Chapter 7
Miley's Decision
Miley woke up to the smell of pancakes and smiled.
"Good morning daddy."
"Good morning bud." Robbie smiled at Miley and flipped his famous pancakes. Miley looked over to Jackson who was still sleeping. Maddie's spot was empty.
"Where is Maddie at daddy?"
"She went upstairs to pack." Robbie answer as he turned some eggs.
"But she isn't leaving until three daddy." Miley was confused.
"Maddie just wanted to be ready. She has school to get ready for too bud."
"Yeah, I guess. I'm going upstairs to change." Miley said as she got up.
"Breakfast will be ready in about five minutes." Robbie called after Miley.
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Miley went upstairs but not to her room. She went to Maddie's room. There, Miley stood in the doorway and watch Maddie as she sang one of Hannah's songs to herself.
"You know Maddie, you really are a good singer."
Maddie stopped and turned startled.
"I wish you would make some noise when you sneak up on me like that!"
"Who was sneaking? Besides your singing would have kept you from hearing me anyways." Miley said as she come in and sat on the bed.
"Well, it's not that you surprise me Miley." Maddie said a little red.
"Than what is it?" Miley said smelling blood in the water.
"Your not going to let this go are you?"
"No I'm not." Miley smiled.
"Okay, well it's not that you scared me as much as it's you hearing me singing your songs." Maddie was trying not to show her blush.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, it's very intimidating." Maddie shrugged.
"Sorry."
"So what brings you up here to my humble room?" Maddie laughed.
"Well, I was wondering if you could give me some advice."
"If I can."
"Well, Lilly and Olive think I should join the show choir."
"That's a great idea!"
"No it's not."
"Why?"
"Well, when everyone hears my voice, they're going to find out that I'm Hannah and everything will be ruined." Miley complained.
"No they won't. How can you forget about our talk yesterday so fast?"
"You mean the one about being afraid of lose." Miley asked sheepishly.
"Yes that one. Tell me, do you look like Hannah Montana?"
"Well duh? I'm Hannah Montana after all." Miley didn't understand the question.
"Just do me a favor and go and get a headshot of Hannah please."
Miley still didn't understand what Maddie was trying to prove, but with a sigh, Miley got up and went to get the requested picture. A few minutes later, Miley came back with the picture and handed it to Maddie.
"Here, I still don't know what you are trying to prove." Miley went to sit on the bed again, but Maddie grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bathroom.
"Who do you see in the mirror?"
"Me."
"Describe your self."
Miley started to describe how she look in the mirror and when she finished, she turned and looked at Maddie. Maddie handed her the headshot of Hannah.
"Who is this?"
"Me."
"Miley!"
"Okay, it's Hannah."
"Now describe her."
Miley looked at the picture and described someone else.
"Does that person you just describe sound like Miley's description?"
"No." Miley's answer came out as a pout.
Next, Maddie took the picture and made Miley face the mirror and held it up beside Miley's face.
"Do these to people look the same?" Maddie asked. Miley already knew the answer to that one. She and her mom worked a very long time to make sure they looked different and now looking at the picture and herself in the mirror, that point come home again. It was true, Miley and Hannah did not look alike at all, and if they didn't look alike, then even if they sounded alike the chances of people connecting the dots was almost zero. The only thing that would really give it away would be her reaction.
"Well?"
"No they don't."
"So what are you really afraid of then Miley?"
"I don't know. I just don't know."
"Well that person in the mirror is waiting for an answer. You're going to have to give it to her someday." Maddie squeezed Miley's shoulder with her hand and left her there to answer the person in the mirror. After staring at herself, Miley left for her room to get ready for the day.
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After breakfast, Miley went for a walk on the beach as Cooper and Helen came over to spend time with Jackson and Maddie. She wasn't sure where she was going, just that she need time to think so Miley walked aimlessly on the beach. As the sun moved across the sky, Miley found herself at a familiar house. After giving it some thought, moved to the door and knocked. Lilly's mom opened the door.
"Hi Miley where's Lilly and Oliver?" Emily asked as she looked for the other two.
"I was walking on the beach by myself. Why?"
"Well, just that they went over to see you earlier is all."
"They must be talking to Jackson then."
"How is your brother?" Emily asked as she let Miley in.
"He's doing fine. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure sweetie, what is it?" Emily asked as she leaded the way to the kitchen table.
"Well, Lilly and Oliver were looking at the clubs that we could join in school." Miley paused as she gathered her thoughts. As Miley thought, Emily placed a plate of cookies and a glass of milk in front of Miley and a glass for herself on the table. Miley took a cookie and took a bit out of it. After sipping from her milk, she continued.
