Neighbors

Prologue, Big moves

She sighed in relief as the last of the boxes finally made it into her New York flat. She looked around the place, filled to the tee with card board and stuffed suitcases, 'now a thousand to go through and unpack'. "Thanks for all your help Lilly. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey no problamo!" Her best friend since junior high announced from the kitchen, somehow she'd made her way in and was already putting away dishes. Pushing her own boxes aside and tripping over a few times Miley too stood in the small kitchen.

"So…" Miley let out awkwardly, "this is it huh?"

The blonde knew what her friend was hinting at but she'd rather not talk about it. Not yet anyway, she just wanted to enjoy the time they still had together.

"You can't ignore this forever."

"I'm not ignoring anything, just simply putting it off to the very last minute." Lilly said nonchalantly, scaring the brunette a bit about how she could be so care free about it. She was never good at saying goodbyes but this was just making it unbearable. Besides, its not like they would never see each other again. It just wouldn't be as often with Lilly living all the way on the other side of the country. Truthfully Miley was surprised she'd been able to hold the tears in for so long. She was so sure she'd cry on the flight over, leaving her dad's house or while she was helping her pack. Miley sure did, sulking for two weeks straight.

This could only mean one thing: When the time came Lilly was going to throw a fit. Miley knew from the beginning that her best friend was one tough cookie but like any other normal girl, she could only hold it in for so long and when she did decide to let it go, it was going to be a tidal wave.

"You know that's just going to make everything harder in the end." Miley sighed.

When she went to put another plate in the cabinet Miley grabbed her hand and brought her into a half hug, "I'm really gonna miss ya' Lils."

"Miley don't, you're gonna make me cry and I don't want to," she quickly wiped at a stray tear before turning back to the cabinet ignoring her friend's stare. "Not right now." Her body shook betraying her words and it was too late.

"Lilly," Miley sniffed, see she knew this would happen. She didn't want this to be hard! Two girls standing in the kitchen crying their eyes out would only lead to an unpacked apartment. "Stop crying. Remember what we said. Thanksgiving my place. Christmas yours. We're still going to see plenty of each other."

"Says you but we both know once you start at the label and I start at the hospital we wont even have time to text each other."

Sad thing was that it was probably true. Miley getting a job at one of the most prestigious record labels this side of the country was a once in a life time chance. She'd be working like crazy just to make a name for her self. And Lilly, we'll she was the next Doogie Howser, female version of course. Only 20 years old and already primping to become a surgeon. Miley wouldn't put it against her to cure cancer.

"We'll make it." She said with a glimmer of hope in her voice to ease her friend's doubt. "I mean that's what best friends do. Stay strong through thick and thin."

"I sure hope so." Lilly said wiping at her eyes and releasing her self from Miley's embrace.

"You gonna be okay?"

"Fine." She declared before returning to her peppy self. With a bright smile she said, "Now you go start on the living room and leave the kitchen to me. I'd hate to leave you drowning in this mess all by yourself."

Smiling Miley turned to her living room, the piles and stacks intimidating her but she moved forward nonetheless. She would soon find out the average size of her living room would resemble the big city. In a matter of days she'd realize just how alone she really was.

Hannah Montana and all related characters © Disney