"Lizzie that isn't even funny will you just let Gordo in? Oh hi Larry." Ok
so Lizzie wasn't joking then. Suddenly the McGuire's air conditioner wasn't
working as well. She was roasting and very aware that sweat beads were
forming on her neck under his intense gaze. Maybe the AC was working
perfectly well after all.
"Venus." Larry's gaze never left hers as he closed the door. Right in Gordo's face.
"Larry!" Lizzie broke his trance. "You just closed the door on Gordo!"
"I did? Sorry." But his attention was returned to Miranda. "Venus."
"Huh?" Lizzie, Gordo & Miranda all spoke together
"I told you already Miranda, you're a goddess. Venus." His intensity was beginning to scare her. And then he smiled. That smile, which made her weak in the knees.
"Earth to Miranda. You guys wanna go to the pool or something? The AC'S busted again. I don't know why we don't just get a new one. Miranda you could borrow one of my swimsuits"
"Yeah but we can't. How about this, we all go back home. Pack for the trip tomorrow and then meet at the pool at say, three o'clock?" Gordo was right, of course but this time Lizzie didn't want him to be.
"But you just got here! How about we just have a water fight in the back yard instead then?"
"I like that idea. What trip were you talking about Gordo?" Larry was bemused. They were all so close he felt almost as if he were interrupting their mystical forces. They were after all the Three Amigos, not the Three Amigos and Tudgeman. If they were the Three Musketeers, he could always say that he was D'artangan (a/n: did I spell that right?) but this was different. Oh well if they didn't want him around they would have to say so because there was no way he would voluntarily leave Miranda. He had always like her. He did after all use her picture as his desktop design throughout 7th and 8th grades. He was too weird for her then though. He still was but he had learnt something in Greece. He did not have to fight to be noticed just because he wasn't popular. He could be normal and still be different. He liked himself now. He was still into science fiction but he didn't need to broadcast it. She had always been what he had recently achieved. An individual, not a freak. Only recently could he tell the difference.
"You'll find out about it later but I don't really want to have a water fight either Lizzie. Can't we just go to the movies or something? I haven't seen Agent Cody Banks yet and you know how bad Frankie will feel when we can't give him a rave review about when he calls." Miranda was not up to getting wet and having her makeup smudged in front of Larry. Ok she knew she was being shallow but she wasn't sure where this was going yet and until she had to look her best. In some peculiar way, even though she knew it was impossible she wanted to look like the Venus that he said she was. This thought only made her feel more vain but she tried to ignore the nagging at the back of her brain. Her suggestion was greeted by a round of agreements. It turned out to be an excellent decision as they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Miranda was quiet throughout the whole day, however only giving random comments to questions posed to her. She wondered if she was being a hypocrite for falling for Larry now. She remembered telling him just the day before that he didn't have to change to be liked. So why was it that she, herself didn't like him before. Why was it that it was only after his transformation that she realised his 'great personality'. Not that he wasn't great, he was, but I still bothered her to realise that she could be so superficial. She had to end this before it started. It wasn't fair to Larry. He deserved better. When the foursome got off the bus Miranda held on to Larry's arm, preventing him from following Lizzie and Gordo who happily strolled ahead.
"Larry, can I talk to you a minute?" He turned towards her and smiled. Oh no, not the smile. Don't make this hard Tudgeman. "Larry I don't think that we should go to the Digital Bean tonight."
"Why not? Are you feeling ok? I noticed you didn't say much today." Concern furrowed his brow.
"No, it's just that. I feel like such an idiot. I'm afraid that I'm only paying attention to you because of your looks and you don't deserve to be treated like that. So I don't think I should let this go any further." She couldn't meet his eyes. She was so afraid that he would get angry with her.
Instead he lifted her gaze to his" Miranda, you gave me heaven when you agreed to go out with me tonight. Don't take that away from me now."
"But-"
"No buts Miranda just enjoy the moment. Speaking of which, what was Gordo talking about earlier? Are you guys going on a trip?"
"You are too. That is if your Mom and Dad say yes. Larry what's wrong?" The mention of his parents made Larry confident exterior crumble. He looked ready to punch something. Then he realised that he was scaring her and he smiled reassuringly but it did not have its usual effect on her. This time his smile did not reach his eyes.
" Count me in. Where are we going anyway?"
"Disney World, uh.. Larry don't you have to ask them first?"
