Chapter Seven

Tried

Tried: adj. To be thoroughly tested and proved to be good or trustworthy; Made to undergo trials or distress.

(Ms. Scribo: Today we're doing the best friend exercise. Gather around in a circle and we'll take turns, telling each other in only one word what our best friend is like.

Oliver: What good will this do?

Ms. Scribo: It's for your creativity. You might be struggling with this Mr. Oken. It's hard to describe a person in one word. There's so many things, right?

Oliver: Oh.

Ms. Scribo: You can go first then, Mr. Oken.

Oliver: Lilly – worried.

Ms. Scribo: Very good Oliver. Peter?

Peter: Becky – beautiful.

Ms. Scribo: Symone?

Symone: Katherine – smart.

Ms. Scribo: And Lillian?

Lilly: What?

Oliver: Describe Miley in one word.

Lilly: …broken.)

--

It didn't seem like it.

It did not seem like Miley could really try.

Or maybe she was trying and just couldn't.

Maybe she couldn't go on without Hannah. Or without a leg.

Maybe she just couldn't.

Lilly stared straight ahead and drummed her pen into the front cover of her Book of Lyrics; Do Not Look. Oliver was eating something gross. People were wildly talking. Lilly was worried. They were in the cafeteria. It was lunch.

How could Miley really function properly, ever? Lilly had been contemplating that question. Lately. A lot. A lot of Miley's existence had been based around Hannah Montana. It had been so important. Lilly could understand why that would upset her. But she couldn't understand how Miley could not try harder. They had known each other for many years now. They had been on a date.

She was supposed to care.

She snapped out of her thoughts when Oliver spoke.

"What are you thinking about?"

She turned her head to him. He had something gross around his mouth. She decided not to comment on it. "I'm not thinking about anything."

He licked his lip, "You are."

"Am not."

"Are."

"Not."

"You're thinking about Miley and Hannah and why she's not really trying."

Lilly frowned, "Am not."

"Alright." Oliver stared her in the eyes, "You're not thinking about Miley and Hannah and why she's not really trying. You're not wondering about it. Contemplating it."

She shook her head, "True."

Oliver sighed dramatically, "But just in case…" he wriggled his eyebrows, and Lilly really needed the humour in her life, "Just in case you decide to think about it in the future, I have an idea… You should talk to Ms. Scribo about it. Sarah has her in Psychology. She's a Psychology teacher. She's good."

Interested, "Sarah has her in Psychology?"

"Yup."

Thinking, "She's a Psychology teacher?"

"Aha."

Smiling, "She good?"

"Incredible."

Pause.

"…that's what Sarah says… anyway."

Lilly placed her hand beneath her chin and thought for a second before she said, "Hmm, maybe I should talk to Ms. Scribo. She's my favourite teacher. I'm her favourite student. Creative Writing is my favourite subject. I'm rather fond of Psychology."

Oliver nodded, something gross still on his face, "Funny how that works out."

Lilly grabbed her pen and her book; she stood up. "I'm going to go find her."

Oliver nodded and looked up as her, as she swung her leg across the bench she had been sitting on. "Have fun, Lilster."

She looked down at him and said (all because of the fun she needed in her life), "Thank you Oliver, you've got something on your face, though."

Oliver reached his pinkie up and only wiped the crook of his lips, "Is that good?"

Lilly motioned at her face again, "Yeah, you've still got something gross on your face."

Oliver used his pinkie again and proceeded to clean the other crook of his lips, "That better?" he questioned.

Lilly took a look at his lips. He still had unbelievably much something gross on his face. He ate like a child. "Yeah." She said, before she turned to leave, "Much better."

--

Lilly took in a deep breath. She was nervous. For some reason. It would be awkward to talk to Ms. Scribo about Miley. Ms. Scribo was only her teacher. There was just certain things you didn't talk to teachers about. But then again, Ms. Scribo was different. Lilly felt like she could talk to her. She felt like it would be okay. She would just have to try. Maybe Ms. Scribo would understand.

