Silent Beauty Chapter 5: Picking Up the Pieces, a hannah montana fanfic

I hope people are not getting disappointed about this story. Seriously, if you like the previous (significantly happier) version of this story, PLEASE TELL ME. I will upload that as a new story if the majority agrees to like the previous version more. The only reason I deleted and re-wrote chapters 3, 4 and 5 was because I thought the story has gone off like a train off its tracks; it was no longer the story I wanted it to be.

The reason I am stating the above is because I thought I noticed an alarming drop of popularity in this story, and even though wanting popularity went against my philosophy, I needed at least some recognition so that I may more efficiently think of how the story should progress. Odd, isn't it? How the mind works?

Nevertheless, I will go on, and finish the story in a way I am sure many will be surprised unpleasantly. Now finally, the debt is settled. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Chapter 5! (Told from Robbie Ray's point of view initially)

Disclaimer: I WISH I owned Hannah Montana; that way this would have become a sort of playwright's script for a potential Hannah Montana movie. Unfortunately, that is far from possible, for I do not own the blasted thing, savvy? And while you're at it, I don't own "I Want My Mullet Back" by Billy Ray Cyrus either.

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"I don't want to live a completely normal life just because I can't sing anymore!"

Miley furiously rubbed the ink on her whiteboard away and continued.

"I AM still Hannah! I can still do things! I am still a star!"

It was daybreak. Miley was up early, and storming mad at me for bluntly refusing to work with Jake all because of a moment's indecision. Apparently, she had been up all night, tangled in a web of complications; I could picture her pacing around the room in deep thought. Her eyes looked a tad red and watery.

"Okay, bud. I'm sorry. I was just stupid."

I apologised most sincerely to her. My sleep last night was fitful, and fraught with guilt and all the related emotions. It was only moments before waking up when I heard my dear Sweet's voice speak to me.

Hearing my heavy voice, Miley calmed down and looked into my eyes intently, easily identifying guilt and regret in my overall appearance.

We sat down on the couch and together with Jackson (who sided with Miley for his own benefit), Lilly, Oliver and Roxy (who were visiting since it was a Saturday), we held a family meeting. The only person I wanted to talk to was Miley, but I felt that having witnesses would be better than a one-on-one talk.

I told Miley about Dear Sweet's voice.

"I heard your mom last night."

Instantly her face fell. Was it a look of sympathy, perhaps? Jackson shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"She told me to let you choose. Do you know why I refused Jake last night?"

Miley shook her head slowly. With a heavy sigh, I plunged into full confession.

"I was afraid you might get hurt. I know, I mean, WE all know, Hannah can't sing no more. Hannah can no more be a pop star. You didn't think you could just go up on stage and dance to the music, can you?"

She nodded, but was nevertheless puzzled, unable to understand why she would get hurt.

"I was thinking, if you were to keep on going, if you were to keep on trying to be Hannah, people will eventually get bored of you and leave you in the where-are-they-now shows."

Comprehension dawned upon her visibly. I could sense that everyone in the living room sat up a little straighter. Roxy, who was standing, also shifted slightly, paying rapt attention.

"I thought if people just abandoned Hannah, thinking she just lost her glamour, you wouldn't be able to live with the pain. I didn't want to see you get hurt. The super-star part of your double life will be miserable, and I'm afraid what all that stress will do to you." Tenderly, I held one of her hands.

"Are you sure you'll be alright, bud?"

Miley stared for a moment before letting a warm smile slowly seep onto her face. She nodded a "yes!" at me. Lilly and Oliver began to smile with her.

"Then perhaps your mom was right after all. She said you could do it. And I believe it too. And even if you don't make it, well...your mom said you'll know when you feel proud of yourself for trying. She believes in you, bud."

I could see that Miley was touched. She withdrew her hands and wrote with regained ever-undying fervor on her whiteboard, "Then I shall do it! For Mom, for everyone, and for Hannah!" She punched the air with an air of triumph, joined by the cheers of everyone else.

My insides warmed up in an instant when I saw the blazing look on her face.

"Yeah! That's the stuff! Now we gotta call Jake and strike off that deal before it's too late!" I reached for the phone as she was would-be-squealing in delight.

As I dialed the number, Roxy humorously exclaimed, "Well be darned! Looks like I get to keep my job as bodyguard after all!"

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Miley's POV:

We talked to the Zombie High lot and struck the deal. Around noon, Dad drove Lilly and I (both in our disguises) to the studio where they shot the thing at. Director Carl greeted us most enthusiastically. There, I (as Hannah) was introduced to the cast and crew now that she was to become a permanent member of the show.

