Disclaimer: Characters are owned and produced by The Disney Channel and It's A Laugh Productions. I am just borrowing them for these stories. Original characters are owned by the author of this story.

Back to the Future

Chapter 3

Showing Yourself Friendly

Miley reached the end of her grandmother's driveway and noticed two cars other than her grandmother's sitting near the house. The pregnant rain clouds began to darken the sky overhead. Animals could be heard making noise, indicating the arrival of a storm. Inside her mind, Miley didn't worry, knowing that her grandmother had three portable emergency diesel generators and one stationary generator for the main house.

"Looks like Luanne and her folks are here." Miley said as she brought the car around close to the house.

"So let me get this straight. I can't spit in Luanne's eye for any reason tonight." Lilly said.

"No you can't spit in Luanne's eye. Man! For a teacher you sure are violent!" Miley said.

"Only when provoked." Lilly said. "And that woman provokes me."

"Just don't feed into her." Jennifer said. "Showing someone like that your weakness is like blood in the water to a shark. I've been on both sides of the equation. Trust me, if you don't take the bait, she'll switch up one or two times and come back at you, but she'll eventually give up."

"And don't worry, babe." Miley said. "I'll be by your side the whole time."

Just as Miley put the car in park about twenty yards from the house, the sky opened up and rain began pounding down.

"Aww, man! I didn't bring an umbrella!" Miley said.

"Me either." Jennifer said. "Looks like we have to make a run for it."

Seconds before they opened the door to make their mad dash to the house, a figure appeared on the porch and opened up a huge golf-sized orange and white University of Tennessee umbrella and stepped off the porch to approach the car. About ten yards from the car, the women made out the form as belonging to Luanne. She went around to Miley's driver's side door and motioned for her to get out.

"Come on Lil." Miley said to Lilly, motioning for her to slide across the bench seat.

"What about Jenn?" Lilly asked.

"There's not enough room for four. You two go. Just send her back for me." Jennifer said.

Lilly nodded and slid over next to Miley. Miley then opened the door and hopped out with Lilly in hand. They huddled under the umbrella with Luanne and jogged to the house. After leaving Miley and Lilly on the porch, Luanne jogged back to the car to get Jennifer. Jennifer slid out and got under the umbrella with Luanne and they began to jog to the house.

"Hey." Luanne said with a sly smile.

"Hi." Jennifer said innocently as they jogged. Seconds later, they reached the front porch.

"Man, it's gonna be a mess tonight!" Luanne said as she shook the wet umbrella out.

"I forgot how sudden storms pop up here." Miley said as she looked out from the porch. "It doesn't rain like this back in California."

"Thanks… for coming to get us." Lilly said grudgingly to Luanne."

"You're welcome." Luanne said. "Wouldn't wanna mess that pretty hair up."

"Are you starting with me again?" Lilly asked defensively.

"No, sweetie. I think she was trying to say you have pretty hair." Miley said. "Right, Luanne?"

"Exactly." Luanne said. "I know you're not fond of me, but I like you. You've got… spunk. I like spunk." Luanne then turned to Jennifer. "Are you spunky?"

"No, I'm Jennifer. Jennifer McGowan. But you can call me Jenn." Jennifer extended her hand to shake.

Luanne took Jennifer's hand. "That's funny. I like that. You are spunky." Luanne then cocked her head to one side as she looked at Jennifer. "Say… anybody ever tell you that you look like that chick that used to fight with Hannah all the time? What's her name?... Mikayla!"

"That's because I am Mikayla." Jennifer said.

"You're kidding?" Luanne said. "Hannah and Mikayla, best friends? How do ya like that?"

"More like Miley and Jennifer are best friends." Miley said.

"Why couldn't Jenn be my best friend?" Lilly bristled toward Luanne.

"I figured she's a pop star, my cousin's a pop star…" Luanne said before being cut off by Lilly.

"What kind of best friend do I look like I'd have?" Lilly said with a furrowed brow.

"Dial it back a little, Lilly." Jennifer whispered.

"Look, Mamaw asked me to be on my best behavior tonight and I'm gonna respect her house and do that." Luanne said. "I don't want to start anything with you tonight, okay?"

