Hey Guys-

Sorry this one's not too long but I wanted to post something soon. I'm going to try and post a long chapter later tonight. But just to warn you today's posts might be the last for the next few weeks. We're moving and there is no internet at the new house. So as much as I hate it…that might be how it is for a little while. I'll try my best but hang in there. I tried to see if I could finish this before the move but it's just not going to happen. Anyway enjoy and review.

After Jake Lilly and Miley left the museum Lilly announced that she was tired and ready for a nap. Everyone had accepted that this was probably true but Jake couldn't help but notice how much of a fight Lilly had put up to try to get Miley to stay out with Jake and have dinner. After losing that battle the three parted company with Miley and Lilly returning to her apartment.

Miley couldn't help smiling most of the way home thinking about Jake. They hadn't done anything spectacular but she had still had an amazing time just being with him.

As they walked up the stairs of her apartment building they passed Mark's apartment quickly bringing Miley out of her Jake induced haze. She inwardly cringed at herself. She still hadn't told Lilly about her and Mark's breakup. And as much as she didn't want to relive that part of the last week she knew she should tell Lilly.

"Lilly I…I want to tell you something." Miley said seriously when they both plopped themselves on Miley's couch.

"What's wrong?" Lilly asked sensing that something was wrong.

"I…I just thought you should know..that Mark and I…well…we're not together anymore." Miley waited for Lilly to offer her condolences or act sad that someone who she had become friends with would no longer be in their lives. But instead Lilly just waved it off. "God Miley you really scared me. I thought you were going to tell me something really serious!" She said with a small laugh.

Miley was floored.

"Uh…Helllo? I just told you I broke up with the guy I'd been seeing for a year and a half…the guy you thought might ask me to marry him I might add…and that's all I get?" Miley said gesturing wildly with the pillows she was holding in her hands.

Lilly just shrugged. "Well…no offense or anything but I kinda saw that one coming."

Miley was even more shocked. "WHAT? How did you see that coming?"

Lilly sighed and looked at her friend. "Come on Miles. I haven't been your best friend for ages not to know SOME things about you. And yes…I might have thought that you and Mark might become more serious here in Paris but that was before I had all the information."

Miley was still riled up about her friends lack of emotion about the breakup. 'What do you mean all the information?"

Lilly gave Miley a smug smile. "That was before I knew Jake was back in the picture."

Miley just looked at Lilly with her mouth open so Lilly thought she should continue.

"Miley come on. I knew that you and Mark wouldn't work out the second you told me that Jake was here and single. I mean yeah I encouraged you and Mark to be together before because I could see that Mark made you happy…. but you haven't been yourself…really yourself since Jake left and there was just no way that Mark could have competed with that." Lilly said with a knowing look in her eyes.

"Not to mention the fact that since you've been here I've barely heard two words about dear old Mark…it was always you and Jake had done this…or you and Jake weren't speaking anymore and it killed you."

"And…I think from today's outing it's perfectly obvious that he's still as much in love with you as he ever was." She said now smiling widely.

Miley looked at her friend with a smile on her face. "So you saw this one coming a mile away huh?"

Lilly just continued to grin. "Yep…you can ask Oliver. After that first time you called and told me about Jake I told him Mark was a goner."

Miley was smiling but acting a little indignantly. "So why didn't you tell me that when I called you and asked for advice huh?"

Lilly looked at her friend knowingly. "I think when it comes to realizing that you never actually fell out of love with your high school sweetheart…that's something you have to do by yourself don't you? But thank god we weren't placing bets or anything because Oliver, Jackson and I all thought you two would have gotten together WAY before now." Lilly said in that blunt manner that only Lilly could bring."

Miley let out an agitated breath of air. "My family is betting on if me and Jake are getting back together?"

Lilly again laughed not really realizing that this was agitating Miley. "No silly. No one would have taken the bet on IF you were to get together….we were all just wondering WHEN."

Miley could only laugh slightly at Lilly's comments. Her family had seen what she had been trying to ignore for 6 months… that she and Jake had never really stopped caring about each other.

Lilly got excited again. "So….have you two….you know…gotten back together? You looked awful chummy today."

Miley blushed slightly. 'No…we're not officially together. Mark and I only split up 3 days ago and I told Jake that I wanted to give ourselves a week before anything happened…you know… out of respect. But… you have no idea how hard it is not to kiss that boy!" Miley said forcefully laying herself down on the couch.

Lilly smiled widely and looked at her. "Um…Miles. I do remember high school. You NEVER seemed to be able to avoid kissing him then!" Lilly said with a laugh.

Miley took aim and threw her pillow at her best friend. It felt good to be talking about someone like this again.

Lilly's face sobered. "Well then I guess I should apologize to you. I shouldn't have called Jake today and asked him to join us if you were trying to keep your distance this week."

Miley jolted upright. "NO! I mean… well….I didn't really mind…you know that much…I mean we hadn't seen each other since I broke up with Mark and it was good to you know make sure he was still ok and things."

Lilly looked at her shaking her head. "You missed him like crazy didn't you?"

"Oh God yes." Miley said flopping back on the couch clutching the pillow.

Lilly smiled at her dazed friend. She hadn't seen her this worked up about anyone….well….since Jake. It made her feel good inside to see it. She knew that despite everything that had been amazing in Miley's life…that she had been lonely for a very long time. She hoped that Jake and Miley would finally be able to give each other that unmistakable happiness that had been missing from both of their lives.

Miley sat back up and looked at Lilly seriously still holding her pillow. "I'm….I'm kinda scared Lils."

Lilly looked at her questioningly. "What do you have to be scared of?"

Miley stood up and walked to the balcony doors and looked out of them. "What if I risk everything and he breaks my heart." She said softly.

Lilly went to meet her friend at the window. "Love is always a risk Miles but…you just have to decide if Jake is worth that risk."

Miley hugged her best friend. "I'm really glad you're here…you know that."

Lilly smiled back. "Of course you are….I'm brilliant…I'm fun…and if I'm around you and Jake can see as much of each other as you like without it looking….well inappropriate." She said with a mischievous smile on her face.

Miley's eyes held the same mischevious look in them. "Exactly."

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