A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 4 - House Of Cards Comes Crashing Down

Gordo sat in his ninth period A.P. English class, his head propped up by his hand. He was completely exhausted. Gordo barely slept at all last night and what little sleep he got, he couldn't stop dreaming of Miranda.

As he stared blankly out the window, Gordo ignored his teacher who was up front lecturing. As the bell rang, Gordo flinched slightly.

"Gordo?" Larry asked him cautiously.

Looking up, Gordo saw him standing in front of his desk. Taking a shaky, steadying breath, Gordo stood up. Grabbing his bag, he picked it up and put it on the desk.

"You alright?" Larry asked him, now concerned. He had been noticing him acting weirder every day and today he had barely said anything at all.

"Just tired," he said simply as he started to dig inside his bookbag. After a few seconds, Gordo pulled out an envelope. "This is it," he said handing Larry the letter.

"Right. I'm going to deliver it now," Larry told him as he took the letter. "You sure you're ok?"

Gordo glared at him, "I'm fine."

Larry took a step back not wanting to tick him off. "Ok, ok. I'm off, wish me luck," he said as he left the classroom.

Gordo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As he grabbed his bag and started to walk out, Gordo suddenly got a weird feeling. A feeling like this was going to blow up in his face. He just wasn't sure how.

Larry turned the corner and saw Miranda standing at her locker with Ethan and Lizzie. A small smile tugged at his lips, "Here goes nothing."

Slowly walking over to them, his eyes remained glued on Miranda. "Hey guys," he called as he walked up.

"Hey Larry," Lizzie answered.

"Miranda," Larry waited until she was looking at him. "I've got something for you."

"What?" she asked curiously and then paled slightly as she saw him pull out an envelope. "No! Not Tudgeman!"

Larry either was oblivious to the look on her face or was just ignoring it because he was grinning like a fool. He handed her the letter and watched her read it.

As Miranda finished reading, she bit her lip to stop herself from saying anything stupid. "I told Gordo I didn't care what the guy looked like and I'm gonna keep my word."

Lizzie took the letter from her hand and read it aloud, "Miranda. I can't keep my identity a secret any longer. I need to tell you that I love you. I'm your secret admirer. Will you go out with me?"

"Maybe there's still a chance. Maybe he just delivered it." "Larry?" she asked but knew by the huge smile on his face that he was her secret admirer.

"Miranda, will you go out with me?" Larry asked, one could practically hear the hope in his voice.

"Its just a date, what's the worse that could happen." Letting out a small sigh, "Larry, I'd," Before she could finish she was interrupted.

Ethan had just finished re-reading the letter over Lizzie's shoulder. "Wow. Gordo is incredible. I should get him to write some letters to Kate."

Lizzie and Miranda quickly spun around and faced him, a look of panic quickly spread over Larry's face. Ethan just looked confused, "Did I say that out loud?" he asked sheepishly.

"What are you talking about?" Lizzie asked him.

"Nothing," Ethan quickly answered trying to act like he didn't say anything.

Larry tried to slip away but was suddenly grabbed around the neck and slammed hard into the lockers. Opening his eyes, he found himself looking at a very angry Miranda. "What the hell does Gordo have to with the letters?" she practically growled as she increased the pressure on his neck.

Before he could think, the whole story came pouring out. How he had read Cyrano de Bergerac, came up with the idea, asked Gordo the favor, and how he was the one writing the letters.

Miranda let go of Larry's neck and starred of into space for a moment.

Lizzie was worried, "Miranda?"

Miranda just spun around and brushed past Lizzie and Ethan. Lizzie could see the fury in Miranda's eyes. She knew where she was going. Lizzie quickly put the letter back in the envelope and stuffed it into her pocket. She then ran after Miranda.

As Larry rubbed his neck, he glared at Ethan. "How hard is it to keep your mouth shut?" Larry snapped at him.

"Sorry man. It just slipped."

Larry rolled his eyes, "Yea, well, tell that to Gordo."

Gordo had just finished at his locker and was just closing it when he felt a hand roughly grab his shoulder. Spinning around, he suddenly felt a punch slam into his stomach.

"Umph!" Gordo's arms quickly wrapped around his stomach and he dropped to one knee.

As he tried to suck in some air, he slowly looked up. Gordo was surprised to see Miranda standing over him but the second he saw her eyes he knew what happened. "No! Damnit!"

As he continued to look at her eyes, he watched them slowly change from incredible anger to incredible sadness. As he saw tears start to form, his heart felt like it was breaking and he felt like scum.

Trying to stand, Gordo stumbled back and leaned against his locker. Miranda just took off, sprinting down the hall. She didn't want anyone, especially Gordo, to see her cry.

He saw Lizzie running up. She stopped in front of him, "Are you alright?" she asked seeing him in pain.

Taking in a quick breath, he spoke through clenched teeth, "I'm fine." He slowly slid down to the floor. "Go find Miranda. Please," he pleaded with her.

Lizzie studied him for a moment and shook her head but did as he asked.

As Gordo sat there, Miranda's eyes haunted him. "Stupid!" he snarled at himself as he threw his head back violently and slammed it against his locker door.