hates the sound that goodbyes make
she prays one day she'll find someone to need her
"Moving?" she croaked, her voice cracking at the end of the word. Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked everywhere except at him.
Oliver nodded sadly, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Next week," he said quietly.
She took a long, shaky breath. "But," she said softly, as the wind whipped the ends of her frosty blonde hair in her face. "I need you. I need you here with me."
she swears that there's no difference
between the lies and compliments
its all the same if everybody leaves her
The past year had not been good to fifteen-year-old Lilly Truscott. With her mother's death, her father's various girlfriends and practical nonexistence at home, and her brother getting shipped off to boarding school, she was on the verge of a complete breakdown. Oliver Oken, her best friend in the world, had been the only thing that had kept her even the slightest bit happy.
He kicked at the ground absentmindedly. "I don't want to leave, Lilly," he said to her quietly and for the first time her eyes met his. Tears spilled out of her eyes as soon as they met each other's gaze.
"I'll come back," Oliver said, wrapping his arms around his sobbing best friend. "I'll come back and everything will be the same, okay?"
she would change everything
everything, just ask her
caught in the in between
a beautiful disaster
she just needs someone to take her home
---
Seventeen-year-old Oliver Oken slung his skateboard over his shoulder, sighing as he stepped onto the familiar boardwalk. "Malibu," he murmured as he ran a hand through his newly cut brown hair. He glanced around, searching the popular spot for a familiar face, (particularly one familiar face.)
"Oliver?" he heard a soft, female voice call, and he snapped his head around excitedly. His felt his stomach sink a little when he saw long, wavy-brown hair, but he smiled nonetheless.
"Miles!" he laughed as she ran into his arms. He twirled her around and set her down in front of him. "God, it's so good to see you!"
Miley laughed. "What are you doing here? I didn't know you were visiting!"
Oliver shrugged. "I'm actually not visiting," he grinned. "My dad got transferred back home."
Miley's jaw dropped. "What? No way!" She grinned and wrapped her arms around him again. "God, Oliver, why didn't you call or something?"
"I don't know," he sighed, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "I just, kind of… grew apart from everyone. I wasn't sure if you wanted to hear from me or not."
"Of course I want to hear from you, you doughnut!" Miley laughed, smacking the back of his head playfully.
"Miley!" Oliver heard Robbie Ray call from the distance. "We got… things… to do! Hurry up!"
Miley rolled her eyes. "I've got a 'Hannah' thing," she murmured to Oliver. "I have to go." She turned to walk away but then paused, turning back around to face him. "Hey, there's a party tonight at Johnny's place. You should come."
Oliver nodded. "Yeah, I'll be there."
Miley grinned and started to walk away again.
"Hey, Miles?" Oliver called and she snapped back around. "Is Lilly going to be there?"
Miley's face fell and Oliver crinkled his eyebrows in confusion. What had happened with Lilly since he had left?
"Lilly and I…" Miley said slowly. "We don't talk much anymore." She shook her head. "But to answer your question, yes, she will probably be there."
she's giving boys what they want
trying to act so nonchalant
afraid to see that she's lost her direction
"You made it!" Miley cried later that night, throwing her arms around Oliver's neck. "Look who's back everybody!" she squealed over the pulsating music. Heads turned and he received a few nods in his general direction, a few people even stumbled over to say hello.
"Oken, how's it going, buddy?" Jake Ryan slapped him a high-five and winked at Miley who rolled her eyes.
"Hey, dude, are you back for good?" Johnny asked, clapping him on the back.
"Yeah," Oliver nodded, his eyes frantically searching the room for his blonde-haired best friend. "Yeah, I guess I am."
she never stays the same for long
assuming that she'll get it wrong
perfect only in her imperfection
A large crash came from the stairway in the corner and everyone snapped their heads around. A number of snickers could be heard around the room as a petite, blonde girl tumbled down the stairs. A large, muscular jock stood at the bottom of the stairs, a smirk playing across his lips. He rolled his eyes at the pathetic looking creature in front of him and started walking toward the kitchen. "Slut," Oliver heard him mutter as he exited the room, slapping several high-fives and pounding several fists.
Oliver stared at the petite girl lying helplessly at the bottom of the stairs. She had wavy, shoulder-length blonde hair and from what he could tell, was gorgeous. She was wearing a small black strapless dress that was slightly twisted around and high, spiky silver heals.
