I'm back again… after a long, long, long time – for this story anyways. Sorry I haven't updated in over a month, and thank you for your patience. I had to choose the exact route I was going with this, and I didn't want this story to be rushed, so thanks for bearing with me. Chapter seven is in the midst of being written, and an update isn't likely until after the 26th because of mid-terms (silently weeps). I may be able to update chapter seven before exams start (23rd), so, cross your fingers for me so my teachers don't give me a crapload of homework before exams… and I can get the next chapter up as soon as possible.

Anyways, again, thanks for your patience.

This chapter may be a 'what the heck just happened?' chapter for you, but it'll all work itself out, and for that to happen, I'll need more of your patience.

Okay, I'm done talking. Enjoy.

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Anything

Chapter 6: Doubtless

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"Dude, wake up. Come on, stop being a baby. Wake up," I heard a voice calling.

I couldn't really determine who owned the voice. I was so out of it that it could've been a girl or a guy speaking. All the same, none of it really mattered to me, because I was just too damn tired to care.

But, I started caring when I felt a cool, rough hand begin to make little slaps on my cheeks. I wished it had been a dream, so I could sleep more… so I shut my eyes tighter in the hopes that it was.

"Come on, man," I heard the voice again, and my hearing had sharpened since I was now half awake – thanks to whoever was slapping me. It was a guy speaking.

"Stop that! He just saved your girlfriend. Let him rest if he wants to," a girl's voice called out, and I suddenly wanted to hug whoever owned that voice. What I was more relieved to hear was that I saved this guy's girlfriend's life. I don't know why, but I felt ecstatic at hearing it… though I knew I didn't like the fact that the girl I saved was this guy's girlfriend. Ow. I just hurt myself thinking.

"I'm just… checking if he's alive," the guy's' voice said. It was familiar, and it brought unpleasant memories to mind.

"Hah, please. You've done enough," I heard another guy's voice call. It had some sort of twang to it, a twist in the accent. "Now, leave the guy alone, and do something else, like you did the whole time."

"I would've done something! I just… I don't like to swim – especially in waters like that. I'm water-phobic," I hear the guy with the lower, gruffer voice, speak.

I let my eye open slightly, to have it blinded by the sunlight on one side, though the rest of it was obscured by three, tall, towering figures.

I saw that blonde kid again, along with that blonde girl that I made out to be my best friend, and that short guy who I remembered to be my other best friend's brother.

"So is he," the blonde girl points at me, and everyone looks down at me, so I shut my eyes again, the image of all of them staring down at me burned into my eyelids. "And he did something."

Nobody spoke for a while, and I found myself drifting back to sleep, which was much easier than it used to be.

"Maybe it's time you stopped thinking about what's best for you. Maybe you should start thinking about others," the girl said again, and I remember her name. Lily. I felt stupid for not remembering at once.

"I'm sorry, okay?! What was I supposed to do? Swim out there and find her? Do you know how dangerous that is? And you – I didn't see you do anything! I didn't see anyone do anything!" the first guy's voice chimes in passionately, and I remember his voice, and his name. Jake – probably the reason I wanted to punch something the minute I heard his voice.

"He did!" Lily, and who I remember to be Jackson, said in unison.

I almost smiled smugly, until I remembered I was supposed to be unconscious.

"So, Oken did. How about you? How about everyone on the beach?" I heard Jake say. He had somewhat of a point there.

"I entered a stage of overwhelming panic and exhaustion and passed out. Jackson was at work. The lifeguard had no emotional attachment to Miley, and his orders were not to go out into a tide like that. And you… your tan would've been ruined," Lily spat. Go Lily!

"You guys…" I heard Jake weaken, and I felt a little sorry for him.

Just a little.

I mean… just because I risked my life out there for Miley doesn't mean everyone would've done the same thing… even if they loved Miley like I had. I was delirious too. Maybe Jake's brain was working properly, and he realized that it had been a nearly hopeless cause and that the chances of anyone ever finding Miley again were one in a billion.

Then again… he didn't do anything.

Nothing.

"… I was panicking too. I froze up, and I'm sorry," he said softly.

Froze up?

He wasn't too frozen up to tell me to back down from shaking the living daylights out of Lily… or to keep walking around in circles while Miley was out there.

"The important thing is… that Miley's okay, right?" he asked, and that was the smartest thing he said the whole time he was talking.

I heard Lily sigh, but I didn't hear Jackson say anything. I could just picture him standing there with his arms crossed.

"I guess you're right," he said, and I couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. Everyone was on Jake's side again? Well, he had the uncanny ability to pull everyone to his side – I mean, it worked on Miley. It must work on everyone else if it worked on Miley.

"What about Oliver? He's still unconscious," Lily asked.

"He's breathing, he's fine. Now, please, let's see Miley," Jake said, and I wanted to stick my foot down his throat. Yeah, just leave the guy that saved Miley's life to dry up on the sand, right? Obviously, I didn't care much about what happened to me. But, still. I wanted to see Miley too, and it wasn't fair they got to go back and see her a second time when I saved her. I think I deserved to see her, though I think it would've helped if I could open my eyes and stand.

