Disclaimer: Hannah Montana isn't mine nor am I making any profit out of making this story.

a/n: Gosh, sorry that I haven't been updating lately. I'm back from my very looong Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows break – that is reading it and recovering from its lousy epilogue. Yeah, but now I'm back.

The Other Side

Oranges, Reds, and Greens

(Miley's POV)

"Dad, I'm home!" I yelled as I entered our house. I set down my books on the kitchen counter and tried to look for signs of my father and Jackson.

"Aha! I win – again!"

"Aw, Dad! No fair! Best of five?"

"Jackson, that's the tenth 'best of five' game we played,"

"Daaaad,"

"Okay, fine – you're on!"

I rolled my eyes. Dad and Jackson, being the ever competitive father and son, were probably trying to beat each other out. Actually, Jackson tries to beat Daddy since he's as good as a cow dancing ballet in playing games. Sigh, it must be a sad life for Jackson.

"I'm HOOMMEE!" I yelled once more, trying to get the attention of my Dad and my brother.

"Hey, Miley!" they both said distractedly. I rolled my eyes again.

Boys

I grabbed my books from the counter and made my way to my room. When I got there, I dumped the books on my desk and sat down, intent on working through my homework. Gah! Homework – that's just torture!

I've been doing my mountain of homework and was just working through the last Math question – and it just had to be ultra mega super duper extra tremendously hard!

I read it through again: a car was traveling 90 kph and car B was traveling at the same speed only leaving two hours after car A left. How far apart are they going to be after five hours?

And the point of this question that's making me lose my mind is? Really!

Why should I care? I'm on the other car, the hell I care if the other one left two hours after I left! I don't effing care if the other car gets stuck in traffic! It's their problem! And I don't care if car B is in Canada and I'm in North Carolina! We're in two separate cars that will probably go in separate ways, for crying out loud! People in the world don't care where the car beside them will be after five hours!! What's the point of this again?

Gosh! Math just has me so worked up! It's not exactly my best subject. I'm more of an A student in everything else except Math – I usually get B or something.

Finished! Ha, ha! In your face Ms. Lane!! Didn't think I'd be able to tackle that tricky question down??? God, I hate our Math teacher, she's old, strict, uptight, and scary.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck and closing my eyes but my very, VERY short moment of relaxing was rudely interrupted by my cell phone ringing.

"Hello?" I answered lazily. Hey, the homework's using all of my energy here!

"Hey, Miley, want to grab a smoothie at Rico's," Lilly's cheery voice called from the other line.

"Sure, I kinda want to head down to the beach anyway. Homework's getting to my nerves, I need to relax a bit," I said with a sigh. "Have you answered the car question for Math? Its killer," I informed her.

"No, but I'm going to – after dinner," Lilly said.

I rolled my eyes. Lilly liked to cram things. For example, if there's a test tomorrow, she'll study tonight – after dinner. Then, she acts all panicky and everything. Sigh, it's not good for her heart you know. I tried to tell her, but you know Lilly.

"Sure, Lils, meet you there in ten," I said before I hung up.

I threw down my pen and stretched before going to my closet to fetch my blue bikini. I put it on before throwing on a pair of board shorts and a white spaghetti strap top. I grabbed my white flip flops and headed downstairs.

"Dad, I'm going to the beach!" I yelled as I slipped my flip flops on.

"Dinner's at seven!" Dad yelled back as I rushed outside. When I reached Rico's, Lilly was already there talking to Oliver. They were just laughing and smiling. Aw, another sweet Lilly/Oliver moment! Loliver - snicker - that sounds nice. Dang, they really, REALLY need to get together!

"Hey guys," I said in my teasing sing-song voice as I approached the two of them. They faced me, smiles still plastered on their faces.

"Hey Miley," they both said in unison. I plopped down on the seat next to Lilly and looked at them.

"Carry on," I said to them when they remained silent.

"Well, I was just telling Lilly here about the movie Chicken Little," Oliver said. Lilly giggled, you know… the girly kind – whoa, Lilly – skater girl… giggly? God, Oliver has such an effect on this woman!

"Ollie here says that Chicken Little was just so adorable," Lilly said in between giggles. Oliver poked her on the side.

"Ollie, what kind of name is that!" Oliver complained. Lilly stuck her tongue out.

"Well, I think it's better than doughnut!" Lilly said. Oliver just pinched her cheek.

"Well, I like doughnut better, Lillian. Never call me that again!"

"You can't make me!"

"You're a lousy nickname maker,"

"Ollie, Ollie, Ollie!!!!"

I just rolled my eyes at them. They're flirting over a freaking nickname. Sheesh, when will these two ever see that they're so in love with each other and then get together, then get engaged, then get married, THEN have sex! If they want, they could just shag each other now and cut the drama but then it's not, you know, really morally right.

"How 'bout you make up and forget you ever had this conversation?" I suggested. They both looked at me with identical shocked expressions. What? It's not like Ollie and doughnut and Chicken Little are really big deals.

"Make-out!?" they yelled in unison.

"Miles, that's absurd!"

"We'll never do that!"

"That's just so – so – gah!"

"Miley!"

Make-out? I said make up as in stop fighting and everything! Out – up… see the difference? See, what did I tell you? These two are just dying to rip each others clothes off. Sexual tension, I tell you.

"I said make UP! You know, stop arguing and all," I said.

