Lilly awoke in the morning, unwillingly, to her loving, caring, and considerate mother.

"Lilly!" Her mom hissed under her breath, being careful not to wake up the other three teenagers passed out, scattered around Lilly's bedroom.

Lilly groaned, as she was half-asleep. She swatted her mom's hand away. "Go away." She mumbled.

Her mom rubbed her temples in annoyance, as she shaked her daughter's sleeping form once more. Lilly's eyes shot open. As her vision became more clear, and her head drained of all dreams she got from her sleep, she became pissed. "What, mom?!"

"Who are these boys?!" She demanded.

Lilly suddenly became confused. "What boys?" She asked, as she sat up in her bed. It was then she noticed Oliver, who was sleeping soundly, hanging off of her bean bag chair. Then Kyle, who was spread out across her floor. Miley was still asleep in the bed next to her. "Oh." Was her brilliant response. "Those boys." She smiled nervously at her mother - she was in trouble.

"Well, mom, you see.."

"Lillian!" Her mom used her full name. Lilly cringed, as Miley stirred next her. Her mom noticed, and lowered her voice. "I don't feel comfortable knowing that you had two boys sleep over last night. You didn't even tell me. You know the rules. When your father gets home.."

"No!" Lilly yelled, before she could stop herself. Her father was, quite frankly, the only person Lilly ever really feared. He was a lawyer, who was always on some type of business trip. He was barely home, and when he did come home, they rarely spent one-on-one time together. To Lilly, he might as well be a stranger.

Her mom sighed, and crossed her arms. "Fine, I won't tell him." Lilly sighed relief. "-this time." Her mom finished. Lilly nodded. "But, I want these boys out of here right away, you got that?"

"Okay, mom." She agreed, but her tone showed annoyance. "It's not like we were doing anything bad. We were watching a movie. We must have fallen asleep."

"Great." Her mom said sarcastically. "So, their parents don't even know they're here?"

"Well.."

"Lilly, you're grounded."

"What?!" Lilly shouted, appalled. She has never, not once, in her entire life been grounded before. And for this, which might just be the most idiotic reason in the world, she gets punished?!

Her mom smirked triumphantly. "Yes. No cellphone, no going out, and no shopping for the rest of the week."

Her eyes widened. "But, mom!"

"But nothing. It's time to learn some responsibility."

Lilly froze, and stared at her mom. She was dumbfounded. "How does this have anything to do with responsibility?!"

"Will you shut up?" Someone mumbled groggily from the far side of the room. Both Lilly and her mom glanced over. Oliver was shifting in the bean bag chair, half asleep.

Her mom crossed her arms. "Well," She pursed her lips. "He seems nice."

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'm grounded, whatever. Can you leave?"

Her mom sighed, as she walked towards the door. "I want these boys out, you here me?" She reminded her daughter once more.

Lilly nodded, annoyed. "Yes! I got it!"

He mom walked out, and left a very frustrated Lilly. She grabbed a pillow next to her on the bed and whipped it at Oliver's sleeping form. He shot up right away, looking worn out from sleep. "What?" He spoke incoherently.

Lilly groaned. "You fell asleep here!" She yelled. Miley stirred next to her. Her eyes opened slowly. She sat up, and rubbed them tiredly.

"Hey." She smiled. Her voice cracked from the sleep.

Lilly sighed in frustration. She stood up from her bed, and walked over to Kyle. She kicked him with her bare foot. His eyes opened, and he shot up quickly right when he saw Lilly's glare. "I'm sorry!" He said. The boy didn't even know what he did wrong.

Lilly crossed her arms. "You should be." She hissed. She glared back and fourth between Oliver and Kyle. "Because of you two idiots, I'm grounded for the rest of the week!"

Miley stared, her mouth was hanging open. "Nice going!" She replied in the same manor as Lilly.

Oliver shrugged. "Um. Sorry?"

Lilly shot daggers at him. "My moms gonna have a fit - well, another one - if you two," She pointed at Oliver and Kyle. "don't leave now."

"Now?" Oliver asked. He was clearly not ready to stand up, never mind drive home.

Lilly nodded. Kyle agreed straight away, hopping up from his spot on the floor. "Okay.. well, thanks.. see you in school?" It came out as more of a question then a statement.

"Yeah, well, that's the only place you can see me for the next seven days!" She replied sharply.

"Right." He cringed. "Sorry about that.."

Oliver stood up slowly. "Sorry, Lilly." He told her. He sounded sincere, and his face showed remorse. He followed his friend out towards the door.

"Bye, Miley!" Kyle shouted, before being shoved out the door by Oliver.

