Hey everyone! Wow, I just started school three days ago and I'm already swamped with homework. Most from my first science class I have to take this semester. It's only a month long, so there's like a boatload of stuff I have to do in that short amount of time...crazy! So yea, if I don't update so much...blame science, lol. Anyways, here's the next chapter and thanks for all the great reviews for the other chapter. Hopefully this chapter's better though, lol. Enjoy!!
Chapter 11- Missing You
(Normal POV)
Lilly stared out of her window as the raindrops softly hit up against it. It had been a few days since the whole 'beach' incident, and according to Oliver, Jackson was heading back for college today. Oliver also told her that it was really affecting Miley; making her feel more depressed than before. This meant that once Monday rolled around, Miley would be heading back to school as well. With a heavy sigh, Lilly took out her cell phone to give Oliver a call.
"Smokin' Oken speaking. What's up?" he answered.
"Hey, Oliver…" she sadly greeted.
"Oh, Lilly, hey…How are you feeling?" he asked with concern.
"I-I don't know. Um…" she sighed once again, "How…How's Miley doing?"
"You suddenly care?" Oliver asked with a hint of rudeness in his voice.
"Oliver…" she closed her eyes. "Please just tell me…"
"Well, she's completely miserable. Jackson said Miley's been locked up in her room, with her guitar, most of the week writing an extremely depressing song."
Lilly bit her bottom lip, eyes still closed. She could feel her tears start to leak through her tightly closed eyelids. "…I really miss her, Ollie…" she whispered; voice hoarse.
"Then talk to her…Just say something that will give her some kind of hope that things will eventually be okay."
"What if they won't be? I've said so many things to her that I didn't mean to say…" she wiped away a stray tear that started trickling down her cheek.
"Tell her that, not me. Just go talk to her…" he tried reasoning with her.
"I'll try, okay?" her voice cracked from trying not to burst into tears over the phone.
"That's all I ask. Sorry to cut this short, but I've gotta get going. Cheer up, okay?"
"Fine…" she deadpanned, and then flipped her phone shut. Her attention turned back to the world in front of her. The rain had stopped, leaving everything damp and mucky; the sky still darkened from the light storm. With a sigh, Lilly walked over to her bed and curled up underneath the covers, spending some time thinking of whether or not she would get the nerve to go talk to Miley.
Meanwhile—
It was late afternoon when Jackson packed up the last of his luggage into his car, with his father and sister in the driveway with him. He turned around to face his loving family, "Well…I guess I should get going."
Robbie Ray sighed as he gave his son a hug goodbye, "It was great having you around again, son."
"I'll be back before you know it," he smiled. Then, Jackson turned to Miley, opening his arms for a hug from his little sister.
Tears rolled down Miley's face as she embraced her older brother in a hug. "I don't want you to go," she whispered to him.
"I know. I wish I could stay," he pulled back to look at her. "But, I'm sure things with Lilly will get better…and Oliver will always be there for you too."
"I know," she sighed, "I'm just scared."
"Don't be; I'll call you when I have time to, okay? I worry about you, sis," he smiled warmly.
Miley managed to give him a small smile in return, "I'll be okay."
"That's my little sis," he grinned. Then, he pulled her into one more hug before he jumped into the driver's seat of his car. He started the engine, back up slowly, waved goodbye, and finally drove off down the road.
Robbie placed his left hand on his daughter's shoulder, "You gonna be alright, bud?" he asked.
"I don't know…" she looked up at her father. "It was just so convenient having him home when things started falling apart."
"Jackson's right though," he started as they both headed back inside, "things will get better."
"Let's not get my hopes up here. But, um…I'm going upstairs, 'kay?" she walked towards the stairway.
"Alright," Robbie worried. "I'll call ya down when supper's ready."
"Okay," she called out from the top of the stairs. Then, she got into her room, shut the door, and went straight to work on her new song.
