Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, things like this would be happening in the show.
Miley awoke, comfortable and warm, to find her bedroom already flooded with light. Stretching, she rolled over onto her stomach, her arm dangling off the side of the bed. Opening her bleary eyes, she found Lilly out cold on the floor next to her, nestled into one of the sleeping bags Miley used to use when she went camping in Tennessee. Miley watched her for a few moments, Lilly's slow, steady breathing causing the front of the sleeping bag to rise and fall faintly. Her face was peaceful, and Miley couldn't help but smile a little. Stretching again, Miley rose from her bed and shuffled to her door. Closing it quietly behind her, Miley made her way down the stairs to the living room, the smell of eggs and bacon and cinnamon toast reaching her nostrils, driving the last bits of sleep from her mind as her stomach let out a low growl, "Hush up, you. You'll be fed in a minute."
Miley stepped into the kitchen to find Robbie Ray standing over the stove, a veritable buffet set out on the center island. Stirring some eggs around in a pan, Robbie Ray looked up as Miley took a seat in one of the stools, "Morning, Bud. Hope you're in the mood for scrambled eggs."
"Of course I am," Miley said, "When am I not"?
"Good, 'cause I gotta pile of them here so big even Uncle Earl wouldn't be able to down 'em all," Robbie Ray said, scooping some onto a plate and handing it to Miley. "How'd everything go last night? Lilly get ya' all straightened out on what to wear"?
"Oh…not really," Miley replied, stabbing at her eggs, "She was kinda out of it last night after Oliver left, poor thing, and this isn't the first time it's happened either." Robbie Ray raised an eyebrow and Miley swallowed a bite of her eggs before continuing, "They've been hanging out a lot more lately, its like every time I run into one of them the other is already with 'em, or like yesterday when she went off with Oliver to find food instead of staying with me and shopping. Normally, nothing can get Lilly away from shoes shopping," Miley finished, leaning back in her seat.
"Well, they have been friends for a long time, Miles. Maybe they just want to hang out with each other," Robbie Ray shrugged.
"Yeah, but its not just that," Miley said looking at him, twirling her fork between her fingers, "Like last night, when Lilly was down, that's not the first time that's happened. Every time one of them has to leave, lately, the other gets really…not depressed but just sad, like…well…like they miss each other a lot or something—I mean, more than they normally do," Miley finished lamely.
Robbie Ray shrugged again, "Maybe they do just miss each other. They may get really down when you leave, too."
"I don't know, I think its something else," Miley replied, taking another bite of her eggs, "Lilly's been picking on Oliver a lot more lately, and they touch more often than they used to, if I didn't know them better I'd say they were…well, flirting."
"You sure you're just not reading into things too much, Miley"?
"If that was all then maybe I'd agree with you," Miley said but then paused. She looked back over her shoulder at the landing for the stairs before turning back to her father. Leaning forward slightly and speaking in a stage whisper, Miley continued, "But they've stopped showing interest in other people. You know how Lilly and I always talk on the phone about what boys with think are cute"?
"Of course I do," Robbie Ray said, "I get the phone bill every month. You girls are gonna bankrupt me with the way yer going."
Miley rolled her eyes, "We are not, but that's not the point. You see, Lilly and I always talk about the boys we liked, like all the time."
Robbie Ray shifted for a moment, "Exactly how many boys do you have after you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
Miley gave him a flat look, "Dad, try to stay focused here," she said, "That's not important, the point is that Lilly and I always talk about the boys we like but lately she's been getting kind of quiet about it, she mostly just listens to me, but never really says anything herself. I've even asked her at school whether she thinks a boy is cute or not, and she just kind of shrugs and says 'I guess so'," Miley gesticulated wildly with her hands as if to emphasize the point before settling back down in her seat a little, "Especially if Oliver is there, she won't say anything about other boys when he's around."
"And how does Oliver act?" Robbie Ray asked.
"He gets pretty quiet when the subject of other boys comes up and he hasn't really been pulling any of his usual stunts to impress the 'ladies'," Miley made quotation marks in the air, "Like wearing inflatable muscles under his clothes or whatever, lately. Actually, I thinks its been at least a good two weeks since I've heard anything about Smokin' Oken or the Olley Trolley, thank the Lord," Miley added as an after thought.
"I don't know, Daddy, I think they may like each other," Miley said with a slight smirk, looking at him from across the counter top.
