Author's Note: Thanks again for all the great reviews. Again, that positive feedback really keeps writers motivated, because it's always nice when someone appreciates our efforts. Among all the reviews, I had one that really stood out. Senogues, thank you immensely for your review, because you hit the nail on the head. Miley's and Lilly's romance is about love and being happy, not about being homosexual or heterosexual or bisexual. That was the goal I set for this story, and it makes me feel good that I was able to accomplish it. Hopefully that's how others are feeling too! Standard legal disclaimers from the previous chapters apply to all these others.
You and Me, Together
by Jo P.
Chapter 11: Time to Shine
This is the life
Hold on tight
And this is the dream
It's all I need
--Hannah Montana"This Is the Life"
As Miley, Jackson and Robbie Ray pulled into the school's parking lot, they noticed a good turnout for the soccer game tonight. East Malibu High was one of Seaview's traditional rivals, and this being the opening match of the season only fueled the desire of both teams to win. After the Suburban was parked, the three of them made their way to the ticket table. Miley and Jackson got in for free, but Robbie Ray's ticket cost five dollars. After paying, he looked for his two kids, finally spotting them in the middle of the student section. He took a seat on the lower side of the bleachers, giving his kids some space.
Miley made her way to the center of the student section, where she sat down next to Oliver. She noted that just down the bench on her left side sat Jen Kittrell's boyfriend, a senior named Lee Potson. She made a mental note to keep an eye on him during the game. Oliver said, "You got here just in time. They're getting ready to get started."
Sure enough, no sooner had the words left Oliver's mouth than both teams started to run onto the field, taking their positions. Miley wasn't a big soccer player, but she understood enough about it to follow the game fairly well. She noted that Seaview was taking the kickoff for the first half, and when she realized which two girls were in the circle to take the kick, she had to ask Oliver to make sure she was seeing things correctly. "Oliver!" she hissed. "Is that Lilly and Jen taking the kickoff?"
Oliver looked at the field, then said, "Yeah, looks like it to me. Jen's a pretty good player, so I bet Lilly'll get some good shots if she can run with her."
Her getting a good shot in on Lilly is what I'm worried about, Miley thought. The whistle blew, and Lilly tapped the ball to Jen, then tried to cut through East's defense. Jen's pass was intercepted, and East started going the other way, only to be similarly stopped by Seaview's midfield.
The first twenty minutes were a show of defense, with limited advances into scoring position on both sides. That changed when an East player made a poor pass, which was kicked by one of Seaview's midfielders ahead to Lilly on the left side of the field. Lilly spun with the ball, lifting it over the outstretched leg of an East defender, then running through the middle of the field with the ball. Two fullbacks were in her way; the first she faked left, then rolled the ball between her legs when she stretched to try and get it. The second defender, Lilly just outran, keeping the ball ahead of her. Lilly looked ahead to the goal, seeing Jen running with her far to her right out of the corner of her eye. The goalkeeper, seeing she was in a very bad situation, made the only play she could: she charged Lilly. Right before contact, Lilly launched a pass across the goal box and Jen struck it home, slamming it solidly into the back of the net. Immediately after she passed, Lilly fell to her left, to avoid slamming into the keeper. As she rolled on the ground, she looked to the goal; when she saw the ball drive into the rear of the goal, she yelled with joy. Jumping up, she raised her arms above her head, then she ran to Jen, who simply said, "Nice feed, Truscott," and walked away. However, that didn't spoil Lilly's mood as she ran off the field to take a break, happy with her assist.
In the stands, Seaview's student section stood as a whole as Lilly made her run through East's defense. When Lilly sent the pass to Jen, who hammered it into the goal, the section erupted in cheers. Jen's boyfriend Lee yelled, "That's my girlfriend who just scored that goal!"
Thrilled at Lilly's display of talent, Miley likewise yelled, "That's MY girlfriend who made that run and got the assist!' As the two looked at each other, Lee smiled and high-fived Miley, who smiled in return. As they sat back down for the kickoff, Lee turned to Miley.
"You know, you seem alright for a sophomore," he said to Miley. He added, "Now that I realize who you are."
"Thanks," she answered. "I figured Jen would have told you all these horrible things about me," she said. "I'm not sure why she's got such a thing against Lilly and me."
