Disclaimer: Blah. I think it's a tad obvious.. considering I'm here... posting another story, sitting on the couch with my laptop.. Rather than in L.A... sipping overpriced coffee and discussing cute plots. O.O

A/N: Bwaha. I feel bad for not updating sooner, plus, I feel worse, that I feel this is the crappiest chapter I've ever written...

AND HOLY CRAP. School starts in like.. one week. I'm uber excited. Eeek! :) Anyways. Heeeerre you go.

PS. One bad word. :) and that one bad word, will make the character seem a little ooc. :D

Reviewers? I don't think I'd be able to continue, if it weren't for you. Thanks to--

RandomObsessivePsychoFangirl, ConversexSnickers, megomyeggo, AutonomousAnonymous, dcjp, Courvoisier, iheartdisney128, IZIBELLE, kerryn4904, foolwiz, MileyFan2492, Cathylicious, Livin' In Moliver Land :D, annddd Moliver1994.

Chapter 21 - Worth It?

"Miley Ray Stewart, where are you?"

Ah, crap.

"D-daddy..?"

"Where are you?" he repeated.

"I'm at Lilly's--"

"--Funny. I was just at Lilly's--" She gasped softly, putting a finger over the mouthpiece. "And you're not there." Her mind whirled, as she started to panic, conceiving a nervous lie.

"Oh - It's-- It's a st-strange story - You see, daddy, I was -- I was getting some.. hot dogs from Rico's." She had already started jogging to the shack, trying not to breathe too heavily.

"Really?" She winced at his skeptical tone.

"Really," she said as honestly as possible. She heard Oliver following after her, his urgent, rushed whispers.

"That's strange," he said, somehow his voice clearer. "That's what Lilly said." She nearly collapsed with relief - At least the told the same lie-- Oh no. Her eyes landed on the shack, and sitting there, looking quite angry, was her father with his phone to his ear, with a scared looking Lilly sitting beside him.

And there was no doubt, that he saw her.

She halted, as Oliver crashed right into her, both stopping dead in their tracks.

"And clearly, you weren't there." He snapped his phone shut, and stalked towards them, Lilly trailing along behind him nervously.

She could feel Oliver's body tense beside hers and his hand gently nudge hers. She looked at him gratefully, and gripped his hand tightly.

"Hi daddy," she started cheerfully. "What brings you here?"

He ignored her first, glaring at Oliver, behind her, his eyebrow twitching.

"Oken." That could have been a response or a greeting - But his tone of voice made it sound dangerous either way.

"Hey Mr. S," Oliver started nervously.

"Don't ya 'Hey Mr. S', me!"

Oliver stiffened, looking terrified, but bravely attempted to open his mouth again. "I--"

"--Didn't I make it clear that you were to stay away from her?!"

"Mr. Stewart - You don't understand--"

"What's there to understand?!" People were starting to stare at the odd group; the towering man, and three quivering teens. "There's nothing to understand! I know what you did to her!"

"Mr. Stewart, I didn't do anything to her against her will. She wanted--"

That seemed to be the bomb fuse, and it ignited, Mr. Stewart's entire face raging. "--DON'T YOU DARE BLAME MILEY!"

Oliver flinched, cowering behind Miley, who now looked decidedly furious.

"What's your problem, daddy? It isn't his faul--"

"--Who's idea was it to meet today?"

All three of them put their hands in the air.

Miley scowled, smacking the other two's hands down, and keeping hers up.

"Mine."

Her father shot her a look of complete disbelief, although, she wasn't so sure what was so disbelieving about it - Did he really think that she was all that innocent?

"Miley - Really?"

"Really," she answered truthfully. "Come on, daddy - You know that I love him - And he loves me - Can't you just let it be?" She begged her father using her eyes.

"Miley," he started.

"I know - I know - Maybe I'm too young - But... You were in love before, right?"

"At a reasonable age, Miley," he responded sharply, giving her a hard look. "We're not having this conversation here - Let's go.. And boy - I am going to have a talk with your parents."

"Daddy, if it helps - Oliver was the one who didn't want to meet up at all - It was all my fault--"

"It's okay, Miley - You don't need to make up lies for him--"

"I'm. Not. Lying," she hissed, through clenched teeth.

He ignored her, putting a hand on her shoulder and attempting to steer her home.

Why was her father treating her like such a baby?

She voiced that thought - But with much more emotion and language.

She whirled around, shoving his hand off her shoulder.

"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TREATING ME LIKE SUCH A FUCKING BABY?!"

"Miley Stewart!" he scolded.

Like that was going to faze her.

"No - Stop it! Just stop! Leave me alone!" Her breathing refused to even out, as her heart thumped wildly out of control. "You're acting as if I'm a child! I'm going to be 17 - Can't you just accept that?!"

"That's precisely my point! You're not 17 yet, Miley, you're 16! You're SIXTEEN! You're still a teenager, and you're not yet an adult - You can't make these sort of decisions by yoursel--"

"--So you're telling me," she cut off angrily. "That you're going to control who I fall in love with?"

"Miley," he said exasperatedly. "You're too young to know what love is. And we're not having this discussion here," he repeated sharply. "We are going home, to discuss your punishment - And I hope your parents give you a good one," he said, now speaking to Oliver. "Once I talk to them...

"Both of you - If you expect anything - You have to realize that sneaking around behind my back? It ain't going to help you. It's all about the trust. You," he snarled, pointing at Oliver. "You - You broke it last night - You know what? When you're a father - And you catch you daughter with her boyfriend in that sort of situation, well - Then, we'll talk - But now, I don't want you coming near my daughter, ever again. Understood?"

Oliver didn't respond, looking down shamefully, but nodded anyways.

Miley was shocked.

He didn't have to give in that quickly.

She gaped at him.

Come on! Put up a fight!

Instead, she shot him a disappointed and hurt look, which he caught, and gave her an apologetic one.

She ignored that, looking anywhere but him, thinking of reasons why he wouldn't stand up against her father's irrational reasoning.

Maybe I'm not that important to him.

She grimaced at the thought, but it seemed plausible at the moment.

She blinked rapidly, her eye burning from the tear that threatened to escape, but she swiped it away, looking down.

"Let's go, Miley."

And this time, she went, without a word.

Ahhh... Now, Miley's being a tad self-centered, but.. That's kinda her character, so don't hate me, or her. Yet... :shifty: hahaha. J/k. Review please. You can tell me anything - Are you excited or bummed out for school? Or maybe.. tell me how that chapter sucked like crap, and you no longer want to read this story. o.o Haha. Ciaooo