Chapter 3: Ashley's house

"Well, actually, we are fighting about you and Lilly," she answered glancing at Miley in the review mirror.

"Really-mean-girl-turned-nice say what?" Miley asked jumping forward.

HMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHM

"Yeah," Ashley replied flatly.

"How was it about us?" Lilly asked.

"Well it happened when I was at her house watching that stupid Zombie Slayer show. The episode had just ended and the news came on. I was just about to change the channel when pictures of you two came on the screen. Amber told me to change it but I was curious as to why you guys got to be on TV so I left it on. The news caster told your horrifying story and then your interview came on, Miley. It was just so sweet when you talked about Lilly being your everything and how she saved your life," Ashley smiled again into the rearview mirror.

Miley nodded remembering the interview. "I meant every word I said."

"After the interview," Ashley continued, "Amber went off. She started yelling and slamming you guys saying how she knew you guys were disgusting dykes. And that she was gonna get Todd and his friends to kick the crap out of you two for crushing on her."

"Uh! I would NEVER in my life crush on Amber!" Lilly said disgusted.

"I know right! I tried to tell her that but she just kept talking over me. So I yelled at her to shut up and she actually listened. I told her to leave you guys alone and she accused me of being a lesbian with you. I said I would rather be a lesbian than a cold bitch like her," Ashley said triumphantly.

"What did she say to that?" Miley asked.

"The bitch slapped me, right in the face. Hit me so hard she split my lip. And then she threw me out of her house. The next day, Todd approached me and threatened me. He said that if I got too close to Amber or started hanging out with you two, I'd be sorry. No worries though, I'm not afraid."

"Good. Don't worry Ashley, we got your back," Lilly assured her, putting her casted hand on her leg.

"So we're friends?" Ashley asked hesitantly.

"Of course Ashley. Thank you for defending us," Lilly replied.

"Awesome. I hated being so mean all the time," she confessed.

"Really? But you seemed so happy doing it," Miley said, shocked.

"It was miserable. Everyone hates you and you have absolutely no true friends when you act like that."

"I guess there's more to being popular than we though Miles."

"I guess," Miley said quietly.

The rest of the car ride was silent as all three girls thought of the current situation.

"Here we are," Ashley announced, breaking the silence and turning off the engine.

Lilly and Miley looked out the window to see a small house.

"Where can I put your wheelchair Lilly?" Ashley asked, climbing out of the car.

"You can actually just leave it in the trunk and I'll grab it when we leave."

Following Ashley, Miley helped Lilly out of the car and they walked together up to the house.

"I pictured a much bigger house," Lilly whispered.

"Me too," Miley replied.

Ashley held the door open for them so they could go inside.

"My little brother is home. He can be kinda annoying but it's not his fault. He has autism so just humor him okay?" Ashley explained, stepping in behind them.

"I didn't know you had a brother," Miley said untying Lilly's shoe and taking it off and then removing her own.

"Amber never let me talk about him. She said he's a freak, but he's a really sweet kid. His brain just doesn't work all that well," Ashley said taking her own shoes off.

"Ash, is that you?" a voice called from another room.

"Yeah mom, I brought some friends home. We're gonna hang in my room for awhile."

"Well, wait, can't I meet your friends?" her mother asked coming into the room. "Hi, I'm Sue, Ashley's mom."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Miley and this is my girlfriend Lilly," Miley said and stuck her hand out for Sue to shake.

"It's nice to meet you two too. Are you planning on staying for dinner? We would love to have you."

"Um, sure," Miley said. "Cool with you Lil?"

"Fantastic," Lilly replied, smiling at Sue.

"Great! I'll call you ladies down in a few hours when it's ready. Ashley, can you please check on your brother for me? He's in his room playing legos."

"No problem mom," Ashley replied. "C'mon guys, I'll show you my room," she said happily, leading the girls up a staircase.

"Ash?" a voice called out from down the hall when they reached the top of the stairs.

