Changes, For Better or Worse?
A/N-Thanks for the reviews everyone. It means a lot. So as we all know Kate is completely evil right now and the way I wrote the story she is never redeemed at the end. Do you guys think I should maybe show a bit more of a human side to her? Let me know, but anyway we now rejoin our favorite twosome a few days later. Oh and if this is way to cheesy, please let me know as well.
Chapter 7- Sunsets and a Little Conversation
"C'mon Ethan", Miranda urged. "We're going to miss it if you don't hurry."
Ethan checked his watch. "We've got five minutes. Chill."
Miranda shrugged and continued on. "I just want it to be perfect, so c'mon." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along as she broke into a full sprint as they ran up the last leg of the hill.
Ethan didn't care. Miranda had been in such a good mood the past few days and he was loving it. After school she had asked him if he'd go to her "special spot" and watch the sunset with her. How could a guy refuse? Ethan laughed as Miranda continued to talk a mile a minute as she ran. And the girl wasn't even winded.
"Believe me---it's so totally cool up here. I can't believe you've never been here. The sunset and the view is amazing. I haven't been there in so long." Finally Miranda stopped running and let go of Ethan's hand as they reached the top of the hill taking in the scenery.
They were pretty high above the town and from the top of the hill you could see the water in the distance. There were few trees to block the magnificent view of the town and in combination with the setting sun, the scene really was breathtaking.
Miranda giggled like a kid. "Yay! We didn't miss it", she clapped excitedly. "Come here", she said guiding him to a particular spot where they would have the best view. "My dad used to always take me up here as a kid. Isn't it great?" she asked as she sat Indian style on a patch of grass. "You can even see our houses from up here."
Ethan just stared at the sky and setting sun. "It's cool. I never knew about this before, I mean watching it from up here."
"Most people don't", Miranda noted. "You should lay down for a better view", she said as she laid back, arms folded behind her head. "This has always been sort of my special space. Besides my dad, I've only brought Lizzie and Gordo here before."
Ethan took Miranda's advice and laid backwards on the ground next to her.
"Oh look", Miranda squealed she said pointing. "Look how amazing."
The sky was now covered in a dazzling array of pinks and oranges as the sun fell lower and lower in the sky, coming so low that it looked like they could practically reach out and touch it if they tried hard enough.
Miranda and Ethan lay in comfortable silence for a while as the final rays of sunlight slipped away before their eyes.
When it was over, Ethan spoke. "Thanks for bringing me."
Miranda rolled over on her side, hand propping up her head and looked at him. "No prob. I told you I wanted to show you. You're my friend", she said simply.
Ethan sat up and stretched out his arms that were stiff from the way he'd arranged himself on the ground. "You're in a good mood today", he observed.
"Dunno. I guess", Miranda said restlessly as she got up and moved to pick at a patch of wildflowers growing nearby. "Things are good."
Ethan sat and continued to watch her. She was beyond giddy and her mood was kind of contagious. "Ya know you got grass stuck in your braid thingies", he said motioning to her hair. He couldn't help but laugh as Miranda tried desperately to pick at it with her hand full of flowers, but instead was making matters much worse.
He got up to help her. "Here, I got it", Ethan said as he set to work picking blades of grass and flowers out of her hair slowly. Piece by piece. Ethan was taking his time since he didn't usually get to stand this close to her. Miranda smelled good-like fresh peaches and cream or something girly like that.
Miranda tried hard not to move as Ethan stood above her, hands on her head. Being this close to him---alone---in the dark---was interesting and she wasn't sure, but it seemed like he was taking his sweet time. Not that she was complaining, but there was no way she could have gotten that dirty. She breathed in and got a whiff of his scent, outdoorsy and natural. Miranda could get used to this.
Ethan finally pulled back from her. "I got it all I think."
"Cool thanks", Miranda barely managed audibly. She was transfixed to the spot, not sure what to say or do next. Instead, she smoothed her hair. This was so weird, she was never uncomfortable around Ethan before. "Uhhh."
Ethan looked back at her at a loss for words himself.
Think Miranda think she commanded herself. And there was only one thing she could think of. Maybe it wasn't the best time but-"Ethan, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot." Ethan sprawled out on the grass again, finding a way to get comfortable and grateful that she was talking.
