A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! They make me write faster (: Anyways, please don't hate Connor! He's actually a really good guy, whose been through a lot. That's why I added the story he tells below--to humanize him. Also, Lilly isn't just using him. She does feel a little attraction for him, but it's not like with Oliver. Their relationship is kind of like Jacob and Bella's in New Moon, if Bella had said yes. enjoy!! and review (:

Disclaimer: I don't own Hannah montana, or else Lilly and Oliver would have gotten together already...o wait, they did! (: still don't own it!

Chapter 7

Walking into the room was like walking into my first day of high school. I was greeting a friend I hadn't seen in a while; but it was the nervousness that marked the attitude of the conversation. Awkwardness filled the air.

"Hey," I sighed, walking over to him. "How are you?"

"Fine," he answered, looking everywhere in the room except my face.

"When did you wake up?" I asked.

"This afternoon," he replied bluntly, offering up no other details. I couldn't believe that this was the first time I had talked to my best friend in months, yet barely 10 words had passed between us.

"Well, that's good," I smiled, unable to think of any other response. We sat for a few more moments, neither talking, the uncomfortableness growing every passing second.

"So, who's the guy?" He spat out, staring ahead at the muted television pointedly.

After a few minutes of strained conversation, I couldn't stand it anymore. I mumbled some excuse about having to leave, and rushed out of the door, texting Connor to meet me in the cafeteria.

I tried to hold back tears as I walked through the halls, avoiding concerned looks from passersby. I didn't think his resentment would affect me this much, but who was I kidding? He had been my best friend since preschool and now he wouldn't even look me in the eyes.

Connor came running up to me when he saw my face, enveloping me in his arms. "What's wrong?" He asked, concern wrinkling up his face.

"Nothing," I quickly said, wiping the tears from my eyes but elaborating when his eyes filled with doubt. "I went to go see Oliver," I admitted.

"What did he do to you?" He spat out, an anger rising in his eyes.

"Nothing…It's what didn't happen," I whispered remorsefully.

"Come on, why don't we sit down and you can explain," he said as he led me to an empty booth.

Connor listened intently to my story, nodding at appropriate places. I knew he wanted to say more, yet he allowed me to rant without interruption.

"I'm sorry," he apologized when I was finished. "I wish that I could do something."

"It's ok," I sniffled, glad that someone cared.

He stared off into the distance for a while, thinking something over before finally saying, "Look, Lilly, there's something you should know. It's nothing bad, just…the past."

I looked into his eyes, confused. "Ok," I told him to go on.

"A couple of years ago, I first came to the hospital. Not as a patient, though," he added when he saw my concerned looks. "I was in the same position you are now. My girlfriend, Lauren, she was diagnosed with stage IV B Hodgkin's lymphoma. She went through chemotherapy, but the doctors only gave her 6 months to live."

He paused. Even though he tried to hide it, I knew that year must have been hell for him. "Anyways, she lived another year, thanks to her doctors. We owed them so much," he looked down at the floor. "That's why I work here. It's the least I can do."

I stared at him in grief. Here I was complaining, but I had my best friend. I didn't have to go through a year of watching him go through chemotherapy, knowing every day could be his last. "Connor…I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea."

"I know," he chuckled. "I've never really told anybody. After, my parents moved to the city when my dad lost his job, but I always thought they moved for me, so I could move on."

"Wow," I said, amazed at his parent's love. "Can I ask you a question, though?"

"Sure, shoot."

"Is there any point to this story, besides making me feel terrible?" I half laughed.

"Yeah," he nodded his head, getting the joke. "It's just…Don't sit around here waiting for things to magically change with Oliver. He's your best friend, and you saw how fast you almost lost him. Don't wait until he's gone."

The next morning I called Miley and we went to the mall. It was the first time I had talked to her since Oliver had woken up, and she treated me like a child with a broken heart.

"Miley!" I finally snapped. "Stop!"

"Maybe if you would explain what actually happened, I wouldn't have to assume," she said point-blank, pointing out the fact that I had avoiding the subject all day.

"Fine. I had just come back from my date with Connor, and he kissed me outside of Oliver's door before leaving, because obviously we had no idea that he was awake. But, of course, he saw," I said, embarrassed.

"Wow," Miley commented. "That sucks. I'm guessing he didn't take it well."

"Nope," I confirmed. "I went in to go saw hi, and it was terrible. He barely talked to me. Legit, I think he said 30 words to me before kicking me out. The longest thing he said to me was asking who 'that guy' was."

Miley somehow managed to convince me to swing by the hospital before dropping her off. I agreed, but only on the condition that I didn't have to go into his room.

We walked into the building, riding up the elevators in silent anticipation. When we arrived at his room, I sat down outside the door so he wouldn't see me, yet I could hear everything they said.

"How could you?" She yelled, barging into his room.

"What are you talking about?" He answered back in shock.

"You completely blew off Lily!" She shouted, and I hoped that no nurses would notice.

"I blew her off? She was making out with some guy in front of my window! And don't try and convince me that she doesn't know how I feel," he spat out viciously.

"Oliver, you missed a lot while you were in that coma. Don't go assuming what happened," Miley replied, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh yeah? Fill me in then."

"She was at your house when she got the call. Your house, Oliver. You know why? To tell you that she was in love with you. I found her sitting on the ground, sobbing. She wouldn't talk to anyone for days. She came, every day, sitting by your side for hours. Every single day, Oliver, for over two months. And finally, after all that time, she found someone who was willing to help her get over you. Why? Because she would have wasted away the rest of her life waiting for you, destroying her own. What would you have expected her to do?"

Oliver's shocked expression refused to believe what Miley was telling him. "Wait?"

"The only human contact she had over the past few months was the occasional conversation with your family, and when I would make her leave. Can't you just be happy for her?" She hollered, even louder this time, and walked out of the room in the other direction, forgetting I was waiting.

I kneeled down on the floor outside of his room, tears flowing down my cheeks. Why was Miley doing this? I didn't deserve it; I'm the one in a relationship with a great guy but in love with someone. I don't deserve anyone.

"Can't I be happy, too?" I heard Oliver softly whisper inside of his room.

I stood up quickly, my arm covering my face to quiet my sobs. I turn and ran out of the hospital, but I couldn't resist the urge to glance at Oliver's room. We locked eyes, two former friends with tears flowing down our faces.

And it was all my fault.

now review!! and now connor hate please (: