Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Thanks to those who reviewed Chapter I. Your feedback was much appreciated. Just for another reference, I would like to state again that this story will seem OOC. Remember that we are skipping months at a time, sometimes years, so the characters are bound to change. I apologize if at some points it seems a little unbelievable. But bear with me because I am going somewhere with this. Also, the chapter titles refer to how much time has passed since Jake gave Miley the note and rose not since they last saw each other. Anyway, thanks again and here is Chapter II.

Another six years had passed since Miley and Jake last saw each other in person. However, they saw each other daily through magazines and television interviews. Unconsciously, they looked for references to them seeing anyone, hoping that the one was still longing for the other. Time seemed to pass slowly when living this kind of existence, waiting until fate would bring them together again.

Currently, Jake Ryan's face was plastered on every magazine, billboard, and television station. His biggest movie yet was about to premiere and that was saying something. To the naked eye, it would seem as if his life was perfect, he could not wish for anything more. However, to someone who knew him well, like Miley, they would know that it was all an act. She would stare at pictures and watch during interviews intently, trying to see if she was wrong. She was not, however. She could tell that he was acting in everything he did. While his smiles were as big as ever, they did not quite reach his eyes. While his interviews were flawless without him missing a step, his words just did not seem to hold the excitement and passion that they once did. During one particular interview, the interviewer ended her questions with, "Are you happy, Jake?" He faltered for a moment as if pondering his answer and then he laughed. He answered by saying, "It appears that I would be with everything that I have accomplished in my young life." A very diplomatic response but did not quite answer the question.

On the night of his premiere, Miley and Lilly were sitting on Miley's couch watching the stars strut down the red carpet. Hannah herself had received an invite to the swanky event of the year but she decided to opt out, not quite ready to face Jake again. Their last meeting had been a little too much for her handle. So, there she was, chomping on popcorn, waiting to catch a glimpse of Jake with the arm candy he would be sporting for the night.

A half an hour passed from the time Jake was supposed to arrive. Everyone just thought that he was trying to be fashionably late. However, when a half hour turned into forty-five minutes and all the VIPs had been escorted into the movie theater, the paparazzi began to question where Jake was. Miley herself got a little worried but did not want to let it show in front of Lilly. Lilly, fortunately, had stopped paying attention forty-five minutes ago and was preoccupied with the numbers on the Hannah phone.

Just then, rumors started flying around about a limo crash on the interstate. After it was confirmed, the press flew out, believing that it was Jake Ryan's limo that had met its fateful demise. Miley began passing around the living room, trying to tell herself that Jake was fine. Nothing bad could happen to him. He would be fine. He could come strolling in a few minutes later, laughing about it before going in to watch his newest movie.

However, the live red carpet viewing was suddenly cut off and switched to the news. The top story was that of the limo crash. Miley and Lilly, who had finally come back to earth, sat with baited breath.

"Mercy hospital has confirmed it along with the publicist," the newscaster said. "Jake Ryan's limo crashed along I-93 while on his way to his movie premiere. There is no word on his condition."

Miley's breath caught in her throat. She could feel the air being squeezed out of her lungs. She collapsed into the couch, gasping for breath. Tears stung painfully in her eyes. She could feel herself go cold as Lilly reached over and pulled her into a hug. She whispered in her ear and patted her back, trying to calm her down.

"We need to get to the hospital," Miley said suddenly. She pulled away from Lilly and stared at her with a determined look in her eyes.

Lilly just stared at her incredulously. "Oh? And how are we going to get there?" she asked, trying to talk some sense into her frantic friend. "Your father and brother are at a basketball game. My parents are at some fancy restaurant for whatever reason. And Oliver and his family are out of town for the weekend. I think we have run out of options, Miley."

Miley shook her head and walked over to the kitchen. She grabbed her father's keys off the counter top and jingled them at Lilly. "I'll drive."

Lilly let out a harsh, humorless laugh. "Are you kidding me?! You only have your learner's permit and you have barely made it out of a parking lot."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Lilly."

"Do you want to end up in the hospital, too?" Lilly asked as she followed Miley outside and closed the door behind her. Lilly shook her head when there was no answer and looked to the sky. "Oh, God, please help us."

