Unsung: On Deaf Ears

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters appearing on the Disney Channel's original series, 'Hannah Montana', created by Michael Poryes, Richard Correll & Barry O'Brien. Characters are copyrighted to 'It's A Laugh productions'. Original characters are copyrighted to the original author (QYM). This series is posted to Girls Loving Girls with full permission of the author. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.

Feedback: Every author in his or her own way makes it a point to ask for feedback when posting a story, well me I don't usually. But there are several reasons as to why a reader should consider taking the time to give it. The simple fact is that giving some form of feedback is truly the most important thing a reader can do after reading and enjoying a story. Hopefully in the process providing that author with at least one viable reason as to what you liked about the story. This small amount of time spent will no doubt inspire the author to write more and possibly at a quicker pace, knowing that they have a fan base who are waiting on their next works. So thanks for the feedback and please keep it comin.

Original Airdate: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 @ 8:30 p.m.

Story Codes: no sex

It's not right, not OK
Say the words that you say
Maybe we're better off this way?
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way?
It's better that we break…- Better That We Break, Maroon Five

Lilly was sick.

She was sick of sitting in a hospital room. She was sick of watching her father's chest falling slowly, deathly afraid that it might not rise again. She was sick of the blame that was clouding her conscience. She was sick of ignoring her cell phone when Miley tried to call. But most of all she was sick of thinking about that nurse's words.

"Wouldn't help… Would it?" Lilly whispered. She rubbed a fist over her tired eyes. "Naw…"

Getting up from her chair, she walked to the window and leaned on her elbow. The sun winked back at her cheerfully; she frowned and squeezed her eyes shut. She stared down at the ground just outside the window and froze.

Miley was walking up to the building with flowers in her arms. Gulping down her sudden fear, Lilly submitted a quick apology to her comatose father and ran from the room. She bolted down the stairs – forgoing the elevator – and nearly collided with her girlfriend in the lobby.

"Hey, Miles." Lilly tried her best to be cheerful.

"Lilly, I was so worried," Miley thrust the flowers forward, "I brought these for your father, but I don't think he'd appreciate them very much. So I thought I'd give 'em to you."

Lilly accepted the bouquet with a hesitant smile, "Let's get out of here."

Miley tilted her head, quite curious as to Lilly's behavior, but didn't question it, "If you want."

"I've been here for too long. It's been getting to me. Do you have your car?" Lilly started walking for the door.

Miley tailed her, eyebrows furrowed. There was definitely something up, "You know if there's something wrong, you can always tell me."

"I know," Lilly rubbed her hands anxiously on her jeans. Maybe… maybe taking a break would be ok. Maybe they were better off that way. Maybe Miley would understand. And it would just be until her father got better. That was all. "Let's go to my house."

Miley watched Lilly with perceptive eyes and noticed the sudden change in Lilly's mood. It went from stressed to depressed in a heartbeat. "Are we going to talk?"

"Yeah…" Lilly choked out.

"Good." Miley unlocked her car doors and waited for the two of them to get settled in. Once both seatbelts were fastened, she revved the engine and began the short drive to Lilly's home. At every stop, she'd cast her eyes towards her girlfriend; Lilly had her eyes glued outside the entire trip and Miley was vaguely offended by the behavior. She did, however, leave it be. Lilly had, after all, just experienced a very traumatic event.

When they pulled into the driveway, Lilly got out without a word and walked into the house. She went to the kitchen and dug through the cabinets for a vase. Miley sat in the car for a moment longer. When Miley finally came in, Lilly had already filled the vase as was erratically chopping the ends of the flowers off.

"Lilly…" Miley placed her hand gently on Lilly's shoulder. "Put the scissors down."

Lilly grunted but did as was asked. Miley pulled and turned Lilly so that Lilly was facing her. When Lilly tried to look away, Miley caught her beneath the chin with her fingers and forced the eye contact.

"Miley. Don't." Lilly murmured.

"Lilly, I want to know what's wrong."

Lilly sighed, releasing her pent up tension. "Look… Miley, I was thinking."

"Yeah?" Miley could almost feel the air become more chilly.

"And I, well… Well, I think we should take a break."

"A break?" Miley's breath caught in her throat. "Wha… what do you mean?"

"I mean that, well, it might be best if we aren't dating right now."

Miley opened her mouth once, and then shut it. She couldn't find the right words to express herself quite yet. Her tongue darted out and she licked her too-dry lips. "I…"

"Miley. I love you, I do. But I can't do this right now." Lilly gulped slightly, her heart twisting painfully in her chest.

The rest of the conversation seemed to gloss over in her mind. Lilly just couldn't concentrate any longer. As soon as Miley stormed from the house, Lilly ran to her room and threw herself onto her bedspread. Her pillow was soon soaked through and her eyes were out of tears. Reaching to fiddle with her promise ring, she realized in despair that it was gone.

"Ollie… Ollie…" Lilly muttered, trying to get her eyes to work properly. Ollie would help her. She fumbled around her bedside table until her fingers met upon her cell phone. She pressed and held the 2-button – Oliver was on speed-dial.

"You've reached the Ollie Trollie. I'm not in the station right now, but if you leave me a message, I'll ring you back."

