A/N: I apologise immensely for the long time between updates. I've been busy with work. Eight, sometimes close to ten hour days... yeah, but it's finally here. Chapter five of 'Speeding Up The Process'. I received a little inspiration for the theatre scene from 'Make Out Row' by xTexasgalx so I give props to her and her brilliant story. Cheers!
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am making nothing off of the following. All characters are retained by Disney. The reference later is of course from Fergie's 'Clumsy' which I also do not own.
Speeding Up The Process
Chapter Five
"I can't believe you two!" Miley hissed bitterly.
"It's our fault you're making a fool of yourself in front of your Ollie?" Lilly replied with a smirk. The two had run to the toilets before the film while Oliver and Jackson purchased the food. Both were adjusting their hair and reapplying make-up in the mirror.
"Yes it is!" Miley hissed again. "I've been able to hide my feelings for Oliver for a while now–"
Lilly snorted but refrained from comment. Miley glared but continued on and said, "Well I've been able to hide my feelings reasonably well, and now you two are making me get all flustered in front of him. He must think I'm a complete dork!"
Lilly snorted again as she said, "As if this was the first time you acted like a dork in front of him. Remember after you had barely known him and you tripped and spilt frog juice all over him? Remember when you flew across the beach in a chicken suit? Remember when you tried to play hock–" Lilly stopped as she saw Miley now looking absolutely furiously at her.
"Okay, I get it! Oliver has me tripping, stumbling, flipping, and fumbling like no other guy can. He's the one guy that has always been there for me, even if I didn't deserve him," she said as her expression became sad. Lilly's expression too changed and she immediately pulled Miley to her.
"Miley, Miley, Miley, how do you not realise it?"
"Realise what?" Miley asked bewilderedly.
"Oliver likes you too!" Lilly said exasperatedly. Miley widened her eyes but put her head down and sighed sadly.
"Stop trying to get by hopes up."
"Miley look at Oliver's behaviour; he does everything and anything for you."
Miley looked up at her in disbelief and shook her head.
"He only does that stuff because he's my friend. He only thinks of me as a–"
"–Sister or a pet fish?" Lilly finished with a knowing look. Miley's eyes widened slightly as Lilly smiled.
"Sound familiar? You both are trying to make the other think you don't like the other to prevent 'ruining the friendship'," she said using air quotes. "You both are so insistent the other doesn't like you that neither of you realise that you are both crazy about each other. You don't see that Oliver is crushing on you just as much as you are crushing on him."
Miley shook her head sadly and said, "Impossible."
"You have Oliver whipped!" Lilly said with a laugh as Miley looked up in astonishment.
"I do not!" she responded indignantly. Lilly shook her head in laughter.
"When we get out there, ask him to get you a Sprite."
"I told him I didn't want anything to drink," she replied blankly. Lilly nodded her head eagerly.
"Exactly. I guarantee you he'll go back and get you one. I told you, he'll do anything for you."
Miley narrowed her eyes but appeared to be contemplating the suggestion. Lilly closed her bag and turned to the door.
"Come on!" she said with a smile and pulled a smiling Miley out with her. Outside they were met by Jackson and Oliver, each carrying a large box of popcorn. Oliver hesitantly handed Miley a large box of candy with a nervous sideways look at Jackson.
"I... err... know how much you like this Miles so I bought it for you," he said as he looked back at Jackson again who seemed to be nodding encouragingly. Miley's eyes widened and she smiled happily.
"Ooo, thank you Oliver!" she replied excitedly. Lilly moved forward to grab the popcorn from Jackson.
"What I tell you?" she muttered out of the side of her mouth to Miley. Miley frowned but Lilly continued with a hiss, "Ask Oliver to get you something to drink!"
Miley frowned again but after a nudge from Lilly she timidly said, "Now I'm wishing I had gotten a Sprite–"
"–I'll go back and get you one if you want," Oliver said. Miley widened her eyes again as Oliver turned to go back to the counter. Jackson snickered and made a motion of one cracking a whip as they watched Oliver ordering at the counter. Miley scowled at Jackson.
