Disclaimer: I do not own the characters nor do I know Disney or any of the cast. I am just a huge fan of the show.

Chapter Three: Patching Up Differences

Cuts to the Mall at the food court, where Lizzie is looking for Kate.

She spotted her sitting at a corner table with not one, but two milkshakes. Kate saw Lizzie approaching and handed one to her.

"Here… I got this for you…"

(Toon Lizzie: "Hey... if she is trying to buy me, it's working… Yummy!")

"Thanks! So, um... what do you want to do now"

"Two words for you: Style Shack"

"COOLIE"

Both girls headed off to the Style Shack. Along the way, Kate mentioned that she saw Lizzie 'making up' with Miranda…

"So, Lizzie… I guess it worked out for you and Miranda, huh"

"What? Oh… well... sort of. I guess." Lizzie was reluctant to tell Kate about it

Kate rose an eyebrow and asked"Did something happen? Your voice sounded all funny..."

(Toon Lizzie: "Oh, nothing… just my so-called best friend hitting on MY boyfriend")
"Well..."

"What? Tell me..."

"Ok… but you have to promise not to say anything to anyone..."

"Deal…" She said with a nod.

"Well…this is going to sound really strange, but I think Miranda has a crush on Gordo" Kate started laughing.

"No, I'm serious! You weren't there... well… you sort of were, but you were talking to your friends at your locker… No, I swear… first Miranda complimented his hair cut… THEN she asked him if he was working out..." Kate's laughter was increasing at this point was almost about to spit out her milkshake.

"Then… she tried to grab his muscles…"

Splat. Kate spit her milkshake all over herself, but continued to crack up.

Lizzie looked her up and down. "What's so FUNNY"

Kate wiped the access off her lips. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry… It's just that we are talking about Gordo, right? He doesn't have muscles"

"You have a point there… but still, Gordo is my boyfriend and I won't let her put her hands all over him" Lizzie did secretly laugh about the muscles comment anyway.

"Whoa! Back up are you serious? Are you two… official"

"Yeah! We are! He asked me today… as a matter of fact"

"COOLIE- I am really happy for you, Lizzie. I know how much you like Gordo. I knew before you did"

"That's right… you did." She bit her lip. "… Um… was it obvious to everyone that Gordo and I had huge crushes on each other"

"DUH" Was her only reply.
Both girls cracked up laughing… as they headed towards the Style Shack, where Parisian hip huggers await.

Fade To Black

Fade Back In

(The Digital Bean)

After the Kate Lizzie shopped till they dropped, Kate suggested they stopped by their favorite after school hangout, the Digital Bean. As they entered, the first person they saw was Ethan Craft. Now, ordinarily, the site of Ethan would make Lizzie's brain turn to Jell-O… but now... she actually didn't care!

(Toon Lizzie: "Whoa… I see Ethan… but yet... it doesn't matter… I am over him," Toon Lizzie looked over at her frog and said"Wow… what kind of a spell do you have on me, Mr. Gordon")
"Umm... there's an empty table over there…" said Kate pointing at some tables in the middle of the court. "Why don't you go grab it, and I'll get us some smoothies"

(Toon Lizzie: "Smoothies? Kate and I should have patched up our differences a LONG time ago!")

Lizzie was walking over towards the table that Kate picked out, when suddenly she noticed a dark table in the far back corner… If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn it was Miranda and Gordo… out… together… with out… HER… but no… It couldn't be! Could it? As Lizzie got closer… she realized it was Miranda and Gordo… without… HER.

(Toon Lizzie: This is SO not happening" She said burying her head in the ground.)

Lizzie stood there in shock for about two minutes, before heading to the table that she and Kate picked… thankfully; it was nowhere near Gordo's table.
About two minutes later, Kate returned with the smoothies, and when she was walking back, SHE noticed Miranda and Gordo.

"Uh, Lizzie… did you notice that Mir"

"SHHHH… we don't want them to hear us" Lizzie screamed out to her.