An hour or so later, Robbie Ray was seated on the couch watching a Tennessee football game, missing his son a lot at the moment, when he heard a soft knock at the door. He slowly got up, keeping his eyes on the TV for a few seconds longer, and then opened the door; shocked to see who it was. "…Lilly?" he asked in confusion.
Lilly, with her hands buried into the pocket of her black hooded sweatshirt, sadly looked up at the tall man who stood in front of her. "C-Can I talk to Miley…?" she croaked out; eyes still red from crying.
"Yea, she's um…she's upstairs," he pointed towards the stairs, still confused about Lilly showing up voluntarily.
Nodding, Lilly slowly walked upstairs to Miley's room. She stood outside the door thinking of exactly what to say to her. Taking in a shaky breath, she creaked the door open to find Miley sound asleep with her guitar in hand. She quietly walked over and sat down next to her on the bed, "Miley?" she whispered. When she didn't get a response, Lilly carefully took the guitar from Miley's hand and set it down on the floor. "Miley?" she tried again, running her hand through Miley's soft, brown hair.
Miley groaned, rolling on top of her notebook, "Five more minutes…" she mumbled in her sleep.
Lilly's eyes averted from Miley to her notebook. Curiosity got the best of her and she carefully wedged the object from beneath the gorgeous brunette. She looked at the opened page; the words instantly grabbing her attention—
'I remember when we kissed. I still feel it on my lips. The time that you danced with me, with no music playin'. I remember those simple things. I remember 'till I cry. But the one thing I wish I'd forget; the memory I wanna forget…Is goodbye.'
Tears leaked from Lilly's eyes as she slowly set the notebook down on her lap. Miley's written words went straight to her heart and that's when she figured out a better way to talk to her. She tore out a blank page from the notebook, picked up the pencil that lie on Miley's bed, and quickly copied down Miley's short poem. When she finished, she folded up her copy, stuffed it into her back pocket, and put the notebook back next to Miley. Lilly then took a moment to study the girl she knew she still loved with all her heart. She couldn't help but adore the way she looked while she was asleep. Without thinking, Lilly leaned down and placed a quick, gentle kiss upon Miley's soft lips. Her own lips found their way next to Miley's ear, "I love you…" she whispered, "I always have…" Without another word, Lilly stood; leaving the room without making a sound.
Robbie looked over at Lilly when she came down the stairs and into the living room, "That was quick. Are things alright?"
"She was asleep…I didn't want to wake her up," her eyes scanned the room to avoid making any kind of eye contact with the man.
"Want me to tell her you stopped by?" he smiled kindly.
"I was thinking about calling her later. So, um…I'm gonna get going," she walked over towards the door to leave.
"Sounds good," he nodded. "Oh, and Lilly?" When she turned to face him, he gave her another smile, "Thanks for dropping by."
"No problem…" she managed to give him a small smile in return, and closed the door behind her.
Hours later, Miley woke up to find that it was six-thirty-six in the evening. She buried her face into her pillow, letting out an annoyed moan. Miley eventually got to her feet and made her way downstairs in search of food. She was definitely hungry.
"Hey, Mile," Robbie smiled, "I was just about to head up there to wake ya up. Supper's just about done."
Miley sat at the table, "What's for supper?" she dully asked.
"Steaks," he placed them on a serving plate and set them on the kitchen table, taking his seat across from his daughter.
Miley poked at her food while her father started eating right away. She couldn't stop thinking about the dream she had…it seemed too real, and it was really starting to get to her. "Daddy?" she asked. "Have you ever had a dream that felt like it actually happened?"
"Sure have," he answered after swallowing a bite of steak. "Why do you ask?"
"I had a dream that Lilly showed up…and she kissed me and told me she still loved me. The kiss seemed real though…like I could actually feel it…" she set her fork down with a sad sigh.
Robbie Ray tried his best to hide his smile, "Maybe that's because you know it's true that she still loves you, or that things will actually end up okay like I said."
"Daddy, again…no need to try to get my hopes up," she frowned.
"I'm just sayin'," he smirked, and then the two ate the rest of their meal in silence.