Lee turned back to the game, underway again. "Not sure about that myself, just know that she doesn't like having class with you. It's something about the lesbian thing, but she never has told me what."
Miley sighed. "You know, when she's not saying mean things to me, Jen doesn't seem quite so bad."
Lee turned back to Miley. "She's not a bad person. What was your name again?"
"Miley."
"She's not a bad person, Miley. She's been worried about this game for weeks now, with the team being shorthanded. But after watching your girlfriend play, maybe we've got a shot at beating these jerks."
Miley smiled. "Thanks. Lilly really is an awesome athlete, in any sport she tries," she said. Miley glanced back at the field. Seaview was setting up for a corner kick, and Jen was taking it. She raised her arm to start the break of attackers, then launched a high, outward-curling cross. At the far end of the goal, Miley saw a blur of blonde hair connect with the ball, driving it behind the goalkeeper's outstretched hands into the inside of the net for Seaview's second goal. Miley was first on her feet, cheering, "WAY TO GO, LILLY!" She looked over at Lee and said, "You know, our women make a pretty scary team, huh?"
He laughed at that comment as she applauded, saying, "It sure looks that way, Miley."
With the score 2-0 at halftime, the teams took their break. Miley took the chance to go for a walk to find Oliver. He had gotten up right after Jen's goal, and Miley was curious as to what he was up to. She found him at the side of the pitch, talking to some of Jackson's friends. Oddly, Jackson wasn't with them. She got Oliver's attention, and he excused himself to go talk to her.
As Oliver got to her, he said, "Sorry Miley, but I had to look into something."
"What was it? Oh, did you see Lilly's goal?" she asked, still excited.
He nodded. "Yeah, it was perfect. The goalie didn't even see her coming in 'til it was all over. WHAM!" He struck his palm with his fist to illustrate the point. "But to get back to why I was down here, I found out something interesting about Jackson."
Miley's ears perked up at the thought of any gossip regarding her brother. "Is it good?" she asked, clearly hoping that would be the case.
"Oh yeah, I think so," said Oliver. "It seems your brother has a thing for a new transfer student at Seaview."
Miley thought back to dinner. "He mentioned something about her, but he didn't know her name. He was talking about her at dinner this evening."
Oliver said, "Well, it just so happens that she's on the soccer team." He pointed at the huddle of Seaview players. "Number eighteen. Her name's Kaela Davis."
Miley followed Oliver's outstretched finger, spotting her in the huddle. She was taller than many of the other girls, with reddish hair, almost rust colored. She had a thin but still athletic build, and from the muscles in her legs, Miley guessed she must be a runner.
Following Miley's line of thinking, Oliver said, "Track and field star at her old school, sprints, hurdles, long jump, all that. But since she transferred, she can't compete this year in that same sport. So she heard the soccer team was shorthanded and she offered to play. Turns out she's not too bad. She played some of the first half at midfield, and I bet they'll play her a bit more in the second with a two goal lead."
As Miley watched, the girls broke the huddle, and eleven girls went back onto the field, leaving just two on the sideline. Lilly and Jen stayed at their striker positions, and Miley noted with amusement that the girls were talking together and laughing as they took their positions. Lilly's good nature can overcome just about anything. Miley also noticed that, sure enough, Kaela Davis was indeed going into the game at right outside midfield. As Miley watched her, she noticed Kaela looked to the far side of the field and waved at someone coyly. As Miley tracked the direction in which she waved, she saw...JACKSON? Her brother was indeed waving at Kaela, shouting something that Miley couldn't make out. Probably asking her for her phone number, I bet, she thought. "Oliver!" Miley said.
"Yeah, Miles?"
"Is that Jackson she's waving at?"
"Is who waving...oh, Kaela. Ummmm, yeah, looks like it."
"Did she just blow him a kiss?!?" Miley practically yelled.
Oliver nodded his head. "Yep, looks like a yes on that one too, Miles." He looked back at Miley, his expression all seriousness. "Anything else you want to ask me?"
Miley gave him a look of annoyance, then she said, "You men, you're all alike."
"I blame the Y chromosome," Oliver replied, still not cracking a smile.
