A/N - Chapter four!

Disclaimer - Yeah, yeah I don't own, I know. .

When We Were Young

Lilly slams her way out of her english classroom, Clara right behind her, just as the bell rings. "What a prick!" She fumes to noone in particular, though her pursuer is nodding her approval. "Failing? Christ, like I'd ever use anything out of his class anyway. He teaches trash!"

"Complete rubbish." Clara pitches in as they come to their lockers. Lilly opens hers forcefully, throwing her schoolbag inside. Not like she'd need it tonight anyway.

They're standing there together, making plans to skip their afternoon classes and go skating instead, when Clara's face takes on a look of annoyance. "And here's Oaken, turning the corner hun, looks like he's heading over here.

"Great," Lilly mutters quietly. "The last thing I need is another lecture from him."

Clara adverts her blue eyes, keeping her last thought to herself. She'd gotten pretty close to Lilly the past few months, but Oliver has only been pushed farther and farther away. Clara's not complaining of course, Lilly's fun to have around and one of the few girls or guys who could show her up on a skateboard, but it seemed to her that the only reason Clara got the chance to hang around with her so much is because that Miley girl went on "vacation," as Lilly puts it. Personally, Clara thinks she moved, but Lilly always insists she's only away on "vacation" and that she'd be back someday. And Clara hasn't the heart to point out that hardly anyone goes on vacation for a year with actual plans of returning. Especially since there seemed to be something more to her relationship with Miley.

And the whole Oliver thing? Clara figures talking to him just brings back unwanted memories. But she doesn't say any of this to her blonde friend, she knows how it feels to lose someone you love. She herself had "went on vacation" after moving from England, and sometimes it's better to just forget.

"Well," She starts. "I guess you'll have to put up with another." She says, blowing a loose strand of blue tinted hair away from her pale face. "I'll meet you out on the school steps, then?"

"Sure, be out in a minute." Is Lilly's response and two seconds later Clara's gone and Oliver's at her side.

"Hey, Lils." He says, smiling at her. "How'd your morning go?"

"Uhm, it went okay." She says, closing her locker quietly. "I found out I'm failing english. Can't wait for mom's ranting tonight."

"You're failing? English used to be one of your best subjects..." He exclaims, confused.

"Hardly." Lilly laughs, her voice bitter.

"Well you weren't failing it!" He counters.

"Yeah, and that was back when I cared."

"Lilly look, I know you've been down ever since..." He trails off, but continues in a whisper. "Ever since Miley went Hannah In Europe, but you've gotta stop moping and think about your future! Miley has hers figured out, what about you??"

Lilly feels the last sentence as though Oliver had slapped her across the face. Talk about a wake up call, but Lilly doesn't feel like waking up and frankly Oliver is starting to sound alot like her mother. She tells him so, then slips under his braced arm and heads for the double doors that lead out of the high school building. Clara's waiting for her at the bottom of the steps.

A/N - Hm. Clara's getting a little depth to her character, I like that. And Oliver is just trying to help, but he doesn't understand. And Lilly's just playing the hurt victim. Where's Miley? When will she come into the picture? Very soon, my readers. She'll be coming home soon. :D