Miley waved back, a confused smile crossing her face. "Bye.." She replied lamely

Lilly slumped down onto her bed when the boys left. Her and Miley glanced at each other, and both sighed simutaneously.

"I can't believe you're grounded." Miley said. Disbelief coated her words as she stared off into space.

Lilly threw her head back on her pillow. She let out a low groan. "I know! This is so stupid.."

Miley bit her lip, and glanced over at Lilly. "Well, now that they're gone.. what are you going to do about Jake?"

Lilly sighed. "I don't know." She answered honestly. "I think I want to break it off."

Miley's eyes widened, and she blinked a few times. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah." Lilly nodded. "I just don't feel as close to him anymore.."

"Lilly.." Miley warned, "I think you're just upset with him. Maybe you should cool off, and then decide whether or not you want to break up with him."

She shrugged. "Maybe.." She half-agreed. She was a little surprised that Miley stuck up for him, considering she never was fully supportive of her and Jake's relationship in the first place. She shook her head. "Whatever. Let's get some breakfast."

--

Being grounded was nothing like Lilly expected. Her mom had told her no cell phone, but she never said anything about the house phone. She said no going out, but never mentioned anything about people coming over. She had said no shopping, but the specifics weren't clear. Did online shopping count? She did it anyways. The loop-holes were endless, and Lilly was abusing them.

It also gave her father less speculation of his daughters supposed 'bad behavior', since she was actually interacting with the outside world besides school. He arrived home on Monday. It was awkward, to say the least. Lilly gave him a small hug and a lame 'I missed you, dad!', which wasn't at all true. She felt bad, but it's not like he ever really tried to get to know her, either.

It was Thursday - only two more days left of groundation and she was free to leave her house. Miley was sitting at the edge of her bed, unknowing by Lilly's mom. She was leaning forward, touching up the nail polish on her toe nails. Lilly has yet to talk to Jake. He's left multiple voice messages, more text messages then her inbox can hold, and even resorted to calling Miley.

Everyone at school thinks they broke up. The start of the week, Monday, when they didn't sit at the same lunch table as usual, and Lilly and Miley ended up sitting with Oliver and Kyle, rumors began to flood around the school. The most ridiculous ones included: Lilly's too much of a snob, Jake was too much of a moron for her to handle, and then ones that had some big, long story to them about how Lilly was having a 'secret romance' with the scholarship kid and Jake found out and they got into a huge fight and they broke up and now she's with Oliver.

She couldn't help but laugh.

People had too much time on their hands, and obviously didn't have too much of a life.

What really, really, pissed her off, though was the mounds of girls fawning over Jake, trying their very hardest to gain his attention. To the people at school, the 'golden couple' was dead, and Jake Ryan was on the market. She couldn't help but get territorial. They weren't officially broken up yet.

It was sixth period. There was one left to go, and that was Physics. She didn't share that class with any of her close friends, just acquaintances. Caroline was in that class, but Lilly didn't really consider her a 'friend.' She was Jacqueline's best friend, so she was kind of like a tag along.

She took her regular seat, while Mr. Connors went on and on about the instructions of a lab they were going to have to do. She didn't pay attention, just figured that whoever her partner was would fill her in.. or, do it for her.. whatever works.

"Okay!" Mr. Connors clapped his chemically blackened hands together. "Partner up, and pick a station."

From the corner of her eye, Lilly could see Caroline walking towards her from the other side of the room. She sighed. She didn't really want Caroline as a partner, fully knowing that she most likely didn't pay attention either. A curly head of brown hair caught her eye right before Caroline got too close, and Lilly suddenly popped out of her seat. "Kyle!" She exclaimed. She didn't even realize he was in her class. She wondered why he didn't say anything. They've been sitting together at lunch for the past four days.. although, Kyle didn't particularly say much.

He whipped his head around, along with the rest of the class. She ignored them, and strided up to the boy. She smiled. "Want to be my partner?"

He looked to a braces-clad blond boy next to him, giving him a 'sorry' look. Lilly assumed Kyle was already partners with this boy. She shrugged it off. "Well?"

He nodded. "Sure." He bit his lip. "Um, pick a station." He told her.

She obeyed, and walked to the station at the back of the class. She wanted to be as far away from her classmates as possible. She noticed Caroline with the blond boy. She looked pissed. Lilly smirked. Kyle came over, a beaker in one hand, and a balance in the other.

"Do you know what to do?" He asked her, as he set up the lab.

"Um.." She sighed. "No. Sorry."

He let out a low chuckle. "It's alright. It's not too hard. Just fill this half way up with water." He handed her a wide, glass beaker. She turned on the sink, and did as she was told. She set it down on the station. "So.." She trailed off, and a small smile creeped across her face.

