"Are you crazy?!!!!!! Are you insane?!!!!! Are you...... I'm running out of
synonyms! Lizzie how could you!" Miranda was sputtering with rage. Never in
a million years did she think that she would ever do such an evil thing.
" Miranda, calm down. This is a great opportunity for you. Think of how much this will complete you as an individual."
"If its such a great opportunity then why don't YOU do it? You know how much beauty pageants can do for the career of an anchorwoman." Ironic isn't it? That was Kate's dream job in the 8th grade and Lizzie got it. Just like everything else Kate wanted in high school too. From Ethan, to the lead in Romeo and Juliet to Homecoming Queen. Miranda was proud of Lizzie. She had finally realized her potential in high school and had lost her insecurity. She had blossomed even more in college and was now a vibrant, self-assured and charismatic woman. She was still however, the object of her wrath at the moment.
"I don't compete against my best friend Miranda."
"Oh that won't be a problem because I'M NOT DOING IT!"
"Come on Miranda! Why not?"
"Why should I Lizzie. I'm a police officer. Police officers don't enter beauty pageants."
"Sandra Bullock's character did in Miss Congeniality. You know that's your favorite movie."
" There are so many things wrong with what you just said. First of all she was an FBI agent not a cop. Second she only did it to catch a terrorist. And thirdly, I DON'T WANT TO TURN INTO GRACIE- LOU FREEBUSH!" The frustration was too much for Miranda. Sometimes Lizzie liked to play dense just to get what she wanted. Not this time McGuire. Not this time. "Besides. SHE could turn glasses of water into musical instruments. I have no talent."
"WHAT!? Miranda Sanchez, voted most talented of Hillridge High for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 is saying she has no talent?!! 'Randa you have the greatest voice since ever!"
"I haven't sung in ages. Besides I don't want strangers to be analyzing how I look in a bathing suit."
"Too late. They already have and they love it." Lizzie bit her tongue regretting that she had ever let that come out. Why did she have to have such a big mouth!?
"What did you just say?"
"Umm.... nothing. Hey did Gordo call you yet?" When in doubt change the subject. That never worked with Miranda, however.
"Lizzie." She said threateningly.
"Ok. Ok. Jeez. IsentthepicturesthatwepersuadedGordotogethisfriendtodoforustothepageantcompa nyincludingtheonesofyouinyourbathingsuit."
"So what you're saying is that you betrayed the trust and friendship that we had since childhood and sent the pictures that I didn't want to take in the first place, to a PAGEANT I didn't want to enter IN THE FIRST PLACE. That's really low Lizzie. Really low."
"I know and I'm sorry but Miranda you HAVE to do this."
"WHY! WHY LIZZIE! YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME WHY!!!!!" She didn't care that the walls of the building were paper thin and that her neighbours could probably hear every word she had just said. Hell, she didn't care if they heard it halfway to China. She just wanted an answer. No. Not any answer. She wanted the truth.
"BECAUSE MIRANDA SANCHEZ YOU NEED TO REALIZE EXACTLY HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE!" Apparently Lizzie was finally ready to give it to her. "Jeez Miranda! You walk around trying to prove to everyone that you're so tough and you're ignoring when people tell you the truth. I know what it's like to not give yourself the chance you deserve Miranda. I've done it for more than half my life. You're gorgeous. But you won't let any guy get close enough to you to believe them when they tell you. I know that sometimes you just want to act all feminine inside just because its a kick but you refuse to because you don't want to give up your tough exterior."
"What are you talking about. I dress up all pretty and go out with you all the time. I flirt with guys. I wear the heels, the short dresses and the $ 200 perfumes. If that's not 'feminine'" She said the last word like a sneer. "Then what is?"
"Correction. You dress up all pretty yes. You don't flirt with guys. You explain to them why you think they are chauvinist pigs. You wear heels for 20 minutes then go out to the car and slip on the flip-flops you keep handy and the only reason you have $ 200 perfumes is because I buy them for you. Miranda I swear I'll force you to do this."
"Oh yeah? How?" Ha ha McGuire I'm calling you bluff, she thought.
