Almost Two months earlier

Miley sat down in a huff at the table where Lilly and Oliver were busy kissing instead of eating their lunches. Normally ever since she had started dating Jake Ryan again she didn't mind when they did that but today was different. She picked at her food for a minute before saying "Hey guys, cool it on the spit swapping, I'm trying to eat here."

They continued kissing for a couple more seconds before breaking apart. "Sounds like somebody's date last night didn't go so well or is it just that time of the month again." Oliver commented drawing some hard looks from both Miley and Lilly. He shrugged his shoulders then proceeded with digging into the chili-mac on his plate.

"Oh the date went just fine, actually it was more than just fine." Miley said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It went so damn well that I got home two hours late."

"What happened?" Lilly asked.

" The date started off OK but later when we were going to a secluded spot Jake knew about where we could be alone, the dang car got stuck. When Jake tried to call for a tow truck we found out that our cell phones wouldn't work there, so we hiked almost a mile to a spot where they got a signal. While Jake was calling for some help I called home so I could tell my dad that I'd be late but the phone was busy. Then I tried called his cell phone but all I got was his voice mail. When we finished our calls Jake told me that it might be a while before the tow truck would get to us. So we walked all the way back to the car then started making out."

"It doesn't sound like it was all bad, you did after all get some time alone together." Lilly couldn't help winking as she said the last part.

"True but that's not the worst part. It was after 1am when I finally got home. So I decided to be careful not to wake my dad up by not turning on any lights and going as quietly as I could to my room. When I got halfway across the living room my dad turned on the lights and asked me where the hell I'd been. It startled me so much that I damn near jumped out of my skin and dropped my purse and shoes in the process. When the purse hit the floor it popped open and some stuff fell out."

Oliver asked "What stuff?"

"Did any of the umm.." Lilly's darted back and forth between looking at Miley and Oliver before she finished by saying, "You know what fall out?"

"Oh yeah, every last one of those suckers fell out." Miley grimaced as she spoke. "My dad's eyes dang near popped out of his head when he saw those condoms fall out on the floor."

Oliver looked completely surprised as he said "Why would you be carrying condoms in your purse Miley?"

"Do ya really think that Jake Ryan would even think about bringing his own condoms? " Miley didn't give him a chance to respond to that. "Anyhow as you can imagine he was even more PO'd than he was before. To make a long story he chewed me out last night and this morning. I'm grounded for 2 months, no car and I'm not supposed to see Jake ever again. Now I can't go anywhere except for school, Hannah business and charity work."

Oliver said "Man that's rough."

"Whoa, school will almost be out by then." Lilly commented. "I get the school and Hannah exceptions but what's with the charity bit?"

"Well Hannah gets asked to do a lot of charity stuff which most of it, except for one times appearances or donations, gets turned down, but dad always says that just because Hannah won't do a lot of it doesn't mean that I can't." Miley pause for a few seconds to think about that. "I guess that since I, I mean as Miley, never does the charity work that gets turned down, he figures that I won't go for it but the option will make the punishment seem even worse. Well the sneaky hillbilly is gonna get a surprise."

Oliver Rolled his eyes and said "Do I even want to hear this?"

Lilly poked him in the ribs then said "What are we gonna do?"

"Lilly do remember how, in our last period civics class, Mrs. Vargas has been encouraging us to get involved in community service or charity work since the beginning of the semester?" Lilly nodded her head yes. "Well a couple weeks ago some group that is putting on a play called "Julie" at the civic center. It supposed be a modern day romance inspired by Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' to raise money for Hate Crime Victims Relief Fund or something like that. They had sent Hannah's manager the script hoping to get her to star in the play. Of course dad turned it down but we still have the script and it is a charity event. My idea is to go sign up for the play after class or better yet if we hurry up we can sign up and get back here before lunch is over. What do you say guys?"

Lilly thought a moment then said"Didn't Mrs. Vargas say that we could get some extra credit for doing stuff like that?"

"Yep, she sure did." Miley replied with a hopeful look on her face.

"OK, count me in." Lilly got up and pick up her tray then said "Well what are we waiting for?"

Miley wasted no time in getting ready to go but Oliver just sat there and said "Count me out of this." Then in reply to the girls stares he added "Come on, don't you guys remember the last play I was in and besides I'm not in that class so I wouldn't be getting any extra credit for it."

