Chapter 17

Donation Trail

"I guess it would be pointless to ask why Miley got into a limo?"

"Not at all Jake. Ask away," Lilly told Jake.

"Okay, why was Miley getting into a limo?"

"She's going to the hospital to see Maggie," Oliver answered.

"Well, that wasn't her dad or brother's car. It was a limo."

"You know, Oliver, Slayer Boy is right. That was a limo."

"You know, I think you're right, Lilly."

"You're right, Jake, that was a limo." Lilly told Jake as she turned to him.

"Is it pointless to ask why she was using a limo?"

"No. Ask away." Oliver told Jake. Jake took a breath and jumped in.

"Why was Miley using a limo to go to the hospital?"

"Because her dad is already there and Jackson is training for the Olympics."

Jake dropped his head to his chest and sighed.

"Is it pointless to ask where the limo came from?" Jake was still looking down at the ground. Oliver and Lilly looked at each other.

"It came from the limo factory." Oliver answered.

"So……this is another need to know thingy again. Isn't it?"

"'Fraid so, Jake. Sorry." Lilly looked at Jake with some pity.

They walked in silence for a while. Jake decided to spring his plan on Oliver and Lilly about the studio donation.

"Can I ask a question and get a real answer?"

"Ask your question, but we make no promises," Lilly answered gently.

"Well, I asked the studio to make a big donation so that we would win the dance and night with Hannah to impress Miley. But after what happened this morning with Amber and Ashley, will she get mad at me?"

"That all depends on why you're doing it." Lilly answered with some thought.

"Well, I wanted to make her like me, but after talking with you two these last couple of days, I'm starting to see that it takes more than that."

"So what are you going to do?" Oliver asked.

"Hmmm……It seems that Amber and Ashley have some kind of a plan to win this thing from the way they were talking."

"Yeah. Amber's dad is a big time plastic surgeon," Lilly started.

"And she has him wrapped around her little finger," Oliver finished.

"Well, I was thinking I could kill two birds with one stone."

"Come again?" Lilly asked.

"Okay, Maggie has leukemia. Which is why Miley is taking this fundraiser so seriously. We also know that Hannah has a good friend that has leukemia too. Amber and Ashley only care about having a night on the town with Hannah. They don't care about the fundraiser whatsoever. Follow me so far?"

"Yeah," both Oliver and Lilly voiced.

"Okay. What if I keep the studio donation until Friday?"

"What will that do?" Lilly asked.

"That's a great idea, Jake."

"It's like this, Lilly. In order for Amber and Ashley to win, they have to be following the totals on the web. That way they know how much to ask Amber's dad for. With the school's leaders being announced everyday, they know what they need to have to win here. But if I wait until Friday with a nice big check from the studio, then Amber and Ashley will lose."

"And the money they thought would win them their night on the town will be used for research and not some selfish reason." Lilly put the idea together.

"I think Miley and even Hannah would like the reason for you using the studio money that way." Oliver told Jake.

"I hope Miley will. I really want her to trust me."

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"I'm glad we stole this idea from the hillbilly." Ashley told Amber as they dump a donation jar into a bucket.

"Me too. Can you just imagine the damage to our status if we went around begging for money!"

"You are so right, Ashley. Only losers beg for money." Both Amber and Ashley were looking at a homeless man when Amber made the comment.

"Tell me why we're doing this again?"

"Because Daddy won't give me the money unless I make an effort."

"That is so mean of him."

"Yeah, tell me."

"But it will be worth it when we get to spend a whole night with Hannah Montana!"

"Ooooo….Tsssss…."

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Lilly, Oliver and Jake had finished collecting for the donation pails that were set up around the beach. Giving was starting to drop off. Plus this was also going to be the last day the pails were going to be out. Tomorrow was Friday and the end of the fundraiser. All money needed to be turned in by the end of the school day.

They went to Lilly's house after they were done with the final rounds. Jake already had the check from the studio and was showing it to the others.

"Wow! I never have seen a check with that many zeroes before," commented Oliver.

"Well, technically it's not a check," Jake told them.

"Well, it looks like a check." Lilly countered.

"It's really a bank transfer note."

"What's the difference?" Oliver asked.

"Anyone can cash a check. With the bank transfer note, The Leukemia Foundation is the only one that can transfer the money. In order to do that, they have to give their government non-profit identification number."

"That's a lot of work, but I guess it keeps that much money safe." Lilly observed.

"You have time to work on homework Jake?" Oliver asked.

"Yeah I do."

"I'll get the snacks!" Lilly told them as she headed off to the kitchen.

Oliver led Jake to Lilly's room.

"I didn't expect this." Jake told Oliver as he saw Lilly's room for the first time.

"What did you expect?" Lilly asked as she came in with the snacks and drinks.

"More Xtreme Sports posters and magazines." Jake answered as he picked up a fashion magazine that had Hannah Montana and Lola Luftnagle on the cover.

"If you haven't noticed, I am a girl, Jake."

"Well, I have noticed, but it's just that you're so into boarding and stuff, I just thought that was what your room would look like."

"Oh really, so what does your room look like? Mirrors on all the walls?"

"Now you sound like Miley."

"Oh, I can be really evil if I need be."

"You? Evil? I don't think so."

"Oliver."

"Yes, she can."

"Join the dark side. I have cookies." Lilly smiled slyly at Jake and held up the cookies.

"You're right, Oliver," Jake took the offered cookie, "she can be quite evil."