"Well, it's not unheard of, Bud, for two people who have known each other as long as they have to fall for each other that is."
"Pft, well, I know that," Miley said, giving her father an incredulous look
"Have you talked to Lilly about it"?
"No, not yet," Miley said looking thoughtfully at her reflection in her fork for a moment before she looked back up, "Do you think I should"?
Robbie Ray shrugged, "I don't know, what do you think"?
Miley gave him another flat look, "You're no help at all," she deadpanned. Robbie Ray smiled before turning back to the bacon he had left on the stove. It was some time later before Lilly finally stumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Morning," Miley called, "How are you feeling"?
"Better," Lilly replied, stifling a yawn. She took a seat next to Miley and folded her arms on the counter in front of her, resting her chin on them and occasionally rubbing sleep from her eyes until a plate full of scrambled eggs was set before her. "Oh, scrambled eggs!" Lilly exclaimed, sitting up straight. Grabbing her fork she began to dig in.
XXXXXX
"Then the dentist said to spit into this tiny little cup, but I couldn't even move my lips, so how in the world I was ever supposed to actually get the water into the cup is beyond me. It was like trying to spit into a thimble," Oliver said, gesticulating wildly with his hands. Beside him Lilly had long since descended into a fit of giggles, and Miley couldn't quite stop laughing herself. They had met up with Oliver at Rico's after he had finished at the dentist's, and he was now regaling them with tales of his apparently harrowing appointment.
"The most annoying thing, though, is when they try to talk to you when you've got all of those stupid tubes sticking out of your mouth," Oliver made a face to show his displeasure.
"Oh, you poor thing," Lilly said in mock sympathy, "But you survived didn't you, our tough little man," she pinched his cheek. Oliver batted her hand away.
Miley laughed, "What I want to know is how you know what a thimble is"?
Oliver's face turned red, "Uh…well…you see…"
"Oh, look! He's blushing," Lilly laughed, moving to pinch his cheek again, but Oliver ducked out of the way, face glowing.
"Hey! There's nothing wrong with a guy knowing the names of sowing…utensil… thingies," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Then why is your face so red?" Miley asked, all grins.
Lilly suddenly narrowed her eyes, looking suspicious, "You're not a closet knitter are you Oliver"?
"No!" Oliver shouted, but then sank in his seat as other people turned to look at him. Lilly and Miley were laughing even harder now.
"Aww, too bad," Lilly said, smiling from ear to ear, she just couldn't help it, "I was kind of hoping you would knit me a sweater." Miley smiled as she took a sip of her soda.
Oliver scoffed, "Like that'll ever happen. I wouldn't mind measuring you, though." Lilly and Oliver both froze, and Miley's soda suddenly squirted out her nose. Staring at each other for a long moment, Lilly and Oliver's faces turned beet red, and Miley, pinching her burning nose, looked between them, mouth slightly agape.
Oliver was the first to recover, "Uh—I mean—uh—that is to say—that didn't come out right, what I meant to say was…uh."
"No, no, its alright—I mean, I know what you meant—er—no, that's not what I meant—I mean—," Lilly was no more coherent that Oliver, Miley observed. She had had stuff her fist into her mouth to keep from squealing. Miley was sure she had never seen either of them more embarrassed in theirs lives. Their faces were so red they were practically glowing and Miley was surprised she couldn't feel the heat radiating off of both them.
Laughing nervously, Lilly and Oliver both looked down at their feet. "So," Miley said, after a minute, finally deciding to break the tension, "What do you guys wanna do now? We could go to the beach, maybe take in a movie tonight, huh?" Miley suggested.
"Uh, yeah, all right," Lilly replied.
"Sounds good to me," Oliver said. As they slid off their stools, Lilly and Oliver were still avoiding each other's eyes.
This could turn out to be a really interesting day, Miley thought with a smirk.
XXXXXX
Miley sighed in contentment. Cracking open an eye, she saw the puffy white clouds sailing over head, moving against the clear blue background of the sky. Miley watched the clouds for several minutes, relishing the warmth of the sun caressing her skin and the gentle breeze from off the ocean, the air filled with the sounds of sea birds and children playing on the beach, all slightly muffled by the sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore, keeping time to a steady and unheard rhythm.
