Chapter 5

The next day, Miley had a slightly improved outlook on Malibu. It wouldn't be so bad if she had Lilly. Where did that come from? Miley chalked it up to the newfound delight of making a friend. A potentially good friend. No…a potentially great friend. Wait…an absolutely amazing friend.

She showered and dressed and stood in front of her mirror, wondering if she should try a new hairdo. Her hair, naturally, was long and wavy. She wondered about straightening it. Her hair was easily manipulated when it was straight. It covered her face just the way she wanted it to. Wavy was kind of unpredictable. She lifted her hair above her face, bringing it back into a ponytail. No. I'm so not ready for that.

She decided to flat-iron it. It would be better that way. Easier to hide beneath.

When that was finished, she headed downstairs to find her father cooking is famous pancakes and began to think of Lilly again. Checking her watch, she figured Lilly would be arriving any minute if she wanted to have breakfast. Jackson stumbled down after her, his blonde hair perfectly messy, his headphones already attached to his ears. He shuffled over to the table and plopped down, resting his head on his hands, closing his eyes.

"Morning guys." Robbie Ray greeted, flipping a pancake. "Miles, is Lilly coming for breakfast?"

Miley shrugged, about to answer, when the house phone began to ring. She smiled, pressing the speakerphone button. "Hello?"

"Hey! Lilly landing in 5!" Lilly said and hung up.

Miley and Robbie Ray shared a confused glance. "What's a 'Lilly Landing'?" Robbie Ray asked.

Miley shrugged again. "I don't--"

BANG!

Miley jumped back, snapping her head toward the sound. Robbie Ray nearly lost a pancake. Jackson didn't react. He opened one eye, and then shut it again. "What in the Sam Hell…" Robbie Ray mumbled, switching the burner off and walking toward the living room.

It wasn't until Miley saw a skateboard and a converse-clad foot that she realized what had happened. Lilly had skated and landed face first into the French doors. She gasped, running toward the door. She opened it to find Lilly trying to stand. "Lilly! Are you all right?" She offered a hand, which Lilly appreciatively grabbed.

Lilly laughed, nodding. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I probably shoulda told ya what a 'Lilly Landing' was before I actually did it."

"Ya think?" Miley asked sarcastically, holding Lilly's upper arm, helping her inside where Robbie Ray was waiting.

"You okay darlin?" He asked, checking her over for injuries.

Lilly scoffed. "Oh yeah. It's takes much, much more than that to take Lilly Truscott down. I'm just glad I didn't break your doors."

"It's just a suggestion, but have you ever considered just walking into a house?" Robbie Ray asked.

Lilly shrugged. "Sorry. It's habit. I do it to my other friends too. I'm sorry…ooh, pancakes!" Just like that, Lilly switched gears. She walked toward the kitchen, leaving a bewildered and slightly amused Miley and Robbie in her wake.

"Morning Jackson." Lilly greeted as she sat down at the table across from Jackson. He opened one eye again.

"Do I know you?"

"I'm Lilly. Miley's friend."

Jackson didn't answer. Instead, he closed his eye again.

"And you're obviously not a morning person." She muttered, turning her attentions to Robbie Ray, who was making plates for everyone. Miley took a seat next to Lilly, looking at her apologetically. "Sorry…my brother has absolutely no manners." She shot Jackson a glare that could've killed a person.

"It's cool." Lilly said. She didn't care really. She wasn't trying to win Jackson's heart, though she figured she should try to get on his good side, seeing as he was Miley's brother and all. It had been a long, long time since Lilly really liked someone; she didn't want to muck it up on a familial technicality. Besides, Jackson would warm up to her sooner or later. He would, wouldn't he?

She decided to focus on the pancakes instead…the delicious smelling pancakes that had just been placed in front of her by Mr. Stewart.

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Lilly finished her plate, and had two more after, exclaiming how unbelievably delicious they were after almost every bite. "Seriously…what did you do to them?"

"A good cook never reveals his secret." Robbie Ray said, smiling proudly.

"Isn't it a good magician Dad?" Miley corrected.

"It's the same thing. Those pancakes were magical." Lilly said and both Robbie Ray and Miley laughed.

Robbie shook his head playfully at Lilly's antics, but suddenly remembered the time. He looked at his watch. By his calculations, the kids should have left ten minutes ago. "Guys, y'all better get a move on or you're gonna be late for school." He turned and tapped his watch to exaggerate his point.

"Shoot!" Lilly shouted, hopping off the chair. She grabbed Miley's hand; too busy to notice the tingle she felt when she did, and pulled her toward the door. "Let's go!"

"Uh…school bags!" Miley shouted just as they were about to reach the door.

