Chapter 24

Who Was Hannah Montana

I got up excitingly to get ready for the first day of school. I was a sophomore this year. No longer did we have to put up with the upper classmen giving us a hard time. This looked to be a very good year. I went downstairs and had breakfast, said my good-byes and left for school. The first day of school was always a good one because not only was it a half-day, but you also didn't get any homework. I went to my locker, we have the same locker for the whole time you are in high school, dumped my stuff and went to homeroom. A bunch of us hung out just outside the door so we could meet and greet old friends from last year. I must admit I was waiting for that someone special, but by the time, the first bell went off, I was disappointed. I kept my eye open for that someone all day and went home a little disappointed. I mean it's not like I hadn't seen them all summer, I was just hoping that the others could see how our relationship evolved.

The answer to the question that was bugging me all day came when I got home from school.

"Mom. I'm home." No answer. Where was everyone? There was a note on the table. 'Went to the story. Back soon. Love Mom.' Okay, there was one answer. I went to the refrig, got an apple and went into the living room thinking I should make a phone call. Before I reached for the phone, I turned the TV on and was surprise to find almost every channel was doing a live remote from in front of Hollywood Records.

"Well, if they have something big to say, I might as well hear it." I said to myself. It wasn't long before the news conference got started.

-----

"To recap, this morning at eight, Hollywood Records made a press release to schedule this news conference. That all they have been saying since that announcement."

"Wait a minute, I think that is their Public Relation representative, June Walker, I see coming out."

"Good afternoon. I well make an opening statement then I will answer all of your questions to the best of my ability." June paused, as she made sure everyone was ready.

"Today at 7:30 a.m., we were notified by family members of the passing of one of our singed artist. About 7:00 a.m., today, Miley Collins was pronounced dead in her bed by paramedics. She was 96 years old. Miley Collins was born November 23, 1992, as Miley Stewart. However, she was better known by her stage name as Hannah Montana."

Ricky jumped up and went into the kitchen. He quickly scribbled a note to his mom and set off to Jill's house.

-------------------------------------------------

When I got to Jill's house, her mom answered the door.

"She's up in her room. She's been they every since we could get her way from her great-grandma."

"Can I go on up?"

"Sure. Maybe you can help."

Mrs. Johnson let me in and I want up to Jill's room. When I got there, I knocked on the door and got no answer. Trying the doorknob, it turned and the door opened. I looked into Jill's room to see her sitting at her desk and working on her laptop. I walked in. Jill's head was bent to the work she was doing. I could see she had been crying. The floor full of tissues was testament to that. I could also see that her eyes were puffy and red too. Quietly walking behind Jill, I started to read over her shoulder at what she had written on the screen.

Epilogue

On August 30, 2088, my great-grandma and I were discussing possible ways of ending our book. Little did we know that when we went to bed that night, the decision was made for us. The next morning, I went to wake great-grandma up. Instead of waking her up, I found that she had passed away in the night. The first thing I did was to yell for my parents. Then I took her into my arms and cried. It was sometime before my parents were able to pull me away from her. To think that the very person I did not want to let go of was the same person just a year ago I didn't want to have anything to do with. It's strange how things like that work out.

As I sit here on the day that she died, I think about how much of an impact she had on my life without me even knowing it. Hannah Montana is my most favorite singer. The words in her songs reached out to me and touched me in many ways, through many feelings and many words. I could relate to what the songs were saying. I could feel what she was feeling when she song them and what she must have gone through when she wrote them. There were also life lessons in those songs if you listen for them. Great-grandma had even told me what some of them were as we wrote this book. However, there was more to her than being Hannah Montana.

Great-grandma told me that she loved to sing and to share that love of singing with others. It was more important for her to give that love then to receive the laurels that came with the giving. That is why she never told the world she was Hannah Montana. That is why Hannah Montana took all the credit for all the humanitarian work she did. Miley Collins, Miley Stewart, was happy to sit back in the shadows and let all the glory pass her by.

