AN: Again I surprise myself with my updates. I know you probably appreciate it, but don't get too used to it; I'm sure when it's not a weekend I won't be able to write as much. So this chapter is a wee bit more intense than the last couple and I hope you enjoy it.

And I actually updated my profile in case y'all wanted to know a bit bout myself. Oh yeah, and I apologize if my story doesn't make sense; I seem to be writing like a 12AM every time so yeah, you get the idea. Sleep deprivation and the like haha.

Anyway enough of my psycho babble, standard disclaimers, blah de blah, you know the drill.

Chapter 3

"Hey Miles, I'm back!" yelled Lilly upon entering the apartment, but got no response. "Miles?" As she walked into the small living area, she heard the shower running in the bathroom and quickly ascertained that her best friend and now secret love was indisposed at the moment.

While making her way back to the apartment, Lilly came to a conclusion that she finally had decided to accept. She was indeed in love with her best friend; no matter what the world thought of it, that's what it was. She had also decided though that she wanted her best friend to be happy, so if that meant only ever loving her as a best friend, that was what she would do.

Her curiosity had gotten the better of her though. She still planned on telling her about the dreams, just to see what her reaction was. Sure they had always flirted playfully with each other, but maybe, just maybe, she hoped there was that .0001 chance there was something more. She knew they had a special friendship, different than others, but maybe there was a shot that it was really a lot different.

Lilly continued to contemplate, somewhat satisfied with what she came up with, when there was a knock at the door. Getting up off the coach, she made her way to the front door and pressed her eye to the peephole. A small groan escaped her lips when she saw who it was but she decided, against her better judgment, to open the door.

Standing before her was one of the last people she wanted to see; him. Joe. The ex. He was about 6'1, light brown hair, light brown eyes, and somewhere between lanky and nicely built. Joe Garadi was Miley's ex-boyfriend. Well, at least one of them. They had met just after Lilly and Miley had graduated high school and dated during that summer. When that fall rolled around, he went off to school at Humboldt State and they tried to work it long distance. Lilly knew it wouldn't last, and she was right. He was an asshole within two weeks of leaving. That was two years ago.

Miley had shed way too many tears over him and Lilly wasn't about to let that happen again. Just like those before and after him, Joe broke her heart and Lilly helped, if not completely put the pieces back, comfort her enough to move on to another.

"What do you want Joe?"

"Well hello to you too Lilly. Can't a guy come visit his friends?" Joe said innocently.

"We are not your friends anymore Joe. Miley's busy anyway, why don't you just go."

"I want to make things right with her Lilly. I know what I did was stupid and I was young and immature. If I knew then what I know now I never would have ended things with her then." Joe said. "I'm in love with her."

Lilly felt her blood begin to boil. "If you really were in love with her, you would have come to that conclusion right after you hurt her. As a matter of fact, you wouldn't have hurt her at all, if indeed you love her." Lilly said coldly.

"I do. And I want to be with her more than anything." Joe said. "I'm not that immature, stupid kid you once knew. I know what it feels like to love someone and hurt when you can't be with them."

And that is what sent Lilly over the edge. Anger, passion and pent up desire took her over completely.

"Do you even know what it feels like? Do you Joe? Because I think you don't." Lilly was getting extremely worked up and on the verge of tears. "To love someone, and know you can never, ever be with them?"

"Don't give me that, you know I do. You know I've felt that for her." Joe replied.

"Don't give me that bullshit. You had her. You had a chance with her and you fucked up. You showed her how much of an idiot you really are. How much of aboy you really are. You screwed up and you don't deserve her. Just like every other fuckin' guy who has come around and used her." She had come so close to screaming that she hadn't heard the shower turn off. "And ya know what? Every fuckin' time I have been the one she comes back to, the one that picks up the pieces and tells her so-and-so was just another piece of shit like every other guy. And every single time, I have unknowingly fallen more and more in love with her.

"I have watched her go through the pain and the hurt, and I am the one who puts her back together when all I really want to do is be the one who loves her. Because I can and do love her like no one else in the world will. But I will never get that chance. I will never be able to do that. So don't you dare say you love her. Don't you dare say you know how I feel because you will never……never know how I feel," Lilly finished as she gritted her teeth. With adrenaline still coursing through her body, she realized at that moment she had verbalized her admission of love for the first time.

Joe was taken aback by the amount of aggression and love that had just been put on display for him by the fiery blonde. "I-I-I'm…sorry Lilly. I…….."

He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think. As he senses slowly began to recover from the shock of the intense verbal whipping he had just received, he began to realize there was a lot more to the sassy blonde in front of him than meets the eye. She really did love her best friend and would do anything for her, even combat her ex-boyfriend.

"Don't say anything. Just go." Lilly went to open the door but was stopped by his hand on her arm.

"Lilly, wait." She turned to face him with a look of pure anger and passion. "You're right. I will never feel what you do; just make sure is always taken care of. She deserves the world." Joe admitted in defeat. Even though it wasn't him, he knew Miley would always be able to count on her best friend.

And with that, he opened that door and left.

Lilly rested her forehead against the now closed door and closed her eyes. She has just admitted to herself and her best friends ex that she cared more deeply about Miley than anyone else in her life. As her mind processed what had just happened, she was surprised by herself. Even before she realized she was in love, she would defend Miley fiercely; now she was a force not to be reckoned with. So transfixed in her own thoughts, she didn't hear or see Miley come into the room.

"Lilly?"

Lilly froze. Ohmigod, ohmigod,ohmigod…..how much of that did she hear? Way to go Truscott, you may have just completely screwed up your friendship. Lilly stared back at the door for one last second before she turned to confront the inevitable. There standing where Joe had been five minutes before was the love of her life, not scared or disgusted, but with a look of genuine concern and…..something else Lilly couldn't quite identify.

"Ya wanna have that talk now Lils?"

I know, I hate cliffhangers too. But it fits so well. Lemme know what ya think.