Lilly thought about what he said and remembered that the last time Oliver was in a play it had been an unmitigated disaster. "OK. I guess it would be better if weren't in the play Oliver but you better come watch me and Miley in the play." Then Lily gave him a quick kiss before going.

Since the civic center was close to their school it only took the girls a few minutes to get there. They headed to the civic centers auditorium where they figured the sign ups would be. When they got there they found that the director of the play was there sitting at a small table that had been set up in front of the stage. Miley smiled when she recognized him as they approached the table. He had been an assistant director on the Indiana Joanie movie. Although his name was Terry James he preferred being called Mr. Terry. Before moving from New York city to California he had been in theater, doing everything from acting to producing. He also had experience with makeup and costumes. While working on the movie he had often helped Miley with the wigs she had worn while filming, so he knew that Miley was Hannah.

Since there was no one else around Miley greeted him enthusiastically "Hi Mr. Terry, it's nice to see you again." By doing this she let him know that Lilly knew her secret. "This is my best friend Lilly Truscott and were here to sign up for the play."

He greeted her with a big hug as he said "It's so wonderful to see you again Miley. I didn't expect to see you here when Ms. Carlisle called and said Hannah wasn't going to do the show." Lilly couldn't miss help but notice his very flamboyant and effeminate mannerisms.

"I'm doing this as myself not Hannah so where do we sign up and when are auditions?" As she was talking Mr. Terry handed each of the girls a piece of paper. Miley had barely glanced at the paper before asking "What is this for?"

"Those are permission slips. I have to get one from the parents of anyone in the play who is under the age of 18. So don't forget to have your parents sign them. And don't worry Miley, you won't need to audition, I'll give you the same part we offered Hannah. If you still have the script you can work with your friend." As he spoke Mr Terry took loose leaf binder out of box next to the table and handed it to Lilly. "Since the part didn't get filled during the first round of auditions give her a chance at the other leading female role during the second round of auditions, which is one week from this coming Saturday. Just practice the lines that I have marked in this copy of the script. How does that sound?"

"That's great, thanks Mr. Terry. I'd love to stay and chat but we're on our lunch break and we have to get back to school before we're late for class."

Later that afternoon when school let out Miley saw Robbie Ray waiting for her by the door nearest the student parking lot. At first she more than a little embarrassed by the way he whistled and called her name when he saw her. So she quickly hurried over to where he was before he could embarrass her any more. Once they were in the car and on the way home she couldn't wait any longer tell her dad that not only had she signed up for the charity play but she also got the lead role.

"Dad do you remember how you say that just because Hannah Montana turns down a lot of requests to do charity doesn't mean that Miley Ray Stewart can't do some of it."

"Yes I do, just as long as it doesn't interfere with you school work or Hannah business." Robbie Ray already had a pretty good idea where Miley was headed with that and why.

"You remember that script for the benefit that Hannah got a couple weeks ago. Well during lunchtime me and Lilly went over to the civic center and signed up for it. And guess what?" Miley didn't wait for him to reply. Instead she paused only long enough to take a deep breath before continuing. "Mr. Terry's the director and he gave me the lead role and is gonna give Lilly a chance to play one of the other leading roles. We just have to practice the lines in the copy of the script he gave Lilly. All I need is for you to sign this permission slip." Miley held out the permission slip for him to take.

By then they had pulled into their driveway, so Robbie Ray took the paper then got out of the car before replying. "That's all fine and dandy bud, but you know that you've been grounded. So how do you suppose you're gonna be able to practice with Lilly and go to rehearsals?" He already knew full well what Miley had in mind but he wanted to hear her say it anyway.

"You said that I couldn't go anywhere except for school, Hannah business and charity work. Well this play is charity work isn't it."

He unlocked the door and went inside as he said "OK I did say that." He went straight to the kitchen as he read the paper. He put it down on the table then went to the fridge to get out a cold soda. "Are sure you want to do this?

"Yes daddy I'm sure I want to do it."

"I'm not trying to talk you out of anything but I just want to make that you want to do the play. You have read the script and you want do the play and it's not because you're trying to get out of being grounded."

"Yes I read it and I really want to do it." Miley said with the most sincere look on here face she could make. "Just sign the slip, please."

"OK bud I'll sign it but only if you promise to see this thing through to the end."

"I promise dad." Miley couldn't help smiling as he signed the permission slip.