A/N: Ok I'm done teasing you guys. Like I said these chapters make take a while due to my smushed fingers but I promise you they will be longer =]

Thanks for the reviews; I can't believe this story has 60 now. You lot are ace!

R & R my lovelies

Disclaimer: I don't own Hannah Montana much to my dismay and the song is 'like a knife' by Secondhand Serenade.

Fate

Lilly swore loudly as she burnt herself on the frying pan trying to tip scrambled eggs onto a plate. She grabbed a tea towel and wrapped it around her hand as she tried again, this time with fewer obscenities. The toast shot out of the toaster and she quickly lent over to grab it, putting the empty frying pan into the sink as she went. The edge of her tea towel caught alight on the stove. She didn't notice until her hand got a little too warm.

"AH CRAP!" She sprang towards the sink and stuck her now flaming hand under the cold flow of water. It hissed menacingly and Lilly let out a sigh of relief. A giggle made her spin around, splashing water down herself.

"Morning Lils." Miley smiled at her cheerfully as she lent against the doorway.

"Um morning, how long have you been there?" The blonde unwrapped her hand, which was fine much to her surprise, and threw the blackened tea towel into the bin.

"A while… I never knew makin' breakfast could be so dangerous." She giggled again as Lilly blushed and glared at her.

"Yeah well, I'm never that awake in the morning. You know that." Lilly placed the still steaming plates of scrambled eggs on toast on the table and gestured for Miley to sit down. She did so and Lilly took a few seconds to marvel at her friend. How could she look so unruffled after falling asleep with her on the couch after hours of talking?

"Thanks, I could eat a cow." The brunette started to eat and raised her eyebrows in surprise as she swallowed. "Wow these eggs are amazin', when did ya learn to cook?"

"University, living on your own makes you learn things pretty quickly. Glad you like them." Lilly ate too, only getting up to pour them both a glass of orange juice.

"How was university? I bet ya loved it."

"Oh Miles it was amazing! I mean the course was hard at first but I really got into it. The nightlife wasn't too bad either." She shot Miley a cheeky grin and she laughed.

"I guess it did ya good to get away from Malibu." Miley gave her a small smile.

"Yeah, I guess I just needed a chance to make it on my own. Get away from my mother. I haven't seen her in three years, she moved to San Francisco with her boss."

"I'm sorry Lil, I know ya never really got on. Did ya ever want to go see her?"

"No, to be honest I'm glad. She always disapproved of me anyway. I wasn't her perfect little beauty queen and when I left that was it; she didn't have to pretend to care anymore." Lilly bit her lip and willed the lump in her throat to melt as Miley took her hand gently. She opened her mouth to speak but Lilly cut her off. "So how has Hannah been? I bet she's still as hot as ever."

"Um…" Miley gave her a strange look.

"On the charts I mean." She blushed at her foul up and Miley giggled.

"Yer she's still goin' strong. She went through a rough patch after, well… after Lola left but people seemed to like her more mature side. Everyone missed Lola." She gave Lilly's hand a quick squeeze as she stood up and washed their plates.

"What did you say happened?" Lilly asks her quietly, talking about the past doesn't hurt as much but it feels wrong.

"I said I'd been a lousy friend and Lola had left. I got a lot of hate mail for a month or so after. I know I deserved it. After a while I guess they knew that I was sorry, they saw how miserable I was and it stopped." Miley dried her hands off and turned to face Lilly.

"Well Lola hasn't been quite the same since. None of it matters though because here we are. As strange and as crazy as it sounds, I think this was always the way it was going to turn out."

"Ya think?"

"Yeah, otherwise it's wayyy too much of a coinkidink." They shared a smile before Lilly stood up. "Listen, I've got a few business calls to make but how about we do something later?"

"Sure, how about I make us dinner? Gives us a chance to talk some more."

"Perfect, so I'll see you around...?"

"Seven, at my place. The big white house. I'll leave the gate open for ya."

"All right, see you then." Lilly waved as Miley walked down her path and onto the street, her curls bouncing. She closed the door, glancing at the clock. 2:13 PM. She stretched and made her way upstairs to her room. She walked past the box of Miley-related stuff she had left on the floor and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. She launched herself onto her bed and dialled the number for Orchard's publishing offices. It answered on the fourth ring.

