AN: Don't have anything to say for once. Well, actually, I do have one thing. Love sucks. :]
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Lilly's POV
Thirty minutes. Just thirty minutes until my first date with Miley. I didn't I think I would actually be as nervous as I am. Wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans every few minutes, taking deep breaths, staring at the clock more than the television.
Maybe it was the fact that this date could ruin everything. If things don't work out between us, there goes our friendship. We'll both go back to being without a best friend, and we'll be putting Oliver and Sarah into an awkward position as well.
Or maybe it was the fact that ever since I discovered the wonderful world of sexual thoughts a few years back, every fantasy I've had has been about Hannah Montana. And a wig and make-up doesn't stop me from still seeing Hannah when I look at Miley. Awkward much? But it's not has hard as it used to be, thinking of her as my best friend and not a famous singer. Even though do I still get that giddy feeling when I see Hannah staring back at me.
I'm not sure how Oliver, and the rest of the school and everyone that talks to her, doesn't see who see really is. Not only is it just a wig covering up the truth, but her voice and laugh sound just the same. That's one of the things that gave her away to me in the first place. I saw that she looked like Hannah right away, but when she laughed I knew for sure. I've spent around nine years of my life dreaming about that laugh. Ever since I first saw her on TV, playing a character on one of my Mom's shows, I've known she was more than just some child star. She was more than just some famous girl that I looked up to, that thousands of kids looked up to.
I always felt connected to her, even with a computer screen and a few hundred miles between us. And now it's no different. Whether I'm her friend or more, I still feel that connection. Almost like she's suppose to be in my life.
"Lilly?" Mom calls out, turning off the kitchen light and walking into the living room. I turned to look at her from my seat on the couch, the show on the TV showing up as only background noise. "It's getting close to seven."
"I've still got twenty minutes." I replied, my eyes glued back on the clock as she walked closer, taking a seat nex to me on the couch. It was quiet between us, only the TV making noise.
"Miley's a sweet girl." She said, watching me out of the corner of her eye as I stared down the clock. The thing knows I've got something important to do, it's mocking me, I know it.
"Yeah...she is." I replied slowly, not really sure where this conversation is going. I turned to look at her, and she smiled softly at me.
"My little girl is growing up." She folded her hands in her lap, looking down at them when I crossed my arms and laughed.
"Mom, I've gone on dates before." I pointed out, smiling even bigger when she looked back up at me.
"Yes, but on all of those dates you were the one getting picked up." She reminded me, pulling her legs up on to the couch and sitting with them crossed.
"What are you trying to say?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow and looking at her out of the corner of my eye. She shook her head and laughed to herself quietly.
"Nothing." She shrugged one shoulder and turned her attention to the television. It was quiet again, neither of us really having anything else to say at the moment. I went back to staring at the clock. Sixteen minutes until seven. I figured I should leave five minutes before, just so I have to time to prepare myself for the short walk up to her door. In the back of my busy mind, I realized Mom was watching me again, smiling to herself.
"You really like her, don't you?" She observed, her eyes turning back to the show as I thought over my answer. There was really nothing to think about, though.
"Well, yeah." I answered, looking off into space. "She's my best friend."
"What about Oliver?" She asked, the air in the room seeming to get warmer as the hour hand on the clock got closer to the number seven.
"He's still my friend. My best guy friend, but he's got Sarah, too." I replied, starting to chew on my bottom lip. I stopped, realizing who I'd picked up that habit from. I was starting to find more and more ways that Miley effects me every day.
"Lilly..." Mom slowly turned to look into my eyes. I couldn't tell what was up, but I stayed silent as she picked her words carefully. "...I hope you know just how much I love you, no matter what, I'll always love you."
"I know, Mom." I was still confused on exactly what was going on, but everything made sense when she frowned. It wasn't just any frown, but the frown. The one she always had on when she was about to talk about her ex-husband.
"I talked to your father today." She said slowly, watching my expression. "He called, asking how you were doing and what's new. I didn't tell him much, just about how school had started and you were doing fine. He wanted to talk to you, but you were down at the beach with Miley. Well, of course he asked if Miley was your new girlfriend...and I told him that you guys were just friends, right now anyways."