"Well I'm sure Trent would love to know how a certain pair of red lace panties ended up in his drawer after the Christmas party"
"You wouldn't"
"Oh but I would." Miranda remembered the night. The guys had begged her not to bring a guy to the Christmas party that all the officers who were not on duty were invited to. She had laughingly agreed and did not disappoint when she carried Lizzie. They had ended up getting pleasantly schnockered because of too much eggnog and Lizzie, knowing that she had a crush on Trent had dared her to leave her underwear in his drawer. She had drunkenly consented, proceeded to the bathroom to take it off and then placed it in his drawer when no one was looking. He still didn't have a clue how it got there. He did get a kick out of it though. He placed it on his head and danced around the office with it the next day to the merriment of the guys and her mortification.
Miranda knew when she was beat. There was no way that Trent could ever find that out. He would never let her live it down. "Ok fine." She replied and then hung up the phone angrily on Lizzie. To make sure she couldn't call back she yanked the phone out of the socket. Almost immediately after her cell phone began to ring. This time she ignored the phone and let it ring.
She paced up and down pondering what she had just agreed to do. Not knowing exactly how, she found herself in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. She scowled at her reflection. She didn't deny that she was pretty but she was not gorgeous as Lizzie said. Her hair was really shiny because she had treated it well growing out the harsh colouring she had used throughout her teenage years. It now lay on her back in a blanket of black. She then examined her body. She did have ample curves and her work did keep her fit but she was not muscular like some of the other women she had seen on the force. Her butt was a little big but then again she WAS Hispanic. It actually made her look even shapelier and complimented her figure well.
All this did NOT make her gorgeous. It just made her Miranda. So what if many people had approached her on the streets asking her if she ever considered modelling. This was LA. Many of them were crooks and pimps. She didn't doubt that she would arrest them in her next bust. It didn't occur to her that she never did. It didn't occur to her that they were legitimate. It didn't occur to her that when people told her that she had exotic features that they were telling the truth. It didn't occur to her that she was as beautiful as they said. She just stuck out her tongue at her reflection, put on favorite pair of sweatpants shoving her keys in them and proceeded to go take care of Gordo's beloved plants.
" Miranda, calm down. This is a great opportunity for you. Think of how much this will complete you as an individual."
"If its such a great opportunity then why don't YOU do it? You know how much beauty pageants can do for the career of an anchorwoman." Ironic isn't it? That was Kate's dream job in the 8th grade and Lizzie got it. Just like everything else Kate wanted in high school too. From Ethan, to the lead in Romeo and Juliet to Homecoming Queen. Miranda was proud of Lizzie. She had finally realized her potential in high school and had lost her insecurity. She had blossomed even more in college and was now a vibrant, self-assured and charismatic woman. She was still however, the object of her wrath at the moment.
"I don't compete against my best friend Miranda."
"Oh that won't be a problem because I'M NOT DOING IT!"
"Come on Miranda! Why not?"
"Why should I Lizzie. I'm a police officer. Police officers don't enter beauty pageants."
"Sandra Bullock's character did in Miss Congeniality. You know that's your favorite movie."
" There are so many things wrong with what you just said. First of all she was an FBI agent not a cop. Second she only did it to catch a terrorist. And thirdly, I DON'T WANT TO TURN INTO GRACIE- LOU FREEBUSH!" The frustration was too much for Miranda. Sometimes Lizzie liked to play dense just to get what she wanted. Not this time McGuire. Not this time. "Besides. SHE could turn glasses of water into musical instruments. I have no talent."
"WHAT!? Miranda Sanchez, voted most talented of Hillridge High for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 is saying she has no talent?!! 'Randa you have the greatest voice since ever!"
"I haven't sung in ages. Besides I don't want strangers to be analyzing how I look in a bathing suit."
"Too late. They already have and they love it." Lizzie bit her tongue regretting that she had ever let that come out. Why did she have to have such a big mouth!?
"What did you just say?"
"Umm.... nothing. Hey did Gordo call you yet?" When in doubt change the subject. That never worked with Miranda, however.
"Lizzie." She said threateningly.
