The Assignment

Chapter 3- Miranda's POV

What is up with Lizzie and Gordo? We left class like normal and they are acting extremely weird, even for them.

It could just be me, but everyone in class was majorly stressing over Mr. Dig's little class project. I mean, c'mon people. . .it's not that hard. It just requires a little honesty.

Honesty. Well I guess for high schoolers that's a difficult concept to grasp, but I believe in saying what you feel.

For me it was easy.

I finger the combination of my locker slowly.

Everyone in class and I mean everyone looked half crazed looking around the room to make sure nobody could see what they were writing about, like they were guarding state secrets or something.

I guess some people have a lot of stuff to hide. I swear even Kate looked like she was in major agony back there.

I put my books in my locker and gather my books for the afternoon. Maybe I misunderstood the assignment. What was there to misunderstand? If you could be someone else, who would you be?

Easy. Lizzie. Always Lizzie. It's not like the first time the topic has ever entered my mind.

But at least now I could use the opportunity to read my essay to the class and force Lizzie to hear some stuff that she needs to hear once and for all. Stuff that I've been trying to get through to her for a real long time.

I don't care so much about getting up in front of the class and revealing myself. Lizzie's my best friend and what I had to say was probably what people would expect of me anyway. I've been in Lizzie's shadow most of my life. It wouldn't exactly be a shocking revelation.

When we were little, we always dressed alike. We'd get our moms to buy us matching outfits and we'd plan when to wear them and how to fix our hair. Then we'd spend hours trying to convince people we were twins.

Of course no one ever believed us. We couldn't look more different. Finally we gave up and told people that one of us was adopted. If we were out with my parents Lizzie was adopted and vice versa when we were with the McGuires.

We were always together. Joined at the hip.

By the time sixth grade started I was tired of being the invisible twin. Lizzie always stood out and got noticed. It just happened that way with her blonde blonde hair, enormous big blue eyes and innocent smile. She just shined.

Often I was known as Lizzie's best friend or that little dark haired girl. I wasn't really jealous. I loved Lizzie. It wasn't intentional.

That's when my style changed and I started experimenting with different looks and hairstyles. It was my way of making a name for myself as Miranda and not Lizzie's sidekick. She understood.

But this isn't about me. It's about Lizzie. Lizzie insists that she's ordinary and plain, nothing special. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Even if you can't put your finger on it, there is something special about her. When she smiles, she has the power to melt anyone's heart. It's just she's blind to what the rest of us see in her.

She's good and kindhearted and pure. That's her role in our little threesome. Gordo is the smart sensible one. Lizzie is our conscience and heart. Me, I add a little spice and excitement to the group. I'm there to keep it all interesting.

Lizzie and Gordo are busy talking at his locker. Probably boyfriend/girlfriend stuff and none of my business. I continue to take my time, maybe they'll work their weirdness out.

I search through my book bag pretending to be looking for something.

It's like Lizzie is completely and utterly oblivious half the time. She always seems to be on a never-ending quest for popularity. She is jealous of Kate, our former friend. A few years ago she went so far as to try out for cheerleading. That ended badly.

All Lizzie wants is to be liked. What she doesn't realize, no matter how many times I tell her, is that she is popular. Not in the cheerleader way, but everybody likes her. She's probably the most well liked person in all of Hillridge's freshman class.

Girls don't want to be nasty and vicious like Kate and Claire. They want to be nice and sweet like Lizzie.

Girls want to be her friend. She's a good friend, I should know. Girls ask her for advice and go to her to for a shoulder to lean on. She listens to their problems without judgment.

The guys all think she's gorgeous, which she is, and want to date her. The girl next door that you can bring home to Mom. The type of girl that guys want to marry and make happy for the rest of their lives.

She's fun, generous and spirited.

It's just frustrating she never notices that the one thing that she's always wanted so badly, she's already got.

Lizzie's definitely not perfect. She's a known klutz, lacks self-confidence and like I already said, is often oblivious to the most obvious things.

I mean, c'mon...it took her like two years to realize that Gordo, her own best friend, had a crush on her. And if the rest of us hadn't pushed, she might never have realized. But it's all part of what makes her so perfectly Lizzie.

But her goodness far outweighs her faults. Like the fact that she's always willing to see the good in people, even when they don't deserve it. She has a forgiving heart. I can't count the number of times she's helped Kate with problems when Kate would never do the same in return. In the end Kate turns her back on Lizzie, the one person who desperately tries to see some good in her and overlook her wretchedness.

I have a hard time with forgiving. As Gordo likes to tell me, I'm too stubborn for my own good. That's the truth. If someone hurts me, I want to hurt them back. I want revenge. Not a perfect system, but it's worked for me so far. Lizzie forgives.

Lizzie as my mom says, sees the world through rose-colored glasses. To her the world is a beautiful and kind place. She wants to help and make everything better for everyone. She's the first to sign up for any volunteer project or community service event.

My problem is I'm too cynical. Not as bad as Gordo, but I'm far from being an eternal optimist. I wish I was, but I tend to see the ugliness that exists in the world alongside the beauty.

It's hard to escape the ugliness sometimes. It's easier to see. I want to help like Lizzie. I don't think my contributions make a difference.

Lizzie and Gordo have stopped talking, but they both still look weird. I wonder if they're going to break up. They've both been tense lately, though today was by far the worst.

But on a positive note I could swear that Ethan was staring at me during class. It's like when you can feel someone watching you but you can't look back. The strangeness never ends, but that strangeness I don't mind.

Gordo walks off towards the cafeteria. Lizzie meets me at my locker. It's hard being stuck in the middle of their drama when they're both your best friends.

"You okay?" I ask Lizzie.

"Sure", she brushes me off quickly. "Just tired."

I nod in response.

"Promise me you'll always be there for me?" Lizzie asks hesitantly.

I give her my confused look, but decide not to question her now. "Of course. I'm always here for you", I tell her.

It's the truth. I am.