Readers/Reviewers – Thanks for reading this and I appreciate the reviews. If anyone has a question about why I did something or just have a question in general, just ask.

supergirljen – Thanks for beta reading.

tormented soul – Thanks for editing and helping me create the "new" ending.

I3itterSweet – In Chapter 5, I wrote that Miranda would forgive him but it'd take some time. Since from Chapter 5 to Chapter 6, I jumped roughly four years ahead, the reader doesn't see her forgive him. But what you said got me thinking (which is never a good thing, lol) and I decided to add something about it into this chapter.

Hermione-Granger17 – Thanks for pointing out the mistake, I've fixed it.

A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 8 - Truths Revealed

After just wondering around the park together for about an hour or so, Miranda and Gordo headed over to the Digital Bean for some food. They had both skipped lunch and were hungry.

As they sat at one of the tables eating, they fell into a comfortable silence. After taking a bite of her cheeseburger, she glanced at her blueberry smoothie and then grinned. Swallowing, she quickly reached out, stole Gordo's chocolate milkshake and took a drink.

"Hey," Gordo said trying not to laugh, "Get your own." Miranda just grinned as she put the cup down.

In between bites of his cheeseburger, "You know we never did talk."

Miranda grinned a little and looked up at him "Not here."

After finishing off their food, Miranda lead Gordo outside and down the street.

"Rand, where are we going?" Gordo said walking a few feet behind her.

"Home," Miranda called over her shoulder and reached out behind her for his hand.

"Why are we," he started to ask, taking her hand.

"When we get there, I'll explain everything."

After a ten-minute walk, they finally reached the Sanchez's. Miranda lead them around the side of the house and into the backyard. On the deck in the backyard, was a porch swing. Walking over to the swing, they sat down.

Turning slightly, he put his arm on the back of the swing and propped his head up with his hand. He watched Miranda look out at the grass, her eyes having a far away look to them. Using her foot, Miranda started to gently rock the swing.

Miranda looked over at Gordo and saw him watching her. Embarrassed, Miranda quickly looked down at the ground and some of her hair partially hid her face.

"Rand?" Gordo asked softly, grinning.

Miranda took a deep breath but still looked down at the ground. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Gordo knew what she was asking and knew not to play dumb now. "I was scared about how you would react. Even though you didn't say anything, I knew you were pissed at me for a long time. I was scared that if I told you the truth, I'd either completely destroy our friendship or we'd end up doing something we'd regret. I'd done enough damage. I figured if enough time passed, you could handle the truth and it wouldn't completely screw up our relationship."

Miranda nodded; she understood his reasons, she even agreed with them. Didn't mean she liked it though. It had taken her a few months to be able to stand seeing Larry and a little longer to even forgive him. Even though they were friends again, she didn't have the same amount of trust in him she once did. Gordo was even harder to completely forgive, especially because he was her best friend. It had taken awhile but she had finally moved past it and their friendship had almost fully repaired itself.

"Did you mean what you wrote in the book?" she asked softly.

Gordo let out a small sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "I knew I'd have to deal with this sooner or later." "Yea I did. When Lizzie and me broke up, it really hurt. And seeing her everyday and trying to be friends, really didn't help. I promised myself I'd never date someone that close again. I figured I'd never really have to worry cause you're the only one who was as close. We were like brother and sister."

Without really thinking, Gordo reached out and brushed back the hair that was hiding her face. "Then Larry asked me to write those damn letters. It was like I found something that I didn't even know was there. Suddenly I was finding myself falling for you, hard. I was getting angry because I couldn't understand why it was happening. We'd been friends for over sixteen years and it wasn't until then, that I started seeing you as more."

Shifting positions, Gordo broke eye contact and looked down a little embarrassed. "I mean I've always been attracted to you." As Miranda smiled, Gordo got more uncomfortable and embarrassed. "But I never really thought what it'd be like to date you. Then when I was writing those letters, all these feelings started to come out. It was like something buried deep down was finally being unlocked. When Larry's plan unraveled, you deserved to know the truth. The whole truth."

Miranda studied him for a few moments. "I guess I should be honest too. When we were growing up, I'd sometimes wish I were Lizzie. I'd have the guy who would worship the ground I walked on, do anything to just make me smile or laugh, who'd put me up on a pedestal and make me the center of their universe."

She suddenly looked at the ground, it was her turn to be embarrassed again. "I wanted you to like me the way you liked Lizzie. But eventually I realized that it'd never happen and I was happy just being friends. I argued with you a lot because I wanted to prove to you and to myself that I was smarter than most of the people around us. Something I had that Lizzie didn't. Then when the letters started coming, I was thrilled that I finally found the guy who liked me like that back."

Miranda looked up at the sky, then turned to face him and sat Indian style on the swing. "After I found out you wrote the letters, I was hurt when I found out why you wrote them but a part of me really wished you saw me like that. Then I read the inscription." Taking a deep breath, "I need to know something."

"What?" Gordo asked turning to face her.

"Do you…Do you still feel that way?" she asked, the nervousness coming out in her voice.

"I don't know," Gordo said a little apprehensively. "I've spent all this time trying to bury all those feelings again. I don't know if its worth the risk letting them out again. I already damaged our friendship once. I don't want to gamble on it again."

"What if I was willing to take that risk?" Miranda asked him.

"Maybe you are but I'm still not sure. Its just not that simple Rand. I've spent years imagining worst case scenarios and they scare me. I don't want to loose you as a friend."

Miranda studied him for a moment, letting his words sink in. "Gordo. You and Liz dated and broke up, yet are still best friends." Gordo was about to interrupt but Miranda knew he was going to say it was different circumstances, so she just shushed him so she could continue. "Falling in love with someone is always a gamble. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Now that I know, I don't want to go through my life thinking what if." Miranda rubbed her hand over her mouth and grinned at him, "Don't you want me to be happy?"

"Of course," Gordo answered immediately.

"And I want you to be happy too." Miranda moved down the swing so she was sitting right next to him, "I really believe that if you gave us a chance, we could be really happy together."

"I really want to believe that. But it took a lot of effort to repair things when me and Lizzie," he started to say.

"Gordo."

"Yea."

Miranda took his hand, "Shutup," she said half sarcastically, half seriously. "You're rambling, stop fighting this and just let it happen."

"But," Gordo started.

Miranda rolled her eyes, leaned in and cut him off with a kiss. Gordo looked at her stunned but with a smile tugging at his lips.

"You really think this is gonna work?" he asked after a bit.

"Don't know," Miranda said shrugging, "But it'd be one hella of a ride," she added with a grin.

Gordo grinned back at her and started to lean in. Just before he kissed her, Gordo whispered to her, "If you're willing to try, so am I."