"Right!" Lilly said, letting go of Miley's hand and running to get her stuff. She threw her helmet on backwards and grabbed her skateboard and schoolbag, flinging it over her shoulder and stuffing the board under her arm. "Bye Mr. Stewart!"

"Bye Daddy!" Miley yelled as she and Lilly ran out the door.

"Bye girls! Have a good day!" He shouted after them, laughing at little at their hasty exit. He turned to start cleaning the kitchen when he noticed Jackson still sitting at the table. He had returned to his initial position at the table, head in hands, eyes closed. "Jackson…you're gonna be late. Wake up."

Jackson opened his eyes, inhaling loudly. He looked at his father expectantly. "I thought you were driving me."

Robbie shook his head. "Sorry kiddo. I gotta head down to the studio early today."

"Coulda fuckin told me that before." Jackson mumbled, sliding off the chair.

Robbie's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Jackson rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Nothing. Bye." He grabbed his book bag and was out the door before Robbie had time to properly react.

"Jackson Rod Stewart…Jack--" Robbie Ray exhaled in frustration, putting his head down. "Dammit."

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When the girls finally reached school, they were two minutes late. Breathless, Lilly and Miley stopped just before the door to see the security guard handing out late passes to incoming students. "Crap." Lilly cursed. "I can't be late again."

"I'm late too!" Miley whined. "But what are we gonna do about it?"

Lilly checked her wristwatch. "The late bell hasn't rung yet…but if we go this way, it's gonna take at least ten minutes to fill everything out. And then we'll definitely be late. Damn…" She looked around. "Uh…follow me." She grabbed Miley's hand and pulled her toward the side wall of the school.

Within seconds, they were by the dumpsters. Just beyond them was a crook in the wall, which held a currently open door. Lilly pressed a finger to her lips and turned to Miley, motioning for her to follow quietly. The ducked just as a janitor came out of the door, lighting a cigarette. He turned his back to exhale, and both girls slipped by, unnoticed.

They ran down the hallway until they reached a crowd of students, realizing then that they were safe to walk, and that they weren't going to be late.

As they headed to homeroom, Miley figured it was safe to talk again. "How'd you know to go in through that way?"

Lilly shrugged. "I'm almost always late, and that door's usually open. I usually cut out through there too. Security doesn't pass by there that often. I told you about this, right?"

Miley nodded. Lilly seemed to know everything. She was good to have around.

They reached their destination, but just before they could enter the classroom, a hand had grabbed Miley's shoulder. She jumped and turned, involuntarily grabbing Lilly's arm for protection. Lilly jumped too, and spun, rolling her eyes when she saw who the culprit was. It was Oliver. She smacked his shoulder. "Jesus! You scared the crap out of us!"

"Sorry!" Oliver whined, rubbing his shoulder. "I-I just wanted to apologize to Miley." He said, looking Miley over. "I w-was gonna tell you yesterday, but I didn't really see you after homeroom. I'm sorry about what I said yesterday. I think I embarrassed you. I don't mean to say stuff like that…it just comes out."

"S'okay." Miley muttered, looking down. She was still gripping Lilly's arm, and was now hiding behind her veil of hair again.

"I'm Oliver Oscar Oken." He said cheerily, extending his hand. "But all the ladies call me Smokin' Oken."

"If you call his mother and grandmother 'all the ladies' then sure…" Lilly whispered and Oliver frowned.

"You're kinda ruining the rep here!" He whispered harshly.

Miley looked at Lilly before taking his hand and shook it. "Miley Stewart."

Oliver smiled. "Well Miley Stewart, it was nice to meet you. And if you ever need help with your locker, I'll be around. Just call for 'Locker Man' and I'll be there. All right?"

Miley nodded. After that, Oliver walked past them and into class. It was only when he was gone that Miley let go of Lilly's arm, and the warm, comfortable feeling that had been spreading throughout Lilly's body stopped. "Come on." Lilly said, and they went inside.

Miley sat down in the back, and Lilly sat next to her, leaning over to talk. "It's all right. Oliver's cool people. His foot generally resides in his mouth, but he doesn't mean any real harm. Just smack him. That's how I deal with it."

"I'll…keep that in mind." Miley slowly responded, unsure of what to say, or what to think of Oliver Oscar Oken. She supposed he seemed nice enough…but for some strange reason, he scared her. Maybe it was the strength at which he came on. He was one of those guys who tried to be smooth, but really weren't. Miley wasn't sure she liked him just yet…but if Lilly said he was all right, it probably was.

Miley wasn't too keen on trusting people who humiliated her…unintentional or not. Only time would tell.