Author's note / disclaimer / etc. : it's funny, 'cause after 5 chapters, I STILL OWN NOTHING! ;-) Anyways...I hope all you awesome people, who I love so much, keep reviewing because I love you so much!

Chapter 05: Come With Me

It had now been about a week and a half since Lizzie had left for Ireland. Despite not having their "third amigo" there with them, Gordo and Miranda had found an assortment of odd things to do in and out of Hillridge. They knew that they could not waste their summer.

Miranda took advantage of her time in the front yard, lying on a lawn chair while enjoying the latest issue of Cosmopolitan. It was not often that her younger sister and baby brother were out of the house and not running into her room for something. This was a moment to be treasured, and she was not going to budge for anything.

"Could Cosmo really be that interesting?"

Or anyone.

"Go away Gordo, I'm reading about the perfect bikini wax," she told her best friend. She knew it was Gordo, she knew his voice all too well. After so many years of friendship, what kind of friend would she be if she didn't?

He rolled his eyes. "Could you take a break from your magazine for just one moment?" he asked.

"Nah uh," she responded, not moving a muscle.

He sighed, telling her, "well, you leave me no choice…"

Before Miranda knew it, she was being sprayed by huge bouts of water. She jumped out of her chair quickly and began to scream. "Gordo! Oh, my, God!"

"You left me no choice," he laughed. "I'd like to reintroduce you to my super-soaker." He continued to shoot his best friend with the water gun, and she continued to scream.

"Ooh, two could play this game!" she laughed. "Ooh, I'm going to get you!" Quickly she grabbed the lawn hose, turning it on quickly and paying her friend back. She laughed hysterically as she watched him become completely soaked. He tried to fight back with his water gun, but it was in no way any match.

"No fair! No fair!" he screamed. She only laughed and continued to soak him. It was an all out war by that point, both completely drenched, but neither giving up.

"Do you give up? Huh? Huh?" she asked, not stopping the water.

Gordo laughed, "yes! Yes! I give up!" He put his water gun up in the air, indicating his surrender.

"Good answer Gordo." She turned around and turned off the hose. Just as she was about to turn back around, she felt more water being squirted her way. "Gordo!"

He laughed even more. "I just had to finish my water!"

Miranda rolled her eyes and told him, "you know, I was doing pretty well just sitting there a couple of minutes ago."

"You were just reading a magazine…"

"I was stimulating my mind," she defended.

"It was an article on bikini wax!" he pointed out.

She shoved him playfully. "Shut up Gordo."

"What?" he laughed.

Both stood there for a moment, not saying much until Miranda spoke up. "C'mon," she told him, pointing over to the side with her head.

They began walking and Gordo had gotten curious. "Where're we going?"

"You'll see."

"Miranda…where are we going?"

"Ugh," she sighed. "Okay. I was just thinking…it would be fun if we went to the Digital Bean."

"But we haven't been there in years," he noted.

"That's the fun part!" she said cheerfully. "We could go, order some curly fries…I don't know…we'd be like the oldest kids there. We could actually enjoy ourselves."

"And why would I want this?"

"Oh c'mon! We haven't been there since middle school!" she whined.

Gordo gave her a sharp look. "That's because the only people that hang out there are in middle school. And, well, the occasional freshman."

"Please! C'mon Gordo. Don't tell me you do not miss those curly fries…" she said, giving him a look back and smiling at him.

"Well…I do miss those fries…" he admitted as he patted his stomach lightly. He sighed. "Okay. Okay. I give in. You're lucky I have a weakness for curly fries."

Miranda shook her head and giggled. By then they were not too far from their old hangout. The rest of the walk was silent, but short. Neither of them was too sure as to what to expect when they were to arrive.

"Wow…" Those were the first words out of Miranda's mouth after entering the Digital Bean for the first time in just about four years.

"It's like I just stepped into the 'Twilight Zone'…" Gordo commented as he looked around. "Nothing has changed!"

"Yeah, it's like we never grew up or something…it's almost a little bit, creepy," she said as she slowly eyed just about everything in the room. But as she eyed everything, it seemed as though everyone was eyeing her and Gordo. Could have been because of the fact that they happened to be the oldest customers there, or because both were completely soaked from head to toe.

"Ooh! It's our old table!" Gordo pointed out excitedly, rushing over there quickly. Miranda just laughed at her best friend. The awkwardness had obviously faded. She hadn't expected his attitude over the idea to change so quickly. He signaled to the waitress at the counter and placed his order. "Curly fries and two strawberry smoothies."