"This is John. He's plays Dark Overlord and the biggest villain. This is Keke, she's in charge of the make-up artists. That's Ed over there, he's the microphone guy. Those guys will be the camera crew: Tim, Lee and Gordon."

"Ahh, I believe you know him?"

Carl pointed at Jake Ryan, the Zombie Slayer. With that all-winning charm and smile, and his gorgeous looks, Jake was (once) the man of my affections, despite several attempts to hate him and then get him back in a constant love-tug-of-war. Having appeared on his show once, he knew me quite well and apparently liked my performance as Zerronda. He never knew that the diva star Hannah whom he nearly kissed last time was in fact Miley Stewart, whom he also admitted to more than just liking me.

"Hey Hannah. Welcome to Zombie High!"

We spent half an hour that afternoon signing papers and learning my role in the show. Carl scheduled an episode to be shot at four o'clock, but eager for some action, I asked him if we could shoot the episode immediately. Carl was delighted.

"Splendid! We shall start in -" he looked at his watch, "maybe two hours time." Spotting my slightly crestfallen look, he added, "I'm sorry, but we gotta prepare the costumes and make-up and all that. I expect shooting to commence at three o'clock."

It was a wonderful afternoon. We successfully shot a full episode of Zombie High, this one including another story between the Zombie Slayer and Zerronda. This time, in the scene where the characters were supposed to part, Jake kissed me. The smell of that thunder mint made me go dreamy and dizzy as I returned the stage kiss with unexpected passion.

I saw at the corner of my eye, standing with the crew, Dad turned away purposefully. Jake pulled away from the kiss five seconds later.

"And, CUT!"

Carl was hopping with glee.

"Hannah, you are fabulous! Why, your acting will certainly keep you on those star charts now, won't they?"

Jake was equally impressed.

"Yeah, Hannah. You seemed like you really wanted to kiss me."

Carl declared a holiday for the crew and cast. Jake had to go back to Romania to resume shooting the movie. Due to some time constraint he would be flying tomorrow morning. With the lead actor gone, the show was on hiatus.

"You know, Hannah, about what I told you last time..."

Jake confessed his love for a girl named Miley (who was me) last time when I first played Zerronda on the show. Believing me to be just a fellow star who had lend an ear, he told me how he tried to get me to like him back.

"I kind of miss her. Miley, I mean."

I whirled around and gave him a "say what!?" look.

"You know, I should call her..." he pulled out his cellphone and began to dial my phone number. Hastily, I stopped him, writing on the whiteboard later, "She's probably busy right now. I think you should wait till night."

"How do you know she's busy now?" Jake was puzzled. I slapped my hand on my forehead, trying to squeeze an answer out of my numb undead brain to the mystified Jake. Luckily, Lilly was at hand, and came forward to rescue me.

"Hey, Jake! Just needed to talk to Hannah for a second. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

Without waiting for an answer, she steered me away from the scene. In a frantic frenzy, I wrote, "He doesn't know I'm Miley! What if he calls me? I can't answer him! I'm mute!", hardly able to hold the marker in my shaking hand.

Actually, I never thought of that. Now that I can no longer talk, it was not possible for me to engage in conversation over the phone. So far, no one called me on my cellphone yet. It will be a matter of time before all the people who know me as Miley get suspicious. The Hannah people knew my problem, and called my manager (a.k.a Dad) when wishing to pass news to me.

Luckily, Lilly had the perfect remedy for that. That is, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

"Don't worry. From now on, I will answer all of your Miley calls. Your dad receives the Hannah calls now, doesn't he?"

That's the problem with being mute. You get no privacy when using a phone, unless it did not require any talking on your part, in which case I could just take the call myself.

Lilly's idea did not seem fool-proof when Jake called at eight that night.

"Hello? Oh hey Jake! No, it's Lilly. Sorry, Miley can't talk right now. She had to..." Lilly glanced at me for help, and I mouthed, "Toilet!"

"...go to the toilet! Yeah, could be a while. What was it that you were going to say?"

Jake did not insist on talking to me. That did not mean, though, that he will not try again. I switched off the cellphone to prevent any more trouble.

"Miley, you can't pretend all the the time you can't talk or you have a sore throat or something. People will definitely find out anyway. Why don't you just tell Jake the truth?"

Words on my whiteboard read, "He'll be gone tomorrow morning. I'll tell him some other time."

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Hannah's popularity continued to prosper. Over the next five days, I had four more interviews regarding my revived career, three CD signing sessions, and upon learning that Hannah was going to be a main cast in Zombie High, people began to call me the "Voiceless Princess". I was given the opportunity to continue Hannah's career as an actress by many organisations, including Disney.