Right as Miley opened her mouth to verbally strike back, the referee's whistle sounded, starting the second half. She instead said, "Nice one, Oken. I yield...this time." Then she turned her attention to the game, just in time to see Lilly surge forward and intercept a pass between East's forwards. She quickly sent the ball to her left, when Jen was moving into position. As she passed the ball, Lilly took off, angling down the field and out toward the sideline. Jen faked one of East's midfielders, then she booted a long, high pass down and out to the right side of the field. Getting a feeling like she was about to see something spectacular, Miley said, "Oliver...this could be good."
As the ball arced down the sideline, Lilly and East's left fullback both raced for the ball. As they reached its landing spot, Lilly leaped, turning her body toward the goal and boxing the defender out behind her. The fact that their momentum sent the defender sprawling was luck, but it was Lilly's body position and control that trapped the ball softly, dropping it to the ground with minimal bounce and only a slight roll toward the goal. As Lilly landed, she immediately pushed the ball forward, and the goalkeeper's hesitation to charge cost her and her team. Lilly launched a shot toward the far top corner of the net, curling it into the goal perfectly as it flew just past the reach of the keeper. As the ball scraped across the net inside the goal, Lilly shrieked, raising her hands in celebration, then she did something no one saw coming.
"Oliver, why is Lilly coming towards us?" Miley asked as she saw Lilly run toward them.
Oliver took a moment to think, then said, "Well, my guess is that she wants a kiss from her girlfriend in celebration of that unbelievable goal."
Embarrassment flickered for just a moment in Miley's mind before it was snuffed out. We're out, the whole school knows we're engaged, and she DID just score an amazing goal... Miley made up her mind that Lilly did indeed deserve a kiss for her very stylish goal.
As Lilly reached them, her face sweaty but aglow, she said, "That one was just for you, Miley!"
As Lilly got within range, Miley said, "And this one is for you, sweetheart." With that, she leaned across the short fence, wrapped her arms around Lilly's shoulders and gave her a deep kiss, holding it for several seconds. When they hesitantly pulled their lips apart, Miley saw that Lilly's eyes were closed, a look of bliss on her face.
Lilly fluttered her eyes open, saying, "Wow. Thanks, hon. Maybe I should score more goals."
Miley smiled and replied, "Maybe you should. Now get back out there, they're about to kick off again!" Lilly grinned and turned, sprinting back onto the field as the game got underway again. In just a few seconds, she was back in position, nearly intercepting another pass as she ran back to her side of the field.
Oliver shook Miley by her right shoulder, saying, "That was terrific! The crowd cheered just as loud for you two kissing as they did for the goal!"
Still slightly enthralled by the lingering effects of the kiss, Miley said, "Did they? I didn't notice." And truthfully she hadn't.
As she and Oliver made their way back up into the bleachers, whistles resounded, all directed at Miley. Miley was just a bit embarrassed by all the attention directed at her, but she smiled, knowing that she'd gladly do it again if the opportunity arose. As Miley took her seat next to Lee, she said, "See what I mean? Our girlfriends make a dangerous team."
Lee nodded, then said, "You know, Jen thought that you two were playing some kind of prank, punking everybody in the school or something about the whole lesbian thing. But you'd have to be pretty good actresses to fake that in front of half the school."
Miley was first taken aback that anyone would think they were faking their love for each other, but then she realized he had said that to show her that he was convinced that she and Lilly were serious about each other. Miley looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Trust me, there's nothing fake about how we feel for each other. This ring," she said, holding her left hand up for everyone to see, "and the ring Lilly wears show how much we care about each other. When we graduate, we're getting married before we go to college, so we can be a couple in every way possible." Putting her hand back down, Miley noticed she had an audience in the bleachers at this point. "Lilly has been an amazing friend, and now she's become so much more. I'm truly blessed to have such an terrific woman who loves me like she does." She glanced back at the rows behind her, then said, "We don't have any agenda other than loving and being with each other. We're a couple, just like lots of other couples in this school, only we're more serious than lots of them. And Lilly and I appreciate that all of our classmates have been as accepting of us as you have. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts."
Several girls in the row just above and behind Miley were sniffling, and one after another they leaned down and gave her a quick hug. Miley didn't know any of them, and somehow that made the gesture more touching to her. "Aw no, now I'm gonna start crying," she said, laughing and tearing up as she returned the hugs.
As the last hug finished, she saw Lee looking at her with a smile on his face. "You know, Miley, you're all right," he said, playfully punching her in the left shoulder.