She groaned slightly at his lame message and waited for the tone.

"Oliver… I need you." Her tone was short and clipped and she knew he'd take her seriously.

It took him half an hour, but when he returned her call, he sound panicked, "Lilly, what happened?"

"What do you mean?" In the down time, Lilly had gotten control of herself again.

"Mickey just took off. All she said was that Miley went and got herself lost." Oliver waited; he could hear Lilly's breathing change.

"Oh."

"Lilly, are you okay?"

She bit her lip. Talking to Oliver made her eyes prickle again. Scolding herself mentally, she sniffed. She thought she'd gotten past this point. But talking always made it worse again, "Come over."

After they hung up, Lilly wandered from her room and into the kitchen. The flowers from earlier lay strewn about the counter. She shoved them into the sink and dumped the water out of the vase. She barely flinched as her front door opened.

"Lilly. Please tell me you didn't do something stupid." Oliver's voice carried through the house. He wasn't particularly loud, but his tone was demanding.

"I did." She rubbed her eye gingerly before turning to face him. She knew she must look like a complete wreck.

"Geeze. You're a mess." Oliver commented. He sighed, "Tell me about it."

They traveled to the couch and collapsed there. Oliver sat down first, seated forward, and then Lilly sat next to him with her legs over his lap. She nestled her head down on his shoulder.

"There was… a nurse." Lilly sniffled.

"Wow." Oliver muttered sarcastically. He was whacked for his lip.

"She said that it might help my dad if I… you know…" Her voice quavered.

"And you actually listened?"

"Well… you weren't there!" Lilly grew defensive. "It was because of my relationship with Miley that it happened! It's all my fault!"

"Do you honestly believe that?" Oliver put his hand on her knee cap. "Lilly, it's his problem if he doesn't accept you two."

"But I pushed him!" Lilly felt the slow dissolve into tears. Oliver let her cry for a few minutes in silence, but eventually he felt the need to press harder.

"Lilly, it wasn't your fault."

"It was too." Lilly murmured.

"Now you're just feeling bad for yourself. Pull yourself out of this pity-party-pit." Oliver rubbed her back. "So you dumped her?"

"Yeah."

"Well give her a little while to cool off, and then apologize. You know she loves you. She'll forgive you."

Lilly shook her head, "Not this time…"

"What did you do this time?" Oliver groaned, "Mikayla so does not give me this many problems…"

Lilly rubbed her eyes on Oliver's shirt. "I gave her the ring back."

Oliver shoved Lilly's shoulder, "That was stupid!"

"You think I don't know that?" Lilly fell into a new fit of tears, "And now she's gone…"

"You can fix this, Lilly. You can."

She nodded slowly, "But not until my dad is better. Would you mind talking to her? Tell her for me?"

Oliver shook his head, "No… I'm not going to get into the middle of this. You need to do this yourself, Lils."

"I know…" She cleared her throat, "Thanks, Ollie."

"Yeah, no problem. I should probably get home, though. It's dark now and my mom is not going to be happy."

Lilly gave a watery chuckle, "Bye."

With Oliver gone, Lilly went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Once her eyes were no longer bright red and glassy, she called her mom's phone and asked for a ride back to the hospital.

She found her seat again and stared at her father's chest. The quiet beeping of his heart rate was a comfort and she soon found herself asleep.

Her eyes fluttered open and she squinted in confusion. When had she gone home again? She licked her lips and sat up. Stretching her arms above her head, she glanced around her room – and when had she painted the walls black?

At the foot of her bed she found an outfit that she had worn when she was six years old, that or thereabout. She glanced down at her body and found – to her great surprise – that her clothing had vanished and she was nude. Grabbing the flimsy outfit in front of her, Lilly tried to drag on the outfit; it was, however, much too small and ripped to pieces in her hands.

Her bedroom door swung open and a line of people filed in. All people she recognized. Her cheeks flushed brightly as they stared – and laughed – at her bare body. She scrambled to wrap the covers around herself. Miley stepped out of the mass of people and shook her head in a disappointed fashion.

"Lilly, I expected better from you."

Oliver pushed his way until he was beside Miley, "Yeah, Lilly. How could you?"

Lilly grabbed a pillow and held on her lap. It was imperfect, but it covered her shame, "I'm sorry!"

Miley shook her head, "I'm not the one you should apologize to."

Lilly creased her forehead, "What? But…"

Miley turned to Oliver and leaned up. She kissed his lips softly and left Oliver standing at the foot of Lilly's bed.

"She's gone, Lilly. She's mine." Oliver jabbed a finger to his chest.

"Oliver!" Lilly cried. She reached out and grabbed his wrist. It grew red-hot under her fingers and she was forced to jerk her singed hand away, "Don't leave me, too!"

He shook his head and followed Miley. Lilly stared at the jeering faces in front of her.

"Stop it!" She hollered at the faces. That only induced more laughter.

"You're going to have to leave," a voice jarred her, "Please, go into the hall."

Lilly opened her eyes, panting badly, "What?"

A nurse peered into her eyes, "Please leave."

Lilly stared at her father. He was surrounded by doctors and nurses. She was forcefully ejected from the room – but not before noticing that his heart rate monitor had flat-lined.