CHAPTER TWO

The Unhappy Bridesmaid

Miley's Point of View

"Didn't I already tell you that they're planning to get married?" Jackson said, straightening his tuxedo.

"You didn't tell me that it was the week after!" I shot back, applying thick, black eyeliner. I guess it was the only way to be rebellious. I can't believe I was the bridesmaid.

"Are you guys ready?" Jake asked us, appearing at the door.

"As we'll ever be," I told him.

That week before the wedding, Jake and I had gone on so many dates, but with Lilly and Oliver so that if we ever got caught, we'll say that it was a "group thing." I'd told Jackson all about it, and, surprisingly, he didn't tell.

We headed out, and the wedding began.

ooHMoo

The wedding was held in a classy building, and the reception was held at our backyard. I didn't know what the expressions on Dad and Grace's face meant.

"I still can't believe you and Jake are-" Lilly said. We were sitting at the swing. Our backyard was actually pretty big.

I cut her off. "Don't mention it." I looked at my half-empty glass of red wine. I wanted to crush it.

"I can't believe they had you as their bridesmaid," Lilly said instead.

"You can say that again," I replied, sighing heavily.

"Look on the bright side," Oliver said, swallowing a bite of the spongy wedding cake. "At least you'll get to spend everyday with Jake!"

"That's what Lilly said a week ago. And I don't think spending everyday with Jake is too good. I mean, he'll see me at my worst. Like, as a bedhead!" I pointed out.

Lilly and Oliver shrugged. I was surprisingly calm at the reception. I pretty much avoided Jake, too.

"Uh-oh, here comes Jake," Lilly told me.

I hid behind her. "Is he coming this way?"

"Yeah," Oliver replied.

"Hey, guys," Jake said when he neared the swing. "Have you seen Miley?"

"N-no," Lilly stammered. I guessed that she's putting on this obviously fake smile, and Oliver is going along with her.

"I think she's in her room," Oliver said in a matching fake tone.

I guess Jake was nodding slowly now, eyes widening, head slightly turned to the side. "Okay. I'll go check," he said slowly, weirded out.

When he was at least twelve feet away, I finally got out from behind Lilly's back. "Whew, that was way close."

"Sorry, Oliver and I are bad liars," Lilly apologized.

I smiled. "It was no problem."

Oliver took the last bite of his cake and went to put it back.

"Oliver! Can you put my glass back, too, while you're at it?" I called after him.

Oliver rolled his eyes as he went back to grab my glass and turned around to go back. I'm just so happy they're here to help me cope.

"So, uh, Miley," Lilly said. "What do you plan to do about this...Jake blunder?"

"I don't know. Look for someone else I guess. But definitely not Oliver. I mean, he's my best friend. And I know he's off limits because of you," I told her. "I don't like him that way."

"Yeah, I guess," Lilly told me, not realizing my words. When she finally did, she said, "Hey! What does that mean?"

I turned and got off the swing, as Lilly will be chasing me. "Oh, I think you know what I mean! And very well, at that!"

I ran into the house and into my room. There was Jake, examining my pictures. We were like two inches apart. He had his back turned to me, thank god. Lilly ran into me, pushing me into Jake's back. I tried escaping, but it was too late.

Jake turned around. "Oh, Miley. Sorry, I was just..."

"Checking out my pictures?" I finished the sentence.

"Uh, yeah." Jake nodded. "I'd been looking everywhere for you."

"Oh, really?" I asked him.

Lilly and I exchanged glances. We were going to have to continue our conversation about what I said about Oliver being off limits because of her on the phone.

ooHMoo

"You guys really moved out of your house? But it's so cool!" I asked Jake as I helped him unpack in Jackson's room.

It had been hours since the wedding and its reception were done. I tried my best to accept - or, better, let go - of the fact that Jake's kind of like my brother now. I mean, I wouldn't mind being stepsiblings with Oliver or Lilly, since they're my best friends, but with Jake? Why him, of all people?

Jake, meanwhile, not only tried to accept the fact, but also tried to face it. He motioned for me to sit down beside him. I dropped his bright orange tie and did so.

"Look, Miley, this isn't going to work," Jake said. He took my hand.

"I know," I replied, leaning head on his shoulder.

Just then, Dad entered the room with Grace - I think I'm going to have to call her Mom now, but I'll pass. I lifted my head and took my hand away.

"What're you guys doing here? We're having dinner downstairs, you'd better go," Dad told us.

Jake's Mom spoke up. "Yeah, and-"

But I cut her off by going out of the room without a word. I went into my room and grabbed a bunch of stuff I needed. While running down the stairs, the tears started falling again.

"Jackson," I said, trying to make my voice clear, as I sobbed. "Tell everybody I'm sleeping over at Lilly's."

Jackson nodded. He'd pretty much changed over the past few days. Maybe he was beginning to understand the situation and grow up.

I ran to Lilly's house without ever looking back. I rang the doorbell, and Lilly answered. Oliver was there again, too.

Lilly didn't need to ask me why I was there. The tears on my face were giving reasons enough. She gave me a hug and let me in.

(A/N: I'm not sure anymore if I'll still write chapters for Underdog. I mean, it was supposed to be a oneshot. If I did, I'll have to update for five stories, including Happy Campers sequel, Island Getaway! Speaking of that, I'll start on writing the first chapter. Being a writer is really hard when you have to balance some stuff! Well, review!)