Recap:
"Remember I said I had a fish named Joe and I wrote a song but wouldn't sing it?"
Joe nodded, now looking at her with curiosity.
"I-I was afraid you would find out…"
"What?"
"I-I-I am…"
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"What? You're what?" Joe asked curiously.
"I-I-I am…" Miley stuttered, her body and voice trembling violently as she stood up abruptly from the bed.
"Woah there, are you okay Mi?" Joe asked in genuine concern as he too, got up and rested his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong?"
Miley chuckled nervously. "Okay, you're never gonna believe this…" She said, brushing off his hands as she took a deep breath and walked over to the closet.
"What?" He asked unsurely, Miley's nervousness rubbing off on him. Miley took another harsh breath as the tips of her fingers delicately traced a box, labled 'HM.' "What is it Mi? You're scaring me…"
Miley closed her eyes and sighed, doubts running through her mind over and over again. 'How will he react? Will he still be my friend? Will it change our friendship? Will it change everything?'
"You have to promise you won't get mad, okay?" Miley asked, her back still towards him. Joe narrowed his brows.
"Why would I get mad?" He said with a gentle smile. "Woah, wait, y-you're not married are you?"
"No Joe, relax, I'm not married." She chuckled, grabbing the long blonde wig to cover her dark, wavy locks. Slowly and nervously, she turned to face the boy behind her. "Neither is Hannah Montana."
So many emotions ran through Joe's face and the flushed colors drained from it. Shock came first, followed by confusion. Disbelief, hurt, and a whole lot of feelings later, he finally settled on one—anger.
"HOW CAN YOU KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM ME MILEY?!" Joe yelled, pointing an accusing finger at her. He didn't know what to think. The fact that this vulnerable girl before him was the teen queen of all times, Hannah Montana, it was all too much for a guy to handle. This wasn't some fairytale where you can just turn to another person with a wig!
"Joe, you promise you wouldn't get mad!" Miley cried, tears brimming her bright blue eyes.
"Yeah? Well people say things they don't mean! What about you?! That night at the mountain, you promised we know everything about each other! What's this!?" Joe said, almost in disgust, as he marched over and ripped the wig off her head, then carelessly tossed it on his bed. "WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU!?"
"Maybe you should just forget about me! Forget this whole thing!!! Forget that we've ever met!!!" Miley screamed, tears streaming down her face as her heart ache at Joe's reaction. "I knew I shouldn't have told you! No one should even know about this!!!"
"FINE MILEY! I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU!" Joe yelled back right in her face as her hot tears dripped to the white carpet. "If Miley's even your real name!"
"Hey Joe I forgot my ja-" Lilly walked it without knocking as Joe and Miley turned to look at her. "Oh my gosh did I interrupt something?" Lilly asked worriedly, taking note of Miley's tear filled eyes.
"Nothing, I was just leaving…" Miley whimpered, heading towards the door. Just before she reached it, she reluctantly looked back. "I'll pick up all my stuff tomorrow."
"MILEY!" Joe called, but she was already going down the stairs.
"What. Did. You. Just. Do?!" Lilly asked, or more like demanded, as anger filled her voice.
"It's her fault. She kept a secret from me—the biggest secret of all times." Joe scoffed, sitting down on his bed angrily. To his surprise, Lilly walked right up to him, raised her right hand, and swung it forward.
Slap
"What the hell was that?!" Joe exclaimed, startled, as his hand went to cover the bright red spot on his cheek. Lilly had never done anything like that.
"For being a jerk! That's what! If it's a secret, be glad that she actually trusts you enough to even tell you! How can you act like such a jerk?! What happened to the caring, understanding Joseph I know?!" Lilly screeched, getting in his face, making sure her words was registered in his brain. Joe scoffed, insulted.
"Who's side are you on!? I thought you were supposed to be my friend!" Joe retorted, standing up. He was a good inch or so taller than the blonde.
"I'm also Miley's friend! She had to risk her life to save your sorry butt and then get yelled at?! She-"
"She never saved me!!"
