attempted to stay calm. "Lil...ly, I came here to apologize…"

"You're ten years too late!!"

"I'm so sorry. I…was so very stupid…"

Lilly laughed, but it held no humor. "Miley, Miley, Miley. You show up a decade after you dropped me like a bad habit and what…exactly? Just forget how much you hurt me??"

"You couldn't have expected me to just…be okay…with what you said!" Miley threw back, in exasperation.

"I didn't, you idiot." The biology teacher ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "When I told you I was in love with you, the last thing I thought is that you would be okay. I expected you would need some time." She sighed and looked away from the object of her emotional torment. "A few weeks, a couple of months maybe. I didn't think you'd just throw me away."

"I…" There was really nothing the girl who was once Hannah Montana could say to that. It was true after all. Days had turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.

Lilly felt tears prick the corner of her eyes as she stared out the classroom window.

"You were my best friend, Miley. You once said to me I could tell you anything. If I had known that wasn't true, I would have kept my mouth shut."

The following silence was thick. Neither woman moved from their respective spots.

"I'm sorry, Lilly. I know it won't make up for…any of it. I know you probably don't believe me, but I truly am. I'm…just gonna go."

Miley turned and took her leave, tears falling from her eyes.

An undetermined amount of time passed. Lilly finally sat down heavily into her desk chair.

She reached over and righted the frame that had fallen over. In it, was a picture of Lilly and Miley when they were about 17 years old. They had their arms around each other. It was a simpler time, one which the blonde wished she could return to.

She sat there and softly cried, while not far away her former best friend was doing the exact same thing.