"Yes we did. Jackson, trust us, she's going to be fine!" Oliver assured him.
"Just fine," Lilly repeated, a little uncertain.
Mr Stewart came up and announced, "Right, get in the car. I'm staying here. Jackson, here's the key. Drop the kids home safely, and give me a call when you reach home, alright?"
"But I want to stay, too," Lilly protested, then stopped upon receiving a fierce nudge from Oliver.
"What?!" she snapped, after getting in the car.
Oliver rolled his eyes. "You're so clueless! Can't you see he wanted some father- daughter time?"
Jackson snorted, driving. "Saw that better than a monkey sitting on my car window!"
"Jackson?" Oliver asked unsurely. "Miley will be aright, okay? I know you're just acting tough and all that."
Jackson grinned at Oliver. "Boy, are you sharp!"
Oliver smiled back waveringly, not sure if Jackson was putting on a 'brave' act. He was just relieved Miley was alive. He did not want to gush about her or anything, unlike some people he could mention. As he thought so, he glanced at Lilly from the side of his eyes and smirked. She was too busy chewing nails to notice.
"You might want to consider growing them. Then you'll finally be able to paint them," he sneered. Lilly looked at a loss at first. Then she understood. Oliver rolled his eyes. Girls were so thick!
Reluctantly, Lilly tore her fingernails away from her teeth and did not open her mouth for the rest of the journey.
Well, she's finally sprouted brains, thought an exasperated Oliver as Jackson halted the car in front of her house.
"Bye! Thanks for the lift, Jackson," she stated amiably, waving, and went back.
Jackson started the engine. "Off to the Okens', eh?" he asked playfully. Oliver nodded impatiently. Sleep was slowly getting the better of him and he wished nothing more than to curl up in the arms of Morpheus after drinking his customary glass of mango juice. But for the moment, the car cushion would have to do...
"Hey, Oliver?" Jackson called. Drowsy, Oliver looked up, tearing his eyes open.
"Huh?" he asked, rather roughly.
"How long have you three been friends?"
Oliver scowled. He was too sleepy to do the math. "A fair few years," he mumbled, voice drenched with lethargy.
"How were you before we came here?" he questioned persistently.
Oliver glowered again. Would this boy never stop questioning? He answered in the shortest possible way, "Lil."
"Well...here ya go!" said Jackson cheerfully as he halted before the grey building that was the Okens' residence. A very sleepy Oliver clambered out and, mumbling a feeble 'Thanks' to Jackson, thrust open the front door.
The empty house echoed his head. Not that his head was empty too, or anything. He simply felt something missing, something had been taken away from him. Although he did not act all teary and soppy like some people, he still missed Miley. But topping that was Lilly, annoying the head out of him with her silly non-stop chatting. And in his drowsy state of mind, he was too exhausted to get all reflecting and seriously contemplating. Hence he did what he loved most, and it was the simplest- he flopped down on his bed and slept.
A torrent of sunlight streamed in through Oliver's room window, piercing through his eyes. Angry, he shot up.
"Stupid sun," he barked. Then, like a video clip playing, the previous night's happenings came back to him in a flash. His spirits lifted when he realised Miley was still alive. He tumbled out of bed and changed to get ready for school.
Aimless was Oliver's second name as he wandered about the streets of Malibu. He was too early for school, yet he felt he could not stand a moment longer in the confined cells of his house. He felt he had to escape the murky smell of sizzling breakfast and all the hubbub and clamor of his siblings over breakfast. He breathed in and let the pure, nippy Malibu air wash through his nostrils like a refreshing dose of mint. Hands in pockets, he walked through the streets and came at a standstill in front of the Truscotts'. He debated against going in. If he did, he would have to endure Lilly's non-stop chatting, which would basically spoil the tranquility of the morning. If he didn't, then he would feel bored and lonely, and Lilly would not talk to him for probably a whole day for not picking her up to go to school.
As he stood there thinking, the door of the house suddenly opened. Oliver backed away in surprise. Out came Lilly, all dressed for school, who looked equally surprised to see him there.
She came down the steps, and, hands n hips, demanded, "What do you want?"
Oliver sighed. Another day of endless listening to endless, nonsensical chatting. "Nothing. I was just about to come in."
Lilly stared at him, unconvinced. "Since when?" she shot suspiciously.
He rolled his eyes. "It's not like I find any pleasure gazing at your house, you donut!"
Lilly lowered her gaze. "Fine. Let's go to school."
Oliver shrugged in vexation and they walked on, with him trying to block out Lilly's incessant rant about anything and everything. It ranged from Miley to her grades to all things crazy.
"Well, I'm not saying this for you to listen. Because anyway, I don't expect you to. I'm just saying this to get it all out, you know!" she snapped.
Oliver jerked back to reality. "What? Oh sorry, I wasn't listening. What was that again?"
Lilly sighed and rolled her eyes hopelessly. Guys could be so idiotic sometimes! "As I said, I wasn't expecting you to," she muttered.
Oliver too rolled his eyes.
"Oliver, stop," she suddenly ordered. Oliver froze. Something in her voice told him she was not fooling around.
"What?" he asked defensively.
Lilly bit her lip nervously. "Let's skip school today."
There was a moment's silence as Oliver stared at her incredulously. "Are you mad?" he asked in a hoarse voice. "Skip school and get murdered by our parents? Anyway, for what?"
Lilly brushed away a strand of her hair impatiently. "To visit Miley."
Oliver opened his mouth to retort, but closed it due to lack of comebacks. After all, what harm could that do? For once in her lifetime, Lilly had spoken something sensible, and he ought to agree, too. He gave a slight cock of his head.
Lilly broke into a smile. "To Miley's!"
Miley's house spoke of a little hope left. The sun shining through the laced curtains shimmered on to the kitchen, and thrust itself straight onto the many framed pictures of Miley. Jackson was on the couch as usual, watching all and sundry on TV.
"Hi, Jackson," Oliver called out doubtfully. Jackson had got a bit touchy ever since Miley went missing, and all his jokes and cheeriness had vanished. Sunk in the black sea of despair.
Jackson jumped in alarm and looked back. His face eased when he saw who it was. "Come in." Lilly and Oliver tiptoed fretfully inside and took a seat each on either side of Jackson.
"Why aren't you at school?" he asked with a knowing smirk.
Oliver did not know whether to smile or not, and he settled for a twisted expression in between. "We...er...decided to meet Miley."
Jackson did not wipe off the smirk. "I see. And now you want a driver."
"Not a driver, no!" Lilly said at once. "I mean-can you do us a favour and-"
"Let's go," Jackson interrupted with a lopsided grin. Oliver gave him a punch in gratitude.
A/N: Sorry, I know this chapter was pointless, but it was just a filler. So this was important to the plot, in a way. But the next chapter is probably the best and aslo the chapter I loved writing the most, and I'm planning to make that a one- shot in itself, so please keep reviewing and you'll get it. Thanks!!