"Who do you think pulled you over to her side and protected your incredibly tiny brain at the crash!?" Lilly screamed, pushing Joe back down on the bed.
"She what?"
"The cops found you with her arms around your head Joe…" Lilly said, her eyes softening slightly. Joe gaped at her, stammering as he tried to find the right words, and ending with him giving up. "If the secret she told you were that big, you should be happy that she trusts you so much, don't change her mind…"
Guilt sudden built up in Joe's chest as he allowed his best friend's words to sink it. Joe was speechless for a minute. It was as if time just stopped.
"L-Lilly?" He finally gathered the courage to speak.
"Yea?" She whispered softly.
"Can you do me a favor?" He asked guiltily.
"Sure." Lilly murmured, nodding as she sat next to her best friend.
"Chase after her. She's still hurt. Chase after her and bring her back here. Whatever you do please, please don't let her be alone." He begged as his eyes filled with worry and guiltiness. "Please Lilly!"
"You got it hon." She whispered, kissing Joe on the cheek, grabbed the jacket she left behind, and disappeared down the stairs, sprinting after Miley.
Joe sat there, on his bed, watching his friend's retreating back as he buried his face in his hands, and finally letting out a muffled sob.
"God I'm such an idiot!"
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"Miley? Miley where are you?!" The wind blew a little harder with the dark sky as Lilly yelled, running down the street as her blue orbs searched frantically for the injured girl. "Miley?!"
"L-Lilly?" A soft voice whimpered a few feet away. Lilly made her way through the darkness and discovered a small, shaking figure on the grass not too far away from the sidewalk. Apparently, her twisted ankle gave out on her as Miley collapsed there, tears not stopping anytime soon.
"Goodness gracious, I'm so glad you're okay!" Lilly sighed a breath of relief as she took off her jacket and wrapped it around the shaking girl. On that note, she helped Miley to her feet and swung her arms around her own shoulders. "Where are you going?"
"H-Home…" Miley whimpered, leaning her weight on her new found friend.
"Hon, Joe said-"
"Can we not talk about him right now?" Miley said, a hint of anger in her voice.
"Okay…Well, I'm not supposed leave you alone under any circumstances." Lilly said. "I promised J-him…"
"Lilly you don't understand! I have nowhere else to go!" Miley cried as Lilly's heart sank. All of a sudden, a light bulb went off.
"My house. You can stay for a few nights!" Lilly offered, and before Miley can argue, they were already there.
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"Thanks Lilly. You barely know me and you're letting me stay. I really appreciate it." Miley smiled tiredly, sitting down on the spare bed in Lilly's room, drying her hair. "And thanks for letting me borrow your jammies, they are adorable."
"Thanks!" Lilly grinned, jumping on her bed. A beat of silence.
"So uh…did he tell you anything?" Miley asked nervously. Lilly shook her head.
"Nothing…except that you told him a secret, and he didn't even tell me the secret." Miley nodded. Another beat of silence. "You know…he's not really a bad guy."
"I know." Miley murmured softly, her fingertips brushing the soft pillow. "I know…"
"I know you probably don't wanna hear this right now but…um...Joe really was worried about you."
"I doubt it." Miley scoffed slightly, hugging the pillow to her chest. Lilly sighed.
"Look, I know you don't wanna hear this but just listen to me…he was genuinely concerned. After you left, he told me to chase after you and never leave you alone no matter what." Miley closed her eyes, pretending not to listen. "Miley, he cares about you."
Miley let out a shaky breath.
"I remember one time when I was young…"
Flashback
"Mommy! Joey said I can't skate!!!" A 5 year old Lilly cried, running to her mom with a sad face.
"Well she can't because she's short!" Joe, at the age of 8, cut in. "I don't want her to skate with me and my friends!"
"Joseph, that's not nice!" Denise scolded, smiling apologetically at Heather, Lilly's mom.
"Whatever." Joe huffed and took off with his friends back to the U shaped skate ramp.
