Chapter 12

New Friends

It was the second day of school and already Jackson hated the routine. Not the he didn't like school; it was just having to go to school with only one good leg. Well foot really. However, he was getting by with the help of Cooper and Helen. What Jackson wasn't planning on was help from someone else. His name was Thor and he had met him the other day thanks to some of his friends playing a fast one on Thor. Jackson's friends had told Thor that he was the welcome committee at the school for their grade level. Thor, being innocent and naïve, believed what he was told and followed Jackson around until Jackson explained to Thor what was happening. On hearing this and seeing that Jackson had a bad foot, Thor decided to befriend Jackson right there and then. Jackson didn't know what to make of his new friend. Thor wasn't as, okay, cool as Jackson, but he did have a very big heart. Although Jackson would never admit it to anyone else either, well other then Maddie, he had a big heart too and felt for Thor. So, there was Thor waiting on him to carry is books to their first class that they had together, Chemstry.

"So little buddy, are you ready for another day of school aye?"

"Yes Thor." Jackson said as he let Thor take his books. It took so little to make Thor happy and it was not hard to know how he felt either. Thor wore his feelings in the open. Although this made Jackson uncomfortable at times, it was a nice change from having to figure people out.

As they walked to class, Jackson's growing popularity was apparent to Thor.

"Boy little buddy, you certainly are very popular. It's really great how everyone asks you about how your ankle is healing."

"They just want to know when I'll be able to get back into training is all." Jackson told Thor.

"Training? What are you training for?"

"Wait a second. You mean to tell me you don't know who I am." Jackson asked.

"Yeah. Your Jackson Stewart. My new best friend." Thor said putting his arm around Jackson shoulder.

"You really don't know do you?" Jackson asked as he shrugged off Thor's hand from his shoulder.

"No. Why is there anything else I should know little buddy?"

"Well, yeah there is and I'm surprise you don't know."

"What is it little buddy? You can tell me, I can take it." Thor said as he moved to hug Jackson.

"Hold up there big guy. No hugging. No hugging."

"Oh sorry little buddy, I keep forgetting."

"That's okay Thor."

"Okay, let me have it."

"There is no easy way to say this so here it goes. I'm on the U.S. Olympic team." Jackson told Thor and braced for Thor's excited response.

"Oh that is really swell. What sport are you in?" Thor asked not show the excitement that Jackson that he would.

"Beach volleyball. Cooper and I are the number two team."

"Wow. That's really great Jackson."

"What's wrong Thor? I thought you would be really excited about this being a big sports fan."

"Well, I am excited. It's just that I thought would where going to say something else."

"Like what?"

"Well, one thing I thought about was you could have told me that you were Hannah Montana's brother. Boy, I really like her! She so smart and pretty and caring and pretty and helpful and pretty and honest and pretty. Oh, she can sing too. Did I say that she is pretty too?"

"Yeah Thor. You said pretty." Jackson answered. Quite a few times, Jackson said under his breath.

"I'm sorry Jackson. It's great that you are on the Olympic team, it just that I have a, thing, for Hannah Montana. Do you like her little buddy?"

"She is okay, but I don't like Hannah Montana that much." Miley, who was walking by with Oliver, heard what Jackson said and gave Jackson a death glare.

"Boy your sister is really mad at you don't you know. What did you say to her to make her that mad?" Thor asked.

"Probably something I just said." Jackson said worriedly and cryptically.

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"Will you just chill Miley? I'm sure that he didn't mean it the way it sound." Oliver said trying to calm Miley down.

"But did you hear what he said? He's never said anything like that before." Miley was close to tears. Oliver turned and grabbed Miley.

"Then don't jump to conclusions before you know everything."

Miley thought about what Oliver had said as they walked to class. She wished Lilly was with them but Lilly was off meeting the high school cheerleaders and Miley couldn't fault her for that.

Meanwhile, else where in the school, Jake was going to the one class he had by his self, Biology. Jake had a new group of groupies following him around. All of them were upper classmen. All the girls in his grade where no longer impressed with him moreover, they also knew that he only had eyes for Miley and had given up the chase.

"Oh Jake." One of the girls called from the crowd. Jake knew what was going to come next. It always came next. Jake hated that it always came next.

"Can you do your line for us? Please?" A shapely blonde on his left asked as she batted her eyes at him and giggled.

"I really have to get to class girls." Jake tried to get out of it. Ever since he started to chase Miley, the need to show off had worn off him. Jake couldn't believe he was such a jerk back then, but he had learned a lot from Miley and now knew what it was to be a celebrity and live a normal life. Jake was sure that if the world knew Miley was Hannah Montana, she would still be the same person.

"Please." Other girls added their pleads too.

"Alright girls." Jake sighed, deciding to give in.

"Dude. I slayed you once, don't make me slay you again." Jake said as he give it his best performance. The girls eat it up. Jake shook his head. Lilly and everyone else was right and he should have expected this, but no, he had hoped this wouldn't have happened.

"Come on girls, leave Jake alone and get to class."

"Awww…" the group groaned as the girls left.

"Thanks for the save Mr. Aaron." Jake said with relief in his voice.

"Well, I do have to keep an eye on my special students don't I?"

"Great. Does this mean you'll be following my grades like a hawk again?" Jake asked with a little fear in his voice.

"If you have to ask then you already know the answer don't you?"

"I was afraid of that." Jake said with the realization that he was going to have to work extra hard again this year. Mr. Aaron had been on the phone more than once with his parents when his grades dip below a B. Jake didn't know what was worse, Mr. Aaron dogging him if he stepped out of line just a little with his behavior or his grades or facing his parents after Mr. Aaron informed them of what was going on. The only thing that gave Jake some comfort was all the familiar faces that met him when he walked into the classroom. Too bad none of them were Lilly, Oliver, or more importantly Miley.

