The next day, I spent it with Lucas. AGAIN. I know. But that was how we were. We couldn't handle a few days without each other. I guess we were just making up for the time we had lost while I was at Egypt. Today, we were hanging out at the town center just eating and talking. It was amazing how much time we could waste.

He had gotten his regular burger with fries as I settled for a bag of Lays, which of course reminded me of Nick, but I pushed it away to the farthest corner of my mind and focused my attention on Lucas. He had changed while I was gone too. He seemed older. I guess both of us were. As we passed by store after store, there always seemed to be SOMEONE who just HAD TO talk to Lucas. We must have stopped 13 times so he could return a simple 'hey, what's up?'

"Move on, buddy," I said as I pushed him forward. I did not have the patience for this. He smirked as we continued onto the main social hang- out of the teenage world: The Food Court. The thing was, no one came to the food court for actual food. People came here to socialize. The joint was divided by cliques. The nerds and silent kids stayed back in a dirty unnoticed corner as if they found it their job to be no one in life; the skaters in the back flipping their identical long manes of shaggy brown hair out of their eyes; the geeks who were always behind the counter serving our burgers; the drugees who hid in the back corner of the joint playing around with a variety of pills and liquors as if just waiting for their lives to end; the cheerleaders who sat in the front flipping their silk blonde hair behind their shoulder and talking about themselves and people that would get them nowhere in life; the jocks that would boast about their winnings on the field (and off the field); the wannabe's who stood in a close enough distance staring and wishing, but never doing; and in the center of all this was the height of the social hierarchy itself, the populars.

Don't get me wrong. Lucas had a lot of friends in that group, but whenever he was with me, I was always the first priority. I never really fit into any clique. Lucas was the only friend I ever needed. And when his friends ever found a reason to tease me, Lucas was always there to defend me. Honestly, I would probably be dead in high school without him.

"Lucas!" Jackson Landon, the line backer of the football team, called out. Jackson Landon was a regular high school footballer. Big, buff, beefy, and sports obsessed. He had a buzz haircut that never, and I mean NEVER, seemed to grow. His face was puffy and swollen looking half the time from the acne that magically sprouted on his face in 8th grade, and his hands and eyes always seemed to roam in the most inappropriate places. Yet somehow half this god forsaken town wanted him. I really didn't get it.

Lucas and him are friends though, so I had to deal with him ever so often. He did call me hot once, which I'm guessing was a compliment. Closest thing I would probably ever get. Lucas moved towards their table, and I followed awkwardly as if I'd be intruding. I stopped mid-stride, but Lucas started pulling me forward. "Hey, guys."

"Hey," the blonde twins called out at the same time. I was really starting to think my 'share the same brain' theory was true. "So I heard you guys saw the new Nick Grey movie. He's so hot." The turned towards each other as they started babbling on about how 'sexy' Nick had acted in a scene. I giggled wondering how Nick would have reacted to these two. From hearing my escaped giggle, they turned towards me with glares of hate.

"Actually," Lucas grinned. "Miley met Ni-"

"No one," I finished for him. I did not want Jessica and Ashley to be hanging all over me with questions about Nick. I couldn't handle it. Trying to forget him was hard enough.

"Hey," Jackson called out to whom I think he was talking to me. "Yeah. Riley. Isn't your Mom some weird digger?"

I ignored the name mistake and nodded. I didn't feel like getting into an hour- long explanation on what an archeologist was. He shrugged the question off and wrapped a greasy arm around Ashley. Jessica laughed and leaned her perfectly tanned body closer to Lucas. "Can you please get me a smoothie, Lukey?" He cringed from the nickname she had recently given him, but stood up anyway. That was Lucas, the gentleman.

"So," Jessica smirked as she leaned closer to me. "You have a little smudge on your shirt," she said as she leaned forward and knocked all of her left- over fries on my shirt. I jumped back shocked as the entire teenage population broke out into laughter.

I usually didn't care what people thought, but my stained shirt, the overwhelming sound of laughter, the feeling of embarrassment, and the realization that I'd be stuck with these people for the rest of my life broke me down. I turned around to run away, but the next thing I knew was Lucas' arms around me, leading me out of the restaurant, and bringing me back home.


