A/N: Had this chapter ready to post Saturday, unfortunately it was done after FF went down and stayed down forever. Thank you so much for the AWESOME reviews. You wouldn't believe how happy I got to read each and every one of them.
Since several people have asked this question I decided I might as well put the answer here as well. I just to do Lilly as teacher and Miley as the student for several reasons. The first being the most obvious the hair color and that Annabelle has the singer/band member thing to her that fits Miley. The other reason being that there are several stories already with Miley as the teacher. I wanted to do one where Lilly was the teacher. So if any of you were wonder but didn't ask there's your answer.
I'd also like to dedicate this chapter to Little Clip and Alvinfan, for being two awesome friends and because they've had to listen to me talk about nothing but this movie and story for the last month or so. Thanks guys!
Chapter 2
The holidays were over and Miley found herself sitting in the cellar, lit by candlelight, with Amber and Ashley as they babbled on. She was ignoring them for the most part slowly strumming her guitar trying to work a tune out that she'd been working on, inspired by a certain blonde teacher.
Amber takes drinks from the bottle in her hand. "How did you get that?" Ashley asked as Amber took a second drink from the bottle.
"It was a Christmas gift from my father," Amber coughed out over the burn of the alcohol.
"Seriously?" Ashley asks incredulously, thinking the other girl is probably lying. Miley thinks it's slightly odd as well but doesn't say anything.
"It may not be a Beamer, but it's not going to do you any good here anyway," Amber just shrugged.
Just then Sarah comes bounding down the stairs. "What are you guys doing?"
Amber yells at her to get out. When Miley sees the look on the other girls face she feels bad. She's got to know all these girls fairly well by now and considers them friends and not wanting to exclude the other girl she tells Sarah to come and sit by her. She decides to change the conversation away from the two of them in an attempt to make peace between them. "Your Dad seems cool Amber."
"Yeah when he's sober," Amber says only to have Ashley butt it with, "which is never."
Hearing what Ashley says however gives Amber an idea. "Dude, let's play 'I Never.'"
Ashley tries to argue that they are seniors now and shouldn't be playing something so childish but Amber reminds her that she enjoyed playing it last year when she was a senior also.
Miley, letting them argue it for a minute, grabs a cigarette and lights it, taking a puff before asking, "How do you play?" The name sounds familiar to her but she's sure she's never played it before. She'd probably heard other girls talking about it at some of her other schools.
Amber takes the bottle from Ashley, "I never had sex. Now if you have had sex you have to drink." Amber passes the bottle over to Ashley.
Ashley looks around at the other girls before stating, "This is so gay."
"Well you definitely have to drink to the first one cause we all know you're not a virgin." Sarah interrupts asking to play before Amber even had her sentence out, but is shot down once again by Amber telling her she'd never done anything so she's not going to get drunk enough to make it worth it.
Sarah quietly mutters that she's done stuff and Amber just concedes not really wanting to fight about it tonight, after all the alcohol seems to be working its magic. Holding the bottle out, Amber turns to hand it to Miley. "Okay, Miley, you go, make it good."
Miley takes the bottle from Ashley and pauses for a moment. She knows what she's going to say but she's letting the anticipation build, knowing they won't expect what she's about to say. "I've never had sex with another woman." Pausing again she lets it sink into their minds before taking a big drink, not caring about their reaction. She'd been out long enough and laid back enough that it just didn't matter to her what other people thought. She really didn't see the difference anyway.
"Bullshit," Amber says disbelieving while Ashley is asking if it's true. Sarah just sits stunned staring at Miley.
She wipes off a drop of alcohol off her lip just as if she's wiping their stunned expressions from her mind. "It's not a big deal," she tells them meaning it. The girls surprise her though and just accept it as if it was nothing.
Almost excited now, "Wow… that is just wow," Ashley is left pretty much left speechless.
Amber on the other hand is just overjoyed, "Finally a lesbian at this school. I was worried we were never going to have one after Rebecca Weller graduated."
They don't have time to discuss it any further though because Miss Truscott chooses that moment to poke her head downstairs, having looked for them in their room already, "What are you guys doing down here?"
"Getting drunk," Amber mutters only to be smacked on the arm by Ashley who tells the teacher that they were just leaving.
Everyone heads up the stairs except Miley who just sits there studying the young woman. Giving her a satisfied smile at the fact that they were now alone, she puts the cigarette up to her lips once again. She lowers her hand never taking her eyes off the taller woman. Standing up, she goes to offer Miss Truscott one.