"Ok. Ok. Jeez. IsentthepicturesthatwepersuadedGordotogethisfriendtodoforustothepageantcompa nyincludingtheonesofyouinyourbathingsuit."
"So what you're saying is that you betrayed the trust and friendship that we had since childhood and sent the pictures that I didn't want to take in the first place, to a PAGEANT I didn't want to enter IN THE FIRST PLACE. That's really low Lizzie. Really low."
"I know and I'm sorry but Miranda you HAVE to do this."
"WHY! WHY LIZZIE! YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME WHY!!!!!" She didn't care that the walls of the building were paper thin and that her neighbours could probably hear every word she had just said. Hell, she didn't care if they heard it halfway to China. She just wanted an answer. No. Not any answer. She wanted the truth.
"BECAUSE MIRANDA SANCHEZ YOU NEED TO REALIZE EXACTLY HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE!" Apparently Lizzie was finally ready to give it to her. "Jeez Miranda! You walk around trying to prove to everyone that you're so tough and you're ignoring when people tell you the truth. I know what it's like to not give yourself the chance you deserve Miranda. I've done it for more than half my life. You're gorgeous. But you won't let any guy get close enough to you to believe them when they tell you. I know that sometimes you just want to act all feminine inside just because its a kick but you refuse to because you don't want to give up your tough exterior."
"What are you talking about. I dress up all pretty and go out with you all the time. I flirt with guys. I wear the heels, the short dresses and the $ 200 perfumes. If that's not 'feminine'" She said the last word like a sneer. "Then what is?"
"Correction. You dress up all pretty yes. You don't flirt with guys. You explain to them why you think they are chauvinist pigs. You wear heels for 20 minutes then go out to the car and slip on the flip-flops you keep handy and the only reason you have $ 200 perfumes is because I buy them for you. Miranda I swear I'll force you to do this."
"Oh yeah? How?" Ha ha McGuire I'm calling you bluff, she thought.
"Well I'm sure Trent would love to know how a certain pair of red lace panties ended up in his drawer after the Christmas party"
"You wouldn't"
"Oh but I would." Miranda remembered the night. The guys had begged her not to bring a guy to the Christmas party that all the officers who were not on duty were invited to. She had laughingly agreed and did not disappoint when she carried Lizzie. They had ended up getting pleasantly schnockered because of too much eggnog and Lizzie, knowing that she had a crush on Trent had dared her to leave her underwear in his drawer. She had drunkenly consented, proceeded to the bathroom to take it off and then placed it in his drawer when no one was looking. He still didn't have a clue how it got there. He did get a kick out of it though. He placed it on his head and danced around the office with it the next day to the merriment of the guys and her mortification.
Miranda knew when she was beat. There was no way that Trent could ever find that out. He would never let her live it down. "Ok fine." She replied and then hung up the phone angrily on Lizzie. To make sure she couldn't call back she yanked the phone out of the socket. Almost immediately after her cell phone began to ring. This time she ignored the phone and let it ring.
She paced up and down pondering what she had just agreed to do. Not knowing exactly how, she found herself in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. She scowled at her reflection. She didn't deny that she was pretty but she was not gorgeous as Lizzie said. Her hair was really shiny because she had treated it well growing out the harsh colouring she had used throughout her teenage years. It now lay on her back in a blanket of black. She then examined her body. She did have ample curves and her work did keep her fit but she was not muscular like some of the other women she had seen on the force. Her butt was a little big but then again she WAS Hispanic. It actually made her look even shapelier and complimented her figure well.
All this did NOT make her gorgeous. It just made her Miranda. So what if many people had approached her on the streets asking her if she ever considered modelling. This was LA. Many of them were crooks and pimps. She didn't doubt that she would arrest them in her next bust. It didn't occur to her that she never did. It didn't occur to her that they were legitimate. It didn't occur to her that when people told her that she had exotic features that they were telling the truth. It didn't occur to her that she was as beautiful as they said. She just stuck out her tongue at her reflection, put on favorite pair of sweatpants shoving her keys in them and proceeded to go take care of Gordo's beloved plants.