And I return.

That night, Miley and I had lounged around in my room, looking through my many sketchbooks. She was so absorbed in my drawings and would stare at just one for about five minutes before she told me what she loved about it, what stood out, and asked what I was thinking as I drew it. I enjoyed telling her about the things that inspired a picture, but found myself nodding off after a couple of hours. It was soothing spending time with Miley. Her energy was very laid back, which wasn't what I expected from a girl who was a pop star. I was thankful for it, no doubt there, though I had the looming idea that maybe this wasn't the person Miley used to be. Calm, composed, funny, quiet at times, that was how Miley acted. Was she okay with being a different person? Was this the real her? Or just the broken remains of Hannah Montana?

Casting a tired glance at the wide-awake girl, I studied her face, which adorned a gentle smile as she observed my work. She appeared genuine and I trusted her to be herself, even though half of who she was had been lost along with the whole of her fortune.

I closed my eyes and the feel of the covers sliding over my shoulders, not by my doing, was the last thing I remembered before I fell asleep.

When I finally woke up after a tremendous amount of sleep, I felt around my bed blindly, not finding the usual body against my back or even in the bed with me. I opened my eyes and noticed a mess of brown hair down by my knees. Miley was propped against the side of my bed, her head lolled back in an awkward position, resting on my mattress. I carefully got up and saw one of my sketchbooks in her lap, opened on a page with a picture I had drawn over a week ago. I drew it on the night I found her outside of my house with my phone and wallet. It was from when I first saw her. I'd drawn the road, the black trees, and the top of my steering wheel, which my hands were turning in the direction of Miley's shadowed figure. Her arm and thumb were raised in a silent plea for me to pull over.

I slid out of bed and knelt down next to Miley, removing the book from her lap. I didn't want to wake her, but trying to pick her up might do just that anyway. Well, I guess now was a good time to find out if she was a heavy sleeper. I looped one arm under her knees and then used the other to support her back as I lifted her off the ground slightly, testing her weight. She wasn't too heavy, so I hoisted her up onto my side of the bed and tucked her in, almost laughing at the urge I had to lean forward and plant a kiss on her forehead. She mumbled undecipherable words and turned on her side, burying her face into my pillow. She was still fast asleep...

Suddenly daring, I extended a hand and twisted my fingers into Miley's hair. I'd had this bizarre desire for so long now. I'd catch her brushing her hair and find myself wishing she'd ask me to do it for her. I mean, there was just something so noxiously addicting about your shampoo in someone else's hair. It smelt totally different and better than you could ever imagine, like they added a secret ingredient you never thought to include. Miley shifted in her sleep and I lost my nerve, withdrawing my fingers from her soft curls.

I tip toed out of the room and focused on getting some breakfast, trying to shake off the tingling feeling overtaking my hands with the distraction of food.

"Do you have any twos?"

"Go fish." Miley narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me and I flashed a faux smile of innocence as she picked up another card to add to the many she already held. "Do you have any fives?" Miley nodded and retrieved the card and gave it up with a scowl. As I placed down two cards, Miley reached out and snatched the remaining ones in my other hand. She scanned over them with a serious expression and then shot me an accusing glare. Oh, shit.

"You've been lying! You have all the cards I've asked for!" she yelled, shoving them in my face.

"It's such nice weather out, why are we inside playing silly games anyway?" I smoothly changed the subject, hoping to escape the oncoming wrath I could practically smell fuming off of Miley's skin.

"Because it's raining, you big cheater. I don't want to play with you anymore if you're not gonna be fair," she said, dropping the cards and crossing her arms with a childish pout, an action that made me want to just reach over and pinch her cheeks. She stared unwaveringly at me and the need died down, seeing that she wasn't joking around like I first assumed she was.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Geez, cry me a river why don't you?" I replied with a mock eye roll.

"You suck..." she grumbled. I grinned and poked her in the stomach. She jolted away from me with a glare on her face and left the lounge room in a huff.

I packed up the deck of cards and Miley came back with her jacket on. The one which she'd bought yesterday, with her own money, not the money I offered. She'd finally found a job, despite my protests, and purchased a butt load of new clothes. At first, I told her to just quit and come with me to my mum's house every month or so to help with designs, but she was firm in her decision. However, now I am actually encouraging her to keep the job. Why? Because I get a discount on products from the bakery she 's working at! She didn't really want to work there, but it was the only joint that needed more employees and it was kind of out of sympathy. We walked in there and the manager was so stressed out and there were a lot of customers that demanded service. Miley asked the manager if she needed any help and she was hired on the spot. That was pure luck.

"Where are you going?" I asked as Miley grabbed my car keys off of the kitchen counter.

"We are going to rent some movies," she responded, heading towards the front door without letting me have a say in the matter. What an asswipe! And uh... speaking of asses... Unintentionally, totally against my will, my gaze drifted down Miley's back and landed on her jean clad butt. Holy mother of God. "Come on, let's get going already!" Miley was peering over her shoulder with an impatient look and I prayed that she hadn't caught my eyes wandering over her glorious backside.

"Why can't you go by yourself?" I asked, not thinking it was too safe to go out with Miley while I was having very questionable thoughts about her.

"I need some arm candy?" Ugh, fuck me. She was smirking and facing me now, hands buried in the pockets of her jacket. Fighting off the need for a frontal body examination, I sprung up from the couch and ran over to her, nearly choking on my own drool caused by checking her out when she hooked her arm around mine. Pfft, and she said I was the arm candy.

Um...?