Chapter 12 – Girl time (Wow has it been forever or what? My aunt and Grandma are doing well. Emily is doing great also. I've been stuck in writer's block hell forever it seems. I dunno if this is even any good, I'm just glad that I finally got another chp. wrote. Well back from the dead: welcome back to the story.

Love, Faith, and Understanding will save us all,

James

P.S. If trying times will make me stronger then so be it. If loss and heartbreak will make appreciate love and being loved more then I will agree to it. If letting others lean on me for strength will ensure that I will have support in my time of need then I am here for them to lean on. If true understanding means being content with having no clue what happens next then I am wise. If believing that everything happens for a reason is a sign of faith then I believe. If the extraordinary is being able to look in your eyes and see your soul, then a miracle occurs whenever I see you. True happiness isn't thinking that you are all powerful, True happiness is knowing that know matter what the person staring back at you believes. They believe in you and no matter what its not knowing what makes you happy, it's knowing that you make them happy.)

"What do you think of this shirt?" Miranda inquired.

"For you or me?" Lizzie questioned, as Miranda held a light blue top with "Hottie" printed across the chest up for her to see.

"For Gordo," she joked as she held it against in an attempt to see how it might look on her.

"Not for Gordo, not for you either." Lizzie voiced, as she ran her fingers across the many items hanging on the rack.

"Well you're no fun," Miranda told her as she glanced at a nearby mirror.

Lizzie watched her friend search through the many racks of clothes. After what had happened she was really happy to see Miranda in a good mood. She thought to herself that her little talk with Kate must have helped as the difference in Miranda had been noticeable all day. She also remembered how bad her mood swings had become. For now she was just happy to see her smile.

"Hey, you can get that for me. Christmas isn't that far away now." Lizzie suggested as she took a second glance at the top.

"I'll keep that in mind," she responded unenthusiastically. The girls had decided to go to the mall after school. They were caught up on their homework and wanted to give Lizzie's parents a break and Gordo a chance to get in touch with his mother.

"I saw Kate talking to you this morning. What did she have to say?" Lizzie asked, as the girls wandered aimlessly through the racks.

"Just that I need to stop burning bridges," Miranda admitted, as she picked out a few random outfits and put them back.

Lizzie smiled approvingly and waited for Miranda to continue. When she didn't, Lizzie's smile turned a serious face and a tapping foot. When Miranda caught on she sighed before saying, "I'm sorry I yelled at everyone that night."

"And?" she asked, with crossed arms and business in her tone.

"And I'm sorry I've been such a roller coaster…I'll apologize to Gordo too," Miranda stated.

"You better," she informed her.

"Hmmm…what do you think of this skirt Lizzie?" Miranda questioned, as she held up a short red vinyl skirt.

"Oh that's cute. Just don't wear it around Gordo," she teased with a smirk.

"Oh don't worry I'm not gonna try to tempt your man," she fired back.

Miranda couldn't tell but Lizzie found humor in the comment. Every knew that they were an item now even though neither she nor Gordo were admitting it openly and he hadn't officially asked her yet. She knew it was going to happen soon but she wasn't gonna rush or push him into anything right now.

"He's not my man," Lizzie protested.

"Oh, well then why do you lean on him, hold his hand, and kiss him?" Miranda asked, as she put the skirt back and strolled happily to another section of the store.

Lizzie followed behind her with fake hurt showing on her face before telling her, "I'm comforting him."

"Sure you are, just do me a favor and let me know when you are gonna comfort him for a while so I can make myself scarce and find my earplugs," she stated with an overly large smile.

"Oh shut up Miranda," Lizzie shot back as she tried to fight back a smile and a giggle.

"We are just waiting for you guys to make it official," she informed Lizzie.

"Hey Rand, how come you have never liked Gordo?" Lizzie questioned.

She didn't question that her friend didn't have feelings for Gordo but she had wondered for a while why they had never considered dating. Maybe because she knew how comfortable they were together and what they thought of each other. She also noticed how their playful bickering bordered on flirtation at times.

"Because I have taste," she responded. Miranda then guarded her face and feigned fear of an attack from her best friend. After a few seconds and after moving several feet away, she began to giggle. Lizzie started act angry but soon found herself laughing along with Miranda.

"Seriously Miranda, not even a little crush?" she asked.

"No, not even a little crush. I've thought he looked good in an outfit he was wearing a few times, but that's about it. I think its because by the time I got old enough to actually like guys, we had already grown into bickering sibling types. And there has never been that underlying spark with us like there is with you and him. Besides, everybody has known that you guys like each other for years. So even if I was interested, I don't wanna be anybody's second choice, and that's what I would be as long as you are around," Miranda explained.

"Fair enough," Lizzie admitted. The girls had stopped looking at the clothes and were now people watching and letting their eyes wander, not focusing on anything particular.

"You know I never noticed how cute you guys are together until this morning at your locker," Miranda stated.

"You saw that?" she asked, slightly taken aback.

"Everyone did Lizzie. I mean you guys were in the middle of the main hall. Not that either of you would notice. You were both off in Lizzie and Gordo land," Miranda noted, with a certain twinkle in her eye.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" she responded.

"Too bad. I'm still sorry. I must have been a handful these last few days," she offered.

"Yeah you were, but so was Gordo. Between the two of you I think I've dealt with every possible emotion and mood now," Lizzie said.

"Tell me about it. I will just be happy when all this is over and however its gonna end up happens. Nobody should have to go through this drama," Miranda confessed.

"Yeah, hey we better go call my mom and get her to come get us before she gets mad," Lizzie suggested, noticing the time.

"Yeah that's the last thing we need, another mad and upset person at the house," Miranda noted.

Lizzie laughed as she grabbed Miranda by the arm and told her, "Come on, lets go!"