I stepped into the house and it was silent. I mean, the house is usually silent, but I couldn't even hear footsteps. I finally found my mom sitting at the dining table and staring at a stack of letters. Her eyes seemed glazed as if in shock and she was biting her lips as if she were nervous.

Instinctively, I stepped up to place a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong, Mom?"

She shook her head and placed them in her hands. Finally after a few minutes, I decided to go back upstairs and let her handle whatever she was handling to herself. As I walked out the room I heard her sigh as if finally making a decision. "You got a postcard, Miles."

I opened my mouth to ask her from who, but she choked it out before I could ask. "It's from your dad." My first reaction was to run up to Mom and grab it out of her hand and read it over and over again until I had memorized it by heart, but my second reaction calmed me down and forced me to slowly take it from my mother's grasp and tiptoe back upstairs, letting my mom pull it together. The minute I was in my room, I flipped the thin postcard over and saw it had a picture of the Hollywood sign. I flipped it over to read the short message on the back.

Happy Birthday, Miles. Sorry if I'm a little late, but work has got me busy. I hope you're doing great, and I wish you luck on your college applications. I've missed you, and was wondering if you'd like to visit me and Diane sometime here in California. Just think about it.

Love,

Your- not- so- cool- Dad.

I laughed to myself and felt tears starting to break through. I wasn't sad, but it was just kind of overwhelming. His postcards were rare, and the day he finally sent one he was offering to have me visit him. His past postcards had a simple greeting and how are you doing, but it never really involved a reply. I wondered if Mom read it. Next thing I knew, my question was answered.

Suddenly I heard a soft knock on my door. My mom slowly crept in with a somber look. "Listen Miles, I know what you're thinking, but I am not letting you go to your … father's house."

I sat up shocked. "But he INVITED me, Mom."

She shook her head. "Yes, and I don't know why. He knows the custody agreement. I have FULL custody. He can't just take you."

"Unless I want to!" I raised my voice. Why wouldn't she let me go? It was my choice wasn't it? She wasn't the only one who lost someone when he decided to leave us. I lost a father too. She might have trouble forgiving and forgetting, but I wasn't going to push away my own Dad just for a stupid grudge.

"Miley. You will do as I say. You are not going to visit your father. End of story." She stood up to exit the room, but I screamed out after her.

"I'm 18 now. I can do the damn hell whatever I want to do."

Mom's head snapped back as she bit her lip to control herself. "Miley Ray Stewart, you are staying. I refuse to hand you off to that man!" she finally screamed out. She stepped back as if surprised by her own words, and before she could say anything else she slipped out of the room, but I knew the fight wasn't over. Upset, I threw myself on the bed waiting for the tears to come, but nothing happened. I just lay there wishing I had Nick to turn too. I could almost feel his arms around me, his voice whispering my name, his hand stroking my hair. I missed him.

As if on impulse, I stood up and opened my window. I carefully made myself out and onto the roof. I laid myself down on a clear spot and looked up to face the stars above me. It was nothing like the secret passage back in Egypt, but it was enough. I didn't even feel any fear from the height. I just felt comfort. At that moment I closed my eyes and just let my mind wander away; somewhere that was a lot farther than the rooftop I was lying on; somewhere where I could just forget.


The next day I was in Lucas' room, lying down on his unmade bed as he rambled on about his college plans. We hadn't spoken about the other day. Either he knew I didn't want to, or he was too embarrassed to bring it up. Whatever the reason was, I was grateful.

"And I was planning on taking football up to 4th year and move onto professional," he continued. Honestly, I wasn't even listening. My mind always seemed to drone out whenever he was in a sports mode. Kind of like how he does when I talk about my art.

"By the way, when did you get that camera?" he asked as he nudged his head to the camera that I was holding on my lap.

"Birthday."

"Right," he nodded. "Well, I found the perfect present for you."

Suddenly memories of Nick's own unique gift broke through my mental barriers. The rush that I felt when I had jumped was almost unforgettable. "Kinda late don't you think?" I joked as I sat up.

"Nah. Better late than never." He rummaged around his drawer until he came out with an envelope. Well, he sure wasn't going to give me skydiving lessons. "Remember when I said I had to go to UCLA for a campus tour and orientation?"

