Chapter 12: Struck

(Two days later – Wednesday)

"Okay, so this one is definitely a specialty of mine!" Lilly called down to Miley from atop the half pipe.

"Let's see it!" Miley called back.

Lilly hopped on her skateboard and flew down the ramp. She sped up the other side and soared skyward. She caught the very edge of the ledge with one hand, bringing her legs, along with her skateboard, above her head. Then, she swung her legs around and jumped back on her skateboard, straightening her body as she flew back down the ramp. When she reached the other ledge, she stuck a perfect landing, a glorious smile shining on her face.

"Whoo!" Miley cheered, clapping. "That's my girl! Lilly, you rock!"

Lilly giggled as she coasted down the ramp and hopped off her skateboard, joining Miley on the pavement.

"Thanks, Miley", she said. "I really wanted to show you that one. I finally got it down!"

Miley smiled at her, unable to ignore the reflex. "I'm tellin' ya, Lilly. You got X-Games written all over you!" She ran her fingers through the silky blonde hair that framed Lilly's adorable face. She did it a bit too slow to be considered merely "friendly", but Lilly didn't buy into it.

"Well, I don't know about that…" Lilly said comically. "Maybe if I live that long." She pointed out the bandaged "flesh wound" (as she had dramatically deemed it) that she got earlier that day on her arm.

Miley felt like she'd been punched right in the gut, and her face sure showed it.

"Miley, what's wrong?" Lilly asked, her joking smile vanishing.

"Uhh…" Miley stammered. The pain subsided as Lilly searched her eyes. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just uh… just a cramp."

"Ooh", Lilly said, narrowing her eyes and frowning. "Hate those."

"Yeah", Miley said. Sure as hell didn't see that coming, she thought. "But it's fine. Gone now."

Lilly nodded, her smile returning, but not quite the whole way. She took off her helmet. "Anyways, we can leave if you're bored, Miley. I know you don't really like hanging out here very much."

"Oh, no", Miley said reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, Lils. I don't mind it here at all. And we couldn't hang out at all yesterday 'cause Hannah had to star in that commercial that her father totally sprung on her just yesterday with barely any notice!" She crossed her arms, letting out an annoyed moan.

Lilly rolled her eyes, a huge smile on her lips. "Are you sure? Normally you'd be complaining by now."

"Well, normally I'd have been bumped, hit, or run over by now. But look around. This place is dead." Her stomach lurched a little. She just couldn't tolerate that word today.

"Yeah, you got a point", Lilly said. "It's pretty cloudy today. Oh, and that new indoor skate park down the street is really emptying this place out."

"Well, that's good for you, right?" Miley said. "Gives you more space to soar!" She held out her arms at her sides, pretending to ride the wind.

"Yeah, I guess", Lilly said with a giggle. Even so, her tone was a bit forlorn. "Most of my friends I skate with here have ditched me. The emptiness of this place sort of reminds me of that. Guess I'm a loner now."

"Hey, just because you don't have anybody to skate with doesn't mean you're a loner", Miley said. "You've got me. And I'd gladly hop on a scooter and make a fool of myself to keep up with you. Well, try to keep up with you anyway."

Lilly looked into her eyes, the corners of her lips pulling into a soft smile. She slipped her arms under Miley's and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Now it's my turn to hug you", Lilly said cutely.

Miley didn't quite expect the burst of bliss that shot through her when Lilly threw herself into her arms. Her heart fluttered and leaped, thudding like crazy. She fervently returned the embrace. A tingle of pleasure shot down her spine when she felt the tiny wisps of Lilly's breath sweeping over her neck. She felt like she was falling, no, definitely not falling. Floating.

A sudden rumble of thunder disturbed the quiet and rattled through the ground beneath their feet.

Lilly let out a little "Whoa" of surprise, pulling back in response to the disruption.

Miley honestly wanted to growl. Dammit, she thought, wanting so badly for the unfinished moment to go on.

She caught a glimpse of the red rushing to Lilly's cheeks before Lilly turned to hide her face. "Storm's coming", she said blankly.

Miley sighed. "Thanks for that report, Captain Obvious", she said admiringly. Her smile returned; there was just no way she couldn't smile around Lilly.

Lilly waited a long moment, pretending to be interested in the sullen gray sky. She turned back to Miley, her expression hard to read.

Miley suddenly wished she could just read her mind. Could she be feeling what I'm feeling? Miley thought. What is it I'm feeling? A little voice in the back of her mind screamed the answer. Shut up! Shut up! She almost said out loud.

"Maybe we should head back", Miley said, trying to focus on the matter at hand. "Wouldn't want to get struck by lightning or anything."

Lilly looked up at the foreboding clouds again. "Yeah, let's go. What's with all these storms lately anyway?"

They quickly stared toward home. Lilly just carried her helmet and skateboard, obviously not wanting to leave Miley in the dust. That act alone was enough to make Miley grin the whole way back. They were almost to their neighborhood when rain started trickling down.

"Aww, man", Lilly said. "We'd better hurry!" She started running. "C'mon, Miley!"

"Oh, geez, Lilly!" Miley said, speeding up. "Slow down!"

"Oh, come on", Lilly said eagerly. Her smile turned impish. "Just because I can outrun you doesn't mean you can't put up a fight!"

"Lilly!" Miley whined.

"Miley!" Lilly whined right back.

With a heavy sigh, Miley took off after her, knowing she'd be beaten. As if to just make her mad, the rain started coming down in buckets.

"Oh, great", Miley said. She hopelessly tried to keep her hair from getting soaked. She began sprinting through the rain, glad to see her house in sight. Almost there, she thought, the chilly rain dripping down her face.