So, here I sit and look at the necklace the great-grandma's dad give to her mom when she was born. The necklace represents the start of her life and this book represent the end of her life. A very interesting contrast that has not yet sunk in. The necklace great-grandma gave to me as piece of her that I could keep with me forever. The book is a piece of her that she is giving to you so you can have a piece of her forever. I hope you cherish your piece of her as I well mine.

-----

"That's very good Jill"

"Don't do that!" Jill said as she jumped and turned around half scared.

"I knocked before I came in."

"Sorry. Guess I'm not to with it right now." Jill wrapped herself around Ricky and started crying again.

"She's gone Ricky. I didn't even get to say good-bye to her."

I stood there and held her. She needed to vent and I let her. Jill's parents checked on us a couple of times but did not disturb us as Jill grieved.

-------------------------------------------------

It's amazing what time will do for people. It's been a month since Jill's great-grandma has passed and her energies have been refocused towards their book. What also was amazing was the fact that the press didn't mob the house or them after the announcement. Although, there was an attempt made at the funeral. The record company had planned for that and no one got close. However, there where some helicopters.

Since the veil was lifted from her identity, everyone had been scramble to found out who was Hannah Montana. Unfortunately, for the news media, great-grandma had done such a good job of hiding her real life from the public, there wasn't that much for them to report about or find.

If you watch the news now, the most they talk about is who holds the copyrights for all of her songs. Now if we could just get the newies to find out just where school lunches really come from.

"I've decided who I'm going to ask." Jill stated as she sat down with me. We've been having this conversation for a while now. Jill has been trying to figure out which of our English teachers to ask to edit the book for her before she tries to find a publisher for it.

"Okay, who did you decide on?"

"Mrs. Bell."

"And I take it you want me to go with you?"

"I have the CD right here." Jill said holding up the CD that had the book on it.

"Okay. Let's go and find her." I said getting up and gathered my lunch tray.

-----

Lucky for us, we found her in the first place we look. Her classroom.

"Excuse us Mrs. Bell. Can we talk with you?" Jill started.

"Sure Jill. What's up?"

"Well, you know my great-grandma was Hannah Montana."

"Yes and you have my sympathy too. How are you doing?"

"Well, okay, but great-grandma and I were working on a project and…well I was wondering…I mean…"

"What Jill is trying to say is that her great-grandma and her were working on an autobiography about her life and well the book is done. Jill just needs someone to edit it for her."

"And you want me to edit the book Jill?"

"Would you please?"

"I'd be honored to Jill. But just remember this, you are still talking about putting a lot of time in still and not all of it will be fun. Are you still wanting to do this?"

"I made a promise." Jill said as she held the CD out to Mrs. Bell. Mrs. Bell took the CD from Jill and put in her briefcase.

"When I'm done with the first chapter, I'll set up a time so we can get together to work on it."

"You can call me at home or anytime Mrs. Bell." Jill told her as she started to write down her phone number for her.

"Trust me, I well."

Mrs. Bell was true to her word. She would call Jill at less twice a week and talk with her during the school day about the book. There were plenty of Saturdays that Mrs. Bell would spend the day at Jill's house as they worked on editing the book. As I watched them work, Mrs. Bell became very excited about the work Jill and her were doing. I was happy for Jill, but I didn't get to spend as much time with her as I wanted too. Still, I was just glad Jill had gotten through the grieving stage.

Maybe you are wonder at this time about Jill and I. Well, I must say our relationship is moving forward. Not as fast as I would like. We still don't call each other boyfriend and girlfriend or that we are going out, but everyone else at school knows better. This became evident when voting came out for the yearbook towards the end of the school year. Jill and I were in the cutest couple of the year category. What was exciting for me was that the editing phase of the book was done and Mrs. Bell actually and a list of publishers to send the book out to. What was exciting for Jill was the fact that every single publisher they sent the book to wanted to buy it.