I nodded not understanding what he was leading too. "Well, Happy Birthday." He handed me the envelope grinning in anticipation. I opened the envelope slowly just to tease him and found a plane ticket inside. "So. Do you want to come with me or not?"

That moment, time seemed to freeze. All the broken pieces in my mind seemed to piece together. LA. I'd spend my final weeks with Lucas, I'd get to meet my Dad, and who knows. Maybe I'd cross paths with Nick. Nick… The realization that I would see him again quickened my heart beat. I smiled as I leaned forward and hugged Lucas. I held the ticket tighter in my palm as if scared it would disappear beneath my fingertips. It almost felt like a dream.

Here, in my hand, was my escape.

IM's

SmileyMiley15: Hey…

xLukeTillx: What's wrong?

SmileyMiley15: How did you know?

xLukeTillx: I've known you for years. We've IM'd for years. I know when you mean 'hey' and 'hey…'

SmileyMiley15: Creeper. :P

xLukeTillx: Now what's wrong?

SmileyMiley15: Nothing really. Just wondering about the trip.

xLukeTillx: What's there to think about?

SmileyMiley15: I don't think Mom will let me.

xLukeTillx: Why not? She trusts me.

SmileyMiley15: Dad.

xLukeTillx: Right. Well, you're 18 right? You can technically do whatever you want.

SmileyMiley15: But I h8 seeing her upset. Especially now, She's doing that silent, no tears thing again.

xLukeTillx: Cause she cares. Probably worried about your Dad hurting you too.

xLukeTillx: She's protecting you from feeling like how she felt when he left.

SmileyMiley15: … Wow. You really are the women expert.

xLukeTillx: ;) Told you.

xLukeTillx: Plus you have to go. It's going to be one of the last times we hang out before I leave for college.

SmileyMiley15: You had to say it.

xLukeTillx: What?

SmileyMiley15: Why did you have to remind me? You're leaving me.

xLucasTillx: You make it sound like I'm a bad person.

SmileyMiley15: I'm not the one leaving YOU behind.

xLucasTillx: C'mon, Miles. You know how much I wanted to leave. I really hoped that you'd go to college in Cali with me. And I'm not leaving for good.

xLukeTillx: Think of it like a vacation.

SmileyMiley15: A 4 year long vacation…

xLukeTillx: I'll visit EVERY summer. EVERY winter break. EVERY spring break.

xLukeTillx: Hell, just call on a boring weekend, and I'll fly in. ;)

SmileyMiley15: That's what Dad said too.

xLukeTillx: Well, I mean it.

SmileyMiley15: You know I love you right?

xLukeTillx: Yeah. I know.

xLukeTillx: And I love you too, Miles. High school would have impossible without you. I hate this town.

SmileyMiley15: I know. Remember? We talked about BOTH getting away.

xLukeTillx: Not this again. I'm sorry Miles. I'll miss you, but that's why I want to spend the rest of summer together.

SmileyMiley15: I'm sorry. I'm just kind of moody today I guess.

xLukeTillx: CRAP. Jessica just signed online. Damn. Gotta get off.

xLukeTillx: I CANNOT handle another conversation about how 'shiny' I think her hair is.

SmileyMiley15: Hahahaa. Gotta love her confidence.

xLukeTillx: Right. Well, I have to go. Night, Miles. Don't forget to pack socks! Let's not re- live certain memories.

SmileyMiley15: Shut up That was ONE time.

xLukeTillx: Smelled like forever to me.

SmileyMiley15: Shut up.

xLukeTillx: Okay okay. I'm shut up. Bye. ;)

SmileyMiley15: You still owe me that smoothie!!!

xLukeTillx: Good luck with that.

xLukeTillx: -offline-

A new chat window suddenly appeared off the corner of the screen. It was Jessica.

Ux3Jesse: Hello?

SmileyMiley15: … Are you lost?

Ux3Jesse: Great! Miley! I was looking for you.

SmileyMiley15: Listen, I got to go.

Ux3Jesse: no you don't. I might let Lucas do it but i'm not getting blown off by u.

Wow. She was smarter than I thought.

SmileyMiley15: What do you want?

Ux3Jesse: does Lucas like me

SmileyMiley15: Do you want me to be completely honest? Or to suck- up.

Ux3Jesse: I don't know. Just answer the question.

