A/N Longest chapter yet! Oh and just so you know, I don't know much at all about drinking, seeing as how I've never done it before and only read about it. So anyway hopefully I got it right. So enjoy and review...
Finding Out
Lilly's POV
As Miley had asked, I called her right after our little meeting. We both met each other in front of the local mall.
"Alright so how'd it go with Oliver?" Miley asked as we walked inside.
"Well let me put it this way; it was the exact opposite of what I had expected." As soon as I said that, we passed a bench and Miley pulled me to sit down.
"Really? I'm sorry, what happened?" she was concerned now.
"Well it turns out he does like me, just like you thought and then when I told him I really only think of him as a friend, well he didn't take that too well. He just didn't have anything more to say after that. Oh, but then just before he left me, he told me that he found out from his Mom, that they're moving back!"
"Shut up! Are you kidding me?" Miley was shocked.
"I know it's really weird. I mean I was a bit excited at first, but another thing is that he's sort of…different. Like when I was trying to tell him my thoughts on him moving back, he told me to stop. And then when I told him your name, because he forgot, he just shrugged it off and said whatever. I don't know Miles, something about him has just turned sort of…mean."
"Sorry Lil, well maybe you could ask him what sort of school he went to while he was away, or if he had other friends."
"I don't know, for some reason I'm kind of afraid right now."
"Well how about his Mom, ask her stuff."
"Yeah alright, that's a good idea. I've always known her well."
We spent the next two hours shopping. Miley tried on a few things, but I was the one who ended up buying everything I tried on. She actually offered to pay for most of it since it was her idea and she was trying to give me a makeover. It was really nice and hell, of course I took it.
After all the shopping, we were extremely exhausted. When we went back to the Stewart's home, both our hands loaded with bags, I called my Mom and asked to stay another night. Miley was a little giggly once I told her the good news.
Then we decided to take my bags and set them in Miley's room. Once we got in there, she had another surprise for me again.
"Hey Lilly, I've got more of the song written for you. While you were gone today, I wrote a bit more." Miley said as she picked up her guitar and started walking to her deck.
"Aw thanks Miley. But are you sure you want to sing it tonight? Those last few hours were pretty tiring, but fun it was still fun." I said as I walked after her.
"No it's really ok, alright here it is…" then she began singing and looking at me again.
Isn't it great that you know that All you have to do is call my name
I'm ready to go wherever you're at
Anywhere I'll be there
No matter how close or far away
Ask me once and I'll come
I'll come runnin
And when I can't be with you dream me near
Keep me in your heart and I'll appear
All you gotta do is turn around
Close your eyes
Look inside
I'm right here
She took a deep breath and strummed some chords to finish off.
"That's so sweet, thank you." I gave her a hug then we returned inside.
"Sure no problem. So how about we watch a movie now."
I agreed and so Miley put one on. We watched a few until it grew late and we fell asleep in each others arms.
The next morning when I woke up I looked at the clock, it was about 10:30. I found Miley lying beside me, she had slept in this time. A minute after I had opened my eyes, she rolled over and smiled at me.
"Well looked who slept in this time." I said.
"Good morning to you too, and we had a long day yesterday, you know that. So what time is it now?" Miley asked and yawned.
"Oh it's just about 10:30…oh my gosh it's 10:30! I totally forgot to tell you; last night when I called my Mom, she said I need to be home by 11, because we're going to spend the day at my Grandparents."
"Oh that's ok, well you can start off with a new outfit today." Miley said in a flirty tone as I hurried out of bed.
"Yeah thanks Miles, I will." I laughed and went into her bathroom to change.
I gathered my things up and brought them downstairs, then we ate a quick brunch and soon it was time for me to leave.
"Sorry we can't hang out today, but I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Ok cool, wait what about Oliver? Aren't you going to talk to him?"
"Well I may not have time, so I'll just talk to him tomorrow."
"Alright then, see ya."
Miley's POV
I waved bye to Lilly and shut the door. Then an idea struck me, if Lilly couldn't talk to Oliver today maybe I could. I mean of course it seemed like he didn't like me and I'm a bit annoyed with him too. But from the fact that she said he was a great friend to her and things have changed all of a sudden, there must be something wrong. I'm her best friend, so I should help her out since she said she was scared after all.
I hurried up and got dressed and told my Dad I would be out for a few hours.
I had almost forgotten where Oliver lived, but on one of our walks home together, Lilly pointed his house out, it was just a few down from hers. I walked up and knocked on the door, hoping that they were still staying there rather than some hotel. Then a woman opened the door. I saw several boxes behind her, some open and some not.
"Hi, Mrs. Oken?"
"Yes I am and you are…?"
"I'm Miley Stewart, Lilly's friend." I smiled. "I heard your family is moving back."
"Yeah we are, we've been here for a few days and unpacking." A few days? It seems Oliver's lied. "Oh and it's nice to meet you too, you can come in." she stepped aside.
