* Chapter eleven – Miranda *

I leaned against the closed door, panting. I looked over at Lizzie and Gordo – they were still asleep. I smiled and sighed. They were so incredibly lucky that I convinced Lizzie's parents not to come in. I saved their sorry little butts.

I mean, seriously. Jo and Sam are cool parents, but they are a little overprotective…

A little?

Yawning, I walked over to Lizzie and Gordo. I pushed Lizzie gently on the shoulder. She just rolled over and snuggled closer to Gordo, sighing.

"Wake up, lovebirds!" I cooed, shaking her harder. Lizzie lifted her head off Gordo for a second, rubbing her eyes. Gordo stretched his arms, removing them from around Lizzie's waist. Smiling, I watched as their expression changed from dull morning sleepiness, to complete embarrassment. As they looked up, they met each other's eyes. Gordo turned a light pink.

"Wha-what?" Lizzie stammered, realizing how close they were. I rested my head in my hand and looked at them, tilting my head to the side. They scooted away from each other, both looking around. Their eyes found me, watching them with amusement. Lizzie stood up, breathing heavily. She grabbed my arm.

"Miranda, I've got to talk to you," she hissed, pulling me toward the bathroom. Once we got inside, Lizzie shut the door, and spun to face me, lowering her voice to a whisper.

"What… what happened Miranda?" she asked, grabbing my shoulders in earnest. She looked really confused.

"Let me make a long story short: you met Gordo." I smiled at her. She just narrowed her eyes, putting a hand on her hip.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she questioned quickly. I shook my head in exasperation, filing my nails with a nail-filer I picked up from the bathroom counter. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.

"Lizzie? You like Gordo," I said, laughing, "obviously."

"No!" she said defensively, "I mean… yes?" she said, clearly trying to act innocent. I rolled my eyes, suppressing my sudden urge to scream at her. Why was she being so difficult? Of course she liked him! Heck, she might even love him. I dropped the nail-filer on the counter once more and looked at my best friend. I pushed her toward the bathroom door.

"Lizzie, I love you, but right now, you're being really thick. I mean, seriously! Listen to me," I pointed at my eyes, "watch me. You like David Gordon." I said, stretching out each word so she would understand. Lizzie turned a shade of red that I never thought was possible.

"And if I do?" she blurted. She clapped a hand to her mouth as I burst out laughing. I pumped my fist in the air.

"Yes!" I yelled, "You admitted it!"

"Miranda…" Lizzie pleaded, looking at the door fearfully. She lowered her voice to a whisper; "someone could be listening to us."

I grinned and pushed her toward the door again, "go talk to him. The poor guy's been waiting long enough."

"Yeah," Lizzie said, looking at the door as if it was a dangerous scorpion, "I guess so."

Suddenly, she turned around to look at me. Tears glistened in her eyes. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her nightgown sleeve.

"I feel so bad." She said, running a hand through her blonde hair, "Gordo… he… he was always t-there for me, and…" she trailed off. I put an arm around her shoulders. I smiled at her.

"Liz, I'm not the one that you should be talking to." I whispered soothingly, slowly. Lizzie gave me a pained smile.

"You're right," she said, turning towards the door. She washed off her flushed face with water and wiped her puffy, swollen eyes on a washcloth. Taking a shaking breath, she turned the doorknob on the door and walked into the hallway.

Me? I went down to get breakfast. And, somehow, cover for Lizzie and Gordo.

More L/G stuff in the next chapter! Yay!

Love lots,

Tic-Tac