"Oh,"

Silence, a most awkward and deafening moment of silence…

And then, just as when I was sure enough that Lilly Truscott and Oliver Oken would seize each other and lavish each others' lips…

"Who wants to go surfing?" Oliver yelled loudly to cover up for the horrible hearing malfunction they both had. Lilly laughed nervously.

Well, too much for my overly active imagination – and it's creative too! Lavish – see, I came up with a big word!

"Come on!" she yelled and in no less than a second, they were speeding off to the direction of the beach leaving me sitting here, dumbfounded.

Sweet niblets! Thwarted again!! Loliver was yet again – postponed. What a sad and tragic story.

"Well, so much for a smoothie," I sighed. "Goodbye, Strawberry goodness… we shall meet again when my two friends are not so dense,"

Gosh, why am I feeling a little – literature-ish – right now?

(Jake's POV)

I sighed deeply as I turned another page of the novel I was reading – the Catcher in the Rye. It's a nice story about a guy named Holden. Seriously, I like it so much but right now, all it reminded me was of my life and how I very much wish I could just run away like he did. But then the whole world would be able to recognize me and all would be ruined.

Don't you wish everything was just as free as it seems in the novel? Like you could go anywhere and do anything? Yeah – it's pretty goddam depressing.

I need to go somewhere – anywhere!

I stood up and paced around my spacious room, the thin book still in my hand. I like my room, it's spacious and homey. I've got a huge bed and a bookshelf full of books – those are my favorite part of the room. Then I've got a television, a play station 2, a DVD player and a rack full of movies – I'm a movie buff!

I looked out my huge window on one side and spotted the beach. Yeah! The beach sounded like a perfect idea.

So in five minutes, I was down at the beach, getting sand between my toes. I inhaled the sweet scent of the ocean and looked around. Not much people were around and I've noticed a few number of people we're surfing. I've tried surfing before and I really enjoyed it, maybe I would try it sometime again.

I noticed that there was this surf shop and I decided to check it out. Hey, I've got nothing better to do. Surprisingly, I reached the bar of the shop without being mobbed, swooned over and clung on.

Instantly, I noticed Miley sitting on a stool. Her brown wavy hair kinda stood out over the reds and the blondes and the highlighted sorts.

"Hey Miley!" I greeted happily. She turned around and faced me. I tried not to look too hopeful as I see that her face held no sign that she was about to blow or something. Woohoo! She isn't going to eat me!

"Jake," she greeted neutrally. I beamed at her and sat down on the stool beside her.

"Two strawberry smoothies please," I said. The waiter dude nodded and set to work.

"No fan girls?" Miley asked me. I turned to her and shrugged.

"The heavens must've answered my prayers then," I said with a small grin. Miley chuckled and shook her head.

"You're delusional," she said.

"And not being mobbed," I added as the waiter dude came back with our drinks. I handed the other glass to her. "It's on me," I said. She just took it and muttered thanks.

(Miley's POV)

I sipped my smoothie quietly and just stared at a spot on the counter. Jake Ryan just bought me a smoothie. The Jake Ryan! Frankly, strawberry smoothie never tasted as good as it was now.

Wait! Stooop!!

Aw, don't tell me I'm buying his crap? Come on, I think I've already established that he was a pretty boy who just liked being the center of attention and who thinks of no one but himself. Arrogant, that's what he is.

Are all famous people like him arrogant? I mean, when I watch television and I see Brad Pitt, I don't think he's supercilious or something.

Come to think of it, neither is Jake Ryan when you look at him. He actually looks like – dare I say it – good-natured. It's just when he becomes bigheaded and conceited that he becomes really annoying.

But right now, he looks good-natured alright!

Besides, now that I think of it, Jake has been kind to me all day. I mean, he did try to make up for the whole locker issue. Don't get me wrong, I'm still bummed about my locker but it isn't a good reason to take it out on Jake.

I'm becoming prejudiced!

"Want to go for a walk?" Jake offered. I just shrugged. I mean, all I've been to him all day was rude and well, maybe a walk on the beach won't hurt, right?

"Jake Ryan!!!"

Jake groaned loudly and faced me. "I'm sorry about this, Miley," he said to me. I just waved my hand dismissively. I mean, it's not his fault he's famous and every girl in the freaking planet wants him. Gosh, I feel sorry for her girlfriend.

I watched as Jake smiled at the group of girls gathered around him. Jake laughed at some comments the girls made and all in all, he was pretty nice to them. He wasn't snobby or something nor was he acting all superior. Hmm, I might just be wrong about him after all.

Jake waved goodbye to them and joined me once more. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me over a deserted part of the beach.

"Finally, some peace and quiet," he sighed as he plopped down on the sand. I sat down beside him and looked out at the ocean. It was almost sunset now and the sky was a mixture of tantalizing hues of oranges and reds. I looked at him and saw that he was doing the same – looking at the sky, I mean.

"I'm not mad at you anymore, you know," I said. He turned to me and smiled.

"I figured you won't be anymore," Jake said with his zombie-slaying smile. Gah! It's making me – weak! For the best, I looked down and played with the sand.

"I'm not a bad person, Miley," Jake said softly. I turned to him and found myself staring into his deep green eyes. I couldn't explain their hue exactly – like only Jake can possess that shade of green… Jake green. They're splattered with flecks of gold and yep – still making me melt here!

I smiled at him. Suddenly, him saying that was almost easy to believe.

TBC

AN: Yeah, I know… it's kinda messy! Well, at least Miley and Jake aren't fighting anymore… and Lilly and Oliver... heehee

Feel free to leave a comment. Till next chapter!