AN: Thanks to SoStephSays, adryrules99, IheartORANGE, and anniecakes13 for reviewing. The last chapter was a tough one for a Loliver lover like me to write. This one has its moments, too. I just want everyone to think of the plot line when they read. I've changed the summery to state that in a way as well. We find that Oliver has his own way of dealing. RR please.

One week had passed since Oliver went into hiding. He kept true to his plea; not a soul had seen hide or hair of him since that dreadful day. It was truly if as he had died, but he had great uneasy and unrest.

Living without a purpose has its tolls on the body. Oliver constantly felt weak, often not being able to get out of bed. He hardly ate much. In fact, he rarely did anything outside of sleeping and mindlessly staring at the walls and ceiling of his bedroom. Thankfully, this was summer, so he wasn't dealing with school. These hot days that Oliver once longed for seem to drag on three times their normal length. A day in the life of Oliver Oken the hermit felt like a decade of time wearing away.

Oliver's mind felt as though it was deteriorating, too. He thoughts were constants and repetitive. How could she? Why would she? Look what she has done to me...

Does she even care?

Oliver was taking part in his usual evening routine; staring off into space with glazed eyes, when felt a random urge of some sort. He flew up from lying on his bed. Then, he swung his legs to the edge of the bed, his bare feet touching the carpet for the first time in quit a while. Carefully, he pulled himself up and tried to gain balance to stand up straight. It took some time, but he succeeded in making his way to his desk and sitting himself in the chair.

Scanning the desk, he grabbed a random note book, flipped to a blank page, and tore it out. There was a black, ball-tipped pen lying not far from his reach. He picked up the permanent writing utensil and placed the exposed tip onto the paper. With a shaky hand, he began to form the letters 'L, i, l, l, y" on the first line.

One last message to the taker of his soul...

"Hey Jackson? Can Miley and I get some water?" Lilly asked sweetly and her and Miley took their seats on the stools by Rico's.

"Sure thing, honey." Jackson replied in the same tone. He grabbed two bottles of water. "One for you." He said, smiling as he placed a bottle in front of Lilly. "And here, sis." He chucked Miley her bottle. "That'll be three bucks."

"What!?" Miley shouted. "How can you just charge me and not Lilly!? I'm you're sister!"

"Yeah. My little, annoying, goodie-two-shoes sister." Jackson replied. "Can't pick your family, Miles."

Miley folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it."

"What? You mean to tell me you wouldn't pick this dork to be your brother if you had a choice?" Lilly asked.

"Speaking of dorks," Miley was going to answer Lilly's question with one of her own. "Have you seen Oliver lately?"

"No I haven't actually." Lilly responded, cracking opening her bottled water.

"He hasn't called or sent you any texts this past week?" Miley asked. Lilly just shook her head because she had just taken a big gulp of water.

"Don't you find that unlike him?" Lilly gave Miley a funny look.

"Why are you so concerned about Oliver?"

"I'm just saying it's odd that he hasn't had some form of contact with you in seven days." Miley explained.

"Oh c'mon, Miley, it's Oliver." Lilly said. "He probably did something stupid and got grounded, or maybe he's busy."

"He's your best friend." Miley said.

"Well so are you." Lilly pointed out.

"We're close, no doubt." Miley began. "But you and Oliver are inseparable." She took a drink of water. "Aren't you at least wondering what he's been up to?"

"Well...yeah, sure." Lilly answered. "But just because I haven't heard from him doesn't mean anything's wrong. "

Miley shrugged her shoulders and the two switched gears away from Oliver to a brief, random conversation.

"Hey babe?" Jackson taped Lilly on the shoulder. "I get off in about 20 minutes. Why we go out tonight and get something to eat...unless you'd rather stay here and have some "Macho Nachos?" Jackson slid a container of nachos next to Lilly.

"Ugh! Jackson you're pathetic!" Miley yelled at her brother.

Lilly just laughed. "As much as I hate to pass up that opportunity, I'd kinda rather go somewhere else to eat."

"Whatever you say." Jackson replied with a smile. "But you better make that a half hour. I should probably run home and get a quick shower first."

"Oh yes. Please do." Lilly laughed.

"So I get another night without Jackson!?" Miley joined in the conversation. "Awesome!"

"You're welcome!" Lilly replied with a smile. "Well I better get home and change. I'll just meet you at your house."

"I can pick you up." Jackson said. "That way there's no rush."

"Ok." Lilly got up and threw her empty water bottle away. "I'll see you in a bit, Jackson. Bye Miley."

"See ya, Lilly." Miley replied. Jackson just waved happily as Lilly left the beach.

"That's it?" Miley asked her brother. "You don't even say good bye to your girlfriend?"

"She saw me wave." Jackson explained.

"I'll never be able to understand you two." Miley replied and got up to leave the beach, too.

