Rockstar

Lilly was taken aback when she arrived at the festival. A stage had been built, food had been made, and the whole town was chattering excitedly. There was a loud cheer and a welcoming applause when someone walked on the stage. Curious, the blonde walked through the crowd of people and took a spot up front. When she saw the girl up on stage, Miley, her brown eyes filled with shock. The brunette's eyes met Lilly's, and she winked. Then she began to sing.

"One, two, three, everybody off your seats. I'm gonna tell you 'bout a beat that's gonna make you move your feet. I'll give the bar-be-cue show and tell you how to do, if you're five or eighty-two, this is somethin' you can do."

The blonde's eyes went wider as she saw the crowd already bobbing their hands to the song. When it sped up, the energy only became more intense and excited.

"Pop it, lock it, polka dot it, countrify than hip hop it. Put your hawk in the sky, move side to side, jump to the left, stick it, glide."

As the song went on, Lilly found herself joining Miley in the dance. The brunette was extremely talented, and the blonde was having an amazing time at the festival she'd thought she'd despise.

"Throw it all together that's how we roll!" The song ended, earning a standing ovation from the audience and a loud whoop from Lilly.

A huge smile came to the brunette's face as she stared at the blonde, "Thank y'all so much for comin' out tonight! Y'all enjoy the rest of the festival, g'nyte!"

There was another round of applause as Miley left the stage, replaced by another band that wasn't half as good as she was.

The brunette ran over to the blonde and smiled slyly, "I thought you weren't gonna come."

"Yeah, well…" Lilly shrugged, "I suppose I was acting a bit snobbish. I apologize, Miley. You were fantastic."

"Thank ya Ma'am. I appreciate you comin' out."

"Hey, Smiley Miley!" A male voice called out, joining the brunette's side, "You sure were great up there."

"Thanks, Travis."

"Smiley Miley?" Lilly questioned, raising her eyebrow.

"It's what all the townsfolk call me." The brunette explained, "Oh, Travis this is Lilly, and Lilly this is Travis. He handles most of the horses down here."

"Most?"

"Yeah, Miley won't let me touch a hair on her horse's head. I keep offerin' but…"

"The only one who takes care of Blue Jeans is me." She answered, "I ain't lettin' Trav anywhere near my horse."

Lilly managed a small chuckle, about to ask something else when another girl ran beside the brunette. She pushed Travis and Lilly to the side, "Howdy, cuz!" She greeted, her accent much thicker than Miley's.

It was then that Lilly realized that the two girls looked exactly alike. That, and the hateful look on both of their faces.

"What'chya doin' here, Luanne?"

"Man, that was some show you put on there!" The look-alike complimented, "Now, how about we mozy on down to that well? I'm a bit parched, you?"

"No, not really." She growled, stepping back a few steps.

"Oh, c'mon cuz, you can't be thinkin' that I would ever push ya down?"

"Ya did it once before, I wouldn't be surprised if ya did it again."

As the two girls bickered, Lilly and Travis started to feel like 3rd and 4rth wheels. The blonde had to admit she was curious about Luanne, and why exactly her cousin hated her. They had mentioned something about Miley falling down a well, but nothing more.

"So, this is your new friend." Luanne said, "Awful purdy one, she is. Have ya told her what ya are? A freak of nature?"

"What are you talking about?" Lilly asked, stepping forward.

"Oh, so she didn't tell you? I'n not surprised, ya see, Smiley Miley has always been good at keepin' secrets."

"Luanne, stop."

"Secrets? What secrets?" The blonde asked, crossing her arms.

"Well, ya see Lulu…"

"Lu don't!" She shouted.

"Come on Miley." Lilly said, grabbing the girl's arm and dragging her away from the girl. She didn't want to hear the secret. Let it be Miley's, she didn't care. The blonde just couldn't stand the sight of the brunette being tortured like this. She didn't know why, she didn't like it.

"Why'd ya do that?" The brunette asked, once they were a safe distance from her cousin.

"I don't really know." The blond answered truthfully, "She was being awfully rude. I just cannot stand people like that."

"Luanne's the Devil's child, she is." Miley answered, making Lilly giggle. The brunette paused, "Come on." She said, grabbing the blonde's hand.

"Where are we going?"

"To show you what you're missin'." Carefully, Miley helped Lilly up onto the back of her horse before mounting on herself. Taking a tight hold on the reigns, the blonde wrapped her hands around Miley's waist holding on for dear life.

They galloped through plains, past barns, and glistening lakes. Miley pointed out each one and told stories about them. She told Lilly that the lake was her favorite, that it was where she spent most of her time when she was small. Their final stop was the coral, where she had picked out her very first horse.

' "There were so many butes out that day, and I kept pointin' to the little scrawny one in the corner. My Daddy wanted me to get the chestnut mare, but before I knew it, he was tuggin' on my blue jeans." She said, "That's when I knew he was the one for me." The brunette gently stroked her horses head and kissed it softly.

Lilly was surprised at how many memories Miley had packed in such a small town. The way she talked about it, it nearly convinced the blonde that this place wasn't all that bad. Almost.

"I best get'chya back home." She said, clicking her tongue and turning her horse back around.

They rode much slower this time. A smile grew on Lilly's face as she lightened her grip on Miley's waist, leaning her head against the brunette's back. She could feel the cowgirl's heartbeat. It was strange, the blonde suddenly found herself wishing this ride didn't have to end.

"Miley?" She whispered.

"Mm?"

"Please don't stop directly in front of my house. My Mother disapproves of your nature and doesn't want me spending any time with you." She admitted sadly.

"Your folks don't like me."

"No, no." The blonde protested, raising her head off Miley's back, "Just my Mother."

The brunette nodded in understanding, pulling to a stop just a couple feet away from Lilly's house.

Miley dismounted and helped Lilly down. Slowly, Miley took hold of the blonde's hand, the two just staring at one another. Blue meeting brown, a smile growing on both their faces. Neither one of them wanted to leave. But they had to. Miley let go of the blonde's hand and mounted her horse, waving goodbye before she rode off.

Lilly waved right back, humming a soft tune to herself. It was Miley's song from earlier, the "Hoedown Throwdown." It really was catchy, and the blonde wondered if the brunette had rehearsed that or just made it up on the spot. Was she really that talented?

To be honest, Lilly wouldn't be surprised if she did. Reaching her ranch, the blonde creaked open the front door and wasn't all that surprised to see her Mother sitting in the chair nearest to the door.

"Where have you been?"

"Out in town. There was this festival tonight, everyone was there." She said, a small smile on her face, "It was a sight to see."

"I'm sure it was, but Lillian Truscott how could you defy our orders and stay away from those...people? We specifically told you not to go anywhere near those ruffians."

"No, you told me that. Besides, I don't want to be trapped in this house forever. I'll go insane, Mother."

"Lillian! You do not get to speak to me that!" Heather said, "Who caused you to feel this way? That Stewart girl? I told you to stay away from her as well!"

"She's not that bad and you should give her a chance. Miley's been nothing but nice to us ever since we arrived." The blonde shook her head, "And for your information, nobody convinced me to do anything. This choice was of my own accord."

"I...I... I…"

"Don't have an answer? I supposed as much. I'm not a child, Mother. I can decide things for myself." Twirling on her heel, she stomped away and shut herself in her bedroom.