"I'm sure it won't be a problem with my mom still being in Greece and all. Especially since my dad doesn't really care what I do. Hey Miranda can we change the subject now? I'll just be there. Wherever you go I'll be there. I think we should walk up though Lizzie and Gordo are waiting for us."
"Venus." Larry's gaze never left hers as he closed the door. Right in Gordo's face.
"Larry!" Lizzie broke his trance. "You just closed the door on Gordo!"
"I did? Sorry." But his attention was returned to Miranda. "Venus."
"Huh?" Lizzie, Gordo & Miranda all spoke together
"I told you already Miranda, you're a goddess. Venus." His intensity was beginning to scare her. And then he smiled. That smile, which made her weak in the knees.
"Earth to Miranda. You guys wanna go to the pool or something? The AC'S busted again. I don't know why we don't just get a new one. Miranda you could borrow one of my swimsuits"
"Yeah but we can't. How about this, we all go back home. Pack for the trip tomorrow and then meet at the pool at say, three o'clock?" Gordo was right, of course but this time Lizzie didn't want him to be.
"But you just got here! How about we just have a water fight in the back yard instead then?"
"I like that idea. What trip were you talking about Gordo?" Larry was bemused. They were all so close he felt almost as if he were interrupting their mystical forces. They were after all the Three Amigos, not the Three Amigos and Tudgeman. If they were the Three Musketeers, he could always say that he was D'artangan (a/n: did I spell that right?) but this was different. Oh well if they didn't want him around they would have to say so because there was no way he would voluntarily leave Miranda. He had always like her. He did after all use her picture as his desktop design throughout 7th and 8th grades. He was too weird for her then though. He still was but he had learnt something in Greece. He did not have to fight to be noticed just because he wasn't popular. He could be normal and still be different. He liked himself now. He was still into science fiction but he didn't need to broadcast it. She had always been what he had recently achieved. An individual, not a freak. Only recently could he tell the difference.
"You'll find out about it later but I don't really want to have a water fight either Lizzie. Can't we just go to the movies or something? I haven't seen Agent Cody Banks yet and you know how bad Frankie will feel when we can't give him a rave review about when he calls." Miranda was not up to getting wet and having her makeup smudged in front of Larry. Ok she knew she was being shallow but she wasn't sure where this was going yet and until she had to look her best. In some peculiar way, even though she knew it was impossible she wanted to look like the Venus that he said she was. This thought only made her feel more vain but she tried to ignore the nagging at the back of her brain. Her suggestion was greeted by a round of agreements. It turned out to be an excellent decision as they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Miranda was quiet throughout the whole day, however only giving random comments to questions posed to her. She wondered if she was being a hypocrite for falling for Larry now. She remembered telling him just the day before that he didn't have to change to be liked. So why was it that she, herself didn't like him before. Why was it that it was only after his transformation that she realised his 'great personality'. Not that he wasn't great, he was, but I still bothered her to realise that she could be so superficial. She had to end this before it started. It wasn't fair to Larry. He deserved better. When the foursome got off the bus Miranda held on to Larry's arm, preventing him from following Lizzie and Gordo who happily strolled ahead.
"Larry, can I talk to you a minute?" He turned towards her and smiled. Oh no, not the smile. Don't make this hard Tudgeman. "Larry I don't think that we should go to the Digital Bean tonight."
"Why not? Are you feeling ok? I noticed you didn't say much today." Concern furrowed his brow.
"No, it's just that. I feel like such an idiot. I'm afraid that I'm only paying attention to you because of your looks and you don't deserve to be treated like that. So I don't think I should let this go any further." She couldn't meet his eyes. She was so afraid that he would get angry with her.
Instead he lifted her gaze to his" Miranda, you gave me heaven when you agreed to go out with me tonight. Don't take that away from me now."
"But-"
"No buts Miranda just enjoy the moment. Speaking of which, what was Gordo talking about earlier? Are you guys going on a trip?"
"You are too. That is if your Mom and Dad say yes. Larry what's wrong?" The mention of his parents made Larry confident exterior crumble. He looked ready to punch something. Then he realised that he was scaring her and he smiled reassuringly but it did not have its usual effect on her. This time his smile did not reach his eyes.
" Count me in. Where are we going anyway?"
"Disney World, uh.. Larry don't you have to ask them first?"
"I'm sure it won't be a problem with my mom still being in Greece and all. Especially since my dad doesn't really care what I do. Hey Miranda can we change the subject now? I'll just be there. Wherever you go I'll be there. I think we should walk up though Lizzie and Gordo are waiting for us."
