A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 14 – Graduation

Miranda sat against Gordo's side on the steps for McGuire's back deck and waited for Lizzie to finish saying goodbye to her boyfriend, Mark. Glancing at Gordo, a small grin played on her lips. He was asleep, his head resting in his hand that was propped up on his knee. "That boy can sleep anywhere and like, in any position," she joked to herself.

It had been a long day for them. Graduation had been at noon and afterwards, Lizzie's graduation party. It was about ten at night and the party had finally ended. It seemed like at some point or another during the afternoon, everyone from school at the very least had stopped by.

Hearing Lizzie walking back around the corner of the house and towards them, Miranda smirked, "Bout time you two finished. Thought I was gonna have to hose you two down."

Lizzie snickered softly, "Shut up. I'm still trying to get the image of you and Gordo rolling around on your bed outta of my head." They both laughed. "Speaking of Gordo," she said as she sat down on his other side.

Miranda rolled her eyes and then lightly elbowed Gordo in the ribs. Drawing in a sharp breath, Gordo's eyes snapped opened, "What?" he growled slightly irritated and both girls just laughed at their friend.

"I'm gonna really miss them when they go out east." Sighing, "Why can't you guys stay here and go to college?" Lizzie whined softly as she put her head on Gordo's other shoulder.

"Stop whining," Gordo teased, "Kate and Ethan are gonna be there with you and besides I'm sure Mark will keep you busy enough to forget about missing us." he said as he loosely wrapped an around her. While Lizzie and Kate were going to go to UCLA, Ethan and Mark were going USC. Lizzie smirked at him and kicked him in the ankle.

"I'm still gonna miss you guys," Lizzie said.

Miranda looked over at her best friend, "I'm gonna miss you too."

They then both looked at Gordo. "Nope. Not gonna miss you," he said sarcastically. Miranda rolled her eyes and Lizzie pretended to be hurt. Picking her head up, Lizzie moved away from him, folded her arms across her chest and turned to face away from him. Gordo laughed softly and reaching out, grabbed Lizzie around the waist and pulled her back. "You know I'd miss you. Though, I won't miss constantly getting you out of trouble."

"I don't always get into trouble," Lizzie fought back.

"Yes you do," Miranda said.

Lizzie looked over at her and smirked. "Half the time its one of your crazy schemes that get us into trouble." When Gordo laughed Miranda backhanded him in the chest.

"You're supposed to be on my side," Miranda said sarcastically.

"I'm always on your side but it's the truth," Gordo said as he continued to laugh. When Miranda scowled at him, he just laughed harder.

Lizzie smiled as she watched Gordo and Miranda continue to go back and forth, she was really going to miss her two best friends but it was all part of growing up. Besides, just because they'd be on opposite coasts, didn't mean they wouldn't be best friends anymore.

"Lizzie," Mrs. McGuire called from inside, "come inside. I need your help cleaning up."

Rolling her eyes, Lizzie got up. "I gotta go in," she said as Miranda and Gordo followed suit and got up. "We still going to the beach tomorrow?"

"Yea." Miranda said. "You going with Mark or you gonna ride with us?"

As Lizzie started to walk towards the back door, "I'm gonna go with Mark. Besides, with Gordo's parents going out of town tomorrow, I kinda doubt you'll stay at the beach for very long," Lizzie teased with a smug grin.

Miranda took a step to go after her but Gordo quickly wrapped her in a bear hug. "Go inside Lizzie," Gordo sarcastically warned her with a grin. "Come on honey, time to go home."

"Night," Lizzie said as she stayed in the doorway watching them leave around the corner of the house.

As she let Gordo pull her away, she grinned at Lizzie, "I will get you McGuire," Miranda said as she laughed.

"Bring it on Sanchez," Lizzie shot back, laughing too, before going inside.

As they reached the street, Miranda grabbed Gordo's hand and playfully, and started to swing their arms back and forth. Pulling his arm forward, she twirled in front of him, like they were dancing. Gordo chuckled softly as she made two more spins. When she looked back at him with a grin, he couldn't help but grin back as he shook his head.

