I waited eight long months

She finally set him free

I told him I couldn't lie, he was the only one for me

Two weeks and we had caught on fire

She's got it out for me, but I wear the biggest smile

"Lilly!" Someone's shaking me awake. The room isn't in focus, and the edges of Miley's face are all blurry, like someone's smudged them. "Lilly, wake up!"

I sit up, the nightmare coming back. Oliver. Amber. Kiss. Dance. "Oh my gosh. I had this awful dream. Amber had a crush on Oliver, and asked him out last night! And they kissed, and he said that he'd go out with her! Can you believe what my imagination comes up with?"

"Um..." Miley looks at me, a worried expression on her face. It's not blurry anymore. "That wasn't a dream."

I frown. "And you ask me why I don't play along."

"Sorry!" Miley cries. "Yes. It was a dream. It was all a bad dream... and it will continue that way until you look out of the window."

I push the covers back, and jump out of bed. Miley puts her arm out to stop me.

"Lilly, don't!" she warns. "Please. Dream, remember? You don't want to look out of the window. You don't. Not for another minute or so."

"Miley, I have to see!" I push my way past her, and fall against the window. Oliver is walking down the street, Amber with him. She's laughing hysterically at something he's said, and he has this annoying grin on his face. To the outside world, they could be anything. Friends, step siblings, distant cousins twice removed...

But they aren't. I know Oliver well enough to know that he doesn't act like that with people he isn't dating. He doesn't act like that with his sister. He doesn't act like that with Miley. And he especially... he especially doesn't act like that with me.

My shoulders slump, and I turn away from the window. Then I slide down to the floor, leaning my head against the wall, and closing my eyes tight. It doesn't block it out. The image of Oliver is still there, burned into my brain.

"Lilly... are you okay?" Miley asks, sitting down beside me. "Stupid question. You're not. Look, if it's any consolation, Jake's going out with this other girl too..."

I smile at her. Weakly. "Thanks Miley."

It's not a consolation. Because we all still know that Jake is just doing it to make her jealous. He still loves her. And they'll still end up together. But Oliver... he's with Amber. And she's like... the perfect teenager. Nothing to worry about, at all. So no, it isn't a consolation. But Miley doesn't have to know that, and I don't want to make her feel bad.

"And Lilly, you know that she won't be with him for long," Miley says. "Amber can never be with a guy for more than two weeks."

I sigh again. That just makes it even worse. She'll hurt him. If he's going out with her, then he'll be dumped in two weeks, and she'll hurt him. And I'll hate her for hurting him.

I'll hate her more than I already hate her.

"What can I say, Lilly?" Miley asks. "I don't know... Oliver isn't stupid. He'll come to his senses. He knows what Amber is like. More importantly, he'll realise that he doesn't want her. Because he doesn't."

I look over at my best friend. Well... best friend aside from Oliver. But if he's part of 'Amber's crew' now, then I don't think he counts anymore. "Who does he want then Miley? Me?"

"Yes!" Miley cries, throwing her arms in the air.

"He doesn't want me, Miley. If he'd wanted me, he wouldn't be out there with Amber! If he'd wanted me, then he'd have been the one asking me to dance. He'd have politely turned Amber down. He wouldn't have kissed her back! If Oliver had wanted me, then things wouldn't be like this!" I say, trying to fight back the tears that are threatening to escape.

"He does want you Lilly," Miley says weakly. "He just doesn't realise it yet."

I lean my head back against the wall. He doesn't. He wants Amber. He's with Amber. He loves Amber. Why would he want me? "Why is Amber suddenly so interested in him?"

"I don't know, Lilly..." Miley trails off, which gives me the slight impression that she does have an idea. She just doesn't want to tell me.

I want to drop it. Believe me, I do. But I can't. "Miley, just tell me."

"Lilly, I..." she begins, but then shakes her head. "Look. All I'm saying is... that Amber and Ashley have always disliked you, right? So what if she's only going out with him because she wants to get to you?"

"Why would she want to get to me? What have I ever done to her?" I ask, thinking back. I don't think I've ever done anything worthy of this to anyone.

Miley shrugs. "You know Amber. She just can't stand anyone else being happy. It's her selfish nature. She just wants to make you unhappy."

"Well she's achieved that," I mumble, looking down at the carpet.

"She doesn't have to know that," Miley says, getting up. "Look. You're going to get dressed, and we're going down to Rico's."

I look up at her. "But that's where they were headed."

"The point?" Miley puts her hands on her hips. "Oliver needs to see that nothing is up. You were so quiet last night, and I'd be amazed if he weren't slightly worried."

I frown. "Because it sure looks like it. I mean, if I were worried about my friend, the first thing that I'd do in the morning would be to go out."

"Lilly," Miley sighs. "It's Oliver. He has the brain of a sponge. C'mon! We need to go out there, and show Amber that her plan isn't working. And that you aren't bothered in any way."

"But I am," I admit.

Miley rolls her eyes, and pulls on my arm, bringing me up to her height. "I know you are. But Amber doesn't. Plus, if you sit and cry all the time, then Oliver may work out that you're in love with him."

This makes sense. Amber may have it out for me, but it doesn't mean I have to give her the reaction that she's looking for.

"Rico's, yeah?" I ask, and Miley grins.

"Totally."

You'll get another update tonight. Probably one of Baby's Coming Back too. And yeah, I did change my pen name.