Chapter 4
Miley sat on her bed watching Lilly walk around the room, wondering what exactly she was doing. She looked down at her hands, at the little white scars that lined them, wondering if she should tell Lilly about the accident. She must be wondering where I got this from, right? No one is that comfortable with it. It's impossible. She has to be curious.
"...nice." Lilly said.
Miley looked up. "Hmm?"
Lilly smiled and laughed slightly. "You do that a lot, don't you?"
"Do what?"
Lilly sat down on the bed next to Miley. "Go inside your head. You think its safe there."
Miley looked at Lilly suspiciously. "What are you, some kind of therapist?" For two years Miley visited with a therapist, and he did nothing for her. She hadn't cared for them since.
Lilly shook her head, rolling her eyes. "No. I got to reading my mother's old psychology books. She took like, one class in college and thought she was Sigmund Freud for like, three months. When the family almost strangled her, and when she got a D in the class, she decided psychology wasn't the best route for her." Lilly took another breath and shrugged. "I don't know. I like them."
Miley watched Lilly ramble in amusment. The words just flowed from her mouth like a river. When she thought it was safe to talk, she said, "You do that a lot, don't you?"
"Huh?"
"Ramble on." Miley teased, and then laughed.
Lilly looked embarrassed for about two seconds before joining in the laughter. "You noticed huh? Sorry. I can't help it. My mother says my mind is like a lake, and my mouth's the broken dam."
"Couldn't a said it better myself." Miley responded and laughed again, but then became nervous. "I'm kidding." She said it as if she were afraid Lilly would get mad and storm out, leaving her alone again.
Lilly understood. "I know." She decided to change the subject before things became uncomfortable. "So...how's Malibu so far? You go down to the beach yet?" She shook her thumb behind her, motioning toward the beach that lay just outside Miley's back bedroom window.
Miley shook her head. "Uh-uh. I'm not really a 'beach' kind of person."
Lilly scoffed. "Please. You live in MALIBU. Everyone's a beach person, and if you aren't, we'll make you one. You've got to try it one day."
Miley looked at Lilly and for some reason couldn't bring herself to say "no" even if that's what she was thinking. "Maybe," was all she could manage, "but not today."
"Fine by me."
The girls stared at one another for a moment, Lilly feeling that odd feeling she got in her stomach whenever she found herself close to someone she liked. Miley was too busy trying to get used to comfortable silence to really notice Lilly's blatant lust-filled stare.
Before her urges got the better of her, Lilly coughed and looked away. "Uh...homework."
"Right." Miley said, grabbing her book bag.
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A while later, when Robbie Ray went to knock on the door to tell the girls dinner would be ready soon, he heard the sound of laughter, and he had to stop to keep himself from crying. He couldn't remember the last time he heard his daughter's laugh. It was one of the most wonderful sounds in the world. Whoever Lilly was, she was magical. She had managed to accomplish in one day what Robbie Ray couldn't accomplish in five years. Maybe all Miley needed was a good friend, and Robbie could tell that Lilly was one of those rare finds. He was glad Miley had found her.
Clearing the lump from his throat, he knocked on the door. "Hey, it's me." Then, he let himself in. Miley was lying stomach down on her bed reading a magazine and Lilly was sitting next to her, pointing out an outfit she obviously hated, because she made a gagging motion. He smiled as both girls looked up at him. "Uh, dinner's going to be ready soon. I made your favorite. Robbie Ray's Eeee Doggies."
Miley nodded, turned to Lilly and then back to Robbie Ray. "Daddy, can Lilly stay for dinner?"
"Of course. We'd love to have ya."
Lilly nodded, whipping out her cell phone. "Cool, just let me call my mom. If I don't contact her by seven-thirty, she sends an ambulance down to the skate park. Excuse me." She got up and walked toward the bedroom window and Miley jumped up to stand beside her father.
"She seems nice." Robbie Ray whispered to his daughter, who smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, she is. Funny too."
Robbie looked at his daughter, who was completely taken by the blonde girl by her window, and he wondered if there wasn't something more to Lilly and Miley than anyone knew. It's only one day though, and it's been a while since Miles had someone "see" her, the real her. We'll see how it goes.
Lilly returned to them, smiling shyly for some reason. "My mom says I can stay on one condition...I get your autograph." She said, looking at Robbie Ray, completely embarrassed.
Robbie Ray laughed. "Of course darlin." He said, slapping Lilly gently on the back. "I was gonna send you home with one anyway."
"Great," Lilly expelled in a breath of relief. She hated when her mother made her do embarrassing things. "So, what kind of 'doggies' are we having?"
"Eeee Doggies." Miley answered before her father could. "Specialy made. Nobody makes 'em like my dad."
Robbie Ray laughed and nodded confidently.
"I'm intrigued." Lilly responded as they headed down the stairs toward the kitchen.