"What are you laughing at? Lilly has you whipped," Miley pointed out. Jackson sputtered and folded his arms across his chest.
"She does not," Jackson replied resentfully. He looked over at Lilly hesitantly and shifted uncomfortably as Lilly stared at him with eyes narrowed and arms folded.
"Well maybe a little," he said as he avoided Lilly's eyes. "She's quite strong for her size." Lilly smiled happily and pretended to kiss each of her biceps. Miley's amused smile during Lilly and Jackson's exchange fell as Oliver arrived holding a large cup of Sprite.
"Oh Oliver, you really didn't need to do that." Oliver shrugged and handed it to her with a slightly nervous smile. Miley shifted uncomfortably again.
"It's so big. (A/N: Several of my readers need to remove their heads from the gutter at this point – you know who you are) This must have cost a lot."
Looking thoughtful for a moment, Oliver looked down and finally said, "Well, we could share it."
Lilly and Jackson both snorted but with a glare from Miley, Lilly pointed at a random film poster and said, "Hey look I think Johnny Depp is in another film!" and dragged Jackson with her. Continuing to glare at their retreating backs, she turned back to Oliver.
"I guess we could share it," she said with a shy smile. Oliver smiled nervously and then hesitantly wrapped his arm around her and led her into the theatre to follow the now impatient Lilly and Jackson.
Upon entering the theatre, the group made their way up near the top and found seats near the centre of the row. Lilly and Jackson sat down and immediately began fighting over the popcorn while Oliver and Miley sat down in silence. Oliver continued to lead Miley with his arm around her as they sat down, his arm remaining on her shoulder as the film started. Miley hesitantly looked up and him, her eyes and expression clearly wondering whether he realised his continued action. As Oliver merely continued to watch the screen and began to eat the popcorn, Miley smiled, looking pleased and subtly shifted back to rest against his arm slightly. Next to them, Lilly paused her fight over her own popcorn to watch the interaction with an amused expression on her face.
"They are too cute," she whispered to Jackson. Jackson paused his struggle as well and looked over.
"I talked to lover boy over there while you two were gone to try and get him to be a better date and to be more romantic if he wants to woo Miles," he said softly, managing to pry the popcorn out of Lilly's hands as she snorted at 'woo'.
"What he say about that?"
Jackson rolled his and replied, "Nothing. He just stared at me blankly but eventually he started shifting uncomfortably." Lilly looked back at him with a look of shock and disgust.
"You can't tell me that doughnut still doesn't realise he has a crush on Miley?" she whispered as she indicated Oliver. Jackson rolled his eyes again.
"Doesn't appear like he's quite aware of the fact yet," he said intellectually. Lilly scoffed as she folded her arms and gazed at Oliver with disgust.
"That's putting it nicely. Though he isn't exactly the brightest light bulb." Jackson nodded in agreement.
"Oliver's slower than Uncle Earl after the Christmas feast." Lilly looked over at Jackson in bewilderment but chose to remain silent. Turning her attention back to Miley and Oliver before returning to the film, she saw Oliver look down at Miley hesitantly and pull her slightly closer. Miley looked up at him at his movement and smiled at him before glancing back at the screen.
"Isn't this story so cute?" she asked indicating the film. "The main character and her best guy friend keep dancing around each other before falling in love at the end?" Oliver looked from the screen to Miley with his mouth agape.
"How can you tell?" he asked in amazement. Miley looked up at Oliver in disbelief.
"You can't tell me you don't see it. Can she be any more obvious about her feelings for him?"
"I don't know, can she?" came Lilly's voice from the other side of Oliver. Miley looked over and noticed Lilly was staring at her rather than the screen. She glared at Lilly who returned the gesture by smiling back mischievously. Oliver meanwhile was watching the film in disbelief again.
"How can you two tell she likes him?" he whispered as he watched the film with a confused expression on his face. Lilly's smile became a very mischievous smirk as she continued to stare at Miley.
