Chapter 11
Miley found it steadily becoming more and more awkward talking with Amber and Ashley and others like them. She knew she wasn't a friend and she knew she didn't want to hang around them, but she also knew she couldn't just ignore them as if she'd never acted just like them. So Monday morning when she got to school, Miley forced a smile at Amber's greeting of "Hannah!" and joined in conversation when necessary while sorting out her locker for the first class.
She noticed Lilly as soon as she got to school. Being on crutches and struggling with her bag and controlling them it would have been hard not to notice. That and the fact that as soon as they saw her most people started laughing made it obvious. She sighed and left it was a moment, trying to work out if she was all right or not.
After a moment she walked over to Lilly, "Hey, let me help?" she said, forming it as a question because was unsure if Lilly would want her help or not.
"It's ok, I'm fine." Lilly replied, taking a couple more steps only for her bag to fall off her shoulder again and the main weight of it hit her cast leg. She winced quietly but otherwise ignored it.
"You're not fine, Lilly." Miley told her, trying to take her bag off her. Lilly let her with an annoyed sigh but Miley could tell she was annoyed at needed help rather than the fact that Miley was giving her help.
"Thanks…" Lilly said quietly, following as Miley started to walk to class.
"Hannah… what are you doing?" Amber asked, her eyebrow raised in amusement.
Miley turned to her, "I'm helping a friend who's hurt, the type of thing anyone would do. And FYI my name is Miley. I know that maybe hard for you but it's just too syllables. Mi-ley."
Amber ignored the last part focusing just on the friend part. "She isn't your friend, she's a two faced bitch remember?"
"Well you'd know all about that wouldn't you?" Lilly bit back before Miley had the chance to say anything.
"I was never a shallow cow who dumped my so-called best friend because suddenly everyone knew and you clearly wanted it to just be you who knew." Amber retorted.
"No, you're just a shallow bitch who decided she wanted to be best friends with the school dork because she found out she was a famous singer." Lilly said.
"Lillian Truscott, Amber Addison, Miley Stewart my room now!"
All three girls froze at the sound of Mrs Russet's voice and followed her into her classroom. They stood in front of her desk quietly as she delivered her rant about how East Northumberland High was a respectable school and wouldn't put up with such language in its hall ways and especially from young ladies.
As soon as she paused for breath the three of them tried to explain what happened but Mrs Russet simply raised a hand to stop them "I am not interesting in your teenager drama just sort it out and I don't want to hear that in the corridors. The three of you can join me for detention tonight after school." Before any of them had time to open their mouths she added "And no complaints or we'll make it for the whole week. Now get to class."
"You're better than her, Hannah." Amber muttered as they left Mrs Russet's classroom.
"My name is Miley and it's comments like that that prove that Lilly's a better person to be friends with that you ever were." Miley retorted, and changed directions to head to class.
"I don't need you standing up for me." Lilly told her once Amber was out of ear shot.
"I know," Miley replied, "but I've been such a cow for so long it's only fair I put it right."
Lilly smiled, "Thanks."
OG
Outside of the lessons the day consisted of Amber telling everyone who would listen that Hannah Montana was being friendly with that dork Lilly again and making every vain attempt to get Hannah to see sense and dumb Lilly.
Miley ignored it, and ignored everyone for the most part, until just after last lesson before detention. She walked up to the crowd Amber was in, not caring that she was interrupting "All right, listen up, I may be Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana may be a world famous pop star with amazing opportunities and adoring fans but have any of you actually listened to any of my songs?" she didn't wait for an answer "Best of Both Worlds was written for a reason, you know? I came to think school as Miley Stewart because that's who I am."
"You're-"
Miley took no notice of who was trying to interrupt "Best of Both Worlds explained what I wanted and what I got. School was normality while the stage was just amazing. And it's not just Best of Both Worlds, I bet none of you have ever even thought about my songs or anything." She laughed, just slightly, humourlessly, "And I bet this is pointless because none of you are probably even listening to me. But you know what? I don't care, 'cause Miley's used to no one in this school listening to her. And you know what? You can say whatever the hell you like about me as Miley, as Hannah, and who I'm friends with 'cause I don't care about that even, because at least I know Lilly was always friends with me for me and not for the perks like you lot tried to be."
A few comments were fired back at Miley but she ignored them and walked to detention.