He looked up from the lab, and noticed her expression. "What?" He asked self-consciously.

She continued to smirk. "You have a thing for my best friend?"

The beaker she had filled merely seconds before fell over from his unsteady hands. Lilly leaped back a step, and he nervously daped at the split water with a paper towel. "What? No.. I don't.." He shook his head. "You're talking crazy." He continued to occupy himself by cleaning up the water.

Lilly nodded. There was a knowing smile on her face. "Yeah, okay." She said disbelievingly.

"I don't!" He exclaimed, getting defensive.

Lilly place a hand on her hip. "Oh, please." She rolled her eyes. "I won't say anything to her, don't worry."

He pointed an accusatory finger at her. "Oh, yes you will. Girls always say that! But, they go and tell anyways.. even though they said they wouldn't! It's their little way of getting information out of people.."

Lilly stared at him. "Wow. Um.. I think you're looking too much into this."

He shook his head. "Nope. I'm not. Fill this up again." He handed her the beaker once more.

She sighed, but did as he said. She turned on the faucet, when Kyle decided to talk again. "So, you have a thing for my best friend?"

He face dropped. She narrowed her eyes at the boy in front of her, and suddenly put her guard up. "You don't know what you're talking about."

He looked at her, and mimicked her smirk she wore towards him earlier. "Whatever you say."

"I have a boyfriend." She stated. She felt the need to make that present, as if saying that would mean she couldn't possibly have feelings for anyone else.

"Oh, yeah?" He raised his eyebrows. "And how's that going?"

She gaped. His new found confidence faded away in the blink of an eye, and he returned to the shy Kyle she knew him to be. "Sorry.."

She sighed in frustration. "You know what, you're right." She admitted. He look surprised that she said that. "It's going badly. But, it doesn't mean I like Oliver. He's my friend."

Kyle nodded. Lilly could tell he still didn't believe her, just like she didn't believe him about Miley. She took what she could get.

--

"So, you guys wanna catch a movie tonight? It's supposed to rain." Oliver suggested, as four of them, being himself, Lilly, Miley, and Kyle, exited the school.

Lilly took the liberty of smacking him with her purse. "I'm grounded! You should remember, it was your fault." She reminded him.

"Oh. Yeah." He smiled sheepishly, and clutched onto his arm where her purse hit. Kyle laughed. Lilly turned to him. "It was partly your fault too!"

He clutched his own arm in fear. "You're not gonna hit me, are you?"

She rolled her eyes. Miley giggled. "I have to go my aunts house." She sighed, like it was a big inconvenience. "It's her fiftieth birthday."

"Yeah, and I have to work." Kyle said.

Lilly raised her eyebrows. "You work?" She asked, like the words were foreign.

"Yeah." He nodded. "You know that comic book store on Beckler Ave?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Um.. no."

"Oh." His face fell. "Well, I work there."

She nodded slowly. "Okay.. well, anyways. It's settle. Oliver and I will sit alone in our houses all afternoon." She smiled sarcastically.

Oliver sighed. "Considering I have no other friends in this town.. you're right."

Lilly stuck out her bottom lip. "Aw." She cooed. "It's okay, Oliver." She patted his shoulder.

He swatted her hand away. Miley then spoke up. "Alright, well, I'm out. Lils, call me later, okay?"

Lilly smiled, and waved to her departing friend. "I will." She said. Kyle then said good-bye, and walked off to his own car.

"So.." Oliver swung back and fourth on his heels.

Lilly raised her eyebrows. "What?"

"Kyle was my ride.." He said, shame-faced.

She rolled her eyes. "I'll give you a ride. Where do you live?"

"No!" He shouted a little too quickly. Lilly was confused. She thought he wanted a ride home.

"Why? Really, it's no big deal." She persisted. Oliver sighed. She bit her lip. "Why don't you come over my house, then?" She offered. "Kyle can pick you up when he gets out of work."

Oliver's face brightened up a little bit, but it only lasted for a second. "What about your mom?"

She shrugged. "She's not home. Only my dad is, and he never pays much attention to me anyways."

He thought for a moment, before shrugging. "Sure, why not." He agreed. They walked together to over to Lilly's car together. Lilly smirked when they were settled inside. "Finally." She grinned. "I get to listen to my music."

Oliver looked fearful. "And the torture begins."

--

Oliver was right - it did rain. Lilly grabbed her sweater and lifted it above her head. She used it as an umbrella. Oliver didn't bother. He just ran through the rain. They went through the back, and straight up to Lilly's room where her father definitely wouldn't be.