"Why do you hang out with me?" Miranda asked.
"That's it", Ethan scoffed. "That's your question? Cause you're fun and easy to be around."
Miranda tucked her now unruly hair behind her ear and settled herself a safe distance away from Ethan. She didn't trust herself getting too close or she'd be acting all dumb again. "That's not what I meant exactly. We're friends, but we weren't in junior high. You had a lot of other friends too. What happened to them? I mean it can't be that they're all in relationships."
"No, not really. Things changed for me over the summer too. Stuff happened and I started realizing, ya know, that people I thought were my friends really weren't. Like it's weird, when you asked me before I can list reasons why the two of us are friends, but when I really think about it I can't figure out why I was friends with a lot of my so-called "junior high" friends. So I just stopped I guess, stopped the bullshit."
"Harsh language there Craft, but I know what you mean. Gordo used to always say that in junior high we were the normals and you guys were the populars, jocks or what not."
Ethan picked at a nonexistent spot on his jeans. "It's so stupid." He shook his head. "I was popular for some unknown reason so I had to date dumb cheerleaders and could only be friends with the jocks, who were all too busy backstabbing each other, ya know. It's my own fault since I went along."
"But what's different now?" Miranda asked gently.
He thought about it. "Honestly, don't care anymore. Want to have friends I can trust and like for once. But it's hard---girls either talk to me because I'm popular or about me cause they think I'm cute."
Miranda stuck her tongue out at him. "Must be tough having people think you're cute all the time", she teased.
"I am cute", Ethan admitted jokingly. "But my so-called friends and dates didn't even know me so who cares about all that. I decided I needed to change some things this year."
"And make some new friends?" she added thoughtfully.
"You got it Sanchez, but it's harder than you think. Trying to figure out who's using you and who's not."
Miranda smiled. "I hear that. Does Kate ring any bells?"
Ethan stretched his legs and rolled his eyes. "Kate. Please. Don't know why I ever hung out with her." He paused. "Uhhh Miranda, I know Lizzie and Gordo hurt you, but you're lucky. I'd kill to have real friends watching out for me like that."
"I know", Miranda agreed. "They didn't mean to, but it didn't make it hurt less either. All three of us have always been there for each other. Things just take some getting used to."
He nodded. "I was always jealous of yous guys and how close you were", he confided. "I think everyone was."
"Yeah well, I'm your friend and you know I'd never use you", she offered.
Ethan got up and moved closer to her to get a better look. "I know, I trust you. You trust me?"
Miranda gazed into his eyes. "Completely", she agreed as she got up from the ground once again, uncomfortable in his gaze. "One day Ethan you're going to find a girl who likes you for you, the real you, and you'll know it."
"You too Miranda. I mean, you're gonna find a guy---a special guy who would be lucky to have a girlfriend like you."
"I hope so", Miranda said.
"Yeah, me too", Ethan sighed.
She shrugged. "Well in the meantime we got each other."
"We do." He studied her carefully wondering exactly what she had meant by that last part. She was looking good, he couldn't help but notice. He'd be a fool not to notice. She had the cutest little nose, crazy eyes and extremely inviting lips. But there was no chance that she could ever.
Miranda couldn't stop watching his perfect dimple form as a mischievous and playful smile crossed his lips. Just what was he thinking about? Not about her, Ethan would never think of her like that as much as she might want him to.
She glanced down at her watch. "Oh Geez Ethan, I was supposed to be home twenty minutes ago", she panicked.
"Don't worry. Your parents trust you. I'll walk you home and tell 'em it was my fault. No sweat. They love me."
"Thanks Ethan---for everything."
"You got it", he said back. Their glances lingering on each other a few seconds to long searching for something more maybe, something unsaid.
Little did they know that their own thoughts were not unique. "Could it be?" they thought to themselves before quickly releasing the notion and shoving it towards the back of their minds.
"Well then--um, let's jet", Miranda said as she broke the moment and started to scamper off down the hill.
Ethan was left behind again. He was realizing that with Miranda he was often at least two steps behind. "Hold up", he called after her. "I'm coming! Miranda!"
