A/N: Alright guys I think I've finally done it! I've finally managed to get inside these characters heads and build a little more of my own story around the movie. No worries it'll stay true to the movie. The chapters however will probably be shorter from now on since I'm putting a lot more work into them, but it'll be a longer story in the end.

I have to dedicate this chapter to Bladed Darkness for giving me the push I need to try harder on this story. Hope this chapter is more to your liking and what you're used to from me.

Chapter 3

The sound of coloring on paper is the only thing that can be heard in the deserted library, except for one who sat alone in the back corner. Lilly loved Sunday's for this reason. There were no classes to teach, and most of the students were off doing their own thing having already finished their homework, leaving the library all to her.

Spread out before her were several of the black and white photos she had taken over the years. Grabbing the clothe beside her she gently dabs the picture in front of her, cleaning off the excess color before continuing to paint, turning the black and white portrait into a picture of depth and color.

The door creaks open slightly alerting Lilly that someone has entered the room. She can feel Miley's presence almost as soon as the door is closed. She doesn't even bother looking up to confirm that she's right. Apart of her is slowly become aware of Miley presence at all times and it was starting to scare her how conscious she was becoming of the young girl. She just didn't know what to do about.

Not bothering to slow her steps Miley walks up to Miss Truscott studying her the whole time. The other woman hasn't even bothered to glance in her direction, but that doesn't dissuade her. She'd wandered around the campus looking for the young teacher, wondering what she was up to and finally found her sitting alone in the library. Leaning her arms on the table next to where she was working, briefly looking at all the pictures, "Did you take all these?"

"Yep," Lilly answers turning her head to finally look at the brunette to see her reaction. She couldn't help but notice how beautiful Miley looked today. The school uniform gone, replaced with a very casual top that greatly accentuated her curves. Her hair was actually pulled back, instead of just hanging free, and for a minute Lilly missed seeing it down. It was hard to remember Miley was her student when she appeared so much older than her peers.

Unaware to the inner turmoil she's creating in the other woman, "I uh, didn't know you could paint on a picture. Can I look at them?" Miley asks. From her brief glance she can tell the pictures are beautiful, but that isn't her only reason for looking at them. Seeing things from Lilly's perspective will surely help her understand the woman she was beginning to care for.

Lilly nods her head in agreement, "sure." Secretly she's pleased by the attention that Miley is giving her work. Photography has always been just something for her, no one around her really ever took an interest, except for one person, but she was long since gone. Not wanting to think about that though she returns to what she was doing before Miley entered the room.

Pulling the chair out, Miley sits down beside Lilly. Careful so as not to leave fingerprints she lifts the picture up to her and studies the backside of a young boy on a small boat. The picture is filled with vibrate color making the picture almost come alive. "These are really amazing," Miley compliments getting a smile from Lilly.

When her mother was alive, Miley's house had always been filled with art work of all different styles and Miley had learned to spot a work of art from her mom. So after looking at another photo she knew talent when she saw it. "Don't get me wrong you're a great teacher, but you should be taking pictures."

That earns another smile, but this one was a little less sure. It was nice to be appreciated, but at the same time she wasn't sure how much to believe when other people complimented her, especially from one as young as Miley. Although Miley seemed genuine and she seemed to have a great appreciation for the arts so she thanked her, "That's sweet of you to say."

Finding a picture that was still untouched, Miley pulls it closer to her, taking notice of the older couple sitting outside on the grass, "Are these your parents?" she asks getting a nod in acknowledgement. Thinking about her own father, and thinking they looked like nice people, Miley causally asks if she was close to them.

Knowing Miley's family situation, Lilly's sure she knows why Miley is really asking. Something in her wants the younger girl to know that she understands where she's coming from so she answers honestly, "Not really. I don't see them very much." Watching Miley she tries to figure out what is going on inside her head.

Having been studying the picture closely while Lilly talked, Miley pulls her head back up to look at Lilly once again. "Your mom looks like Kunkle," she observes.

"Mhm, they are sisters." Lilly smiles, not really over what they are talking about, but just enjoying this time with Miley, away from the classroom and without all the tension between them.