"I don't smoke," Lilly tells her giving her a serious look, wanting her to understand how annoyed she is with her right then. Her behavior was unacceptable and she needed to know it.
"But they're good. I got them in Thailand," Miley tells her ignoring the look on the other woman's face. She knows she's pushing the teacher's buttons and that's just where she wants her. She's also determined to get the blonde to relax a little. Otherwise she'll never be able to get anywhere putting the moves on her.
"I don't care where you got them. Look, I really need you to try to start fitting in around here." After her talk with Mother Kunkle she knew she needed to get through to the young girl quickly. Her father had, had a long talk with the Kunkle and stressed that they better turn his daughter around or else she would be shipped off somewhere else and they would pay too.
Miley blows out a puff of smoke, "How can I fit in? I'm not even Catholic."
Lilly let's her eyes travel down Miley's face settling on her nose, deciding to mention that one first, "the nose ring."
Scoffing, not sure if she should take her serious or not, "You want me to take out my nose ring?"
"Yes," Lilly affirms.
"Fine," Miley agrees wanting to get on her good side. It wasn't that big of deal anyway, she only did it to get a rise out her dad, but he hardly seemed to notice or at least never said anything anyway. "Anything else you want me to do?" she asks, thinking she'll do just about anything to please the teacher.
Lilly was shocked to hear her give in so easily. Up until now, Miley had pretty much ignored any direction she was given. Hopefully this meant that the other girl was finally starting to take this seriously and hoping for the same reaction she lists off another thing, "The Buddhist Prayer Beads."
"No I'm okay with the nose ring," she grabs onto the beads, "but these stay with me." She'd do just about anything the other woman asked, but not that. It just wasn't something she could do. And she couldn't tell her why. A part of her wanted to confide in her, but she just couldn't. So instead she just came out looking obstinate.
"Look there's a strict dress code here. Buddhist Prayer Beads…" Miley doesn't give her a chance to finish, however, firm on her stance on this one. "I told you I'm not taking them off." Handing the cigarette off, she swiftly heads up stairs leaving Lilly standing there thinking that didn't go well at all.
She really did want to help the young girl. There was something about her that drew Lilly to her, she wasn't sure what it was, but she wanted to see her do well here. It sounded like she hadn't had the easiest childhood growing up in her father's shadow as she has, always moving. Wither her mother dying just a few years earlier as well. It couldn't have been easy for her. She just hoped Miley would settle down soon and stop this self destructing behavior.
--
"Hand over the beads," Mother Kunkle holds her hands out insisting Miley give them to her. Miley just sits there stone-faced, not even acknowledging that she heard her. She wasn't about to give in. If she didn't give into Miss Truscott she certainly wasn't giving into this bitch.
Putting her hand back down, "You will respect the rules of this school or face the consequences." Miley still doesn't even acknowledge that she heard her. "Being expelled from your first two schools wasn't enough for you. Alright you leave me no choice."
Kunkle walks around her desk and starts going through one of the drawers. Finally finding what she was seeking she pulls out a large wooden rosary. "You will wear this and add another one just like it for every day that you continue to wear those beads. I think it will help you realize what a heavy burden denying Christ can be."
Miley looks at the older woman as if she's lost her mind, "I'm not wearing that." Why couldn't these people understand that the beads had nothing to do with religion? They were personal. They just couldn't seem to get that.
"Your father informs me that if you don't comply, you'll be sent to military school. So I suggest you cooperate." With authority, Mother Kunkle holds out the rosary once more and Miley knows she's going to have to make a decision now.
Thinking about it for a minute, she turns to look at Lilly, wanting to know what the other woman thinks, but Lilly turns away from her. Disappointed, but figuring that was an answer in itself, Miley stands up and grabs the rosary, putting it around her neck before stalking out of the room.
Watching the door close behind the girl, Lilly knows she needs to say something to Mother Kunkle. The attention she has been getting from Miley has only been more frequent, and her behavior hasn't changed. She knows she needs to separate herself from the younger girl as much as possible before something more serious happens. Standing up she faces Mother Kunkle, "I think you should move her to another dorm."
"Why?"
"I can't control her," Lilly tells her knowing that's only the half of it, but not daring to say anything else. Afraid of what the Headmistress would think.
"Well that shouldn't be too hard a job, Lilly. I was able to control you." Kunkle sits down deeming the matter closed and left Lilly to just accept it. Lilly leaves the office unsure of what is going to happen next.