"But you're not ruling out tomorrow?" Lilly asked, begging Luanne to take the bait.

"Would you chill out, please?" Miley asked of her fiancée.

"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry, Miles." Lilly said.

Luanne extended her hand. "Come on Lilly. Let's bury the hatchet tonight… for Miley and Mamaw." Luanne said.

Lilly looked at Luanne's hand for a moment contemplating a possible deal with the devil. She then glanced over at Miley who was looking at her with wide-open blue eyes full of hope. Lilly then slowly stuck her hand out and shook Luanne's. "For Miley and Mamaw." Lilly said in almost exasperated fashion.

"How about you?" Luanne said to Jennifer. "Are we burying the hatchet too?"

"I don't know you well enough yet to hate you." Jennifer said in her sassy Mikayla voice.

Luanne chuckled and turned toward Miley. "She's sharp. I always thought Mikayla was hot." She then turned and opened the screen door. "Come on. Mamaw said supper'll be ready soon." With that, Luanne spun on her heels and walked inside.

"UGH! I think she just indirectly hit on you!" Lilly whisper-yelled to Jennifer.

"She did not!" Jennifer whisper-yelled back. "She just said she thought Mikayla was hot. You can think somebody's hot and not hit on them!"

"I just get that vibe from her." Lilly said. "I bet you another fifty bucks she hits on you before the night is over."

"You are so wrong!" Jennifer said. "I'm putting a hundred on that one."

"This'll be the easiest two hundred bucks I've ever made." Lilly said as they started inside.

"You two have problems. Serious deep-seated problems." Miley deadpanned as they walked into the house.

Miley, Lilly and Jennifer walked into the house and were immediately hit with the aroma of fried chicken and hot buttermilk biscuits.

"I… am gonna eat 'till I explode!" Lilly said with a giddy grin just before the three women walked into the living room.

"There are my girls!" Ruthie said as she sprung out of her favorite chair and ran over to Miley and Lilly and engaged them in a group bear hug. "How was the ride out here?"

"It was good Mamaw." Miley said with a smile.

"Good." Ruthie said before turning to Jennifer. "Hi… Jennifer, right?"

"That's right, Mrs. Stewart." Jennifer said extending her hand.

"I told you to call me Ruthie or Mamaw! And you don't shake my hand! Come here!" Ruthie said as she threw her arms wide open to embrace Jennifer.

"How about Miss Ruthie?" Jennifer said.

"I'll take it." Ruthie said.

"Uncle Bobby!" Miley said as she walked over to hug her father's twin brother.

"Good Lord, Girl! Look atcha!" Bobby Ray said. "If you ain't the prettiest thing! Besides my Luanne of course." He said as he hugged her.

After he broke the hug with Miley, she slid over to Bobby Ray's wife. "Aunt Noel." Miley said warmly as she embraced her uncle's second wife. Luanne was careful not to roll her eyes. She and Noel experienced several rough patches during Luanne's teenage years that made their relationship lukewarm at best.

"It is so good to see you again. You are gorgeous." Noel said.

Bobby Ray stepped forward to greet Lilly. "Lilly? My goodness! It's been… ten, twelve years since I've seen you; last time I came to Malibu. Didn't you turn out to be a pretty little filly!" Bobby Ray said as he hugged her.

"Thank you Bobby Ray." Lilly said with a slight blush in her cheeks.

Bobby Ray released the hug. "Ruthie told me about you two. Congrats. You two are brave girls. Just be careful. There are some mean people out there that'll try to getcha if you're not careful. I had to give the same speech to Luanne a few years ago."

"You did?" Miley asked, not knowing about Luanne's sexual proclivity.

"You and I have more in common than just looks, Cousin." Luanne said with a smirk, flashing a quick, almost imperceptible glance over at Jennifer.

"Lilly, this is my wife Noel. Noel, this is Lilly." Bobby Ray said.

"It's nice to meet you!" Noel said. "Ruthie told us all about you." She said as she gave Lilly a warm hug.

"Good things I hope." Lilly said with a chuckle.

"You just cost yourself a biscuit, little girl." Ruthie teased.