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It was lunchtime and Jackson was stilled worried about Miley. She really didn't think he hated her or Hannah or whatever. It was so confusing when you started to think this way. What was even more upsetting was the fact the he had first lunch period and Miley had last lunch period. He would not get a chance to see her until after school.

"Brother from another mother. What's happening J-man?" Cooper asked as he sat down with Jackson and noticed the look on Jackson's face.

"What's wrong man?"

Jackson looked around to make sure no one was listening or close enough to hear them.

"I think Miley is made at me. No I know Miley is made at me." Jackson told Cooper.

"What did you do?"

"Well, Thor was carrying my books to class and he was amazed about how everyone seem to know me and was worried about my ankle."

"Yeah go on."

"I told him they were just wonder when I would start training again. Then I found out that he didn't know what I was training for or who I really was."

"So did you tell him that you're an Olympic beach volleyball player?"

"Yeah I did Coop, but he kind of hit me with something out of leftfield though."

"What was that J-man?"

"He was hoping for an outside chance that I was Hannah Montana's brother. Thor seems to have a very big crush on her." Cooper laughed at Jackson on hearing this.

"What you mean to tell me you never thought about all those guys out there crushing on Hannah before?" Cooper slapped Jackson's back.

"To tell you the truth, no I haven't. It kind of weirded me out Cooper. I mean, she is my sister after all and I never really hear anyone talk about her that way before." Jackson looked confused as he was still trying to digest this new thought.

"Well, what happen after that?" Cooper asked after getting control of his self again.

"Well, I told him that she was okay and I didn't really like her that much."

"Wait. Don't tell me. Miley heard you say that?"

"Yeah she was walking by right when I said that and the look she give me." Jackson trailed off. The look of the hurt he give Miley was still in his eyes.

"Then there is only one thing for you to do." Cooper started to tell Jackson but Jackson cut him off.

"Yeah I know, but I won't see Miley until tonight. We have practice and she has practice too." Jackson look depressed.

"Well, don't you see her anywhere in school? What about her locker?" Cooper suggested.

"I don't have enough time with my ankle to do that."

"What if I get her for you?" Cooper asked.

"Would you do that for me?" Jackson asked.

"What are brothers for?"

"Hi Jackson. Hi, Cooper. Is it okay for some one not famous like me to sit here?" Thor asked.

"Hi Thor. You can sit with us when ever you like." Cooper told Thor.

"That's great don't you know." Thor sat down with a huge smile on his face.

"I can wait to get home and tell mom that my two best friends at school are on the Olympic team. This is more exciting then a catching two trouts on one hook." Thor announced with passion.

"Wow! Another place with down home sayings." Cooper laughed.

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Miley was sitting at a table by herself. Oliver had not shown up yet. That was weird for Oliver when it can to food. However, he did say something about signing up for speech club since the first club meetings were on Friday. Right know though, Miley was staring at Lilly and the other soon to be freshmen cheerleaders that had this lunch period talking with the other high school cheerleaders that had this lunch period. Miley couldn't fault her for that either. After all the chances of them being on the freshmen, cheerleader squad was next to 100. So that left Miley sitting by herself chewing on what happen this morning and no one that she could talk to about it.

Jake was walking to the lunchroom from his locker when he heard a commotion going on. Jake decided to investigate. Turning the corner in the hallway, Jake noticed a small group of students in a little knot. They were laughing about something.

Rico left his locker to go to lunch when a group of rowdy upper classmen walked up to him.

"What do we have here?" The leader asked as he stopped in front of Rico.

"Why is this the little Casanova that tricked Jackson's sister into kissing him?" Another asked.

"Why I believe you are right." The leader said.

"I'm just going to go this way." Rico pointed behind his self and turned to leave as fast as he could, but before he could take a step, a hand affixed itself to his shoulder.

"Not so fast there little guy. We aren't done here yet." The leader said as another turned Rico around. A look of fear started to appear on Rico's face as he looked around at the laughing faces and smiles of the group.

As Jake got closer to the group, he heard someone calling for help and quicken his pace.

The upper classmen had pulled Rico over to a trashcan that was in the hallway and had pulled the top off it. Two of the group was holding Rico over the trashcan.

"So, if you are going to treat the pretty girls that you shouldn't be hitting on like trash, we have a few more 'girls' for you to met then. Put him in." The leader ordered. The other two dropped Rico into the trash can and a third put the lid back on. Once the lid was back on, other members of the group started to throw trash into the trashcan. Rico started to call for help as the trash was landing on top of him.

"What's going on here and who is calling for help?" Jake asked as he reached the back of the group.

"Hey, it's the pretty boy zombie slayer guys." Someone said as they turned to face Jake. Jake saw Rico's face looking out of the top opening of the trashcan lid and called out to him.

"Rico?" Jake asked as he tried to push his way through to help Rico. The leader stepped in front of Jake and the others formed a circle around them.

"Get out of my way." Jake told him.

"Why?" The leader asked.

"Because I'm getting Rico out of that trashcan." Jake stated as he stepped up to the upper classmen.

"No your not. Trash belongs in the trashcan. Now why don't you leave before we wash your hair…in the toilet." The others started to laugh.

"I'm not afraid of you or our friends. Now move."

What they didn't know but what Jake did know was that not all the things he did on the set was acting. Some of the things he did on the set were real. They had to be or people would get hurt very bad if he didn't. So, what the upper classmen did next Jake was ready for.