Lilly raised her hand. She knocked. There was a faint 'come in' through the door. She slowly pushed the handle down and stepped inside. Ms. Scribo's eyes were on her immediately, and Lilly felt flustered within a second. The teacher looked very surprised to find her there, but ten seconds later a smile erupted on her face.

"Lillian?"

Lilly swallowed loudly and stepped in further. Deep breaths, calm-calm-calming down, "Hi."

Ms. Scribo motioned for the chair on the other side of her desk. "What can I help you with, Lillian?" she wanted to know.

Lilly took a seat with her Book of Lyrics; Do Not Look tugged firmly beneath her armpit. She awkwardly got it out though, and placed it gently on the table. "Do you have time to – to talk?" Lilly questioned. It was so weird. She wasn't her usual Lilly self. But again –she had not been her usual Lilly self for a very long time now.

Ms. Scribo nodded, her long, curly dark-brown-almost-black hair falling down her shoulder. She placed her elbows on the table. Placed her chin in her hands. Stared warmly at Lilly with those black eyes, "I do," she softly said, kindly, "I always have time to talk to you Lillian. Is there… something particular on your mind?"

Lilly shakily breathed out again. "I've… I've been thinking."

Nodding, "I've noticed. You've changed too."

"I'm not my usual Lilly self."

"No, you're not your usual Lilly self. You haven't been for a very long time now."

Scared, "Not for a very long time."

"Not since Miley got hurt."

Lilly felt her blue eyes go big. She looked up at one of the grown-ups she trusted the most in the world. She was so kind, so amazing. And Lilly trusted her. She needed that. "I know." she whispered.

Ms. Scribo nodded. She readjusted herself in her chair. Said, "How's Miley doing?"

Lilly stared at the table for a second. So many thoughts inside her head. About Miley. About Lilly. About Ms. Scribo. About life. Love. About notlegs and about hospitals. About her writing. She then looked up at Ms. Scribo again. "She's not really trying."

"To get better?"

Ms. Scribo seemed very understanding.

Lilly sighed, "Yes. She's not. And I know it's hard for her, because…" she was about to start blabbing about Hannah Montana, but that probably wasn't the brightest idea, since that was secret, "because of so many things. She's not herself. She's having an… identity crises. I think."

Lilly didn't know if she was making sense. Or not. But these were some of the thoughts she had been contemplating so much. She needed either reassurance or confirmation. She thought that maybe Ms. Scribo could help her with that.

Ms. Scribo motioned for her to continue. Silent.

"I'm just scared," Lilly whispered, not daring to look her teacher in the eyes right that moment, "that…maybe she's changed. Because- because if she has changed… will she… will she be the same person?"

Ms. Scribo moved slightly and Lilly wiped a lonely tear away before she looked up – finally locking eyes with her, "Maybe. Maybe not."

Lilly swallowed, "Do you think – do you think that if she has changed, that her feelings have changed too? That she's not my Miley anymore?"

Ms. Scribo sighed heavily and opened her mouth to speak, "I think that maybe you're too worried, Lillian. I can see why you are. But maybe Miley needs more time to get better. She probably is having an identity crises. Losing a leg is a big deal. I can see how it would affect a young woman so much. It'll change a lot for her. There's so many things. But I do think that you're worrying too much if you think that she will be another person."

Lilly looked up at her. She only knew half the story. And if she thought that maybe Miley was having a crisis – what wasn't happening in the real world? Miley was changing, Lilly was sure of it. Ms. Scribo didn't know about Hannah Montana, she only knew Miley.

"But what was this about feelings?"

Lilly's left eye was squeezed tight together, and she bend her head slightly, while looking up at her teacher from beneath. "I… She was my Miley."

Ms. Scribo seemed to get the hint. She had to have a moment to let it sink in, before she nodded softly. "I see…"

"You're not freaked out by it?" Lilly wished to know. It was always something that worried her. Sure, they hadn't been public about their feelings and they had only had one date. But from day one she had been worrying about all this.

She was happy when Ms. Scribo shook her head, "No, I'm not. My sister is gay, and it's not like it's sodomy or anything."

Lilly lifted her head a bit more, made an 'ew'-face. "Definitely not sodomy. It's just love."