"I'm sorry Mamaw!" Lilly quickly repented as she gave Ruthie a hug.

"I was just teasin' Lilly." Ruthie said.

"I knew that!" Lilly exclaimed as everyone laughed.

"Well Miley, your father called." Ruthie said. "He said he'll be here in about 45 minutes so we're gonna go ahead and eat. I got plenty of food. He can fix a plate when he gets here."

"Food! Oh boy!" Lilly whisper-yelled as everyone headed for the dining room.

"Don't get too happy, Truscott." Jennifer whispered. "This meal's gonna cost you a C-note."

"Even if you beat me, I'll get it right back when Devil Woman makes a pass at you." Lilly countered.

"Mamaw?" Miley said. "You've got more house back here!"

"Yeah. With Vickie's kids and friends and Bobby and Noel comin' by, I thought it was gettin' a little cramped so I added on a family room behind the dining room." Ruthie said.

"And you bought a big screen TV?" Miley wondered aloud.

"Plasma. Sixty-five inches with satellite. It was a Christmas gift from Noel and me. No more dog-eared antennas for my momma." Bobby Ray said.

"I want a sixty-five inch plasma TV." Lilly pouted as they sat down at the table.

"We'll buy one for the house." Miley said.

"Noel, Luanne, Miley, come help me bring the food out." Ruthie said.

"I can help too." Lilly said.

"The Stewart women can handle it." Ruthie said. "Enjoy your family guest status while you have it, 'cause when Miley puts that ring on your finger, I put you to work." Ruthie said lovingly.

"I'll be back." Miley said as she kissed Lilly on the forehead and went into the kitchen.

"So you two are movin' to Tennessee, huh?" Bobby Ray said.

"Yes sir! Miley and I are starting a new chapter of our lives with her record deal and me starting a charter school." Lilly said.

"A charter school!" Robby Ray said. "Helpin' the youth of today become somethin' in life is very noble. So where are you gonna open it?"

"Since Miley and I are moving to the Nashville area, I figured on opening it there." Lilly said.

"You know, Noel and I have a friend that's movin' from Knoxville to Nashville pretty soon and she's a teacher. I know she'd jump at the chance of openin' a new school. I could give you her number if you want."

"That'd be great! It'll probably be a few months. We've got to find a house and get set up." Lilly said as the other women brought in the first batch of food.

"If you and Miley are looking for houses near Nashville, there are some beautiful houses in Belle Meade." Noel said as she heard Lilly's last comment.

"Baby, those are some pricey houses!" Bobby Ray said.

"Well Bobby, your niece can afford it. Didn't you read the newspaper today?" Ruthie said. "She signed a forty million dollar record deal. Heck, she could buy all of Belle Meade if she wanted to."

"I don't get all that money up front, Mamaw. Just a signing bonus." Miley said with a hint of embarrassment.

"Yeah! Thirteen million!" Jennifer said.

"Let's… not talk about money right now. This is about family." Miley said.

"She's right." Luanne said as she started for the kitchen. Ruthie waved her off and gestured for her to sit down. Ruthie did the same for the Miley and Noel as well. "So when are you two getting married?"

"Well, we were gonna do it this week, but with the press conference and the house hunting, we're gonna wait until after we move." Lilly said.

"You know Mamaw's got a pretty garden out back. Before I swore off marriage, I had said that I wanted to get married back there." Luanne said.

"Let's say grace before the food gets cold." Ruthie said. "Noel, grace the food, sweetie."

Everyone held hands and bowed their heads as Noel very eloquently graced the food and asked God for Robby Ray's safe arrival. After they said their 'amens', everyone then sat down and began to dig in.

"So Luanne, you said you swore off marriage. Why?" Jennifer asked.

"I've learned that if you let people too close to you, they're gonna let you down. It's human nature. All of us are selfish at heart and marriage is founded on the principle of giving and sharing. It's contradictory and it is doomed to fail." Luanne said.

"That's a pessimistic outlook on things." Lilly said as she scooped mashed potatoes onto her plate.