(Miley's POV)
After supper, I once again went straight to my room. I just wasn't in the mood to do anything at all these days, and I knew it worried my Dad, but I just couldn't help it. I miss Lilly too much and it's driving me crazy. It's been a few days since I've last seen her…
I reach my hand over to my iPod alarm clock stereo to turn it on; hoping that it will distract me from thinking about Lilly. With my luck though, the first song that starts playing was mine and Lilly's favorite… 'Sirens' by Angels and Airwaves. Tears instantly make their way down my face as memories flashed through my mind, and I softly sing along to the chorus. Everything reminded me of her…Everything.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to talk to her. I quickly sat up, picking up my cell phone, and scrolled down 'till I found Lilly's number. My sudden confidence fades once I realize what I was about to do. What would I even say to her? What would she say? My hand gripped my phone tightly as I shut it and flopped backwards onto my bed again. Calling her would be a huge waste of time and I knew it.
Suddenly, my cell phone blares out a ring-tone, causing me to jump and yelp out in surprise. Once I realize the ring-tone playing belongs to Lilly for when she calls, I swear my heart leaped into my throat. It rings a few more times and all I can do is stare at it. Yes, I know I'm a coward… "H-Hello?" my voice shakes.
"Miley…" she sounds so quiet, so alone, and it breaks my heart all over again. I'm about to respond, but what she says next completely catches me off guard. "…I remember when we kissed…I still feel it on my lips…The time that you danced with me, with no music playing…I remember those simple things…I remember 'till I cry…and the one thing I wish you'd forget…is saying goodbye…"
There's a moment of silence where I spend taking in everything she said. All those words that I have written, she just repeated to me. It confuses me... I can hear her crying softly on the other end and I can't help but cry myself. "Lilly…" I choke out. It's all I can really say because I'm a tad speechless at the moment.
"Miley, I-I'm sorry," she cries. "I didn't mean all those horrible things I said to you. I was j-just mad, I'm sorry…I wish I never said goodbye to you…"
"No, Lilly," I interrupt, "you shouldn't be the one apologizing..."
"Yes, I should…I'm still upset about what happened, but I need you…"
"And I need you… I'm sorry about what happened…" we're both crying pretty hard at this point in the conversation, but I'm still feeling slightly happier.
"I know…I forgive you, but…but I still need more time…I don't know what to do, Miles…"
A tearful smile finds its way onto my face at the sound of her saying my nickname, "I-I understand…"
She's silent, so I assume she's thinking things through. I'm just so thankful she's forgiven me. What I did was completely stupid and I do understand if she wants more time to heal. "Miles," she interrupts my thoughts.
"Y-Yea?" I hesitantly respond.
"I love you…" she says those words so strongly, with so much meaning, and they shoot straight into my heart; swelling it up with so much emotion. Joyful tears escape me for the first time since all this drama had started.
"I love you, too…" I wipe my eyes with my index finger; a smile growing across my lips.
I don't even have to see her to know she's got somewhat of a smile of her own, "Goodnight, Miles…"
"Goodnight, Lilly…" The line goes dead after a few seconds and I slowly snap my phone shut. I realize that what had happened wasn't a dream; she really did call me. Things were really going to be okay.
I sigh in relief as I pick up my pencil and notebook. Once the lead hits the paper, the words just worked themselves out onto the page. This was the song that would hopefully pull things back together between Lilly and I. All I had to do was beg my Dad to let me sing it at my next concert, and pray that Lilly would go to hear it.
Well? Did you like it? I personally like it. I do apologize if the previous chapter wasn't too great. I was dealing with something when I wrote it and it was difficult to really think of much. But, hopefully this chapter makes up for it. I worked harder on this one. Well, anywho, I'll try to update "This Is The Life" as soon as I can. It will be difficult with all this science crap I have to do, but I'll do my best. And believe me, I'm dying to write it, cos it's obviously an important chapter. Plus, I know you're all dying for it too, lol. Wish me luck on my science work :-) lol. Thanks for reading, and all of your reviews are awesome. Thanks so much!!