Oliver let his pen drop to the desk. It took a few hours, but he was finally satisfied with what his twisted little mind had put to words. He placed his arms straight out on the desk and pushed himself back on his roller chair. Walking better than he had in the past seven days, he pulled out a pair of jeans and a hoodie of the same color; black. He changed from his random set of bed clothes to the mono-tone attire he had selected. Once dressed, he snatched the paper from his desk, made a few folds, and shoved it in the front, right jean pocket. Reaching up, he grabbed his hood and pulled over his entire head and walked towards the door.

"She gets once chance..." Oliver spoke very low as he left of his house and got in his car. "One...chance..."

Prolog Flashback

"Is Lilly here?"

"Uh, no. Her and Jackson are still on their date. "But they should be back pretty soon, so if you wanna come in and wait you-"

"Can you give this to her?"

"Uh, sure. "But seriously, they'll be here any min-"

"Thanks..."

"No...problem...What's with him tonight?"

Present Day

Before she could shut the door, Miley saw the head lights of her brother's car pulling in the drive way. She didn't want him or Lilly to think she was spying on them, so she went back to mindlessly flipping through the channels.

"So how was the date?" Miley asked, looking up at her brother and best friend as they walked in the house. "You two kids behaving yourself?"

"You sound like dad, Miles!" Jackson scoffed. "And what am I, four!?"

"Sorry." Miley replied. "Just doing my job as a little sister and best friend. I have to look out for you guys."

"Can I spend the night?" Lilly asked Miley.

"That depends: do you want hang out with me or spend more time with that?"

Miley pointed at Jackson, who was tearing the kitchen apart looking for food. He found a bag of chips, tore it open, and was shoveling them in his mouth.

"Uh, with...you..." Lilly replied with a faint smile on her face. Her eyes had rolled from looking at Jackson.

"Well I was just on my way up to bed, honestly." Miley informed.

"Can't we just watch a movie or something?" Jackson asked in between eating handfuls of chips.

"I thought you guys just went out to dinner?" Miley asked, giving Jackson a funny look.

"We did." Lilly answered.

Miley sighed. "I don't know what you see him..."

"Well I'm going to get my pajamas and change." Lilly said as she started up the stairs. She always had clothes at the Stewarts house way before she started dating Miley's older brother. "Night Miley."

"Goodni-Lilly, wait!" Miley called.

"Yeah?" Lilly asked, poking her head around the wall.

"I have something for you."

Lilly came back down as Miley held out the piece of paper she was given.

"What's this?" Lilly asked, taking the paper.

"I don't know. Oliver came by and asked me to give this to you."

"Hmm." Lilly studied the piece of paper for a few seconds, but never opened it. She just tossed it aside on the coffee table. "Eh, I'll read it later tonight."

Just then , Miley heard more of the strange noise she had heard earlier. "Do you guys hear something?"

Oliver had been looking in the window from outside the whole time. He watched in agony, pain, and disbelief as Lilly tossed his note to her aside like it was nothing. Oliver couldn't hear what was being said, but it didn't matter. For action speak louder than words, and by reacting in the way that she did, Lilly Truscott had just said a mouthful.

"Nothing but Jackson chomping away over there." Lilly went to give a glare, but in quickly turned to a smile.

"Hmm. Must be me." Miley said. I've been hearing sounds all night."

Lilly placed her hand on Miley's shoulder. "You're loosing it, my friend."

"Maybe." Miley replied. "Well I'm going to bed. Not too late, don't be loud, and keep your hands to yourself."

"Hey, I'm a good girl!" Lilly fought.

"I was talking to that one over there!" Miley pointed to her brother again who was now chugging what was left of a two-littler bottle of pop.

Jackson caught his sister and Lilly staring at him. "What?" He said after a big gulp.

"Well night guys." Miley said and headed up stairs.

"Aren't you going to go change?" Jackson asked Lilly as he walked into the living room.

"After the movie." She replied and plopped down on the couch. Jackson smiled as he sat down next to her.

Oliver sunk his head and clenched his fist. This was a last stitch effort and it had failed. All this only added more salt to his already burning emotional wounds. He was then hit on the head with a tiny droplet of water. Rain was on it's way and Oliver figured he better be, too. There was no need to stay there a second longer. He took one last glance at the 'happy couple' snuggling on the couch, but mainly the one who had disregarded him. Sinking down from the glass and slipping off into the night, Oliver whisper aloud two lines to himself:

"Time will not heal the dead boy's scars. Time will kill..."

First off, this is a double update. I combined these chapters together rather than posting two, smaller updates. Another very important thing: the last two lines that Oliver said are NOT to be taken literally. He's deeply hurt inside...that's all. Also, I tried not to make this too sicky sweet with Lackson. I just wanted to show that their attraction seems to be more one-sided and to do so in a tolerable manner for the readers and myself.

Will Lilly ever read Oliver's message to her? What will she find if/when she does? I'll hopefully update tomorrow morning, because I have a very busy schedule after that. Keep reading!

-drummer8907