In math the tests were being passed out. Miley wished she'd been able to study more instead of having to perform a concert as her pop-star alter ego. She felt a sinking sense of dread—how would she ever manage a passing grade? She glanced over at Oliver, who, looking surprised to see her staring at him, gave her a smile and a reassuring thumbs-up. She smiled back and looked down at her desk, curiously aware of her warm face. Fortunately, she was concentrating more on Oliver than on her anxiety for the majority of the test.
"How do you think that went?" Oliver asked the two girls as they left class.
"I don't know," Miley began. Lilly gave her a significant look. "It was probably super easy for someone as smart as you, though, Oliver," she added, smiling sweetly.
"Aw, are you kidding? I was sweating so bad throughout the whole thing—I felt so unprepared!"
"Wow, Oliver, how un-alluring," Lilly commented, smirking and making eyes at Miley.
"What?" he asked, as both girls tried to conceal their laughter, unsuccessfully.
"Come on, let's go get lunch," Miley said, taking his arm and steering him towards the door.
"So," Lilly asked as they sat down together to eat, "any plans this weekend?"
"You know me, a million parties to go to," Oliver joked.
Miley groaned and put her head down on the table.
"What?" Oliver said. "I was just kidding—there are no parties! We're hanging out as usual, right?"
"No," Miley said. "That's just it. I just remembered that I have a huge concert tomorrow night."
"No big deal," Lilly said, "we can all hang out Saturday night instead." Oliver nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me!"
♥♥♥
Later that day Lilly pulled Miley aside. "So? How goes the plan?"
"I don't know," she replied. "I mean, I really like being around him, and he always makes me smile…sometimes because I'm laughing at him…but still—I don't know!"
"Well," Lilly pressed, "keep going. Maybe you'll have your answer by the end of the day."
"Thanks," Miley told her. "And remember—Top secret!"
♥♥♥
"Lilly, I have to talk to you," Oliver said urgently.
Lilly jumped and whirled around. "Geez, you creeper, what are you doing sneaking around like that?"
"Never mind, you have to tell me—does Miley like me?"
The words "top secret" echoed in Lilly's head.
"Well sure, she likes the both of us a lot—she's just so dang friendly—an admirable trait of the Southern!"
"No, I don't mean in a friends way, I mean…the other way…"
Lilly hesitated. It could be so easy! She would tell Oliver yes, he would ask Miley out—and Voilà! The world would be a better place for loooove.
But wait! What if it turned out that Miley didn't like him that way? What a disaster! She'd turn him down and he'd be heartbroken—and angry!
Or what if Miley did like him and Lilly told him so—but Oliver didn't even like her?
She realized she would need feeling confirmation on both ends before any further matchmaking.
"I don't know for sure, Ollie-boy," she decided on. "You'd have to ask her yourself." She stopped him as he began to walk away and added hastily, "Ahh, but that would be awkward and tactless. Instead," she thought quickly aloud, "try watching her, see how you feel, be a little—dare I say, flirtatious—see what happens."
Oliver looked skeptical, but he nodded in agreement, thanked her, and left for class.
"I'm a genius!" she applauded herself, before, too, going to class.