I groaned, pushing myself off the couch and staring at the clock and not my traitor of a parent. "Mom! I wanted to tell him about Miley."
"I'm sorry, the topic just came up. I didn't think about it until he started asking questions." She sighed, standing and following me as I walked over to the door. "But I didn't tell him anything about her besides that she's the new girl in town and you two have gotten very close. I promised him I'd tell you that he called and that he wants to hear from you."
"I'll call him tomorrow." I replied, opening the door and looking back at her. "Thanks for at least telling me he called this time."
"Your welcome." She mumbled, taking a deep breath and looking off to the side. She still didn't like that me and him are still so close, and the last couple times he's called she forgot to tell me.
"Bye, Mom." I took a step away from the door, but decided to turn around and pull her into a hug. "I love you."
"Love you, too." She smiled as I let her go. I started my walk down the street, counting the houses in the dark as I finally got to Miley's. I took a deep breath and made my way up the driveway and to the door.
****
Miley's POV
"And you listened to Oliver?" Jackson asked in disbelief. I wasn't sure if he was questioning the story or my sanity. I sat down on the edge of my bed next to him and shook my head.
"I know, stupid mistake." I sighed, smiling as he laughed. "But everything worked out perfectly in the end. I told Lilly I wanted it to be her taking me on a date and not some guy from our math class...and here we are, about to make that come true."
"Okay, so let me just get this straight." He put is hands out in front of him, thinking back over the conversation we just had. "Your plan was to have a fight with this Jesse guy out in front of the movie theater after the movie was over and have Lilly hear you telling him that you wanted be with her and not him...but Oliver let it slip that Lilly likes you, so you called it off and sent him a text saying to just forget it. But when you went on your date, Oliver missed the text and already had Lilly there?"
"Pretty much." I nodded, looking down at my outfit and smoothing out my skirt for the millionth time. "And she ran out of the room crying, so I said bye to Jesse and found Oliver. He told me he didn't get a text saying the plan was off, so I took off after Lilly and the rest is history."
"Okay...so basically you and Oliver took something simple, and turned it into some Mission Impossible movie?" He laughed, crossing his arms. "Why didn't you just ask her how she felt?"
"I don't know..." I mumbled, knowing exactly why.
"Oh, right." Jackson replied, a little annoyed at his new thought. "If it ain't big and bold, it ain't Hannah Montana. I always thought that was a stupid slogan for your clothing line, but obviously you took it a little too seriously."
"I can't help it if I tend to blow things up and make them all dramatic." I told him, walking over to my computer and turning it off. Lilly should be here any minute.
"Maybe Hannah can't keep her adventures down..." He started, walking over to the door and looking back at me. "...but Miley used to be able to."
I opened my mouth to say something back, but our father's voice came from down the stairs. "Miley! Lilly's here." My eyes grew when something hit me. Dad still doesn't know I'm gay, or that me and Lilly are going on a date.
I flew out my door and down the stairs, pretty sure I'd just left Jackson surrounded by clouds of smoke. I reached the bottom step and quickly walked over to the door, linking arms with Lilly and turning us away from the house.
"Bye, Dad! We'll be back in a few hours." I called over my shoulder at him as I pulled Lilly away from my house.
"Where are you two going to be at?" He asked, crossing his arms. His tone had that sound to it, the one that said turn-around-and-talk-or-you-won't-be-going-at-all. I stopped pulling Lilly, getting a funny look from her as I turned to face him, still standing just outside the door.
I glanced at Lilly, realizing I wasn't exactly sure where she was taking me. She got the hint and perked up, smiling at my parental unit.
"We're only going to be about ten minutes away. Down the beach, where all of the clothing shops and tourists are at, there's a place called Marco Polo. It's kind of like a coffee shop and a bookstore morphed into one, but they have a jazz band off to the side and tonight there's a poetry slam." She answered, looking pretty confident and comfortable.
"You guys be safe." He replied slowly, his eyes narrowing on me for a moment. "If you need anything just call me."