Miley winced at the punch, which stung all the way down her arm, but she bravely said, "Thanks...I think," as she shook her arm, trying to get the stinging sensation to stop.
The rest of the game was uneventful, as no further scores or impressive plays emerged, just solid defensive work from both teams. When the whistle blew, the final score was 3-0 in favor of Seaview, and the bleachers were full of noisy, cheering students. Miley ran down onto the field to meet Lilly, but she saw the players were huddled in a circle, stretching out after the game while the coach talked to them. When he dismissed the girls, Lilly turned and ran for Miley.
Miley knew that Lilly was going to be dirty and sweaty, but she felt that it'd be mean to tell Lilly not to hug her. And really, Miley didn't care what condition Lilly was in, so long as she was in her arms. When Lilly reached she started to say, "Miles, I'm pretty dirty--" but she was cut off by Miley leaping forward and hugging her tightly, then planting a warm kiss on her lips.
"I don't care," whispered Miley as she held her lover.
Lilly melted into the embrace, wrapping her own arms around Miley. "Love you," she whispered against Miley's lips.
"Mmm, love you too," Miley whispered back. "You played great tonight! I'm so proud of you!" she said, slightly louder, pulling her face back but not releasing Lilly from her embrace.
Jen Kittrell stopped by the two girls. "Truscott, you played a really good game tonight. Keep it up," she said, nodding to Lilly. Lilly looked at her for a second or two, then looked at Miley pointedly, finally turning her gaze back to Jen. Jen sighed and said, "Okay, Stewart, I'm sorry I was a bitch to you today. I have my moments, and you got one today. But your girlfriend here's pretty cool, and I'll try to be nicer to you."
Miley was stunned. She managed to say, "Thanks, Jen," but forming any sentences more complex than that were beyond at that moment. Lilly squeezed Miley, then turned back to Jen and said, "Thank you, Jen. Miley means the world to me, so when someone's mean to her, that hurts worse than if they were mean to me."
Adding to Miley's shock, Jen Kittrell actually smiled. It was the first time Miley had ever seen that rare occurrence up close. She was trying to decide if she was relieved or frightened when Jen said, "You two have got a good thing. Don't screw it up." She then turned and walked off, looking for Lee. As she spotted him, she waved and hurried over to him.
Lilly just kept grinning as Miley's mouth hung open. Finally, Miley composed herself enough to say, "What the sam hill was that? Was she actually being nice?"
Lilly said, "Yeah, she was." She started walking with Miley around the soccer field. It was the long way to Robbie Ray's car, but obviously Lilly had something she was wanting to tell Miley without anyone overhearing. As they got some distance between themselves and the others, Lilly said in a soft voice, "Jen told me why she's been so freaked out about the two of us."
Miley tried to conceal her surprise by not spinning her head around to look at Lilly, but it was very, very hard. "Was it a good reason?" Miley asked.
Lilly looked into Miley's eyes and nodded her head. "Yeah." She looked ahead of them for a second, them turned her gaze back to Miley. "About two years ago, Jen had a really good friend named Bethany. A really good friend." Miley waited for Lilly to continue, remaining silent. Lilly looked hard at Miley and said, "A really, really good friend."
Getting it now, Miley said, "OH. Like, us kind of really really good friends."
Lilly said, "Yeah, they both had feelings about each other, but they never really talked about how they felt. Then one night when they were staying together at Bethany's house while her parents were out of town, they had a few drinks out of Bethany's dad's bottle of gin. After that, they didn't even talk, they just go after each other, right there on the floor, then they go to Bethany's bedroom, where they finally fall asleep afterwards."
Miley said, "Wow. I never would have guessed that about Jen."
Lilly said, "Well, I'm not finished yet. There's more. The next morning, Jen wakes up and totally freaks out. She said she started screaming at Bethany about taking advantage of her, while the whole time all Bethany keeps saying is, 'I love you, I love you'." Lilly swallowed, her throat tightening up slightly as she talked. "So Jen finally has had enough and she hits Bethany. She said," Lilly stopped for a second. "She said, she hit her hard. Then she tells Bethany not to ever say a word about them having sex, and she gets her clothes and takes off."
