The sun streamed in torrents from the sky as Oliver stepped out of his house the following morning. He breathed in and out fervently, a mad wish in him to not meet Lilly. He clutched his hands together in desperate prayer, hoping against hope he would not have to witness the stupid smirk of hers.

But there was something in her smirk which made him feel oozy and warm inside. There was a charm in it. An inexplicable charm, a light waft of classiness in the way she talked and grinned.

He shook his head furiously, trying to clear out any positive thoughts about Lilly.

Think bad, he ordered himself. You don't like Lilly. She's ugly.

Right? She does NOT have beautifully-scented blond hair which whips fluidly in the wind. And neither does her sarcasm send tingles up your spine. And nor does the way she laughs make you smile and feel all giddy inside. And you did NOT like her kisses. YOU DID NOT.

Think. Bad.

Hands in packets, Oken was headed towards Miley's house, eyes puffed from lack of sleep. The sophisticated bungalow towered above him as a house to which he had not been in a long time. Gladly he pushed the door open and bounded up to Miley's bedroom, which was thankfully Lilly-less.

"Hey Oliver!" Miley said cheerily, from her bed. Oliver sat down on the bed next to her and gave her a weary smile in return.

"So...how's life going for both of you? I haven't talked to you guys in the longest time."

Oliver sighed heavily. "Neither have we," he mumbled. "And that's the problem."

Miley raised her eyebrows. "Problem? What problem?"

Oliver fidgeted uncomfortably with his watch, wondering whether or not to tell her. Finally, he decided to, and poured out everything that had happened ever since Miley went missing. She listened, her eyes widening with every word.

Finally, he finished and waited for her reaction.

"What?" she ogled at him incredulously.

He nodded. "It's...true. And I don't know what to do."

Miley stared at him almost sympathetically and shook her head. "Oliver...you know how stupid you are?"

Oliver was taken aback; he certainly had not been expecting this. "Huh?"

She rolled her eyes and struggled to sit up, but Oliver pushed her firmly back in bed. "There's no need to get up," he added.

Miley rolled her eyes. "Well...next time, come to me with a real problem!"

"This is a real problem," he insisted.

"Oh my gosh, Oliver. I didn't know you were this stupid...I'm so sorry," Miley said in a sad voice, placing her hand over her heart and feigning a distraught expression.

"Miley - your point?!"

"Isn't it obvious?"

This time, it was Oliver's time to roll his eyes. "Yeah, blaringly obvious. Makes me such an idiot to ask, doesn't it?"

"Oh come on, Oliver. You know the truth. Lilly likes you."

Oliver raised his eyebrows. "No she doesn't."

"How can you say that?!"

"Because...well...she just can't!"

"Why can't she, Oliver? She's told me this herself – she's totally in love with you!"

Oliver stared at Miley, stunned. "Come again?!" he asked in disbelief.

Miley nodded. "I know, it shocked me too. I mean, how on earth can anyone fall for such a stupid guy?!"

Oliver gave her a punch. "Miley, get serious! Did she really tell you that?"

"Trust me, she did. She really likes you; why else would she blabber on and on in front of you? Why else did she get so upset when you said she was annoying?"

"But-"

"Think about it, Oliver. She told you that you like her. That's because you do like her. She was telling the truth."

Oliver scratched his head. "So this means-"

"Yeah, you like her back, Oliver. You like her back, admit it."

Oliver stared at Miley doubtfully. I must be insane, he thought, as he realized how sad he became when Lilly had stopped talking to him, and all other things about Lilly came flooding to him. "I...don't know what to do. She's mad at me," he told Miley.

She laughed. "That's because she thinks you don't like her in that way!"

"So it means...I actually love her?"

"Oliver!" Miley said impatiently and gave him a hard poke. "You are the thickest guy ever! Well, apart from Jackson, anyway. Yes you love her, okay? Now go find her before it's too late!"

Oliver got up, backing away from Miley. "So...I'll find her?"

"Go before I strangle you!" she laughed. He turned to go.

But as he went, something made him turn back. Something he had forgotten to tell Miley. "Miley?" he asked.

"What now?"

"Are you still going to Romania with Jake?"

Miley stared at him for a moment. "I...don't know," she admitted.

"You better not. It's because of you I'm in this sticky mess."

"I'll think about it."

"Thanks, Miley. Because Lilly – and I – will really miss you if you go," he said, and gave her a light hug.

"Alright now, will you just go get your sweetheart back?!" she demanded with a smile, pushing him off. "Or I'll strangle you then and there."

Oliver laughed. "I'm off!" he claimed and sped out of the Stewarts', silently thanking Miley for knocking some sense into him.

Hope you liked it; sorry I took so long to update. As you might have gathered, this story will be ending in a couple of chapters or so.

Thanks. And please don't forget to review!