A/n: So I've been trying to come up with this new chapter for like two weeks, maybe I'm elaborating:P, but still-So I hope you guys review (Comments-Compliments, complaints, etc. etc.)

Pepper

Disclaimer: I asked Santa for the ownership but all he did was laugh and hand me a candy cane while the man took the picture

&&:: Chapter Three ::&&

"Lil-ly. I know you're there. Answer you're phone. Answer it now. You know you want to. Lil-ly. Fine don't answer I'll just go to the concert tonight all by my self-" Miley's voice said on my answering machine.

Her voice filled the room, and I just covered my ears with the pillow. Finally she gave up, and she muttered a "Call me back when you have the time," before she hung up.

My head aches, and I wonder if it's a hangover if it's been nearly a week since the party. My eyes ease open, and I rub my temples in an attempt to make the headache go away. Too bad it doesn't.

I wonder if Oliver told her what happened that night. No, because she would have started off, "Lilly it's me. Lilly what happened? Did someone do something to you? I bet it was those little snakes Ashley and Amber…et certera…et certera."

My eyelids feel heavy, and fatigue weighs me down as I change into some clean clothes, a baggy red Green Day shirt, and faded blue capris. I slip my feet into a pair of black heart-o-gram vans after putting on white socks.

All the while, I'm trying to calculate how long ago it was since my last period. I stand in front of my mirror as I apply eyeliner with an slightly shaking hand, the mascara wand nearly poking my right eye out. Out of instinct I reach for my lip-gloss, but I figure what's the use? Who am I trying to look good for? Why would I make the same mistake as the last time…As I think of it, my stomach churns and my throat feels after you dry swallow a pill.

It's not until after I'm downstairs and out the door on my skateboard before I realize Where am I going? Not to Oliver's that's for sure-I decide as I pass his house-and definitely not Miley's, she'll probably be wondering what happened, and I just don't feel up to listening to her complain about how she couldn't go, while I try to figure out what I'm going to say to summarize the entirely awful night-Without telling her exactly what happened.

The beach, is my destination, and I am immediately greeted by the sounds of it-People enjoying the summer day, the tide coming in, seagulls crying out for attention, and than,

"Don't you think you're getting' too old to be playin' jokes on me, huh?"

I smile softly as Jackson's voice floats over to my ears, and I can see him fussing with the nearly teenager Rico, whose laughing his head off at Jackson for some reason or another.

"Never. I will never be to old," Rico's laugh is louder and more annoying as I get closer to the Snack Shack, but I continue my way over there because it's nice to see some familiar faces that won't question me like I'm some kind of criminal or something, "I guess it's true what they say about older ladies because every year you just keep getting finer and finer."

I roll my eyes at his comment and take a seat on one of the red bar stools that isn't occupied, "Come talk to me when you have more than one chest hair."

Jackson laughs, as he runs a hand through his oddly red from ketchup hair, "What's up Lilly?"

I seriously hate that question, is what I wanna answer, but I don't.

"Just trying to get in some beach time before school starts again," I answer, the lies lately have been coming so easily it's scaring.

"Cool. Ice Cream? On the house, you look like you could use some sugar in your system" he says as he nods to the ice cream freezer.

I nod, "Thanks," sometimes he just like a really cool big brother-until I remember he's Miley's brother not mine.

He hands me a drumstick, and as I open the wrapper Rico cries out, "Hey Ketchup-man I want one too."

It's nice to be around people without having to be the subject to the conversation, like I suppose wouldn't happen if I was with Miley or Oliver right now.

I gingerly eat the ice cream as I absentmindly sit watching the scene around me-Rico whinning about his ice cream, Jackson trying to get the other peoples orders before he shoves a fudge bar into Rico's hands.

All too soon, it's nearly dark, and Jackson flips the Open sign to Closed. Rico is already gone, and the crowd seems to have disappeared as well.

"I'll see you later Jackson," I wave and start walking away before I grasp that my skateboard isn't leaning on the side of the bathrooms, just one more thing to add to my list of sucky things that happened during the summer.

The walk isn't all that bad, though, I live just a few blocks away. And it gives me some times to relax, close my eyes, and take in the fresh air that smells somewhat like ocean water and Dr. Pepper.

My mom's car isn't in the driveway, so I assume she's at work, and I haven't seen my dad's in four days since he's been away on a business convention. I find the spare key under the mat, and wonder if maybe that's not such a safe place to keep it anymore-since almost every person in the world hides their spare key under the mat, it's like a tradition or something. And finally manage to open the door when my unsteady hand pushed the silver key into the lock and turned.

I lock the door behind me and pocket the key, determined to find a better place to hide it tomorrow. A glass of Gatorade later, I'm in the bathroom and I thank god as I spot splotches of blood on my underwear.

I finish up, and wash my hands, looking in the mirror above the sink and I look completely awful. Puffy red eye lids, as if I've been crying-and I have, horribly chapped lips, limp blonde hair tied back a messy ponytail, my face is red from sun burn-I can tell why Jackson said I looked like I needed an ice cream.

Disgusted with my face I flip the light switch off and I make my way up to my room in the dark-just like every night this week. I crawl under the blankets of my bed, and let my eyes shut.

A/n: This chapter wasn't all that great but oh well. Please R & R!