"Lilly and Oliver think I should join the show choir. I'm not sure because I'm afraid that people will recognize my voice and discover that I'm Hannah Montana."
"What did they say to you about that?" Emily asked as she took a sip of her milk.
"That I was crazy." Emily just raised her eyebrows at Miley.
"Okay, they said that no one would and if they did that they would tell me how much I sounded like Hannah."
"And you don't believe them?"
"I don't know. It's just…"
"Have you ask anyone else, say like your dad or Frank?" Emily cut Miley off.
"Well, I did ask Maddie what she thought."
"And?"
"She made me look at a picture of Hannah and myself in a mirror." Miley answered not wanting to explain farther.
"And?"
"Hannah and I don't look anything alike." Miley complained.
Emily just tilted her head and looked at Miley.
"Okay, I'm scared. There I said it."
"What do you have to be scared of?" Emily asked as she took another cookie.
"What if I don't make the show choir?" Miley asked looking down.
"Then you don't make the show choir. That's all."
"But I'm Hannah Montana after all."
"Your also Miley Stewart, high school freshman. High school will be some of the best years of your life if you let it be."
"If you say so."
"Trust me." Emily said as she laid her hand on Miley's. The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the one o'clock hour.
"I better get going. We have to take Maddie to the airport." Miley got up, hugged Emily, and left for home.
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Miley got home in time to take Maddie to the airport. Oliver and Lilly had been at the house but they had missed Miley again. Helen and Cooper stayed with Jackson since he wasn't suppose to be moving about yet. Once back home again, Miley spent her time in her room thinking about what Maddie and Emily had told her. Thinking about their advice reminded Miley about someone else's advice.
-
As she was coming back down stairs there was a knock on the door. She went to answer the door and got a very big surprise!
"Miss. Mayer! What are you doing here?"
"I came to talk to you and your dad Miley."
"If this is about the try outs, I'm really sorry. I won't do it again. I promise."
"Well, I am here to talk about the try outs, but not for the reasons you think. Can I come in?"
"Oh sorry. Come in." Miley blushed slightly. "Daddy, my choir teacher Miss Mayer is here." Miley lead Miss Mayer in and over to the piano to met her dad.
Robbie finishes the measure he was working on and wrote down the notes.
"Sorry about that. My name's Robbie."
"Gail Mayer. That was very nice. I didn't know you wrote music."
"Here have a seat." Robbie leads Miss Mayer and Miley to the living room and everyone sits down.
"Do you want anything to drink?"
"No thank you."
"And yes, I write all of her music."
"DADDY!" a shocked Miley exclaimed.
"Miley, do you know why I came today?"
"Yeah, you figured out that I'm Hannah Montana when I tried out for the solo part and you are here to tell me I had no right to try out and that I should be ashamed of myself for taking it way for someone that deserves it more than I do and to decide what punishment I deserve for it." Miley's statement came out all at once as she looked down at your feet.
"What makes you think you need to be punished bud?"
"Because I have no right to take way someone's only chance to be on stage and to perform for their family." Miley said softly to the floor. She was starting to feel very upset with herself and felt the tears building.
"What do you mean by that sweetie?"
"I'm Hannah Montana daddy!" Now she felt the tears on her cheeks. "I'm on stage all the time. That does not give me the right to take away someone else's chance to be on stage!"
"Let's back up a little Miley." Miss Mayer said as she handed Miley the tissue box from the end table. "First of all, I didn't figure out you where Hannah Montana from your singing. It was when you came back to get your schoolbooks after class was over. I was in my office starting to make plans for the concert when you and Lilly had your conversion. Second, what makes you think that Miley Stewart doesn't have the same right to perform on stage for her family?"
"Because I'm Hannah Montana" was all Miley could say.
"But your Miley first sweetie."
"And as I understand it, Hannah Montana is a stage name so you can lead a normal life. Nevertheless, how can you live a normal life if you don't do the same things in school that other students with your talent would do. If I had your voice, I'd be trying out for everything."
"Yeah Miles, it's okay for you to do school concerts as yourself. Lord knows I could use the rest from setting up concerts."
"Oh daddy." Miley smiled through her tears.
"But just because you are Hannah doesn't mean you well get everything either. If something is coming up that you are interested in, let me know and we can work something out. This way you won't feel guilt about stealing the limelight. Okay?"
"Okay." Miley was starting to feel a lot better and a lot better about herself too.
