A/N: My thanks to all that have review… and sadly this is the last chapter. So here it is… :)

Dedication: Goes to all my A M A Z I N G R E V I E W E R S ! You all made this story happen!!! So thank you. :) And also to WhiteHeadPhones19, thanks a ton for everything you have done!!!

Disclaimer: I've said for the last 23 chapters, I do not own Hannah Montana, because truly if I did… Cody Linley would be in EVERY episode. Haha.

Chapter 24

"Miles…" he called me Miles! Not Miley! Maybe he is forgiving me! "I guess-" but he was cut off by a voice I really didn't want to hear at this exact moment.

"Wait, your Hannah Montana?!"

Shit.

I could feel his eyes staring at the back of my head. I glanced over at Jake who…

Jake.

Shit.

This is not good. This is really not good…

I will say this again, 'you brought this upon yourself.'

You told me too!

But I am a part of you.

I hate you.

Now don't be mean.

I was about to think some more colorful words when Jake's voice spoke in a murderous whisper, "What are you doing here?!" his voice was harsh, full of anger and pain.

Which was caused by you.

I ignored the voice and turned around slowly to meet a pair of cool grey eyes that looked like they were made of stone.

"I was here to visit our sis-" if Roxy hadn't taken taught me to have puma reflexes I probably wouldn't have caught Jake's arm before he launched at Tyler.

"She is not our sister!" he tried pulling away so he could to Tyler; who was just standing there without any expression on his face, "She is mine! You have no right to call her yours!" Jake tried pulling away again from me, I almost let him go; not on purpose, but because I was losing my grip on his arm. "You were the one that kill-" Jake was cut off by a voice that I didn't recognize.

"Enough Jake!" I figure emerged from behind Tyler.

Jake's dad.

His sandy colored hair resembled Jake's and Tyler's, but his eyes were a deep, deep brown, almost black from where I was standing.

I realized Jake had stop trying to get to Tyler and was staring at his father, with tears about to fall, from his ocean eyes.

"Now," his father's, Matt's voice was quieter now, "We're all going to walk to the house, then we will talk about all this." Even me? "Am I understood?"

Tyler nodded and Jake just frowned.

"Miley," I looked up at Mr. Ryan's as he spoke to me, "I think you should join us too." I nodded my head and took a sideways glance at Jake again.

Mr. Ryan turned around and started to walk away from Jake, Tyler, and I.

I felt Jake's eyes watching me, but when I looked over at him, he quickly looked away and nodded his head and began following his father.

I sighed and caught up with him and fell into step with him.

God, this is so screwed up! And it's all my fault!

Actually, it's your fault for starting it, but think of it this way; it was bounded to happen sooner or later. Jake's anger all bottled up couldn't stay bottled up forever.

I know; it's just that… I don't know, I'm so confused; Jake-

But before I could finish my thought, I felt a hand slip into mine.

Jake's hand.

I felt hope percolate throughout my body, as if maybe in the future…

No, I can't think about that now, I have to worry about… well everything; especially my Hannah secret. Jake's entire family are going to know now… oh no what am I going to do? I don't know them, like sure; I talked to them for like ten minutes, until Jake pulled me out of the room, but its not like I know them and trust them like I do, Lily, Oliver, Jake, my dad, even Jackson!

God, what am I going to do?

I hate to be a downer-

Then don't talk.

Well it seems like Miss. Smiley-Miley-Sunshine isn't so bright and happy today.

Oh shut up. You know, you really aren't helping matters!

I wasn't trying to.

Well good because if you were I would fire you.

You wouldn't need to fire me because I would quit! So HA!

Yeah, well…

…

Oh just shut up!

I wasn't talking.

Gahhhhhhh!

I shook my head trying to be rid of my conscience voice then looked over at Jake again, his face showed no emotion whatsoever, but his eyes showed everything I need to know; sadness, misery, confusion, anger, and for a moment I thought I saw excitement flash, but I must have imagined it.

I felt a weird tingling sensation on my lip and I registered that I had been biting it, and blood was dripping into my mouth. I quickly brought my hand, that wasn't being held by Jake's, up to try and wipe the blood that was on my lower lip off.

Weird, I didn't even realize I was even biting my lip, I must really be out of it.

Or you're just-

Oh no, don't you start talking again!

I was just going to say-

NO! You are one of the reasons I am in this mess and I want to get out of it! So thanks, but no thanks!

Pshh, fine.

I waited for the voice to speak again, and when it didn't I sigh inwardly; finally, peace and quiet…

"Oh my gosh! Matthew, what's going on?!" peace and quiet gone…

Mr. Ryan looked up at his wife who was standing on the porch, "We'll all discuss it inside." It wasn't a suggestion, but a demand.