"I actually see where she's coming from." Jennifer said. "I felt the same way when my parents got divorced. They were both selfish and became mean to each other and to me. That's why I lashed out at everybody. But then I realized one day that I was missing out on a lot of good people in my life. I mean, if hadn't come to that conclusion, I wouldn't be sitting here right now. Luanne just hasn't met the person or people that continually show her through their actions that they will be there for her, besides her family, I mean."

"Those people don't exist. I mean, family, okay. They're obligated to be there for you. But other people aren't." Luanne said.

"You know, the Bible says that to have friends, you have to be friendly." Jennifer said. "Have you ever tried being friendly instead of just expecting people magically show you loyalty?"

"Usin' the good book to prove her point. I like that." Robby Ray said.

"So just be friendly, open yourself up like a fool and have people use you? No thanks." Luanne said as she took a bite of her chicken.

"That's what you do to people so you expect people to do the same to you. But it doesn't have to be like that." Jennifer said.

"She's got a point, Luanne." Miley said. "I mean, Lilly slapped you silly the other day and today she's sitting down to supper with you."

"Obligation. She's your fiancée. You probably begged her to be nice to me." Luanne said.

"She didn't beg me." Jennifer said. "I'm not here out of obligation. Miley said she wanted to try to get to know her cousin and I volunteered to come as her friend to support her and try to get to know you."

"For her though." Luanne said.

"Yes for her." Jennifer said. "She's my friend. But I had a choice as to whether or not I wanted to stay here in Tennessee or fly back to California. I chose to stay with my friend and her family. That's what friends do. You should really try it sometime."

"That's a good idea. But let's stop analyzin' Luanne and move on to somethin' else." Ruthie said.

"It's okay Mamaw. I brought it on myself." Luanne said as a large thunderclap startled everyone as the lights flickered and then went off.

"It's all right. Just wait a minute." Ruthie said. Seconds later, the lights fluttered back to life. "The generator kicked in. We should be fine now."

Another twenty minutes of conversation went back and forth about various subjects. Every now and then the now quiet Luanne would dart her eyes back and forth at the other young women at the table. Every now and then she would catch the eye of Lilly, Miley and Jennifer who would all flash her a faint smile.

"I wonder if Dad is all right." Miley said as she pulled out her cell phone.

"You're not gonna get a signal during the storm sweetie." Ruthie said. Just then, the house phone rang. "Now people know better than to call somebody during a thunderstorm." She walked over to the phone and check the caller ID. "Hank Henderson? What does he want? Hello… Hi Robby Ray!... you did?... okay… thanks for callin' baby… okay. Bye." She came back to the table to sit down. "Robby Ray said the roads were gettin' bad so he stopped at Henderson's farm to wait it out."

"So he's about fifteen minutes from here." Bobby Ray said.

"Yeah. After dinner I'm gonna make him up a bed. He's not gonna go back out in this weather. None of you should." Ruthie said.

"We've got our stuff in the car Mamaw." Miley said. "I didn't want to make the drive back to Nashville tonight. If that's all right with you."

"Of course it's all right. I always prepare for overnight company." Ruthie said. "I tell you what, you and Lilly take one room, Robby Ray and Bobby Ray take one, Luanne can share with Jennifer and Noel can stay with me. Unfortunately, the fifth bedroom is a storage space right now."

"I didn't bring a change of clothes with me." Luanne said.

"That's okay. We're about the same size. You can borrow something from me." Jennifer said. Luanne looked at her with a puzzled look on her face trying to figure her out.

"Now that the sleepin' arrangements are taken care of, who wants dessert?" Ruthie asked.

"I'm still not finished with dinner." Lilly said.

Jennifer watched Lilly pick up her plate for a fourth helping of chicken, mashed potatoes, greens and sweet corn and looked down at her three-quarter eaten third plate. "Me either! May I have some more chicken please?" Jennifer asked excitedly.

"Sure, darlin'." Ruthie said as she handed the plate to Bobby Ray to hold for Jennifer. "Huh. If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were racin' or somethin'."

"I've never seen two petite women eat so much food before." Noel said.

"We just have… ravenous appetites." Jennifer said as she went forkful for forkful with Lilly.

Bobby Ray leaned behind his wife over to Miley who was sitting to Noel's right. "How much was the bet for?" He asked.

