Dis: i don't own L McG.
"Miranda why aren't you with the girls?" Mrs. McGuire asked walking into the living room.
Miranda looked up from her perch on the couch, placing her book in her lap. Today was once again 'girls night' at the McGuire's, with all the usual players; Kate, Clare, Brook and Lizzie. "Oh, um… yeah this is a really good book." she claimed.
Mrs. McGuire sat down next to her, "Miranda, I know things between you and Lizzie are changing, but Well you cant blame her for being jealous of you."
"Why?"
"Oh, come on Miranda, you do spend all your time with her boyfriend." Jo pointed out.
"Gordo?" Miranda asked taken aback.
"Yes David."
"But he's my friend and Lizzie's never around…" Miranda's mind was reeling.
"No, and it doesn't help matters that when she is around, you try to join in on their plans." To Miranda's shocked expression Jo added, "It's natural. I mean you have all been friends for so long. But some things just aren't appropriate now…like your little sleepovers at the Gordon's."
Miranda didn't know what to say.
"Well I'll leave you to finish your book." Jo said patting Miranda's leg and going upstairs.
Miranda stared blankly at the page in front of her; her mind a million miles away.
Mirada's POV
What was that? I mean I know Jo's just protecting Lizzie, but …am I a bad friend? All this time I just thought Lizzie and I were drifting, now it seems I've all but shoved her away. I think…oh I don't know!
And what's worse? I can't call Gordo, because apparently I'm not only a third wheel, I'm a floozy who keeps throwing herself at her friend's boyfriend.
Oh man! I work at a mental clinic? Maybe I should ask Mrs. Gordon to have me committed so I can't mess any more people up.
The next Morning Miranda woke up at six. She snuck upstairs to get her clothes and was out by six fifteen wearing black slacks and a very modest black blouse.
She walked to the bus stop and at six thirty she called Mrs. G to let her know she didn't need a ride.
She didn't care how ridiculous it seemed, she just couldn't face Gordo; not today. Perhaps when Lizzie went out again, but she'd do everything in her power to avoid accidentally throwing herself at Gordo; Including changing her style, even if it was a hundred degrees out.
"Hey" Mrs. Gordon greeted as Miranda walked in the office, "missed you earlier."
"Oh, yeah well…I'll go put some coffee on." Miranda said avoiding the statement.
"Oh, don't worry David's doing that." At that Miranda froze.
'He's here?' she thought panicking.
"He'll be helping out today. You don't mind do you?"
"Oh, um no of course not."
Needless to say the day dragged on, most of the time filled only by awkward silence.
"Okay that's it what'd I do now?" Gordo finally asked exasperated. This somber quiet person wasn't the Miranda he was used to. In fact the only reason he'd even bothered to show up at all today was because he thought they could have a rematch on the paper-clip-chain-contest.
"You didn't do anything." She sighed defeated, before getting up to refill her coffee mug yet again. "Stupid thing!" she grumbled shaking the coffee pot upside down trying to find at least one drop of coffee left.
"Miranda? Are you okay?" Gordo asked concerned.
"Yes, I just need coffee."
"Wasn't it you who argued so reverently that coffee's gross, not two years ago?"
"Well, it's an acquired taste. Plus it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind." Miranda argued.
"Fine, I'll go get you coffee, but we're not done here." He said walking out the front door.
Miranda's POV
Great now not only m I miserable (and bored) I've also managed to alienate Gordo. So now he thinks I'm mad at him, and he's worried…he even went to get me coffee…
"Miranda." Mrs. Gordon called breaking Miranda's train of thought.
"Yes?" She asked stepping into Mrs. Gordon's office.
"What's wrong?" she asked bluntly.
"What?" Miranda asked.
"You've been distracted, unusually somber, you practically chugged down the entire contents of the coffee pot, and now you're avoiding David."
"Oh, that." Miranda sighed sinking into the leather couch. "It's nothing."
"That nothing sounds loaded with a whole lot of something." Mrs. Gordon pointed out.
"It's just… aww man! I can't believe I'm letting you shrink me." Miranda chuckled.
"Why not? It's on the house."
"Do I throw myself at Gordo?" She asked bluntly before she lost her nerve.
"Well I do recall you guys trying to learn football last weak, which by the way was a bad idea." She smirked recalling the hopeless teens, but seeing Miranda's distraught expression she quickly added, "You've been a great friend to him."
Miranda didn't respond though, she just looked down at her lap.
"You guys have good, healthy…if at times odd, fun. What in the world would make you doubt that?"
"Well last night Mrs. McGuire…"
"I should have guessed." Mrs. Gordon chuckled.
"What?" Miranda asked perplexed.
"Oh Jo means well, but the poor busy body's always jumping to conclusions sticking her nose where it doesn't belong." She answered, "Don't listen to her, poor dear's usually got it wrong."
"But she said Gordo and I were being inappropriate, and that I was horning in on Lizzie's time with him." Miranda protested.
"Do you want my opinion? I think David's a good kid, and Jo knows that. So for the longest time she's hoped that David and Lizzie get together. I don't blame her; in fact at one point I thought Lizzie'd be good for my son.
"But now that you three are growing up it's becoming obvious that you may be growing in different directions." Mrs. Gordon explained.
"What are you saying?"
"Just that this newer Lizzie may not be what David needs, let alone wants, and vise versa. Lizzie's surrounded by all sorts of interesting and attractive people she doesn't need my son any more. Even if they don't seeit that way yet, Jo does. Her blaming you is just a defense mechanism and a way for her to feel she has some control." She finished.
"Wait, you think they're breaking up?" Miranda asked oddly shocked.
"Well not today, you didn't think they'd last forever did you?" she chuckled.
"No, I guess not…" Miranda started.
"No, before you ask, David has no idea. Well I could be wrong, he may have an inkling he's a smart boy, but I don't think Lizzie knows either, I'm sure they'll figure it out soon, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention it to them."
"So, it's a secret?" Miranda asked Glad to have another girl to talk to, even if she did shrink her.
"Everything discussed in here is confidential." She winked.
"So you don't think we're being inappropriate?" Miranda asked her hand on the door.
"Nope, actually I think you're just the kind of friend he needs." She smiled.
As Miranda rounded the corner she spotted Gordo walk in bearing coffee and Flamin' Hots.
Before he had a chance to register what was going on Miranda'd wrapped Gordo in a fierce hug.
"I knew the Flamin' Hots were a good idea" he smirked trying not to spill the coffee.
"Gordo?"
"Yeah?" He asked expecting her explanation.
"You owe me a rematch." She grinned.
not beta'd so sorry if i messed it up, with school and stuff i thought this might hold ya'll over till i can write more regularly.
btw, thanks to all the people still reading/reviewing this fic!