[Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire. I just like that old time of rock n roll. That kinda music just soothes your soul. I reminisce about the days of old with that old time of rock n roll. (I don't own that song, either!)
Have I mentioned how much I love you reviewers and even just the readers of this story lately? I'm into triple digits with the reviews, woohoo! I'm a little review-obsessed, I admit, but I'm not going to go all 10 REVIEWS OR THIS STORY'S SO OVER on you. I just want to know what you think, even if all you think is great story update soon (haha I've gotten plenty of reviews like that). So even though I'm the slowest updater in the history of the world, every review takes a day or two off that. ;) Uh, not that I'm bribing you, or anything...hahah I sound like a loser, let's get to the story.
Last chapter recap: Larry asks Miranda for advice; Kate contemplates her feelings for Ethan; Gordo finally decides to go to the reunion.]
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Sitting at the nerd table and clutching her boyfriend's hand for comfort, Veruca's eyes wandered the room at full speed, and it didn't take long for her to notice Larry, who appeared to be having an intense conversation with some girl---wait, wasn't that that Lizzie chick's friend? She scoffed at the thought. Larry would never talk to someone who was friends with such an elitist--and a major elitist for someone who wasn't even officially popular! Obviously, Veruca didn't know Miranda very well, but she didn't look like someone who cared about popularity in the least.
But jealousy still crept over her like a deadly plague. Why should Miranda get to talk to Larry, while she was stuck at the losers' table, pretending to be in love with this boy who she really could not stand? She really felt no remorse, for before Scott ever joined forces with them in 11th grade, Larry seemed to be the most revered person in their clique. And Scott took over that position ruthlessly. At first, Veruca would've loved to run off with Larry and joined him in being a social reject, but then, out of the blue, Scott showed an interest in her. Her great desire for attention and admiration from her peers got the better of her. She and her boyfriend were on and off throughout the rest of high school and college, and finally, here she was. At her junior high reunion. Engaged to someone she didn't love.
Again, her eyes meandered lazily through the crowds, hoping to see someone she knew and liked. Unfortunately, the only person she could find was Claire, who was gabbing away with one of the many other popular lemmings. Veruca was surprised she wasn't attached to the hip with her little husband Larry, trying to steal more money right out of his pocket. How anyone could do that to a man who was so loyal and generous was beyond her. But that's Claire for you---she'll use anyone and everyone to make ends meet.
Stuck in an angry state of being and staring at Claire in contempt, she didn't even notice when another girl came walking somberly to her table.
Um, Veruca? Snapping out of her trance, she turned to the voice to see none other than Miranda herself. Can I um, talk to you?
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Ethan stood nearby as Kate and Brooke chatted incessantly about the last 5 or so years of their lives, holding Kate's cup of punch. Having Kate around was such a comfort. Even after all that happened in their high school days, he was always quick to forgive and forget, as soon as someone said they were sorry. And the talk they had in the hallway a while ago was much better than a lame apology. If it wasn't for Kate, he'd spend this whole night alone. Maybe the people at the supposed geek table' would adopt him into their family for the night. His eyes shot to the table left of the DJ's booth. And he would've looked right back towards Kate and Brooke, if it weren't for the fact that he immediately noticed Miranda there. Talking to...was that Veruca?
He wondered if he'd ever get a chance to fit more than one word for Miranda. Was she playing messenger between two people? She was just talking to Larry, and now she was talking to Veruca. It was possible, but was it really likely Miranda would do that for them? Didn't she have better things to do?
Then again, someone could easily say that about him at this point. From an outsider's point of view, it was like all he was doing was escorting Kate around. Maybe he could break free from her for just a minute, catch Miranda while she's sitting by herself...
His feelings for Miranda was completely inexplainable. It started around seventh grade, and while he never got tired of being fawned over by girls, he began to search for someone who he really liked for more than just good looks. Preferably, someone who wasn't popular, but who was cool enough so that he wouldn't ruin his reputation. (Forgive his superficial state of mind, he was only 13 at the time.) He'd found that person in Miranda. Of course, Ethan did like Lizzie, but for one thing, she was popular, in an offbeat sort of way, and secondly, he thought of her as friend material. Nothing more. But Miranda...she just seemed to be different than all the other girls at Hillridge. She wasn't afraid to be who she was. And that's when it all began.
