Title: Running In Circles

Summary: A holiday full of unfortunate events leaves Miranda in a whirlwind of feelings for the last person she ever expected to think of as more than a friend.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lizzie McGuire (Disney) or the song 'Running in Circles' (LaLaine/LVP Entertainment)

Chapter Three: Arguing, pillows and hugs!

Author Notes: Whey! Thank you for all of your reviews, I'm not going to do any individual thank you's for now 'cuz otherwise my A/Ns go on for too long! Apologies for the long wait for an update and my Spanish, I'm only a learner so if I end up saying something like "my seagull ate my hat" instead of "I think I'm in love" please let me know.

Rock 'n' Roll!

Bekks xxx

Miranda strolled down the stairs and into the living room where her mom and dad were having their evening coffee. She smiled sweetly at them and fluttered her eyelashes.

"What do you want chica?" her mom laughed.

"Well you know that holiday I mentioned before.." Miranda grinned.

"Sí sí, Gordo's mother phoned me only this morning to tell me everything. She didn't want me to get a mangled up version that had been rumoured around!"

"So can I go?" Miranda beamed, the smile on her face growing wider and wider. Her mom glanced at her dad who rolled his eyes and nodded, Miranda let out a gasp of delight. "Gracias! Gracias! Tu amo! Can I go tell Gordo?" Mrs. Sanchez laughed and ushered her out of the house. Miranda grabbed her blades and strode (bladed, rolled, how do you move on rollerblades??) down the street to Gordo's house.

Reaching the house she knocked urgently on the door, Gordo's mom opened it.

"Hey Mrs. Gordon, is Gordo there?" Miranda asked, sliding off her blades.

"Yeah sure hun, he's just gone upstairs. He was a bit upset actually." She replied. Miranda blushed with guilt.

"Ah yes, I might know about that. I'll go talk to him! Thanks Mrs. Gordon!" Miranda brushed through the door and skipped up the stairs two at a time. Reaching Gordo's door she breathed in deeply and gently turned the doorknob. "Gordo?" she called through the gap she'd made. A muffled reply came from inside and Miranda fully opened the door. Gordo was lying down on his bed throwing his hacky-sac to the ceiling. He stopped and looked at the door.

"Oh it's you." He snarled. Miranda frowned but clenched back her anger.

"Look Gordo, I just wanted to come and apologise in person," Gordo didn't reply, "that way you couldn't hang up on me!" she added with a grin.

"What like you did to me?" Gordo turned over to lie facing away from her.

"I didn't…." she started, "No I just wanted to say sorry for yelling, I just kinda got caught up in the argument with Lizzie, I didn't mean to upset you. You know the last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you."

"Ha! Yeah whatever!" Miranda walked over and sat down on the bed next to him, her anger reaching boiling point.

"I have good news!" Miranda attempted to start a conversation.

"Oh are you leaving?" Gordo snapped in a sarcastic tone. Miranda pulled him over onto his back and let her temper go.

"Look, I'm trying to be nice and make things up with you. It's not often I will apologise to someone, so stop being such a stubborn git and hear me out! You were the one who hung up on us! What happened to good advice Gordo? You usually are the one to stop me and Liz arguing not the one to join in. I wouldn't have been dragged in if I hadn't decided to be a decent friend and stick up for you so Lizzie could actually see for once that she was hurting someone's feelings! But what do I get in return? I get freezed out? How harsh is that Gordo? You know what I came over here to tell you?" Gordo continued not to speak but he stirred slightly. "I came to tell you that I have spoken to my parents and I can come and stay in your aunt's villa. But you know what? You can shove that holiday somewhere painful because I'd rather stay at home bored than spend a week with some one who takes me for granted!" Miranda, proud of her speech, went to stand up but Gordo grabbed her wrist.

She tried to pull away but as she faced him to make another remark she saw him gazing at her with a genuine look of upset and guilt. Frowning Miranda gave up resisting and her arm fell limp in Gordo's grasp.

"You better go start packing then!" he smirked.

"What?" Miranda growled, half relieved but still furious with Gordo for snapping at her and not apologising.

"You heard, you just said you can come and we have to leave in three days!" he noticed her puzzled and angry expression. "Ah you're still annoyed with me. What can I do?"

"You know what you need to do." she snarled.

"Oh but Randa you know I hate apologising, it's like owning up to being wrong, it's something us guys don't do!"

"Well then I guess you guys are going to spend this summer alone!" Miranda flicked back storming to the door.

"Randa wait!" Gordo attempted to stop her, but failed as she reached for the door knob. Grabbing the first thing he could, Gordo threw a pillow which hit her softly in the back. Fuming Miranda turned round but seeing the freakishly muddled look of shock, panic and anger on Gordo's face, she couldn't help but laugh. Picking up the pillow she smiled sarcastically and walked over to his bed where she repeatedly hit him with the pillow. Laughing and yelling at the same time, Gordo spluttered for words. "I'm…. I… I'm….s"

"Say it!" Miranda giggled.

"I'm sorry."

"I can't hear you!"

"I'm sorry!" Gordo shouted, yanking the pillow from her grasp so quickly she lost her balance and tumbled on to the floor. "Better?" he raised an eyebrow as he cowered over her lying on the floor. Nodding feebly Miranda held out her hand and Gordo pulled her to her feet where they shared a brief make-up hug.

"Look I'm sorry about before, it's just sometimes Lizzie treats me… I dunno…. different now, ever since you got back from Rome. I know she's more popular in High School what with the Isabella thing and everything. I hate saying nasty things about her but you know what I mean?" Miranda asked, sounded pretty confused about it herself.

"She's treated me different and all! Look I'm sorry too! I didn't mean to snap, I was just kinda annoyed that Lizzie wasn't taking this villa thing seriously, I thought it would be a great chance for us to be the three amigos, like old times. But, I dunno, there's not much point without her there." His gaze moved to his shoes.

"Come on Gordo, we have to go, even if Lizzie isn't. We'll still have fun! And it's not like it's the whole summer, we'd be back before Lizzie finished her singing in Rome, we can throw her a party and everything!"

"I suppose," Gordo said, a smile emerging in the corners of his mouth,

"Plus, we've never been the best of friends," Miranda pointed out, "it'll give us some time to….bond!" Regretting it as soon as she said it, she tried to cover it up with a laugh but inside burned with embarrassment.

"Yeah it hasn't been just us two since Lizzie got a job! Oh and Matt loved you!"

"He did not love me!"

"Yes he did, he made t-shirts and cakes and everything!" Gordo grinned.

"Shut up!" Miranda punched him playfully on the arm, "Well I better go, I have to go apologise to Lizzie, that's always fun!" she rolled her eyes.

"Okay my aunt's going to phone over the next hour with all the details so I'll give you a call later!"

"Oh my gosh, it's actually happening! We're going on holiday! It's so exciting!!!!" suddenly finding herself feeling extremely happy, she threw her arms around Gordo who hugged her back and laughed goodbye as she tumbled out of the door.