CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

November 22nd. The day before my 16th birthday. Well, the night before my birthday... Actually if I'm going into technicalities it's three minutes before my birthday and I can't sleep. I've been staring at the ceiling for at least an hour now; I've tried counting sheep, reading, counting the stars, playing a lullaby. Nothing has worked, I'm just too excited. Once you become a teenager there are only 3 big birthdays to look forward to; 16, 18 and 21. I'm about to turn sixteen. Which will mean I'm only 924 days away from being able to run away with Joe... I guess most girls think of their birthdays for the presents and the new possibilities you get when you turn 16. I was using mine to count down to my relationship with my teacher not being illegal anymore. Whilst also living a double life as an international popstar... I guess I'm not like most 16-year-old girls.

My cell phone started ringing and I glared at it. Who the Hell was ringing me at 11:58 the night before my birthday? I was tempted to just let it ring out, but I already can't sleep so talking probably wouldn't hurt. Especially when I checked the caller ID.

"Happy birthday, Baby." Joe said from the other end of the line when I answered and I knew he was grinning.

"Not for another two minutes." I muttered, glaring at my alarm clock.

"Damn." Joe cursed softly and I knew he was pouting. "My watch must be fast."

"Did I ever tell you that you're really corny?" I wondered aloud through the phone, resisting the urge to giggle. My boyfriend called me at midnight to wish me happy birthday.

"You might have mentioned it." Joe replied in a nonchalant voice "But, I prefer it when you say another particular phrase."

"Cut down on the homework?" I guessed with a giggle.

"No, the one I like is only four words." I could practically see Mr. Lucas grinning across the street as I got out of bed and went to the window that overlooked the street.

"Why aren't you younger?" I guessed again, looking out, he was already at his window and when I appeared in mine he waved. I waved back and smiled.

"Oh, God, I wish I was, Babe." He ran a hand through his short messy black hair.

"You know that's a turn-on, right?" I told as I watched him pull at his hair and he paused, his posture reading his surprise even from this distance.

"What?" He was honestly baffled, like he had no idea just how sexy he was.

"The way you mess up your hair, it's way hot." Even though that was the least of our indiscretions together I couldn't help but blush. "Makes me want to do it for you."

"By all means, Miley." Joe groaned through the phone. "Please do mess it up yourself."

"Don't tempt me." I warned like Joe so often did; telling me not to tempt him or he wouldn't be able to resist anymore. I do love to tempt him though, to push him, to make him act our forbidden desires for one another when we could so easily get caught.

"Can you sneak out?" Joe asked suddenly and I furrowed my brow. "I won't get to see you on your birthday." He murmured, his voice soft, but I could hear the dejection. He couldn't be there because he's my Math teacher and I'm his student and it would be weird, even if we are neighbours. "I'm selfish, I want you; even if it's not technically your birthday yet." Still one minute to go.

"I can get out to the beach without being seen." I told him, wanting to see him just as badly when I realised I wouldn't get to.

"I'll be there." Joe breathed before the line went dead and his shadow disappeared from his window across the street. I stood in my room for a moment, listening quietly to make sure Dad and Jackson were asleep before I crept out onto the balcony. I climbed up onto the low part of the roof, over the other side. It was when climbing off the roof to jump onto a nearby tree that I realised how cold it was in the near Winter night and that I was still in my pyjamas. Sweet niblets, I'm sneaking out to meet Joe in my fluffy bunny pyjamas. I jumped into the tree and held on for a second to catch my balance before I started to climb down. I waited in the darkness, almost shivering as I hugged myself under the back deck of my house as I waited for Joe. "Miles?" It felt like an Eternity later when I heard his hesitant voice.

"Yeah." I whispered back, stepping slightly out of the shadows and he ran over to me.

"Happy birthday, Miley." He smiled a shy, sweet smile as he hugged me, but he pulled away frowned. "You're freezing." Joe scolded like I had control over the weather.

"I'm fine." I shook my head, leaning in to hug him again. "Just hold me, you're warm."