A/N-Thanks for the reviews everyone. It means a lot. So as we all know Kate is completely evil right now and the way I wrote the story she is never redeemed at the end. Do you guys think I should maybe show a bit more of a human side to her? Let me know, but anyway we now rejoin our favorite twosome a few days later. Oh and if this is way to cheesy, please let me know as well.
Chapter 7- Sunsets and a Little Conversation
"C'mon Ethan", Miranda urged. "We're going to miss it if you don't hurry."
Ethan checked his watch. "We've got five minutes. Chill."
Miranda shrugged and continued on. "I just want it to be perfect, so c'mon." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along as she broke into a full sprint as they ran up the last leg of the hill.
Ethan didn't care. Miranda had been in such a good mood the past few days and he was loving it. After school she had asked him if he'd go to her "special spot" and watch the sunset with her. How could a guy refuse? Ethan laughed as Miranda continued to talk a mile a minute as she ran. And the girl wasn't even winded.
"Believe me---it's so totally cool up here. I can't believe you've never been here. The sunset and the view is amazing. I haven't been there in so long." Finally Miranda stopped running and let go of Ethan's hand as they reached the top of the hill taking in the scenery.
They were pretty high above the town and from the top of the hill you could see the water in the distance. There were few trees to block the magnificent view of the town and in combination with the setting sun, the scene really was breathtaking.
Miranda giggled like a kid. "Yay! We didn't miss it", she clapped excitedly. "Come here", she said guiding him to a particular spot where they would have the best view. "My dad used to always take me up here as a kid. Isn't it great?" she asked as she sat Indian style on a patch of grass. "You can even see our houses from up here."
Ethan just stared at the sky and setting sun. "It's cool. I never knew about this before, I mean watching it from up here."
"Most people don't", Miranda noted. "You should lay down for a better view", she said as she laid back, arms folded behind her head. "This has always been sort of my special space. Besides my dad, I've only brought Lizzie and Gordo here before."
Ethan took Miranda's advice and laid backwards on the ground next to her.
"Oh look", Miranda squealed she said pointing. "Look how amazing."
The sky was now covered in a dazzling array of pinks and oranges as the sun fell lower and lower in the sky, coming so low that it looked like they could practically reach out and touch it if they tried hard enough.
Miranda and Ethan lay in comfortable silence for a while as the final rays of sunlight slipped away before their eyes.
When it was over, Ethan spoke. "Thanks for bringing me."
Miranda rolled over on her side, hand propping up her head and looked at him. "No prob. I told you I wanted to show you. You're my friend", she said simply.
Ethan sat up and stretched out his arms that were stiff from the way he'd arranged himself on the ground. "You're in a good mood today", he observed.
"Dunno. I guess", Miranda said restlessly as she got up and moved to pick at a patch of wildflowers growing nearby. "Things are good."
Ethan sat and continued to watch her. She was beyond giddy and her mood was kind of contagious. "Ya know you got grass stuck in your braid thingies", he said motioning to her hair. He couldn't help but laugh as Miranda tried desperately to pick at it with her hand full of flowers, but instead was making matters much worse.
He got up to help her. "Here, I got it", Ethan said as he set to work picking blades of grass and flowers out of her hair slowly. Piece by piece. Ethan was taking his time since he didn't usually get to stand this close to her. Miranda smelled good-like fresh peaches and cream or something girly like that.
Miranda tried hard not to move as Ethan stood above her, hands on her head. Being this close to him---alone---in the dark---was interesting and she wasn't sure, but it seemed like he was taking his sweet time. Not that she was complaining, but there was no way she could have gotten that dirty. She breathed in and got a whiff of his scent, outdoorsy and natural. Miranda could get used to this.
Ethan finally pulled back from her. "I got it all I think."
"Cool thanks", Miranda barely managed audibly. She was transfixed to the spot, not sure what to say or do next. Instead, she smoothed her hair. This was so weird, she was never uncomfortable around Ethan before. "Uhhh."
Ethan looked back at her at a loss for words himself.
Think Miranda think she commanded herself. And there was only one thing she could think of. Maybe it wasn't the best time but-"Ethan, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot." Ethan sprawled out on the grass again, finding a way to get comfortable and grateful that she was talking.