Propping herself up on her elbows, Miley scanned the line of surfers for her two friends. Things had finally gotten back to normal after Oliver's Freudian slip. It had been rather awkward for a while, but Miley had eventually managed to get a normal conversation going again, and eventually it was as though nothing had ever happened…well, almost. Finally, spying Lilly's blonde hair, Miley smiled at the look on her friends face.
Lilly grinned widely as she balanced atop her board, riding in a decent sized wave, an occasional spray of seawater wetting her face. As she approached the shore she saw Oliver standing in the surf waiting for her, his board propped up beside him. He smiled and waved to her, and Lilly felt something flutter in her stomach. Once again, she couldn't resist the smile that spread across her face as she waved back to him.
"Whew, what a rush," Lilly said, hopping off her board once she was in the shallows and sloshing towards Oliver, still grinning widely.
"Yeah, it's turned out to be a really nice day," Oliver commented as Lilly reached him, "I'm getting kind of hungry, though."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Lilly asked, rolling her eyes, "Come on, lets go see if Miley's hungry yet."
"Alright," Oliver replied, falling into step beside her as they battle their way through the waves and the crowds. "Where should we eat this time? I'm kind of getting tired of Rico's."
"Where do you want to go then?" Lilly asked cocking her head to the side as she looked up at him.
"I dunno," Oliver replied, his shoulder bumping Lilly's as they waded through the choppy water. He looked thoughtful before an idea seemed to dawn on his face, "How about that one fancy restaurant we went to…when, uh, on second thought—,"
"You mean the one we went to when Miley was trying to prove to me that Lucas was cheating on me?" Lilly asked.
"Yeah, that one," Oliver said, looking down, "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking when I suggested it, I-I was just thinking about the chocolate cake…"
"What are you apologizing for? I'm glad I found out, and I really stuck it to him too," Lilly said with a smirk, "and you're right, that cake was amazing," Lilly said, a dreamy expression on her face.
"Yeah, it was," Oliver agreed, an equally dreamy expression on his face, "But you're sure you don't have a problem going back there?" he asked, his expression becoming serious again.
"Oliver, I'll be fine," Lilly said firmly, "I'm more worried about you."
"Me?" Oliver asked, taken aback.
"Yeah, after the way that woman confused you for Natalie Portman last time, I didn't think you'd ever want to go back," Lilly laughed.
Oliver made a face, "Well hopefully, this time that won't happen."
"Are you going to go as Mike Stanely III?" Lilly asked.
"Yes, but I'm using whatever Miley's dad uses for a fake goatee this time."
"Aww, but the armpit hair was so funny," Lilly giggled.
"You said no one would be able to tell."
Lilly shrugged, smirking, "I guess I was wrong."
"Hey, guys. What are you up to now?" Miley greeted as they reached her.
"Oliver's hungry," Lilly replied.
Miley gasped, "Get out"!
"Ha ha, very funny," Oliver said.
"Do you think Hannah could get us into that fancy place we went to when you exposed Lucas for the lying little fink he is," Lilly said.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Miley said rising to her feet, "Why do you want to go there"?
"Oliver likes the chocolate cake," Lilly said, turning to look at him.
"Ah, I'm surprised you would want to go back there after—,"
"I know, someone confused me with Natalie Portman, but this time I'm going as Mike Stanely," Oliver said. Miley opened her mouth, but Oliver beat her to it, "And no, I will not be using armpit hair this time."
"We already had this discussion walking up the beach," Lilly explained, and Miley nodded her head in comprehension.
"Well, lets get going then, its already starting to get late anyways. I can't believe how fast a day at the beach can go by," Miley said, beginning to collect her things, "All of your stuff is still stashed in the Hannah Closet, right"?
"Yep," Lilly replied, and Oliver nodded his head.
"Good," Miley said, beginning to stride up the beach, Lilly and Oliver in toe.
XXXXXX
"I love this place," Lola gushed, her mouth stuffed so full of food her cheeks were puffed out on either side.
"Say it don't spray it," Hannah said, picking a bit of shrimp out of her blonde hair, "I swear you guys could at least have some table manners at a fancy place like this."
Lola and Mike paused, mouths both stuffed, to look at her, then looking at each other before both burst out laughing. "Yeah, that's a good one, Hannah," Mike said, swallowing his food.
"I know, what's the big deal? We don't embarrass you do we?" Lola asked innocently. Miley narrowed her eyes at both of them.
"You could always where a bag over your head when your out with us," Mike suggested.