Miley was numb listening to Lilly's story. Even for Jen Kittrell, that sounded cruel. "Lilly, that's horrible."
Lilly turned to look at Miley again. Now tears were forming in her eyes, and they were turning red. "Miley, I'm still not finished." Miley stopped talking and listened. Lilly continued, "Later that night, Jen gets a call from Bethany's parents, who had gotten back home. Bethany had tried to kill herself."
Miley gasped, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. "Did she die?" she asked, frantically.
Lilly said, "No," shaking her head, "but it was close. She had taken a bunch of her mom's sleeping pills and Tylenol, then drank the rest of her dad's gin. She stopped breathing in the emergency room, but they got her stomach pumped in time to save her life. She was on a ventilator for a day while the drugs in her system wore off, and she had some liver damage from the Tylenol, but overall she came out okay. Physically, at least." Lilly stopped walking and turned to look at Miley. "When Bethany was released from the hospital, she transferred schools, then later her whole family moved. Through all that, she never told anyone at the hospital what happened between her and Jen. Jen thinks she probably told her parents, and that was why they moved, but she's not sure, because she and Bethany never spoke again."
Miley was both furious and heartbroken over Lilly's story. "I don't know what to say. I mean, I really don't know whether to be angry or sad or both," she said.
Lilly said, "I was both. Jen said she thought about killing herself over what she had done to her best friend, but her parents got her some help before she followed through on her thoughts." Lilly paused again, obviously gathering herself. "Jen told me that the reason she's been so mean to you is because seeing us together reminded her of how cruel she had been to a really good friend. How cruel she had acted to someone who loved her, despite everything that Jen had done to her." Lilly took Miley's hand, and the pair started walking again. "She said that she sometimes wonders how things would have worked out between her and Bethany, if she had given Bethany a chance."
"I never would have imagined that about Jen Kittrell," Miley said, her voice subdued. "That must be horrible having to live with herself, knowing how badly she hurt someone who loved her." She shuddered as she found that she couldn't even start to imagine what that would feel like.
Lilly nodded and said, "She said it was horrible, but she also said that she deserves it." After a pause, Lilly said. "She really has times where she hates herself, Miley. I saw it tonight. When she'd miss a pass or make a mistake, she'd get furious with herself. She just does a good job of channeling that anger towards other people or other things, most of the time."
Miley pulled Lilly close, switching hands so they were holding hands with their outside hands while holding each other with their inside arms. "Lilly, there are only two people who can forgive Jen: Bethany, and herself. You can't forgive her for Bethany, and you sure as heck can't forgive her for herself. Jen has to deal with what she did herself."
"I know, Miley," Lilly said, about to cry again, "but when I try to think about--" She stopped, fighting to hold back tears. "When I try to think about what that would have felt like, for either of them, I just--" She stopped walking and put her head on Miley's shoulders and started crying. That broke Miley's floodgates as well, and the girls held each other in the shadows besides the bleachers for a few minutes while they just cried, in mourning for a love lost before it could bloom.
After both of them had cried and the tears started to stop, they looked at each other and both said, "Sorry," at the same time. That got a small laugh from each of them, lightening the mood. Miley said, "Did Jen say you could tell me about her and Bethany?"
Lilly looked a bit sheepish. "Not in those words, but she didn't tell me not to tell you. And why would she tell me that, then come apologize to you, if she didn't think I was going to tell you? She knows that we share everything, Miley. I told her that before she started to tell me her story."
Miley said, "Okay, then let's see how she does around us now. She sure seems to have taken to playing soccer with you," she said, bumping Lilly's shoulder as they started walking again.
Lilly laughed. "Yeah, she went from hating me to putting up with me after that pass I made to her for her goal. Then it became starting to like me after her assist on my goal. By this rate, we might be friends after a few games!"
Miley laughed too. "That might be hoping for a bit too much, Lilly," she said.
As they reached the Suburban, Robbie Ray and Jackson were standing by the vehicle, ready to go. Lilly gave Robbie Ray a hug, then said, "Thanks for giving me a ride home, Mr. Stewart. Mom and Dad had that dinner for his office tonight, or they'd have been here too."
"Aw, you know we're happy to give you a lift, darlin'," Robbie Ray said as Lilly released him and then gave Jackson a quick hug.
