Chapter 12

Time On The Sand

Jackson came home to find Maddie sleeping on the couch. He walked slowly and quietly over to her and gently kissed her. It was enough to stir Maddie. She reached up and wrapped her arms around Jackson, pulling him down to her. Breathless, they both came up for air.

"Hi," Maddie said softly.

"Hi yourself," Jackson answered.

"More matches today?"

"No. Cooper as a project that he has to work on."

"So, you don't have to do any other workout today?"

"I should run on the beach but I found something to do that I like better."

They leaned in to meet each other and fell side ways on the couch. As the passion grew, the outside world faded away. The only thing that existed to them was the other. They were one. It all came tumbling down when Jackson broke and sat up on the couch.

"I think I better go running." Jackson said breathlessly.

"Do you want me to change and run with you?" Maddie was breathing heavy.

"I better go alone. If you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do." Maddie looked at him with longing. Jackson was looking back at Maddie the same way. They started kissing again. They pushed apart.

"I better go change." Jackson got up and moved toward the stairs. He stopped and ran back for another kiss.

"Go run, Jackson."

"I'll go run."

He made it upstairs.

Maddie fell back on the couch.

"Wow"

Jackson kissed Maddie on the way out the door. By herself again, Maddie flipped through the channels. One of the music channels was playing love songs. So she stopped to listen. Closing her eyes, she started daydreaming about Jackson as she listened to the music. A voice she recognized broke into her daydream. Is that Miley? When did she get back? Maddie sat up and turned to the door to greet Miley. She wasn't there.

"Miley? You here?"

Maddie turned around to look into the kitchen when she saw Hannah Montana on the set.

"Duh"

Maddie smiled, laughed and shook her head at herself. Man! I missed over half the song. She turned off the set and went up to Miley's room. Once in her room, she went over to her CD collection. All the Hannah Montana CD's were together in the rack. She picked up the Hannah CD's and started to read the song listings. On the third CD she found the song she was looking for. Maddie turned and walked to the CD player. She turned on the player and put the CD in. She skipped to track four and pulled out the front cover and found the words to the song.

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Once Jackson got to the beach, he stretched out. After stretching out, he set off down the beach. This gave him time to think. That is, think about Maddie. WOW. He had to admit that she was the first he ever felt that way about. He was proud of himself too. He was able to stop before a mistake could be made. Just something they would have to watch out for in the future. Speaking of the future, there were the try-outs coming up in a few months. There was a preliminary tournament coming up that he and Cooper had to play in. It was a pre-qualifier for the Olympic try-outs. They need to win to make the try-outs.

"Hi, Jackson."

"Hi"

It was amazing. Girls that would not give him the time of day before, now greeted him on the beach. Must be what it's like for Miley when she's Hannah thought Jackson. Well okay, maybe that times 100. But if they make the team, it just might be the same. Now there was a thought. Miley was only famous when she was Hannah but he would be famous all the time. He wondered if he would have to fight off the fans like she did. Probably not.

It was just amazing the lengths Miley went to, to show her support for his run at the Olympics. It made him feel very special and also answered a question he always had. Would she support her brother in something that was important to him if it cut into her being Hannah. The answer was yes. She made a point of sitting down with him and dad to make sure nothing was in the way of his schedule. Plus it was nice to have his number one cheerleader there too. Although Maddie might give her a run for her money.

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Before going to the hospital, Debbie stopped by the house so the kids could drop off the donation pails and pick up their backpacks. When Miley, Lilly and Oliver went into the house, they heard music coming from upstairs.

"Jackson" everyone said.

Miley lead the others up the stairs to where the music was coming from. She stopped just before the door to her room. Someone was singing. They looked at each other. Then ever so carefully, all three looked around the doorframe. It was Maddie! All three pulled their heads back and huddled. A couple of giggles later, they broke. Miley looked around the doorframe again and timed her entrance. As a new song started, Maddie started to sing and dance to it too. Miley stepped into the room and started to sing. Maddie didn't notice because, after all, it was Miley singing with herself. But as Miley came up behind Maddie and Maddie saw her in the mirror, she jumped and dropped the hair brush she was using as a microphone.

"OH MY GOSH, MILEY!" Maddie yelled as she turned around.

Miley started to laugh as did Lilly and Oliver as they came into Miley's room. Oliver turned off the player as Maddie picked up a throw pillow and used it for the way it was named. Miley was able to duck out of the way of the throw.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We came back to drop off the donations and get our backpacks so we could go see Maggie." Miley answered.

"By the way, where's Jackson?"

"He went for a run on the beach. Cooper had a project to work on." Maddie started to blush hard.

"And what was Jackson doing before he went running?" Lilly asked in a singsong voice.

"Can you girls talk about girl stuff later. Debbie is waiting on us."

"Who is Debbie?"

"She's the wife of one of my security people."

"Where you guys going?"

"To the hospital to see Maggie. Zack and Cody are going with us. Want to come?"

"No I'll wait for Jackson to come back first I think."

"Okay. See you later Maddie. Oh, by the way, you have half the look down."

"Half the look?"

"Yeah, you have the blonde hair." Miley giggled and left the room.

Our trio headed down stairs and ran into Jackson coming back into the house.

"Maddie's upstairs in Miley's room pretending to be Hannah." Lilly informed him.

"Debbie taking you to see Maggie?"

"Yep. You going to come and see her too?" Miley asked.

"Yeah. I'll let dad know where you guys are."

"Later."