"Thanks, Daddy." I pulled Lilly closer to the street, smiling back at him. "Love you, bye!"
When we reached the road, Lilly changed the direction we were going and headed down the road in the direction that Rico's was.
"A coffee shop?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow and giggling.
"I know it sounds boring, but I've got a few tricks up my sleeve." She laughed with me, her hand falling into mine as we walked along the sidewalk.
"I've heard that before." My thoughts went straight back to the night that ruined my perfect life. Well, Hannah's perfect life. But why am I complaining? I get to be with Lilly now, and that's better than any limo or VIP party, even though I still really miss those things about being famous, and getting everything your way. Being a nobody sucks sometimes.
"What do you mean?" She glanced at me, maybe wondering if it was okay to ask about my past. That was something I admired about Lilly. She knew I was Hannah, she was a huge fan, but she didn't ask questions about what happened at that party and with those pictures. Well, until now, I guess. But it's time, I've left her in the dark for far too long.
"Lilly...I'm sure you've been wondering about...those pictures...and why I came to Malibu in the first place." I took a deep breath to calm my sudden nerves.
"No, Miles, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to." She quickly turned to face me, smiling softly. Her eyes seemed to change color. No longer matching the dark ocean, but the bright morning sky instead.
"No...I want to tell you exactly what happened." I sighed, looking away from her eyes. I'd be spilling my complete life story if I kept looking into them. "So, here's what happened..."
FLASHBACK
The music was so loud that my ears almost hurt as we walked into the room across the hall from the stereo system, the bass moving the floor under us and shooting up our legs, shaking our whole frames. When I say we, I mean me and my friends Mikayla and Jake. Well, Justin was with us, but I can't stand him, so sometimes it's better to just pretend he's not even there.
The room smelled like spilled alcohal, perfume, and scented candles. The smell of fame.
"This party is great!" Mikayla giggled, sipping on the punch (and whatever they've spiked it with) in her red plastic cup.
"Yeah, and to think we almost didn't come." Jake added, laughing with Justin at his double meaning. Boys can be so easily amused.
"Hannah, you feeling okay?" Mikayla asked, sitting on the arm of the chair I was in. She leaned closer and looked carefully into my eyes, even though her's were clearly out of focus from her drink. "That one guy isn't still stalking you is he? I can call security for you."
"No, I'm fine." I shook my head as Jake and Justin erupted into a fit of laughter at their own jokes, their combined weight moving the small couch back and forth with them as they punched each other in the arm. "Just not really in the party mood tonight."
"Come on." She rolled her eyes and put an arm across my shoulders, pulling me closer to her small figure. "I'm not gonna let anything mess up this party for you. You've missed the last five we've gone to, something's obviously wrong. Why won't you just tell me?"
I love Mikayla, she's the closest thing to a best friend that I've ever had, but her ego is a lot bigger than mine. In fact, if her ego and Jake's got into a fight, I'm not sure who would win. She's nice and caring, some of the time, but she also hass an attitude problem. She's been better since she stopped with the drugs, but she went straight to alcohal, and even though it calms the fire in her, I can't help but wish for the rude Mikayla instead. I almost feel like I'm watching her ruin her life, but in Hollywood you get used to that feeling, because it floods your body every time someone says hello. You can see the hidden pain in their eyes, even though their bleached smile tries to cover it up.
But like I was saying, I love Mikayla. As a friend, anyways. But I'm not about to spill that fact that I'm gay to her, especially not at another stupid party. I'd much rather be out on stage right now, singing my heart out to my fans.
"Hey, Hannah..." Justin gave me his charming smile, the one that made my stomach churn. "...can I get you a drink?"
"No thanks." I was trying to sound nice, but it was pretty clear how annoyed I was.
"No, man, go get her one." Jake punched his shoulder again as he stood. "Maybe it'll help her relax."
"Guys, I really don't want anything." I told them, but for a moment actually considering it. Relaxing sounds nice. I've been tense ever since those rumors started going around about me and Justin. I keep trying to tell people that there's no way in hell I'd date him, but they just don't listen.