"Hey, you're sweaty!" said Jackson as he tried to pull away. Lilly finally let him go, an evil grin on her face.
"Nice one, Lilly," Miley said appreciatively.
"Thanks, Miles," Lilly said in response. She opened the door for Miley to climb inside; once Miley was in, Lilly followed her inside. They sat in the bench seat in the back of the vehicle, huddling against each other as if they were cold. This close, Lilly definitely did smell of sweat, but Miley ignored it, needing her lover's touch more than anything else.
Thinking back to the story Lilly had relayed to her about Jen and Bethany, Miley whispered, "Do you think your parents would let you spend the night with me tonight?"
Lilly felt a shudder pass through Miley's body. She turned to look at Miley, who had obviously been thinking about Jen's story, based on how worried she looked at that moment. "Probably if we asked, but Miley, try not to let that story do this to you. You know that's not what happened with us. We told each other how we felt, and we're happy about it. Their story isn't ours," Lilly said with a gentle smile.
Miley nodded her head then said, "I know, I just feel so sad after hearing that story, for the pain the two of them had to feel. I just want to be able to hold you tonight. I haven't gotten to sleep with you all week, and I miss your touch."
Lilly knew that Miley wasn't talking about sex, she was just needing the comfort that their being together brought. And truth be told, Lilly could use it too; the story had upset her greatly when Jen had told it to her, and having Miley with her tonight would be a very calming thing. "Let me call and ask, Miley," she said, getting her phone out of her purse. She dialed her mom's number. When her mother answered the phone, Lilly said, "Mom? This is Lilly. We won the game, and I scored two goals!" She listened for a few seconds, smiling. "Yes, Miley was there, she was thrilled she got to see them. That's why I was calling. I know you and Dad won't be back until later, and Ron is still at work, and I was just starting to feel a bit worried about going home by myself." A pause to listen again. "No, it's just... Well, a story that one of the girls on the soccer team told me tonight kinda has both Miley and me upset, and I really don't want to be home alone right now. Is there any way I could spend the night with Miley?" As she listened, Lilly smiled broadly, a smile of genuine happiness, then she laughed. "Thanks Mom! Love you and Daddy!" Lilly said as she hung up. She turned to Miley and said, "It's okay."
Noticing that Lilly was blushing slightly, Miley asked, "What else did she say?"
Lilly whispered, "She said for us not to be having sex while your dad was in the house," causing Miley to blush too.
"Oops," Miley said. "You think we were too loud at your house?" she asked Lilly in a whisper.
Lilly shook her head. "I don't think so," she whispered back. "Maybe moms can just tell by the way we look."
Miley thought about that and decided it might be possible. "Well, you do get this little glow of happiness, after we make love," she whispered. "I can see it across the room," she said with a smile.
Lilly grinned a guilty grin. "You get this little bounce in your walk, I've noticed. It's just so cute, like you have a little hop in your legs," she said, giggling and leaning into Miley.
Miley turned her gaze to the front of the Suburban and said loudly, "Daddy? Can Lilly spend the night with us? Her parents aren't getting back until really late, and Ron won't be there until after he gets off at eleven, at the earliest. She's already called her mom and asked, and she said it was okay."
Robbie Ray said, "You need to get some clothes, Lilly?"
Lilly nodded, then she realized he couldn't see her nod, so she said, "Yes, please. I need some clothes for tomorrow, and my backpack and books."
"Okay, we're about at your house now, so I'll just run in with you," Robbie Ray said.
As they pulled up, Lilly got her house key out, then climbed out of the Suburban and went to the door with Robbie Ray. Once they were gone, Jackson turned around and said, "You are so lucky, having your girlfriend over on a school night!"
Miley said, "I know." She suddenly realized that Jackson might be mad about that. "Are you mad about that, Jackson?"
He was quiet, then turned and said, "A little bit, because I bet if I asked Dad if my girlfriend could spend the night, he'd say no, or make us sleep in separate rooms or something so we wouldn't be fooling around."
Miley said, "Jackson, just so you know, Lilly and I don't do anything like that when you and Daddy are in the house. We really just hold each other. And kiss some. Well, we kiss a lot. But that's it, really."
Jackson looked at her, then he said, "Miley, I said that I only minded a little bit. One thing you've always been is sure of you were doing. I used to make fun of you when you wanted to be a singer, and you stuck to it because you knew it was what you wanted to do. If you really feel that you and Lilly are going to be together—and I know you do—then you two are going to be together. There's no point fighting it."