"It's quite obvious by the way she looks at him and how she laughs at all his lame jokes. Not to mention how touchy she is with him and how she goes on the defence or gets the 'deer-in-the-headlights' look whenever anyone suggests she likes him," Lilly responded quietly, continuing to smirk widely at a slowly colouring Miley. Jackson had turned his attention from the film to the trio and was eating his popcorn with an amused expression on his face. Several other people in surrounding seats were also now observing Miley, Lilly, and Oliver. Oliver looked at Lilly with an even more confused look on his face.
"None of that has happened in the film, at least not yet. Have you two seen this already or something?" Miley glared even further despite her colouring face and attempted to speak with as much dignity as possible.
"I think Lilly is getting this film mixed up with another one. Nonetheless, she should refrain from speaking in case she reveals– I mean, before she spoils the ending." Oliver looked between Lilly and Miley completely puzzled.
"Is he really that stupid?" a neighbouring observer whispered to Jackson from the row behind. Jackson shook his head sadly.
"He really is that stupid," he said holding his popcorn up over his shoulder to offer it to his neighbour who took a hand full, shaking their head sadly too and continued to watch.
Lilly continued to smirk at Miley as she now asked Oliver, "Going back to Miley's original question, what do you think of the main girl and her best guy friend falling in love?"
Looking back up at the screen, he replied, "I think it's kind of cliché don't you think? Sounds like some sappy Disney programme that girls like."
Both Lilly and Miley turned to look at Oliver with mouths open before they both lifted their hands and hit him on each shoulder.
"Ow! What?!" he asked as he held both of his shoulders. "You have to admit it's just a cheesy romance."
Miley stood up blinking hard and apparently trying to hold back tears as Oliver asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Nothing's wrong!" she said in a shaky voice before walking out. Oliver looked shocked as around the group, shouts around them made it clear that half of the theatre had been watching their interaction rather than the film.
"Oh my God!"
"You idiot!"
Lilly, however, was beside herself. She stood up shaking in rage and advanced on Oliver, poking him hard in the chest with each word she spoke.
"You!"
"Me?" he asked pointing at himself, his voice mixed with confusion and terror.
"Do you realise what you've done to Miley?"
"No! Not at all," he responded in bewilderment.
"You have just ripped out Miley's heart and stomped on it!" she said poking him in his chest even harder now.
"What?" he asked in confusion again. "What do you mean I ripped out her heart?"
"She likes you!" shouted half of the theatre. Oliver looked from the people watching him back to Lilly.
"She likes me?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes! She has been going mad because of you tonight! Though we were partially responsible for some of that," she said looking at Jackson who nodded in fair agreement. Oliver stared on in disbelief.
"She doesn't like me like that. She said she only loved me as a brother or pet-fish back in eighth-grade."
"Of course she did! She said that to cover up her feelings. Any idiot could tell even then she was saying that to cover up her real feelings. Both of you have been trying to cover up your feelings for each other and by the way you're staring at me now, it appears you still haven't realised you're crushing on Miley too!"
"I am?"
"Oliver, you jump at anything she asks you or tells you to do. You also are attracted to girls that look a lot like Miley–"
"–Like who?" Oliver interrupted.
"Luanne for one."
"Becca looked like Miley some too," Jackson added from where he was viewing the scene.
"Don't forget you were in love with–" Lilly lowered her voice and said, "–Hannah Montana, and that's just Miley in a wig!"
"Okay, okay, I get it! You're right. I guess I do like Miley."
"Don't be guessing Oliver. You do like Miley."
"I like Miley," Oliver repeated with a small smile. The smile was immediately replaced with a look of contemplation as he sad sadly, "I guess I fought so hard against my feelings for her I didn't realise I had them. I just didn't think a girl as great as she is would like someone like me."
"That's the thing though Oliver," she said as she grasped him by the shoulders. Speaking slowly and forcefully, she said, "Miley. Likes. You." She then released him and stood back as his face looked to be processing the information. With a much softer tone and a smile she added, "For some reason despite your doughnutness and idiocy, Miley is crazy about you."