Giving a look of disbelief, "Your related to Mother Kunkle?" Lilly just gives her a look, like "yeah, I am."

"How long have you been at this school?" Miley tries to ask seriously and not laugh, but Lilly can see the humor written all over her face.

"Since I was 13."

"Wow," Miley exclaimed incredulously.

"I left when I graduated," Lilly told her, remembering those days vividly. "But somehow I got drawn back." The first years after leaving were probably the happiest of her life so far, but after everything that has happened in her life, she really felt at the time that she needed to come back and she's never regretted that choice.

"Yeah I could see how this school would be a hard place to stay away from," Miley jokes, both of them giving a small laugh over her obvious sarcasm.

Another picture catches Miley's eye, this one of a beautiful brunette in on her stomach in bed wearing only her underwear and a cross around her neck. "Who's she?"

"That's Mikayla," Lilly replies, watching Miley's reaction, not really sure what she's hoping it will be. At the same time her mind goes back in time, remembering when she took that picture. Mikayla was the one who always inspired her to take pictures, if only to capture the moment.

Flipping through the pictures some more, Miley finds several more of the brunette, many of which had Lilly in them too, sitting closely to Mikayla. "You seem really close."

"We grew up together," Lilly tells her, wondering if she can hear the truth in her voice.

Knowing what she knows about Miss Truscott, she briefly wonders about their relationship but simply asks, "Where is she now?"

"She died a few years ago," Lilly showing no real sign of sadness or emotion as she speaks to Miley. Which should be sending up a real red flag for Miley but her head is filled with all the new things she's learned about the teacher, that all she can think to say is, "I'm sorry," feeling sad that such a good person experienced such a thing.

Before anything more can be shared between the two of them, Sarah enters the library, "Miss Truscott," she speaks, saddened. Both women turn to look at her, wondering what is going on. "I think Prissy is dead," she tells them before they have to wonder for long.

--

The four girls, as well as Miss Truscott, gather in the girl's room. Amber and Ashley both just stood there not really sure how to act, Amber thinking that this was ridiculous but she didn't want to say it either.

Miley stood beside them, watching Sarah with sympathy, knowing how much she loved that animal and was now saddened by her death. Sarah places a pair of oven mitts she used to protect her hands, on top of the sheet coving the porcupine, surrounded by candles. "I don't understand. She was fine yesterday," Sarah cried.

Without thinking it through Amber bursts out telling her that on the bright side she doesn't have to smell her gas anymore, earning a glare from Ashley and Miley and a scolding from Lilly.

"I hate you Amber," Sarah shouts running out of the room leaving the rest of the women standing out there still glaring at Amber. Scooting past the other girls Miley takes off after Sarah ignoring Amber's excuse that she didn't mean to say it, but knowing that it was too late to take it back.

Searching down the hallways and finding no sign of Sarah Miley makes her way down the stairs reading to search the rest of the campus, wanting to make sure the other girl was alright. She didn't have to go far though, she finds Sarah crying at the bottom of the stairs.

Sitting down beside her, Miley reaches an arm around her trying her best to comfort the upset girl. "I can't stop," Sarah cries, wiping the tears from her eyes. Miley tells her it's okay, gently brushing the girls tears away herself now. Neither girl noticing that Lilly has found them and is now standing at the top of the stairs watching them.

"I'm sorry," Sarah cries again.

"Don't apologize to me," Miley tells her honestly, knowing the girl has nothing to apologize for. She pulls Sarah in closer, hugging her from the side, just wanting to help her get through this. Throughout her time at this school, she's come to feel protective of the younger girl, seeing Sarah as more of a little sister. It's upsetting to see the other girl hurting like this especially when she knows it's about more than just Prissy dying.

Reaching around she pulls Sarah's right arm into her own. Realizing what she's about to do Sarah tries to pull her arm back, but with as much caring and compassion as she could muster, Miley softly whispers, "let me see."

"It's okay," Miley comforts again as she gently pulls the sweat band off the other girls wrists, inspecting the cuts underneath. "Sweetie," Miley calls her lovingly holding the arm between her own hands, telling her more than words could say how much she cares for her, knowing that right now the girl just needs to feel loved from someone.

