It was Saturday morning. Miranda had chores to do at home before she was free to do whatever she wanted. Gordo's Dad was teaching him how to change the oil in his car. Gordo's Dad was one of those guys who firmly believed in fully embracing one's responsibilities; and he wanted Gordo to take owning a car seriously. So, Lizzie was sun bathing next to her pool, alone.

Lizzie decided that she should take this time alone to figure some things out. Specifically, some things relating to Gordo. Like, how she felt, about Gordo. Why was this so hard for her to figure out? They'd been friends almost forever. Lately her feelings about their relationship had begun to change. Lizzie felt that she'd always relied so much on the support and trust she'd found in their friendship; she worried that changing the direction of the relationship might be like starting over and she didn't want to loose what she already had. It would be easier to make the decision to just go for it if she knew things could go back to normal if it didn't work out between them to be more than friends. Lizzie hoped that Miranda would get there soon. She needed her insight. Just as Lizzie was wishing for Miranda, her wish came true.

"Cannonball!" Miranda yelled as she jumped into the pool, splattering Lizzie with water.

"That was quite an entrance!" Lizzie said laughing at her goofy friend. On a more serious note she added, "I was just hoping you'd get here soon. I need some advice."

"Why don't you join me in the pool and we can talk about how to deal with your feelings for Gordo," Miranda said with a smile.

As Lizzie got into the pool and swam toward Miranda she asked, "How do you know that is what I want to talk about?"

Miranda gave Lizzie a look that said, "Come on, how dumb do you think I am?"

Lizzie explained to Miranda everything she'd been thinking about earlier. How she wanted to pursue a relationship with Gordo, but that it scared her and that she didn't want to loose any of what they had now.

Miranda understood Lizzie's concerns but offered a few thoughts that she thought might help Lizzie make up her mind. "Lizzie, there is never any guarantee that things won't change. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it anyway. Would you rather have taken a chance on love and lost some of what you had, but gained so much more? Or, not have taken a chance and not lost, but not gained either?"

"That is a good point, but I'm going to be honest with you and say that at this point I don't yet know the answer to that question," Lizzie said.

"Okay, well, how about this; you and Gordo would be a great couple. You are already best friends who know all the good and bad things about each other. And in spite of all you know about each other you love each other anyway," Miranda offered. Lizzie was silent as she pondered this point. Miranda decided to make one last point or two to drive her point home.

"For me, this seems like the main point to think about," Miranda began, "You and Gordo belong together. I feel it and it is obvious to me, through the way you two act around each other, that you both feel it too. You can't fight fate, so why try? If you don't take the chance, while you have it, and go for this, will you regret it someday?"

"Is it silly that I am being so serious over this decision?" Lizzie asked. "Am I wrong to worry so much about the consequences?"

"If I were in your shoes I would worry too. I think it's good you want to weigh all the options," Miranda said and with a smile added, "Just be sure to make the right choice."

"Which would be?" Lizzie asked.

"You know what I'm rooting for," Miranda replied.

Without saying it officially, Lizzie made the right choice when she said to Miranda, "Just don't tell Gordo."

Miranda laughed and said, "Of course not."