[Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire. Have I not made this clear? I also don't own Sweet Fifteen, which this is loosely based on. (And if you're wondering, it's kind of an annoying movie. I don't really recommend it, yo. Well, maybe I could've enjoyed it if I wasn't FORCED to watch it for like, 10 different Spanish periods in a row. Oy freakin' vey! Sorry, not a fan of family-togetherness-type morals.)

Onto the story.]

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Contrary to popular belief, it does get cold in California. It's not exactly North Pole, freezing your bum off, constant snowiness, but compared to the 100ยบ weather we have for the rest of the year, it's pretty chilly. Especially considering we're in the middle of January.

I put on my furry cheetah-print pajama bottoms and a plain white wife beater. Words just can't describe how lucky I am to have two best friends who I can just be myself around. That's the one downfall of being popular: you have to hide behind this unrealistic mask of happiness and blend in with your surroundings, like a chameleon. I just know I could never subject myself to that torture. Other than that, though, I think I'd do most anything to be in Kate Sanders' shoes for a day. Sometimes, it's every teenage girl for herself, you know?

Lizzie's muffled voice says from outside my bedroom door, followed by a few knocks. The previews are almost over. You almost ready? It disgusts me sometimes what a great friend Lizzie is to me. Often, I feel like I'm not holding up my end of the deal.

Checking my hair in the mirror once again (as if my friends would care), I hopped over towards the door and opened it quickly.

Ready as I'll ever be, I replied, beaming. I gave Lizzie's outfit the once-over, a standard for being fashionable friends. Cute, as always. It also totally disgusts me how Lizzie can pull off wearing pink anything. She could wear devil horns, but as long as they were pink, it'd be adorable. Together, we raced down the steps to find Gordo with an impatient and disappointed look on his face. (The impatience for me, the disappointment for Lizzie. That's how it always worked.)

The movie already started, Gordo stated plainly, before shovelling a handful of popcorn in his mouth. Tonight was different for us. We watched movies together often, but usually could only agree on some cheesy mystery/crime-type flick. But tonight, we'd agreed on . Gordo because he used to like the comic book, and he says the special effects look cool. Lizzie and I because we think Tobey Maguire is pretty hot. In an adorable dorky kind of way.

I ran over and flopped on an empty spot on the white couch to Gordo's right. And I made sure to sprawl out nice and far, leaving Lizzie with a small space to squeeze next to Gordo. I watched them both fidget around, trying to make sure the other didn't think they were getting close to them on purpose. I felt a little bad, like I was controlling them, and they were just my puppets. But I can't help it if they have such undeniable feelings towards each other, and they just won't admit it.

Thinking about Lizzie and Gordo, I got a little distracted, even when Uncle Ben was lying there on the sidewalk, dying. I've even been warned by my own mom about the Third Wheel Syndrome', but I never thought I'd go through that, because I was so happy for them. If you're truly happy for two people being together, then you shouldn't be so selfish as to want them to yourself, right? Besides, it never occured to me that one day, they would admit their feelings and become a couple before my own eyes. Then what? They run off, get married, have children and never come to visit poor old Miranda, with her 28 cats in her 1-bedroom apartment. And why? Because they have each other. They don't need me anymore to tell them what to do. I'm completely useless to them.

Oh my gosh, what am I thinking? They wouldn't do that to me. They're my best friends forever...right? Right.

Soon, a small part of the movie caused the greatest amount of discomfort so far that evening. It was the kiss between Spiderman and Mary Jane. You know how when there's a kiss onscreen and the camera is focused right on it, you don't want to stare at the screen, because then people will think you're getting into the movie too much or you're imagining kissing someone else? It was painfully obvious my friends were doing that for the whole kiss. Busying themselves by asking for popcorn or trying to get away to go to the bathroom.

Wait, guys, I whispered harshly, crossing my left arm across both of them as a restraint. You've got to watch this.

Miranda, come on, Lizzie responded, giggling nervously. It's just a kiss.

Just a kiss! I exclaimed, exaggerating my real thoughts just a tad. That is like the most romantic kiss in the history of film! They're outside, in the rain, he just saved her life and she doesn't even know who he is. I sighed dramatically for effect. I wonder what it's like to kiss someone upside-down. And with that, there was dead silence for a few seconds, before the movie went on. Neither of them spoke. I didn't really expect them to. I saw them in my peripheral, and they looked pretty shaken up.

But I didn't really have a great master plan. I mean...maybe I was secretly hoping one of them would get really nervous about the kiss and I could turn it around on them and accuse them of things. What can I say? My life has been so lacking in romance, I just need something. Even if it's my friends, just something!

That night, after a very tedious movie marathon, we finally all fell asleep. But I use that term loosely. More like, Lizzie and Gordo were dead asleep and I was lying there, still with a ton of things on my mind. Like how I was in tenth grade, almost halfway through high school. How had this happened? Wasn't it just yesterday Lizzie and I were giggling over being in junior high? Being old enough to go to the Digital Bean? I didn't understand why everything had to be so set in stone these days. Lizzie and Gordo, destined to be friends forever. Kate, destined to be a total wench forever. Me, destined to be loveless forever. Hello, this was high school. Weren't things supposed to change all...rapidly?

Just as I was thinking this, my phone started ringing. But not my home phone. My cell phone. It was so early in the morning--it must've been like, 2 AM or something--and the two people who consistently called me on that phone were sleeping nearby. I crawled over, quickly picking it up so my friends didn't wake up. Groggily, I clicked the green button and held it up to my ear.



No way. I recognized the voice immediately. But this phone number? At this time? Was he completely nuts?

Um, Andres! I said, suddenly perking myself up a bit. It was a little hard. Did I mention it was like, 2 AM? I said quieter.

Sorry to call you so late, he apologized. But I just made plans for a date for the two of us. Is that okay?

Um. Okay. Normal boys didn't call at 2 AM just to confirm date plans. In fact, quite honestly, most boys didn't call at all. That just made him more lovable, though.

Y-Yeah, totally cool. Way cool. Oh, smooth, Sanchez.

Even with your father?

What do you want me to say? No, but who cares?' Actually, that didn't sound so bad...

Yeah, it's all totally fine, I lied. I hadn't even told my mom. I hadn't even told my diary yet. How did this kid even get my phone number? Why had this boy become so obsessed with me in like, all of an hour?

I'll be calling you later. How was it possible that I was melting without even seeing his smile, but just knowing it was there? See you.

See you, I said breathlessly.

So maybe he was enamored.

But I can't say I wasn't flattered.

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[A/N: Please review and let me know what you be thinking. Thanks.]