The Truth about Miley, Chapter 7 by patricia51
Family Meeting
Lilly's eyes widened and without a word she launched herself at Amber. The stuck-up girl suddenly realized that she had stepped over a line that there might be no getting back across. Lilly's right hand, knotted in a fist drew back well past her right ear and started forward. Amber squealed, her eyes locked on the clenched hand coming towards her nose.
"Lilly, NO!" shouted Miley.
Lilly didn't stop but she hesitated for a split-second. That was just enough time. Inches before her fist would have rearranged Amber's face it slammed into a large open hand that interposed itself between it and its target.
Miley's mouth gaped open. Lilly blinked in surprise. And Amber collapsed to the floor in a dead faint.
"All right everyone. The show is over. Clear the hallway. NOW." Students scattered. Miley was amazed. Mister Boyne had always seemed like such an easy going teacher, interested in his students but willing to put up with a lot. But now he looked totally in command of the situation.
"Miley, Lilly; wait right here. Mrs. Johnson, would you please see that Amber is checked out by the school nurse and then is brought to the principal's officer?" He gave Ashley a look that froze her in her tracks as she attempted to slip away. "Young lady as much as I suspect you are involved in this along with your friend there," he indicated Amber with a nod, "I don't have any proof. Yet. However you would be well advised to watch your step from now on."
With that the Physics teacher led the two girls to, and then through, the reception area that was the gateway to the principal's and vice-principals' offices. He parked them in two chairs, smiled reassuringly and then entered the door marked "Principal. Private".
Lilly turned to Miley, who was shivering in her chair. "Are you alright?"
Miley looked back in astonishment. "Let's see. You're about to get expelled for fighting. Amber and Ashley know about us and the entire school will before lunch. And I bet someone is calling our parents right now. Your mom will probably be able to handle it but my Dad is going to freak!"
Lilly reached over and touched Miley's fingers with her own. "Are you alright?" she repeated.
Miley tangled her fingers with the other girl's and took a deep breath. A shaky smile appeared on her face.
"I'm with you so it must be alright."
The door opened and Mister Boyne poked his head out. "Lilly, Miley, please come in." They did.
"Have a seat young ladies," Mrs. Weatherly, the school principal since the previous year, indicated the chairs in front of her desk. "Mister Boyne has been briefing me on the situation. I would like to have your input now. Would you please tell me what went on in the hallway just now?"
The girls exchanged a look. Lilly took a deep breath and launched into a brief recital of the incident; starting with the deliberate bumping of Miley by the basketball player and ending with her attempt to hit Amber.
"Where is that young man by the way? Have you found him Mister Boyne?" asked the woman.
"I did but he won't be able to be here for a bit. Apparently he's also seeing the school nurse. It seems he ran into a door, by accident of course. The nurse says she was worried his nose was broken at first but it doesn't seem to be. He does have a black eye and several contusions though."
Hmm," Mrs. Weatherly said thoughtfully. "Hard doors around here." She shook her head.
"I'm not going to make any snap decisions. I need to talk to everyone else involved. In the meantime I've called your parents to come get you girls. Let me say this is NOT a suspension or even being sent home for the day as a discipline problem. I simply want things to cool off and I suspect you need to talk to your Mom Lilly, and Miley to your Dad."
She rose. "Would you please wait in the outer office?"
Mister Boyne escorted them out. They passed Amber, who shot them a spiteful look that didn't come off near as fierce as she obviously hoped it would. In fact the look was quite shaky and her head was down as she scuttled into the inner office.
"Wait here you two. Your parents should be here shortly."
"Okay Mister Boyne. And Mister Boyne?" When the departing teacher turned around Miley went on. "Thank you."
"Yes, thank you for everything," chimed in Lilly.
"You're welcome girls." He went back into the principal's office, closing the door behind him.
It seemed like hours but it was no more than fifteen minutes before Lilly's Mom arrived. During that time they had seen Amber leave the office with an extremely downcast look on her face and a familiar member of the basketball team who looked as though he had run into a buzz-saw be escorted in to see the principal.
