Far from what it was like, when we wrote our names in the sand

"You've got to be kidding me. A year?" Oliver sounded surprised when I'd related exactly what had been happening behind the scenes for these past few weeks.

I smiled, and shrugged, happy to be sitting up. "That's what I said, but Miley insisted that it was a year, and that we were both immensely stupid."

"Hannah Montana better watch who she's calling stupid," Oliver muttered, and sat back with his arms folded. "And speaking of Hannah Montana..."

A commotion had seemed to erupt outside, and over the top of it, I could hear Robbie Ray telling everyone to get back. "Hannah is here to see a friend who happens to be very close to her. She has no time for interviews, she just wants to see if her friend is okay."

"Uh oh. I caused her identity to be revealed," I turned to Oliver, worried.

He shrugged. "Like you asked to be knocked unconscious by a stupid rock in the sea. Which, by the way, I'm sorry about. Because it was all my idea to go surfing at night..."

"Ollie, it isn't your fault. I stupidly turned to see if you were okay. First rule of surfing. Don't lose concentration," I smiled. It wasn't his fault, and I hated seeing him think that it was.

"It was a perfectly reasonable reason to lose concentration though," he smirked. "I mean you couldn't bear to lose me."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course not. How could I live without you?"

"You'd have to kill yourself. Like Juliet."

I laughed. "I think the circumstances were slightly different. But I'd still miss you loads."

Oliver stuck his tongue out at me, and I smiled, knotting my fingers through his, which were on the bed next to me.

"Lilly!" Miley pulled back the curtains, her Hannah wig perched on her head, and grinned. "I am so glad you're okay!"

She ran forward, and flung her arms around me. "I was so worried when Oliver called me, and I found Dad and we got straight in the car and drove all night. I had to see you."

"I'm fine. My head hurts a bit, but the doctors say that should be alright soon," I smiled, and just managed to keep my hand locked in Oliver's. I swear, she threw herself at me with such force.

Miley pulled back, and made sure the curtains were pulled closed, before she wrenched off the wig. "I forgot about the hair."

"You mean to tell me, that you just drove for hours, and didn't have time to take off the wig that protects your other identity?" Oliver queried, and I had to laugh at the expression on his face.

Miley turned to him. "Oliver, I was too worried about my best - " She caught sign of our hands, and stopped, mid-sentence. "What? Lilly! Oliver!"

I smiled, and watched the reaction of joy on her face. "Miley. Simmer."

"Oh my gosh! I'm really glad! Was it because of what I said, Oliver? I didn't mean to do that by the way, Lilly. I just assumed. But, when you assume you make an ass out of you and me, I know. But still, I helped! And I'm really happy for you both! And now we can go on double dates; you guys with me and Jake! Yay!" Miley sounded more excited than me and Oliver put together, and I rolled my eyes.

Obviously Oliver had done the same, because Miley stopped ranting for a second. "Oh my gosh, you even do things simultaneously. You rolled your eyes, and then you rolled yours. How has it taken you this long to do something about this?"

"'Cause we're obviously not as clever as you Miley," I responded, sarcastically. Well, slightly sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes, and sat down on the edge of my bed. "When you gonna be out of here, Lilly?"

"The doctor said later today, hopefully. He says that there shouldn't be any concussion, but if I feel weird at any point, then I'd need to come back in," I answered, and looked over at Oliver, who gripped my hand harder.

Miley sighed. "I guess they'll all know I'm Miley now. I mean, they saw me come in here, and they'll see me go out. Because I'm not leaving here until you are. Maybe they'll have gone by then."

"Miles, does it matter?" I asked. "You have Jake, and us, and a great life. Plus, we need at least one year to rub it in Amber and Ashley's faces!"

She laughed, and rolled her eyes. "Same old Lilly."

"Did you expect anything less?" I stuck my tongue out at her, and she returned it.

"I dunno, I've heard that accidents can change people," Oliver said, and I was reminded of the fourteen-year-old Oliver.

"Yeah, right. No such luck, I'm still Lilly!" I laughed, and punched the air.

"Aww, I was hoping for someone better," Oliver joked, and I punched him lightly on the arm. He clasped it, and made a hurt face.

I rolled my eyes. "You're either weak, or acting. I'd pick the first."

"That's charming Lilly. So charming," Oliver replied sarcastically.

I smiled, and tilted my head. "Well, Charming is my middle name. And you can see why."

"Charming? Last time I checked, it was Rose. Lillian Rose Truscott. Lillian," Oliver teased, knowing how much I hated my full name.

"Oliver! When I'm allowed to stand up, I'm gonna get you!" I threatened.

He pretended to look scared. "I'm frightened. Lillian is threatening me."

Miley had rolled her eyes, and sat back, eyes closed. It was probably the best way to cope with one of me and Oliver's 'verbal fights'.

I guess the accident hadn't changed me much either. And Oliver is always going to be Oliver. But I wouldn't want him to be anyone else.

--

"It's on!" I cried, and Oliver ran into my living room, and jumped over the back of the couch, landing next to me with a bump. "Wow. Impressive."

Miley laughed, and then turned back to the TV. "Oh my God... I can't believe I did this."

"Believe it, girl," Oliver said.