"Oh, by the way, Miley, you my want to thank Mr. Aaron too. It was his idea I come over here. You see, he noticed this problem you where having and has been working a very long time on trying to find a answer to it. What do you think? Problem solve?"
"Problem solve. It's okay for me to try out for concerts at school. No guilt attached."
"That's my Mile's. Come here bud." Miley got up, walked over to her dad, and got folded into his arms. Feeling a lot better now, she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Well, I guess I'll be going."
"Thanks for the help Miss Mayer." Robbie leaded her to the door and they say their good byes.
-
Therefore, if she would to ask Mr. Aaron what to do, he would tell her to do it and enjoy it too. Lilly and Oliver wanted her to tryout for show choir. Maddie told her stop being afraid to live life and tryout for the show choir. Miley however was still unsure of herself. All she knew was that right now, her life was safe and simple. Well, as simple as it could be. Emily also told her stop being afraid and enjoy being a teenager. Miley still wasn't sure and there was one last person to ask for advice from. He was the bravest man she had ever known. Frank West was a retired Navy Seal that had put his time in and had the scars to show for it. Frank had even saved her life when a stalker had attacked her. That was another scar to prove how brave he was to her. After Frank had recovered, Miley, Lilly and Oliver began to take self-defense lesson from Frank on a weekly base. He was also hired and became the number two person in-charge of Hannah Montana's security detail. Miley, Lilly and Oliver had another lesson with Frank tomorrow afternoon. She would talk to him then.
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Miley woke and started the day waiting on Jackson. However, Jackson soon grew tried of the sisterly love that Miley was given him and asked her to leave. It wasn't that Jackson didn't appreciate the attention and care it just was Miley was way over doing it. Jackson gave his sister a very big hug and 'chased' her out of the house.
Outside and on her own, Miley strode down the beach aimlessly. Once again, the problem she was struggling with came to the front of her mind. Should I tryout for show choir or not. Miley found that she had walked to a part of the beach that Lilly and Oliver had shown her when she first came to Malibu. They would come here often in the past, but it seem that time and outside interests were pulling them away from this place of theirs. Miley sat on the rocks and watch the waves come rushing in to break on the rocks that were farther out. As the tide came in, the spray for the waves breaking would spray up to the spot that they loved to sit at. Miley lost herself in the waves as she tried to figure out what to do.
"Come on Miley, it's time for lunch." Lilly said.
"Yeah, I'm hungry." Oliver agreed.
Miley startled. So caught up in her thoughts, she didn't notice the arrival of Lilly on her right or Oliver on her left.
"When did you guys get here?" Miley asked as she recovered.
"Oh about half an hour ago." Lilly started.
"We've been looking for you the last two days." Oliver added.
"What's been bugging you so much that you would end up here?"
"And not even hear us when we got here."
"Or notice us sitting beside you."
"Well, it is all your guys fault to start with." Miley told them.
"How is it our fault?" Lilly asked.
"It was you two that started all of the club talk."
"You still thinking about show choir Miles?" Oliver asked.
"Yes and I don't know what to do or think."
"Can we talk about this on the way to lunch?" Lilly asked as her stomach growled.
"Yeah, I guess." Miley said as she stood up. Since Oliver's house was the closest, that is where they went.
-
Miley, Lilly and Oliver had lunch at Oliver's house. As they had lunch, Miley told Oliver's mom about the problem she was having and asked for advice. Olivia, Oliver's mom, agreed with Emily's advice and told Miley to relax and enjoy being a teenager and to do the things that other teenagers do. With lunch over and the dishes done, our trio found their selves in Oliver's room talking about everything and nothing. Miley was still distant as she ponder her decision. Lilly and Oliver were blue skying what they thought the first year of high school would hold for them when Oliver's mom told them it was time to get ready for their lesson with Frank.
After Oliver was ready, Olivia drove everyone over to Lilly's house so she could get ready. Miley's house was the last stop before heading off to Frank's gym. After about six months of teaching Miley, Lilly and Oliver knew how to take care of their selves, Frank opened a self-defense type of gym. He hired fellow retired service personal to help teach the classes. Frank offered classes in street safety all the way to martial arts. The police department even contracted to have classes taught to victims of crimes so that they would be and feel safer on the streets and in their homes. Our trio had moved past the basic safety classes and had moved on to the martial arts classes. The only real difference was that they were the only three in their class, and Frank taught them. Today's class was a special class. This was the first time they were going to break boards. Frank didn't give out belts in this class. No this was his special class, his group. Frank loved the trio just like they were his kids. They might as well be his kids for the amount of time they spent watching his kids or he spent watching them. Under his teachings, the three had grown to be totally aware of their environment and who or what was around them. Frank only agreed to move to this level after a sit down with everyone's parents. For their part, Miley, Lilly and Oliver took everything seriously and to heart. So today, they faced their first real test that Frank had set for them.
