Quick AN; Ive been asked why Dave is being such a… (im guessing they were going to say prick). I wont tell you now, but all ill say is that everything will become clear soon. Promise.

Coping (this chapter is from Lilly's POV);

I am going to kill him! What the hell was my cousin thinking?! He loves her! I mean, he has pictures of the two of them plastered on his walls! I stormed into the house and up to his room. As I opened the door he wasn't there, but I noticed a shoebox filled with pictures. The pictures of them… there were small dots all over the wall where he had tried to use blue tac to hold them up. I glanced around for him and noticed a few letters on his bed. I walked over curiously and saw there were 5 of them all with a note on top. I picked up the note first.

Lilly…

Im guessing that it will be you who finds this first. If you are then I am gone. Dissapeared, and most likely not coming back. You have no idea how much im hurting at the moment, and all I can tell you is to trust I have a good reason. Tell Miley im sorry for hurting her, but its for the best. You'll understand.

About the letters… they'll tell you all whats happened and why ive done what I have. But you have to promise me you wont open them for a week. By then ill either have returned or you'll never hear from me again.

Tell my aunt I love her.

Love you cous.

Dave.

So he had done that and run away?! Man I was so pissed off at him! I really wanted to open my letter, but I found I just couldn't. He wanted me to wait a week… maybe I should. It would help if I was calm… maybe. God he was so annoying! And hurting Miley like that! I don't care what his reason was! He had absolutely no right! No right at all! I slumped in his desk chair and turned on his laptop. I checked all his web pages like twitter and Facebook, but couldn't get any hint of where he was. I kept glancing at the envelope with my name, taunting me, and back at the computer. I checked site history and noticed a travel agent. I went on it and saw it was for trans america trips. It didn't say where he had gone or anything, just offering me the chance to buy tickets… I groaned, not able to think of anything else that could help.

"Lilly!" mum was calling me. I shut off the laptop and headed downstairs, the notes in my hand. I walked into the kitchen. "Whats got you so angry? And why don't you go call your cousin?" she suggested as I slumped into a chair and crossed my arms.

"He's why im so angry! He went and split up with Miley!" She looked at me bemused, which didn't help my mood, and I pouted slightly.

"Hunny, maybe they just weren't meant to be." she suggested.

"Yeah, but now hes gone off somewhere, and I have no idea where!" she had paused and I felt a sense of success at surprising her.

"He's what?" she asked in disbelief. I held out the original note and put the envelopes on the counter. "He never mentioned anything… where's that letter?!" she asked, grabbing hers and tearing it open. I felt like she was betraying him slightly, but I didn't say anything. She was paling as she read and I started to worry. She grasped the counter with one hand and the other held the letter tighter. When she started crying I got up and hugged her.

"What is it mum?" I asked her, anger faded.

"He's… He's… Oh god! Poor Dave!" she breathed, taking a seat and staring ahead blankly. I looked at her letter as best I could.

Hey aunty Truscott.

I figured you couldn't wait the week I asked. Spose when you know family you really know family. Anyway, I know your worried, so im not going to…

Before I could read anymore she tore it away and looked at me wide eyed.

"wait a week honey. Wait a week and pray." she muttered, standing absently and heading to her room. I stared curiously at my own letter, and with a bit of dread.

A week later and we hadn't had word from Dave, and every night I heard my mum crying in the next room. She would never say why and told me id understand. So I was now sat in my bedroom holding my letter tightly and trying to get the courage to open it. I stared at it for god knows how long before finally closing my eyes and opening it. I removed the paper and unfolded it, lifting it to my eyes and opening them.

Lilly…

I suppose I had better tell you just where ive gone, because if I know your mum she has spent most her time crying. I wish she wasn't so hurt, and maybe that will help you understand why I hurt miley. Just know that her current pain wont last long, compared to what could have happened.

Lilly… this is hard to say… hard to write… you know how ive been so tired lately? And im always hurting, although I don't think miley has noticed, thankfully… well I went the doctor. Check the top left draw of my wardrobe, and in my pair of Hannah Montanna socks (they were a joke present from chris. I know your trying not to laugh… or you're rolling around laughing… git.). It will explain everything. And know this.

If I come back, or you never see me again, I loved you cous. I really loved you all.

Your cousin…

P.S. Give miley the shoebox. Tell her they are my most prized possesions and to take care of them.

He hadn't signed it any apart from that, so hesitantly I went to his drawer and searched for the socks, removing them and feeling a piece of rolled up paper. I took it out and opened it and saw a very formal letter.

Mr Allen,

We are sorry to tell you this in such an impersonal manner, but we have learnt that you unfortunately have cancer. We are further saddened to have to tell you that unless surgery is performed very soon after receiving this letter there is little hope. The surgery itself has a 50 50 chance of success, and that is only if certain doctors partake in the procedure. Here is a list of the doctors and the hospitals they work at. We apologise for not being able to do more and wish you the best.

