Chapter 27

Victory Fallout

Mr. Aaron was doing what he liked doing best, watching the students come to school. There was more excitement in the air today. Saturday Miley, uh, Hannah, that is, announced the winner of the dance contest. Which made him wonder what type of week of school it would be. It would be an interesting week for Miley. She would be pulling double duty at the end of the week. How she could still be a normal down to earth kid was still an amazing thing to him. Miley was even starting to have an affect on Jake Ryan. When Jake first started coming here, his celebrity ego was getting the best of him. But as his newness started to fade and he developed an interest in Miley, his ego started to fall by the wayside. That was because Miley wouldn't put up with it and Jake discovered from Oliver and Lilly that he had to lose the ego if he even wanted to have a chance with her. It was truly amazing what a girl could get a boy to do. Speaking of a boy, there was Jake now. And just like that, his girl fan club appeared out of nowhere. Mr. Aaron had to shake his head every time he saw it happen.

"Hi, Mr. Aaron." Came the chorus for our trio.

"Hi guys. Hey Miley, can I have a quick word?"

"Sure. Catch you guys later."

Miley started walking with Mr. Aaron.

"So what's up?"

"Have you made any plans yet?"

Miley took her backpack off and dug in it and came out with an envelope.

"Here, Daddy wanted me to give you this and to tell you he would be calling later today." Mr. Aaron took the envelope.

"Thanks. Looking forward to a busy week?"

"I'm more worried about Maggie."

"How's she doing?"

"She developed a fever after the radiation treatment, but the doctors have stopped the fever from increasing. But it hasn't gone down yet."

"Sounds like the doctors have things in hand for now."

"For now anyways." Miley said under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. I have to get ready for homeroom. See you later."

"Okay. Bye."

Lilly and Oliver were wait for Miley at her locker. They started to pump her for information as soon as she got there.

"So?" Lilly asked.

"Come on, spill," Oliver added.

"There's nothing to spill about. He just wanted to know if I had any information about the end of the week."

"Oh," Lilly replied disappointedly.

"But on the bright side we can find dates for Friday's dance." Oliver had a certain look in his eye as Amy walked by.

"I'll see you guys later." With that Oliver went after Amy.

"What does you mean find dates? We already have dates," Lilly exclaimed.

Miley on the other hand looked a little down cast. She then looked left and right.

"I'll be too busy for a date," Miley said sadly.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that."

"That's okay. I'll talk to dad about it." Miley was smiling to herself when she told Lilly.

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Miley finely got a taste of what it would be like if everyone knew she was Hannah Montana. It all started in homeroom. Right away other students were trying to be best friends with her, Lilly and Oliver. There really wasn't a change for Jake. He still had his groupies all over him. But what everyone wanted was for our little group of four to take them with then on the night out with Hannah. Unfortunately for the other students, this was ended when Mr. Aaron made the morning announcements.

"Attention please. Attention please. As you know from Saturday, our school won the dance contest."

He waited.

"Anyone wanting to attend the dance must present their student ID at the door in order to get in. You may bring one friend with you. That friend must have their student ID with them in order to get in also. Now, as for our four winners. Hannah's manager has made it clear that it will only be the four winners spending Thursday night with Hannah. So please do not bug them to take you with them. But on the bright side, Hannah will be spending the whole day with us on Friday. So, I hope Jake has broken all of you from mobbing celebrities. Also, there will be a joint pep rally with Seaview High during last period for Cooper Campbell and Jackson Stewart. They will be playing in a pre-qualifier tournament for the Olympics. If they win the tournament, then they go to Colorado Springs to try-out for the Olympic team. So let's cheer them on to their Olympic goal."

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Miley smiled about the pep rally. It was her dad's idea of making it up to Jackson when he accidentally forgot about the tournament. He had asked Miley, as Hannah, to lead the pep rally. She was so totally looking forward to it. So was Jackson when he found out. The teacher dismissing the class brought her back to the present.

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Well this was shaping up to be a good week so far. Amy had said yes right away when he asked her to the dance. Maybe there just might be a possibility of a more regular relationship here. I'll ask her at the dance on Friday.

"Hi Oliver. Walk me to class?"

"Sure. It would a privilege to walk you to class."

