*-*-Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have I ever owned, Lizze McGuire. All characters belong to the creators of Lizzie McGuire.-*-*

The New...Everything

Chapter Twenty-One

"Oh, come on in, Miranda!" Lizzie greeted cheerfully, trying to hide her shock. The two walked into the living room where Gordo was. Gordo was floored, but Lizzie was making motions telling him not to bring it up. He did as he was told.

Miranda sat down on the chair sullenly, "Hey."

Lizzie was really concerned. She'd never seen her friend like this. She'd never seen her friend so miserable. It was weird. She had to find out what was wrong. She carefully tried to approach the subject, "Um...Miranda, if you don't mind my asking..."

Miranda sighed. She knew what was coming next. "Look, Liz. Literally, look at me. I've conformed. Miranda Sanchez has conformed, but does she look happy?" No one said or did anything. "Well, do I?!" Lizzie and Gordo shook their heads hurriedly. Tears began to trickle down Miranda's cheeks. She couldn't hold her unhappiness back anymore. "Liz, I missed you!"

Lizzie got a little tearied eyed now too. She had missed her friend. She missed all their talks. Gordo was a great friend and an awesome boyfriend, but he couldn't satisfy her need for girl talk. Lizzie embraced her friend, "I missed you too!"

Miranda sniffled, "Really?"

Gordo handed her a tissue, "Really."

Miranda looked at him. What was she going to say? She'd sunk this low because he had shown up. Because he was a new student. She had to apologize. "Um...Gordo?" she began tentatively.

He looked her straight in the eyes, "Yes?"

She could tell he would make a great friend, and that she shouldn't judge people by first impressions anymore. She swallowed, "I'm incredibly sorry. Really, I am."

He smiled, "I know."

"Could you ever forgive me?" she was extremely nervous.

"I think I could manage it. You being Lizzie's friend and all."

She smiled and hugged him, "Thank you so much." She turned to Lizzie, "I know I was a real jerk, but I guess I didn't know how to handle the fact that you had made a new friend. I guess I should of welcomed the feeling instead of pushed it away, huh?"

Lizzie giggled, "Don't worry about it, Miranda. We all have our moments. Your's just lasted a really, really long time. And I mean a really, really, really, really long time." She flashed a smile and giggled again.

"Okay, Liz, I get the point about the moment lasting a long time," Miranda joked. She looked at her outfit. Ever since she began to hang out with Kate, she'd gotten rid off all her clothes and had bought more. The kind that made her a conformist. "Um...hey, Liz?"

She turned around from the TV, "Yeah? What's up?"

"Could I borrow some clothes? Just for today?"

Lizzie actedly like she had to think about it for forever. Finally, she smiled, "Yeah, sure! You know where my room is!"

Miranda smiled and walked up to Lizzie's room. She pulled out her cell phone as she rummaged through Lizzie's closet and drawers. She got the answering machine of the person's number she had called, "Um...Kate? It's Mira. Sorry, I can't go through with it. I really want to be her friend again. But we can still hang out sometime, if you want. Give me a call. Bye."

(A/N: I give partial credit to Kitty for helping me come up this idea. I'll explain all credits in the end in my letter at the end of the story. Thanks all! Oh, and I am SO sorry it took me this long to get and update up. My internet was being freaky. The site was being freaky. Ick, technical difficulties! What can ya do about it?)