Ms. Scribo laughed, "That's for sure."

There was a comfortable silence, and Lilly felt that the whole talk about identity was over, even if she hadn't properly gotten an answer. It was nice talking to Ms. Scribo. Lilly felt like someone really understood her and didn't judge her. It felt good. She unconsciously let her left hand wander to rest upon her Book of Lyrics; Do Not Look.

Ms. Scribo broke the silence with a look at it, "Do you get some writing done?"

Lilly looked up and brushed the cover with a smile on her face, "Yeah, a bit. I've many things going on these days."

"I know, you're not your usual Lilly self. I can see it in class and in the homework you hand in."

Lilly nodded.

"Your themes have changed dramatically the past two months." She paused, but Lilly did not reply, "I've been worried. You've written mostly about death and God and demons. But I see now, that it's only because of Miley."

Lilly looked up, struck, "I've almost always only written because of Miley."

Ms. Scribo nodded.

Swallowing, "Do you have any idea of what I can do?"

"About Miley?"

"About Miley."

Pausing, thinking, saying, "If you've tried talking to her and that doesn't work, you should try telling her in something you're good at. You should use your words. You're so good with them. And I'm sure you'll be handing something about her in during our big assignment. She'll appreciate that, and understand that. And she'll be back then, hopefully."

Lilly opened her mouth to speak, but-

"If it was Hannah Montana she would surely have written her best friend a song and sung it for her."

-so Lilly closed her mouth again and smiled. "I understand that."

The first bell rang.

"You better get to class."

Lilly stood up, "Yeah, I do better get to class. I have Mr. Corelli this period."

Ms. Scribo made a face as she stood up, "I have a free period now." she paused as Lilly's hand touched the door handle, "Hey Lillian, if you ever need to talk, you know I'm always here, ready to listen to you."

Lilly couldn't help feeling better, even if, "Won't people find it odd that I talk to you? They're gonna assume all sort of things."

Ms. Scribo made a thinking-face, "Let's keep it on the DL."

"Maybe you'll just be my sort of Bunburiyst?"

The beautiful teacher smiled, "Truly spoken Ms. Truscott, truly spoken in the words of Oscar Wilde. At least I know you pay attention in my class."

"That's the only class I pay attention in." Lilly finished, before she pressed the handle down and turned to leave, but-

"Lillian?"

Turning slightly, "Yes?"

"We'll be doing the best friend exercise the next time too, so you might want to do something about your answer before then."

-and so then Lilly blinked quickly and fled the room.

--

She ran into Robbie Ray outside Miley's room. He did not look too happy.

"Hi Mr. Stewart." Lilly said. She felt positive that she was going to do some progress with Miley this afternoon. She just had that feeling.

"Hey Lilly."

She frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Miles is not too happy. Somethin' about Mikayla and Hannah on TV – well, mostly about Mikayla, that's why she's so upset."

Lilly fell from her toes to the balls of her heels, "That's why she's upset. I see. I see, can I see her?"

Robbie Ray breathed, "I'm not sure. She's upset."

"I see."

Robbie Ray didn't say more, and therefore Lilly got suspicious. Robbie Ray was a talker. Like his daughter. They were both talkers. And he would say some more, usually.

"She's not only upset about that, is she?"

Robbie breathed more, "I'm not sure. She's upset."

Worried, "About?"

Nothing.

"About?"

"…you."

Surprised, slightly taken aback, doing weird facial expressions in front of Robbie Ray, the former singer-now manager, "Me?"

Robbie breathed even more, "Somethin' about a fight. I dunno, Lilly. But she's upset."

"I see."

"I think it's a bad idea if you go in there."

"Well, I wanna go in there because I have to do something about my answer. So can I?"

"I don't think so…"

Determined, wanting to go in there, to see Miley, no matter what Robbie Ray said, because Miley was her Miley and if she had a problem, she better share it, and, "I'm gonna go in there," motioning for the door, grabbing the handle.

Robbie didn't breath more, "Lilly, I-"

Ignored. Going inside. Goodbye. Goodbye Robbie Ray, the former singer-now manager, goodbye, it was so nice to see you.

