Chapter 5: Homecoming
The Homecoming dance was two weeks after that horrible Friday night. I managed to get a date with Parker McKenzie. Her and I became friends over the years and she did not have a date either so we decided to go together. I really did not speak with Lizzie very much after that Friday night. I guess neither of us wanted to speak of it. But that night at Homecoming we all had to meet at Lizzie's house. That night I knew from the start that someone would have their heart broken.
"Aren't you so excited for tonight?" Miranda said to Lizzie during their phone conversation.
"Well, I'm excited to be with Alex but not so much Gordo. I still can't face him." Lizzie said as she fussed with her jewelry.
"You are going to have to face him some time."
"But it's so hard considering what happened."
"Lizzie, nothing happened. You can't keep thinking about what might have been. Now, I will be at you house in two hours, so perk up and get ready to dance!" Miranda hung up.
Lizzie put the phone done and started to touch up her make up. Miranda is right, she thought, maybe I should just go and have a great time with Alex.
Before she knew it the two hours were up and Miranda, Ethan, Gordo, Parker and Alex were waiting for her downstairs. She looked in the mirror and smiled. This was going to be a night to remember. She walked down the stairs and had to suffer through her mother taking rolls and rolls of pictures. When they finally left the house Gordo looked a Lizzie carefully.
"You look nice Lizzie." He said.
"Thanks." And the conversation came to an abrupt end when Alex came up from behind.
"Lizzie, get ready for the time of your life!" he said as he held open the car door.
At the dance everything started out great. That is until Ethan kept disappearing. Miranda started to get upset and would not move from their table. She looked around but no sign of Ethan. Lizzie finally joined her at the table.
"What's the matter?"
"My boyfriend abandoned me at Homecoming! This night could not get much worse."
Just when Lizzie was about to say how Miranda was over reacting, she caught a glimpse of Kate coming towards them. "Well, it's about to."
"Hi Lizzie, Miranda. Having fun?" Kate said in her snobby voice.
"Go away Kate! We don't need you right now." Miranda said sharply.
"I didn't come for you two. I came for Alex." She moved close to Alex who was sitting across from Lizzie. "Feel like dancing?"
"No thanks, I have a date." Alex said simply.
"I'll show you what a real date is like. Ditch the loser and I'll make this a night you won't forget." Kate was trying everything possible to have Alex all to herself. She was even sitting on his lap!
"Kate! Alex is here with me, not you! Why don't you find some loser to hang all over and get off my date!" Lizzie was making a scene now. This was something she never did. Kate looked taken aback by Lizzie's comment.
Alex looked at Kate sitting on him. "You heard the girl, get off me."
"No, you're mine!" she said.
Alex was so annoyed by now that he did something he wanted to do all night. He pushed Kate off his lap and onto the floor and as a finishing touch Miranda spilled her punch glass over her head. Then Alex stood up and put his arm around Lizzie. "Sorry babe, but I'm taken. It's amazing what someone has to do to get the message through that dense little head of yours." They all walked away leaving Kate wet and alone on the floor.
After that they all began to dance and forget all about Kate. Ethan was not seen all night but Miranda did not seem to mind as long as she was with her friends. Suddenly a slow dance came on and Miranda, noticing Ethan's absence again, went for some more punch.
"I honestly can't believe you turn down Kate Sander for me! Why did you do it?" Lizzie asked Alex as they danced.
"Why wouldn't I? Lizzie you're so smart and funny and so beautiful. Kate doesn't compare to you."
"Wow. No one has ever told me that before. Thanks. Oh, and thanks for being my date."
"You're welcome. Lizzie, can I be honest for a minute? I was really hoping that maybe I could be more than your Homecoming date and maybe, just maybe, more than your friend."
"I'm glad you said that because I was thinking the same thing." Then they shared their first kiss on the dance floor. Gordo was watching the scene as he danced with Parker and his heart broke into a million pieces.
"Why don't you tell her how you feel? It's so obvious you're not over her." Parker said when she noticed Gordo staring.
"It's not that easy. I've tried to tell her but how do you tell someone that you broke up with that you love her?"
"You're in love with her?" Parker seemed surprised and a little disappointed.
"I think I do. It's just so hard to sort these things out. But I guess I'm too late. Lizzie has already moved on."
"Maybe you should too. You can't be with someone you doesn't share your feelings."
"I guess you're right." And then they continued to dance in silence.
Miranda sat all alone as she watched her best friends dance. Where was Ethan? He has been gone for almost the entire dance. As she looked around she saw Kate approaching her with Ethan!
"I decided to take Lizzie's advice and I found someone else to be with." Kate said with an evil smile.
"Why are you with her?" Miranda shouted at Ethan.
"Miranda, it was fun for awhile but I couldn't be with you forever."
"How long has this been going on?" Tears were starting to form in Miranda's eyes.
"He's been with me ever since the Fourth of July. He never wanted to be with you in the first place." Kate was in her glory as she made Miranda feel like she hit rock bottom.
"Sorry Miranda but I'm officially breaking it off. I couldn't be with both of you and it's not fair to either one of you. See you around." Then they turned around and walked out of the gym. Miranda sat down and cried. She could not believe what just happened. Lizzie and Gordo soon joined her. They did not speak; they just sat down and put their arms around Miranda. They stayed that way for the rest of the night. It was only the three of them, like it has always been. Like the way it have stayed.
