Disclaimer: I don't own Miranda, Larry, Ethan, Kate, Lizzie, or Gordo. Although if I did, I'd be a very rich person right now! : )

Now what? I had laid my feelings out on the line, and Larry was picking the

chocolate chips out of his brownie.

"Larry?" I poked him tentatively. "Larry, say something." He looked at me, his

brown eyes sad and lonely.

"Miranda, do you know what its like to not be liked?" His gaze traveled to the

lunch line, where Lizzie and Gordo were standing and watching, pretending to be

purchasing another peanut butter sandwich, Gordo's favorite. He shook his head, and

looked at me.

"I don't," I mumbled, feeling guilty for being blessed with my wonderful friends.

They always had my back; we were the Three Amigos. There was almost never a time I

was without Lizzie and Gordo. Even though they were dating, I tried hard not to slip

through the cracks. I wouldn't let them forget me; I knew they wouldn't.

"You don't, you're right. Every day is like that for me. If it's not Kate making fun

of me, telling me to take a shower, it's people ignoring me. You ignored me. Do you

know how much that hurt? I thought you were a great person. I had built up this vision of

you in my mind, and it was absolutely perfect. But then, you had that party, and as much

as I hated to admit it, I wanted to go. I wanted to make you see that I was a good person,

underneath everybody's comments. But I had to be someone else for you to notice me.

And like you said, you liked me as Lawrence, but continued after I wasn't. I wish it

hadn't been that hard. I wanted you to like me for me, Larry. But you didn't. No one ever

does." I looked at him, in his eyes that were pained with his outburst. Why hadn't I

noticed it? He wasn't that bad a person, deep down. That's why I liked him. Once you get

to know him, at least.

"I-I'm sorry Larry. But why didn't you change? Why didn't you change your

shirt, try and fit in with people once in awhile? Once people get to know you, they'd like

you. I did." Larry sighed. I felt so horrible for him, shunning him without getting to know

him. It was like Ethan and I. Why did Lizzie and I, along with most of the female

population of Hillridge, love him so much? He couldn't hold an intelligent conversation

for over a few seconds, and that included saying hello. It was because of how he looked.

That was how everything was based in junior high. Larry, nobody liked him because his

hair was greasy and he had been wearing the same shirt for years now. But how hard was

it for him to change his shirt and wash his hair?

"I didn't bother. Once you've got a reputation, it's hard to change. Why is Lizzie

considered a dork? She's smart, she's sweet, she's beautiful, and she's fun to be around.

Why isn't she leading the school? Why is it Kate, who's so ugly inside, telling everybody

how they should dress and act? Why, Miranda? Answer me that."

I couldn't answer him. I had never walked through the halls and felt alone, or

stayed awake and night and wondered why nobody liked me. I always had Lizzie and

Gordo, helping me through the rough times, helping me up when I fell. Back when I was

struggling with my weight, Lizzie and Gordo were the ones that bailed me out. I could've

gone on, not eating, hating myself, for months until anyone realized. By then, I could've

been in the throes of anorexia with nobody to help me. But because of Lizzie and Gordo,

I could go to the mall and eat an order of fries and not feel guilty. You couldn't go

through life without friends. I guess Larry had.

"Larry, I want to be your friend. I hope I'm not too late. I want to be more than

your friend. I was too stupid to realize it before, but you're the guy for me. Not Ethan, not

Lawrence, but you. You always had the same personality as Lawrence, you were just

more sure of yourself. You were a whole other person, and that's what drew me in. But if

I didn't like you, Larry, why would I be here right now? Answer me that Larry

Tudgeman."