Chapter 3

Miranda stares at her friends who both sit in a stunned silence in front of her. Lizzie looks close to tears and Gordo is the first to break the silence, "well, um, I've heard of Worthington it's supposed to be a really good school."

Miranda nods, "it is. My mom and Dad think it would be good, and they have a great choir program..."

"It's two hours away," Lizzie states stunned, "that's a long way to go back and forth everyday."

"I wouldn't be coming home everyday Lizzie." Miranda sighs, "I don't even think I would be coming home every weekend. Whenever my parents can come get me this year. And then next year when I get my license I will be able to come home whenever I want. But I'm not going to totally be out of contact. I mean there are phones there and computers with email. I will be home for holidays and stuff, and the summer."

"But..." Lizzie's sentence trails off as she finds words to say.

Gordo shoots Lizzie a look as he states, "well Miranda I'm happy for you. We will miss you, but this will be good for you."

Lizzie glares at Gordo but finally she sighs, "yeah Miranda I'm going to miss you too."

Miranda smiles weakly at her friends, "we still have 3 days before I have to leave and so long as you leave me time to pack we can hang out the rest of the time."

"Right, we'll be inseparable." Lizzie nods.

By the time Saturday morning dawned Miranda didn't know if 3 days had gone faster for anyone else and she was beginning to regret leaving for Worthington. When she didn't see Gordo and Lizzie daily it was easy to say, oh switching schools and not seeing them everyday like you have for the past 9 years won't be a problem, but after 3 days of doing all the same things and falling into the comfortable pattern with Lizzie and Gordo, Miranda wasn't sure she was going to be able to leave her best friends behind.

But either way she didn't have a choice now, she had told the school she was going to be there and her parents had all ready sent the check in. Pushing herself out of her bed Miranda went through her daily morning routine with the thought in the back of her mind that it was the last time she would be doing this regularly; and Miranda suddenly realized how her older sister must have felt right before she left for college.

A knock comes on Miranda's door just as she is finished doing her hair, "Miranda sweetie, it's 7 now, are you ready to leave? Jo called and said they were leaving now too."

Miranda steps away from her vanity and drops her brush into her duffel bag, and she finally opens the door, "OK, I'm ready to go."

Miranda's mother hugs her tightly, "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Mom I'm not going anywhere right now." Miranda states, "you're still taking me to breakfast, and back and then we are saying good-bye."

"I know sweetie." Miranda's mother says finally pulling away.

Miranda moves from foot to foot as she stands in front of her house, Jo McGuire had brought Miranda back from her breakfast with Gordo and Lizzie and now all that was left was saying good-bye.

"So I guess this is it." Miranda finally says.

Lizzie and Gordo nod, "Yup."

"It's not forever." Miranda states, "I'll be home for weekends and stuff."

Gordo nods, "of course you will."

Lizzie purses her lips and Miranda can tell that she is trying hard not to cry, "soon, right?"

"A month from this weekend I am allowed to come home for the first time. So I will be back then, mom and dad promised."

Lizzie nods, "it's not going to be the same starting high school without you."

Miranda nods too, "I know, but at least you have Gordo."

Lizzie instinctively reaches for her new boyfriend's hand, "that won't make me miss you less."

Miranda hugs Lizzie then and when the two best friends separate they both have tears in their eyes.

"Guys I'm sorry but we really should be going." Mrs. Sanchez states walking over to the girls.

Lizzie and Miranda nod and Miranda hugs her best friends and again then opens the door to her parents minivan and waving good-bye to her friends she takes a seat inside, closing the door in enough time to hear her mother thank Lizzie's for watching her brother and sister for her while they took Miranda to school. By the time her father pulled out of the driveway Miranda couldn't stop the tears from streaking down her cheeks and she couldn't help but think that maybe she had made a huge mistake in leaving Hillridge behind, could she really go away to school? Leaving behind her family and the friends she had known forever? Was her mom right? Had Miranda not thought the idea threw enough, and she hadn't taken into account what it would be like for the first time in her life to go to school without Lizzie and Gordo there?

These thoughts consumed Miranda on the ride to Worthington, her parents were respectful that Miranda needed to sort things out and they for the most part conversed amongst themselves. By the time her father pulled into Worthington Miranda's tears had long since dried and she had covered the remnants with make-up.

The instant Miranda stepped out of the van she heard her name being called from across the parking lot and turning quickly on her heel to see who was calling her Miranda faces Kristine running toward her with Colin right behind.

"I can't believe you are actually here!" Kristine exclaims hugging Miranda tightly.

Pulling away Miranda smiles an authentic bright smile, her worried of whether or not she should be here are gone, "well I'm here."

Kristine pulls on Miranda's hair, "it looks cute cut short like that. I can't believe that Misty put red streaks in her hair. I bet it looks cute! Come on I want to see this room that Misty had been raving about!"

Allowing herself to be pulled along with Kristine, Miranda's parents, Colin and his parents are left behind as the two girls hurry toward their doormroom.