A/N: thanks for the LACK of reviews...seriously? two? really guys? not to sound like a bitch, but i'm starting a new thing. at 5 reviews im going to start writing the next chapter, and after 10 reviews (and when i finish it) i'll post it. it's not that hard to review! i get that everyone has finals and big projects and stuff, but even one line is so much better than nothing (:

A/N pt 2: Second to last chapter. No connor hate as always.

Chapter 9

"It's not going to make any difference whether or not you know the rumors. They were said, and they were out there. But if you go to the party, it says something. That you don't care about the rumors, and that you're better now."

"Fine," I gave in. "But don't expect me to have fun."

I walked up Miley's front door and rang the bell. She had told me to meet her there at 7, and that we could walk to the party. Connor was meeting us there a little later, after his shift at the hospital.

"Hey!" She squealed as she opened the door.

I gave her a strange look as we passed through the door, but soon saw the reason for her perkiness.

"Miley!" I silently screamed, drawing her back towards me with her eyes. "What is he doing here?"

"I invited him," she answered, motioning towards Oliver.

"I can't believe I fell for it," I shook my head and started to walk out the door. "Forget your stupid party, I'm going home."

"Wait!" I felt her hand on my arm, pulling me back. "Look, I'm sorry. But you two have been best friends since pre school and you haven't talked in months! I'm only trying to do what's best for you."

"Fine. I'll go to the party. But stop meddling in my life! If we are meant to be friends again, it'll happen," I scolded her. Secretly, I thanked her for trying, something I had been too cowardly to do.

By the time we got to the beach, most of the guests--including Connor--had already arrived. A bonfire was lit near the ocean, and Connor was standing near it, talking to some of guys.

"Hey," I greeted him with a quick kiss. "How'd you get here so fast?"

"I might have traded shifts," he smiled. "You know Josh and Cam, right?"

"No, not really," I admitted. "Hey."

The two guys smiled at me as Connor and I walked off. "What were you guys talking about?" I asked.

"Lacrosse."

The party continued uneventfully for the next few hours, except the occasional odd stare I received from some classmates. I guess Miley wasn't lying when she was talking about the rumors.

Connor left to go talk to Josh and Cam some more, and I went to go find Miley. She was sitting on one of the logs near the fire, staring at a guy making out with some girl a few yards away.

"Whose that?" I asked her as I followed her gaze.

"Jake," she sighed. "He's back."

"Wow…" I mused. "That sucks. How are you with it?" I asked, concerned that she still wasn't over him.

"Truthfully?" Terrified," she admitted. "I thought I was over him, but…I don't know. I haven't talked to him yet. I'm just hoping he doesn't hate me."

"Why would he hate you?" I responded.

"I don't know…" she trailed off. "How's the party going for you?"

"Not too bad. Connor's over talking to some guys about lacrosse or something," I explained.

"You know whose not having a good time?" She asked me, and I easily guessed the answer. "Why don't you go talk to him, Lily? He's been sitting down there on the beach for the past hour and a half."

I slowly approached Oliver, who was sitting alone a way from the party. He was staring at the ocean, and his shoulders were slumped: a man in defeat. It killed me to see him this way.

"Hey," I whispered, sitting down next to him.

He looked up at me, his eyes vacant. "Hey."

I debated what to say next, whether to make small talk or to just dive right in. "Look," I said, deciding on the latter. "I'm so sorry. For everything. I just wish…I just wish things could go back to the way they were, before the accident. I miss you."

"Me too," he agreed, looking out at the water.

"It hasn't been the same without you," I confessed. "It's lonelier," I chuckled, realizing the irony of it all.

"Same here," he agreed again, looking at my face this time. "I'm sorry for everything, too, Lils."

I smiled, yet I could feel tears brimming in my eyes. Leaning my head on his shoulders, I looked out at the ocean and tried to just enjoy being with my best friend again.

Soon, though, he lifted my head up and wiped away a tear. "You're crying," he murmured as we looked at each other for what seemed like hours.

Our heads started to tilt towards the side, slowly moving closer to each other as I closed my eyes. His lips were on mine in a gentle embrace, the first kiss I ever had with Oliver.

What are you doing? I screamed in my head. You have a boyfriend! But the ecstasy of the moment was too much, the lies of the past months finally unraveled as I admitted to myself that I never had loved Connor the way I loved Oliver.

The voice in my head faded away the longer the moment lasted. Slowly moving my hands through his hair, we pulled closer together until we were almost on top of each other.

It seemed like eternity before it ended, but far too soon. Inhaling the cool night air, I smiled as I realized what had just happened.

Until I opened my eyes to find one heartbroken figure watching from by the fire.

The same heartbroken figure I was supposedly dating.

now go click the button below and REVIEW. also, tell me whether you think i should...

a) post lily's full list of why she can't date oliver (i have it)

b) an epilogue

might be easier to answer this question at the end of next chapter but give me your prelim thoughts

lastly does anyone have any song suggestions for one of the characters to sing? not to another character, but just at a show? a nice emo, punk pop ish type song? It's not miley whose singing, if that helps.