Chapter 1

Jake Ryan – Zombie Slayer

"…and that was Hannah Montana singing I Learn From You from the Bridge To Terabithia soundtrack."

"Speaking of Hannah, Tom, she just finished a concert last night in Seattle, Washington."

"What does she have left in this tour, four more stops?"

"I think so…there's Portland and Medford Oregon, Redding, Sacramento and San Francisco. How many was that?"

"That was five Bob."

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Jake reached over and turned off his clock radio.

"Thanks for reminding me Miley won't be back for another two weeks guys." Jake complained to the turned off radio. He flipped his covers off and moved to the bathroom, there he looked at his self in the mirror.

"Why don't you just tell her you know she's Hannah?" Jake asked his reflection in the mirror. However, he already knew the answer to that question, even if he was asking it rhetorically to his self. After all, he wanted Miley to trust him not because he was forcing her too but because she felt and knew, she could trust him. This meant she would have to tell him that she was Hannah. As always, this train of thought always ended up giving him a headache.

Jake got into the shower to get ready for his day. The month before school was turning into a very busy shooting schedule for his show, Zombie High. What was funny was he was only in junior high when the show started. He had always looked old for his age, but now that he was in high school, everyone else seemed to have catch up to him. Now the zombie slayer really was in high school. Wasn't that ironic? What was more ironic was the fact he wasn't even shaving yet. Jake got out of the shower and dried off. Then after getting dress, he ran a comb through his hair. Jake wasn't too worried about how he look. He had to work today.

Once Jake was ready, he went to his laptop and turned it on. Jake wanted to see if Miley had sent him an e-mail. Miley had told Jake that she and her dad were going to visit relatives back in Tennessee. He knew that was just the cover story she was telling people to explain her absence from the local scene that she was very much a part of. Miley had also given Jake her e-mail address. Jake did use it to stay in touch with her. It was funny how she made things up to fool him. Jake just wasn't sure if it really was funny or just sad, but he understood why she did it. Being a celebrity his self, he was always getting mob, especially at the worse times. Like when he was trying to have some alone time with Miley.

"Jake honey, we're going to have to be leaving soon." His mom called up to him.

"I'll be right down. I'm just checking my e-mail."

"Anything from Miley dear?"

"Not today mom." Jake said as he started down the stairs.

"Maybe you'll have something when you get back from the studio dear." Jake's mom said as she smiled at Jake. Miley had met his parents after he came back from Romania and before she left for her tour, oops, her trip to Tennessee. Jake had not told his parents Miley's little secret.

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The studio always sent a limo to take Jake to and from the set. Besides, it was in the contract. This made things a lot easier on his parents. The ride into the studio was spent not studying the script, but thinking about Miley. Jake thought he had lost his chance with Miley when her friends from Boston came to visit. However, by the time they left, he had found out that Miley was Hannah Montana and that her relationship with Cody and changed to something of a strong friendship. After Cody, his family and Jackson's girlfriend Maddie left, Jake was finally having some alone time with Miley. Nothing serious or romantic in nature just more of a get to know each other kind of hanging out. It was working right up to the point where Miley had to leave for her tour.

"What are you thinking about Jake?"

"Nothing mom."

"Then why are you smiling the way you do when you talk to me about Miley?" Jake's mom teased him.

"I didn't know I was smiling mom."

"Do you like her?"

"MOM." Jake always hated it when she asked him about girls.

"It's a fair mom question."

"Says who?" Jake hedged.

"The National Organization of Mothers."

"You made that up." Jake laughed.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. And you still haven't answered the question."

"Yes I do mom. Now are you happy." Jake smiled.

"I don't know. Are you happy?"

"Kind of." Jake shrugged.

"Kind of? What type of an answer is that? What's she really like?"

"Well, she doesn't treat me like a celebrity prize like some of the other girls at school do." Jake made a face at that thought.

"That's a good start. What else?"

"Well, she's down to earth and seems to know what she wants out of life. She is very honest too. Would you believe she called me an egomaniac in a hat?"

"Why would she do that?" Jake's mom asked a little shocked.

"Well, I was trying to impress her." Jake said sheepishly.

"Good. She isn't afraid to speak her mind." Jake's mom laughed.

"You got that right mom."

"What else?"

"Miley loves to help other people."

"Oh yeah, I remember you saying something about one of her friends having to have a special operation here."

"That would be Maggie."

"Jake, what are you not telling me?"

"How do you know that I'm not telling you anything?" Jake looked away. He was a bad liar, especial to his mom.

"Because when you became a mom, the hospital installs a lie detector. Now spill honey."

"You won't believe me even if I told you mom."

"How do you know that if you haven't even told me?"

"It's just that she…she…she has…this huge secret she hasn't told me about."

"Well, is it something bad?"

"No mom. It really is something great. I kind of found out by accident, but I really want her to trust me enough to tell me herself."

"Are you going to tell me what this big secret is?"

Jake looked at his mom and thought about weather he should tell her or not.

"No, not yet."

"Are you sure about that Jake? I mean she is holding something from you."

"She is not holding something from me mom, she just doesn't trust me enough with something that is very important in her life. Now can we let this drop for now?"

"Okay Jake, I just don't want to see you get hurt is all."

"Well, if Miley feels that I'm not going to hurt her, then she will tell me her secret, and I want her to want to tell me her secret."

"It sounds like some one has set their self a very big goal." Jake's mom smiled at him.

"Yeah, I guess I have." Jake looked back to his mom.

"Just remember that earning someone's trust like that is a big undertaking that well teach you a lot about yourself too. Just don't try to take any short cuts or you may never earn her trust." Or love Jake's mom added in her head.

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At the first meeting for this season, Roger took the lead about what the season would cover. Jake had been there and done that before and it only kept half of his interest. Each season had its own over all goal in terms of storyline, but it also had to fit in the overall storyline of the show. Blah, blah, blah. Jake knew that as he got older that the show would come to an end. After all, the name of the show was Zombie High. Jake had heard talk about there being a set of three movies to completely close out the storyline. That got him thinking. Wasn't it said that the zombie slayer and the princess of the zombies would fall in love and get married to fulfill the prophecy, and just who was the princess? Why none other than Hannah Montana, a.k.a. Miley Stewart. This brought a thought to mind.

"Roger?"

"Yes Jake?"

"Well Hannah be in any of the shows this year?"

"Well, we were hoping to have her come back in several shows this year."

"Hoping?"

"With her being on tour, it's been kind of hard to nail down an agreement. We'll be able to talk with her manager in two weeks."

"Thanks Roger." Jake smiled as he settled back in to 'listen' to the rest of the season's lay out.