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Lilly gasped and nudged Miley, who had been telling a joke to Sarah and Renae.
"Lil, can't you see I'm in the middle of a --- Oh my God." Miley turned and jumped up. Oliver had blood dripping off of his knuckles, and Jake was covering his nose with his hand.
"What the hell was that for?" Jake asked, his voice muffled.
"Don't you ever talk about her that way again!" Oliver was shaking blood off his hand, and the cashier from the hot chocolate counter brought a roll of paper towels over to Jake.
Miley and Lilly rushed over to Oliver. "Are you okay?" Miley asked. She was talking to Oliver but she glanced over at Jake. Blood was dripping down his face. He looked scared.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just leave me alone." Oliver pushed past them and went out into the freezing cold.
Lilly watched as he left, her heart beating faster. She saw Jake run after him, but she couldn't make a sound. Miley saw it too, but like Lilly she couldn't move. Time seemed to be moving in slow motion. The kids who had been watching now pressed their faces to the huge window. A few girls screamed and the guys were shouting. The few adults that had been in the lodge ran outside to see what was going on.
Miley and Lilly still couldn't move. Until everyone who had been shouting and screaming all fell silent. The two rushed to the window, afraid of what they might see. They couldn't see anything, the crowd was all bunched right up to the window and no one would let them through.
The door swung open once again and a ski instructor yelled, "Somebody call 911!"
"Miles, what's going on?" Mr. Stewart said immediately as he came throough the door of the Colorado General Hospital.
"We don't know anything yet. There was a fight at the lodge between Oliver and Jake. An ambulance came and took them both. Mr. Corelli drove me and Lilly over a few hours ago." Miley answered shakily. "Where's Mr. and Mrs. Oken?"
Mr. Stewart drew Miley in for a hug. "They're in Hawaii for their anniversary. I tried to reach them but their out on a yacht with no phone. Where's that teacher 'o yours?"
Mr. Stewart went over to Mr. Corelli and Lilly and Miley sat back down. They had been waiting in the lobby of the emergency room for two hours. No one was able to tell them what exactly had happened yet.
Lilly layed her head on Miley's shoulder. "They're going to be okay, right?"
"I hope so."
"Girls...Miley? Lilly? Wake up..." Mr. Stewart nudged them both gently awake.
"Mmm?" Miley sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?" She yawned and tapped Lilly on the shoulder. Lilly sat up and rubbed the side of her face. The design from the ugly hospital chairs was pressed into her cheek.
"It's about three am. I talked to the doctor a few minutes ago..." Mr. Stewart said quietly.
"Are they okay?" Lilly said before he could finish.
Mr. Stewart took a deep breath. "Oliver has a broken hand, split lip, broken leg, and a mild concussion. He's unconcious right now. Jake has a broken nose, broken wrist, black eye and he may have slight brain damage. He's unconcious too, though the doctors have no idea what could have caused the concussion or brain damage."
Miley and Lilly were silent.
"They both should be okay, but it's too early to tell. Since they're both unconcious it could mean something bad." Mr. Stewart finished quietly, dropping his voice at the last few words.
"Wow. They must have hit each other hard." That was all Miley could say.
"Bud, I know you must be worried about Jake... I'm here for you." Her father said, placing his hand on her shoulder.
That's when it occured to Miley that he didn't know about the break up yet.
Miley shook her head. "I'm fine dad."
Thoughts ran like wild horses through Lilly's mind. Please let them...both of them...be alright. Why were they fighting? What did Jake do to make Oliver hit him? Why did Jake follow him outside?
"Now, this is very important. Do either of you know why they were fighting? Since Oliver swung first, Jake's family could sue. Unless it was in self defense, like of a threat or something."
The two shook their heads in unison.
"Okay... well I'm going to go see if this place has any decent coffee. I'll be right back." Mr. Stewart gave them each a hug and took off down the shiny white hallway.
Lilly looked over at Mr. Corelli, who seemed to be bothering a woman. "Nurse, do you know where there might be any donuts around here?"
The next day, Mr. Stewart drove Miley and Lilly back to the lodge. He came inside to tell everyone what was going on.
"Oliver and Jake are both probably going to be fine. Broken bones, split lip, black eye, they got it all. Including a mild concussion and possible slight brain damage." Mr. Stewart gave the same speal he had given Miley and Lilly.
Everyone was silent. Even the fire that was crackling in the backround was more quiet than usual. Girls were snuggled up to guys, afraid of what may become of the situation. Would they have to leave a day early? Would Jake and Oliver be suspended from school? But the thing most people were wondering about was why Oliver hit Jake in the first place...
"Okay, guys. I need as much information as you can give me. If anyone knows why Oliver swung first you need to explain it to me. He could be in a lot of trouble if you don't." Mr. Stewart crossed his arms and stared at everyone.
Everyone stared back. Blankly. Except for one kid, Nathan. Miley remembered seeing him next to Jake after Oliver hit him. Maybe he knows something...
Sure enough, Nathan raised his hand. "I know why he hit him."
"Well, whatcha waitin for? Tell me so this can be over with." Mr. Stewart said.
"I'm not gonna tell you. I don't even know you." Nathan shot back.
"Then tell me." Lilly said, shrugging.
Nathan quickly shook his head, and mumbled something she couldn't understand.
"Tell me." Miley said. Nathan nodded slowly. Miley followed him back into the arcade, the farthest place from everyone else he could have chosen.
Nathan took a deep breath. "They were fightin' about that blonde friend of yours. Lilly."
Miley was shocked. "What did they say?"
"Oh, there wasn't much talking, trust me. Jake called her a slut and then Oliver hit him. That's it."
Miley stood there silently. She couldn't believe Jake would call her best friend something that horrible.
Nathan and Miley heard some shouting from the main room of the lodge. They both ran to see what was going on.
Mr. Corelli was standing there, holding his donuts of course. "Good news, people! Oliver is concious now and he'll be just fine. Jake is also concious and the tests for brain damage came back negative. They'll be brought back to the lodge tomorrow morning."
Everyone cheered. Relief swept over Miley and Lilly. They looked at each other from opposite ends of the room with broad smiles on their faces.
"Wait, tommorow morning? We're supposed to leave tomorrow morning. Does that mean we're staying longer?" Someone asked.
Mr. Corelli grinned. "That was the suprise we wanted to share with you yesterday before all this happened. The school board called and said they decided it would be all right for us to stay the whole week. We don't have to leave till Saturday night now."
Cheers erupted again. Things couldn't be better right now. Jake and Oliver were going to be okay. They could make up for wasted time with the few extra days the school board gave them. The one thing in Miley's mind that wasn't so perfect...was how Jake called Lilly that. But, Oliver stood up for her. Miley smiled. Maybe there is hope that relationship yet. She'd have to get to work as soon as Oliver gets back.