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The ride to the hospital was a terrifying one in Lilly's opinion. While Miley proved to be a decent driver, she was certainly a reckless one at that. Where the speed limit was 35 MPH, she was doing a solid 75. Lilly was gripping at the door handle the whole time as if willing the car to stop. When they finally reached the hospital parking lot, Lilly jumped out before the car was even turned off.

However, Lilly had little time to catch her breath as Miley grabbed her arm and pulled her passed the paparazzi and into the emergency room door. She ran to the front desk and slammed her hands on the table, effectively catching the receptionist's attention.

"Can I help you?" she asked, popping her gum in an obnoxious way.

Miley decided to put on a polite front. "I was hoping that you could tell me where Jake Ryan is at." She smiled at her politely.

The receptionist rolled her eyes. "I can't, sorry." Too bad she did not sound like she was.

At this, Miley grew furious. Lilly tried to restrain her but she could not. "I'm Miley Stewart! I dated Jake Ryan! Now, tell me where he is before I really make a scene."

She let out a laugh and continued popping her gum. "Sorry, Millie, but you're not immediate family and I could care less who you are."

Miley gave her a loud huff before stomping away. She walked to the end of the hallway before leaning against the wall. Tears once again came to her eyes as she placed her head in her hands. "Now what?" She sobbed, feeling completely useless.

"Miss Stewart?" a voice said, coming from behind Lilly.

Both turned around to see an older blond haired woman in a fancy suit staring at them. She had brilliant hazel eyes that shone with sadness. Her makeup was smeared and it looked as though she had been crying.

"Yes," Miley said, taking a tentative step towards her.

The woman broke out into a small, sad smile. She reached out a hand. "Hello. I'm Mrs. Ryan, Jake's mother."

Miley let out a sniffle as she shook her hand. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Ryan." She let out a shuddered breath. "How is he?"

Mrs. Ryan began to walk towards the elevator, motioning for Lilly and Miley to follow her. She pushed the up button and turned towards Miley. She sighed, shaking her head. "Well…he's asleep right now." The door opened and they stepped inside. She then hit the floor 5 button. Once the doors closed, she continued. "It gets worse. The truck that ran into the limo hit into the side where he was sitting. They believe he might be…" she broke off for a minute, wiping her tears away from her eyes. "They believe he might be paralyzed. His legs have been unresponsive."

Miley and Lilly gasped. Lilly put a comforting arm around her friend. "Are you sure? I mean…."

Mrs. Ryan just shrugged. "They say it could just that his body is in shock. We won't know until they run more tests, which they can't do until his strength is up." The doors then opened again and the three stepped out.

Miley found herself in a hallway guarded heavily by police. She and Lilly cautiously followed Mrs. Ryan, eyeing up the bodyguards. Mrs. Ryan stopped in front of a door with all the blinds pulled down. "My husband must have gone for coffee." She said after looking up and down the hall. She then turned to Miley. "He's asleep but you can go in if you like." She then gave her another smile and put a motherly hand on her shoulder. "He's told us all about you. He truly cares for you."

Miley smiled back up at her, tears silently flowing down her face. "I care for him, too, Mrs. Ryan." Then, she slowly opened the door and walked inside.

For a few moments, she just faced the closed door and breathed in deeply. She did not want to face the sight of her love lying helplessly in bed. She closed her eyes, preparing herself for the worst, before she turned around.

Jake was lying in perfectly white sheets. His hands were resting on either side of him, the left covered in an ace bandage. His face was covered in small cuts. Above his eyebrow were a few stitches and his right eye was starting to turn black and blue. Wires were connected all over his body and were hooked up to various machines. These machines were making loud noises; beeps, hums, clangs.

Miley slowly approached the bed, fiddling with her hands. She could not believe that this was the Jake Ryan that she knew. That Jake Ryan could barely be seen sitting down. And now, here he was, peacefully asleep. Miley let out a breath and she pulled up a chair and sat down at his side. She took his right hand in hers and gently caressed it with her thumb. She then turned to the machine that was registering his heart. It had a steady rhythm that she closed her eyes to. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Miley?"

The drowsy and confused voice sounded foreign next to all the beeps, hums, and clangs. Miley jumped slightly in her chair and turned to Jake. His eyes were open slightly. He smiled up at her, really smiled. None of that "Hey, look at me, I'm Jake Ryan" crap, just a Jake/Leslie smile. The smile that she loved and dreamed about.

She smiled back at him. She reached up and brushed some of his blond locks out of his eyes. "Hey there."