"And you're crazy about her," Jackson added. Oliver again looked to be processing all of the information in his head before his face finally had a look of realisation and then determination.
"I got it! I need to..." he looked around in confusion as he stuttered, "I... err... I need to..."
"Go find her!" roared most of the theatre.
"Right!" Oliver replied as he looked confusedly to the people watching him on his left and right before walking swiftly out of the theatre as Lilly moved back to take her place next to Jackson.
"Now this was worth eight dollars admission," Jackson said to his neighbour who nodded in agreement before sitting back to watch the forgotten film everyone had really paid to see. Jackson wrapped his arm around Lilly and gave her a smile.
"What do you think then? Think we finally pushed them in the right direction? Finally sped up the process?"
"We did our best. It's just up to doughnut boy over there to not screw it up anymore," she said with a smile as she rested her head against Jackson's shoulder. As Jackson moved to rest his head closer to Lilly, Lilly snatched the remaining popcorn from Jackson and smiled proudly.
Outside, Oliver had looked around the theatre he had just exited before moving to the ladies' room and pushing the door open slightly. Inside he heard sad musings and an occasional sob. Stepping around the corner, he found Miley curled up against the wall with her arms wrapped around her legs. She stood up quickly as she spotted Oliver and hurriedly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"What are doing in here?" she asked softly. He didn't speak right away, walking up to her and gazing at her before looking down at his shoes.
"I'm sorry Miles," he replied just as quietly. She looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on Miles, you know why I'm in here. Why you're upset, why I'm in here," he said. Even quieter he added, "And why we aren't together."
Miley didn't speak, rather stared at him to continue. Sighing and rubbing the back of his head, he finally looked up at her.
"I'm an idiot Miles. I'm stupid. I'm a doughnut," he said, earning a small smile from her. "But I'm your doughnut."
They both stood in silence for a moment before Miley truly spoke for the first time.
"I was overwhelmed by tonight. I thought tonight would be the night. The night I'd secretly wanted for a long time," she said. Looking down at her own shoes, she shyly added, "The night I've wanted really since I met you."
"And I ruined it by being my usual doughnut self," he said with a sad smile. She walked forward with a shy, but slightly eager smile and looked up at him.
"Is there a reason then, that you followed me in here?"
Looking up to meet her eyes, he shyly responded, "I came to realise through a rather... err... forceful Lilly–"
"Forceful meaning...?"
"As in she looked as if she was going to bludgeon me," he replied with a slightly terrified look of remembrance. Shaking his head back to the present after Miley giggled slightly, he continued, "I came to realise that I really, really care about you Miles. I'd do anything for you."
Miley's face broke out into an enormous smile as Oliver began to ramble.
"I care so much about you and I hated watching you get hurt by all those stupid guys... I always wished I could do something... It was always so confusing... I can't quite explain–"
He was cut off as Miley grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to her, crashing her lips against his own. Oliver was stunned for a moment before he slowly wrapped his arms around her.
Finally, Miley pulled away, now absolutely beaming and looked at a slightly confused but smiling Oliver.
"Was that your way of telling me to shut up?"
"Maybe..." she replied with a large grin. He smiled broadly too and wrapped an arm around her and led her outside.
"What do you say we ditch Lilly and Jackson? Give them some nice alone time?" he asked.
"Sounds good. They've been so busy trying to get us together they haven't had any time for themselves."
"I say we stop to eat first."
Looking up at him in disbelief she asked, "What do you call that massive box of popcorn you bought?"
"An appetiser," he replied with a smile. Miley rolled her eyes but smiled happily as she leaned against his shoulder as they walked out of the theatre.
A/N: Be sure to let me hear your thoughts, even if it's over. I have one more story currently out, 'Mingling With Celebrities', and I have several other ideas floating around in my fairly empty head so be sure to let me hear your thoughts so I have input to use on future stories. What did you like? What didn't you like? Let me hear your thoughts!
Thanks for reading. Cheers!