Chapter 4

The Contest

Miley waited for the Lilly and Oliver at the corner so they could go to school. She was excited about school today. This was the day that the contest would be announced in school. Lilly and Oliver knew something was going to happen but Miley wouldn't tell them.

"Okay Miley, what's the big deal about today?" Lilly asked again as she and Oliver walked up to her.

"Sorry y'all have to wait just like everyone else."

They started to walk to school together and talked about their after school plans when Lilly realized something.

"Oh man! Just how thick are we Miley?"

"What are you talking about Lilly?"

"I mean that you have Cody and I have Zack but Oliver doesn't have anyone. How could we be so thoughtless? We just have to find someone for him."

"Well, what about Amy? She still likes Oliver doesn't she?"

"They did have a good time at the dance."

"Uh, excuse me."

"What?" Both girls said at once.

"I'm right here, thank you very much."

"So you are. Anyways Miley, I think she does and…"

"Excuse me again."

"Oliver will you stop interrupting us." Lilly said.

"We're trying to get you a date." Miley finished.

"I can get my own date with Amy thank you very much."

"Well then, why don't you ask her to hang out at the beach with us then?"

"I will, Miley."

"Did you see Frank hiding up ahead, Miley?" Lilly asked.

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Ever since Miley's stalker was caught, Frank West was offered a job on Miley's security detail. Frank was made second in charge right behind Roxi.

He took it upon himself to teach the kids, he liked calling them the kids, situational awareness and escape self-defense. As part of their training, Frank would try and surprise them. When he first started the training, he could get them any day he picked to test them. But as time and training went by, it started to drop. The ratio was down to one out of ten times now.

"It's your turn to decide what to do Oliver," Miley said.

"What did we do the last time?"

"We crossed the street," answered Lilly.

"Well, hiding in the doorway with the trash cans by it was not a good place to pick. Let's push the last two trashcans into the doorway."

Frank was listening for them. He was sure that he had them this time. Their voices were getting louder and louder. He was getting ready to jump out when two trashcans fall into the doorway. He tripped over them and fell to the ground.

"Hi Frank. Spray, spray."

"Hi kids. Good one." Frank laughed as he got up and fixed the trashcans. 'Spray, spray' was their code for spraying pepper spray.

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Mr. Aaron was doing one of the things he like doing best: watching the students come to school. It was his most favorite part of the day. He heard a commotion to his right. Turning to look, he just shook his head. It was Jake Ryan and his little group of girls that followed him around. Jake was a good kid, but fame had gone to his ego. But there had been changes as his time at Seaview lengthened.

"Hi, Mr. Aaron." Miley said as she walked by. "Big day today."

"Yes it is." He smiled back at her. There was the number one reason for the change. After years of working with teenagers, he could tell who liked who. Jake Ryan liked Miley Stewart. But what Jake didn't know was that Miley was a celebrity too. She would have a following of boys if she let the world know that she was Hannah Montana. But that was something she didn't want. Something Jake didn't understand yet. But the more he tried to get on Miley's good side, the more she held up his short comings as a celebrity to his face. He was learning, but it was at a slow pace. Maybe some day.

Mr. Aaron went back to his office to get ready for the morning announcements and Miley's special announcement. It was a very good idea.

Just another difference between Jake and Miley.

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"Hey Miley, wait up." Jake called out as our trio headed to homeroom for the start of the day.

"Hey Jake, catch up." Replied Miley.

"Come on Miley, why do you have to be that way?"

"Why do you have to be an egotistical maniac?"

"I just want to ask you if you want to go to a movie premiere on Wednesday."

"No."

"No?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"No. Now stop that." (I love that banter)

They got to class with Jake still trying to get Miley to say yes with no luck.

"Alright class, let's settle down. As you know, this is Leukemia Awareness Week and Mr. Aaron has a special announcement to make about that and then we'll have some things to do for Leukemia Awareness Week."

Miley turned and smiled at Oliver and Lilly.

ding, ding, ding

"Good morning students. Welcome back for another week of school. Today for lunch……"

A note landing on Miley's desk broke her concentration on the daily announcements. She picked it up and began to read.

Miley

Why won't you go out with me?

Jake

Miley thought back to the 70's dance and the way Jake blew Lilly off. Okay, so she was trying to steal him away from Lilly. Plus she was a little star struck then too. But now, especially with Cody here, she knew what she wanted. And that was Cody. Hearing Mr. Aaron saying that there was a special announcement to be made brought her back to the present.

"……after the announcement is made your homeroom teachers will give you the rest of the details and get things set up. So here is a special recorded announcement by Hannah Montana."

"How y'all doing. As you know this is Leukemia Awareness Week here in California. One of the special actives the Leukemia Foundation has planned involves a fundraiser contest for all junior and senior high schools in the state. What is the contest? It's simple, the school that raises the most money wins the prize of a Hannah Montana school dance."

The classroom erupted in noise when they heard that.

"Quiet down."

Hannah had paused. She knew that there would be talking when she told them about the dance.

"If y'all are listening again, there is more. The student or group of students at the winning school that raised the most money will also have a night on the town with me." She waited again.

"Now all of this may be exciting to you but just remember the reason we are doing this is because there are kids out there fighting for their lives and with the money we raise, you just might be helping to save a life. Maybe the life of someone you know. Thanks and I'll see y'all at the dance."

Lilly pulled a tissue out of her purse and gave it to Miley. Lilly didn't have to look to know she needed it. Miley took the tissue.

"Okay, the contest starts today and ends at the end of the school day Friday. As you heard Hannah say, you can work by yourself our in teams. I'll give you a few minutes to decide."

It was quite obvious that Amber and Ashley were going to work together. Just like everyone in homeroom knew that Miley, Lilly, and Oliver would work together too. Everyone divided up into groups thinking that it would give him or her the best chance of winning the night on the town with Hannah Montana. That just left one person without a group, but everyone was asking Jake to join theirs. But he got up and went over to Miley's group.

"Can I join you guys?"

"Well, only if you keep that ego in check." Miley informed him.

"Deal."

"I think we need to meet after school to get a plan together." Lilly suggested.

"We're meeting at Miley's house to do homework, let's meet there." Oliver added.

"That works for me. I'll just walk home with you guys." Jake added.

"Great! We'll meet at my locker after school." Lilly continued.

"Okay, I'll see you guys later." Jake got up and left.

Miley was sitting there with her mouth open couldn't believe what just happened.

"What about Cody and Zack guys?"

"Uh-oh" two voices replied to her.