He smiled brightly as she did so, ignoring the pain throughout his body. He sighed and leaned back into his pillows. "It's been a while," he said, looking up at her with bright eyes.

Miley nodded as she continued to rub his hand. "It has," she agreed.

"Too long," he said, trying to prop himself up. "Crummy circumstances at that."

Miley just sighed and looked away for a moment. Jake stared at her intensely, trying to get her attention back. "I've been trying, Miley."

She turned back to him with sadness in her eyes. "Have you?" she asked, disbelieve threaded through her soft voice. Before he could answer, she shook her head. "No. This is neither the time nor the place."

Jake shook his as well, pulling her hand closer. "No, it is." He let out a slight laugh. "This whole situation really throws everything into perspective." Miley just looked at him, urging him to continue. "I mean, I've been struggling with who I want to be and if I want to change. This whole ordeal," he gestured with his injured hand around the room, "shows that maybe that's not my choice to make. Or…I don't know, maybe it is and that it's time to do so." He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "I may be paralyzed, Miles. This could be the end of my career as I know it." He let out another humorless laugh.

Miley shook her hand and brought his hand to her face. "No, don't say that."

"This could be it, Miley," he continued.

"Nothing is going to keep you down," Miley said, staring straight into his eyes. "You're Jake Ryan; egomaniac, superstar, Hottie of the Year." She laughed lightly.

Jake just shook his head and looked away. "Maybe…maybe that's not who I want to be."

Miley stood up and sat down next to him on the bed. She turned his head gently towards her to make him look at her in the eyes. She put on a light, forced smile, trying to get him to laugh. "That sounds like Leslie talking."

Jake sighed, not seeing the humor. "Leslie only comes out when you are around." He reached up and cupped her face. "I love you."

Miley felt tears come to her eyes as she stared down at him. "And I love Leslie, the guy I'm talking to right now. The guy who kissed me on the beach. The guy who said he wanted to be normal. The guy who named a star after me and told me his real name was Leslie. But I can't love Jake Ryan, no matter how much I want to. The guy who thinks it's all about him. The guy who gets other people to do stuff for him."

Jake breathed in deeply and closed his eyes. "Well…that was a little harsh, Miley."

She sighed, shaking her head. "I didn't mean the way it came out."

He only nodded. "Yes, you did. Jake is a bastard and Leslie is sweetheart. I get it."

She backed away from him. "It's not that, Jake. It's that you are one person to the world and another around me. You need to decide who you are going to be. There can't be two different people. It doesn't work that way."

Jake laughed and looked at her. "Oh, really?" When she nodded, he looked at her questioningly. "Well, what about you? You are the poster girl for split personalities. And then here you are, telling me that I'm wrong. You and me…we're the same. You are one person to the world and one to your friends and family."

Miley shook her head. "Hannah and Miley are one in the same, Jake. Hannah is a star but because of Miley, she's grounded. Hannah gets the perks and doesn't abuse them."

"So that makes it okay? Because you lack the bitchiness of being a star, it's okay for you to be two different people?"

Miley sighed and turned her back on him. She heard him sigh and she turned around again.

"You know, for the past six months, I hoping that you would miss me enough and despite the fact that I haven't changed, you'd love me anyway. Because while you are different people, whether you choose to accept it or not, I love you for everything that you are. You could be three different people and that wouldn't change. I just wish that you felt the same."

Miley started to cry again, biting on her lower lip. She took a step towards him again. "It's not that I don't love you…"

"That's not what you just said."

"I know what I said," Miley replied. "As I was saying, it's not that I don't love you for everything that you are, it's that sometimes I can't deal with everything that you are. Seeing what it's like to live a normal life and a famous one, I realize that I'm privileged because I know how not to act, too see what comes off as snobby or whatever. However, you haven't had that. And while I do love you, I can't be with someone who only sees themselves as someone who is famous. If that is who you are and who you want to be, then that's great. I will always love you, even more so once you make your decision."

"But we won't be together," Jake said, sighing.

Miley shrugged, sitting down next to him once again. "I don't know, Jake. Maybe, maybe not. I want you to make the decision to change because you want to." She laughed lightly. She leaned down and brushed her lips against his.

He smiled. "I love you, Miley. And I will make that decision."

I'm not sure how long this is going to be but there are not too many chapters left. So give me some inspiration and leave me a review! Thanks!