"Why do you hang out with me?" Miranda asked.
"That's it", Ethan scoffed. "That's your question? Cause you're fun and easy to be around."
Miranda tucked her now unruly hair behind her ear and settled herself a safe distance away from Ethan. She didn't trust herself getting too close or she'd be acting all dumb again. "That's not what I meant exactly. We're friends, but we weren't in junior high. You had a lot of other friends too. What happened to them? I mean it can't be that they're all in relationships."
"No, not really. Things changed for me over the summer too. Stuff happened and I started realizing, ya know, that people I thought were my friends really weren't. Like it's weird, when you asked me before I can list reasons why the two of us are friends, but when I really think about it I can't figure out why I was friends with a lot of my so-called "junior high" friends. So I just stopped I guess, stopped the bullshit."
"Harsh language there Craft, but I know what you mean. Gordo used to always say that in junior high we were the normals and you guys were the populars, jocks or what not."
Ethan picked at a nonexistent spot on his jeans. "It's so stupid." He shook his head. "I was popular for some unknown reason so I had to date dumb cheerleaders and could only be friends with the jocks, who were all too busy backstabbing each other, ya know. It's my own fault since I went along."
"But what's different now?" Miranda asked gently.
He thought about it. "Honestly, don't care anymore. Want to have friends I can trust and like for once. But it's hard---girls either talk to me because I'm popular or about me cause they think I'm cute."
Miranda stuck her tongue out at him. "Must be tough having people think you're cute all the time", she teased.
"I am cute", Ethan admitted jokingly. "But my so-called friends and dates didn't even know me so who cares about all that. I decided I needed to change some things this year."
"And make some new friends?" she added thoughtfully.
"You got it Sanchez, but it's harder than you think. Trying to figure out who's using you and who's not."
Miranda smiled. "I hear that. Does Kate ring any bells?"
Ethan stretched his legs and rolled his eyes. "Kate. Please. Don't know why I ever hung out with her." He paused. "Uhhh Miranda, I know Lizzie and Gordo hurt you, but you're lucky. I'd kill to have real friends watching out for me like that."
"I know", Miranda agreed. "They didn't mean to, but it didn't make it hurt less either. All three of us have always been there for each other. Things just take some getting used to."
He nodded. "I was always jealous of yous guys and how close you were", he confided. "I think everyone was."
"Yeah well, I'm your friend and you know I'd never use you", she offered.
Ethan got up and moved closer to her to get a better look. "I know, I trust you. You trust me?"
Miranda gazed into his eyes. "Completely", she agreed as she got up from the ground once again, uncomfortable in his gaze. "One day Ethan you're going to find a girl who likes you for you, the real you, and you'll know it."
"You too Miranda. I mean, you're gonna find a guy---a special guy who would be lucky to have a girlfriend like you."
"I hope so", Miranda said.
"Yeah, me too", Ethan sighed.
She shrugged. "Well in the meantime we got each other."
"We do." He studied her carefully wondering exactly what she had meant by that last part. She was looking good, he couldn't help but notice. He'd be a fool not to notice. She had the cutest little nose, crazy eyes and extremely inviting lips. But there was no chance that she could ever.
Miranda couldn't stop watching his perfect dimple form as a mischievous and playful smile crossed his lips. Just what was he thinking about? Not about her, Ethan would never think of her like that as much as she might want him to.
She glanced down at her watch. "Oh Geez Ethan, I was supposed to be home twenty minutes ago", she panicked.
"Don't worry. Your parents trust you. I'll walk you home and tell 'em it was my fault. No sweat. They love me."
"Thanks Ethan---for everything."
"You got it", he said back. Their glances lingering on each other a few seconds to long searching for something more maybe, something unsaid.
Little did they know that their own thoughts were not unique. "Could it be?" they thought to themselves before quickly releasing the notion and shoving it towards the back of their minds.
"Well then--um, let's jet", Miranda said as she broke the moment and started to scamper off down the hill.
Ethan was left behind again. He was realizing that with Miranda he was often at least two steps behind. "Hold up", he called after her. "I'm coming! Miranda!"