Miami state GP

Dr John Morian

He… he… Dave was… I felt my eyes welling up as I got a phone call from Miley. I ignored it and just clutched the letter tight. She called again and I picked up. "Hello?" I answered, voice wracked with sobs.

"Lilly? Whats that prat gone and done now?" she asked me. I felt my throat tighten thinking of that prat. He had done the most selfless thing.

"I think… Can you and your dad come pick me up? Dave left some things for you." I muttered.

"He left…" there was a pause. "I don't want it." she stated stubbornly.

"For gods sake, stop being such a baby and get your ass over here now!" I screamed down the phone and hung up sobbing, head in my hands. My mum came in and wrapped her arms around me and we cried together. After half an hour Miley walked through the door with mr stewart who both looked pissed off until they saw the two of us. I waved wildly towards their letters on the desk, going back to crying in my mothers arms. Why did he have to…

Robbie POV;

I watched as Miley hung up her phone and sat down with that stubborn look on her face. I couldn't help frowning. That boy had hurt her. We had all trusted him, and he had seemed such a nice boy, and then… I growled and picked up my guitar, heading onto the deck and just playing angry tunes for a while until Miley came and asked me to take her to Lillys. I grabbed my keys and drove her round, following her in in case the boy was there.

"Lilly?" miley called. There was a sound of sobbing coming from one of the rooms, and I rushed towards it, followed by Miley. We stood in the door and Lilly waved towards the desk, head buried once more in her mothers shoulder. I saw a note there for me and Jackson and lifted it.

Dear Hair god, and Jackson,

I want you to know how sorry I am for hurting Miley, but if I didn't she would never let me go. I don't expect you to forgive me for hurting her, I just want you to understand I did it to help her.

There is a very high risk I will die by the time you have read this. I broke up with her to save her, but I love her with all my heart, so look after her for me? Read the letter Lilly will probably still be holding.

Dave Allen

P.S. if miley rips up her letter I made a copy. Its under my laptop.

Die? What had that boy gotten himself into? I stormed over and practically ripped the letter out of Lilly's hands and my eyes widened as I read. Oh god… that poor boy…

Miley POV;

I hung up after calling Lilly. Was it just a family thing being rude? To prove a point I sat down for 15 minutes and finally figured it was enough and asked Daddy to take me to Lilly's. We drove in silence, I had my arms crossed, and when we reached his room I wasn't even acknowledged, merely waved over to the desk. I bristled, pissed off and snatched the letter, recognising his hand writing. I watched daddy reading a letter and then grabbing another of Lilly and reading it, but I refused to read my own. I growled as he started looking sympathetically around the room.

"I refuse to read a word that prick has written!" I growled, tearing up the letter. Mrs Truscott leapt to her feet and stormed over, stabbing a finger at my chest.

"You insensitive little bitch! My nephew is one of the most selfless people in this world! You will not treat him as such! You don't even deserve his love!" the woman screamed, bursting into sobs again. Dad came over with another letter and handed it to me with a silent look that screamed read it.

I glared and tore it open savagely, tearing the letter inside slightly, and began to read.

Miley,

If you're reading this you tore up the first letter. Sorry. I know this will sound empty, and I don't know why you would believe im not just a coward, because frankly I am. Ive run away from the thing that bothers me most. I hate to see you hurt. I lied when I broke up with you. I love you isn't enough. You are my world. You are my sky, my air, my earth, my everything. It is for that reason you will never see me again. Im guessing your dad now understands everything, and my family are crying while your dads trying not to.

I glanced up, annoyed that he was right, but my anger fading.

Miles… I suppose this letter is a goodbye. If im not back to hand it to you personally… im never coming back. Its not that I don't want to, but that I cant and never can again.

Read the letter. Your dad will know what I mean. Im not going to tell you where I've gone, im not going to tell you when I went. All im going to show you is why and tell you a little story.

When god made Adam he noticed he was lonely and took a rib to make his soul mate. Every man in the world spends his life looking for his own rib, his own eve, and I know that I have found mine… You are my rib, Miles.

Though its never going to be enough… I love you.

Dave.

I glared at Daddy and gave him a look until he handed over a letter. As I read I was more and more shocked. I backed into the wall slumping down. "No…" I muttered. It couldn't be true! It just couldn't be! Not Dave! No! He's stronger than this! He'll make it! He'll walk through that door any second! "No!" I yelled, stronger than before. I leapt up glaring. "He is not leaving me like this! Not thinking I hate him! Daddy, you have to find out where he is! I cant stand thinking he's dead! I refuse to believe he's dead! Call the hospital! Call these doctors! Call someone and get me my boyfriend back!" I screamed hysterically. I wrapped myself up in a ball and started rocking. "Get me my rib back." I muttered to myself.