"Gee, thanks," said Miley sarcastically.
"Wait a second, Miles," Jackson said quickly. "One thing about you and Lilly is that you two are so totally good for each other. You've always supported each other, and you've always loved each other. Plus, I know the only reason you two aren't married right now is because you're too young."
Miley looked away from Jackson, looking at Lilly's house as she waited for Lilly and her father to come back out. "Well, you're right on that point, too," she muttered.
Happy that she agreed on that point, Jackson said, "So the way I see it, you two are pretty much married, just with a countdown."
Miley spun her head to face him. "A countdown? Like a bomb going off?" she yelled.
"Or like a space shuttle launch," he replied. "Why are you so hateful tonight, anyway?"
Miley took stock of herself, and she realized that she really was being hateful. She sighed. "Jackson, I'm sorry. You're trying to be nice to me, and I'm just being bitchy. Lilly and I are due to start our periods in a couple of days."
Jackson made a face of disgust and said, "Okay, that might have been a bit too much information, but it does explain the grouchiness." He turned around, then quickly turned back to face her. "You two have your periods together?" he asked with an equal mix of disgust and amazement.
Miley nodded. "Yeah, we've been in synch for over a year." She looked at her brother and said, "It happens around girls who spend a lot of time around each other, Jackson. Well, some of the time." She lowered her gaze, as she did feel bad for biting his head off. "Sorry again. And thank you for not having a big problem with Lilly and me sleeping together."
She really didn't want to get into why she was so sad tonight, because she knew that would only keep her upset. Jen's horrific behavior was no one's fault but Jen's. It was terrible, but there was nothing Miley could do about it. She knew that, and Lilly would be the first to remind her of that. Still, having experienced the joy of being with the person she was meant to be with, Miley sincerely hoped that Bethany wasn't the one Jen was supposed to be with.
The opening of the car door startled Miley, making her jump slightly. Lilly climbed in, wearing a t-shirt and shorts with flip-flops. "Okay, ready to go!" As Robbie Ray started the Suburban and they pulled away, Lilly leaned over to Miley and said, "What's wrong? You and Jackson get into it?"
Miley shook her head, then whispered, "No, he was actually being nice. He told me that he really didn't mind us sleeping together, because the way he saw it, the fact that we're not eighteen is the only thing keeping us from being married."
"Wow, Jackson's getting smarter!" Lilly whispered back, smiling. That got a smile out of Miley.
"And I was being really hateful to him, when he was trying to be nice. Then it hit me why I've been so emotional tonight, and why I was chewing him out over nothing," she said, still whispering.
Lilly looked into Miley's eyes for a minute, not understanding. Then her eyes widened and she said, "Oh. Wow, I had forgotten about it."
Miley smiled and said, "You always forget. That's why I keep reminding you each month, remember?"
Lilly smiled and said, "Oh yeah. Well, good thing I've got you," she said as pulled Miley into a hug.
Miley ignored the still-lingering sweaty smell Lilly had, then said, "I must really love you if I'm hugging you while you smell this bad."
Lilly laughed and answered, "I was wondering when you were going to hit your limit, Miley."
Miley just closed her eyes, ignored the smell and snuggled tighter as she said, "No limits for me wanting you, girlfriend."
When they arrived at Miley's house, the girls climbed out of the back of the Suburban. Jackson had already unlocked the front door, and Miley and Lilly followed him inside. As soon as they were inside, Miley pointed up the stairs and told Lilly, "Go."
Lilly said, "Shower?" Miley nodded her head. Lilly went.
Robbie Ray came in the house, talking on his cell phone. As he closed the door, he said goodbye and hung up. "Who was that you were talking to, Daddy?" Miley asked.
"Lilly's mom. I was just telling her that we got home okay, so she wouldn't worry about Lilly." He went over to the kitchen, retrieving a bottle of water from the refrigerator. "She played one heck of a game tonight, Miles. I'm sure glad we went. Hate her mom and dad couldn't make it, though. They're gonna regret missin' those goals of hers."
