Yea, Yea. I took a long time with this/ Sorry guys. My great gma died, so there was a funeral, and osftball started....ugh. Go on, read it!

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"Lilly? Lilly, wake up." I felt the earthquake, heard a quiet voice urging me awake.

I rolled over. "Stop shaking me." I growled into the pillow, trying my best to figure out where I was and slow my heart beat and breathing.

"Lilly, you were crying."

"I know…" I sat up, wiping the tears from my face, looking around. The grey light of morning was seeping in around my curtains, filling the room with an eerie grey glow. I was glad to be awake, glad the terror of my nightmare was gone. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, gazing at the wall.

"Are you ok?"

"What time is it?" I asked, avoiding her question.

"Seven thirty."

"I have to get to school." I got up, going to grab my backpack.

"What am I supposed to do today?" Her voice clearly said she felt abandoned.

"You…I don't know." I turned around to look back at her. She looked kind of pitiful on my bed. "Do you want me to stay home?" I sat down on the bed.

"Would you?"

"Of course. I'm only missing out on eight hours of boredom you know?" And my one hour a day with Miley. "Hey," I suggested. "Maybe Miley will skip too!"

Sarah looked at me doubtfully. "You want to invite your teacher to skip school?"

"Yea," I began, but then I thought of my nightmare. That was the kind of thing that could get her arrested. I sat down on the bed, my legs feeling weak. It hit me hard then. I was in love with my teacher. Not my girlfriend, my teacher. And that's illegal.

"Lilly? You ok?"

"No."

"Wanna tell me about your nightmare?"

"Sure." So I told her about it, sparing no detail.

"Lilly?" I questioned, reading off the role book. "Lilly?" I said again. I knew she wasn't here, and I tried to keep my voice from shaking. I had looked for her from the beginning. "Oliver?"

"Here."

"Jackson?"

"Here."

"Ok." I began, ready to start class and get my mind off of the fact that Lilly wasn't here. I set the role book down, sitting on the edge of my desk. "So," I said to the class, "I want to have a kind of themed class this month. I want every band to learn a song by Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Blink 182 and…" I hesitated. All of those bands were of about the same genre. I wanted to have at least a little variety. Does anyone have an idea for another band?"

Ashley raised her hand. "Yes, Ashley?"

"Well…I like the Jonas Brothers." The class collectively groaned, so no one heard my breath catch in my throat. Lilly likes the Jonas Brothers. 'Where is she?' I thought, 'I knew Chet ruined everything.'

"That's fine." I said to Ashley. "So, those four bands. Jonas Brothers, Blink 182, Linkin Park, and 30 Seconds to Mars. I want each of you to pick one song by each of those bands, and you'll have a week to learn it. Let me know what song you picked, because I don't want any of the bands to pick the same song. For this week I want you to each pick a song by Linkin Park. Next Monday you'll all perform during class time, and I expect you to each add your own flair to the song, understand?" A few students nodded their heads. "If you don't know any of their songs, go use the computers in the back to find one you like. There are only five computers, so each band has to share one." They all stared at me. "Get going! I need to know your song choice by the end of class today." They started shuffling around, each group of students gathering around a computer.

Once I was sure their attention was no longer on me I walked around my desk, allowing the smile to slide off my face. I sat down, submitting into my computer today's absentees. "Hey, sis."

I looked up, and Jackson was at my desk. "Hey."

"We know what song we want to do."

"Already?" I asked, surprised. "Did you even look anything up?"

"No. But all of us already know the song, so the guys are in the back looking up the music."

"Oh, ok. So what song are you doing?"

"Bleed it out."

"Alright. Let me write it down." Standing up, I faced the board, writing Jackson's name with the name of the song next to it. I sat back down.

"Are you ok?"

I looked at him, and for the first time I saw the concern on his face. He swept his bangs out of his eyes. "Why do you ask?" I replied, circumventing the question.

"You look kind of down. And I know Chet came to see you yesterday."

"Oh." I looked down at the computer, wondering again if that was why Lilly was absent. "How'd you know?"

"I saw his car out front, and then heard it squeal when he pulled away. What was he doing?"

"I don't know. Trying to bother me again."

"Maybe you should get a restraining order?"

"Maybe." I agreed. " He just can't seem to let it go."