Shakily, she pushed herself up and made her way to her feet. Everyone had gone back to mingling, no one paying her the slightest bit of attention, but Oliver's eyes were fixated on her. Did this girl go to Seaview when he lived in Malibu?
She ran a hand through her hair and adjusted her dress, hastily wiping her cheeks, which were barely tearstained. Suddenly, her silver eyes snapped up and connected with Oliver's brown ones.
"O-Oliver?" she stuttered, stumbling toward him. "Oliver Oken?" She tripped just before she reached him and he caught her, pushing her up so that she was standing right in front of him.
He gulped. "Lilly?"
She smiled, but it wasn't a real smile. Oliver had always thought that Lilly had the greatest smile in the world. If he had had the worst day in the world, all it took was Lilly's toothy grin to make him feel like he had had the greatest day ever. Now, all he saw was a sad, lonely girl. And he felt sorry for her.
she's not a drama queen
she doesn't wanna feel this way
only 17 and tired, yeah
"I've missed you," she whispered. She looked as if she wanted to touch him, but thought that one touch from her would taint him. She sniffed and looked at the ground.
"I… me too," Oliver said, bewildered. "I've missed you, too." He shook his head. "Do… do you want to go talk somewhere?"
She laughed bitterly, her eyes darting around the room. "I don't think you want to be seen with me, Oliver," she said softly.
He creased his eyebrows, shaking his head. "Lilly, I don't care. I want to talk to you."
she would change everything
for happy ever after
caught in the in between
a beautiful disaster
she just needs someone to take her home
Reluctantly, Lilly accepted Oliver's offer, grabbing her small clutch and oversized hoodie and heading toward the door. "Should we say bye to Miley?" Oliver asked, glancing back at the giggling brunette.
Lilly looked at Miley and then quickly averted her gaze. "Um, you can," she said softly. "I don't think she really cares if I'm leaving or not."
With one more glance back, Oliver stepped out into the Malibu breeze, Lilly trailing timidly behind.
She slid into the passenger seat of his car and twisted her hands in her lap, studying them as if they were something fantastic. Oliver slowly drove away from Johnny's house, trying to decide which of his many questions he should begin with. He glanced briefly at her and just before he was about to open his mouth, she opened hers. "Are you… visiting or something?" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Um, no," he replied. "I'm moving back… for good."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide and full of life. "Really? Oh, Oliver, that's great!"
He laughed. "Yeah, it is. I've really missed Malibu."
She smiled, a blush creeping up her neck. "Malibu has missed you," she said quietly. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again. "I wish we hadn't lost touch," she murmured, barely audible.
"Me too," he replied. He looked at her, studying her appearance as he slowly brought the car to a stop. What had happened to the innocent, carefree girl that he had fallen in love with when he was fifteen? "What…" he began. "What happened while I was gone, Lilly?"
she's just the way she is
but no one told her its okay
She sighed, staring out of the window. She laughed hollowly. "Life," she said, shrugging.
Oliver glared at her. "Come on, Lil."
She sighed, hating how this boy could waltz back into her life after two years of complete absence and make her want to tell him everything. "I don't know, Oliver, okay? I just want somebody to want me… to need me." Tears began to fall.
He shook his head. "Lots of people need you, Lilly, I-"
"Who needs me, Oliver?" she cried, the tears now pouring down her face. "My mom is dead, my brother is halfway around the world, my father is drunk if he's home, and you… you left me, too." She ended in a whisper, her eyes sharply snapping up to meet his.
she would change everything
everything, just ask her
caught in the in between
a beautiful disaster
she just needs someone to take her home
Oliver reached out and tucked the fallen waves behind her ear. "Hey," he murmured, cupping her face in his hands. "Hey, I do need you," he said quietly.
She looked up at him and shook her head. "Then why did you leave?"
"I came back," he said quietly. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Lilly," he said, his forehead resting against hers. "I always have."
She pulled away from him sharply. "You can't just go saying stuff like that and then leave me again, Oliver," she said. "I won't let you do it." She moved to get out of the car, but Oliver grabbed her elbow, turning her to face him.
Suddenly, his lips covered hers. Just as soon as he thought she was going to pull away, she was kissing him back and her arms were snaking around his neck. After what seemed like an eternity, they pulled away, breathless. "I won't leave you," Oliver whispered. "I promise."
she just needs someone to take her home
A/N: First in a series of one-shots. Song is "Beautiful Disaster" by Jon McLaughlin. Hope you enjoyed it!