Okay.... It's been like a year since i've updated. Haha. Well, to make up for that this is a very eventful chapter. Also the longest one I have written. Sorry foe the delay. I have started High School and it's quite time consuming.

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Jackson stood looking at the glass door. Not at it per say, but through it. The sun had set completely when he had been walking home, and it was pitch black on the porch since no one had turned on the porch light. There was a little bit of light from the moon though, only a little bit.

Standing there motionless, Jackson looked past the glass toward the TV. Miley and Lilly were watching a re-run of CSI; New York. An episode he had watched with his dad and Miley. He wasn't really staring at the TV though, he was looking at Lilly. She was sitting on the chair, her legs pulled up under her, her head in her hands. She couldn't see him where he was, and he was taking advantage of that.

He needed to think, but that was easily avoidable staring at her. Her lovely sun-highlighted hair was straightened and down, exactly how it was this afternoon. A little bit of it was covering her face, and as if granting his wishes, she tucked it behind her ear so he could see her face properly. She still wore her clothes not pajamas, and had her makeup on. Jackson knew that after this Miley and Lilly would both get ready for bed, then watch a movie.

Jackson shifted his weight to his other leg which brought him back to reality. The only light on in the house was from the TV, so he knew his dad wasn't home. Jackson broke his gaze away from Lilly to look at the door slot then back to her. The spell broken, he was forced to think what he would have to do. He needed to tell her how he felt. What she might say back wasn't even on his mind. How would he begin to tell her? Where would he tell her? What would he say? Or would he just kiss her and hope for the best? How would he even get the nerve to do that?

He sighed mentally. This was going to tear him apart. He felt around for the doorknob- well slot -and slid it aside as quietly as possible when he found it, never letting his eyes leave Lilly's face. He watched as her head swiveled around to look at him, and she caught his eye. Jackson froze half-way through the door.

Lilly smiled tentively and dropped her hands, lifting her head up on her own. She readjusted her legs so they were on the floor. Jackson took another step into the room and turned to shut the door behind him quietly, finally breaking his gaze from Lilly's. When he turned around she had her attention back on the TV, and he walked quietly to his room, pausing to glance back at her and meeting her gaze for a second. He continued to his room, and only when he had shut his bedroom door behind him did he even think about Miley. Had she even seen him come in? He couldn't remember. All he had seen was Lilly, everything else was a blur.

Silently cursing himself, he went and sat down on his bed. He had forgotten to take off his shoes outside, so he slipped them off and put them by his computer chair. A grumbling of his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten since lunch, and was hungry. That would mean that he would have to see Lilly again, and she might watch him make his dinner. Or maybe his dad had made something then left. There was only one way to find out.

He slowly brushed the sand off the back of his head and regretted it. It really hurt because of his sunburn. Ignoring the pain he opened his door and slipped outside, just then noticing he hadn't even turned the light on. Shaking his head slowly, he made it to the corner that opened up into the living room. He stopped for a moment and was about to walk in when he heard Miley talking.

"… Don't think that's the bad guy. He's too hot."

"You always say that Miley," the sound of Lilly's voice sent shivers of warmth through Jackson. "Just 'cuse they're hot, doesn't mean they aren't capable of murder. Besides, it could have been accidental."

"Why do you think it's him?" Miley asked.

Jackson finally decided to step out into the open. They were only talking about the show. "It's just so-"Lilly broke off when she saw Jackson, and he looked at her, then at Miley who had followed Lilly's gaze to him.

"Hey bro," Miley said and glanced toward the kitchen. "You got in late. Dad told me to tell you dinner was in the fridge and to heat it up in the microwave." She paused and Jackson stopped walking, half-way to the kitchen. "Don't forget to take the foil off this time," she sniggered and turned back to the TV.

Jackson stood there a second longer and glanced over at Lilly, who was smiling from Miley to him and back again. "I've done that before too," she said and turned back to the television, amusement still on her face. Jackson saw Miley turn in Lilly's direction and do something which caused Lilly to glance at her. Jackson watched, sadly, as Lilly's smile faded.

That's when he realized he was just standing there watching the exchange between them. He turned away and made it into the kitchen. He opened the fridge to find meatloaf wrapped up for him. Taking off the foil, he put it on a plate and set it in the microwave. He got a can of Pepsi as the scent of meat and loaf filled the air. He got a fork and napkin just as the timer went off.

He took it out and went to sit on the table, bringing his drink and napkin too. He sat in the chair facing both the girls, and he could see Lilly perfectly and now saw Miley as well. She was sitting how Lilly had been when he had first come into the house. Glancing at Jackson, Miley lay down though, and covered herself with a blanket. Catching his eye, she stuck her tongue out at him and looked back at the TV.

