quit playing games with o's heart

It would have made perfect sense if Miley'd set him up with an ugly girl. She would have obviously wanted to suffer, and he'd have spent the evening entertaining said girl. He would have walked her back to her apartment and given her a kiss on the cheek at the door that would have made her lifetime and Miley would be happy…probably enough to forgive him.

There were no rules for hanging out with a pretty girl, even on the level of Amber or Ashley. She was clearly not in the same category, with her shimmery blue dress that made her eyes seem so dazzling he was struggling to remember what his ex looked liked. And he hadn't even talked to her yet.

It okay, O, we all know you have better things to do with your time than talk.

He smiled tentatively at the stunning girl in question. "I'm Oliver," He offered his hand, awkwardly pulling it from his pants pocket.

She laughed at his hand poised midair, but took it anyways, "Lilly." He blushed. "What?" She chuckled lightly and he turned an even deeper red.

"Uh, nothing," He mumbled, shoving his hand back into his pockets. It's just he wasn't exactly used to being laughed at. Gawked at, yes. Never had anyone ever laughed at him though. "Are you new around here?"

She nodded, her pretty pink lips stretching into a grin, "Um, kind of," A piece of her hair fell, hitting the light from the stage and shining so violently he had to dig his nails into his hand to keep from sweeping it back for her. Yeah, he definitely hadn't seen her before.

Right…because keeping track of girls has always been strong suit.

"I'm from Vermont, but I've spent a lot of time in Brooklyn in the summers with my mom."

"Brooklyn, I…" She looked right into his eyes, startling him so much he lost his train of thought. "I…I've never been there." He gulped, he wasn't used to honesty. When he did end up using it Miley usually ended up being abusive. Or his mother cried and threw things. So he tended to just shut up.

She surprised him though. A quiet grin spread slowly onto her lips. "Yeah, you didn't strike me as the type to spend time there."

He smiled shyly at her, "What? You think I'm just some spoiled rich boy?" She laughed at him again and he jumped a little.

"Well, let's just say that in Williamsburg guys don't usually wear tuxes like that unless they want to be beaten," She grinned. "And they aren't usually intimidated by someone as short as me."

Despite his best efforts to hold it in, he chuckled, "First of all, you don't look so short with the heels of death on. Second, you're friends with Miley, aren't you? Doesn't that prove that things that come in small packages are worthy of fearing?"

"Aw yes," She nodded, then flashing him her cocky smile again, added, "I caught the shoe throwing show the other night, definitely not suitable for children." She looked up at the stage, seeing some teacher or another from the school drawling on about the charity they were there to support. "Do you guys do things like this a lot?"

"Go to concerts?" He shrugged, watching her nervously. She was friends with Miley. She had to have talons, right? "Sometimes, not as much since we hit puberty and Miley got over her Britney Spears obsession."

She rolled her eyes, looking back over at him, "I meant these events and stuff. Is this like your life, going to fundraisers or auctions and benefits?"

He looked down and shifted uneasily. She had talons alright, and in the worst way, she hurt you when she was trying to be nice. He did that a lot too though, could her really blame her? "No, we do other stuff."

"Like what?" She asked, her navy eyes staring up at him inquisitively.

"We, uh," He stuttered. "We get drunk in Jake's suites at various hotels and take pictures half-naked in the hot tub. We take our parents' boats out for the weekend to have sex and get stoned off our asses. And the girls, they shop a lot and get their hair done."

"Who do you screw while they do that?" She asked, not seemingly repulsed at all by all the horrible information he'd just given her.

He shrugged again, "Other girls, sometimes we're tired and we just lay around in Sheep Meadow, smoke more."

She sighed, "I've never smoked pot in my life. My grandpa's the only one I know who does and he tends to take off his clothes under the influence of any drugs."

He laughed heartily for a minute. And then they were silent, after about ten seconds had passed he cleared his throat. "So what do you do for fun?" He asked.

She smirked, "Do you really like Connect Three?" She asked him and his face went blank. Why was she avoiding his question?

Maybe Cinderella's worried about turning back into a pumpkin before the stroke of midnight.

"Am I an overly hormonal teenage girl?" He grinned back. Two could play that game.

"I hope not," She teased, taking his hand and pulling him through the crowd.

"Me too," He retorted, letting her. "Where are we going?" He inquired as they neared the gates of the courtyard.

"You asked what I liked to do," She raised an eyebrow at him and suddenly they were on the streets again, with sounds of cabs passing and an ambulance siren faint in the background. She stood on the curb in all of her made over glory.

What's the matter, O? Are you afraid of playing your own games?

AN: I know, long time since I've updated and another cliff hanger. The next chapter will be up soon and it's centric to two or three characters you haven't been introduced to yet. As well, I have a new story called Falling Unconsciously, it's very philosophical and angsty. I'm loving writing it. There's also a new one-shot of mine up called You've Got Mail, it's Loliver fluff with some Jiley and some Moliver friendship. And look out for two new one-shots soon to come Jake Ryan: American Hero and Never Wanted which are Jake and Lilly centric, respectively. Also two full0fledged stories soon to come, Once Upon a Dream (slightly based on the Emily Osment song) and an untitled Miley-centric angst/romance as well as the much anticipated second-half of 30 Kisses. As if all that isn't enough I've started a new Livejournal community for my writing under ahigheroctave. The link will be in my profile soon if it isn't already. It has the dresses I've included so far in the story in the first entry. Love you guys, thanks for taking the time to read this most massive of author's notes.