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"Seriously Mr. Stewart," Lilly said after swallowing the last bite of her third hot dog, "does Oscar Mayer know about you? Because if you packaged these babies, the kids would wish to be a Robbie Ray Eeee Doggie, and not that other one."
"You think those are good, you should taste my flapjacks." Robbie Ray said, tooting his own horn as long as there was an audience to toot it for.
"Won first place at the county fair flapjack contest three years in a row." Miley flatly continued. "People would line up just to taste 'em."
"Say no more. Seriously. Otherwise I'll be here for breakfast tomorrow morning expecting a plate of flapjacks waiting for me." When Miley and Robbie Ray laughed, she continued. "You don't believe me?"
"No, I do." Robbie Ray said, putting a hand up. "That's what's so funny."
Lilly shrugged sheepishly, sipping her drink, shaking her head.
Suddenly, Robbie Ray was looking beyond the girls and both turned to see what object caught his attention.
It was Jackson.
"Hey Jackson." Robbie Ray said, his laughter dying down. "Where ya been?"
"Beach." Jackson exhaled, moving to the kitchen.
"We're just having dinner. Want some? Better take some before this one gets her hands on them." He pointed to Lilly, who feigned hurt.
"They're good!" She said defensively, but smiled to show it was playful.
"This is Lilly by the way." Miley introduced her new friend, who waved. Jackson didn't even bother to look up from the hot dog he was preparing. Lilly glanced at Miley who shrugged. Robbie Ray continued on, figuring the best thing to do was change the subject.
"I haven't seen anyone that small pack that much away since my great Aunt Suzie won that pie-eatin contest back in 94."
"Seven blueberry pies in ten minutes." Miley added and Lilly's eyes widened.
"Way to go Aunt Suzie."
"Wanna join us son?" Robbie Ray said just as Jackson was about to disappear upstairs.
"No." Came the reply. Then, Jackson was gone.
What am I going to do with that boy? Robbie Ray thought as he sighed. There was a moment of awkward silence before he decided to break it. "Uh...let's get this cleaned up, huh?"
Miley and Lilly jumped to it. "Sure." Lilly said.
"Yeah." Miley said about the same time.
As they cleaned, Robbie Ray told them stories about his days on the bus with the band, and all of the famous musicians he met. Miley had heard the stories all before, but Lilly was fascinated and actively engaged with Robbie Ray the entire time. Though she never really had friends to confirm it, Miley suspected (mainly from the way it was portrayed on t.v. and in the movies) that teenagers weren't supposed to get along with adults, but Lilly seemed just as comfortable with Robbie Ray as she did with Miley.
She's something I've never known before. Miley thought as she dried the wet dishes, unaware that she had been staring at Lilly for a good five minutes, and that Lilly was noticing.
She's staring at me. Lilly thought excitedly. This is good. This is really good...but no! Hold the phone Truscott. Let's see if we can't take this slowly. You don't want her to freak out, do you? No. And you don't want to take advantage either. Things are looking good. Let's see if we can make them look even better...but not yet. Just keep yourself in control. Lilly pretended not to notice Miley's stare and decided to rejoin Robbie Ray's conversation. "Hmm? I'm sorry Mr. Stewart, I kinda zoned out for a sec. What did you say?"
"I once had a backup singer named Celine Dionowitz." He responded, his eyes glazing over as he reminisced. "She was good. Too good, so I suggested she try to go solo, see if she couldn't jumpstart her career. But her name was too long. I told her to shorten it--"
Miley cut her father off, rolling her eyes. "And the rest is history."
"That..." Robbie Ray said, putting a finger up in the air. "Is a true story."
Lilly gaped. "Really? That's so freakin' cool!"
Robbie Ray laughed at Lilly's exclamation. She really is something else. This is what I was hopin for. She's so full of life. I hope my Miles catches that bug too. "It is, but my children don't believe me."
To this, Miley just rolled her eyes again. Before they knew it, all of the dishes were washed and dry, the leftovers had been put away, and the kitchen was clean again. Lilly checked her wristwatch and gasped. "Shoot, I have to get home."
"All right, lemme get that autograph for you." Robbie Ray said, jogging off to his office to grab one of those headshot photos he usually sent out to fans by mail.
Left alone, Miley was unsure of what to say to Lilly. She thought asking if she would be at her house in the morning sounded desperate. Asking if they were going to see each other in school sounded stupid. Asking anything at all didn't seem right to the introverted girl. She hated that she felt so insecure, while Lilly seemed so comfortable.
In silence, Lilly gathered her things together. "So, I'll see you tomorrow, eh?"
Miley nodded, grateful that she didn't have to initiate the good-byes.
"You walking to school, or does your dad drive you?"
"Ah...uh...I dunno. He drove me today, but maybe we can walk?"
"Well whatever you want's cool." Lilly said, trying to situate her skateboard to make it fit into the straps of her backpack. She placed the loose helmet on her head. "If we walk though, we'll probably have to start out earlier."
Miley nodded. "Yeah."
