Author's Warnings: Due to the AUness of this story, characters are most likely going to be slightly out of character, especially Miley/Hannah's. However, please keep in mind the circumstances of the plotline before you flame or complain.
Disclaimer: I don't associate with any characters nor do I plan to. Therefore the lack of contact and custody means I don't own a thing. Pity, really. Oh, and the story's title is lyrics taken from The Academy Is...'s song, Everything We Had.
Title's credit goes to: LoveHateHero

7.
This Dream Called Life

Spaghetti or a meatball sandwich? Mmm.

Oliver scanned grimly at the school cafeteria's grotesque concussions and felt his stomach lurch when he swore he saw the meatball sandwich twitch under his stare. Maybe just a bottle of water would be fine for today. The brunet then quickly backtracked out of the line and toward the usual lunch table he and Lilly resided at for the period. The blonde was already eating the readymade food from her house she packed the night before, munching on a few of her Lay's chips.

"No food, Oken?" she questioned when he seated himself across from her empty handed. "You got your paycheck yesterday, right?"

"The spaghetti's sauce looked pretty gross," he responded lowly, "and I think the meatball sandwich moved when I was looking at it."

"That's not a surprise," giggled the blonde before pushing the brown paper bag rested astray of her toward him. "Here, take my yogurt. There's a spoon in the bag."

"Thanks," Oliver smiled weakly as he dug his hand into the depths of the paper bag, retracting a container filled with strawberry yogurt and a plastic spoon. He ripped the cover off, flinging it into a nearby trashcan before taking a gracious scoop of the thick substance and happily stuck it in his mouth.

"You know, I haven't seen Hannah today," Lilly mused as she nibbled on her turkey sandwich. "She wasn't in any of my earlier classes."

"Isn't there a football game today anyways? Maybe she's singing the national anthem or something," he suggested, not entirely interested on wherever Lilly was taking the conversation's direction to. Last Sunday's coffee encounter appeared to have seared itself in his brain and he couldn't help but notice his bitterness had lessened a great deal towards her. He knew it really shouldn't, considering what the popstar had done to him prior to her apology, but it felt like it should. It really felt like it should.

"I don't know but she better be here for next period, we might have to present our presentation today and I can't do it if she's not there." Lilly frowned. "I really hope she didn't flake out on me. I mean, she's gotta have at least some integrity and some sort of heart not to."

"I'm pretty sure she does," assured Oliver after swallowing down his third spoonful of yogurt. Just as he took his sixth scoop, nearly emptying out the entire carton, the bell had rung. The pair then stood to their feet, discarding the rest of their lunch and headed to their next class.

When the warning bell echoed across the hallways a third of the class was already in their assigned seats while the rest mingled about the classroom. There was still no sign of Hannah and Oliver glanced at Lilly to find his friend profoundly pissed off at the celebrity's absence.

"Now settle down class!" Mrs. Lenon demanded, her voice rising above her students'. "The bell's just about to ring any sec–"

Her voice immediately faded when the classroom's door had abruptly opened and the body of students' attention strayed directly toward the door. Just as the wooden slate shut behind the girl the bell rung and she briskly headed down the row of desks. Oliver and Lilly exchanged glances while the rest of class erupted with whispers.

"Oliver," Lilly mumbled lowly, "is that –"

"Hannah?" Amber questioned with wide eyes.

Hannah arched an eyebrow at her, placing a hand on her hip as she stared promptly at the gaping girl. "Yeah?"

"Y-your. . . your hair," Ashley managed. "It's. . . It's –"

"–brown." finished Amber, nearly outraged with the apparent controversy. She wrinkled her nose in clear distaste. "It's so. . ."

"Natural?" Oliver supplied, drawing the trio's eyes to him. "Come on, Ashley, you were over Hannah's house. You saw those pictures of her as a brunette, didn't you?" Truth was, he wasn't entirely sure if there exactly were displayed pictures of Hannah with brown hair other than the ones he found quite a long way from her room. He just hoped Ashley was dumb enough to play along with him or those pictures actually did exist. Either one was fine right about now.

"Oh. . . oh, yeah! I did," Ashley beamed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Oliver sighed inwardly with relief. She took the bait. Meanwhile the class awed at her in return. "I don't think it looks bad."

"Well," Mrs. Lenon began, "since we have that crisis under control I assume we can begin class now, Miss Adesen?"

Amber had promptly shut her mouth after that remark and, after shooting Oliver a dark glare, turned herself around and Hannah took her seat. As Mrs. Lenon began with the day's lecture Hannah snuck the same brunet a faint thankful smile. Oliver couldn't help but return it.

"Okay," Lilly muttered quietly, "so did I just hear you defending Hannah Montana and, more importantly, did she just smile at you?" Oliver decided not to respond, instead figuring he'd let his friend answer her own questions. It took about two seconds for her to add, "I seriously don't understand this world anymore."