Those souls, they are somewhere
Between their death and life
Ingenious, they are pierced
Between wrong and right

Door smacking, Miley looking up, very much surprised.

Harshly, "What are you doing here?"

Throwing bag in chair in corner, Lilly turned to stare at the TV on the wall – Gossip Channel. "Don't call on anyone. I need to speak with you. Now."

Arms crossed, "I won't tolerate the way you spoke to me the last time you were here."

Lilly stared her right in the eye, controlangercontrolanger and actverymuchnice, "You're having an identity crises, Miley. I worked it all out. You're not really the same anymore because you're not Hannah, and Hannah was a part of Miley as much as Miley was a part of Hannah, and that's a problem, especially for Miley. But for Lilly too, because she's pretty worried."

Miley's eyes were focused on the TV screen. Lilly felt irritated and annoyed and she had the need to either kick something really hard or do a kick-flip-gone-wrong on her skateboard so she'd be out of here for a while.

"Hello? Miley? Do you feel like replying, maybe? Perhaps? It would be nice, you see."

Miley swallowed and turned her eyes to meet Lilly's, and a few drops were seen by the crook of her nose, "They're talking about Hannah, you know. About whether or not she'll be back, if she's left for always. And Mikayla – she's been paid triple her usual for covering some of the things Hannah had had to attend. And I'm stuck here, never Hannah again while Mikayla has everything."

There was a pause. Lilly did not know what to say. She kept quiet. She felt bad for Miley. But what does one say?

"And she even came here, Mikayla. To give me chocolate and flowers. I've got enough chocolate and flowers."

Lilly shakily breathed out. She had to do this. Now. She would hopefully bring some hope into Miley's mind. Bring some hope back into her own. Hopefully, hopefully she would bring hope. "Miley… I'm gonna ask you something, suggest you something… Please just listen to me, okay?"

Miley's finger turned off the TV.

(Lilly eyed the chocolate and flowers during a momentarily brain lapse – she did like chocolate and flowers.)

"You can fix this." Lilly then tried, hoped that Miley would not shut her off, that she would hear her out, because there was a possibility, "You – you can still learn to have a normal life. You won't be able to dance, but Hannah can throw one last, huge concert. To say goodbye to her fans. And after that… Miley is free to play all the music she wants on her guitar."

Miley swallowed, "That all sounds very nice, Lilly… But – but it seems like such a struggle to get there."

Feeling proud, she was getting there, "It will be, Miley. It will be. But it'll be worth it. You just – you just have to try." Pausing briefly, "Can I ask you something? Have you- have you been outside this room since you got here? Have you even tried walking with your notl- with your prosthesis?"

Miley did not reply, she looked into nowhere.

"You've gotta try before you can get there, Miley. And we're all here for you. Can you – can you try now?"

Miley looked up at Lilly again, and the blonde swore she saw a glint in her eye.

--

(Ms. Scribo: So today we're repeating the best friend exercise. You could either pick another of your friends, stick with the same one and the same word, or maybe some of you have had a revelation concerning that friend.

Oliver: Do we gather around in a circle?

Ms. Scribo: That's exactly what we do, Mr. Oken. Everyone, sit down.

Oliver: Can I go first again?

Ms. Scribo: Sure.

Oliver: Lilly again – worried.

Ms. Scribo: Again, and Peter?

Peter: Becky – still beautiful.

Ms. Scribo: Only one word!

Peter: Sbeautiful.

Ms. Scribo: Funny. Who's next? Symone?

Symone: Katherine – smart.

Ms. Scribo: And Lillian? What about you?

Lilly: Me?

Oliver: Yeah, describe Miley in one word.

Ms. Scribo: You've got anything to say to us? Anything at all?

Lilly: Miley - trying.)

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all the reviews for the last chapter. I am glad that you enjoyed that. Sorry about the slight delay, but I've been really busy. Luckily I'm on break now, but I have a bunch of assignments to do, hopefully I'll get some writing done, though. I hope you liked this chapter too, I made it slightly longer. Please leave me your thoughts and merry Christmas to you all! ;b

Disclaimer; I don't own Hannah Montana.