Here is the third chapter

For those Jiley fans, stay strong

Enjoy!

Jake's P.O.V

I couldn't take my eyes off her. And I really didn't understand why.

Lilly and I had just finished dinner and we were now in the process of washing the dishes. I scrubbed them; she cleaned them and put them away. It was the same thing we'd done ever since coming to New York. Except that it was tense, awkward. We hadn't spoken much since our little 'incident' and I had a feeling she was distinctly avoiding me, more than usual. I didn't know why, it wasn't as if we liked each other or anything. But I still wondered why I couldn't seem to tear myself away from her or stop thinking about her.

"Quit staring at me," she finally snapped, her lips pursed.

I went slightly red; she'd noticed. I ducked my eyes down quickly and stayed silent.

"You're acting weird," she muttered, bending down to put away a plate.

I looked down as she said it and caught sight of her bent over figure, immediately rearing my head back up. I fixed my gaze into the soapy water and scrubbed the bowl harder then necessary.

God Jake, control yourself.

"Do you mind finishing these up for me?" I said, my voice higher than usual. "I'm not really feeling well."

Lilly nodded, puzzled by my behaviour. "Sure."

I exited rapidly, locking myself in the bathroom and taking refuge on the tiles.

Breathing heavily, I took out my phone and dialed Miley's number. But she didn't answer.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. I needed to hear her voice more than anything. But I guess a letter would have to do.

I snuck out of the bathroom and bolted into my bedroom, retrieving a pen and paper.

And I began to write.

Dear Miley

I know you probably don't want to hear from me after my last letter but I really miss talking to you. I really miss confiding in you. I feel like I can tell you anything. So hear it goes.

I think I may be having feelings for someone else. It's early, way too early for anything to happen yet but I want to remain honest with you

If you find someone, someone you feel like you can love fully, I want you to give them a shot. You can't sit around and wait for me, wait until we're finally old enough to realise what we want. Who knows, you might be meant to be with someone else and you won't give them a chance because you're hung up on me.

So I thing it's only fair we go out and try things out with different people, work out what we really want before we find our way back to each other.

I hope you appreciate how hard it is for me to admit to kind of liking someone else, especially when I thought I'd never feel the way I felt about you about anyone.

If you'd rather we not date other people while we try to sort things out, I'd understand. I'd never do anything to hurt you.

Love,

Jake

P.S I've attached my address. I kind of miss getting letters. Texts just aren't the same.

I prayed that she would be okay with me liking someone else. But I knew she'd never be okay if she knew that it was Lilly.

Miley's P.O.V

"Don't forget your plane ticket," Oliver piped up, swiping it off the seat where I'd left it and shoving it into my hand.

I heard him mutter under his breath. It sounded like 'You'll be lost without me.'

I smiled. "I'll be alright Oliver. I can handle myself."

He looked unconvinced. "You sure you don't want me to come?"

I nodded. "I'm sure."

I threw my arms around him suddenly and he went rigid for a moment, surprised by my movements. Then I felt his hands snake around my back and clutch me tight. A weird swooping sensation filled my stomach and my fingertips were tingling.

"Goodbye Ollie."

The words slipped out before I could stop them. I didn't think he would notice but he pulled back from our embrace, still holding onto me though, and smirked.

"Ollie? Since when do you call me Ollie?" he asked.

I felt my face heat up as I grinned. "Sorry, I'm….emotional."

He regarded me with a puzzling expression and for a second, I thought he would break away. But he reeled me back in and gripped me tighter than before.

"Stay safe," he whispered into my ear, burying his head into my hair.

I held him longer than I should have (although I'm not sure why) and then finally let go. I had withdrawal symptoms the second we parted, and the fact that I did, freaked me out. It was probably because I'd grown quite close to Oliver this summer when it was just the two of us and the idea of leaving him, leaving my home here in Malibu was scary.

He glanced at me, as though deliberating and then lunged forward to plant a fleeting kiss on my cheek.

"Goodbye," he murmured.

It took a lot of effort to move my feet away from him but I stepped forward and handed my ticket to the attendant.

"It's hard leaving your boyfriend behind, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Your boyfriend," she said, gesturing to Oliver who stood a few metres away, scruffy haired, hands shoved in his pockets with his dark eagle eyes firmly stuck on me.

I laughed though it sounded more forced than natural.

"That's not my boyfriend. He's just….."

He's just Oliver, I finished mentally.

The attendant just smiled, albeit awkwardly and checked my ticket before handing it back to me. I rubbed at the extremely hot spot on my cheek furiously as I disappeared down the tunnel, Jake's letter in the back pocket of my jeans.

If you find someone, someone you feel like you can love fully, I want you to give them a shot. You can't sit around and wait for me, wait until we're finally old enough to realise what we want. Who knows, you might be meant to be with someone else and you won't give them a chance because you're hung up on me.

I forced the image of a certain dark haired boy with smouldering brown eyes out of my mind.

He's just Oliver.