Chapter 7
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Oliver asked Lilly as he headed to the door.
Lilly nodded from her spot near the living room. "I'm sure. Relax Ollie. I have been left alone before."
He grimaced. "Not since...you know. Mom's always been around when I wasn't. I mean, I know you're in a better place...but..."
The blonde chuckled. "I'll be fine. You're gonna have to learn to let go at some point. You're allowed to have your own life too. Even if I have no idea what that entails."
"I know. I just- I worry about you, y'know."
"I know. Now go. Have fun doing whatever it is you're going to do. Say hey to Miley for me." She said, walking up and opening the door for him.
"Okay okay. I'm going. I shouldn't be but a couple hours."
"Alright." She shut the door as he walked out, leaning against it. "Alone at last." She whispered to herself. She forgot what it was like to be home alone. No one watching over her, checking in on her. God she was going to enjoy the hell out of this. She made her way to the kitchen retrieving every ounce of junk food she could get her hands on, and moved to the living room. She turned on the tv, turning it to x-box, and going to CoD, proceeding to stuff her face whilst shooting the shit out of her opponents. Yep, this was the life.
Meanwhile, Oliver was picking up Miley from her house.
"Lilly says hey." He told her as he pulled out of the driveway.
Miley smiled. "Did you have trouble getting out?"
Oliver scoffed. "Nope. She was practically shoving me out the door. Didn't care where I was going or what I was doing. Didn't even blink when I told it was just gonna be you and me."
"Really?"
"Yep. This is the first time in a very long time she has been left completely alone. Personally, I think she's a bit relieved."
"She's gonna be okay right? She's been doing well."
Oliver glanced at her. "She'll be fine Miles. Don't worry so much." He pulled into the place. It was little cafe near the edge of town. It was quaint and quiet. The perfect place to do what they needed to do. The two got out, heading inside. They each got a cup of coffee and took a seat at a table in the back. Ashley showed up a couple minutes later.
The three teens spent the first few minutes just drinking their coffee staring at one another. Oliver was the first to have enough of the awkwardness of situation.
"So..." He started. "Anyone have any ideas?"
"Well," Miley spoke up. "I think the best way to start is figuring out why Amber has such a big problem with Lilly. Why she singles her out over everyone else."
"I thought the problem was that Lilly was gay. That's how this whole thing started." Oliver replied.
"I think it's more than that. I mean, this is Malibu. She's not the only one here. She's not even the only one at Seaview. There's Ashley. There's me." She paused. "Joanie is kinda questionable. And I'm willing to bet there's more. I think they're all just terrified of Amber''s wrath."
The two looked at Ashley. "What do you think? You know Amber better than anyone." Oliver asked.
Ashley chewed on her bottom lip. "I think..." She hesitated. "Amber knew how I was long before Lilly came into the picture. It never bothered her. But the moment she found out we were dating, she threw a fit."
"Ok, so it's not the sexuality that gets under her skin. It's just Lilly herself." Oliver replied.
Ashley continued gnawing her lip. Miley watched her. She could tell Ashley was holding something back.
"Ashley, there's something you're not telling us. What is it?" She questioned her.
The other woman sighed. "Look, you have to understand she used to not be so bad. She was a little rough around the edges. But deep down she was a decent person."
Oliver scoffed. "A little hard to believe."
"I know. But I wouldn't have become her best friend if she wasn't good somehow. It's just, you know people grow up. They change. Some for the better. Others...for the worst. And Amber...well, I don't know exactly what happened to her. I just know the girl that I first met years ago is still somewhere in there."
Miley furrowed her brows. "What are you saying Ashley? You having second thoughts?"
"No!" She jumped. "Not at all. I just wanted you to know that, so hopefully you would understand what I say next."
Miley gave the universal 'go on' gesture.
Deep breath. "Amber may have had a small, tiny...thing...going on with another girl a couple years back."
"I'm sorry. A thing?" Oliver piped in.
"Everyone assumes Amber is straight simply because they have never had a reason to think otherwise."
Miley and Oliver glanced at each other, each leaning closer into the table. "Are you saying she's not?"
Ashley didn't give a direct answer. Instead opting to bite her lip and glance down.
Their mouths opened and closed, trying and failing to get words out.
Miley was the first to get it together. "And why is this just coming up now?"
"Because, I've had to keep it a secret for a very long time. It never crossed my mind to tell anyone about it. You may think that odd of me -given everything she's done- but like I said, she's my best friend. I just never felt the need to hurt her in that way"
Oliver furrowed his eyebrows. " Ashley... Who was the girl she dated?"
She shrugged. "I know very little about that whole ordeal. Just that she met a girl, fell in like, and it didn't end very well. I mean, it was nothing compared to what she's put Lilly and I through. It was just a normal heartbreak. And a little bit later, she got over it. The point of the story isn't that this...same situation...happened to her. Because it didn't. I may not know much, but I do know that. The point of me telling you this, is that Amber isn't exactly who you think she is. There's more to her." Pause. "Also, it's so you won't give me those looks, and jaw drops, and unbelieving laughs when I tell you my theory to all of this."
"Which is...?" Oliver questioned.
"Which is...what if Amber has a problem with Lilly because Amber likes Lilly?"
The two blinked, glanced at each other, and turned back to her. To Ashley's utmost surprise, there was no jaw dropping. There was no incredulous laughter. They just stared at her. Their minds wrapping around the concept of it actually being true.
Once again, Miley was the first to speak. "I only have one question. Why couldn't it be you she has a crush on?"
Ashley just shook her head. "We've known each other for a very long time. I know Amber. If it was me, I would've figured it out by now." They went to argue. "Trust me." She quickly continued. "I would know. It's not me. Besides...I may have already tested that theory out."