Mrs. Ryan nodded her head and opened the door leading into their beautiful house.

Wow, I guess I really am out of it if I didn't realize that we were already at their house…

Jake squeezed my hand lightly and continued to walk swiftly into the house; I had to slightly run to keep up with him.

Mr. Ryan opened a door which I recognized as the living room and motioned for us to file in. After Jake and I had settled in on the couch and Tyler on the armchair to the left of us, Mrs. Ryan scurried in looking confused.

Jake's hand that was intertwined with mine pulled our hands into his lap and started to stroke mine in an "I won't let anything happen to you" way.

Mr. Ryan who was pinching the bridge of his nose sighed, "Alright. Now, what's going on?"

No one spoke for the first minute, so I figured since it was my fault that it started I should explain, "Mr. Ryan?"

Jake's dad seemed a little surprised that it was I who had spoken, but nodded his head at me to continue.

"I uh… you see, everything that happened was my fault-"

"No, it wasn't Miley!" Jake sat up straight and looked at me seriously.

"Yes, it was Jake. If it wasn't for me-"

"No, Miley." It wasn't Jake who spoke this time, it was Tyler. He wasn't looking at me, or anyone else, he was staring at the ceiling as if he was asking if God could get him out of this mess, "It wasn't your fault."

"That's right Miley," Jake's voice was full of anger again; "It was his."

"Jake-" Mrs. Ryan began, but Jake cut her off.

"No, mom! You know it too! He shot her!" he pointed at Tyler, "He pulled the trigger! He-"

"Enough!" Mr. Ryan's voice soared throughout the room, vibrating off the walls. His voice was the same as Jake's when Jake was angry, I suddenly felt scared, and began biting my lip again. "Leslie Jacob Ryan, you never speak like that to anyone, do you understand me?!"

Jake didn't seemed frighten at all, "It's the truth." He spoke below a whisper, meant just for me I think, but Mr. Ryan heard.

"Jake, I'm warning you!" Jake continued to glare at his father.

"You took his side then-"

"Jake-" Mr. Ryan began, but Jake wasn't finished.

"And you'll take his side again!" Jake stood up. If this was a cartoon; there would be steam coming out of Jake's ears and his head would explode… good thing that this isn't a cartoon…

"Jacob, no one has taken sides and no one will! Nicole's…" Mr. Ryan seemed to be lost in memories as he said his dead, daughter's name, "N-Nicole's dead was an accident; it was no one's fault. Except maybe mi-mine; I-I left the gun out where you kids could have ta-taken it." Mr. Ryan sat down and put his head in his hands.

Jake was still standing, his hands balled up into fists, but his eyes seemed to dull. I reached out for his hand and pulled him back on the couch next to me. Jake seemed to be lost in thought and didn't restrain when I pulled him back down.

Jake's eyes never left his father, "Dad-" Mr. Ryan shook his head and looked around the room with tears in his eyes. Mrs. Ryan who I realized had been crying walked over to her husband and hugged him tightly.

"It-" Tyler spoke quietly, "It was an accident, Jake." Jake's eye's left from his father's tearful face to Tyler's averting gaze. "Jake, I swear. I didn't know what I was do-doing." A tear escaped Tyler's eye, "I just picked up the g-gun, and thought it was f-fake; a present from mom and dad."

I turned back to Jake who was watching his brother with a sobered expression plastered on his face. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but didn't know what… or how.

"I just pulled the trig-trigger… and the ne-next thing I k-knew she…, N-Nicole was on the g-ground…" a sob escaped from the back of his throat, "Not mo-moving."

I felt as if I was intruding on a secret that I shouldn't have, as though I was eavesdropping on conversation, that I wasn't supposed to hear. I want to leave. But I know I can't, I still have to finish my side of the story, even if I feel like some stuck their hand down my throat and yanked out my vocal cords.

Jake's expression changed. There was no emotion being expressed through his eyes, or his face. It was like he was… dead. Dead from the inside. But breathing on the outside.

"Accident," That was not a voice from someone in the room already. I looked up to see Emma Ryan, Jake's and Tyler's sister walk into the room with a sadden expression, "An accident, Jake. I was there if you don't remember. I was standing next to Nicole, when the shot was fired." Her voice was calm, no anger; just grief.

There could be a sobbed heard from the armchair in which Mr. and Mrs. Ryan were both crying, but it was ignored.