"No." He asserted. "He just can't let you go." I looked into his eyes, and for a moment, I was sure he knew everything. But then I shook the feeling, knowing I was just paranoid. I mean, a murderer runs when he hears police sirens doesn't he?

"Eventually Chet will find someone else."

"I hope so."

"So where's Lilly?" I thought about how completely off topic that sounded. "Isn't she like in charge of your band?"

"You know, I have no idea." He looked behind him, almost as if he expected her to appear. "I was pretty sure she would be here today. That's what she said yesterday at lunch anyway."

"Oh." I felt a pain in my chest, and I struggled to keep my face impassive. This was getting out of hand. I'd never felt so strongly about someone, so soon. After four days I could barely think without knowing where she was, or what she was doing.

"Maybe she decided to skip. I don't know if you know her best friend, Sarah? She's in my grade, and she isn't here today either. Oliver was looking for her this morning."

I felt an unexpected stab of jealousy. Sarah was able to spend the day hanging out with Lilly, and I couldn't. "Maybe. I never would have pegged Lilly for a skipper."

"She usually isn't."

"Jackson!" One of the boys in the back of the room-Matt- was calling him.

"Gotta go." He walked to the back b the computer, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

I reached into my bag, grabbing my phone. I looked through the numbers, scrolling down to 'Buddy,' the name I had put Lilly's number under. I could easily send her a text and ask her what she was doing. But, I felt I would be more stressed if she didn't answer, or if the answer was a bad one. However, my indecision was interrupted when I received a text from 'Buddy.' I opened it.

'What 'cha doing? = )'

I replied quickly. 'Teaching class. You?'

It took a minute or two, but the answer came. 'Sitting at my house with Sarah, watching Grey's Anatomy and CSI: NY reruns. I hope you like those shows. They're my favorite. PS: I miss you.'

I read the text twice, unsure of how I managed to find a girl like Lilly. CSI and Grey's are my two favorite shows. But, mostly, I focused on the end of her text. She missed me. Maybe I hadn't scared her away.

'I miss you too. Really, I do. Why aren't you in school?'

Her answer came quickly. 'Sarah needed me. She had problems at home last night. That's why she called.'

'Is she ok?'

'She will be. How about you? Not shaken up from last night are you?'

'You're sweet. But it was you I was worried about.' Worried seemed like too pathetic a word to describe how I'd felt. It was more like panicked, but it didn't seem ok to tell her that.

'Don't worry about me, I just wanted to make sure you were ok.'

"Hey Miley." I looked up, and there was Oliver, standing at my desk.

"Hi Oliver." I put my phone in my desk drawer.

"Who are you texting?"

"No one."

"Lemme guess, your boyfriend?"

"I don't have a boyfriend." He looked heartened by the idea. "Was there something you needed?"

He looked confused. "Oh yeah! Can I go to my locker?"

"Sure."

He snapped his fingers and pointed at me. "Thanks." He started to back away, but he caught his foot on something and fell down.

He picked himself up, looking embarrassed, and hurried out of the room while everyone laughed. I pulled my phone back out of the drawer.

'Your friend Oliver is a piece of work.'

Cause if he's putting the moves on my girl, I'll kill him.' I smiled.

'Are you jealous?'

'Of course. If he flirts with you, no one cares.' I thought about how true that was.

'Well, first of all, you would care. And second, I try not to date below my maturity level.'

'So you think I'm mature? = )'

'Of course. You're kind of cute too. ; )'

'Well you're beautiful.'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'I would. And, good news is, you're not the one that has to date you, I am.' I laughed, recognizing that my own words were being used against me.

'Well, aren't you quite the copycat? I believe I said that first.'

'Oh, you did. Just wanted to let you know I'm listening.'

'I never thought you weren't. = )'

'Well, that's good. I wish I was listening to you now. Too bad I couldn't come today. I hate not being around you.' I read that twice, hoping it meant she was feeling the same way I did. I thought about kissing her goodbye last night, of how I had almost been unable to let her leave. I tightened my grip on the phone, struck by the strength of the memory.

'I feel the exact same way. Kind of like you have a piece of me with you all the time.'

'Well, Miles, I'm going to keep that piece, just so you keep coming back to me.'

