To my readers/reviewers – Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad people are enjoying this.

Hermione-Granger17 – Danny is like the forgotten character in Lizzie McGuire. While Miranda and Lizzie had crushes on both Danny and Ethan, I like to think they had their personal favorites; Lizzie was more into Ethan and Miranda was more into Danny.

A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 3 – Digging Myself Deeper

Miranda slowly walked towards her locker; it had been a long day. She felt like a heel for purposely avoiding Gordo but she just couldn't face him and have a repeat of lunch.

Letting out a tired sigh, she spun in the combination and opened her locker. In between hiding from Gordo and making a fool of herself in front of him, she was pretty sure she had failed her history test. Even the highlight of flirting with Danny couldn't improve her mood.

After exchanging her books, she slammed her locker shut in frustration.

"Is that anyway to treat your locker?" a familiar voice said behind her.

A chill ran up her spine and she slowly turned around. "Hey Gordo," she said softly as he walked up to her.

"Lizzie had to stay after. So I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Digital Bean?"

Miranda was torn between hanging out with her friend and not going and not risk making a fool of herself again. "I don't know."

"Come on, I'm paying." Still seeing the apprehension, he continued. "How many times do I offer to pay?" he joked. "Please," he said giving her a lost little boy look.

Miranda felt her resistance crumble, "I hate it when he does that." "Fine."

Gordo smiled and laughed softly. As they started walking towards the main doors, Miranda was trying her best to squash the nervous butterflies that were crashing around in her stomach.

While they walked to Gordo's car, both were trying to watch the other out of the corner of their eyes without the other noticing.

Reaching his car, he unlocked the passenger door and opened it for Miranda.

"Thanks," she whispered climbing in. The butterflies started going faster and crashing around harder.

After a five-minute drive, they reached the Digital Bean and Miranda led them inside.

"Want something to drink?"

"Sure. A," she started.

"Strawberry smoothie," Gordo finished with a grin.

Miranda snickered, "Yea."

"Why don't you grab a table and I'll get our drinks."

"Sure," Miranda watched Gordo walk away from her. Her eyes slowly wondering across his retreating backside. As soon as she realized what she was doing, she scolded herself. "No! I did not just check out Gordo!"

Miranda picked her way through the crowd and found an empty table. "What the hell am I doing? Gordo's my best friend, my brother." She sat down at an empty table and stared of into space, waiting for Gordo. "I mean he's not even my type."

Suddenly, it was like her subconscious was screaming at her. "What he's too nice? Too sweet? Too loyal?"

"Shut up," she snapped out loud.

"Say what?"

Miranda jumped in her seat and looked up at an amused looking Gordo watching her. "I wasn't talking to you."

Gordo grinned and was trying his best not to laugh as he put the drinks down on the table. Miranda bit her lip as she felt something stir in her as Gordo grinned at her and she could feel her body temperature shoot up. Grabbing her smoothie, she took a quick gulp off her drink, trying to cool off.

Gordo took a drink of his chocolate milkshake and watched her. While Miranda thought Gordo was grinning because he had embarrassed her, it was only partially right. Gordo was really grinning because he though she looked cute when she was embarrassed.

She was looking down at the table, her face flush and her hair was slightly hiding her face. Like he had told Lizzie, he was physically attracted to Miranda. Who wouldn't be; but recently the attraction was getting stronger.

Miranda was starting to feel uncomfortable the longer Gordo watched her. She desperately tried to change the subject, "So…how did you do on the history test?"

A.P. History was one of the two classes, along with Honors English, they had together.

Gordo shrugged, "Ok."

Miranda arched an eyebrow, "Please Gordo. You know you aced it."

Gordo just shrugged again. "How'd you do?"

Letting out a small sigh, she looked down at what was left of her smoothie. "I prolly failed."

"So who's undercutting themselves now?" Gordo reached out, put his hand over hers and gently squeezed it. "Come on. Every time we have a test you think you failed. Stop doubting yourself, your smart, you know this stuff."

Miranda couldn't help but smile. "Thanks goofball," she teased. It was weird; this morning, she was uneasy just seeing him but right now, she was completely comfortable with him.

Realizing he was still holding her hand, he quickly pulled it off and grabbed his cup. For a split second, Miranda frowned but quickly made her face show no emotion.

Both starred into their cups and finished their drinks. After a few minutes of awkward silence, they started talking again.

After about an hour, they left the Digital Bean and Gordo drove Miranda home. The drive home was quiet, both lost in their own thoughts.

After pulling into the Sanchez's driveway, Miranda noticed Gordo started to get agitated about something. He started rubbing the back of his neck as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Umm…Miranda?"

"Yea?" she said pushing the seatbelt back and turning in the seat to face him.

Gordo didn't dare look at her, for fear he would lose his courage. "I was wondering, if you wanted to go the prom with me?" he said all in one breath.

At first Miranda was a bit dumbstruck but quickly recovered. "I thought you didn't want to go?"

Gordo shrugged and slowly looked over at her. "I just don't want to see you disappointed."

"Me disappointed?"

"I know you really want to go and I'm not gonna let you miss out just because some idiot doesn't realize you would be a great date," as he spoke, Gordo trailed off kinda of embarrassed. Quickly looking away, he started to fidget with his seatbelt.

Miranda grinned at him, which made him even more embarrassed. "Gordo." She waited until he was looking at her again before continuing. "I'd love to go with you."

Gordo chuckled nervously and Miranda's grin grew into a smile. Miranda reached into the back and pulled her book bag out and put it on her lap. Reaching over, she opened the door and then paused.

"Gordo," she said softly.

"Yea?"

Miranda turned to him, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks," she said as she got out.

Gordo sat there for a few seconds awe struck and then slowly his lips drew into a smile. Turning back forward, he restarted the engine and prepared to go home.

Miranda slowly walked up the driveway; as she reached the front door she turned around and watched Gordo pull out of the driveway. The smile remained on her face. "I just keep digging myself deeper and deeper," she thought with a small laugh.

Slowly, she walked inside the house to think. At the moment, she couldn't even remember talking to Danny Kessler; all of her thoughts focused on her best friend.