"When we go back to school... nothing will be the same," I said, dramatically, and Miley rolled her eyes. "What? It's totally true."

I turned my attention back to the screen, where a news reporter was thrusting a microphone in front of Hannah Montana's face. Me and Oliver were standing next to her, for moral support.

"Hannah! Hannah! Who did you come and visit here today?"

Well duh. Me. The one who looks injured!

"I came to visit my very good friend, Lilly Truscott. We go to school together," Miley said, and looked over at her two friends, who nodded at her.

"I thought you got home schooled," another reporter said.

Miley took a deep breath, and pulled off her wig, much to the surprise of the paparazzi and interviewers. "Strictly, that's not true. I'm not Hannah Montana. I'm a girl, called Miley Stewart. And I go to a local school. I've been playing out two lives, for the past four years, and I thought enough was enough. I love being Hannah. And I plan to still be Hannah. If the public will let me. I didn't want to be another teenager growing up in the spotlight. So I wasn't. My normal life was very important to me, and I hope the people at school can still treat me as normal. I've been very lucky in having two best friends, who have known about my double life for years, and they've treated me the same. I am the same. I'm just Hannah too. And I don't want to be anyone else. Um... thank you."

"Woo!" I clapped, and Oliver joined in.

Miley sighed. "I'm gonna miss being Hannah. And have nobody knowing."

"It's going to be hell going outside for a while," Oliver cut in.

"And there aren't going to be many people who'll treat you the same. I mean, Amber and Ashley are going to be kissing up constantly," I added.

"But. I have you guys. And Jake," Miley said, on a happier note.

I nodded, and patted her leg. "You totally do. Me and Oliver are here, whenever - "

"Whenever?" Oliver asked.

I turned to him, and nodded. "Whenever. We're here whenever, and Jake is used to it. You'll always have us, Miles."

She smiled at me. "Thanks. So... what now?"

"Wanna go outside?" Oliver asked. "I mean, you're gonna have to do it at some point, so we might as well get it out of the way."

I nodded. "He's right, you know."

"Okay," Miley took a deep breath, and got up, straightening her skirt. "I'm gonna go call Jake... he only lives up the street, so he might want to join us."

I smiled at her, as she bounded out of the room, and then turned to Oliver. "Well, this wasn't how I expected the holiday to turn."

"It was anything but boring," Oliver agreed. "I mean, just this morning you were coming out of hospital. Don't you feel tired, or anything?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oliver, I'm running on adrenaline! I'm hyper! Plus, I fell into a deep sleep for about an hour. Which counts for a night's sleep. It's you we should be worried about."

"I'm not tired," Oliver stated. "I can go for ages without sleep."

I raised my eyebrows. "'Kay then."

"Where do you want to take Miley and Jake then?" Oliver asked, and I could see the answer forming in his head, as well as mine.

"Beach," we said, simultaneously.

--

And so here we are.

Jake and Miley. Me and Oliver.

Who would've thought it?

"So this is your beach..." Miley sighed, as we sat on the sand.

And it is. It's our beach. And no matter how many people tread on the sand, or wade in the sea, it'll always be our beach. Because we've shared so many things on this beach. Me and Oliver have done so many things on this beach; almost dying being one of them.

"This is our beach," Oliver replied, as we watched the waves. I put my head on his shoulder, and his arm was around my shoulder; sparks and all.

Our beach.

I got up, and pulled Oliver with me. Neither Jake nor Miley looked at us - they were too immersed in their own little world - and I pulled Oliver along the beach a little.

"What are you doing?" he asked, as I crouched down in the sand.

I looked up at him, smiling. "I have a little edit to make."

A smile formed on his face when he saw what I'd written, and when I'd finished, I stood up, and kissed him.

I was kissing Oliver.

Kissing.

Oliver.

One word: wow.

I pulled away, and laughed.

"What was that for?" Oliver raised his eyebrows, smiling.

I shrugged. "Felt like it."

He thought about this for a minute, and then shrugged. "Works for me."

We ran back along the beach toward Miley and Jake, and collapsed down on the sand.

"I can't believe you told everyone," Jake said to Miley. "I mean, I'm glad... but it was big."

"Very big. And nothing is going to be the same," she said.

Okay, now she's just taking words out of my mouth.

"Nothing's gonna be the same ever again!" I cried, determined to be the most dramatic.

Oliver looked at me, and grinned. "But funnily enough, I'm okay with that."

"Me too," Jake agreed, and looked at Miley.

She nodded. "Totally."

After a minute, I realised they were all waiting for me to agree. "Oh! Right. Sorry. Yeah. I'm good with all this changing stuff."

And it all would change.

But right now - right at this second, when I was sitting with my best friends, and Oliver in the sand, watching the world pass by us, I was definitely okay with that.

Change could wait until tomorrow.

--

LILLY AND OLIVER'S BEACH - FOREVER.

Well, that's it. I really hope you liked it, and if you did, can you leave a review? I may do a sequel, if there's popular demand, but I'm definitely planning to write more Hannah stories.

Thanks to all my reviewers - I've read and smiled at them all. And I got way more reviews than I expected to on that last chapter, so thank you!

You'll know if there's a sequel.