"We're not leaving without the guy that saved my little sister's life," I heard Jackson say. I can finally say I got on his good side from hearing that… and from his countering Jake, I knew I was higher on his list of 'guys that are allowed to hang with Miley'.

I could've sworn I heard Jake laugh "I was just kidding" quietly, and nervously.

Then, I heard Jackson lean down, and felt him poke at my cheek with a finger. "Hmm…" he paused. Then he poked at my eyelid pretty hard – hard enough for me to jump fully awake, some feeling coming back into the rest of my body.

"Ow…" I whispered, my voice hoarse.

"Well, that was easy," Lily smiled, and I looked at her from where I sat, her hand on Jackson's shoulder.

"Miley…? Where?" I asked, not wanting to use up too much energy on speaking. I was still half conscious. I had the right to speak like a cave man.

"Miley at house. Ogga booga," Jackson mimicked me with a caveman voice, though he had a smile on his face.

I rolled my eyes and tried standing, only to fall back down.

"Help?" I let out in a small, crumpled up voice. I felt like a five year old girl that'd fallen off of her tricycle.

Jake grabbed at my wrist before I could say anything, and Jackson pulled at my other, so I was upright in a jolt.

Looking at me through confusing eyes, Jake slung my arm around his back and supported me as we began to walk.

Both Lily and Jackson were just as surprised as I was.

I was also surprised at the speed he was making us walk.

I didn't like being this close to Jake. His aura made me want to injure something. But he was helping me… and I was sure there was a catch.

"Thanks for saving Miley," he said, finally. Our pace slowed as we furthered from Lily and Jackson, just so they were out of earshot. "That was… really brave and heroic of you."

I remained silent, and he still didn't look at me, and I didn't look at him.

"I'm sure such an act of bravery would've won Miley over."

I tensed and I knew he felt it, because a sneer came across his face.

"W – what?" I asked, in a croaky voice.

"Don't play stupid Oliver. I get it. You like Miley," he said, as he looked at me with sharp, intimidating eyes.

"She's my friend. Of course I like her." I remembered saying that to Lily four months ago.

"Oken, no one jumps into a tide like that for a friend without wanting something in return," he said, and I couldn't help but feel angry. He was a presumptuous idiot who based his knowledge on one thing he saw.

"Let me go," I said, and he gripped harder so it hurt. I winced, and he loosened his grip again.

"I don't know what you thought you'd get out of that little hero act –"

"I saved Miley because I didn't want to lose her. I saved her because she's my friend, and I cared enough to do something about the fact she could've been gone forever. Don't even think for a minute I did it because I thought it was going to make her fall in love me," I said, and Jake's expression softened a little.

Just a little.

He was too cocky. Sure… he was soon turning sixteen – probably got held back a few grades ago, if you ask me. Big deal. He was an idolized actor. But just because he was almost a year older than everyone in our class, and an actor, didn't make his word law or truth.

"Right. I think it'd be best if you just… you know, left Miley alone a while, just so she can recuperate. Seeing you might make her remember that horrific experience," he said, his words venomous. He was wearing an actor's face – that threatening face he used in Zombie High.

"Huh?" I said, my brain still asleep.

"I'm just saying, Oken. This hero act… don't think for a minute that this'll win Miley over. I love her, and she loves me, and we're doing great. Don't mess this up."

Wow, he really stuck to his assumptions well – even when they were blatantly wrong.

We arrived at the Stewarts' house before I knew it, and Jake let go of me, so I stood limp, falling face forward into the glass door.

I looked back at him, danger and warning in his eyes, and I don't know why I was so intimidated. I shouldn't have been afraid of him. What was the worst he could do? What was more… why was he so threatened? Did he think I actually had a chance with Miley just because I saved her life? Well, that might not be a good 'just because', but, still. I didn't even think I did. I knew Miley would never want me back, regardless of the circumstances… even though I knew I wanted her to.

Nonetheless, making me bang headfirst into the Stewarts' front door and threatening words were not what I expected after I'd just saved – it pains me to call her this - his girlfriend's life?

What ever happened to 'she's okay, and that's the important thing'?

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TO BE CONTINUED…

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Jake is evil… no, he's just being a guy. A typical, skeptical boyfriend who is paranoid about his girlfriend and the guys she hangs out with. Anyways, Jake may not be so likable from here on out – this is from Oliver's POV, what d'you expect? – so be warned about that.

Anyways, reviews push me to cut into my homework time and write! So please review. I'm almost positive that it was because I didn't update for a long time that people began to review (due to impatience), so, let's not replay that again, or I might just have to wait another two months until my quota is met :P.

Twenty reviews is incredible, but fifteen is enough to make me happy – and anything in between will get me on the computer writing as fast as I can.

Thanks for reading, and remember… patience is a virtue… ;)