'Good. There's nowhere else I'd rather be.' The bell rang, and I looked up, surprised. I'd been so lost in my own little Lilly bubble that time had flown by. 'I have to go now. Ttyl?' I needed to eat a quick lunch before teaching more high maintenance classes for the rest of the day.

'Of course.'

I stood up quickly, addressing the class. "The rest of the bands need to tell me what songs you've picked!" The students rushed forward, ready with their choices.

I flipped my phone closed, Miley's parting words in my head. 'Good. There's nowhere else I'd rather be.' There's nowhere else I'd rather be either. But I was here. I glanced at Sarah, and realized that as much as I wanted to be with Miley, Sarah needed me.

"Talking to your girlfriend?" Sarah asked without looking away from the TV.

"I was. She had to get back to work. You know, she's a teacher." I smiled. Sarah looked at me, rolling her eyes. "So what's going on?"

"Well, if you weren't being such a dork, you would know that Izzy just managed to get Denny a heart, the surgery went well, and now she's on her way t see him before going to the "prom" at the hospital for the girl with cancer."

We both lapsed into silence, returning our attention to the show. Izzy was on the screen, getting into an elevator. There was a shot of Denny, who looked kind of sick. The camera kept going back and forth between the two. I held my breath, watching as Denny slowly died. Izzy got to the room a moment after his heart stopped. Her breakdown made my heart wrench, even though I'd seen it many times. Suddenly, the show stopped.

"Sarah!" I looked at her, and she was wiping her eyes.

"I can't watch it! It's just too sad!" She jumped off the couch, switching DVDs.

"What are we gonna watch now?" I asked, annoyed.

"I'm thinking the Hollies episode of CSI: NY."

"Alright." My phone started to buzz, and I jumped to open it, hoping Miley had changed her mind. But, when I flipped it open, it was Jackson.

'Hey. Today the band's getting together to work on a song for next week. Let me know if you can come.'

'Yea, I'll be there.'

'Sure, see you later.'

"Who was that?"

"Jackson. I have to go to his house at about three."

"Oh. Can I come?"

"Let me see your face." She looked at me, and the bruises were considerably lighter than they had been yesterday. They were a yellowish color, and by tomorrow would probably be completely gone. "You'll have to use a little cover-up."

"I can do that."

"I still say you tell someone."

"I still say no."

"Of course." I grabbed my phone to text Jackson.

'Can Sarah come too?'

'Sure. As long as she doesn't mind just sitting around while we play and stuff.'

'She doesn't.'

'Cool. Tonight we're going to try to record parts to see how we sound.'

'Sounds good.'

"Sarah? What time does your dad work until?"

"About four. Why?"

"Well, if you're going to be living here, I say we get everything you need from your house."

"Oh. That is a good idea."

I checked my phone. "After this episode we'll go ok?"

"Ok." We turned our attention back to the TV, watching the Hollies rob the bank, take the money, and then get hunted down by the owner of the blood diamonds they stole. In the end, Lindsay pretended to be Beth, one of the girls, and saved the day. The episode ended with Danny bursting into the room to find Lindsay, then holding her close to him. It was kind of sweet.

I stood up, shutting of the TV. "Let's go."

Sarah stood up reluctantly. "Ok."

She looked nervous. "What?"

"Nothing. I just—I hope he went to work today."

"Me too. Come on."

We both got into my car, and I drove the four blocks to Sarah's. The driveway was empty, but I didn't pull in. I parked my car in front of the house next door. Sarah gave me a worried look before getting out. "Crap."

"What?"

"I don't have my keys."

"Where are they?"

"In my room. I didn't bring them last night."

"No problem." I walked into the backyard, jumping the fence. I tried all the windows until I found one that was unlocked. "Come here. I'll give you a boost up." Sarah climbed onto my hands, and I pushed her up to climb through the window.

It took a few moments, but then Sarah unlocked the back door. "Let's go," she half-whispered.

"Sarah," I said in a normal tone, "You live here. It's not actually breaking in, so don't act so guilty."

"Fine." We both hurried upstairs.

"So what are we taking?"

"All of my clothes."

"Are we bringing your dresser?"

"Definitely."

We quickly began taking out all of Sarah's drawers, leaving the dresser standing empty. We carefully brought it downstairs, unlocking the front door and carrying it down the front stairs to my car. Despite what I said to Sarah, I looked around suspiciously before opening the back door of my car. The dresser barely fit, and we could only shut the doors once the windows were open.

