Pistons are NBA Champions! They kicked the Lakers' ass! I love it!

A/N – "Thoughts"

A/N 2 – Due tothe crackdown on lyrics in fics, I've edited this and taken out the song lyrics.

Chapter 12 – The Boy Is Mine

Miranda stood on the McGuire's patio and slowly scanned around the backyard. Their group of friends were scattered around the yard. She spotted Kyle, Ethan, Kate, and another girl with her back to Miranda. The girl turned slightly and was staring at something.

Miranda immediately recognized her when she turned. "Claire! What the hell is she doing here?" She noticed her staring intently at something and slightly biting her lip. Out of curiosity, she followed her line of sight and choked back a laugh when she saw what she looking at.

It was Larry, her ex-boyfriend. They had dated for a few months in their beginning of sophomore year. Gordo had set them up on a blind date, or rather according to Gordo, Lizzie made him set them up. But they were now just friends.

"I can't believe Claire has a crush on Larry," she thought trying to fight back a laugh. It wasn't that she didn't think someone could have a crush on Larry. Rather, what she found funny was that Claire, the high and mighty snob, had a crush on a guy she said was the biggest loser in the school. "Oh the irony." As soon as she thought that, she smiled to herself as she realized where it came from. "Gordo is really starting to wear off on me," she thought sarcastically.

Miranda returned to scanning the crowd and eventually looked over at the tree in the back corner of yard. She saw him standing against the trunk, looking into his soda can. "Why does he have to be so damn cute?" Sighing, she turned around and walked into the kitchen to get a soda of her own.

Lizzie quickly walked in and found her standing at the counter. "Miranda."

Hearing her name, she turning around and saw Lizzie walk up to her. "What?"

"Kate just told me Parker is here."

Miranda looked at her like she was crazy. "So?"

"She's here to see Gordo," Lizzie told her.

Miranda's jaw clenched and she stormed outside. Lizzie caught up to her on the patio as Miranda was scanning the backyard looking for them.

Parker has had a thing for Gordo ever since 8th grade when she realized her mistake at turning him down because he was short. Unfortunately, by the time she realized this, it was too late, he was with Lizzie. But ever since they broke up near the end of sophomore year, she had been circling him like a buzzard would a dead animal, waiting for her moment.

She obviously thought that that moment was now. But Miranda would be damned if she was going to let Gordo go without a fight.

Finding them at the tree where she saw Gordo at earlier, she started to head towards them but Lizzie stopped her for a minute. "Don't kill her," Lizzie whispered to her; half in jest and half serious.

Miranda just grunted and when Lizzie let go, she stalked over. Walking up, she slid up next to Gordo and wrapped her arm around his waist. "Gordo," she said softly, almost seductively, and literally pulled him closer to her. Pretending to casually look over, she locked eyes with Parker. "Hello Parker."

"Miranda," she said back coldly.

"What were you two talking about?" Miranda asked, not taking her eyes off of Parker.

"Nothing much. Basically school, senior year," Gordo said.

If she wasn't in a stare down, Miranda would've laughed. Gordo, as usual, was completely oblivious when a girl was flirting with him.

Miranda leaned in closer to him and put her head against his shoulder. "We're looking forward to it," she said, putting an extra emphasis on we're.

Parker just glared back. "I have to go. I talk to ya later Gordo."

"Bye Parker," Gordo called after her. Miranda just smiled as she watched her walk away.

Gordo turned his attention to Miranda. "What was that all about?"

Miranda blushed, suddenly becoming really embarrassed. But thankfully they were interrupted before Miranda had a chance to answer.

Ethan, on one of his whims, had bought a home karaoke set and apparently had brought with him. He had just finished setting it up. "Who wants to go first?"

Kate went first and was pretty good. Then Ethan practically butchered a song but no one could fault him because he was having too good of time doing it.

Miranda then watched in amusement as Larry sang and Claire was practically captivated but tried her best not to make it obvious. She was of course worried about her image. What would they say when the second most popular girl in the class fell for the class dork.

"Larry is gonna love this," Miranda thought with a smile.

As Larry finished, Lizzie waved her over to her.

Looking over at Gordo, "I'll be back."

Walking up to Lizzie, part of her was curious and another was annoyed that she had to leave Gordo's side. "What?"

"It's your turn," Lizzie told her with an evil grin.

"My what?" she asked in disbelief.

"Your song is already picked. All you gotta do is sing."

"No!" she snarled at Lizzie as she shoved the microphone into her hand.

"Look, you seem unable to find the words to tell Gordo how you feel. So you're gonna sing them to him." Lizzie said to her as she dragged her up on the patio, that was serving as a makeshift stage.

Miranda took a deep breath, to try and calm her nerves. She took an annoyed and worried glance at Lizzie. Lizzie just smiled back and gave her a thumbs up.

Looking at the song that was selected, Miranda wasn't sure to grimace or cheer. Either way, Lizzie was going to pay for this.

Taking another deep breath, she looked up and her eyes immediately found Gordo's. Looking at him, she slowly nodded for Lizzie to start the music.

As the music started, Miranda began to sing. While all their friends were listening to her, the only person she really saw was Gordo.