Amy smiled and put her arm around the arm that Oliver offered her. It was a good thing they had first period together. Oliver walked slowly to class.

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"So, Miley," Jake said as he walked up to her, "who do you plan to take to the dance? Cody?"

"I'd like to. But the problem is he isn't from the area and may not have a student ID."

"Well, maybe he has one with him. You never know."

"Yeah."

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing."

"You're not worried about Maggie are you?"

"Not right now."

"Good. I went to see her yesterday and she was looking okay. I mean not any worse from the fever. You know. Her mom said that she is holding her own right now with the fever."

"That's good news."

"Who you going to ask to the dance?"

"Well, I've been toying with an idea but I don't know if it would work."

"Come on. If you can't trust your number one ego deflator, then who can you trust?"

"Okay you have a point there."

Unfortunately for Jake and Miley, they got to their first period class and couldn't talk about Jake's possible date for the date. But since Miley sat in front of Jake for this class, Miley soon felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, Jake had a note for her.

You may think this is crazy, but I was thinking about asking Hannah. But she is going to be performing. I just thought I'd give it a shot. What do you think?

Well, you can always ask her, but like you said, she is going to be performing. So how is she going to dance with you?

I know. But do you still think I should ask her?

Are you asking my permission to ask her?

Well, no. I just really wanted to know what you thought.

Really? Well then, ask her. If she says no, then you are still the same as not asking her. Besides, I've never read or seen anything about her seeing anyone.

Thanks, Miley. I think I'll at least ask her.

Well, good luck with that.

Jake sat there reading over the sheet of paper that had their conversation on it. Funny, something was gnawing at the back of his mind. Jake shook it off and concentrated on the lesson. After class, when they were in the hallway again, Jake continued their conversation.

"So you really think I should just take a chance and ask her?"

"Sure. Why not? But like I said. I've never read anything about her dating or being allowed to date or go out. So I don't know.

"Oh, I see what you mean now. But I think I will still ask. And Miley…"

"What?"

"Thanks for the help."

"Oh, you're welcome."

Jake stopped at his locker to change books and Miley walked on to her locker. Lilly, Oliver, Amber, and Ashley were there.

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"Well, I don't care if you think we should be disqualified because Jake knows Hannah," Lilly stated forcefully.

"Yeah! It was based on how much money the group was able to raise," Oliver added.

"Not on who you know!"

"Well, he's also a celebrity and makes a lot of money that you probably begged him to donate," Amber accused.

"Oh! You mean like begging you rich father to donate money so you can win without having to go out and raise the money yourself?" Lilly countered.

"We didn't beg him. He donated it." Ashley added her voice to the growing fight.

"What makes you think that Jake donated any money at all?" Miley asked as she walked up.

"How else could you losers win?" Amber cut at them.

"Maybe I went through the studio and asked everyone if they wanted to donate to a good cause," Jake added as he walked up behind Miley.

Miley, Lilly and Oliver stood there and glared daggers at Amber and Ashley.

"That is so unfair!"

"No. What is unfair is you begging your dad to 'donate' enough money so you can buy a night with Hannah when it was about raising money to help kids with life threatening illnesses. What you two did was throw mud on the whole reason Hannah was doing this in the first place." Jake told them through gritted teeth.

"What's going on here?" Mr. Aaron asked as he made his way through the crowd that had formed around our small group.

"They should be disqualified Mr. Aaron," Amber whined.

"It's not fair that Jake knows Hannah," whined Ashley.

Mr. Aaron had to fight to hold back the laugh that wanted to break out of his mouth. If they only know who they were really fighting with.

"Amber. Ashley. The contest was based on how much money you could raise. Not on who you know."

"But Jake is rich, Mr. Aaron." Amber continued to whine.

"So are you, Amber. And I recall your father making a VERY large donation for you. On the other hand, Jake didn't make a donation of any size. But what he did do was use the resources at his disposal by asking for donations from around the studio. Maybe if you had done a little work and asked your father's associates, then maybe you would have won. Now, if I hear any more complaining, then you and Ashley are not going to the dance Friday. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes, Mr. Aaron," Amber and Ashley said together.

"Off to class, everyone."

Miley watched Amber and Ashley leave and then made sure no one was watching. Then she turned to Mr. Aaron and mouthed 'Thank You'.

Mr. Aaron nodded.