"A hundred bucks." Miley whispered.

"Your daddy took me for fifty last time." Bobby Ray said as Miley smiled and straightened up.

Dinner finished with Lilly and Jennifer finishing four plates a piece. The thunderstorm died down and Robby Ray called to say that he would be there shortly. After everyone enjoyed the apple cobbler for dessert, a satisfied hush fell over the table.

"Momma, you put your foot in supper again." Bobby Ray said. "That makes, what, fifteen, twenty thousand suppers in a row now?"

"Just call me the Cal Ripken of supper makin'." Ruthie said, referring to the baseball player that didn't miss a game for over sixteen years. "Well… let me start cleanin' up."

"No! Please, I'd be honored if you let me do it." Jennifer said. "I never had a big family meal to clean up after when I was growing up."

"You don't have to do that." Ruthie said.

"Mamaw, I insist." Jennifer said sweetly.

"She called me Mamaw." Ruthie said with a warm smile. "Okay. If you really want to. Thank you darlin'."

"Since you fixed all the food Mamaw, I'll… help her." Luanne said to the surprise of her grandmother and her father and stepmother. Luanne didn't want to so much as make her bed up growing up and was still a bit messy as an adult despite her fashionable wardrobe.

"Thank you Luanne." Ruthie said with a hint of surprise in her voice as she stood and kissed Luanne on the forehead.

Lilly looked at Miley and then Jennifer with an I-told-you-so look on her face after Luanne volunteered to help Jennifer with the cleanup. Miley simply raised an eyebrow and Jennifer gave her a 'whatever' look.

Soon afterward, the front door opened and they heard footsteps approaching the dining room.

"I made it!" Robby Ray said with a smile. His mother walked over and kissed him on one cheek while she patted the other one. Bobby Ray stood up and walked over to greet his brother.

"Man, you sure are a handsome devil!" Bobby Ray joked as he went to hug his carbon copy.

"Funny, I was gonna say the same thing about you." Robby Ray said with a chuckle. "How've you been?"

"Livin' and lovin', brother. Livin' and lovin'." Bobby Ray said.

"And quite well by the looks of your wife. Hi Sis." Robby Ray said as he went to embrace his sister-in-law.

"Hey, brother-in-law." Noel greeted him warmly.

"Hey girls." Robby Ray said as he kissed Miley, Jennifer and Lilly on the cheek. "Hi Luanne. How are you?" He said as he hugged his niece.

"I'm good Uncle Rob." Luanne said, using the name that her father calls his brother by.

"Jennifer, Luanne, fix Robby Ray a plate please." Ruthie said. Robby Ray showed surprise that Jennifer was asked to fix his plate. "Jennifer and Luanne volunteered to do the dishes."

"Well, just make sure you fix it country style. Lots of vittles." Robby Ray said.

"Trust me Dad. You have nothin' to worry about there." Miley said, remembering how Jennifer piled her own plate high.

Jennifer and Luanne fixed Robby Ray's plate and gave it to him. He went out into the family room with the others, leaving Jennifer and Luanne in the dining room alone. They set about clearing plates and bowls off the table. After everything had been moved into the kitchen, they went about divvying up the duties.

"Big stuff in the dishwasher, I wash, you dry?" Jennifer asked.

"Fine with me." Luanne said. They started out loading the dishwasher with pots, pans and silverware before moving on to washing the rest of the dishes.

They washed the dishes in silence for about ten minutes before Luanne looked over at Jennifer, still trying to figure her out. "Most people don't like talking to me. What's your story?" Luanne asked.

"Who said I like talking to you?" Jennifer replied. Luanne, actually appearing to be stung by the remark, took the first plate from Jennifer after she washed it and dipped it into the rinse sink. Jennifer then spoke again. "You remind me a lot of myself."

"You're an international pop superstar with a mansion and butlers and I'm a junior accountant three years out of college tryin' to make ends meet. Excuse me if I don't see the resemblance." Luanne said.