"It's bad," Sarah cries harder. Still holding the injured arm in one hand, Miley reaches with the other and pulls Sarah in closely to her, letting her just cry and get it all out. Running her fingers over the girls head, she rocks her back and forth in a motherly gesture.

Lilly watches the two of them, seeing a side of Miley she hadn't yet seen. It was in that moment she saw who Miley really was behind all the tough exterior she put up to show the world, and that girl was someone she knew she would not only like but could honestly grow to love. She couldn't let that happen though. She couldn't risk such a thing so, turning around she left the two girls alone, not noticing that this time Miley was the one watching her.

--

Later that night Miley made her way to one of her favorite places on campus. It was a little harder to get to since it was in one of the far gardens and you had to climb over some rocks to get to a bench like spot in the rocks. The wall of boulders behind her hiding her from easy view of anyone that might walk by.

She came out here often at night to smoke, but really it was more like she used the cigarettes as an excuse to just sit and think. Only two things in her life really made her stop and think on them a lot though. The first being her relationship with her father. He wasn't always like he was now, he used to adore her mother, and the three of them would spend time together as a family. She missed the way he was before her mother died.

The other thing or rather person that she couldn't stop thinking about was a certain blonde teacher. Even after all this time the attraction was still there, but it was more than that. Taking away all the physical stuff she still just wanted to get to know the other woman. She was starting to think she was going crazy, she'd never felt the need to be around someone the way she did with Lilly Truscott.

Her thoughts were interrupted however when she hears someone trying to climb unsuccessfully over the rocks. Stumbling over her own two feet, Amber was obviously not completely coherent. "You're not very discreet," Miley tells her, not having to look to know who it is.

"Yeah," Amber agrees before finally making it over and claiming the spot beside Miley. Taking a drag off the joint she brought with her, she turns her head to look at Miley for a moment before turning back trying to decide what to say. Deciding to address what happened earlier with Sarah, "You think I'm an asshole don't you?"

Thinking about that for a moment, she knows that Amber is mostly all talk and not a whole lot of action. Even still it's the talk that tends to hurt those around her. "Sometimes," she admits.

Knowing that she can't argue with Miley, she studies the pot in her hand, "My dad just sent me this. "It's good stuff," she offers it to Miley.

Putting her cigarette out, smiling at Amber, not believe that her dad would do such a thing. "Your dad gets you pot?"

"For sure," Amber nods, letting Miley take it from her.

"That's weird," she tells Amber. Miley studies the joint for a moment, trying to decide whether to take a hit or not. While it certainly wouldn't be the first time, she hadn't used for some time and wasn't sure she wanted to go back to that place again. Not wanting to piss off Amber though she takes a small hit.

"What?" Amber asks, wondering why Miley would say that.

"Well they sent you here because you're into drugs and then your dad gets you pot." She exhales and hands it back not really liking what it was doing to her. Also wondering why she ever did it in the first place. Well she knew the answer to that, to get her Dad's attention. Being here now though that just wasn't an issue anymore.

"Yeah well, he's cool like that," Amber takes it back, taking another drag, not caring about anything at this moment, just enjoying the high she'd feeling. "So how's it going with Miss Truscott?" she asks Miley trying to be the smart ass she is, but also to try and figure out what is going on in Miley's head, knowing what she wishes Miley was after.

"Nothing's going with Miss Truscott," Miley denies, bit inside she's thinking something totally different. Being reminded of the teacher now, she realizes how disappointed she'd be if she saw what the two of them were doing, but now that she's already taken a hit she's not sure what to do.

"I had a crush on her when I was a freshman," Amber admits, turning to pass the joint back to Miley. "I'm not gay though, I'm into guys too." Miley listens, turning her head just enough to hide the fact that she wasn't really smoking it from Amber. "Rebecca Weller was obsessed with her. She used to write her notes and shit in class," Amber continues on.

"I'm not obsessed with her," Miley interrupts, annoyed at what Amber was insinuating about her by making that statement. She passes the joint back, done with this conversation.

"But you like her though," Amber states, knowing it's the truth. Miley just looks away not denying it. There really is no point in even trying. She knows Amber's figured it out, it's not like she's done a really good job at hiding it anyway.