Chapter 6

Learning to Trust

After a few weeks, my paranoia about Matt died down. I didn't know why I was so paranoid in the first place, I mean I guess it did have to do with Matt coming out of jail, but nothing happened yet so now I just don't care.

I know, I know I shouldn't let my guard down, but I don't know what else I need to do. All I need is Jake and I'm good.

I was walking toward Rico's to meet up with Oliver and Lilly so that we could hang out for a bit before catching a movie. Jake couldn't come because he was busy shooting an episode for Zombie College.

As Jake grew, so did Zombie High and now the character he plays is in college and is still in the zombie business. Weird, I know. I would have thought people were getting tired with Zombie High, but then again it does star the oh-so famous Jake Ryan. He's hot and he's all mine.

I grinned and soon Oliver and Lilly were in the clearing. They were sitting on the stools of Rico's while Rico himself torture the two.

I finally reached them and Rico was complaining about the finals as well. Small little smart dude complaining for finals. It's weird, he's usually pumped for tests because he's really smart. It's kind of weird when I think of him like this.

"Hey guys." I said breaking the tension between the three. I sat down next to Lilly and stole one of her fries that she was eating.

"Hey Miley." Lilly said and sighed.

"Hi." Both Rico and Oliver said in unison.

I looked at the three and rolled my eyes. They looked irritated and angry at each other as if someone did something wrong.

"Will you guys chill? You're going to scare away the customers." I said which soon gained Rico's attention.

"Customers? Where?" He asked and shot up.

I rolled my eyes. "Exactly. You guys keep on fighting about whatever, you're going to scare away your customers." I turned to Rico. "Ever since finals came up, you've been so angry, I mean you even threw a freaking cone at a little girl." I said and Lilly giggled.

"She's my age and I didn't throw it at her! I just… gave it to her and it flew in the air. It's not my fault if it landed on her shirt." Rico shot back and crossed his arms.

"Yeah, real smooth." Oliver stated and Rico glared at him.

"You know I can kick you off my property?" Rico snapped at Oliver.

"Oh yeah right."

"Will you two just shut up?" I asked the boys as I slammed my hands against the counter. This was seriously pissing me off and I don't want to get angry on my only day off.

Rico rolled his eyes and cupped his face as he leaned forward on the counter. "Sorry."

We sat there in silence with me still picking at Lilly's fries. If only there were something better to do than worry about the finals and just relax about everything else. Everyone is just so tense.

"You know what I miss?" Lilly finally said as she broke the silence.

"What?" I asked and watched her sip her drink.

"When Jackson worked here. It's like ever since he went to college, all he does is not hang with us anymore." She said and sighed.

"You only miss him because he used to give you free stuff and you used to date him." I rolled my eyes at her and she shot me a look.

"Shut up." She hit my shoulder. "He was a flirt and I'm with a way better guy now." She turned to Oliver and kissed his cheek.

"Yes, I'm better." Oliver laughed.

"Ew, I don't want to know what he's better in." I stared at them in disgust as they doubled up in laughter. Seriously, it was as if a mental image in my mind had gone wrong and corrupted my brain. Ew. I shivered.

"You two make me sick." Rico gagged at Oliver and Lilly and finally left the three of us.

"Yes, he's gone!" Oliver threw his fists in the air and smiled.

"Oh, calm down there Oliver." Lilly patted his shoulder.

"I agree with Rico. It's okay as long as you guys don't make out, I'm happy." I side eyed the two, making Lilly laugh and push Oliver away from her.

"Okay Miss PDA hater. I'm just showing how much I love Ollie." Lilly pouted.

I shivered and took another fry from Lilly. I stared straight ahead and sighed. I hate feeling like the third wheel, it's just so weird. If Jake was here then it would be much more fun than being here alone, but I don't always get what I want.

Suddenly, I felt two big hands go over my eyes and I screamed.

The person leaned in. "Guess who." He, I'm assuming it's a he because it sounded like a guy, said.

I smiled and realized who it was. "Hmm, I have no clue." I bit back my smile and felt him twist my head. He kissed me and chuckled.

"How about now?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know, but you kiss way better than my boyfriend." I said and felt around for his face and pulled him into another kiss.

He jerked away and pulled his hands from my eyes, revealing Jake. "Hey." He frowned and put his an

"I was just kidding Jake, I knew it was you." I said and he smiled.

"In that case…" He leaned in for another kiss.

I grinned against his lips and pushed him down to the seat next to me. "Stop it." I shook my head. "I thought you were working today?" I asked and he shrugged.