"Wait for me Joey!" Lilly cried, grabbing a skateboard and ran after Joe to the top of the skate ramp.
"Hey shorty! Get out of the way!" A kid around Joe's age yelled, stepping closer to the younger girl.
"No! I wanna skate!!!" Lilly yelled stubbornly.
"Move!" The kid yelled, harshly pushing Lilly down the ramp.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lilly screamed, falling down the ramp, instantly twisting the ankle that broke her fall.
"LILLY!!!" Joe yelled as he skated down as fast as he can, rushing to her side. "Lilly are you okay?"
"Crybaby!" The bully and his friends laughed as they approached Lilly and Joe.
"Back off!" Joe growled, standing up in front of Lilly.
"What are you gonna do?" The kid taunted.
"This." Joe calmly walked in front of him, raising a fist, he punched the kid square in the jaw.
"Mommy!!!" The bully cried as he and his friends ran off. Joe returned to Lilly and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.
"Are you hurt Lil?" Joe whispered gently as Lilly rested her head in his chest and cried. "Let me get you back." He said and picked Lilly up on his back. "Let's get you back."
Flashback ends
"-best friends since then. He was always there like I was for him." Lilly explained with a smile. Miley slowly looked up at her.
"There really is a heart of gold in there…" Miley murmured quietly as Lilly nodded.
"Yea…" Lilly sighed at the memory. "Trust me Miles, he does care, even if he shows little. He really is a good guy."
"Tell me more about…Joe." Miley pled, the sudden hunger for that knowledge was eating away at her.
"Well…as you already know, he's very musical, but he never sings his songs!"
"What do you mean?" Miley asked, confused.
"All the songs you hear are group projects with his brothers but Joe writes solo songs as well. They're more personally I guess…you know like girlfriends and feelings and family and all that." Lilly explained. "I remember one time he even wrote a song about Hannah Montana!"
"Really?" Miley's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yea! She's our favorite singer and Joe really loved her songs because they're so down to earth! When she disappeared 3 years ago, Joe was so upset that he wrote a song and I could've sworn that he even cried a little! But don't tell him I said that…"
"I won't! What was that song like?" Miley asked eagerly, fiddling with her hair.
"It's called One Day at a Time. He wrote it just before he turned 16. It goes like this…
Wednesday I came home from school
Did my homework in my room
Then I watched some TV, I still miss you
Thursday morning went online
Got to school at half past nine
Wound up in detention, I still miss you
Friday I got out of bed
Tried to smile, frowned instead
Burned some toast for breakfast, I still miss you
Saturday I turned sixteen
Never dreamt you'd act so mean
You didn't even call me, I still miss you
And when I turn ninety-four, I think I'll miss you even more
I miss you more than I did a minute ago
I'd climb a mountain just to hear your echo, you (you)
All I wanted was you
Tell me please do you think of me now and then
Cause if I never see you again
I still miss you
And I die
One day at a time
Cause I just can't seen to get you off my mind
No matter how I try, try to kill the time
Well I think that I'm just going crazy
One day at a time."
"Wow…that was amazing…" Miley awed, a soft smile playing on her lips. "He really liked Hannah huh? I mean Montana, Hannah Montana."
"You bet."
Throughout the night, Miley would listen to crazy stories of Lilly and Joe with a gentle smile on her face.
"Do you wanna go over tomorrow? Like knock some sense into that guy and make him apologize?" Lilly asked supportively. Miley looked down.
"He doesn't really have to…" Miley murmured. "Why don't we discuss this tomorrow? I'm a bit worn out."
"Oh! You're right! Sorry I forgot you just got outta hospital!" Lilly exclaimed. "Goodnight!"
Just as Lilly was about to reach out for the light, her phone started ringing as 'True Friends' started playing. Looking down at the caller ID, she turned back to Miley. "Sorry I gotta take this."
"Of course, go ahead!" Miley smiled, lying down on the soft comforter.
"I'll be right back." Lilly grinned before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. She leaned against a wall and flipped open her phone. "Joey? You feeling better?"