Despite dutifully continuing his role as Hannah's manager, Dad let me choose my destiny. I chose the path of a silent actress for Hannah. It was a matter of time before Dad was inspired by my resilience.

People jokingly compared me to Beethoven, the deaf musician and composer. It was ironic that such a brilliant musician should be deprived of his ability to hear music. Just like the way I used to be able to sing, but now had decided to continue on as an actress. They called me all sorts of things in reverence, including "bravery despite difficulty" and "The pop star who lost her voice but not her hope". The headlines screamed, "Return of the Voiceless Princess!", spreading news about Hannah's renewed career and stardom.

Hannah was no longer worshiped as an idol. She was revered and respected by all who read of her brave comeback. She became an inspirational image. My heart burst with joy every time I thought about my successful alter ego part of my double life.

To cap it all, though, I felt happiest when Mom came to me in a dream, ecstatic with joy and very proud of me.

"I am so proud of you, baby girl! I knew your old man was wrong to worry so much! You did it! You broke the limits!"

Mom gave me a warm hug.

"I told your daddy you could do anything as long as you wanted to do it badly enough. I was right, wasn't I?"

"Yes, mom. Thanks for trusting in me."

My influence affected even Dad. Daddy returned to his career, having walked away from it four years ago. Apparently the old fans have been waiting for the Dog to howl again for four years, for he became an instant success. I volunteered to play the guitar with him as Miley on stage. On our first ever concert together, as we walked out onto the stage, we felt the entire concert hall quake, fans literally jumping a foot into the air, screaming all sorts of things, including, "WE'RE READY TO HOWL LIKE A DOG!". Daddy looked at me with pride burning in his eyes, and we readied ourselves to make our mark in history together as father and daughter.

"Alright y'all! Are you ready to howl like a dog?"

"HOOOOOOOWWWWWLL!"

"Yeah that's the way I like it! Hit it Miles!"

Placing my hands on my guitar, I began the first note of the song, after which Daddy miraculously got his groove back, singing like he did so long ago.

Bell bottoms were really cool

Cuttin' class and skippin' school

I 'member packin' that ol' fishing pole

Skinny-dippin' at the swimmin' hole

Back lights, red lights and strobe lights too

Were all the rage for me and you

Only one thing I miss more than that

I want my mullet back!

The crowd's chanting and screaming threatened to drown out the song. When Daddy sang, "I want my mullet back!", the audience followed suit, all the while clapping their hands to the beat of the song.

Daddy really enjoyed himself. He put all his energy into this chorus:

I want my mullet back

I ol' Camero and my eight-track

Fuzzy dice hanging loose and proud

ZZ Top, they're playin' out loud

A simple time that's what I missed

Your miniskirt and your sweet kiss

Things are changin' man and that's a fact

I want my mullet back!

The crowd went totally wild during his chorus; one could not have heard a bomb go off just metres away from you if there was one. Daddy had a manic gleam return to his sharp eyes, making him look four years younger all of the sudden...

Back! (Back!)

Yeah!

I gave out a what-would-have-been a small laughing fit had I still possessed my voice. Daddy slid down on his knees rock-star style, and jiggled away at his electronic guitar fervently. I could see that he had been rehearsing this for four years.

The wail of his guitar solo hypnotised the crowd; they drastically increased the volume, so much that I wondered how a human throat can make so much noise. I never had such a crowd when I was performing as Hannah.

As the song reached its end, I couldn't help joining in even though I had no voice to sing with.

I want my mullet back!

YEAH!

Daddy went as crazy as the audience as he strummed the last few held notes of the song, and when it finally ended the entire concert hall lifted itself off the ground with applause; the sound was ten times that of an atomic bomb.

Daddy ran towards me, a blazing look on his face, and soon I found myself in his bear hug. Amidst the deafening roars, I heard him hum into my ear during that embrace, "Thank you sweet pea."

Even Dad was inspired to return to his career. The famous Robbie Ray Stewart returned with a bang, even though it put Jackson and I under the spotlight as well. Oh well, you can't have the cake and eat it too. At least it was better than revealing Hannah's secret.

A lot can happen in five days.

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The last bit of the chapter was from my original script. I wrote the front bits from scratch. This chapter is called "Picking up the pieces", and the story is, in a way, different when compared to the botched-up version. I did revive Robbie Ray's career as a star, something which I did last time. In fact I copied the whole lot from the previous chapter 5, with some minor editing. Stay tuned for a something special coming your way!

Oh, and if you hate something about this chapter, please tell me. I'll have it edited right away. Reviews are becoming a thing of value now.

Yes, A LOT can happen in five days.

Terrorking Tragedian