"Yeah, she doesn't want anything." Mikayla busted out laughing, tossing her empty cup at Justin. "But I do! Hey, Hannah, I need a new picture for my myspace. Wanna be in?"
"Sure." I smiled. Finally some fun! Cameras make everything better. She took her digital camera out of her purse and tossed it to Jake. He motioned for us to get closer, and we smiled, our cheeks pressed together.
By the time Justin got back, I was in the best mood of my life. We were laughing our heads off at the pictures, making complete idiots of ourselves. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's taking pictures. The camera loves me.
"Get in one with Justin." Mikayla smiled, sitting on Jake's lap in the chair I had once sat in. They both laughed as Justin put his arm around me and we made funny faces.
"Give us something sexy!" Jake laughed, getting elbowed by a still buzzed Mikayla. At this point I wasn't even thinking straight, just drunk off of the party atmosphere and the mood change I'd done. Every flash from the camera seemed to make everything better. So, I let Justin pull my shirt up and point to my stomach, trying to be funny. I tried to put on what I hoped would be a sexy face. The next ten pictures all went the same way, even when Jake started a chant for me and Justin to kiss.
I'd been having so much fun, I hadn't even realized a small crowd had gathered around us, all of them helping Jake in his chant. I caved, making a mental note to delete this particular picture from the camera.
Before I knew it, we'd wasted the batteries in Mikayla's camera. The party ended for me after that, because Justin was all about keeping the kissing going. Me and Mikayla left together, neither of us realizing that we'd left the camera behind.
Malibu
"I didn't even think for a second that people would care about those pictures. I was just trying to have fun, I guess. But I should've known Justin and Jake would steal Mikayla's camera and upload them." I shrugged as we walked along the boardwalk-looking area of the beach.
"I don't really know what to say." Lilly confessed, her hand no longer holding on to mine. I missed the feeling of her skin touching mine. I felt safe that way, like these memories can't hurt me.
"You don't have to say anything." I told her, chewing on my bottom lip as more and more people started walking by us. I didn't even know this part of Malibu existed. "I messed up, I made a huge mistake. I was stupid, and I got what I deserved."
"What do you mean?" She questioned as we turned left.
"Well, I had to give up half of me when my Dad moved us here. No more singing in front of crowds, no more recording new music, no more going to huge parties and meeting other celebrities." I explained, walking closer to her so that the other people walking by wouldn't hear me.
"I'm glad all that happened." She replied, looking into my eyes. "If it hadn't...I wouldn't have met you."
"Yeah...I guess when you put it that way it doesn't sound as horrible." I smiled.
"See, I am a genius." She giggled, pushing my arm playfully.
"Don't push your luck, Truscott." I stuck out my tongue, bumping into her as we walked in a building that I assumed was Marco Polo.
****
Lilly's POV
I grabbed on to her hand, getting a smile from her, as I guided her through the little coffee shop. I could tell she still had no idea what we were really going to do, and I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from blurting it out.
"In here." I sighed in relief as we finally reached the back wall of the building, or at least what looked like the back wall.
"What's in there?" She asked as I placed my hand on the door knob. I let my actions do the talking as I pulled open the door, letting her see for herself. Her mouth fell open and her eyes grew.
"Lilly, this is...this is amazing." She gasped, her hands covering her mouth as she walked into the small, empty recording studio. A booth was on the left side, big enough for two or three people. The recording gear and machines were on the right side of the room, leaving only enough space for a few instruments to hang on the walls.
"You've been talking a lot about how you haven't gotten the chance to sing in a long time." I shrugged as she walked in and examined the booth. I shut the door behind us, waving to the manager before it shut completely.
"How? I mean, we just get to come in here and use this?" She questioned, walking in the booth and looking around.
"I had to pull a few strings, but the manager is an old friend of my Dad's. And, it's actually a pretty funny story, because I came over here asking if we could use the empty studio back here. I offered to help around the store to pay for the time we'd be in here...and he gave me a job." I confessed as she walked back into the right side of the room. She smiled even brighter and pulled me into a hug.
