disclaimer Miranda does not belong to me.

Plans?

Stevie knew she was early. She was always early, it was part of her job as the manager of the joke shop Miranda owned. She smiled slightly as she walked in and flicked on the lights. It was no surprise that she was the first one to arrive. It didn't matter, it gave her time to think about her latest and greatest matchmaking scheme. She sighed heavily as she perched herself on the stool behind the counter and began to open the post. Spotting the clown shaped post it note stuck to the till she frowned.

"Oh Miranda."

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Gary rubbed a hand over his face as he stared up at the shop window. He loved going into the joke shop. He knew that he had to talk to Miranda about the previous night. He hated to think he had upset her with some stupid comment. He pushed the door of the shop open as Stevie looked up.

"Hi." Gary smiled.

Stevie scowled in response. "Hello."

"What have I done?"

"Nothing. I thought you were a customer."

"Oh thanks."

"Well? What do you want?"

"Where's Miranda?"

"She left this." Stevie handed him the novelty post it note.

"She's sick?"

"Apparently so. Look. The note says Leave me alone, I am sick. Love Miranda xxx" She watched as Gary's eyes clouded over. She knew she was right to matchmake. It was obvious that he cared about her friend. She just hoped Miranda realised how much the chef really did care.

"Well, what's wrong with her?" Gary was instantly worried as Stevie smiled at the hapless chef.

"She's just a bit down I think. What with her mother constantly going on at her for not having a boyfriend. You know what Penny's like. And tonight's the party." Steevie smiled slightly.

"She does know I'm going too?"

"Well, no." Stevie admitted. "Look, I have a delivery to sort out. For some reason Miranda thought we could see three dozen chocolate peni." She rolled her eyes.

Gary blushed automatically as Stevie rolled her eyes. She knew how eeasy it was to embarrass the man in front of her. She smiled slightly as she thought how perfect her friends would be together. Gary shuffled uncomfortably on the spot.

"Do you think one of us should check on her?" Gary glanced up the stairs, knowing she was probably miserable and alone while he was miserable and stood with Stevie. She shook her head as the shop door opened.

"No." She smiled as she stepped out from behind the counter. "No, I know whjat she's like if she's not well. Penny says we are all to be there at 8pm. Be here at 7. Well, go on. I have a customer." She bundled Gary out of the shop as the middle aged customer made her way towards the display. Gary shrugged his shoulders as he found himself dumped on the pavement. He couldn't help but glance up at the window above the shop, half certain he had seen the curtain twitch.

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"Stupid party." Miranda pulled her grey dressing gown around her as she stared out the window. "Ooh Gary" She couldn't help but smile as she saw him walk into the shop. For a moment she was sent into a panic at the thought he might come up to the flat while she was wearing her most unattractive and scruffy pjamas. She tugged her dressing gown around her as she sat in the window. It didn't really matter what Gary did or what she was wearing, she was just a big, clumsy oaf that no one would twice at. She walked across to the sofa and picked up the remote control. Grease started blasting out of the TV.

"Sandy, you are an idiot!" Miranda huffed at the screen. "Danny can't see how lucky he is! Stupid man! Stupid film! Stupid Gary!" She switched off the television and hugged her knees to her chest and cried. She knew that if Grease couldn't cheer her up she really was in a really bad way. "Stupid party!"

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Stevie walked into the bistro as Gary and Clive propped up the bar. It was almost empty but Stevie didn't really care. Tilly sat in the corner with the latest boyfriend she had . Tilly looked up and waved.

"No Miranda?"

"Obviously." Stevie barked as she jumped onto the bar stool. Gary looked away as she stared at him. "Why aren't you home getting ready?"

"I really am not sure about this."

"Gary." Stevie was beginning to think her plans were never going to get off the ground. "It will be ok."

"I'm going round there." Gary walked out of the bistro as Stevie spun on the chair. This was not what she had planned at all.

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Miranda laid on her bed as a dozen or so outfits were thrown all around her bedroom. She knew she had to go to her parents' anniversary party, whether she wanted to or not. She closed her eyes as she pictured her mother trying to set her up with yet another cousin or family friend that would no doubt turn out to be a creep. She hated it but she could just picture her mother yelling "Such fun!" across the living room when they all knew it really wasn't. She rolled onto her side and wondered if she could get away with ringing her dad and telling him she had a stomach bug. It had worked with Stevie. Just as she was about to go in search of the phone there was a knock at the door. Groaning heavily she decided to ignore it. There was another knock. And another. Miranda huffed as she got to her feet.

"Go away." She muttered.

"MIRANDA!" She froze as she heard Gary call her name. "I know you're in. Come on. Please open the door."

Miranda tugged her dressing gown around her as she walked to the door.

"Gary?"

"Open the door, Miranda." He leant against the wood as she unlocked the door. She stared at her friend as it suddenly didn't matter what she looked like.

"Gary."

"Hi."

"Hello." She sighed as he stepped towards her.

"Can I come in then?" Gary stepped beside her as he walked into the flat. Miranda had no idea why he was there but she was glad he had come. "Hurry up, we have a party to go to."

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A/N More soon.