1 Year Later

Miley's POV

It's strange how everything can change in one moment, isn't it? Like, you're driving along in a car having the time of your life – and then bam, another vehicle hits yours and you're hurtling towards the end of your life – or what seems to feel like it. Or you think you're just starting to trust someone and you might just think you're in love with them – and you find them lip-locking with some other girl behind the bike sheds. Or you're in the mall with friends…and then someone shoots you; twice.

Isn't it odd how everything can seem to be getting better and then everything in your life that has the slightest glimpse of happiness is killed? You know, like…a relative has been hospitalised and they're doing really well – and then they relapse and you're back where you started; you're back holding their limp, lifeless hand and trying to guide them through the black void that their life has suddenly become once again. Or maybe you've had an argument with a friend and then you make up and everything seems as if it couldn't get any better – and then they start drifting away from you again, or they backstab you, talking about you secretly. Or maybe, just maybe – this could happen to anyone – you get shot twice, and everything seems to be getting back to the slightest shred of normality and then…then you murder the one person that cost you your happiness.

You're back where you started. Emotional and physical pain filling up your heart in such a way that it takes up all the room so that no other emotion can come in and overpower it. Everyone tells you the same thing, you know:

'Look, Miley, I know what you must be feeling right now –'

'You know nothing! You know nothing of what I'm feeling right now!'

And no-one can help you. No-one can hold your hand and stop you from falling into depression. The tsunami of feelings that is too large and too intense that it sweeps everyone out of your life. My life has turned into a never-ending disaster. Because no matter how hard you try not to believe it, or to deny it, or to make it better, you know life is just a test…

…and you're not going to make it out alive.

Jackson's POV

Last year I was supposed to go to college. Last year I was supposed to go on dates and maybe get a girlfriend. Last year I was supposed to start turning my grades around. Last year I was supposed to live. Last year I was supposed to finally be myself, and not live in my sister's shadow.

Last year, my sister was shot. Last year she saved my life. Last year I was at her bedside for four months. Last year my sister drowned the guy who shot her. Last year I was in and out of court trying to keep my cool about whether my sister was justified in what she did.

I mean, seriously, she killed a killer. What wasn't justified about it? It took 10 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 7 hours and 40 minutes for the jury to come to a conclusion:

'We've come to unanimous vote of…' I tensed. 'Not guilty.'

The Stewart Family, Oken Family and Truscott Family all jumped up and cheered for joy. Dad grabbed me and pulled me into a hug, Oliver and Lilly danced around and even kissed each other on the cheek, the parents all hugged each other. But as I leaned over my father's shoulder in the embrace, I caught sight of my baby sister sitting in her glass box. She was smiling at us, but not at the situation. There was no emotion in her eyes. She just sat there doing…nothing.

There's still been no emotion even now, and it's been 2 months, 17 days, 21 hours and 19 minutes since the verdict was said out loud.

She sits in her room all day, all night, guitar untouched. I haven't heard her sing for so long. And if you're wondering what happened to Hannah, she's history. After a few months of nothing, all her fans turned to Mikayla. She's basking in glory now.

You see, I find it funny that nobody asks how she is anymore. Lilly and Oliver come to our house everyday and talk to her about everything that's been going on at school or whatever. She never talks back. She'll nod and shake her head. She will speak – don't get me wrong – but never with any emotion, no heart in it. Almost as if someone monotonic and robotic has jumped into her brain and won't let her go. Controlling her; making her feel as if there's nothing left to live for anymore.

I just want my sister back – is that too much to ask?

Lilly's POV

I bet you've heard of Hannah Montana. You know – international pop star? The one with hits like "The Best of Both Worlds", and "I Got Nerve", and "Rock Star"? Yeah, I thought so.

See, when you think of Hannah, you probably think of music, bright colours, perfection.

But, when I think of Hannah, I think of a secret celebrity who hides the broken girl I call my best friend.

You see, I've known Miley was Hannah for a long time now. She told me because she trusted me – and that brought us closer than ever.

And then we were ripped apart by two bullets; the two bullets that hit her in the stomach as she tried to save her brother's life.

And I wasn't even there. I wasn't there to save her, because I left only a few minutes before he shot her. I probably walked past him on the way out.

Oliver and I are the only friends she has now. After Jake went off to film his new movie, he came back and just wasn't the same. He just didn't care about her like he used to. We soon found out why; he had a new girlfriend. And not just any new girlfriend, it was Mikayla.

You know, it's funny how after a while, everyone slowly fades away and stops trying to help her. Oliver almost did once:

'What the hell do you think you're doing?!' I screamed at him as he walked out of the house.

'I can't deal with this anymore, Lilly! Talking to an empty shell! She isn't Miley anymore, you know that. She doesn't even acknowledge that we're there half the time. Sometimes I wish she had died, just because it would be so much less painful for her! I hate –!' Oliver caught his tongue before he said anything else.

'What?!' Oliver shook his head. I bubbled over with rage. 'No, go on, say it! You hate her, don't you? You hate –!'

This time he cut me off. 'No, Lilly! I hate what she's become!'

I looked down. 'Oh.' I did too. I hated what that man had done to her.

'I know you do too, Lilly,' he whispers, coming closer.

'But I'm not giving up on her,' I say quietly back, turning away and walking into the house.

A few minutes after that conversation, he followed me and we've never mentioned it since.

It's been a year since she killed him. And nothing seems to be getting better.

Reviews?

Ooh, and if you want someone else's POV, tell me. And don't worry; there should be a happier ending.

And if anyone wants an O/C to replace Jake, or maybe even a certain Jonas boy, tell me that too.