Oliver laughed, and shook his shaggy wet hair. Lilly held out her arms, "Stop!" She demanded, as the water was getting on her.

He continued to laugh. "It's just water."

She kicked off her wet shoes. "I still don't want it on me." She sat down on her bed, not really caring if the water was ruining the material or not. Oliver followed suit. They sat in silence for a bit, before Lilly took a deep breath. She turned towards Oliver. "Listen.. I don't want you to think I'm being nosy or anything.. but, do you think you can, you know.. tell me now?" She asked timidly.

Oliver has never seen her like that - afraid. She looked nervous, as if she was scared he would get angry with her for asking and storm out of her bedroom. He didn't. He bit his lip. "I don't know.."

Lilly nodded. "It's okay. But I have to ask you something else." He looked at her. "Why didn't you want me to drive you home today?"

He looked nervous then, like he was trying to think of a proper answer his head. He sighed. "Fine."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "What's fine?"

"I'll tell you." He said. Her eyes widened, and she listened more intently. He took a deep breath. "Honestly, I had no idea that I was moving to Malibu until I got back from Mexico."

"That's weird.." Lilly said, "It was only like, two weeks before."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know. That's the bad part." He sighed. "I always knew my mom and dad didn't get along. I was actually waiting for the day they divorced, because their fighting was just annoying, you know?" Lilly nodded. "Anyways, I went on the trip with just my dad and my brother."

Lilly perked up. "You have a brother?"

"Yeah," Oliver nodded and smiled. "His name is Max. He's nine."

"I want to meet him!" She exclaimed.

Oliver laughed. "You will soon, I promise."

Lilly smiled. "I'm holding you to that."

He laughed once more, before he continued on. "So.. I thought it was weird that my mom didn't come with us, but I didn't really think anything of it." He took a long sigh. "We never went home." His face darkened. "My dad took us straight to my grand parent's beach house here in Malibu. He didn't tell me why, just told me to watch Max. He came back the next day with all of our stuff. He said we'd be living here for a while, Mom kicked us out." He sighed. "He made me take the exam to get into Sea view. He still wants me to get a good education.. but, with the divorce case coming up and everything he couldn't afford it. He was so relieved when I got that scholarship."

Lilly nodded. She understood now, and felt completely guilty about the shit she gave him for being a 'scholarship case.' "I'm sorry.." She mumbled, and lightly touched his shoulder.

"Don't be." He told her, his face serious. "I never thought my mom would do that. I'm over it, though. I guess. Dad's cool, and so is Max." He shrugged. "I'm pretty happy. I'm still getting used to it, though."

"You shouldn't have been afraid to tell me." She told him, her hand still on his shoulder.

"I wasn't afraid.. I just haven't told anyone yet, you know?" He locked eyes with her. "Thanks for listening."

She smiled. "You're welcome."

Before she could even stop it, control it, or realize it, Oliver's face was coming closer in contact with hers. His eyes were shut, and he kept leaning forward. She froze, and her eyes were wide. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might burst out of her chest. Her hands became clammy, and the heat was rising in her body. Suddenly, a pair of lips crashed into hers. She was still for a moment, taking it in. His lips were soft and inviting, and she couldn't help herself. She kissed back.

Her eyes shot open. She was kissing Oliver. Who wasn't Jake. They may be in a fight, but he's her boyfriend. She's cheating. She pushed him away, and started to hyperventilate. "Oh my God." She breathed out.

Oliver looked somewhere between shocked and guilty. "Lilly, I'm really sorry.. I didn't mean -"

"You need to go." She ordered, her brain juggling a million things at once.\

"I have no ride." He reminded her. "Listen, that was stupid of me. Really, I -"

She glared at him. "Walk!" She shouted. "Because you really need to go."

He stood up quickly, grabbing his cell phone out of his pocket quickly. He immediately started to text someone. "Alright, I'll leave." He agreed. "But, can I call you? Please?"

She took a deep breath. "Maybe." She turned from him, and distracted herself with the many different shades of eye shadow that covered her dresser.

She heard him shuffle behind her. The tension in the room was thick, and she could feel his stares. She knew there was so much he wanted to say. With a sigh, she heard him open the door and close it. After a few moments, she turned around. He was gone. She ran her fingers through her hair. Her phone vibrated, she had a text message. Tears started to well up in her eyes. It was from Jake.

I'm so sorry. Please talk to me.

--

I think that was one of the longest chapters I've written in a while. It took me such a long time to write the last scene. I tried really hard to make it not seem cheesy or cliche, which I don't think I did such a good job on. Oh, well. Now the plot thickens. :) I hoped you like this chapter. Reviews will make my day !

Love,

steph.