Mrs. Truscott drew Lilly aside for a few moments and spoke with her. As they left she looked over her shoulder at Miley as she led her daughter out. The look was not even accusatory but more one of inquiry.
"I thought you said..."
"Not now Mom. Please?"
Miley waited alone for just a few more minutes before her Father arrived. He signed her out and hugged her.
"Daddy?"
"Not here Miley. We'll talk when we get home, Okay?"
"Okay."
The drive home was in silence. Miley twisted and turned mentally. How was she going to explain this to her Dad? What might he already know? But every time she got agitated he patted her hand and she calmed down.
Jackson was waiting for them at home. Miley and her Dad settled down on the couch together while her brother perched uncomfortably on a kitchen stool.
"Okay Bud, tell me what happened."
"What have you heard?"
"Doesn't matter what I've heard honey. What matters is what really DID happen and why and I need you to be honest with me."
Miley looked at Jackson. "Does he have to be here?"
"This is a family problem Miley. Your brother is part of this."
Miley nodded, unable to speak. She stood up and paced back and forth, gathering her nerve.
"Before I tell you what happened I need to tell you something that I have recently discovered about myself. It's the cause for everything that happened today."
"Okay," her Dad replied. It was Jackson's turn to bob his head. Wrapped up as she was in her emotions Miley didn't see a look of dread spread across her brother's face as she spoke.
"Daddy?"
"Yes darlin'?"
"Daddy, I'm gay."
"And?"
Miley stared at her father. "Didn't you hear me Daddy? I'm GAY. I'm a Lesbian. I've fallen in love with another girl."
"I heard you Miley. I'm not deaf. Tell me what that has to do with what happened at school today."
Her Father's calm acceptance calmed the teenager down and she stopped pacing and sat back down. She explained what had happened, from the first snickers and looks all the way through the talk in the principal's office.
"What I don't understand," she finished, "Is how everyone knew. We've been careful not to be obvious about our feelings. But it was like the whole school had been let in on our relationship."
"Oh God," came from the other side of the room. Robbie Ray and Miley stared at Jackson as he came to his feet, his face as white as the proverbial sheet.
"What is it Jackson?"
Jackson was ready to try one of his patented attempts to dodge the blame for an error. He opened his mouth and then shut it. No, this time he hadn't stopped up the sink or torn up some stuffed animal belonging to Miley. He had really hurt his sister. And Lilly, he liked her and to his own surprise he found that Miley and her being in love was okay with him. The one more switch kicked in and he started to get angry.
"That little BASTARD. I'll tear his head off."
"Who? What?"
Jackson set his jaw. He walked over to his sister and squatted in front of her. "Miley, I'm so sorry. It's my fault that your secret is out." He went on to explain what he had seen and how he had let it slip to someone else. He switched his attention to his Father. "I was wrong, regardless of being stuffed with medicine and shocked at what I had seen. I let this family down and I'm ready to take whatever punishment you think I deserve."
Jackson met his Dad's gaze without flinching. Finally Robbie Ray nodded.
"Son I'm disappointed with you for what you did but I'm proud of you for owning up to your mistake. I think you're already punishing yourself enough, although grounding you for the rest of your life DOES come to mind." He looked at his daughter. "What do you think Miley?"
The two siblings looked at each other. Then Miley flung her arms around her brother who locked her in a fierce embrace of his own.
Robbie Ray rose and crossed to his two children and wrapped his arms around the pair of them. The trio held each other for long minutes before they finally reluctantly released each other.
Miley dashed tears from her eyes. "Well maybe you COULD ground him for a couple of years Daddy." She grinned and winked at her Father before giggling at the look on her brother's face. "One more thing Jackson. Who was it you slipped up with?"
"Oh no Miley. Rest assured I am going to take care of that myself." Fire burned in Jackson's eyes.
"In the meantime, what next Daddy?"
"I think we need a sit-down with Lilly and her Mom. Its time to lay down some guidelines."
(To Be Continued)