"Congratulations!" She exclaimed, shrieking and bouncing on her heels. "Lilly, this is beyond awesome. I don't know how to thank you."
"I know a few ways." I raised an eyebrow as she released me, blushing slightly.
"Oh, Lilly. Poor, poor Lilly." She smiled and crossed her arms. "You should know that I don't kiss on the first date."
"We'll see about that." I mumbled as she walked back into the booth. "Ready to try this thing out?"
"Yeah! But, you know how to work the recording stuff?" She questioned as I shut the door to the booth and sat down in the rolling chair in front of all the buttons. I hit the speaker one so I could talk back to her.
"Otto, the manager, showed me the ropes when I came by earlier." I told her, taking my finger off of the speaker button and working on the other buttons to set everything up.
"Lilly, you're the best." She laughed as she tapped the mic and pulled a stool to the center of the booth, getting comfortable while I messed with the controls. I hit the speaker button.
"I know." I giggled.
****
Miley's POV
I only sang for half an hour, mostly because Lilly ran out of music that I knew the words to. I walked out of the booth, laughing at Lilly's amazed face.
"What?" I asked as she stood up from the chair.
"Well, it's just...I've never heard you sing live before." She shrugged, still smiling and watching me with this type of star struck look in her eyes. At first it made me feel a little paranoid, but it faded when she walked over to an acoustic guitar and picked up. "But now it's time for me to return the favor."
"Huh?" I questioned, watching as she walked by me with a smile, shutting the booth's door behind her.
"You don't have to push any buttons, I already have it set up." She told me as I took a seat in the wheeled chair, watching her closely. Was she really going to sing for me? Was she any good? Oliver said she's started writing her own songs, but would they suck?
"What are you gonna play?" I asked, hitting the speaker button. It was the only button that I was sure I knew the purpose of.
"Well, I thought of playing a Lilly original...but I'm still working on my own stuff, so I just took my favorite song of all time and switched some words around. I hope you don't think it's too cheesey." She giggled, sitting on the stool and strumming a few chords on the guitar with the pick that she had taken out of her pocket.
"Hey There Delilah?" I questioned, hitting the speaker button again.
"You remembered?" She looked up to lock eyes with me, a look of awe in her smile.
"Of course." I answered, hitting the speaker button one last time. "Now let me hear some notes!"
"Okay...here it goes." She took a deep breath and got her fingers in the right position. "I like to call this one, Hey There Miley."
I had to bite down on my bottom lip to keep my smile down. I didn't want her to see just how giddy I was from this. When she started singing, something inside me shifted. I didn't feel alone, I felt almost like I was connected to her. Our souls connecting as the words and music flowed straight out of her heart.
Hey
there Miley Hey there
Miley Oh it's what
you do to me Hey there
Miley Hey there Miley Oh it's what you do to me A thousand
miles seems pretty far Hey there Miley Oh it's what you do to
me
What's it like in California?
I'm a thousand miles
away
But girl, tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
Hollywood
can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true
Don't you worry about the distance
I'm right there if you
get lonely
Give this song another listen
Close your eyes
Listen
to my voice, it's my disguise
I'm by your side
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to
me
Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me
I know times are getting hard
But just believe me,
girl
Someday you'll pay our bills with your guitar
We'll have
it good
We'll have the life I hoped we would
My hope is
good
I've got so much left to say
If
every simple song you wrote to me
Would take your pain away
Go
write it all
Even more in love with you I'd fall
We'd have it
all
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh
it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
But they've got planes and trains and
cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
Our friends would
all make fun of us
and we'll just laugh along because we know
That
none of them have felt this way
Miley I can promise you
If
there's a time that we get through
My world will never ever be the
same
And you're to blame
You be good and
don't you miss me
Two more years and we'll be done with school
And
you'll be through with Disney, lucky you
I'll know it's all
because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Miley
here's to you
My heart's for you
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh
it's what you do to me
What you do to me.
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AN: Ignore the Disney part, it fit so I kept it. Keep in mind that Lilly just wanted to keep the words close to the original ones, she doesn't really expect Miley to pay her bills like it sounds. Besides those few things, how'd you like this chapter?