Chapter 9: Can't Buy Me Love


"I can't believe you, Jake. You like her? I mean, her family, they're such hillbillies. My dad is a lawyer!" She stomped her foot into the sand.

"Money isn't everything, Carly." Jake said in Miley's defense.

"I'm a sophomore!" She exclaimed. "I have the looks and the clothes. We make such a great couple!"

"This is ridiculous." Miley piped up. "First, Carly, get off your high horse and come back to reality. Life isn't about money and clothes. It's about friends and enjoying your life. If I were famous, I wouldn't want people fawning all over me or admiring my pretty clothes- I'd want them to like me for me. Strip away Jake's fame and money, would you still like him?" Miley raised an eyebrow at the fuming girl.

Carly thought for a moment. "Well…yeah. The fame is just an added bonus." She laughed uncomfortably.

"Why do you like him, Stewart?" She asked snottily.

"Because I know that underneath everything he is a caring guy. He can be himself with me as opposed to impressing you." Her last sentence dripping with disdain.

"And his money has nothing to do with you liking him?" Carly asked, her eyes burning into Miley's.

"No, Miley isn't that like." Jake stated, stepping between the fueding girls.

"Oh and you know what she's like?" Carly shot him a look of disgust.

"Yeah, it took me weeks to get her to even like me as a person." He chuckled.

"Well, I don't even know what to say." Carly scoffed.

"How about, you've just lost your man to a freshman." Miley pointed at her with a victorious smirk etched across her face.

"Uh, I don't have time for this. Jake, don't call me, because obviously you have no taste." Carly huffed as she began to walk away.

"And I must not of had any standards to date you." He said as her mouth dropped and she stormed away.

"Wow that was awkward." Miley stated, looking back to Jake.

"I'm just glad it's over." Jake breathed out. "Sometimes I hate being famous. I wish I could just get away from it." He sighed as Miley grabbed his hand.

"Come with me." She led him toward the deck of her house.

"Nice place you have here." He smiled and took a step back for a better look.

"Thanks." She led him inside, secretly praying her dad and Jackson were not home.

She inwardly groaned as they walked in and Jackson was perched on the couch, remote in hand.

"Hey Jackson, don't you have a thing tonight?" Miley asked secretly hoping he would take the hint.

"If that thing is sittin' on my butt and watchin' tv all night, than yeah, I have a thing. Anyway Miles, don't you have a Han…"

"No Jackson, I don't have anything." She cleared her throat, causing her brother to turn and notice that his sister wasn't alone.

"Oh hey sis didn't know you had company." He stood up. "I'm Jackson, Miley's older, smarter and more talented brother." He stuck his hand out.

"I'm Jake Ry…"

"Jake Ryan, I've watched your show a few times and heard Miley talk about you a dozen times." A devious smirk crept onto his face.

"Jackson!" Miley exclaimed, smacking him in the arm.

"Sorry, sorry, I'll leave you two be." He snickered and left the room.

"One down and one to go." Miley sighed. "Sorry about that." She turned to Jake.

"Oh, it's alright, Miley." He laughed. "Your brother seems, well, interesting." He chuckled uncomfortably.

"Interesting, crazy, bizarre, not human…any of those really apply." Miley replied matter-of-factly as she heard the front door close.

"Hey Miley, back from your walk?" Her dad asked as he walked into the living room. "And sweet nibblets, it's Jake Ryan, how you doin' son?"

Jake stood from the couch. "Fine, sir." The two men shook hands.

"You do a fine job on that show of yours." He sat down in the arm chair.

"Thanks."

"I especially enjoyed the episode with Hannah Montana, that girl is such a good actress. Did you like working with her?" Miley gave her dad a look, causing him to stop.

"Yeah, Hannah was great. We're having her in another episode." Jake gave him a toothy grin.

"Well you don't say." Robbie Ray attempted to act surprised.

"Speaking of Hannah, is it true she lives in this neighborhood? I mean I've heard rumors, I've just never seen her around." Jake asked Robbie.

"Hannah Montana, nooo." Miley replied quickly.

"Yeah I've never seen her." Robbie Ray agreed.

"I'll have to ask her on Saturday." Jake said to himself.

Miley and her dad exchanged a worried look.

"Well I'm gonna head on into the kitchen, you two want anything?" Robbie asked the two.

"No thanks, dad."

"No thanks." Jake replied.

A couple seconds later, after Robbie left, Jake spoke up.

"I'm really glad we made up, Miley. The first three-four weeks of school, every time you would come close to me I would freak and not know what to do. You're the first girl to have that effect on me." He smiled as he placed his hand against her sweatshirt-covered arm.

"Really?" Miley blushed as she felt chills creep up her back.

"Yeah, would you maybe want to see a movie or something on Saturday?" Miley smiled, he seemed so nervous.

"Don't you have to work?" She asked confused.

"Yeah but I'll have the whole night." Her gaze met those deep, green eyes.

"I'd love to but I still have to break my date with Josh. That shouldn't be hard; I'll just tell him something came up." Miley shrugged. "He should understand, right?" Miley and Jake chuckled.

"It would probably be a lot more understanding than- I'm leaving you for Jake Ryan." He laughed.

"Yeah, that one wouldn't go over very well."

They chuckled into the air as Jake raised his watch closer to his face.

"Miley, it's been great hanging out but I've got some homework to finish and I told my mom I'd be back by 9. It's 8:45, and she worries about me." He blushed.

"Oh, no problem. I have some homework too."

I'll see you at school tomorrow, where, this time, I'll actually talk to you." He laughed.

"You'd better." She smiled as he stood there for a second, looking at his feet then back to her.

Miley's insides were screaming "Kiss me! Kiss me!" but her sweaty palms and rapidly beating heart weren't agreeing.

His face turned red as he placed his hat back on. "Bye Miley." He said as he walked slowly out the door.

"Darnit! Darnit!" Miley yelped flopping back down on the couch.

"What's wrong, Miles?" Her dad peaked in from the kitchen.

"Nothing dad. I'm going to do homework!" She said and scurried upstairs, hoping her dad hadn't seen her bright red cheeks.