"Wow she got you good! This chick rocks." Miley and Lacey were now hanging out inside of Miley's room, sitting on her bed. After Miley explained to Lacey what happened in the ice cream parlor, she went and picked her up.

"Shut up. I let her get me. I felt bad for hitting her. And, um, no way! You're not allowed to speak highly of that...thing."

"Defensive much? You seem to be feeling sorry an awful lot when it comes to her. And hey, I can be friends with whoever I want."

"Yeah, whatever."

"What's got you all wound up? This is a little too bitchy even for you. I mean, the only other time you acted this bad is when you were with Leighton and oh my God I can't believe I didn't see it sooner! You like her."

Leighton was Miley's first girlfriend. They had a strange relationship. Almost killed each other half of the time they spent together, but it was all in the name of love. She was a senior, though, and Miley was only junior. Leighton graduated and went off to college on the east coast, leaving Miley so broken that she locked herself in her room for the whole summer. It wasn't until recently at the start of the girls senior year that she started acting like her old obnoxious self again.

"Sorry, Lace, I don't do animals."

"Miles, you know you're an awful liar. Your nostrils are flaring, you totally like her." Lacey had picked up on this fact over the years. When Miley was fibbing, her nostrils would flare. Lacey actually found it quite disturbing how big they got, but it was a good lie detector.

Miley silently cursed her nostrils for having a conscious. She thought it'd bother her to hear Leighton's name, but much to her displeasure Lacey's accusation is what made her feel uncomfortable. And she knew her best friend wouldn't let the ordeal go.

"First of all, stop staring and my nostrils woman. I was only smelling the air for the baked ziti my dad is cooking. You know how much I love Italian."

"Yeah I bet you do. I hear newbie is Italian.. Oh, great Miles now you have me calling her newbie. What's her name again?"

Lacey actually remembered Lilly's name.

"Lilo? Lilac?"

She just wanted to see if Miley would avoid saying it, which she did.

"You really have it bad, don't you?"

"This isn't Law & Order and you're not Benson so please spare me the detective crap. You know what though, you're right, I have it real bad. Real bad cause she makes me sick. I hate her."

Miley clutched her stomach slightly as she said the word hate. To speak so spitefully of the girl sent pains straight through her abdomen.

"Look at you and your pangs of guilt. And you really have to stop lying. Your nostrils are starting to scare me."

With that said a wave of silence washed over the girls as Miley rested her head back on the bed to lay down. She contemplated everything that's happened, and concluded that her actions have been foolish. Somewhere deep down, Miley wanted to tell Lacey the truth. She wanted to scream out to the world and share her feelings of affection for this new girl. Miley wanted to embrace the feelings, but didn't know how.

"Lilly. Her name is Lilly."

"Well, there's a start."

--

Miley's plan of attack for school today was simple: Avoid Lilly at all costs. Thoughts of the girl kept her awake half of the previous night, and she just didn't want to deal with actually seeing her.

Entering the building through one of the side doors, Miley hoped to make it to home room safely.

"Okay Miley," She mumbled to herself, "Just keep walk– oomph!"

She was making her way through the hallway when suddenly a classroom door opened and brought her to the ground.

The girl who opened the door immediately went to Miley's side and started shaking her a little trying to get a response from her, but she was knock out cold.

"Oh shit. Help! I need some help here!"