Like a tidal wave came from nowhere swept me off my feet

Miley comes back in two days.

These two weeks have flown by real fast; it's almost amazing. She sounded excited on the phone. I mean, she loves being Hannah, but sometimes she admits that it gets too much. It looks stressful. All that singing and dancing at the same time. Yeuch.

I sighed as I collapsed on the couch, being without Oliver for the first time in days. And for most people, it would be a time to relax. But I didn't feel like relaxing. I stared at the phone, willing it to ring. Ring. Be Oliver. Or Miley. Whichever.

Well, it won't be Miley. She's performing in Florida or something.

So be Oliver... ring. Ring...

Jeez! Why won't the stupid thing ring?

"Lilly?" My mom walked into the room, slipping in an earring. She has another party tonight. "I thought I heard you."

I looked up at her from the couch. "It's me. Hi. What can I do for you?"

"Just wondering what your plans are tonight," she asked casually, and finished adjusting her earring. Then she sat down by my legs.

"I was wondering the same thing," I replied, and looked back at the phone. Ring. Ring, you stupid phone!

She smiled at me. "Lilly, I overheard you talking to Miley the other day."

She heard what now? Please don't be the bit about Oliver... please don't be the bit about Oliver... please...

"You were talking about Oliver," she admitted, and put her hand on my leg.

Damn it.

I sat looking at her, not knowing what to say. I've never talked to my mom about this sort of thing... 'cause I've never had to. I mean, she knows that I went out with a guy when I was fourteen... what was his name again? And she knows that Miley's been out with a few guys, but not as many as some people. But I've never had to ask her for advice or anything.

"Lilly, I remember being your age, and I don't know if you knew this, but your father and I were just like you and Oliver. Best friends from a young age, and then it developed into something more... and now we have you, and Mike..." she trailed off, and seemed to be waiting for me to say something.

What should I say? "Mom..."

"I know, I know, you want me to stop talking about things in my day. I just brought it up, because I know you're confused, and you don't know what to do," Mom looked at me sympathetically. "I just wanted you to know that I'm her if you need to talk."

I sighed. "Mom, I don't know. I mean... apparently, I've been crushing on Oliver for a year, but I only found out about it like, a week ago. And it just seems so complicated. Because Miley says that he likes me back, but I don't know. I mean, I can't see anything that suggests that. And if I said something, and he didn't like me like that, then our friendship could be awkward, and I'd rather have him as a friend, than lose him completely. Does that make sense? And I'm still not sure that I want to like him, because he's my best friend..."

She smiled at me. "Lilly, all these thoughts you're having... I had them too."

I sat up and looked at her. "Did you tell him? Well, duh, you must have, because you and dad are married, and still happy, and you must have gotten together..."

"He told me. One of us had to say something, and he said it first. Although I was just about to. My point is, that if you like Oliver... tell him. Because if you wait for him... you could be waiting a while," she laughed.

"Miley said that," I smiled.

She laughed again. "Don't get me wrong, Oliver is a great guy, but you have to admit, he isn't exactly Einstein."

I smiled, and hugged her. "Thanks Mom."

"Well I'm here, Lilly. Just letting you know," she grinned, and then stood up. "Anyway. Mike is out at Jacob's, and your father is at the football game, so it's just you. If you go out and are going to be home late, then leave a message on my cell, okay?"

I nodded, and she waved at me, as she grabbed her coat, and left the room. Minutes later I heard the door open.

"Oh, Oliver. Come in, she's in the living room," I heard my mom chirp, and then listened as someone came in the house, and someone left. The front door closed.

I folded my feet up in front of me, and turned to the door. "Uh oh. Can't I escape you?"

"Ha ha," Oliver pretended to laugh, as he stood in the doorway. "It's getting totally dark out."

I looked at the clock. "Oliver, it's ten o'clock. I'd imagine it would be."

"When did I last see you?" he wrinkled his nose, not listening to my last statement. "I forgot."

"About an hour ago," I told him. "Although it all seems to have blurred."

He nodded. "Totally. Anyway, want to do something?"

I laughed. "Like what?"

"Go surfing?" he queried.

"Oliver, you just told me that it was getting dark outside. Now you want to go surfing. In the dark?"

He smiled; the same mischievous smile that he'd given me countless times when we were young. "Live a little, Lilly."

"Me? Live a little? You don't think I live enough?" I asked him.

He folded his arms. "Prove it."

"By surfing? Bring it on," I stated, and got up, running upstairs, and grabbing my bikini, and then my surfing gear. I was downstairs in a minute, and racing Oliver to the beach.

No prizes for guessing which beach.

--

"Oliver! This water is freezing!" I cried, as we waded into the sea. It was pitch black now, and I could just make out Oliver through the dark.

He laughed. "What did you expect? The sun warms the water. And there is no sun at night!"

"Well done, Oliver!" I shouted, sarcastically, paddling to a deeper stretch of water on my board.

Oliver rolled his eyes - I think - and reached a good surf spot. Then he stood up, waiting for a good wave to come along.

I watched him for a few seconds, as he got his balance, and then heaved myself up to a standing position.

A good wave came along, and I caught it, just ahead of Oliver.

I love surfing. Catching the wave, and then riding it through until the end. I love the roar of the water, and the exhilaration of skimming over the sea. It's totally amazing. Which is why, except for skateboarding, my favourite sport is surfing.

A cry behind me alerted my attention. Oliver must have wiped out.

Don't look back... don't look back...

But what if he's hurt?

So, stupidly, I looked back. And couldn't see anything.

Although I only had a few seconds before I found myself falling into the water. My arms flailed as I tried to keep my balance, but the next thing I knew was the water getting into my eyes and mouth...

And then... nothing.

I hate to leave it like this, seriously I do. But I will update tomorrow. I will. So you won't have to wait long before you find out if Lilly is okay.