Miley smiled and said, "There'll be other games, Dad. I think Lilly had fun tonight, so she might be playing a bit longer than she had thought." She hugged Robbie Ray and said, "Thank you again for letting Lilly spend the night tonight. It really means a lot to me. Thanks," she said, finishing with a kiss on his cheek. "Good night!" she called out, heading to the stairs.
"Night Miles, and tell Lilly good night too!" Robbie Ray said.
Miley opened the door to her bedroom, catching Lilly just about to drop her bathrobe and get dressed for bed. "AHHHHH!" Lilly shrieked before she realized it was just Miley. She plopped down on their bed. "You scared me to death, Miley! I thought it was your dad or Jackson coming through that door!"
Miley walked over to the bed and said, "Sorry, didn't think you'd be done that fast," as she leaned down to kiss Lilly. Lilly leaned up into the kiss, wrapping her arms around Miley's waist and pulling her onto the bed with her by leaning back, placing Miley neatly on top of her chest. They kissed that way for a minute or two, and when they broke for air, Lilly opened her eyes and saw Miley's beautiful blue eyes glimmering down at her, her lower lip pulled just slightly between her teeth as she smiled down at Lilly. "You are so beautiful, Miley," Lilly said. "But you smell bad, too." She sat back up, returning Miley to her standing position. "Your turn for the shower," she said, gently turning Miley toward the bathroom and giving her a pat on her butt. Miley dutifully walked to the bathroom, looking back over her shoulder and sending Lilly a sultry look as she entered the bathroom and closed the door. "Wow," said Lilly, to no one in particular. After a minute or so of staring after Miley, she stood up and got her pajamas on. Once that was done, she turned down the bed and crawled in. She had just gotten settled in when Miley came out of the bathroom. Wearing nothing.
Lilly's eyes got rather large as she said, "Oh, that is so not fair!" She sat up, continuing, "Miley, you're teasing me! You know we can't do anything while your dad and brother are here!"
Miley crossed the room and took a pair of panties out of her underwear drawer, slipping them on while giving Lilly a view of her profile only. She then took a nightshirt out of her sleepwear drawer and slipped it over her head. "Don't think of it as teasing," she said as she slid into the bed, immediately crawling against Lilly and wrapping her arms and legs around her. "Think of it as a preview for tomorrow night," she said, right before she kissed Lilly deeply. In truth, the little show she had put on had turned Miley on as much as it had Lilly, and the kissing quickly escalated into holding and then to hands roaming across and then under clothes. At the same time, the girls realized how close they were to crossing their self-imposed line, and they both said, "We need to stop," both with just about the same amount of disappointment in their voices.
Lilly giggled at how they echoed each other, making Miley giggle as well. "Lilly, stop laughing," said Miley.
"Okay, Miles," Lilly said, still giggling.
With lots of willpower, the girls were able to rein in first their laughing, then their hormones. Knowing that they were going to be able to make love tomorrow night when Robbie Ray took Jackson to a basketball game after the meeting with the record company gave them just enough strength to resist the call of something that had quickly become natural to them: the need to be part of each other, both the physical act and the emotions that went along with it. For Miley and Lilly, neither of them had ever been with anyone else, so to them there truly was no difference between having sex and making love. Each action carried the promise of love and devotion with it, making a simple touch an unspoken communication of love and friendship, a kiss a promise of fidelity and desire, and intimate contact the extension of their trust in each other. The act of making love was not just physical release but a sacred ritual for them, a way to renew their commitment and love for each other, of rededicating themselves to their union. The two young women had discovered by instinct what most others take years to discover, if indeed they ever do.
Miley rolled over in the bed, resting her head on Lilly's shoulder for a change. Lilly smiled, happy to run her fingers through Miley's slightly wet hair. "Night sweetheart," she said to Miley, who replied, "Night Lils." They then shared a soft kiss before they closed their eyes and fell fast asleep, worries forgotten for the moment.
Author's Afterword: Well, I had planned on getting a little further into the story with this chapter, but that was such a perfect place to end the chapter! Also, this chapter took a bit more out of me emotionally than I had expected. Readers, please remember that abuse is abuse, be it physical, verbal or emotional. There's no excuse for it, and no one deserves it. If you're in an abusive relationship, do everything you can to get out, or it will consume you entirely. Next update will be done as soon as I can write it; give me the typical three or four days and get ready for the showdown!
-- Jo --