a/n--loving the reviews! sorry that this chapter took me so long to put up. i had writer's block, but i'm back and i'm good now. this chapter sucks, but i needed it. to make up for its suckiness, its a little longer than usual. butanyway, here ya go...

Chapter 10: First Competition

The question was how I would tell her. I wondered this as I walked home. Did I want to be all romantic, or should I just do it normally? And when would the right time be? I already missed a million chances to tell her, so when would the next chance pop up?

Maybe…Nah. Or…nope. Ugh! Why was this so hard? Ok…let's think. Maybe I could play a little guitar for her? Wait, no way! That's weird! What am I thinking? Ok, calm down. Hmm…

I snapped out of my thoughts when I saw Lilly with some guy, Jay, from school. He was sort of new, but he'd been around for a while. I've talked to him in classes before, but I'd never seen him outside school. I hid behind a tree so I could listen to them. Yes, Oliver the spy strikes again.

"Do you live around here?" Lilly asked.

"Kind of. I live a few blocks that way," Jay pointed.

"Oh, cool!" Lilly sounded happy. "We should hang out sometime."

"Yeah, that'd be cool." Jay smiled. Uh-oh. He's looking at her like I look at her. "Do you maybe want to go to the movies next weekend?" Damn! She better say no! This guy was my competition, and there's no way I can beat him!

Lilly paused. "Uh-you mean like a date?"

"Well, yeah…unless you don't want to…" Jay sounded disappointed.

"I'm sorry, Jay. I think we should get to know each other better first." Oh man, you don't know how relieved I was at this.

"It could be just as friends." Jay put in hopefully. If she didn't want to go out with this guy, why would she want to go out with me?

Lilly smiled. "Could Miley come?"

"Yeah, sure! I want to get to know her too." Jay replied. Come on, Lilly, ask about Oliver. If I'm not invited, I'm coming anyway.

"What about Oliver?" Lilly finally asked. Yes, I knew she would. Jay smiled and looked at her like he was hiding something. "What?"

"Nothing." Jay grinned. "Sure, he can come." Why was he smiling? Was my name funny?

"What is so funny?"

"Oliver." Jay smiled. What the hell? Why am I funny?

"What about him?" Lilly was also smiling.

"I think you know." Jay laughed. "I'm going to Rico's, I'll see ya around." With that, he walked off. Lilly looked after him questioningly, but she was smiling, like she did know what he was talking about. What did he mean? What was so funny about me? Lilly shook her head and continued walking to her house. I had to wait for her to turn the corner so she wouldn't think I was spying.

Once she turned, I came out from behind the tree, but tripped on a branch and fell. Some lady saw me and looked at me like I was nuts. "Uh, I dropped…something." I got up and began walking in the direction Lilly had just gone.

"No need to explain…" the lady raised her eyebrows and kept going. I rolled my eyes and continued walking, turning the corner onto the street that both Lilly and I lived on.

I passed Lilly's house just as she was about to go inside. "Hey, Oliver!" She waved.

"Hey, Lil." I smiled. At least we were back to normal.

"Oh, wait a second!" Lilly came up to me. "You know that kid, Jay?"

"Yeah, he seems pretty cool." I had to act like I hadn't just heard their conversation.

"He wants to go to the movies next weekend with Miley, you, and me."

"Oh, cool, I'm in."

"Sweet." she replied.

"When did you talk to him?" I'm so good at playing dumb.

"Oh, just before. I'm surprised you didn't bump into him on your way here. He was on his way to Rico's."

"Oh, I must have missed him."

"Yeah, first he asked me out on a date, but I told him no 'cause I don't really know him that well, ya know?"

"Yeah, totally."

"Yeah, so we're going with you and Miley as a group thing. That is if Miley can go."

"Sounds cool." I agreed. This was not the right time to tell her. While I was behind the tree, I decided that if I was gonna tell her, I was gonna tell her good. Not just while we're talking, it was gonna be better.

"Well, I better go in and help with dinner." Lilly replied, not moving.

"Yeah…me too." I nodded, also standing still.

"See you tomorrow."

"See ya." Neither of us made a move to leave though. I know why I was still standing there, because I was staring at her beauty. Who knows why she wasn't leaving, but I was glad. Maybe it would be a good time to tell her? Nah, wait until a better time, Oliver. Be patient!

"Oliver!" My mom called from two houses away. "Are you out here?"

"I'm coming, Mom!" I called back to her, still not moving from my spot. I was staring her directly in the eyes now.

"Lilly," Mrs. Truscott said from the door. This snapped us both out of the trance.

"Yeah, Mom?"

"Can you help me make dinner?"

"Yeah, sure, Mom." Lilly replied.

"Oh hi, Oliver. Do you wanna stay for dinner?" Mrs. Truscott asked me.

"No thanks, Mrs. T. I gotta head home. See you later, Lilly." I waved, walking towards my house.

"Oliver!" My mom was on the sidewalk now. "I need you, now!"

"Well, here I am!" I walked to her.

"Don't give me that attitude, young man."

"Sorry, Mom."

"Where were you, anyway?" she asked as we walked into the house. She's really overprotective.

"At the beach."

"With who?"

"First with Lilly, then she left. The Mr. Stewart talked to me for a second and left to go get ice cream. Miley was with me for a couple minutes too before she left. I tripped on a branch and a lady thought I was crazy, and then I talked to Lilly for a little bit. Is that enough information?" Ok, so I had an attitude, but whatever.

"Don't you talk to me like that, unless you want to be grounded next weekend." My eyes got big.

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" I pleaded and she crossed her arms.

"Please, don't ground me!" I was on my knees now.

"You're not grounded, unless you give me attitude."

"Oh." In that case, I stood up. "Sorry, then."

She eyed me curiously. "What's so important about next weekend?"

I shrugged, playing dumb. "Just chillin' with my friends."

"Like who?"

"The only people I ever chill with…Lilly and Miley. And this guy Jay."

"Oh, new friend?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Which one of them likes him?"

"What?" What was she talking about?

"Who likes him, Miley or Lilly?"

"Mom, I know that you're old and things used to be different, but now girls and guys can be friends without liking each other."

"Uh huh." My mom nodded, smiling. "So which one do you like?"

"Mom!" I threw my arms up. "What did you need me to do?"

"Nothing. I just like yelling at you in front of your friends." She smiled, walking into the living room. I looked after her like she was crazy. That woman was so nuts. I shook my head and went upstairs to play my guitar.