Lily Truscott couldn't breathe.

She had sat down next to him in the movies, breathing in his cologne, a mixture of pine trees and something that smelled like grapefruit. Whatever the scent, it drew her in like an intoxicating cloud, and she couldn't help but feel slightly light headed and dizzy.

Miley was on his left of course, with the completely obsessed Oliver next to her. Jake and Miley probably didn't understand why they had both chosen to sit on opposite ends of the couple, but it wasn't because they didn't want to sit next to each other. Oliver wanted to be close to Miley, and Lily wanted to be close to Jake.

Because being close to Jake was like no other feeling in the world. And Lily remembered all too well the closeness she had shared with him for a short time in the past, before Miley had been swept into the picture, stealing Jake away from her. The injustice of it all brought tears to Lily's eyes.

But what could she do? He was with Miley now, and nothing Lily could ever do would change that.

Lily remembered the day he was stolen away from her. The day to end all days. The day she realized her self worth, or lack of it.

He had tried to let her down gently. Tried to tell Lily that it just wasn't working between them, and they would both be better off parting ways. But she could see it in his eyes. It was Miley. It was Miley and only Miley. Lily wasn't even a part of the real story. Because after all, this was Miley's story, and Lily was just part of the supporting cast. So wasn't it perfect that Miley ended up getting the guy in the end? That Miley had her happy ending?

No. It wasn't. Because Miley's happy ending was Lily's unhappy beginning. And it was all she could do somedays not to scream out at her best friend in frustration. It was all she could do to keep smiling, pretending that everything was alright, when it so clearly wasn't.

No one knew of her secret. No one but Oliver. Oliver, the only person she knew could fully understand where she was coming from. After all, her battle with Jake was much like his battle with Miley. Obsessive and damn frustrating.

She had told him one day after many days and nights of considering whether or not to, and he hadn't really been able to offer Lily any advice.

"I-I'm sorry.", was all he said after she told him.

"Sorry?", Lily asked, not understanding.

He paused and looked at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"Yeah, sorry. I know how hard it can be, this whole situation. And I'm sorry that you have to go through it too Lily, I really am."

Lily had sat there in silence for a few moments, unsure of how to respond.

"But...but don't you think love is something to be glad about?", Lily had said after awhile.

Oliver smiled at her, and leaned forward.

"Only love that's returned.", he said, smiling sadly at her.

Those words had made a big impact on Lily, and she hadn't been able to forget them since. They echoed in her brain at unexpected times, taunting her, torturing her. She heard them everytime she looked at Jake, everytime she pretended to be happy when Miley told her about something romantic Jake had done for her. It was painful, and she couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed with Oliver for putting the idea in her head.

But she knew he was right. She just hated the fact.