"I was the one who found the gun, Jake," I couldn't take my eyes off of Emma's who was standing in the middle of the room, her voice full of confidence, "I took the gun and gave it to Tyler. Tyler asked me where I had gotten it and I told him it was a present from mom and dad because I heard them talking about getting Tyler some sort of a gun for his birthday and I figured they had just gotten it for him early." She walked over and sat on the coffee table in from of Jake and I.

Jake just stared at his sister with the same sobered look as before, "But-"

"Jake, it was and accident. Tyler would never have killed Nicole. You were too young to remember what happened." Emma continued to watch her brother.

"But he-"

"Jake, think about it." Her voice was still calm, but quieter than before, "Why would Tyler kill N-Nicole?" I guess everyone in the family has a hard time saying their sister/daughter's name.

Jake's eyes averted Emma's at this, "Because… he… I-I don't know."

"Because he didn't want to kill her, let alone hurt her. It was an accident. And he's sorry."

Jake didn't say anything to this; he just continued to stare at his feet. "Jake…" Tyler's voice was quiet, almost a whisper, "I… I just–I don't know. I truly am sorry for what happened to Nicole. I never wanted her to… to…" Tyler took a deep breath, "To n-not be here with us."

This must be so hard on everyone here. I feel so out of place, but it would be wrong to leave. Jake's sudden movement took me off guard; he stood up and walked briskly out of the room leaving everyone confused. I felt Emma's eyes on me and I turned to look at her; Jake had her eyes, and Jake's eyes that were staring at me gave me the message to go after him. I stood up and walked out of the room after him.

When I walked out of the living room I saw the front door to the Ryan's manor wide opened and I guessed Jake went to the beach. I ran out on to the porch to see him standing next to the water already. Wow, he's either a really fast walker or I'm just really slow…

I walked up slowly and quietly behind him, but he must have heard me breathing, because he started talking, "I'm sorry I ran out. I just… couldn't-" I walked over and wrapped my arms around him in a tight embrace. Jake pulled me closer than I think was possibly and was pressing all the air out of me.

"Jake… I know… shh…" I pulled Jake into a sitting position on the beach and held his head on my chest as he cried.

"I just… I couldn't-couldn't cry in... in front of them…" I continued to make shushing sounds and stroked his hair.

After about five minutes of Jake crying, he sat up, and wiped his eyes, "I'm… I'm sorry that you-" I put a finger up to his lips to silence him.

"Jake, it's okay…" I pulled him back into a tight embrace. Jake held me tight and kissed my shoulder which surprised me with a cold chill. "D-Do you want to go back inside?" I asked quietly.

Jake didn't say anything for about a minute then kissed me shoulder again and mumbled a yes.

We both stood up not breaking the hold we had on each other, "Jake before we go in…" his eyes looked up from the ground and met mine, "A-Are you okay…?"

Jake took a deep breath before answering, "Not really, but I feel better than I did when I was in there." I wasn't exactly sure what to say to this so I just nodded my head and pulled out of the embrace and took Jake's hand and began walking back up to the house.

When we got back inside Jake paused in front of the living room door, "Jake…?"

"One second." He stood there for about half a minute then took a deep breath, "Okay,"

I nodded my head and turn the doorknob. Jake's family was in the same spots as we left them other, though Jake's butler, Jeff, was in the room handing out tea or coffee, I wasn't sure which.

Mrs. Ryan noticed us first and got up and half walked and half ran over to us and threw her arms around her son, crying and told his head tightly to her chest, like I was doing about ten minutes ago.

"Mom…" Jake tried to pull away, but then let go of my hand and fell into his mother's hug.

"Oh Jakey…" Jakey? Okay, if it wasn't a serious time, I would totally laugh.

Mr. Ryan crossed the room and pulled Mrs. Ryan and Jake into his embrace. They looked so cute together, if they weren't all crying, that is… I took a step back as Tyler and Emma crossed the room, but didn't join in on the hug.

Once again, I felt very out of place while the Ryan family was having a moment.

After about two minutes of a quiet, family moment; Jake pulled away from his parents and surprisingly walked over to Tyler and looked him staring in the eye, and for the first time that I have ever seen Jake look at Tyler; he wasn't glaring.

"I… I'm-" but Jake was cut off by Tyler hugging him. Jake seemed a little taken aback by this, but wrapped his arms around the older boy with sandy blonde hair and cool grey eyes.

Everything is going to be just fine.

- - - - - - - - - -

Lily's POV.

"Lily…?" I heard Oliver mumble.

I turned to face him, but he continued to look at everything, but me. I tried to open my mouth, but my throat was dry.

"Lil," Oh yes, it sounds so much better coming from him, "Are you okay?"