--
With an icy stare Miley watches as Miss Truscott writes on the chalkboard in front of her. She was starting to feel as if the other woman was avoiding her and she didn't like it one bit. The two had only seen each other when it was absolutely necessary and it was getting on Miley's nerves.
Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, she reaches back to grab the note Amber is passing her. Miss Truscott is still facing the board and naming off their homework so Miley opens the folded piece of paper and reads the question before her. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
She smiles for a second knowing exactly what she is going to write back. Annoyed with the teacher in front of her she opens her pen with her teeth and writes, "Women suck!" with an underline under the word suck emphasizing how much she felt that at the moment. Turning she hands it back.
Amber notices Miss Truscott is now looking their way and tries to hide the note, but she isn't quick enough and the other woman holds her and out to Amber waiting for her to put the paper in her hand, before Amber even had a chance to see what it says.
As Lilly heads towards the front of the room she hears Amber almost sing, "I wouldn't read that." Figuring the other girl was probably right and she didn't want to know what it said she crinkles it up before throwing it in the garbage. In the back of her mind she's curious about what Miley and Amber might have been talking about, but can't make herself find out.
The bell rings, but Lilly asks Miley to stay wanting to talk to her. Miley quits gathering her stuff and instead just sits back in her chair boredly tapping her pen on the desk.
As soon as the rest of the class is gone Lilly moves to stand in front of Miley. "Why aren't you wearing your rosary?" she asks. She's come to believe there's more to the situation than they understand and maybe they were pushing too hard, but at the same time she didn't want to see Miley have to suffer the consequences for not complying.
Miley looks away from Lilly and at the rosary sitting on her desk before looking back at the teacher but doesn't respond. "You don't want to get on Mother Kunkle's bad side, trust me," she tells the young girl.
Miley lets out a quick breath trying to decide what to do. She looks down working out what she should say in her mind. Looking back up the two make eye contact both trying to read what the other person is thinking about. After a moment Miley starts to stand up. Stepping around the desk, she moves in closing to Miss Truscott, all the while never breaking their silent conversation through their looks, not needing words.
Thinking that maybe she can help the blonde understand, she reaches out and gently fingers the golden cross hanging from Lilly's neck. Lilly tilts her head slightly, studying Miley for a moment but not stopping her from inspecting the cross closely. "If Mother Kunkle asked you to take this cross off, would you?"
Lilly lets her mind wander for a moment, remembering where the cross came from and what it meant to her. She realizes that Miley is right. They couldn't possibly understand what the beads meant to her because nobody had asked.
She doesn't have a chance to ask though as Miley has turned to grab the rosary and put it back around her neck, leaving the older woman standing there knowing that she was become more drawn to Miley each day that went by and she just didn't know what to do about it.
--
Thinking about the encounter with Miley earlier that day made Lilly want to take a trip down memory lane. Taking a seat inside her closet, she slides a trunk out from under her clothes. The latch clicks open and she gently lifts the lid.
Pulling out a book she lifts the cover to read inside for a moment. Deciding she can make good use of it later, she sits it aside.
Continuing her search she finds what she is looking for and gently lifts out a brown photo album. The binding is a bit worn from the endless amount of time she'd spent flipping through it. It had been awhile since the last time however, the memories had become too painful for her to look at the pages within.
Opening the cover she gently fingers the first page, looking at the pictures of a beautiful brunette. Turning the pages she studies each picture, remember each day vividly. Remembering the fun she had at the time the pictures were taken. She laughs and continues flipping landing on a picture of her with the brunette's head upon her shoulder, both with big grins on their faces.
In between the pages is one more picture of the other woman. The picture was taken in a more personal moment and the brunette was lying across the bed facing the camera. This picture brings back some more intimate memories making Lilly remember everything she'd tried so hard to forget. Closing the picture back in the book she places it in the trunk and closes the lid, not wanting to remember anymore.
--
Taking a break from school work, Miley sits alone at a table in the library quietly doodling in her notebook. She had finished all her homework early and now had some free time, which is something that at other schools had never happened. It wasn't just her father's threats that made her changer her ways either. Something about this school was doing it to her. She was honestly really starting to like it here.
Of course Miss Truscott was a big part of that. Something about the teacher just kept her coming back for more. Any attention she could get was worth it. Leaving this school would mean leaving Miss Truscott and that's just something she was willing to do. Lilly was someone she wanted to pursue and she wasn't willing to give that chance up.