"Oh no that's ok, I was just looking for Oliver actually. I just wanted to talk to him for a minute."
"Sorry he isn't here right now, he's at the library."
"The library?" that didn't sound much like Oliver.
"Yeah it's about a block away from the school; just inside the town."
"Alright thanks Mrs. Oken, bye."
"Bye Miley."
Then she shut the door as I started walking down the street and toward the library. Once I passed the school and came closer to the library, I passed stores and gas stations. She was right, it is more in the town. Then a thought just occurred to me, the library is usually closed on Sunday's. Why would he tell his Mom he would be at the library?
Just as I was thinking this I passed a small store with a big window. It was a bar. I saw someone in it who I didn't want to see. I turned and looked at Oliver sitting up on the bar stool in shock as he took a shot and had a big bottle set beside him. I ran inside.
"Oliver what the hell are you doing in here?!"
"Having a good time and what are you doing here anyway?"
"I came to talk to you, but you lied to your Mom about the library and I saw you in here. How did you get in here anyway? You're not old enough."
"It's called a fake ID babe." He pulled a card from his pocket and flashed it at me. "Pretty cool huh?"
He was smiling like an idiot and began to pour more of whatever he was drinking into his shot glass. In the meantime pouring about half of it on the table. Luckily the bar tender was at the other end and didn't hear him say that he had a fake ID. But I still wanted to get out of there.
"No not cool, you're drunk Oliver, come on we're leaving." I pulled his upper arm. He tried to resist.
"But Miley I-"
"No, I'm not gonna let this happen to you. Throw out that shit, it's probably making you feel like crap, now let's go."
I pulled him again and he came. I directed him to a bench that was just up against the brick wall part of the building, then we sat down.
Oliver opened and closed his eyes a few times before talking. He was a bit out of it and I'm guessing the sun wasn't helping. "Nobody ever cares about me Miley, s-so why do you even give a shit about me? I don't, I don't-"
"Yeah I know you don't care about me and I don't know why I care either, but I just, I just do. And I'm just not gonna let this happen to Lilly's friend. Now first I want to know, why did you lie to her? Why did you say you were just visiting and then a few hours later tell her that you're moving back?"
"What? How the hell did you-"
"When I asked you Mother where you were, she said you guys have already been here and unpacking for a few days."
"Alright, I just, I-I just didn't want to tell her until I really knew how she felt about me."
"Look, I'm sorry Oliver, but to her you're only a friend and you've got to accept that. And another question, what about this?" I pointed to the bar and then him, his body swaying a bit. "Is it just because Lilly doesn't like you?"
"No, there's more to it then that, but you wouldn't understand ok?" he started to get up, but I pulled him back down.
"Hold it, I'm not letting you walk alone. Oliver just come out with already, I'll listen."
"Alright then, as far as I'm concerned; if I don't have good grades, a family, a girlfriend, or even any friends for that matter, then what's the point? Why does it matter?"
"And you think drinking will solve your problems?"
"It certainly helps me forget…hiccup…forget about em."
"Yeah, just for a few hours. Look Oliver, I don't know much about drinking, but I know that it's making you sick."
He raised his voice a bit. "Why should I stop? I don't have a life."
"What are you talking about? Why did you say you don't have a family? You do."
"What do you call parents blaming you for things that aren't your fault. And then arguing and yelling at each other all the time? I would hardly call that a family. I do this also to leave my house as much as I can."
"I'm really sorry Oliver, I didn't know. But you do have friends." I tried to reassure him.
He raised his voice more. "Yeah I had friends, but then we had to move back here. Then I decided to talk to Lilly about how I really felt and that ruined everything."
"Oliver calm down, Lil-"
"Lilly is not my friend. I knew things were hard on her when a lot changed, but she wouldn't let anyone in, not even me. Then when I tried to come back in, she still didn't let me, she only talks to you now." he pointed an unsteady finger at me.
"Oliver, just stop. This is the drink talking and it's turning you into a jerk. Look, she was gonna come talk to you tomorrow and ask you why you were rude to her. But now I know why. You're drunk and you know it. Should I tell her, or isn't that what you want? Just to talk with her?"
"Miley I just, I just can't-" he said running out of breath now.
"And what's with your grades? Oliver if you need help, all you have to do is just ask."
"Miley I…" he started again but then passed out. His head flopped down right on my shoulder. Figures. I knew it could be several hours until he woke up.
I smacked his cheek lightly, a few times. "Oliver wake up, come on stay with me. We need to get you home."
He groaned and opened his eyes half way and then fell back on my shoulder. "Oh great, I can't do this alone. Oliver, can you walk?"
"Hhuuhh?" he slurred with his eyes closed.
I rolled my eyes and then suddenly got an idea. Jackson. He can drive. I took out my cell phone real quick and told him where we were. He was annoyed at first, but once I gave him a brief description about the situation, he said he'd hurry.