"Okay, first of all, no mansion, no butlers and the star faded a couple of years ago." Jennifer said. "And second, I've only briefly talked to you but I know your deal. You feel like life dealt you an inferior hand while other people you know have more than you do and you feel like you deserve it, so you snap at everybody trying to make them just as miserable as you feel inside all the while putting on the cocky bravado like nothing bothers you." Jennifer then handed Luanne another dish. The Tennessee beauty looked at Jennifer for a moment before snatching the dish and dunking it down in the water.

"You California people think you're so smart." Luanne scoffed defensively. "You think you know everything." She said as she snatched another dish from Jennifer's soapy hand.

"You're right. We think we're smart. But we don't know everything." Jennifer retorted as she continued washing dishes. Luanne simmered inside, feeling the stinging effects of Jennifer's pinpoint analysis.

"So how did you become so centered? Did your thousand dollar-an-hour shrink talk you off the ledge?" Luanne snapped.

"No." Jennifer said as she handed Luanne another dish. "I just woke up one day and decided that I was tired of being angry at the world for being the world. I couldn't beat it, so I decided to join it."

Luanne was rendered silent by Jennifer's words. Who does this wannabe popstar think she is? Nobody beats me at my own psych out game. Luanne thought as she stood there. A couple of tense, silent moments went by before Jennifer spoke again.

"Look, Lilly and Miley are going to Nashville tomorrow to go house hunting. I was gonna do some shopping. You wanna go with me?" Jennifer asked.

Luanne grew suspicious. "Why? What are you up to?" Luanne asked.

"I'm showing myself to be friendly." Jennifer said.

Luanne chuckled. "You want to be my friend?" Luanne asked incredulously.

"People like you and me have to be dragged kicking and screaming into functional relationships with people. We don't go willingly." Jennifer said.

"So now we're in a relationship?" Luanne asked sarcastically.

Jennifer grew mildly irritated. "Not a 'relationship' relationship… Look, I am going to be sleeping in the same bed with you tonight. The least we can do is get along and be friendly toward one another. Do you think you can do that?" Luanne didn't respond. "Now do you want to go shopping with me or what?"

"You don't give up, do you?" Luanne asked.

"Ask me another question and I'm taking a page out of Lilly's book and slapping the side of your face onto the floor." Jennifer said.

Luanne waited several heartbeats before responding. "Most of the stores in Nashville open at ten on Saturdays. That means we should leave here around seven." Luanne said.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes as she gave Luanne a mild glare. "You could have said that three minutes ago." Jennifer said as she handed Luanne the last dish.

Luanne pulled the dish out and quickly dried it with a smirk on her lips. "I couldn't help it." Luanne said as she tossed the dishtowel onto the counter. "You're cuter when you're irritated."

As was her signature, Luanne delivered her walk-off zinger before she spun on her heels and walked out of the kitchen past Lilly, who was coming in to get Miley and Ruthie something to drink. Luanne smirked, gently grabbed Lilly's arm just above the elbow and looked over her shoulder at Jennifer who was letting water out of the drain and drying her hands. Lilly looked down at Luanne's hand on her arm and then back up at her. "Spunky." Luanne whispered to Lilly. "I like her. Tomorrow's gonna be fun." She then released Lilly's arm and walked toward the family room.

Lilly shook her head and continued into the kitchen, walking over to Jennifer, standing behind her for a moment.

Jennifer turned her head to look at Lilly. "What?"

"Tomorrow?" Lilly asked.

"We're going shopping while you and Miley go house hunting." Jennifer said. Lilly looked at Jennifer with a blank stare for a moment. Jennifer huffed and rolled her eyes before she reached in the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a hundred dollar bill, thrusting it out at Lilly.

Lilly took the bill and gave Jennifer a dry smile. "What's this for, the food bet or the flirt bet?" Lilly said.

Jennifer began walking toward the door. Without turning around she called out behind her. "I guess you'll never know, now will you?" She said sarcastically.

Lilly looked down at the bill and flipped it over several times. "As irritable as you were just now, I think I know." Lilly then added something to her own out loud thought. "I think tomorrow will be fun."

So… what are you thinking so far? Is Back to the Future all I made it out to be? I think we're gonna look in to see how Jackson is doing in DC next. Thank you for coming this far. We've just gotten started. PLEASE REVIEW.