I opened the trunk, and Sarah and I went upstairs, bringing down the dresser drawers. They fit easily in the trunk.

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked Sarah.

"My laptop, cell phone charger, and my keys."

"Ok, let's get them." We both went back upstairs.

"Here," She handed me a messenger bag. "This is my laptop." She grabbed a book bag off the desk in the corner, slinging it over her shoulder as she pulled a charger out of the wall. "Can you grab my CD's too?"

"Um…where are they?"

"By the stereo."

I walked over to the stereo, picking up the portfolio full of CDs. Sarah picked her keys up off the floor. "I'm ready."

"Ok then, let's go."

I heard a car door slam, and Sarah looked out her window. "Oh Shit."

"What?"

"He's home."

"Ok," I managed to choke, panicked. "Run downstairs and go straight out the back door. I'll meet you there."

"What are you going to do?"

"Just go!" She turned and ran out of her room and down the stairs. I followed close behind her, until she turned towards the back of the house and I charged to the front. Thankfully, we'd shut the door last time we had come in, so all I had to do was lock it.

I had just turned the bolt when the handle started to shake. Someone was trying to come in. I looked around, looking for a place to hide. I saw the closet by the couch and ran for it, barely getting Sarah's laptop bag in and closing the door before I heard voices in the house.

"Are you sure we can be here?" A man asked. It wasn't a voice I recognized.

"Of course. It's my house." I recognized the voice of Sarah's father, Jack. It was a voice I'd hear many times. I turned the handle of the closet, opening the door an inch or two so I could see Sarah's Dad. He was a man of medium build, he had short brown hair with natural highlights (according to Sarah) and, oddly enough, no beer belly. I shifted a little, trying to see the other man.

"So," Jack said. "What do you want to do? I did skip work for you." He had a smile on his face, which was strange, because I can't remember the last time he smiled.

"How about this?" The other man asked, and he stepped into my field of vision. He had black hair. It was longer and unkempt, but it fit him perfectly. He was in good shape, probably in his early thirties. He grabbed Jack by his t-shirt and started kissing him. Jack kissed him back hungrily. The other man started undoing Jack's belt, and he moaned.

"Oh, Troy." He pulled off Troy's shirt, revealing the rock hard muscles underneath. I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want t watch, but the shock of it all kept my eyes wide open. Troy pulled Jack's pants down and Jack stepped out of them. Jack had his back to me, and I couldn't see, but I could guess where Troy's hands were going. Jack grabbed Troy's wrist, stepping back from him. He kissed him quickly. "What do you say we take this upstairs?"

"I thought you'd never ask." They both ran to my left, charging up the stairs like a couple of children, excited for Christmas. I could hear one of them squeal on their way up. After the door upstairs slammed, I waited a minute before leaving the closet. I looked at Jack's pants and Troy's shirt for a minute before walking out the front door, shutting it quietly. I walked over to my car, getting in the driver's seat. I handed Sarah her laptop and CD's. She was already in the passenger side.

"Lilly?" she asked me urgently. "What happened? Did he catch you? Lilly? She started sounding panicked. "Lilly! Talk to me!"

I tried to wipe the shell-shocked look off my face before Sarah could begin to hyperventilate. "Sarah, is your dad gay?" I tried to keep my voice even; it was just so strange.

"Of course not. He's been married to my mom for twenty years. Why?"

"Because he was in there. With a man. Making out with a man. Named Troy. I saw him." My sentences were short and choppy, and they were all I could manage for the moment.

"Troy? Troy Jacobs?"

"I don't know. Black hair? Strong body?"

"Oh. My. God. Troy works with my Dad. He's always over. He's been bringing my mom and I Christmas presents for years." I waited for her to say more, but she didn't. I turned on the car, heading to my house. Sarah and I unloaded everything we'd gotten from her house into my room in silence. I wasn't sure what she was feeling, so I couldn't say anything to make her feel better.

I looked at the clock. It was two forty-five. "Do you still want to go to Jackson's with me?"

"Yea, let's go." I grabbed my guitar, following Sarah out the door. We were at Jackson's in no time.

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That wasn't as good as I rmemebered it being...Maybe you guys will dig the next chapter. Review please!