"Here." Joe took off his jacket, his favourite black leather jacket that he always wears, and he slipped it around my shoulders before I could protest, hugging me again as he did so. "It's after midnight; happy birthday, Princess." He repeated and I smiled into his chest. So far, I really liked my 16th birthday. I don't know how long we stood there, just holding each other and sharing idle kisses, but eventually Joe suggested I should get some sleep. "Your present is the left inside pocket." Joe told me with one last kiss before he disappeared.

I waited until I was in my room and snuggled in bed with Joe's jacket before I found the gift; a long thin box with a white ribbon that could only be from a jewellery store. I traced my fingers along the top of the box; I should wait until morning to open it with everything else. But, then people would want to know who it was from. And technically it is my birthday now. I carefully opened the lid of the box and gasped.

WHAT I GO TO SCHOOL FOR

"Night, Daddy." I grinned as I kissed his cheek.

"Night, Bud." Dad smiled, he looked almost sad when he gave me the box with my new car keys in it; he didn't want to see his little girl grow up. "Happy birthday." I smiled tiredly, that was the last time I'd hear that today. I went up to my room, ready to snuggle into my bed and fall asleep. Except my Z-phone started ringing and I whined.

"Hey, Beautiful." I answered without checking the caller ID, it was Joe.

"Hey." I went to my window instead of my bathroom where I was going to change into my pyjamas. I still had Joe's jacket in my room after I fell asleep in it last night. It smelled like him.

"I just wanted to tell you happy birthday again." I knew Joe was smiling just through the phone.

"You're really sweet." I touched the glass of the window as I looked out over the street. I could see a light on in Joe's room, but he wasn't at the window.

"I know, it's a gift." Joe said cockilly and I giggled, heading back to my bed. Joe's leather jacket was sitting on my bed next to his gift. Except the gift wasn't there. The pretty purple jewellery box with the white bow was gone. I'd left it up here so I could avoid the questions for today at least. "Speaking of gifts..." I narrowed my eyes at the mischief in his voice. "You should really lock your door." I gasped and turned when the doors to my balcony opened and Joe was there.

"How did you get there?" I hung up my phone and just stared at him.

"Climbed." Joe shrugged and my eyes widened. "I wanted to see you again." He pulled the jewellery box from behind his back. "And even though you've already seen it, I wanted to give this to you properly."

"It's beautiful." I told him as he opened the box and delicately lifted the bracelet into his hands.

"It's for the reasons I love you." Joe smiled, reaching for my hand and linking it around my wrist so the charms glittered in the moonlight. "And what we're waiting for." One of the charms was a Graduation cap, we were waiting for Graduation in two years.

"I love it." I marvelled at the silver charms for a moment, my eyes wide; music notes, the first letters of both our names, a tiny teddy bear that I knew was a symbol for Beary, there was even a spider, and a lightning bolt for the storms that still scare me. A rose.

"A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet." Joe murmured softly when he saw my fingers lingering on the rose. "And my Miley by any other name would be just as beautiful." Tears sprung to my eyes at that. How could one man be so perfect? I especially liked the way he called me his. "And a shooting star because you're my once in a lifetime wish on a shooting star that came true."

"I love you." I couldn't help myself as I stood on my toes and kissed him full on the lips, my free hand reaching up and holding his neck, keeping him to me as we kissed. Joe slowly opened his mouth and his tongue slid across my bottom lip and I unquestionably opened my lips to him, melting into his arms.

"Oh, Baby." Joe breathed against my lips, so close his lips brushed mine every time they moved. "I love you." He brushed my cheek lightly. "I have to go before I get caught creepin' in a sixteen-year-old's room."

"Okay." I agreed, though I was frowning, and my hands wouldn't let go of him.

"I'll see you at school on Monday." Joe carefully removed my hands from and kissed my knuckles as he stepped back. All too soon Joe was gone and I was left alone in my room. I sighed and crawled into bed, grabbing his leather jacket that he still hadn't taken back and brought it up to my face so I could inhale his scent. I fingered the charms on my new bracelet and smiled as I let the exhaustion of the day take over and lull me to sleep.

WHAT I GO TO SCHOOL FOR

"Where'd you get that?" Lilly asked on Monday when I got to school and for the first time all weekend she noticed the bracelet Joe had given me.

"It was a gift." I couldn't help but smile and blush as I brought it up for a closer look.