"O-Oliver," Why am I suddenly so nervous? "I need to t-tell you some-something…"

What do I say now?!?! I want to tell him I like him, but… Jackson…

You're in love with Oliver, so ditch Jackson, and tell Oliver that you are deeply and madly in love with him.

But what happens if we break up? I… I can't lose him…

What's this? Lily Truscott is afraid of a little danger? Plus come on, even if he doesn't feel the same way, you could just be like "Got ya!" in a joking Lily Truscott way.

Your right… well other then the joke part. I'm Lily Truscott! I'm not afraid to tell the boy I love, even though I didn't know I loved him until today, but whatever… I'm Lily Truscott and he is Oliver Oken, he is my best friend, I can tell him anything! Because I'm not afraid of a little rejection! Nope, not me!

Yeah that's right; Lily Truscott is bad to the bone!

Yeah, you all heard it! I am amazing! I am mad cool! I am-

Getting a little to carried away.

Opps… sorry.

Sure, whatever. Now its time to say "Oliver Oken, I, Lily Truscott love you!"

"Yeah! That's right, I'm going to say I, Lily Truscott love Oliver Oken!"

"You what?!" oh my god!!! I said that out loud!!!

Oliver looked dumbfound, "Shit."

"You… y-you said you l-loved me…" Oliver's was standing with his mouth wide open and gapping at me.

"I uh…" I looked around for an escape, think Lily! Just say, 'Pshh… you know I'm just kidding… man!' and punch him in the arm like I was kidding.

Or you could just tell him that you were being serious so he knows you have feelings for him?

But what-

"L-Lily?" shit, I have to answer him.

Tell him.

"I…"

TELL HIM!!!

"YES!"

"Yes?" Oliver looked confused, but what else is new?

"Yes, Oliver. I said I loved you." I mumbled quietly.

"You… l-love me? As in like, I love you as a friend or…?" Oliver took a step closer to me, I started to get nervous.

Wait, that is how I can get out of this! Just tell him you love him 'as a friend'. Perfect!

NOT perfect! Just tell him! Tell him the truth! You love Oliver Oken. Tell him.

I swallowed hard; this is the moment you have to make your choice, so the next word that comes out of your mouth will change your life… okay…

No pressure.

You know, when people say 'no pressure' it-

Oh you know what I mean! Now tell that monkey boy that you love him!

"Fine!"

"Fine?" damnit, I did it again! "Lily you are confusing me…"

"No, Oliver I just…" I took a deep breath. I'm going to tell him… I'M GOING TO TELL HIM! "Oliver, I..." I took another deep breath, "Yes,"

"Yes?!" Oliver immediately looked happy, but then his expression changed, "Wait... yes to the 'friend love' or…" I looked down at the ground.

"Yes to more." Come on donut boy!

"You mean…" he took another step towards me, "You love me as in…" he took another step closer to me that we were inches apart, "As in… if I kissed you right now; you would kiss me back?" My head shot up so fast that I felt a little dizzy, but I'm not sure if that was because of how fast I just moved my head or how breathtaking Oliver's chocolate colored eyes are.

"I-" but Oliver's lips crashed down onto mine. I couldn't think, everything shut down, my brain, my limbs. Everything. I just stood there as Oliver's soft lips lingered on mine. My lips reacted to the kiss, but still my other body parts couldn't or wouldn't move.

Oliver's hands took mine and wrapped them around his neck, then placed his lightly on my waist. It was magic, I've never felt this way when I was kissed, like sure I kissed Jackson, but it wasn't like this. This was… Oliver, this was… this. This is what I want.

The kiss ended to my displeasure, but got over it as soon as Oliver pulled me into a tight hug. I sighed into his chest and smiled, actually I was smiling as during and after the kiss, but whatever.

Oliver looked down at me and smiled and rested his forehead against mine, "I love you too."

"Good." Oliver leaned down and kissed me again.

"Oken," oh no… both mine and Oliver's head snapped around to where Jackson was standing behind Oliver. Oh no, what if he attacks Oliver? Or- "You hurt her… you will be answering to me. Got it?" Jackson's face changed from serious to a smirk.

Oliver nodded his head like a chicken, but he was a cute chicken so it doesn't matter.

"Good. Bye Lily." Jackson smiled and nodded his head at me in an 'I get it' way and walked back around Rico's.

"I… I'm not dead?!" Oliver seemed baffled by the fact that he just kissed me and didn't get a punch in the face from Jackson.

I laughed, "No, you're not dead… yet."

Oliver looked around at me and smiled, "As long as when I die, you come with me; I'll be fine." Aww… I guess Oliver does have at least one romantic bone in his body.

"Oliver…" Oliver swooped down and kissed me gently.

"I love you too."

