A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 7 - How It Started

Miranda sat on top of a picnic table in the park near the playground. As she sat there waiting for Gordo, she watched a couple of little children running around the playground yelling at each other and laughing. Miranda couldn't help but smile as she remembered how when they were little, this playground was like a second home to them.

She slowly tapped her foot on the bench. Patience was never her strong suit. For what seemed like hundredth time today, Miranda self-consciously looked over her outfit. She was wearing a pair of tight, black, low cut jeans with two chains hanging off them, a plain black shirt with sheer long sleeves, and a pair of black, ankle high, heeled boots.

Looking back up and scanning the area, her tapping on the bench increased as she started to get nervous. "Maybe he won't show. Its been almost four years." Miranda brushed her hair over her shoulder and she looked down at the ground in front of her. "Maybe he forgot where to go."

"Its hard to forget a girl trying to take your head off," a voice said from behind her. Gordo grinned as Miranda jumped slightly at his voice.

Miranda smirked, "I wasn't trying to take your head off, I was trying to fly."

As Gordo walked up to her, Miranda let her eyes wander over him. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a gray shirt with black Japanese letters on it, and sneakers. "So Roxanne," he said with a grin, "I got your note."

Miranda smiled shyly and looked over at the playground, "You remember when we first met?"

"Yea. Not everyday a girl tries to fly and crashes into me," Gordo joked and they both laughed as they remember how they met.

- - - - -

Gordo and Lizzie were five years old and it was the Saturday before they were going to start nursery school. Mrs. McGuire could tell that her daughter was nervous about going and decided to take them and two year old Matt to the park.

As they neared the playground, Mrs. McGuire turned Lizzie and Gordo loose. "Stay close you two," she called after them as she walked with Matt over to the sandbox.

Lizzie reached out and grabbed Gordo's hand. "Come on Gordo. I want to play on the monkey bars," she said as she pulled Gordo behind her.

As they walked across the grass towards the playground, Lizzie squeezed Gordo's hand. "Gordo. Do you think we'll have fun in nursery school?" she asked him, a little nervousness in her voice.

"Of course."

Lizzie turned to him, "How do you know?"

"Cause we'll be together. We always have fun," Gordo told her with a grin.

Lizzie smiled back at him; whenever she was nervous about something, she usually turned to Gordo for strength. "Right." Lizzie let go of his hand and speed up a little. "Come on Gordo. Hurry up."

"Why are you in such," Gordo's words were cut short.

Lizzie suddenly heard a collision and a girl crying. Spinning around fast, she saw Gordo laying on his back and a girl about a foot away rolling on her back holding her arm. "Mommy!" Lizzie screamed as she rushed over to Gordo.

Gordo just laid there dazed. His body was numb and he wasn't sure what happened. All he knew was he was talking to Lizzie and then felt something crash into him, knocking him down and the breath out of him.

"Lizzie! What happened?" Mrs. McGuire asked her as she came running up with Matt in her arms.

"I don't know," she told her as tears started to fall. "Is he ok?" Lizzie asked sniffling.

"Miranda!" another woman shouted as she came running up.

The little girl who was rolling around holding her arm, cried out, "Mommy!"

Mrs. Sanchez knelt down next to her daughter and carefully felt her arm. "What did I tell you about jumping from the swing." she lectured Miranda. Miranda just winced as her mom touched her arm. Mrs. Sanchez sighed softly, "Nothing's broken. You're going to have a big bruise though." Mrs. Sanchez looked over at Mrs. McGuire. "Is he ok?"

The two mothers smiled at each other. "Yea," Mrs. McGuire said as she helped Gordo sit up, as he held the side of his head. "Just banged his head but Gordo has a thick skull." Lizzie quickly wrapped Gordo in a hug from behind.

Mrs. Sanchez looked back at her daughter. "Miranda."

Miranda sighed and rubbed her arm. Before looking over at the boy she hit, her eyes met Lizzie's. Lizzie glared back at her for hurting her Gordo; she was furious. Miranda looked at Gordo. "I'm sorry."

"Its ok," Gordo told her.

"Gordo?" Lizzie said to Gordo.

"Its ok," Gordo reassured Lizzie.

"Why don't you kids go play," Mrs. McGuire suggested.

As everyone stood up, Lizzie and Miranda eyed each other cautiously. Mrs. McGuire with Matt walked away with Mrs. Sanchez to talk.

Miranda looked at Gordo, "Gordo?"

Gordo nodded, "Lizzie calls me that. Its short for Gordon." Gordo watched the girls continue to eye each other, not really sure what to make of the other. "Come on," he said grabbing Lizzie's hand. "Let's play on the jungle gym," he said looking at Miranda.

"Ok," Miranda said cautiously.

By the end of the day, the three of them had moved past the incident and were slowly becoming friends.

- - - - -

Gordo laughed softly, "My head hurt for like a week afterwards."

Miranda smirked at him and got up off of the picnic table.

"Poor baby," she said as walked up to him. Standing a few inches away, their eyes locked. Miranda bent forward a little and kissed Gordo's forehead. Keeping her eyes locked with his, "Better?"

Gordo grinned at her, "Now you're just mocking me."

Miranda laughed, "Just a little." Slowly reaching out, Miranda trailed her fingertips down his forearm until she reached his hand. Taking his hand, "Take a walk?"

"Sure," Gordo said as he intertwined his fingers with hers. They walked away from the playground and started to wander around the park, together.