"Oh, oh, or we could, and then we could draw faces on the fronts of the bags," Lola bounced excitedly in her seat.
"They have to be paper bags though, not the plastic ones," Mike said.
"Oh, yeah! Plastic bags are a definite no-no. Oh! Or we could get Halloween masks to wear."
"Cool, I want the Nixon one."
"Alright, alright," Hannah finally said, exasperated.
Lola patted her hand, "We're just picking on you. You know that, right"?
Hannah rolled her eyes, "Yes."
Lola smiled before turning back to look at Mike, "Oh, you've got a little dribbly there," she said, pointing.
"Where?" Mike asked, wiping at the corners of his mouth.
"No, no, you're not getting it. Here," Lola put her hand under his chin, tilting his head closer, before wiping at the offending food particulates with her napkin. Hannah watched, resting her chin on her hands, elbows propped up on the table, as Lola wiped at his mouth several times before she was satisfied that he was clean. Mike, for his part, patiently waited until she was done before finally pulling his head back and beginning to dig into his food again. Lola turned back around to find Hannah looking at her, a knowing smile on her face. "What?" Lola asked.
Hannah shrugged and leaned back from the table a bit, "Nothing, nothing," but she couldn't quite bring herself to stop smiling.
"So, where is the awards ceremony gonna be, anyways," Mike asked after making sure to swallow his food before talking.
"At the Tipton Hotel, in Boston," Hannah replied, "It's a nice place, I've been there before."
"Right, wasn't that the place you stayed at when you decided to try and get your Dad to start performing again?" Lola asked.
"Yeah, that's the place," Hannah replied, taking a sip of her drink.
"Cool, I've never been to Boston," Mike said.
"Me, neither. Do you think we'll have time to see any of the sites?" Lola asked, turning back to Hannah.
"Dunno, I suppose I could ask my Dad to add a little time after the awards show for us to just kind of goof around," Hannah replied, setting down her drink again.
"Oh, that would be fun," Lola gushed, her face lighting up with excitement.
Hannah smiled, "Well, I'll see if I can't pull a few strings," she said with a sly smile.
"Yes!" Mike and Lola said together, giving each other high-fives. Hannah smiled a little wider.
XXXXXX
"Goodnight, Oliver," Miley called as he pushed open the door to her Dad's car.
"Yeah, goodnight," Lilly said, smiling up at him.
Oliver turned and waved at them as he shut the car door, "See you guys tomorrow."
"Bye," Lilly called again, and Oliver turned to wave at her once more, smiling broadly, before opening his front door and stepping inside.
"Alright, then, now its off to Lilly's," Robbie Ray said, putting the car in gear and taking off down the street.
In the backseat Lilly sighed contentedly, leaning back against her seat with her eyes closed. "So, did you enjoy yourself today?" Miley asked, turning in her seat to get a better look at Lilly.
Lilly opened her eyes and smiled, "Oh, yeah. We need more Saturdays like that. Poor, Oliver, having to go to the dentists, though."
"Yeah, maybe we could cut that out next time, and just skip to hanging out at the beach," Miley smiled.
"I still can't believe Oliver managed to fit that entire piece of cake in his mouth at once," Lilly said.
"I know. That boy must be able to dislocate his jaw or something," Miley commented.
"He's always been like that. Even when we were in kindergarten he would always stuff entire cupcakes into his mouth at once, and somehow still be able to chew. I'm amazed he's never managed to choke."
Miley leaned her head against the side of her seat as she craned her neck to look at Lilly, "You two sure have known each other for a long time, haven't you"?
"Yeah," Lilly said, somewhat quietly, and she seemed very far away for a moment, "Yeah we have."
Miley looked around as the car came to a halt. "Second stop, Lilly's home," Robbie Ray said, looking over his shoulder at her, "You take care darling, you here"?
"I will. Goodnight, Mr. Stewart. Goodnight, Miley," Lilly said, unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing out of the car.
"Goodnight, Lilly," they chorused together. Lilly smiled at them, and waved one last time before stepping into her house, shutting the door behind her.
"Well, it's just you and me now, Bud," Robbie Ray said.
"Right. Home, Jeeves, and make it snappy," Miley said, pointing out the front window, and making a goofy face.
Robbie Ray smiled and pulled Miley into a one armed hug, kissing her on the top of her head, "I sure am glad I have you for a daughter."
Miley smiled up at him, "I'm glad, too."