Sitting up she notices the woman on her mind slowly approaching her. Miley ignores her for a moment not sure why the teacher has sought her out. "I have something for you," Lilly tells the girl, sitting the book she had found early down beside the notebook currently taking up residence on the table.
Miley looks at the book and gives her a "thanks" clearly expressing her confusion.
Lilly sits down in the chair next to Miley, wanting to take this chance to talk to the girl. She thinks she's found a way for everyone to get what they want and maybe cause a little less tension for everyone involved.
Miley watches her sit and the two give each other a long look, before Miley turns her head back to the picture she was drawing, but listening to Miss Truscott.
"Maybe you carry them in your pocket. Or hide them in your bag where no one can see them." Lilly gives her a concerned and caring look, wanting Miley to know that she does want to help her.
Miley just kind of smiles and nods, thinking that maybe the teacher does have a point. "I'll think about it," she tells her.
"Why are you making this so hard?" Lilly asks her honestly just wanting to know the answer. Not trying to scold her or anything else.
Taking a deep breath, Miley thinks for a moment trying to decide if she's ready to open up to the other woman. In the end she decides if she ever wants to get anywhere with Miss Truscott that she needs to be honest with her and maybe share a piece of herself so that they can start to understand each other. "The uh… first person I fell in love with gave them to me." She gives a small sad smile to the teacher, showing her emotions about the whole event.
Lilly lets out a "hm" trying to gather her thoughts. If she's honest with herself there are several emotions going through her at the thought that Miley had fallen in love with someone. "You still in love with him?" she asks.
"She" Miley corrects with a smile, "moved to Europe last year with her family."
The admission doesn't really surprise Lilly, knowing what she already does about the young girl. At the same time having her confirm it makes it seem more real. Being honest with herself again she may even be feeling slightly jealous that Miley fell in love with another woman, although she couldn't tell you why that was.
The two once again share more with each other using their eyes only. This kind of conversation had almost become second nature to them. Neither could explain it, but they could easily read what the other was thinking in a way they never could with anyone else.
Lilly makes one final attempt to convince Miley to take off the beads, by reaching out and gently touching her on the arm. Looking intently at her she tells her again to think about it before getting up and walking away, hoping that maybe this time will be different.
Miley watches her walk away and then turns to study the book she left behind. It takes her a moment to decide what to do, but she puts down her pen and slides the book closer. Picking it up, she sets it on top of her notebook and opens the front cover. Finding nothing there she flips the first page to find an inscription on the inside.
"The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." –Marcel Proust
After she finishes reading the quote she smiles a bit before closing the book, believe now that Miss Truscott is trying to tell her something.
Unbeknownst to her, Amber has been watching them from afar through the whole exchange.
--
A few days later during a break in the day, Miley climbs into her favorite tree and lies across its branches. The other girl's laughter rings out around as they use the time to play games or talk, but she's oblivious to it all as she flips through the pages of the book Miss Truscott gave her. She devours each and every word, understanding now why she gave her this book.
Above her head, three rosaries hang from a statue, and her beads no longer visible.
--
Lilly walks quickly across the courtyard heading for the administration building, not really conscious of her surroundings. It had been a long, hard day and she just really wanted to lock herself away in her room for awhile.
Felling a tug on her arm, pulling her to turn around she hears a "hey" and recognizes the voice immediately. Fully turned around now, she comes face to face with the large grin on Miley's face. She feels herself smiling too, happy to see the other girl, but quickly suppresses it knowing that nothing good will come of it.
Unsurely, "Hi."
"I just wanted to thank you again for the book." The smile on Miley's face continues to be plastered there, believing that the book meant more than just a casual gift, and that maybe Lilly is trying to express her interest as well.
"You're welcome," Lilly tells her honestly, but is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable with her own growing attraction for the girl, thinking again that she needs to separate herself from Miley. At the same time she doesn't want to upset the girl so she tells her, "Thanks for taking off the beads."
Miley gives her a smile, but doesn't have a chance to respond as Sarah comes running up just then telling Miley that they are going to take Prissy for a walk, wanting her to come with.
Miley tells her she'll be there in a minute, wanting to finish talking to Miss Truscott, but by the time she turns around the other woman is gone. Defeated for the moment, she turns back around and follows Sarah off.
Another A/N: I made a vid for the movie Loving Annabelle so feel free to check it out. The link is at the bottom of my profile.
