All the rest of that week Miley had been busy so the first chance they had to practice for Lilly's audition was that Saturday afternoon. That morning Miley had gone, as Hannah of course, to see her costume designer to go over costume ideas for Hannah's upcoming summer tour. Meanwhile Lilly had gone shopping without Oliver. While the girls had been doing that Oliver had gone over the play since they were going to help by reading the lines by the male characters.

Oliver put down the copy of the script he had just finished reading"Oh boy, this is something else. Do ya think they've read all of the script Jackson?"

"I don't know about Miley but I bet that Lilly hasn't read it all the way through yet." Jackson grinned a bit then added "The real question is will they go through with it once they find out?"

"I don't know about Lilly, but Miley's done some things that are a lot crazier than this."

"Yeah you got a point there Oliver, but I'm not sure that she'd kiss another girl in private let alone on stage in front of an audience."

"I tell you what boys I'll take that bet." Robbie Ray said loudly startling both of them. "Don't worry boys, Miley went upstairs to change and call Lilly. So she didn't hear you. I bet that neither one of those girls have read that script yet. One thing for sure though that come hell or high water Miley's gonna go through with it and you can bet the family farm that she's gonna do her damnedest to get Lilly to do it as well."

Both of the boys dumb look on their faces as they thought about that. Just then Miley walked trough the door and said "I heard that daddy and I'll have you know that both me and Lilly have read the play."

"Oh you have and I suppose you don't have any problems with it, even the love scenes." Robbie Ray had a tough time keeping a straight face as he spoke.

Miley replied defiantly "I have no problems with it what so ever. In fact I'm really looking forward to doing those love scenes." She stuck her tongue out at them then hurried back inside to change.

"Any how we all know that the only reason Miley signed on to do the play was to get around being grounded. Then when I asked her if she was just doing it to get around being grounded she said that she read it and really wanted to do the play. Of course you guys know how she always gets Lilly involved in her schemes."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean Lilly won't quit when she finds out," Jackson pointed out.

"Son, when I talked to the director last night he told me that so far only two other girls have signed up to audition for the same part as Lilly is. They are Joanie Palumbo and Ashley Dewitt. Now do you think Miley's gonna let Lilly quit when she finds that out?"

"So what are we gonna do Mr. Stewart?"

"There ain't much we can do Oliver."

Jackson had a big grin on his face as he said "Why do anything, I say lets just sit back and enjoy the train wreck."

"Now that, is a good idea son."

A couple hours later Miley and Lilly just finished practicing their lines in the first two scenes of the first act of the play with Jackson and Oliver. "So how did we do daddy?"

"You're doing great but don't ya think you should just focus on the scenes that Lilly needs to do for her audition?"

Miley smiled at him confidently as she said, "Why, we got this gig in the bag already."

"Correction bud, you've got the gig in the bag not Lilly" her dad said solemnly.

Lilly's eyes opened wide when she heard that. "Wait a minute Miley told me that I was sure to get the part and that the audition was just a formality."

"I'm sure when she said that Lilly, she thought that she could sweet talk Mr. Terry into giving you the part." Robbie Ray paused for a couple seconds before continuing, "But I called him last night and made sure that wouldn't happen among other things. He agreed to not treat Miley any different from any of the other people, or do her any favors like giving people roles in the play just because they're her friends. He also told me that as of yesterday there were two other girls auditioning for the same part as Lilly."

Her shocked surprise was plain for all to see on Miley's face as she said "Daddy say what?"

"Mr. Terry agreed to no give you any special treatment or favors when I asked him not to."

Miley was so surprised that all she could do was to stare at him all dumb faced as she said "Huh."

"You heard me Bud. You've got your part locked in, but Lilly here is going to have to earn hers." Robbie Ray could barely keep a straight face while watching the girls response to all this. "Now might be a good time you to start taking your practicing a little more seriously and focus on what you need to learn for Lilly's audition next Saturday. Oh, by the way, you might want to use some of the techniques for learning not only the lines but the scenes as a whole that you learned when filming that movie. You know the one you hated."

"But daddy that was so boring." Miley complained with a hint of a whine in her voice.