"Where are you Dylan?" she called back.

"Dylan in my room," the voice answered.

Miley and Lilly followed her down the hall and stopped outside a blue painted room. Inside, there was a boy about eight years old, sitting on the floor playing with legos.

"Hey Dylan. How are you today?"

Dylan feels good today," he answered.

"That's good," she smiled.

"Thank you," Dylan replied, almost automatic sounding.

"I want you to meet a couple friends. This is Lilly and Miley," Ashley introduced them slowly.

Dylan got up from the floor and walked over in front of Lilly.

"Excuse me," he said with his hand flat out between them.

Lilly took her arm off of Miley's shoulders long enough to give Dylan a five. "Good to meet you Dylan."

"Good to meet Lilly and Miley," he stuck his hand out again, this time in front of Miley and she did the same as Lilly.

"We'll be in my room if you need anything," Ashley said leading the girls out of Dylan's room.

"Bye Ash," Dylan waved, getting back to his legos.

"He is such a sweetheart," Miley said sitting down on Ashley's bed with Lilly.

"Yeah, he's my little guy," Ashley replied.

All three girls were silent as Miley and Lilly looked around Ashley's room.

"It's nice in here," Lilly spoke up.

"Thanks! I decorated it myself. Well, Dylan helped a little bit too. It's kinda small but I like to think of it as cozy instead."

"It's lovely. You have very nice posters and decorations, and…Oh my God, is that a Super Nintendo!?" Miley asked pointing at the video game console next to Ashley's TV.

"It most certainly is," Ashley laughed.

"Do you have Mario Kart? Or Donkey Kong? Or Super Mario World?" Lilly asked, just as excited as Miley.

"Yes, yes, and yes. I have tons of games. Check it out." She pulled a big plastic box out from under her bed and pushed the lid off.

"I must be dreaming!" Lilly said gazing wide-eyed at the games.

"Nope. Go ahead and pick some out to play." Ashley pushed the box closer to her so she could reach inside it.

"Mario Kart!" Miley shouted, pulling the game out.

"Awesome." Ashley took the game from her and put it onto the console. She laughed at how Lilly and Miley seemed hypnotized by the video game.

They played for hours, only stopping long enough to switch games and to take turns. Eventually, Ashley's mother hollered at them from downstairs giving them five minutes warning for dinner. Miley sighed as Ashley turned the game off.

"When did Lilly fall asleep?" Ashley asked motioning to the blond sprawled out across her bed.

"I'm not sure. Her pain medication makes her sleepy, so probably after she took those."

"Is she still in pain?" Ashley asked quietly.

"She'd never admit it, but I can see it in her eyes sometimes. It's heartbreaking to know she's still experiencing the pain," Miley said just as quiet as Ashley, stroking the blond hair.

"You two are just so sweet," Ashley smiled. "I gotta go get Dylan for dinner."

"I'll wake her up," Miley said as Ashley stood up and left the room. "Lilly, sweetheart, time to wake up," she gently shook her shoulder.

"Mmph," Lilly let out a sleepy grumble.

"C'mon, Ashley's mom made dinner," Miley moved in closer to the smaller girl.

"Mmm," she groaned again.

Instead of trying to verbally rouse her out of sleep, Miley decided to take another course of action. She leaned down and gently placed her lips against Lilly's. To her pleasure, she felt the blond kissing back, so she leaned into it just a bit more. They were so preoccupied that they didn't hear Ashley come back in the room.

"Hey guys, not on my bed now!" she joked.

At the sound of Ashley's voice, Miley quickly pulled away and blushed a bright red. A huge smile spread across Lilly's face as she pushed herself up.

"So…dinner?" Miley said trying to clear the awkwardness.

"Sure," Ashley said smirking.

"Good," Miley stood and pulled Lilly up next to her. They made their way downstairs with Ashley. Dylan and Sue were already sitting at the table so the three girls joined them.