-
-

"Alright, so you want one Ice Blended Coffee and one Extreme Ice Blended Coffee –"

"Could you make that extremely ice blended?" requested the lady.

Oliver glanced at his manager whom was flipping through a magazine nearby before returning his stare on the customer. "Uh, sure –"

"Actually, make that mildly extreme ice blended."

He felt his right eye twitch but he stiffly nodded. "Alright. So that's –"

"No, no, no. Make that the low extreme ice blended –"

"Lady, all I'm doing is adding ice to your coffee!" he snapped. "Now, if you want it water logged, then ask for Extreme, if you don't, then ask for Original and, personally, why don't we save yourself future trouble and make it regular coffee! How about that?!"

"I think I'll just have some water," she smiled pleasantly as she waved a bottle water in front of her.

Oliver slammed his head against the cash register before mumbling into the machine, "that will be a dollar-fifty." When he heard a few quarters hit the counter he muttered, "Have a nice day." He remained in his slouched position until he felt the silhouette of the next customer loom over him and quickly straightened himself up. "Hello, welcome to Coffee Bea–Hannah? What are you doing here?"

"Why else would I be here?" she countered sharply. "To thank you again for earlier."

"Oh, well, don't mention it, I guess?" he blushed. "Amber can be a judgmental bitch to anyone – even her friends."

"I wouldn't exactly call her my friend but I figured that out the day I met her," Hannah replied crisply, playing with the ends of her new brunette locks. "Anyways, when do you get off work?"

"When do I get off work?" repeated Oliver and she nodded in response. "At – wait, why?"

"I figured I'd try to make everything up to you or at least give you a ride home," she offered before smiling weakly at him, "don't be so suspicious Oken. I'm not going to murder you and throw you in a ditch somewhere if that's what you're thinking."

"Well I wasn't until now," he cracked weakly. "But. . . I get off in about five minutes – and I need to be home by seven thirty."

"Seven-thirty? Why? You have a date with your blonde girlfriend?" she mocked, smirking widely when he flushed before shaking his head violently.

"No! Lilly is not my girlfriend. She's – I don't think I could ever picture us going out, like, ever –"

"So you are hanging out with her after though?" Hannah laughed. He chose not to respond and she took that as a clear yes. "Alright then. We'll just have get you home by seven-thirty. Now come on before I change my mind."

"Wah – now?" She nodded. "But I –"

"You said you were off in five minutes five minutes ago," she informed as she pointed to the nearby clock. "There's really no reason not to go, Oken. Now let's go."

It was more of a demand rather than an invite but nonetheless Oliver sighed before he found himself saying goodbye to his manager and headed reluctantly out of the Coffee Bean and into Hannah's limo after her. His eyes darted across the plush seats and dark confinements of the vehicle; an unsettling feeling whirling around his clenched stomach. He hadn't fully comprehended why he agreed with Hannah but when he felt the automobile move under him there really was no turning back now and he quickly texted his mom that he had secured himself a ride home.

"So where are we going?" inquired Hannah when he pushed his phone back into his pants' right pocket. "We've got about twenty minutes to get you home."

"I – err," Oliver sighed. "You can just drive me home. I, uh, don't you find this sort of, I don't know, weird?"

"I'm trying not to," she answered. "But I owe you, so pick a place."

Oliver sunk into his seat, assuming going straight to his house wasn't really an option. Plus, they just missed his house's street about a half a mile back. "Oh, uh, I guess I could go for ice cream?"

"Ice cream?" she repeated with slight uneasiness.

"Yeah, there's an ice cream place a few blocks from here," he nodded, "and to be honest, I really don't think you should worrying about gaining any weight. I know I mentioned it before, but I really didn't mean it. So I'd definitely lighten up about that." She shot him a glare, however, it lessened when she realized she was thinking about the ice cream's forbidden calories.

"Fine, ice cream it is." she forced, turning to her driver to sort out future directions. He nodded and within the next few minutes turned into an ice cream parlor, parking across several empty lots. Hannah ushered Oliver out of the limo and into the deserted parlor, only its employees occupying the store.

"You know, this is kind of nice in an awkward-type way," Hannah mused as she leaned closer to the counter, unintentionally bringing her head closer to his and teased him with a whiff of her hair. He strained himself to turn away, scratching the nape of his neck as a distraction before allowing himself to look at her again.

"What is? The ice cream favors?"

She shot him a quick glare before shaking her head, her brown curls bouncing around from the sudden movement. "You know what I mean, Oken. Us being, you know, okay towards each other and everything."

Oliver felt his head swim at her words, a significant tingling sensation settling in the pit of his stomach. "Yeah, it kinda does." He paused. "In a weird Hannah kind of way."

She flashed him a smile. "It's Miley."

Author's Notes: Reviews?! :) I know this hasn't been updated in awhile, I'd blame summer for that and my rekindled obsession with Harry Potter fanfiction. :D