Jackson turned his gaze on Lilly and as if she could tell he was looking at her, she shifted her attention to him. He met her gaze with a mouthful of loaf and tried to swallow, but seemed too had forgotten how. Breaking the gaze, he looked down at the table, swallowed, took a drink and looked back up. She was still watching him.

He smiled, and so did she. Then, she turned back to the TV. Jackson could just punch a hole right through that thing. He finished his dinner without looking back up again. When he went to put his dishes in the dishwater he heard Lilly speak.

"Miley, I'll be right back; I'm going to go get ready for bed."

Jackson's heart skipped a beat and he tried to look preoccupied. He wasn't ready to tell her. He could only stall for so long though, and he ended up almost running into her. They walked side by side down the hall in silence. Jackson could feel his heart beating fast and hard, shocked Lilly couldn't hear it. Or, maybe she could but was too polite to say anything.

"How are you?" the question popped out of Jackson's mouth before he even knew he was saying anything. He looked at Lilly for her response and she stopped walking. He did the same.

"I'm fine," she said slowly and turned to look at him. This was a narrow hallway, and they were quite close, their arms where brushing. "You?" she asked turning her entire body to him and leaning against the wall, making a lot more space between them.

"I am great! Wanna go out? Kiss me? Love me?" he said in his mind. Out loud he burped. That's right, just let one slide out of his mouth. Horrified by his action, he blushed and looked down.

Lilly started laughing. Jackson glanced up, his face bright red, and saw her doubled over. The sound was music to his ears. He smiled, despite himself and realized there was also no light in the hallway. There was enough light from the moon though, that he could see just fine. Jackson watched as Lilly slid down to the floor, still laughing and holding her sides.

As soon as she calmed down a little bit she said something that raised ten octaves while she spoke and become indecipherable, but he knew the first few words were "So I guess that means." Then, she started into hysterics again and couldn't stop laughing. Jackson started chuckling, and slid down on the floor too, careful because of his sunburn, crossing his legs under him. He loved making her laugh.

Then she stopped and looked up at him, her feet out in front of her. "Wow Jackson," she said and the way she said his name then giggled a little made his heart ache for her. "I haven't laughed that hard since Oliver spewed milk out of his nose." Then, she giggled again at the memory.

"Glad I could amuse," he said, happy he had said something without embarrassing himself.

Lilly shook her head with amusement and their eyes locked. "You're amazing," she said smiling and stopping her head shaking.

Jackson's heart skipped a beat. He blushed a little, but held her gaze. "You are too," he said. Amazing didn't even begin to describe it. She was perfect. And she thought he was amazing. Now would be the perfect time to tell her.

But, she stood up. Jackson stood too, but unlike her, he almost fell because of the pain from the sunburn caught him off-balance. He glanced at her and she was looking at him, her smile gone. "Did… did you get…a….a….note?" she asked stuttering. He had never seen her like that; nervous.

"Note?" Jackson asked, confused. A note sounded familiar…

"I-i-i-i-," she stopped and took a deep breath. "I put it in your locker."

Something clicked inside Jackson. The day he took her to the dentist he had found a note in his locker, put it in his backpack and… never saw it again. It must still be in there.

"O-o-o-h," now it was Jackson's turn to stutter. "I… haven't read it yet."

"Oh…" Lilly looked crestfallen, and she looked at the ground. "Well, uh, it is… from me. So when you read it… if you read it," she seemed to correct herself. "I would like to know… what you think."

"Can't you just tell me what it says?" Jackson asked stupidly. He thought it sounded rude.

"Oh!" Lilly looked back up to him as if just realizing something. "I…don't…think… I can."

"Okay," Jackson had figured as much. "I'll read it when I get back to my room then."

Lilly glanced down. "Okay then… will you please meet me on the back porch at… midnight?"

Please. As if she needed to even ask . "I-i-i-i-i," she looked at him again. "Would like that." He finished. She beamed.

"See you then," she said and walked quickly down the hallway. Jackson saw he was right next to his bedroom door. He hadn't even noticed. He hurried in and shut the door behind him, collapsing onto his bed and groaning from the pain of the sunburn. He was going to meet Lilly at midnight, when Miley would surely be asleep. He glanced at the clock. It was only nine o clock. He had to find something to do. He was going to meet Lilly, and he knew he was going to tell her, he was also in a jolly mood on account of the fact he had made her laugh.

Then, he remembered the note. He had almost forgotten, just thinking about meeting Lilly. He ran to his backpack and unzipped it, dumping all the contents onto his bed. He searched through it all. He didn't find any note. There were many folded up pieces of paper he had to unfold to see if they were the note. He went through all the stuff, and checked his backpack three times.

He couldn't find the note. Where could it be?