"Okay, before we end class today, we will break one board. Who wants to go first?" Frank asked looking at his students. They looked at each other and Lilly stepped forward first.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." Lilly smiled as she stood in front of Frank who was holding a board in front of him. The smile slowly vanished from her face as she readied herself for what she was about to do. When she felt ready, Lilly took the proper stance and concentrated on the board in front of her. With a sharp yell and pouch, Lilly's fist was on the other side of two pieces of wood that Frank was holding in his hands.
"Great job Lilly!" Frank told her as they both smiled.
"Yes I did it!" Lilly jumped back into line to be congratulated by the others. Frank set the two pieces aside, picked up another board and looked at Oliver and Miley. Oliver and Miley looked at each other and this time Oliver stepped forward.
"YES!" Oliver said as he pulled his fast back from the two pieces of wood in Frank's hands.
"You the man Oliver." Frank said as he got the last board for Miley.
"You can do it Miley." Lilly whispered to her as she stepped forward. Frank readied the board for Miley and noticed once again that something was bothering Miley. Miley shook her head to clear out any doubt that she had been feeling since Monday out of her head. She looked at the board and readied herself. Breathing deeply, Miley felt she was ready. She opened her eyes, concentrated on the board, and took her stance. A little doubt started to creep in to her mind. Miley decided to strike before too much found its way in. The sound of breaking wood followed a sharp yell.
"Excellent Miley!" Frank said as he smiled at her. Miley turned and jumped up and down with Lilly.
"Okay you two let's line up." Frank ordered. The three got back into line facing Frank.
"Good class everyone. Dismissed."
The trio turned to leave for the locker rooms.
"Miley, can I have a word with you please." Frank asked. Miley turn and walked back to Frank.
"What's going on?" Frank asked her.
"What do you mean?" Miley asked not really sure what he was looking for.
"You seemed distracted today. I was just wonder if there was anything I could help with."
"Well, I was going to ask you for your advice on a problem I've been trying to solve." Miley looked at her feet.
"Tell you what. Go change and I'll drop you off last and then we can talk. Okay?"
"Thanks Frank." Miley gave him a quick hug and went to change.
-
"Daddy, I'm home." Miley yelled as she took her stuff up to her room. Frank came in the door behind her.
"I'm in the office." Robbie yelled back to her.
"Daddy, Frank and I are going to take a quick walk on the beach. I have something I want to bounce off of him." Miley told her dad at the door to the office as she stopped there to tell Robbie her plans.
"Okay bud. Dinner will be ready at 5 p.m."
"Thanks daddy."
Miley found Frank sitting on the couch talking on his cell phone.
"She's back. I'll see you when I get home. Love ya."
"Let's walk on the beach." Miley said as she walked to the door. Frank got up and followed Miley out the door. As Frank followed Miley, he let her set the pace and waited for her to talk. Miley finally stopped walking when she reached the rock where she told Oliver that she was Hannah Montana. Miley looked at Frank and sighed.
"Well?" Frank raised his eyebrows.
"Am I coward?" Miley asked.
"I don't Miley. From what you have shown me, you are one of the bravest people I know."
"As brave as you?" Miley asked looking at her feet.
"Okay Miley. What is this all about?"
Miley took a deep breath and spilled her guts out. Frank quietly listened without asking any questions. When Miley had finished, Frank was quiet for a while as he thought about what he heard and what Miley needed.
"Miley, you are one of the bravest people that I know. You could hide behind Hannah and have what ever you want. You could have people falling all over their selves to be your best friend. However, you don't do that. Do you know why?" Frank hoped she saw the point he was making.
"No." Miley said to the ground. Frank reached over with a hand and gently lifted her face so she looked at him.
"Because you want to be treated like a normal person. This is just like when you went to break that board. You doubted yourself. Stop doubting yourself and be a normal teenager. Try out for the show choir."
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Miley lay in her bed and thought over everything that everyone told her about trying out for show choir. Not being happy with any of the thoughts that were running around in her head, Miley got up, got her guitar and went downstairs and out on to the porch. There, Miley sat down on the porch swing and started to strum her guitar.
"I wish you were here mom. I really need to talk to you."
I miss you, I miss your smile…Miley started to sing as she thought about her mom. She started to think about show choir again and somewhere in the middle of the song a sense of peace fall over her. Her decision was made.