"Yeah but it worked didn't." Robbie Ray couldn't help smiling as he said that. "Do you remember who it was that insisted that the cast do that each morning before shooting the scenes."

Miley knew he was right about that. "Yeah it was Mr. Terry who made us do that and I have to admit that it did work."

"What are you guys talking about?" Lilly asked impatiently.

Miley sighed then said "Each morning before shooting began Mr. Terry had the cast members read through the scenes out loud."

"You mean just read your lines."

"No not just our lines but all the actions and directors notes for the scenes as well. It was really stupid and boring but it did give us a better feel of how the scene was supposed to go."

Lilly looked a little skeptical as she said "Oh, I see. At least I think I do."

"Come let's get something to drink and get started on reading those scenes." As she spoke Miley started heading for the kitchen.

An hour later both Miley and Lilly were frustrated by the fact that both Oliver and Jackson kept laughing about their interpretation of the second scene required for the audition. It was the sixth and

final scene in act 1 of the play where Rachel, Lilly's character, was helping Julie, Miley's character fend off the unwanted advances of a boy.

"Ollie-pop," Lilly said in a frustrated and slightly angry tone, "what do you mean by we'll find out whats so funny about how we're doing this scene?"

Instead of receiving and answer both Jackson and Oliver started laughing even harder. Miley yelled to her dad who was watching TV inside. "Daddy can you tell us what's so funny?"

He yelled back a second later,"What did you say Bud? I can't hardly hear you over those laughing fools out there."

Miley came in from the deck and said "I said do you know why those two bozo's are laughing about?"

"What scene are you working on?"

"Act one scene six. They seem to find our interpretation of it funny and when we ask why they keep saying we'll find out."

"Ah tell you what Miley, it might make more sense if you skip to the third scene for the audition which is Act two scene three."

"OK daddy we'll try that."

Robbie Ray picked the remote and turned off the TV then said "Why don't you guys come inside while you do that."

A couple minutes later everyone was quieted down and seated in the living room when Miley began reading.

"Julie and Rachel are sitting on the bed in Julie's bedroom. Julie notices that Rachel seems very nervous as she looks her in the eyes and says 'OK Rachel what's so important that it can't wait?'"

Lilly read next "Rachel nervously wrings her hands as she speaks 'I don't really know how to tell you and I hope you don't take it the wrong way or anything.' Rachel takes a deep breath then leans in and kisses Julie on the lips. Then before Julie has a chance to react Rachel breaks off the kiss the says "I love you Julie.'"

"Whoa back the truck up," Miley interrupted loudly. As she looked closer at the script she continued saying "Rachel does what?"

Both girls quietly read and re-reads the scene in silence. They look at each other then Miley says "Oh my gosh they're gay. You knew this and you didn't tell."

"Well you did tell me several times that you read the script. Both of you said that you had already read the script before you signed up to do the play."

"Come on daddy since when have I ever looked before leaping into things? You aren't gonna hold me to this to this are you?"

"Well normally I wouldn't but you did make a promise to not only me but to Mr. Terry also and I'm gonna hold you to it."

"Aw come on daddy."

"A promise is a promise Miley and you're gonna keep this one."

Lilly suddenly said "Well Miley just dragged me into this just like she does with all her other schemes. I didn't make any promises about doing it." She paused then smiled a bit before adding. "Mr. Stewart did Mr. Terry tell you who else would be auditioning for the part?"

Robbie Ray smiled as he said "Yes he did."

"Well are gonna tell us?" Miley said impatiently.

"He said that the two other girls auditioning for the part are Joanie Palumbo and Ashley Dewitt."

Miley's expression went from anxious to stunned surprise to horrified in a matter of seconds "Lilly you gotta do this and you have to get the part. I'd rather kiss you on stage than either of them."

As Lilly thought about it Miley looked at her with her patented puppy dog look as she said "Please do this for me. Pleeeease."

After a few more seconds Lilly said "OK, I'll do it."

Miley hugged Lilly then said "We gotta really get this down so you get the part."

Just then Oliver spoke up "You know Miley you're still gonna have to kiss Joanie and Ashley at the auditions."

When she heard that Miley's eyes opened almost impossibly wide just before she fainted.