"Hello Vivian its Lilly Truscott. How are you? Good, I'm great thanks. Can I speak to Miss Ince please? Yeah I'll hold…"

Two hours and three phone calls later, Lilly was lounging in her bathtub. The hot water was relaxing her muscles which were aching from spending the night awkwardly curled up on the couch. She stared at the ceiling as she replayed the last 24 hours in her head. She had seen Miley again for the first time in five years, cried and ran, found a box of memories, seen Miley again, cried, made up with Miley, cried and then set herself alight making breakfast. It had all happened ridiculously fast but that's just the way things were with Lilly. She had never been the tortoise, always the hare. She also truly believed what she had said to Miley earlier; this was always the way it was meant to be. Why else would fate have brought them together again after five years? Clearly their friendship was something that was supposed to be permanent; like a bad tattoo you get when you're drunk.

Her phone rang and Lilly stretched over to the chair next to the tub to pick it up.

"Hello, Lilly Truscott."

"Hey Lilly, its Ryan. Ya ok? Ya worried me when ya ran out on me yesterday."

"Oh Ryan I'm sorry! I didn't mean to leave you like that but seeing Miley really threw me."

"Miley… the gal who owns the flash house. How do ya know her?"

"We went to high school together back in Malibu. We were best friends for seven years before I left for university. We tried to keep in touch but it just fell apart."

"No wonder ya ran. Have you spoken to her? I tried to calm her down in the diner but she just hot tailed it after ya."

"Yeah she came over last night. We talked things over and I actually think we're ok now."

"Jesus that was darn quick. Way I figured it, you were so upset it'd take a miracle to put a smile on that face of yours."

"I guess fate had another idea. It's crazy but I really do think we'll be ok. I'm sorry for running out on you; I promise I'll make it up to you."

"Don't ya worry ya pretty little head, I'm just glad it all worked out. Anyway I gotta get to work. Bye."

"Bye Ryan." Lilly threw her phone back onto the chair before climbing out of the tub and drying herself off. She hummed tunelessly as she wandered into her room and began to rummage through her closet. It was only diner with Miley but Lilly wanted to make an effort so she decided on a red summer dress with a pair of flats. She flicked on her stereo and paused, her fingers lingering over the radio switch. Shrugging to herself she flicked it and tuned the radio into the local station. Guitars and banjos welcomed her back to the airwaves and Lilly smiled as she started to dance around her room, getting herself ready for dinner with Miley. She was just applying her waterproof mascara when her ears pricked.

"Well ya'll that was Tim McGraw with Red Ragtop. Now we've got an oldie from one of our home grown gals, Hannah Montana with Like A Knife." Lilly turned to the stereo as the song started up; it was much more sober than the Hannah she remembered.

"I did a lot; I know you say
I've got to get away.
"The world is not yours for the taking"
Is all you ever say.
I know I'm not the best for you,
But promise that you'll stay.
'Cause if I watch you go,
You'll see me wasting, you'll see me wasting away

'Cause today, you walked out of my life
'Cause today, your words felt like a knife
I'm not living this life.

Goodbyes are meant for lonely people standing in the rain
And no matter where I go it's always pouring all the same.
These streets are filled with memories
Both good and in pain
And all I wanna do is love you
But I'm the only one to blame.

'Cause today, you walked out of my life
'Cause today, your words felt like a knife
I'm not living this life.

But what do I know; if you're leaving
All you did was stop the bleeding.
But these scars will stay forever,
These scars will stay forever
And these words have no meaning
If we cannot find the feeling
That we held on to together
Try your hardest to remember

Stay with me,
Or watch me bleed,
I need you just to breathe.
'Cause today, you walked out of my life
(stay with me, or watch me bleed)
'Cause today, your words felt like a knife
(I need you just to breathe.)
I'm not living this life"

The last note rang out and as Lilly sat there thoughtfully the radio presenter's voice came over the speakers.

"Hannah Montana - Like A Knife. It's an oldie but we love it. It was written after her spat with her pal Lola. As always, if you heard that Lola give the gal a call, she's been waitin' long enough. Now we have The Mavericks with 'There Goes My Heart' enjoy folks."

Slowly Lilly turned back to her mirror and picked up her hair brush. As she ran it through her hair her mind wandered. So that was one of the songs Miley had written for her. It was an amazing song, if Lilly had heard it she would have probably given her a call and things would have been sorted out much sooner. For the second time she chastised herself for being so stubborn and stupid. She finished brushing her hair and stood to admire herself in the full length mirror. Her summer dress came to her knees and was both casual and elegant. Lilly smiled as she grabbed her purse and flicked off the radio before heading towards town.

The late summer sun warmed Lilly's bare shoulders as she made her way to the liquor store to pick up a bottle of wine to accompany dinner. She waved to Katy, the girl who worked there, and made her way along the rows of bottles. She stopped in front of the shelf of pricier vintage wine. Red or white. Red or white? Lilly didn't know which Miley preferred, the last she could remember the girl had only ever drank once with her and Oliver at one of Jake's parties. It certainly hadn't been wine that time. She decided to play it safe and buy a bottle of rosé. She made her way to the counter and paid for it before heading towards Miley's.