But throughout high school, Miranda barely spent a single second...well, single, and all of them were long-term relationships with guys who were the complete opposite of Ethan: deep, insightful, intelligent. He just couldn't compete. And he probably still couldn't. He hadn't talk to Miranda or even Lizzie all night. For all he knew, she could be married right now, and have kids and a white picket fence. I'm probably just doomed to be single for the rest of my life.
But then another thought popped up in his mind as he turned back to watch Kate and Brooke's conversation. Kate. Granted, he still wasn't the smartest guy in the world, but he couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it before. He'd liked Kate around the same time he liked Miranda, but then gave up his crush on her after they had their issues in high school. So, now that things were all resolved, was he just supposed to...go back to it? Almost 7 years had passed. He wasn't even sure he still liked her like that.
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I can't believe Larry just made me do that.
Miranda ran her hands under the faucet and grabbed a paper towel to dry them. Not only had she just had to play messenger boy' for Larry, it was to deliver a message to Veruca, of all people. And though she knew little about her, she quite frankly just didn't like her attitude. She was like Kate Sanders, sans the genuine popularity. She'd been rude to Lizzie, had her nose stuck up in the air, and worst of all, ditched Larry for some lame-o more popular nerd guy. Miranda never knew the dorks of their school had their own little hierarchy. Then again, she didn't know much about the dorks of her school at all.
She felt a pang of guilt as she leaned against the bathroom wall. All Larry had done was shown an interest in her. Though things were left with a question mark during the summer after 8th grade, as soon as she got back to school, she again wrote him off as a nerd. How could she be such an idiot? Tudgeman was the only guy she'd ever enjoyed spending time with. All the others were these manic depressives who really needed to know the meaning of the word . But what was she supposed to do? Cast them all off and just go on single? Of course, this would've worked for anyone else...it was, of course, the way Lizzie spent her couple years in high school. But she was determined to show people it wasn't just Lizzie that got all the guys.
So why couldn't she just go out with Tudgeman? Needless to say, it was all about reputation. Reputation was everything in high school, and Miranda was already way below status. She didn't need to date a guy like Larry just to prove it.
Just by talking to Veruca, Miranda could tell that she liked Larry. Like, how she kept squeezing that boy's hand and insisting she had no interest in him. She couldn't believe any guy would like that wench, especially a guy as nice as Larry.
Then it hit her. Oh, God. I like him, Veruca likes him, and Claire's engaged to him. I never knew anyone would ever fight over Tudgeman.
She sped out the door to redeliver a message to Larry, sighing and shaking her head.Will this night ever end?
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[A/N: I'm afraid not, Miranda. *laughs maniacally*. Extra-long chapter...or maybe it's just cause my ANs are pathetically long.
No, but really, I know it's unrealistic, but just think of it this way: everything in the story happens REALLY quickly. I don't know how long the reunion will go on to...1 AM, maybe? Haha. Maybe Principal Tweedy will come back in and tell them they're allowed to stay as long as they wish. Who knows? I certainly don't.
As a side note, I know I haven't mentioned Lizzie's whereabouts since chapter 14, but I PROMISE you she will be in the next one. As will Gordo and a little bit of Mysteryboy, too. ;)
This story might be going up to 40 chapters for all I know. I'm on Chapter 17 now and look at how many problems they still have to work out...
Who does Larry like? Are Kate and Ethan more than just friends? Will the Three Amigos reunite? Does Lizzie like Gordo or someone else? Can Kate and Claire settle their differences? What happened between Miranda and Gordo in high school that they haven't told Lizzie about? AND WHO THE HECK IS MYSTERYBOY?!
And that's just a few! So stay tuned, drop me some reviews, and lemme know what you think! Thank you, muchos gracias. I am the Frito Bandito.]