"So Ashley, where do you know Miley and Lilly from?" Sue asked passing a bowl of mashed potatoes to her.

"From school," she answered passing the bowl on to Lilly.

"Ah, I see. It's so nice to know you're hanging out with someone other than Amber. You two look very familiar to me though. Have you been over before?"

"No ma'am, this is our first time here," Lilly answered.

"You probably recognize them from the news mom."

"You're the kidnapping victims!" Sue exclaimed.

"We prefer not to be called victims," Miley said quietly.

"Victims die, we survived," Lilly added.

"Sorry. You were very brave! How are you doing now?"

"Well I'm fine and Lilly is slowly but surely recovering," Miley explained.

"You are very strong and I'm so happy my daughter has friends as good as you," Sue smiled.

They chit chatted for the remainder of dinner and when they finished eating they continued to visit for awhile longer. Miley happened to glance at the clock on the wall behind Sue and realized it was already 9:30.

"Oh my God! I didn't know it was so late! Lilly, my dad is probably at home getting freaked out. We should get going."

"Thank you so much for dinner Sue," Lilly said.

"It was my pleasure girls. Come back again any time."

"I'll drive you home," Ashley offered, standing up from her seat.

"Thanks," Miley said kneeling in front of Lilly, pushing her shoe on her good foot.

When she was finished she pulled Lilly onto her foot and they followed Ashley out the front door and to her car. The three girls got situated and buckled in before Ashley pulled away from the curb. Miley directed her to her house and within five minutes they were pulling up in front of it.

"Thanks for the ride," Miley said, helping Lilly out of the car.

"No problem. Thanks for hanging out with me today. I had a great time," Ashley answered, pulling Lilly's wheelchair out of her trunk.

"We should for sure do it again sometime soon," Lilly grinned goofily at Ashley.

"For Sure!"

"Good night Ashley," Miley set Lilly in her chair and began pushing her up to the house.

"Wait! Do you want my cell number so you can call me to hang out again?" Ashley asked desperately.

"Oh yeah I guess I forgot that I don't have it." Miley turned around and listened to Ashley's number, putting it into her own phone right away.

"Cool. See ya later," Ashley waved walking back down around her car and drove away.

"Wow, it really blows my mind how nice she was today," Lilly stated as they made their way up to the door.

"Yeah, me too," Miley agreed.

"You think it was real?"

"Seemed pretty real to me."

Robbie Ray must have been watching for them because he greeted them at the door with a smile.

"Hey girls, I was startin' to get a might nervous. How was the mall?"

"We had a great time Mr. S," Lilly answered. "Miley got me some sweet lights for my chair."

"Awesome. Did you ladies eat good?"

"Yep. Ashley's mom made us dinner," Miley said walking past him.

"Okay, what's on the agenda now?"

"I think we'll just go to my room and watch a movie."

"Sounds good bud. Want me to take that chair off your hands?"

"Yes sir," Lilly nodded, sliding out of the chair and onto the floor.

Miley and Lilly went upstairs together, Miley on her feet and Lilly on her butt. When they got to Miley's room, Lilly needed a little help getting up onto the bed, which Miley happily gave her.

"So what movie?" Miley asked looking at her dvd collection.

"Never Been Kissed?"

"Sounds great to me," Miley said, finding it and putting it into the player.

Then she went back to her bed and climbed in behind Lilly. She snuggled up to her back so close as she could get and wrapped an arm around Lilly's waist.

"Miley?" Lilly said in a small voice.

"Hmm?" Miley answered sleepily.

"Would you like to go on a real date with me when I don't have to use that wheelchair anymore?"

"I would love that!"

Lilly said nothing else in return. Instead, she just smiled and closed her tired eyes. Feeling the warmth radiating from Miley's body, she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

A/N – Sorry I'm taking so long to update. School is crazy right now! And I also have to apologize about the boringness of this story. I'm really not good at writing anything but poetry and action stuff. I'm trying though!