"Yea, did you find her?" Joe's worried voice rang through the Blackberry. "Is she okay?!"
"Oh yea! I forgot to tell you! I found her a while ago, she's fine now." Lilly explained as Joe let out a relieved breath.
"Did she say anything? Does she hate me?" Joe questioned, nervousness evident in his voice.
"I don't think so, thank me." Lilly grinned. "I totally saved your rep."
"Tell her I'm really sorry Lilly…"
"I'll bring her over tomorrow, you should directly say it to her."
"What if she doesn't want to talk to me?" Joe whimpered. "She's mad at me, I just know."
"Maybe she is, but you still have to try. I have a feeling that she'll forgive you." Lilly smiled softly. "What can't Joe Jonas do?"
Joe sighed deeply. "I guess…but can you still tell her I'm sorry?"
"Nope!" Lilly grinned. "Night Joey!" Without another, the blonde hung up on her BFF and returned to Miley. "I'm ba-"
When she entered, the light was off and Miley was heavily asleep. Lilly smiled and went to bed.
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-The Next Day-
"Miles, wake up sleepyhead! It's almost noon!" Lilly called, gently shaking her friend. Miley groaned.
"One more minute, Joe…" She mumbled unconsciously, causing Lilly's eyes to widen.
"Shmilerz!!!!" Lilly called loudly, pulling off the cover. "WAKE UP!!!"
"AHHHH! Gosh Lilly you almost gave me a heart attack!!!" Miley sat up, glaring playfully.
"Well I had to! Come on, get dressed, we're going on for lunch!" Lilly grinned, thought about whether she should tell Miley what she said about Joe but decided against it.
- 1 hr. later at McDonalds-
"So what do you wanna do today?" Lilly asked, mouth full.
"I don't really care." Miley shrugged. "I need to pick up my stuff from Jo-Jonas brother's house."
"You mean Joe."
"Same diff."
"Let's go to the beach and just relax." Lilly suggested. "Maybe take a swim? The water feels really good!"
"Sure!"
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"Lilly! Stop!!!" Miley shrieked, laughing as her friend pushed her into the cool ocean. She reached out and pulled Lilly in, both getting wet in their clothes.
"Hey! No fair!!!" Lilly pouted, then laughed as both girls started to splash each other.
When the sun was beginning to set around, the girls decided it would be a good time to leave.
"We can go to Joe's place and pick up your stuff now. You're all wet!!!" Lilly smiled, grabbing Miley's hand. Upon hearing his name, Miley's grin disappeared.
"Do I have to?" Miley whined.
"Yes. Let's go."
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Miley and Lilly arrived in front of the Jonas house, both shivering violently. Shakily, Lilly rang the door bell. Joe was at the door in a second as if he had been anticipating their arrival and had been waiting all day.
"Hey Joey! Let us in?" Lilly said through clenched teeth. Joe immediately stepped aside and relieved the girls of the cold wind outside.
"Gosh what happened? You guys are all wet and freezing!!!" Joe exclaimed, grabbing a jacket off the rack and tossed it to Lilly, who caught it graciously and swung it around herself. Taking another one, he made his way to Miley, who hadn't said a word yet, and draped it around her shoulders.
"Here, give me your arm." Joe whispered gently, putting to jacket on Miley and quickly zipped the zippers. A minute of awkward silence. "Um…do you guys want to take a shower and change?" Joe asked nervously.
"Sure." Lilly said, already making her way towards the stairs.
"Lilly your extra clothes are-"
"Yea I know." Lilly waved him off and made her way to the bathroom. Miley stood in her same position and found an interest at the soft carpet.
"Um…you can use the bathroom in my room…" Joe whispered as Miley raised her head slightly. He shifted nervously as he took a step closer. "You should go, you'll catch a cold…Mi."
Nodding ever so slightly, Miley limped upstairs and into the room she previously resided in as Joe silently watched her retreating back.
Miley sat in the bathtub, silent and deep in thought, when all of a sudden, someone knocked.
"Miley? Honey are you okay in there?" Denise asked.