True to her word Miley had left the huge wrought iron gate open for Lilly. The blonde still felt as though she shouldn't be there as she crunched up the gravel driveway, admiring the flowers and the fountain as she went. She stopped just short of the front door to marvel at the size of the place before stepping up and pressing the door bell. She heard it chime throughout the house. She barely had time to smooth her dress down before Miley swung the door open. She was wearing an apron which was decorated with splashes of a mysterious sauce.

"Lilly! Come on in, I'm just finishin' up in the kitchen." She stood to the side and motioned the blonde inside.

"Hey Miles, sorry I'm a little early. Woah…" Lilly's eye went wide as saucers as she saw the interior of the house.

They were standing in the hall which was big enough to house a herd of elephants quite comfortably. A massive spiral staircase swept down the right side of the room, stopping by a doorway. As Lilly walked further into the house she could see a piano through the open door. To the left side of the hall was another door, which was closed. Lilly's eyes were drawn to the ceiling where a huge chandelier hung from the top floor. Her kitten heels clicked on the marble floor as she hurried to catch up with Miley who had disappeared down the hall. She passed several paintings of both countryside and beaches before she turned a corner and found herself in a large, bright kitchen. Miley was over by the expensive looking stove, singing softly to herself. She caught Lilly's eye and smiled. The blonde felt something swell in her chest.

"So, I hope you like pasta." She wiped her hands on her apron.

"Of course, I practically lived on it when I was a student." She grinned at Miley.

"Thank god, because I can't cook much else." The brunette chuckled and pulled her dirty apron off.

"I'll have to give you lessons." Lilly put the bottle down on the counter.

"I think I'd like that…" They shared a shy smile. "Dinner will be a while yet, do ya want to sit outside?"

"Sure, I brought wine. I think we should crack it open." Lilly gestured to the bottle on the counter.

"Ya didn't need to do that Lil, but I think we should." Miley grabbed two glasses and a corkscrew before leading Lilly out of the French doors and onto a large veranda. It was easily double the size of Lilly's back porch and it had a hot tub sunk into the right hand corner. They sat on the ornate chairs and Miley gave Lilly the bottle to open. As the cork popped Miley gave a small cheer and Lilly laughed. They sipped and settled down comfortably.

"So, did you get all your calls done?" Miley looked at Lilly curiously.

"Yeah, it didn't take that long to be honest." She sipped her wine.

"What exactly do you do Lils?"

"Well, I used to work for ABC film as a director and I wrote two of my own films." Lilly smiled at Miley's surprise. "But I just wasn't into it anymore. I sent a copy of a novel I'd been working on to Orchard Publishers. They offered me a contract and here we are."

"Jesus Lils! That's great! So like, when is ya book out?"

"Tomorrow actually. That's what the call was about, I have to do some interviews and stuff in a month."

"Wow… so what is it about?" Miley turns herself so she is completely facing Lilly and leans closer.

"Well it's called 'Unlucky' and it's about this guy who lives in New York. Basically he has this perfect life but breaks a mirror and everything goes completely wrong. He ends up living in a grotty little flat, working at a takeaway and that's it. It's pretty depressing but I promise it's better than it sounds! It's quite funny really, if that makes any sense at all."

"So it ends with him depressed?"

"Yeah, I have an idea for a sequel. Like, the girl who gets his job used to live in a grotty little flat and work in a takeaway. But she gets his job and her life just gets better and better. They meet and fall in love. Happy ending."

"Well that would certainly be interesting. You should call it 'Lucky'." Miley chuckled.

"Y'know I think I will." Lilly grinned at her friend before finishing her wine. "I was listening to the radio before, for the first time in five years."

"Oh?" Miley looked at her cautiously, she knew what Lilly was going to say.

"I heard one of Hannah's songs. 'Like a knife' I think it was called. It was amazing Miles, and then the radio guy told Lola to give you a call if she'd heard it."

"Yer, I told the whole country to say that if they ever played one of my songs. I hoped it would work but it didn't." Miley sipped her wine slowly.

"Well, if I'd have heard it, I would have been on the phone like a shot Miles." Lilly gave Miley's hand a gentle squeeze. "But I totally think you should tell people that Lola is back and they don't have to give that little speech anymore."

"Is Lola really back Lils?" Miley tightened her grip on Lilly's hand as their eyes met.

"Lilly is, so I guess Lola wont be far behind."

Miley stood up and pulled Lilly with her. She wrapped her in a quick hug before leading her by the hand to the kitchen. "Good. Now come on, let's eat."