Kate responded sarcastically"Oh, right… I forgot, the music is, like turned so low and all…" Snapped Kate who immediately stepping back into "Kate" modem, but she quickly recovered from it though.

"Kate! This is major. What do I do"

"In this case… I say… just go up and talk to them"

"Uh, NO way-What do I say"

"Lizzie… Miranda is your friend, and Gordo is your boyfriend. You have to be straight with them... " She replied in a serious tone.

"Yeah... I guess you are right… wish me luck" She said getting up from the table.

"Good luck" And she meant it.

Kate watched as Lizzie made her way to Miranda and Gordo's table...

As Lizzie approached, Gordo's smiled brightly, but it quickly faded when he saw the expression on Lizzie's face. Miranda also saw that expression, and well, if we didn't know her better… it almost looked like she was glad that this was affecting Lizzie.

Gordo spoke first. "Hey! Where have you been? We've been wa" Miranda cut him off.

"Hey Lizzie… what's going on? We looked for you after school today but we didn't see you. Hey... was that KATE I saw you talking to?"

"Yes it was… but what do you mean you didn't see me after school? I WAITED for you both for like a half hour… and neither one of you showed… "

"Ooops… I guess we just missed each other then..." Lizzie tilted her head to the side.

(Toon Lizzie"Ooops? Oops? Her Oops is quickly turning into Ooops, I did it again")

Gordo again tried to speak. "Lizzie, I " Miranda cut in.

"So… are we being replaced by KATE or what"

"No… you should know better than to ask me that…

"Well, I did see you talking to her… and it looked like you were even interested in what she was saying"

"What? No. Come on Miranda, you know Kate's about as interesting as a plate of curly fries"

This got Gordo's attention and he suddenly said"Curly fries"

"GORDO" said Miranda and Lizzie both in unison.

(Toon Lizzie: "Curly Fries? Focus… focus…")

Finally Gordo got a word in edgewise. "So...what took you so long? I… uh… we've been waiting here a while…"

"What do you mean? I've been with K… Uh, I went shopping. I waited for you after school but you didn't show… so I went to the mall. And I came here to see what was going on, and I see you and Miranda here together." Lizzie saw a sudden look of anger as well as confusion wash over him.

"Miranda! Why didn't you tell me you were coming here"

Miranda pretended to be hurt said, "But I told you right after lunch I told you that the three of us should meet here." Miranda seemed certain of this, but Lizzie knew otherwise. "Well, then why is it such a shock that I am seeing you both here"

" I don't know, but I know I definitely told you-right Gordo" She asked turning to him. "Well actually I don't rem"

"You see, even Gordo remembers..."

"WHAT-EVER" She huffed to both of them, then storming out of the Digital Bean. Miranda took a sip of her smoothie and said"Now… where were we"

"Miranda, you didn't tell Lizzie to meet here at the Digital Bean"

"Yeah… I know, but if she thought we were here 'together' she might freak out. I am just doing it for her own good"

Gordo blinked. "What do you mean, together"

"Uh… I mean just you and I… gosh… I mean do we have to do everything with Lizzie? Can't we do stuff without her"

Gordo was all of a sudden feeling very uncomfortable and nervous around her. "Uh… Miranda… I have to go… sorry… later… bye…" He bolted out the door in hopes to catch up with Lizzie.

Looking in both directions he saw a blonde object in motion walking rather quickly across the street. Feeling his legs hyped up with energy he sprinted after her, and called out her name several times. Lizzie heard him call out to her, but refused to answer and quickened her pace. She felt the tears start to stream down her face. While she walked she saw people look at her in an odd way, but she didn't care. She didn't care that her hair was matted to her face, and that her eyes were red and puffy from crying. All her thoughts were to run home; hide under the covers with Mr. Snuggles. That made her feel better for a second, but then was twisted around to find a very out of breath, and concerned Gordo. Serves him right! Go ahead pass out. See if I care! She thought angrily.

"Leave me alone, Gordo. I don't want to talk to you." She said brushing past him. Gordo sensed that she was really disappointed in him, and continued what he started before.