"God, I can't believe this place hasn't changed at all. This is so weird," she commented. "It's like I could picture Lizzie working here all over again... That was a mess." She laughed as she reminisced. "I can't believe we haven't been here in four years…"

"Two strawberry smoothies, and…an order of curly fries," noted the waitress as she placed the orders down on the table for the two. The waitress did not look like she was any older than fourteen years old. Seeing her made the two truly feel their age once again.

Miranda laughed. "A single order of fries? Gee Gordo, is this how you treat all the girls? 'Cause if so, I feel sorry for your dates!" She reached in for a fry, but Gordo slapped her hand.

"Off!" he commanded with a mouth full of fries. "Hey, I'm a pretty good date!"

"Oh yeah, according to who?" she asked with a confidant laugh, going in for another attempt at a fry.

He slapped her hand once again. "L-Lots of girls…"

"Oh yeah? Is that why you haven't been out with a girl in, how long?" she reminded him.

"Hey! I've been out with girls plenty of times…" he told her, not too convincingly. Miranda glared at him, giving him a look that simply said, "yeah, okay." "I-I've been out with plenty of girls… I'm out with a girl right now…sort-of." He laughed.

"Shut up Gordo. You know what I mean! I'm not talking about going places with me and Lizzie. I'm talking about going out on an actual date with someone," Miranda explained to him. She grabbed a fry and continued. "You know, taking a girl out someplace nice. I don't know, a nice restaurant maybe…a movie. Showing her a good time."

"But, wait, you always tell Lizzie how you hate it when guys would take you to those fancy restaurants and stuff…and how you couldn't stand 'formal' dates like that and shit. So how would you know?"

"Well Gordo," she began, "you must remember, I am not your average girl." She laughed. "It's not that I don't like those things, it's just…most of the time when a guy pulls something like that on me he just doesn't seem to be being sincere. He seems to want sometime more than just showing me a good time. And you know what I mean."

"So then why are telling me to do this?" he questioned.

She shrugged. "'Cause. This is you Gordo. You're different, y'know? You're one of the good guys out there. I don't think you would try to pull anything with a girl, that's all…"

"So wait, a-are you trying to say that I'm, 'safe'?" he spat out.

"No, I'm saying--"

"'Cause Miranda, let me tell you, I-I, I have man-needs too you know! Just because I don't go--"

"Gordo! Shut up!" Miranda stopped him. She knew if she didn't stop him soon enough he would go on about things that she didn't feel like hearing about, especially not at the Digital Bean of all places. "I know. I know. I was just saying…you're not like other guys. You're actually sweet. You're not the type of guy who would try to take advantage of a girl…you're different. Any girl would be lucky to date you…that's all."

"Oh," Gordo simply stated. He felt a bit embarrassed after having revealed to his best friend, a girl no less, that he had "man-needs" like any other guy his age. He wasn't one to enjoy when there was the typical "girl-talk" between his two best friends, so he could only imagine how he just made Miranda feel.

Miranda sighed, put some cash on the table, and told Gordo, "let's go!" She laughed as she shook her head. She didn't exactly expect to learn about these things the way she did.

They made their way outside, and instantly Gordo noted the newest addition to the many stores around the old hangout. "That's new."

"Let's go in!" Miranda said to him excitedly, when she noticed the addition as well.

He looked at her shaking his head. "Miranda…I am not going to a fortune teller. I'm not wasting my money on something that fake."

"Well then, you're in luck, because if I read this sign correctly, it says that they're having free sessions before five this week…" she told him.

"C'mon, that sign could have been there for weeks!"

"Gordo! It's just for fun, what's the harm in it? You said it yourself, you didn't want to 'waste your money' on this, and you won't be…so c'mon!" she pleaded. Her best friend finally gave in so she quickly pulled him in, much to his dismay.

Inside was what looked like a regular store, not exactly what either of them had expected. There was a man at the counter, leaning forward, greatly into the book which he as reading. To his back was a doorframe with beaded curtains, which is where they figured the "fortune teller' would be.

Miranda approached the counter and asked the man, "is the Madam in?" He nodded and told her that only one person at a time was allowed to see her, so Gordo would have to wait out front. He agreed and allowed her to go in first. She sat down to a woman and a crystal ball. Many television shows and movies past ran through her head upon seeing the "infamous" crystal ball that was always used.