SmileyMiley15: No.

Ux3Jesse: But I'm JESSICA. Doesn't he think I'm hot?

SmileyMiley15: I guess.

Ux3Jesse: .. but he doesn't like me?

SmileyMiley15: NO.

Ux3Jesse: . so he thinks I'm hot but he doesn't like me?

SmileyMiley15: Yay. You got it!

Ux3Jesse; but that doesn't make any sense

SmileyMiley15: Can I ask you something.

Ux3Jesse: .maybe

SmileyMiley15: Why do you like Lucas? You don't even really know him?

Ux3Jesse: Because he's hot , the quarterback, class president, popular, model- body.

SmileyMiley15: But you don't know him.

Ux3Jesse: helloo. we've all known eachother since kindergarten. of course I know him!

SmileyMiley15: Listen. What you just named about him is what he HAS. Not who he IS.

Ux3Jesse: that makes no sense.

SmileyMiley15: Just think about it. I really have to go.

Ux3Jesse: wait. i have a ? !

SmileyMiley15: What?

Ux3Jesse: do you love him? Lucas?

SmileyMiley15: Yeah. I guess. I've known him since birth.

Ux3Jesse: but your not going out…

SmileyMiley15: There's more than one kind of love. Ours is just friendship.

Ux3Jesse: Can I change my answer from before?

SmileyMiley15: What?

Ux3Jesse: I think I love Lucas because of the way his eyes light up when he talks about something he loves, the way he plays with his bangs when he's nervous, the way he always seems to be nice to me despite how mean I am to you.

My hands stopped, and I froze in front of the screen. I couldn't imagine Jessica actually having FEELINGS for him. I always thought it was some high- school crush that she would get over. I thought she was only in love with Lucas; the perfect son, football player, etc. Not Lucas; the guy who secretly plays guitar in his bedroom, the one who loves leaving pennies on the ground to give someone else luck, the one who loves to make people laugh. I suddenly realized that Jessica might have actually grown feeling for him, and at that moment I felt sorry for her. From as far as I know, Lucas showed NO interest at all in her. Sometimes he even criticized her. This conversation was probably the most real I had ever heard her sound. It reminded me of Selena Jansen and those rare moments of vulnerability and imperfection. She had finally shown the scars under her mask.

Ux3Jesse: I'm sorry about the drink thing.

SmileyMiley15: It's fine.

Ux3Jesse: He doesn't love me back, does he?

SmileyMiley15: I don't know…

Ux3Jesse: It's fine. It's always been that way, I guess.

Ux3Jesse: So, I heard you're leaving with him to LA.

SmileyMiley15: Hopefully.

Ux3Jesse: Why hopefully? Aren't his mom and your mom like best friends?

SmileyMiley15: Family problems.

Ux3Jesse: I get it.

What most people didn't know about Jessica was that her mom and dad didn't sleep in the same room anymore. (Aside from the fact that her father was never home). He was an important official in Congress and always seemed to find work more important that family. People would congratulate and tell Jessica how 'lucky' she was to have a father like that; someone who would change the world, but I could see the denial in her eyes. That was one of the only things I had in common with Jessica Fisher. She knew about my messed up family too. That day my dad left, news seemed to have spread, and that day in 3nd grade, Jessica sat next to me and shared her lunch. PB&J. I still remember.

Ux3Jesse: well I have to go

SmileyMiley15: Me too.

Ux3Jesse: Can you please not tell any1 about this?

SmileyMiley15: I guess not.

Ux3Jesse: Thanks. Xoxo.

SmileyMiley15: xoxo?

Ux3Jesse: It's hugs and kisses, duh.

SmileyMiley15: ????????

Ux3Jesse: never mind.

Ux3Jesse: -offline-

SmileyMiley15: -offline-

I went to sleep that night wondering how much people could really hide behind a pair of $200 manicured nails, long waves of perfect hair, and big white fake glossed smiles.


A/N: Very long chapter. I know. I wanted to get some of the character relationships out. Just wondering. Who's your favorite character so far? Favorite chapter/part? :) And don't forget I love REVIEWS! or at least replies on twitter if you don't have a FF account. :)

And like I said last chapter... be patient. You got part of the answer you guys wanted in this chapter. ;)