"So what do you have planned for tomorrow?" she asked suggestively as they walked down the street.

Gordo tried to play innocent, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh," she said, not believing him for a moment, "Than I guess you won't get to see what I bought when I went shopping with Kate last weekend." She smirked and laughed softly as she saw Gordo trying to fight back a lopsided grin. Shopping with Kate, often involved a stop at Victoria's Secret, Kate's favorite store.

"Well in that case, I'm sure I can plan something last minute."

Miranda smirked, "I'm sure you could."

"So you get the job at The Attic?" Gordo asked as they walked down the street. The Attic was a small clothing store in Hill Ridge Mall that Miranda had been shopping at for years

"Yea. I start next week," she told him, "I think its gonna be fun, plus, I get a great discount."

Rolling his eyes, he snickered softly. "You're still coming with me to New York, right?"

In July, Gorgeous was taking Gordo, Miranda, and Lizzie to New York for two weeks, as sort of a graduation gift and to spend some time with her grandson. They were going to spend the first week in New York and then split the final week in Boston and Providence, visiting Brown and Harvard.

"Of course," she told him, "I told them when I took the job I'd be gone for those two weeks. There's nothing that's going to keep me from going to New York."

Miranda than smiled at him, "Would you miss me if I didn't go?" she teased.

Gordo just looked at her for a moment. When Miranda looked at him confused for a moment when he didn't answer, he quickly pulled her against him and gave her a long, deep kiss. Breaking the kiss, Miranda was gasping for breath as she glared at the smug look on his face.

"What do you think?" he asked softly.

"I hate when you do that," she growled at him with a grin. Gordo just laughed and they continued walking down the street. Reaching the Sanchez's porch, they sat down the porch swing, and Miranda started it, so it gently rocked back and forth.

"What do you think college will be like?" Miranda asked him after a few minutes.

Gordo took her hand and gently started to play with her fingers, "More work, harder challenges."

Smirking, Miranda closed her hand around Gordo's and using her fingernails, pricked Gordo's palm. When Gordo winced and glared at her, she just giggled and grinned. "All work and no play makes Gordo an even duller boy."

"That's what I got you around for," he said as he pulled his hand out of her's and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "To keep my life interesting," he said before kissing the side of her head.

Miranda giggled softly in his arms, "You don't give me much to work with but I do what I can."

Putting her arm along the back of the swing and Miranda started to toy with curls on the back of Gordo's head. He smiled when he heard her let out a content sigh.

"Do you think we'll survive college?"

"Of course. You are one of the smartest people I know. If you find something your really interested in, I know you'll do great."

Miranda looked at him and gave him a weak smile. "Thanks but that's not what I meant."

"Oh," he said and looked at her strangely, "What do you mean then?"

"Us. Do you think we, our relationship, will survive college?" Miranda asked softly.

Gordo reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "I don't know. I know that I love you and I want to be with you but I can't predict the future. We will always be friends and I will always love you, as for our relationship, we'll have to take it a day at a time."

Smirking at him, "You know if this film thing doesn't work out, you could become a philosopher," she teased.

Gordo snickered leaned in, and gently kissed her, "I love you."

"I love you too." Miranda said back. "I should get inside." she then sarcastically added with a smile, "Wanna rest up for tomorrow." Miranda than slowly stood up, "What time are you coming over tomorrow?"

"My parents leave around seven, so maybe around eight or so," Gordo said as he stood up.

Miranda laughed softly, "Just in time for breakfast." Grinning, he just shrugged. Miranda rolled her eyes and just grinned back. After sharing a long goodnight kiss, the porch light turned on, and they both laughed knowing it was a signal from Miranda's parents. "I'll see you tomorrow." she said dejectedly. She didn't want to go inside but if she didn't her parents would come outside. "Night Gordo."

"Night Rand. See you in the morning," Gordo said as he watched her walk away and inside. Stuffing his hands into his short's pockets, he started to walk away towards his house. "Even if we don't survive college intact, I got this funny feeling, when it counts, we'll be together," Gordo snickered softly, "Great. Miranda's rubbing off on me," he thought to himself sarcastically as he walked up his driveway and into his house.