Robbie Ray then returned. "Here ya go." He handed the signed photograph to Lilly.
"Thanks a lot." Lilly said, looking over the photograph. "Thanks for letting me stay for dinner too."
"Awe, no problem. You're welcome anytime." Robbie said, and Miley looked at him. He was getting all "over-compensating" parent on her. She knew he was just excited that she had found a friend, but some restraint would've been nice.
Lilly took it all in stride. "Good, so I guess I'll see you bright and early for the flapjacks tomorrow."
Robbie laughed. "Sure. Why not?"
"Awesome." Lilly said and opened the door. She turned to wave at Miley one last time. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah." Miley said, suddenly saddened by Lilly's departure.
Then, Lilly was gone.
An awkward silence settled in around father and daughter soon after. It was as if all the air were sucked out of the room. All the life had left the house. And it was missed, terribly.
"I like her." Robbie Ray finally said, and Miley glared at him.
"I saw that. Could you have been a little more embarrassing?" Miley snapped.
Robbie Ray was taken aback. "Wha..."
"You were happier than a woodchuck in a lumber yard! I know she's the first friend I've had in a long, long time, but I don't want you freakin her out with all your crazy stories and your...your...eagerness!" Miley said, the anger evident in her voice, even if it didn't rise a decibel above normal.
"Miles...I-I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean ta seem so...happy...no, that's comin out wrong. I mean, I am happy for you, but I didn't realize it was showin so much it was freakin Lilly out. Did she tell you that?"
Miley crossed her arms and looked away. "No...but I think she was just bein nice." She's probably not gonna talk to me tomorrow. My dad scared her off. She's gonna avoid me and tell everyone what freaks me and my family are.
"I'm sorry." Robbie Ray said, putting a hand on Miley's shoulder. He knew it was her nerves talking. "But I don't think Lilly was freaked out. And I don't think she scares so easy."
Miley exhaled, looking down. I hope you're right. "Okay."
"But I am sorry. I guess I came on a bit strong, huh?"
"Ya think?"
"I'll be better next time, I swear." Robbie Ray said, putting his right hand up, as if taking an oath.
"Okay." Miley sighed. "Look, I'm tired, and I still got a bit a homework to finish. I'm going up to my room."
"All right. I'll be in later to say good night, okay?"
"Okay." Miley started up the stairs before Robbie called out to her.
"Miles?"
She turned. "Yeah?"
"How's Malibu so far?"
It sucks...except for Lilly. "Okay." She lied.
"Okay." Robbie exhaled.
When she thought it was safe, she continued up the stairs to her room. On her way to her room, she almost ran into Jackson. "Hey, thanks for sticking by me in school, and making sure I was okay and all that." She spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jackson scowled, but softened when he looked at her. He didn't abandon her in school just to be mean. The truth was he couldn't stand her being ridiculed. He still felt guilty about not being in the car that night. If he had gone along for the ride, maybe he would've been the scarred one, because he would've been in front. There would've been no way Miley would've gotten the front if Jackson went. He had permanent shotgun. But he didn't go...and his mother was dead, and his sister was ruined. She would never be the same. Jackson remembered her before the accident. She was annoying, but happy. And she was loud. Now, she barely spoke above a whisper.
There were nights when Jackson prayed and prayed for God to change everything around. He would give anything to take that scar away. Anything at all. But he couldn't...and if he stuck by Miley in the hallway at school, and someone made fun of her, he would've killed them.
That's all his father would need...to be in the principal's office on Jackson's first day of school.
So, he decided the best thing was to leave her. It probably wasn't the right thing to do, but it was the only thing he could think to do at the time. Plus, she had that friend now...so maybe it wasn't that wrong after all.
"Whatever." He said, and moved around her to go downstairs.
"Dick." Miley muttered under her breath and walked to her room.
Jackson heard it, but didn't care. Maybe he was a dick, but he didn't know any other way to be.
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When Miley reached her bedroom, her phone started to ring. She looked at it in disbelief. Someone was calling her. It was Lilly. She unconsciously smiled as she answered. "Hello?"
"Hey there, just wanted to know if we were walking to school tomorrow, or what?"
Miley thought about it for a second. "Um...walking."
"Awesome." Lilly replied. "Oh, and tell you dad my mom nearly fainted when she saw the autographed photo...she's out at the store buying a frame for it right now."
Miley laughed. "I will."
"Okay...and make sure to remind your dad he's making pancakes for me tomorrow morning."
Miley smiled. "Okay." I guess she wasn't freaked out by my dad after all. "Good night."
"Night Miley." Lilly said...and a warm feeling started to form in the pit of Miley's stomach.
Miley hung up, and went to grab her school books, completely unaware that she was still smiling from ear to ear.
Author's Note: To those who don't like Jackson's attitude at the moment...it will change. You just have to give it time. He'll get better. Have a happy 4th to fellow Americans...and a nice day to everyone else. (I know we all don't celebrate independence day...that would just be odd.) :)