Changes, For Better or Worse?

A/N-Please review. No one loves me. But on with the show anyway. This picks up immediately after Gordo/Ethan's conversation in the last chapter, still at the Cineplex.
Chapter 12- Clearing the Air

Ethan saw Lizzie out of the corner of his eye. "Hey Lizzie. Is Miranda here?" He appeared hopeful.

Lizzie scowled at him. "She left. Do you care or something?"

"Did you tell her?" Gordo demanded of Lizzie.

They shared a look. "I had to. But don't worry. Miranda got mad at me and not him." Lizzie glanced in Ethan's direction. "She said that HE had the right to do whatever he wanted. That THEY are just friends."

Ethan's face fell. "She did?"

Gordo took Lizzie by both arms and looked her squarely in the face. "We made a mistake. Claire came on to him and we just walked up at the wrong time. I'm starting to think this is all one big setup."

Lizzie looked up at Ethan. "But Kate said---you were just using Miranda", she stammered.

Ethan and Gordo rolled their eyes on cue.

Ethan looked towards Lizzie. "I may not be the brightest guy or even the nicest, but I'm not like that. Miranda makes me happy. I feel good around her."

Lizzie started thinking out loud. "But why would Kate?" And then she saw it. Kate and Claire laughing not to far away. Lizzie nodded discreetly in their direction. "Look."

"Those brain-dead idiots are definitely up to something", Gordo seethed. "What's their deal? What do they have against Miranda?"

Lizzie thought back. "I think I know. I remember something Kate once told me about her always needing to be the best."

Gordo picked up on Lizzie's thoughts. "So she was jealous of Miranda and Ethan and she was afraid that little ole Miranda would steal him away from big bad popular cheerleader Kate."

"Exactly", Lizzie concluded.

Ethan stared at the laughing girls. "But I was never with Kate. I hung out with her in middle school sometimes. An image thing I guess."

Lizzie smiled. "That's the point. Things have changed for all of us in high school, we've changed and Kate hasn't. She wants things to be the same. You guys are supposed to be popular and we're not. Status Quo."

"Besides Kate and Miranda have always had a little extra rivalry on the side", Gordo added remembering back to the infamous seventh grade prank war. He pulled the note he'd received that afternoon out of his pocket and opened it up. "This is what Miranda left me."

Lizzie took it and read it. "I'll just bet that. . .", she looked at Gordo incredulously. "This is so not Miranda's handwriting Gordo. She doesn't dot her I's like that. This is a forgery."

Ethan held out his own. "I got one too."

Lizzie studied them both side by side. "Kate", she deduced. "She timed it so we'd see Claire and Ethan together, convince Miranda that Ethan was using her, one up Miranda and get Ethan for herself. Makes perfect sense."

"But thanks to Kate, Miranda hates me", Ethan pointed out.

Lizzie shook her head and smiled sincerely. "She doesn't. She didn't believe me about the using part. She was a little hurt, but she'll get over it."

"Do you think she'll give me another chance? Maybe go out on a date for real?" Ethan tried to appear hopeful, but not too hopeful.

Lizzie walked over to him. "I'm not sure, but I think so. I think there's more going on with her than she's saying. But you better treat her well or. . ."

Ethan smiled and cut her off. "You guys sure stick together. I already got the speech from Gordon."

Gordo took Lizzie's hand and kissed it. "We're scary like that sometimes."

Ethan looked off into space. "Hmm, I gotta plan. But I'm gonna need your guys help."

Lizzie eyed Kate and Claire. "But what about those two."

Ethan smiled wickedly, something he rarely did. "They'll get theres and if all goes well I'll get Miranda."