"I'm fine." Miley said, loud enough for her to hear. Denise sighed heavily.
"I don't know what went down between you and Joseph but do you mind talking to him after? He hasn't been eating and he didn't seem like himself after last night." Miley sighed.
"I'll try Denise."
After showering, Miley threw on some comfortable clothes and walked out to Joe's balcony. She looked up at the starlit sky as a tear stray down her face. 'Why did things turn out this way? Why? What did I ever do to deserve this?'
The door clicked as footsteps approached. Miley kept staring up at the sky, ignoring the presence next to her.
"Mi?" Joe whispered nervously, looking at her. When Miley didn't respond, he continued. "I'm so sorry…I knew I shouldn't have done that…I-I just…I couldn't comprehend what was happening, you and Hannah…I'm really sorry…" Miley was silent for a moment.
"Did you know that you're the only person I told that secret to besides my parents?" Miley finally confessed. "No one knew, Joe. Do you know how it feels like to have you blow up at me like that? It makes me feel like I can never trust anyone!"
Looking down guiltily, Joe murmured, "I know. And I regret every word I said…and I'm so sorry, you have to believe that." He said, staring deeply into her eyes as his own welled up. Miley gasped as her hand shot up to caress his face gently.
"Don't cry! Please!" Miley begged. She had never seen a boy cry, and she didn't want to start now. "Joe, don't cry. That's my job!"
Joe chuckled, rubbing the tears away. "Can you find the heart to forgive me?"
Miley smiled softly, "Y-Yea…I think I can do that." Grinning widely, Joe sprang up and hugged Miley tightly.
"Thank you so much!!!" Miley laughed and wrapped her arms around him. "You know something?"
"What?"
"I'm actually touched that you trust me so much." Joe smiled, not letting go.
"Yea?" Miley grinned in Joe's embrace. He nodded. "Well I do."
"Why?"
"I had a feeling you were different, I knew it all along." Miley looked into his eyes. "From the first time I met you, I knew. There was something in your eyes." Joe smiled and leaned it slightly. Miley's eyes widened at the thought and closed them gently. To her surprise, he tilted her head and kissed her forehead. He pulled away, leaving Miley slightly stunned.
"Um, you know…I wrote a song last night…do you want to hear it?" Joe asked, walking to get his guitar and back.
"DUH!!!" Miley grinned, turning to him as Joe began to strum his guitar. The rhythmic music filled the air as a ballad melody was played.
"Every single words' been said,
Broke each other's hearts again,
As the starlit sky begins to shine,
We're fading fast, and we won't work this out.
No we're not, gonna work, this out tonight,
No we're not, gonna make, this right,
So I'll give, a kiss, and say goodbye.
Cuz we're not, gonna work, this out, tonight.
Well, there's no need to fight we're just wasting time, tonight
If you give it time well then maybe you'll find, we might work this out
I'm starting to see the morning light,
We've finally worked this out…"
Miley clapped excitedly. "That was so beautiful!!! Was that about us?"
"Yea…" Joe whispered, smiling as he put a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
"That was so sweet Joe! Thank you!" Miley grinned, hugging him tightly. "You have amazing songs! One Day at a Time was ama…zing…" Miley laughed nervously, trailing off.
"How do you know that…?" Joe asked with narrowed eyes, pulling her away at arm length.
"Hahahaha…" Miley chuckled, averting her eyes. "Well…you see…"
"Lilly!!!"
"Come on Joey, let's not ruin the moment." Miley grinned innocently and leaned up to kiss his cheek sweetly.
"Fine, you win." Joe laughed, pulling her back in his arms as she snuggled in deeper for warmth. "Come on, let's go in." Joe grinned, leading the way into his room with his arms still around Miley.
"I'm glad we're friends again." Miley smiled contently. "You have no idea." Joe smiled hopefully.
"I'm taking you're stay here still right?"
Hey!!! Do you like the chap? I was thinking the next chapter should actually involve Hannah and a lot more Nick and Kevin, what do you think?