When she had practically made it, she tripped in a pothole, splashing face first into a puddle. She groaned in aggravation and raised her head, catching sight of Lilly. A bout of laughter bubbled out of her as she fell to her knees on Miley's front porch.

Miley practically crawled the rest of the way up her soaked walkway. When she reached the top step of the front porch she stood up. She looked down at her best friend.

Lilly was doubled over in laughter. Her skateboard and helmet had flown out of her hands and she was laying on her back, unable to control the bursts of giggles that took over her.

Miley towered over her, angry that she wasn't wet at all.

Lilly gazed up at her, tears in her eyes. "Aaaah haa haa! Miley! Oh my g… haa haa! You're s… so funny! Haa HAA!" She couldn't stop.

Miley bared her teeth, playful anger smoldering on her face. She realized she probably looked like hell standing there, dripping all over the porch.

Lilly was trying to catch her breath and steady herself long enough to stand up.

Miley gave her a little growl, the reflexive smile beginning to return. She silently offered Lilly her hand.

Lilly, still giggling, took it and tried to get up.

Miley pulled her up halfway, then shook her soaked head as vigorously as she could, right in Lilly's face.

Lilly recoiled. "Gaa!" she said, rubbing her eyes. "Miley!"

Miley grinned smugly, her tongue poking between her teeth, eyeing Lilly with a sly gaze.

Lilly pushed out her bottom lip and pretended to be on the verge of tears.

Miley's expression softened. She slipped her hands into Lilly's, inching closer to her.

Lilly's lips trembled a little. Her cheeks flushed bright red all over again, but this time, she didn't try to hide it at all. Everything, excluding the constant trickling of the rain, seemed to fall silent around them. The lightning had ceased, silencing the din of the thunder.

Miley held onto Lilly's hand and pulled her out into the falling rain. At first, she thought Lilly would object to it, but she had actually given in, letting the rain soak her to the bone.

Miley felt a rush of playful energy. She took off, heading for the beach behind her house. "C'mon, Lilly! Bet I can beat you this time!"

Lilly was frozen in place for a minute, but soon recognized the challenge and began running.

Miley flew across the corner of the house and made a beeline for the beach. I know I've got her beat this time, Miley thought with exhilaration. She rubbed the raindrops from her brow as she bolted past the back deck. Nearly there, she leaped off a rock overlooking the shoreline and landed on the sand. With a victorious laugh, she looked back toward the house, waiting for Lilly to catch up.

"Yoo hoo! Miley!" Lilly said from behind her.

Miley whipped her body around and found Lilly already there. Once again, she'd been beaten.

"What!?" Miley said, throwing her arms up in amazement. "How'd you get here before me?"

"Oh, that was easy", Lilly said. "I just hopped over the house."

"Yeah", Miley said. "Not convinced."

Lilly laughed. "I just went the other way around the house." She shook her head energetically, sprinkling Miley's already wet face. "Seriously, Miley. You're getting easier and easier to mess with."

Miley's mouth just hung open. She knew she shouldn't be surprised. And the reflex to smile won out over her chagrin.

"And the award for beating Miley and making her feel like a total idiot over one million times goes to Lilly Truscott!" Miley said.

"Oooh!" Lilly said, clapping. "What's my prize?"

"The chance to do it all over again and make Miley feel like ten times the idiot she already is."

Lilly grinned and gave Miley a quick, wet hug. But when she decided to pull away, she stopped halfway. Miley looked at her closely. Her hair was dripping wet. Her eyelashes trapped tiny beads of moisture above her mesmerizing, newly fey eyes. Her wet lips were slightly parted, still turned up at the corners; the beginning of another smile. Her cheeks, still pink, were streaked with fallen raindrops.

So beautiful, Miley thought. She was rooted to the spot. All the sudden, she noticed the way Lilly's wet clothes clung to her body. Something struck her. Oh my God, Miley thought, her body starting to tingle. She knew exactly what that feeling was that struck her; she just couldn't wrap her head around it. Miley ghosted closer, pressing her wet body against Lilly's.

Lilly trembled a little when Miley put her arms on her shoulders and crossed them behind her neck. Her breathing quickened considerably when Miley caressed the back of her neck.

What are you doing? Miley thought. The feeling kept resurfacing, over and over, and she couldn't deny it, not one bit. It was desire. It about overpowered her when it struck again. She nestled her head down into Lilly's wet neck and breathed her in. She moaned ever so quietly, but she knew Lilly heard it. Lilly trembled against her.

Miley couldn't really read the signal without having her doubts. Was Lilly freaked out but too considerate to tell me to stop? Was she confused or afraid? Or, was she full of desire too? Those questions buzzed through her mind as her lips drew closer to Lilly's skin.

Not knowing what Lilly felt, Miley paused. She closed her eyes, trying to think, but she just couldn't. Her lips were already brushing over Lilly's jaw line.

Lilly was frozen.

Miley felt her every thought melt away, replaced by pure emotion. She slowly kissed Lilly's cheek and down her jaw, lingering for a while at her neck; four kisses total.

She cautiously pulled away, afraid Lilly would be angry or scared.

But she wasn't.

A long silence followed. The trickle of the rain had vanished, replaced by the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.

"Lilly", Miley half-whispered.

Lilly stared at her wordlessly.

Miley held her gaze. "Do you… want to have a movie night? Tonight?"

Lilly opened her mouth to say something, but all she ended up doing was nodding.

They let go of each other and headed for their houses; opposite directions along the coastline. They both looked back at each other twice.

At the same time.