"Okay, if you don't want to talk, just hear me out." He stepped in front her and blocked her view making her involuntarily stop. "Listen, Lizzie I know that you are angry with me, and confused for that matter. I am… well… as confused as you are! I have NO earthly idea what was up with Miranda. And… you want to know something else?"

He didn't wait for her to respond, so he took her hands in his and looked deep into her hazel eyes. "She said…" He couldn't even say it. He was still shocked by those words. "She said if you saw us "together" you would freak out. I was the one freaked out… mm…maybe not as freaked out as you were… but… when she said that… she gave me the worst possible answer I have ever heard of." At this point Lizzie, had stopped crying a little, but was too afraid to look up at him.

Ushering him to go on, he sighed. "I asked her, what do you mean "together", and she said do we have to do everything with Lizzie…can't we do stuff without her? I wanted to slap her the minute that came out of her mouth, but I didn't… I was more concerned about you!"

(Toon Lizzie: "Why, should I believe him, I mean he is a smart manipulative dirk. Of course, he would come up with an elaborate scheme like this, although he only got one word in otherwise. Hmm." She picked up her frog, and examined him through a microscope. "Something's up.")

Getting enough courage and confidence, Lizzie looked up into his crystal blue eyes, and immediately got lost in them. All her hatred and fear drained that second, and she knew that he was telling the truth. Gordo gave her the sad eyes, and felt used.

"Hey, don't use those sad eyes on me. I made that expression up. Don't take my thunder away!" She smiled at this, and he knew she is joking.

"Ah, there is that beautiful smile. I like it when you smile." She blushed, and looked away. Gordo cuffed her chin with his fingers.

"So, what do we do now?" She asked lovingly, while looking into his eyes.

"Now, we," grins wickedly. "Makeup, I believe that it the term used when couples have their first fight?"

Lizzie didn't need to be told twice, so she leaned forward, and closed her eyes. Their lips met almost immediately, and the electricity exploded through their whole bodies, making Lizzie melt into him even more. Gordo deepened the kiss by pulling her closer to him, and letting his fingers twist in her curly locks. "God" he thought, "I love her hair. It's so soft, and… So… Lizzie. The best part is I can smell her strawberry lilac shampoo whenever I want."

"Now, this is what I am talking about." Lizzie thought, smiling to herself and then placing her arms over his neck for more support.

"This couldn't be in any more perfect." Gordo and Lizzie thought.

What they didn't know was that across the way at the Digital Bean, was a very angry Miranda Sanchez.

"Why, those little…" She was so angry she couldn't find the words. "How could they not tell me? I mean I am their best friend. We are supposed to tell each other everything!" Gathering up all her hatred and frustration inside her, Miranda formed a plan in her head. Smiling to her self she thought, "Well, looks like they don't need me anymore, Huh? I'll get you back Lizzie McGuire, even if means taking matters into my own hands... "Revenge is Sweet." She chuckled while shaking her head. Evil laugh

Fade to Black

Fade Back In

(Matt's bedroom)

Matt McGuire was fiddling with his video camera on his dresser, when the phone started to ring.

"Hello" He said in a deep voice, after the third ring.
"Matt, it's Miranda."

"Miranda?" He set the phone down, and whispered, "Yes, I knew she would come back."

"…Matt?" No response. "Matt, you there? Hello?"

Matt quickly put the receiver to his ear. "Ss…sorry, I… uh… dropped something. I had to set down… the ph…phone, and pick it up." Smooth one McGuire. Real smooth. He mentally kicked himself. "So, what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

He heard a heavy sigh at the end of the receiver.

"I need your help, Matt. Lizzie made me very pissed off. Can you help?" She asked crossing her fingers.

"Um… What is in it for me?" He asked slyly.

She groaned. "Ugh… Matt… Please?" She gave him a pouty look, but remembered he could not see that. "For me?"

"Okay…but only… for-" she cut him off.

"Thanks Matt."

So that whole evening, Matt and Miranda stayed on the phone planning their revenge on sweet innocent Lizzie McGuire.

Wow conniving little Matt and Miranda. What will happen next? R/ R Please