"Welcome my dear…I am the great Madam Rosina. Get ready to have your future revealed to you right before your very eyes. But, I must warn you that it is up to you how you use and interpret what I tell you today. Is that clear?" Miranda nodded. "Okay then dear. Give me the hand you write with…" Miranda extended her right hand, and Madam Rosina placed her hand with hers, palm to palm. She then placed Miranda's hand on the crystal ball, and began. "I see…I see great contentment in your life right now…your soul is happy, that is very good… But…but…I see hardship coming very soon…it's on it's way, and unfortunately, there is no way to stop it…you must be strong my dear…be very strong… I also see… I see a boy…someone you care for…deeply…but you're scared…and you're content on how things are, you don't want to change things--but don't let that hold you back! Also, I… I see…no! NO!"

Miranda looked at the fortune teller quite strangely. She didn't understand what could have her just scream out like that. "What's wrong?"

"Look Dear...I don't want to scare you, so I won't. But--I must tell you...I must warn you that, it won't be good for you if you keep things hidden deep inside. You have to open yourself up to this boy...before it's too late. For your own good!"

Miranda bit her lip. "Good thing there's no guy…" she told her softly. This revelation did in fact shake her up a bit, but, she didn't want to go on and believe something from a person that, in all reality, knew nothing about her.

The Madam shook her head furiously. "No, no! Dear, there is…I can feel him…you can too…and I warn you…before it's too late."

"Um…yeah. Thanks lady," Miranda said hesitantly as she got up from her chair. She left the madam and made her way back to the front of the shop, where Gordo was waiting. She told him, laughing, "beware of Madam bullshit!"

Gordo laughed and made his way into the back room. He sat down, and instantly, before he said anything, the Madam spoke. "I know who you are…I felt you…"

"Huh?"

"Just give me the hand you write with child…and I'll tell you all about it…" Gordo extended his right hand, and Madam did the same as before with Miranda. Taking his hand, her palm to his, and then placing it on the crystal ball. "I can feel your fear…you're scared…and confused, about many things…but I am here to tell you, that everything will be okay… There is someone new that has come into your family…someone older…and there is someone else that will be coming as well…someone younger… Believe me when I tell you this dear…they don't mean any harm…you need to open your heart… As well…you need to open your heart to her…don't be scared…I know you care for her…a lot…I can see it inside you…but you must tell her…before it's too late…before, you lose her, forever…"

She took his hand off the crystal ball, and he took a second to sit and think about what he just heard. "Um, thanks…I think," he told the Madam before leaving the room, and going back to the front of the store. Though what she had just told him made him think, he hoped his common sense would kick in soon. He wasn't going to let Miranda know that a fortune teller had actually gotten him thinking.

"So, how'd it go?" his best friend asked upon his return.

Gordo nodded his head. "Yeah...you were right," he told her.

They both laughed as they left the store and made their way back.

"Ice cream!" Miranda cheered when she saw the Mister Softee truck at a corner before her house. "I just have to…"

"Alright…alright. I've given into everything else you wanted to do today, so why not?" Gordo declared. They got to the truck and got two cones of vanilla ice cream. "No, you're money is no good here Sanchez. I get to pay this one." She didn't object and let him pay as she enjoyed her threat.

They walked to Miranda's silently, but content. It had actually been a pretty interesting day, much to their surprise. Of course, each had their set of questions running through their minds after the unexpected fortune telling…but none was to admit it. They both tried to put logic before anything else, because naturally, who was to believe something so far fetched as reading signs from the super natural.

They made their way into the Sanchez residence, only to find Mr. and Mrs. sitting on the couch with somber looks on their faces.

Miranda asked, "what's going on?" She, for one, was surprised to see her father home from his work so early, and did not know what to expect.

"Mirandita…mija…we need to talk…" announced her mother.

Miranda's eyes showed worry and concern. She turned to Gordo who said, "I'll…I'll call you later…" She agreed. They both realized that no good news was coming her way.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked.

Mr. Sanchez grabbed his daughter's hands as she sat her down on the couch. "Mija…I know this isn't the best timing to tell you this…with you going off to college pretty soon and so many things coming up…"

"Díme…tell me…what is it? What's wrong? I want to know…" she pleaded.

He took her hands once again and told her, "Miranda…honey…today, at work, they announced that they were making some changes…and as a result of that, a lot of people were let go…including myself. I lost my job."