- - - - - - - - - -

I stood outside on Jake's porch alone, I figured the family wanted some time to 'bond' or whatever, and I suggested that I go home, but Jake wanted me to stay, so now I'm here; on his porch, bored out of my mind, lost in thought about stuff totally not related to Jake and his family, which I felt bad about, but I was worried about my Hannah secret getting out, and I for some reason I found myself thinking hard about what came first the chicken, or the egg.

Chicken.

Egg.

But it's got to be the chicken that was already… you know… uh… knocked up, so it could have other little chicky's…

Just out of curiosity… do you hear yourself? "Knocked up, so it could have other little chicky's…"

Whatever, I-

"Hey Miley." A voice broke through my little argument with myself.

When I turned around Tyler was standing about five feet away from me holding two drinks, "Oh uh… hi Tyler." He smiled and offered a drink to me, "Thanks." I mumbled taking a sip of whatever was in the cup. Yum… lemonade.

"I—uh well—I just wanted to say that-" he seemed to be having trouble speaking.

"You wanted to say what?" he blushed, which made me blush, and no I do not like him!

I never said you did!

Good.

He took a deep breath the smiled, "About I'm Just Like You."

"Oh…" I blushed, " Tyler I'm so sorry about everything-"

"Miley," what is it with this guy and cutting me off? "It's okay. I get it." He does? Wow, even I don't fully get it. "Okay actually I don't," we both sort of chuckled, "But I don't want an explanation. We can just leave it as… a misunderstanding." I was surprised, he didn't want to know why I went on the date and had my friends dress up as crazy fans and serenade me? Well on the bright side I don't have to explain to him about how I had a small crush on him and… well everything else, like Lily and Oliver's codename system or the plan… wow am I stupid!

"Really?!"

He chuckled again, "Yes," he sighed, and smiled at me, "Now… I think its time you and Jake talked." I nervously bit my lip again, "Don't worry," he laughed, "I'm over one hundred and ten percent sure that Jake would like nothing more then to kiss you like crazy at this point." Another blush crept up my neck, and Tyler just laughed. "Oh and for the record… I would never tell your secret, Miley… or should I say, Hannah?" we both laughed again, "Well, I'll see you later."

"Bye Tyler." Crush defiantly over, "Oh and Tyler?" he turned around and looked at me with one hand on the stairs railing, "My dad really likes you, so… uh, come around for dinner sometime."

Tyler laughed, "Tell your dad I would love too. Goodnight Miley." Tyler walked down the steps of his porch and onto the sandy beach where he began to walk in the direction of Nicole's 'spot'.

I was about to turn around and walk back into the house when I felt a pair of arms wrap around my middle, "Miley…" Jake mumbled into the crook of my neck.

I turned around to face him, "Jake, I-" Jake silenced me like I did to him earlier with his finger on my lips.

"Don't." he took his fingers away and leaned in for a kiss, but I really wanted to apologize for what happened.

"But Jake-" he kissed me softly, completely silencing me.

"Miley please don't apologize or say whatever you were about to say that involved this little…" he seemed to be searching for a word; Tyler's word came to mind.

"Misunderstanding?"

Jake smiled, "Misunderstanding…" he said softly, and kissed me.

T-T-T-Th-Th-The E-En-End

And they all lived happily ever after!

Okay… NOW, it's the end.

A/N: It's over… totally and completely over… I don't believe it! I won't believe it! Actually I will because to tell you the truth I'm soooooo tired of this story, not that I didn't like it, more that I am just… wanting to get this off of my 'to-write' list, so I can write other stuff. So there; Jiley was safe and Loliver got together. Now you can all be done by being annoyed when an alert for my story pops up and you are like "Please tell me that there isn't another cliffhanger?!" or "God, would this girl just please finish this story! I want to get to the end!" yeah so that's it. So good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight to all!

Thanks a ton for all of my reviews. They seriously meant a lot to me. :)

For all of you who have read my other story that I started ((Jealousy Rages)) do you still want me to continue? Because I'm like in total writer's block for it and I just had a new idea for a story and I have the plot already written out and it would be tons easier to just write that. But if you all like the story… I guess I could continue it. PLEASE TELL ME!!!

One other thing… did you all love Harry Potter?!?! I finished the book at 8:32 a.m. the morning it came out!!! I was freaking out so bad the day before it came out that I was randomly screaming and my mom actually put ear plugs in to keep the screaming out. Haha. So yeah, I loved how it ended, but thought the epilogue was a little strange… seriously, who in their right mind would name their child Albus Severus?! They must have been on crack… that poor kid is going to be made fun all his life… anyway… yeah well it was a good book. Hope you all enjoyed it too:)