"From who?" Lilly frowned, gently touching the dangling charms. "And when? It wasn't there on Saturday." Except it was there on Saturday, it was up in my room, it was the first gift I got on my birthday.

"Just from a friend." Except the blush on my face gave away that he was way more than just a friend. "I got it Friday night."

"From that guy?" Lilly demanded, her mood suddenly changed from the happy and normal she'd been on Saturday and Sunday.

"Yes, from that guy." I sighed, dropping my wrist. "He's not some villain, Lilly, he's a really great guy."

"Then why can't you tell me who he is?" Lilly glared as I opened my locker. When my back was turned I heard the tell-tale whispers and giggles that accompanied Joe Lucas' arrival at school. I turned and leaned against the row of lockers as Joe passed. I bit my lip and fingered the Graduation cap charm.

"Because it's not that simple." I ground out.

"His name starts with J." Lilly said matter-of-factly and I froze. How did she know that? If she knew that did she know anything else? Did she actually know who it was? Would she tell everyone and get Joe arrested? "It's on your bracelet." I let out a relieved breath. The letter J on my bracelet, that didn't tell anyone that I was in love with my Math teacher.

"Oh, yeah, right." I relaxed a little. Our secret was safe. For now. "Um, yeah, his name starts with J."

"So, what is it?" Lilly asked, grinning now that she had some information on him.

"I can't tell you." Because as soon as I say the name Joe she'll know it's Joe Lucas. "It's just complicated, Lilly, I swear if I was allowed to tell you I would."

"You're not allowed to tell me?" Lilly raised her eyebrows, sceptical. "What? This guy you're so smitten over forbid you or something?"

"Damn it." I cursed myself in a whisper, that was too much information. His name starts with J and I'm not allowed to say who it is, I might as well have just told her. But, I can't. I trust Lilly with my life; she's my best friend, she's like my sister, she knows the Hannah secret. But, if she accidentally slips about the Hannah secret - I know she wouldn't do it on purpose - it would only be me who was affected. If she slips about Joe then it's his life on the line, his freedom, he'd be the one that would arrested. I just couldn't risk that. I couldn't risk Joe.

"I will find out, Miley." Lilly said, glaring at me, though I could see the undercurrent of hurt behind her green eyes. "But, I hope this guy is worth it; worth losing our friendship." I watched Lilly walk off sadly and sighed, but I knew she was probably right; what if our friendship didn't survive this secret?

1) Okay, so I've had this ready for about a week, but I was holding out, waiting for 5 or 6 more reviews for the last chapter, but they didn't come, and it became abundantly clear that they wouldn't be coming.
2) Do you think Lilly is getting closer to the truth?
3) What do you think she'll do if she finds out?
4) Did you like the idea of the charm bracelet for Miley's birthday present?
5) The next chapter starts of in Joe's Point Of View a week before Christmas break.
6) If you don't already know I have the prologue of a Vampire Diaries story up on here as well; I don't know yet if I'm going to continue it so let me know what you think of it.

The Awesome List Of Awesome People this week is comprised of:
Katie x2 (I know, I can't wait, June 3rd is marked in my calendar with a countdown attached. Though, technically for me it's the 4th of June.), Princess1459, Guest 1, PrincessJ1997 (meet Princess 1459, I have Royalty reading my stories :P), Taylah (was this the kind of fluff you wanted or something more flirty?), lifesaclimb11 and last - but certainly not least - SuJu 4 Life.

14 Reviews for the next chapter please? You guys were going so well, and I can see that this story is actually getting more readers to each chapter, but somehow less reviewers *_*.

Smiler For Joe!

P.S: FINALLY! MILEY'S NEW SINGLE IS COMING OUT ON JUNE 3RD! I CAN'T WAIT, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE CAN'T BE TAMED AND YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME LONESOME WHEN YOU GO. FINALLY! APPARENTLY IT'S BEEN READY FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT IT'S ONLY COMING OUT NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T CARE THAT SHE'S BEEN HOLDING OUT FOR A YEAR, I JUST WANT MY NEW MILEY MUSIC!

P.S.S: Yes, I am aware that was all in caps.