Oliver opened his mouth.
"No. I'm not explaining it any further than that. Just...she doesn't like me, okay?"
Olive once again went to say something, but Miley stopped him. "Okay." She said. "Okay I trust you. But in order for this to go on, we're gonna have to come up with some plan to find out if your theory is correct. Then we can go from there."
"Yes!" Oliver's eyes brightened. "Like in just about every science class we've been in. We have a hypothesis, and in order to test it, we need to come up with an experiment. We need variables, a constant. We need to be full proof. Make sure we're not missing anything. Look at it from every angle possible."
Now it was the girls turn to blink and stare at the boy.
"...Actually," Ashley started after a minute. "As...lovely as that sounds. I think we have all the proof we need just looking at what's happened so far. Think about it. I've dated other girls besides Lilly, and Amber was never bothered by it. But the minute I start seeing Lilly, she goes crazy. And while she never really stops, it doesn't start to get worse until you show up, Miley. Next thing we know Amber's going crazy all over again and doing everything she can think of to keep you and Lil away from each other. She's acting like a crazy psycho ex-girlfriend or something, with the mindset of 'if I can't have you, then no one can'."
Miley hummed. "That actually makes sense. But" She let out a breath. "I'm just friends with Lilly. There's nothing going on there."
Oliver snorted, trying to cover it with a cough. It failed, earning a glare from Miley. While Ashley just smiled.
"There not be anything on the surface. But underneath it...we know."
"Know what?"
"We know you like our little blond skater."
Another glare shot in Oliver's direction. The boy threw his hands up. "I did not say a word, I swear."
Her attention turned back to Ashley in question.
"He didn't. And not everyone is aware. I figured you had something going for her just from how you look at her. How you're protective of her, but just a bit more so than a regular friend normally is. I saw it in how careful you are with her, and how you'll touch her arm just so, a second or two longer than is considered platonic. It's the little things like that. The things most people don't normally see unless they're paying attention to it. Looking for it. As much as I love Lilly, I'm one of those people that pays attention to it. I'm protective also, y'know. And while, I had a hunch on Lilly feeling it too, I was not certain until yesterday. When I found out just how much she's told you. I knew. She wouldn't have told you if at least some of the feelings weren't there to begin with."
Miley was silent. She had nothing to say to that except... "How would Amber know these things?"
"That's actually my point. I notice these things because, like I said, I love Lilly. We could never get back together after everything, but I still love her. I still have that little bit of jealousy for any girl who gets as close to her as I used to be. As I wish I still was. And I want her to be happy. Oliver notices these things because she's his best friend. She's basically family. He has reason to notice. But Amber, well for her to be acting like she is, and doing what she does. Her liking Lilly is the only reasonable explanation to any of it. And her liking Lilly would mean that she notices those things too. She's just dealing with it in the wrong way."
"It all makes sense, really. It explains everything." Oliver spoke. "But what are we going to do about it? It's not like we can just tell Lilly, and she'll magically decide that she likes Amber too and ask her out. Because you know...Lilly isn't insane. But I doubt Lilly letting Amber down easy would make this any better either."
"Not to mention. Lilly wouldn't believe it even if we told her."
It was another hour later before the three decided to call it a day, and agreed to keep in contact and meet again by the end of the week. Miley had been in her own world since the thought that Lilly might feel the same way had entered her mind. It was after they left and were back in Oliver's car, heading back to his house, that Oliver decided to bring it up.
"So...you know Lilly isn't exactly aware that you're lesbian, right?"
Nothing.
"Don't you think you should probably tell her?"
Silence.
He sighed. "Look Miley, I know you don't want to tell her yet how you feel. And I respect that, I do. But I feel like she should at least know what team you play on. If only for the shock to be less later on, when you tell her you love her. And while we're on the subject, I agree with Ashley. That woman, whether she's admitted it to herself or not, does in fact have some kinda feels for you. The same way Ashley can tell how you feel towards Lilly, I can tell how Lilly feels towards you. Just...think about it. And the sooner you tell her your preferences, the better. That's all I'm saying." He finished, turning on his street.
Miley nodded. "I know."
He pulled into his driveway a minute later, and turned to Miley. "So, get out."
"Excuse me?" Miley shot out.
The mop headed boy smiled. "Get out. Go inside. Hang out with Lil. I gotta run a few errands."
Miley quirked an eyebrow. "Oh really? Is this just your way of giving us some alone time so hopefully I'll talk to her about everything?"
He laughed. "Actually no. Though that does sound like me. However, I really do have to do some stuff for Mom. Suh as grocery shopping, and I gotta make a run to the bank for her. Cross my heart, this isn't just some terrible excuse to get you guys alone together."
"...Okay." She finally replied. "I guess I'll see you later then."
"See you later."
Miley got out and headed for the door while Oliver backed out and drove off.
I am an absolute terrible person. I'm really sorry this took so long. I swear I'm working on it. It's just I'm currently working on like two other stories, that are slowly turning into books. Those are taking up a lot of my time. Add that to the fact that my work schedule is just insane and my friends have decided to drag me out and about all the time, things are just a bit out of control right now. This one is taking a different turn than what I was originally planning. Therefore I'm having to rethink everything involved. So basically, at this point every chapter for this is just me kinda winging it, until I get it figured out. Anyway, believe it or not, I did try really hard for this chapter. So if it sucks...well blame it on my exhaustion. I might have to go back rewrite it, but for now this is what you get. Anyway, reviews would be awesome. Thanks, and again, I sincerely apologize. =]