"Sorry." He sighed. "Well, I finished early. My manager said that I could leave, something like he needs to see something or whatever?" He shrugged.

"Oh, so are you coming to the movies with us?" I asked him and he shook his head.

"I was sorta hoping we could hang out." He smiled and took my hands in his. "I wanted to hang out with you; you know only the two of us." He winked.

I giggled. "Sure, I guess."

"So are you two not coming to the movies with us?" Lilly asked as she poked into our conversation.

I turned to her and shook my head. "We're going to hang. Is that alright?" I asked her and she shrugged.

"Okay, we'll go then, see you later!" Lilly said and took Oliver's hand, walking off toward the beach.

"Sure?" I said and shook my head.

I turned to Jake and started to talk to him about our plans for tomorrow. We had an interview tomorrow on a show about my upcoming album and his new season of Zombie College. As usual the interviewer would probably ask us about our relationship and whatnot which is somewhat irritating. I hate it when someone asks us about our relationship, its normal relationship, nothing big is happening, but they just don't care. We're teenagers who love each other and that's it, but the interviewer always makes it a big deal. I wonder how it would turn out tomorrow.

"Should I wear my wig or what? The last time I went on that show they wanted to see me put on my wig, but I didn't have it." I told Jake.

He laughed and reached forward, taking a strand of my hair with his fingers.

"I think by now the whole world knows who you are Miley." He chuckled.

"But still, it makes me think." I replied and looked passed him seeing Luann walking toward us with a boy next to her, holding his hand. "Who the heck is that with Luann?"

When it comes to Luann and dating, it takes me a while to trust a guy him. After what happened with Matt, I figured Luann were into older guys because all she does is date older guys. There was Matt our freshman year, her tutor our sophomore year, this 21 year old dude our junior year, and now this guy. I wonder who he is.

Jake turned around to look at Luann. "Just some guy I suppose." He said and let go of my hand.

"Luann!" I shouted for her and she saw us.

She grinned and pulled the guy with her toward us.

"Hey guys." She said while dropping the boy's hand.

"Who is this?" I asked as I eyed the boy.

He was tall, about Jake's height and good looking. He had long brown shaggy hair and nicely toned skin, and looked a little too thin, but over all he was good looking. He had stubble and it made me think, how old is he?

"This is my boyfriend Timmy; he's a senior at our school." She grinned.

Timmy nodded toward us and stuck his hands in his pockets. He kept his gaze down to his feet and looked completely shy. Since when did Luann date shy guys?

"How come I haven't seen him around?" Jake asked and raised an eyebrow.

"I hang out in the library or other classes sometimes." Timmy shrugged and ran his hands through his hair.

"Okay then." I raised my eyebrows and stood up. I should ask Roxie to do a background check on him or something.

"And you're dating him?" Jake asked and I hit his chest. "What? She's dating a dude who hangs out in classes and isn't older than her, you don't find that weird?" He whispered and I hit him once again.

"I'll see you later Okay?" I smiled at them and Luann nodded.

I took a hold of Jake's arm and pulled him away from the couple.

"I can't believe you said that!" I snapped and he pulled his arm away.

"Sorry I just find it weird that she's dating someone like him. She usually goes for the-" He started, but I cut him off.

"Smart older guys. He's smart and he's our age, maybe she changed with the whole age thing. I'll get Roxie to do a background check on him." I said and Jake slipped his hand in mine.

"Must we always do this whenever Luann dates someone?" Jake asked as we started to walk along the beach.

"No. I know we could just go ask him questions, but what if he's not truthful enough?" I asked and he stopped and turned to me.

"Look Miley, I know this is hard for you, especially with Matt out again, but sometimes we have to learn to trust people on our own you know? Not always going around and get background checks for normal people." Jake said and pulled me into a hug.

"But what If he's not clean, what if he has a dirty record?" I asked and laid my head on his shoulder.

He sighed. "Then we still have to trust him. I know you have a bad past about trusting, but you have to learn to trust on your own. Luann's picking out better boyfriends now, so just relax okay?" Jake kissed my forehead and I lifted my head up.

"Okay, okay." I took his hand once again as we walked along the shore. "But you know what I find funny?" I asked and he looked at me.

"What?"

"You started out being suspicious about Timmy and then you ended with learning to trust him." I smiled.

He chuckled. "Miley, Miley, Miley." He shook his head and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

A/N Hm, do you think Miley should trust Timmy? I know short chapter, just wanted to introduce this new character. Sorry if it was boring :(