Miranda watched Lizzie and Gordo as they strolled down the hallway, hand in hand and laughing. It had been over a month since she'd last talked to Lizzie, but she still kept up with all of the latest gossip about her. It felt so weird. She used to be Lizzie's best friend, and now she felt like she didn't even know her. She understood how Lizzie was disappointed in her. Lizzie had vowed to remain a virgin until her wedding night, and she always tried to convince Miranda to do the same. Not only did Miranda break that promise, she didn't even tell Lizzie when she lost her virginity. She knew that Lizzie was hurt. But who the fuck did Lizzie think she was to judge her like that? Now that Lizzie and Gordo were Hillridge High's new "it" couple, Miranda wondered if anything would change. Lizzie caught Miranda staring and offered her a tight smile, then whispered something to Gordo, who looked over at Miranda and nodded. Miranda looked away, embarrassed, and quickly walked into her classroom.

Lizzie saw Miranda staring at her and smiled politely. She knew that Miranda was probably upset that Lizzie hadn't spoken to her since that night at Laser Corral, but she still just couldn't believe that Miranda hadn't told her that she slept with Carlos. And Carlos of all people. Lizzie felt like Miranda was selling herself out. She tightened her grip on Gordo's hand and looked up into his green eyes.

"Miranda's staring at us," she whispered. Gordo glanced over. He actually thought that Miranda was kind of pathetic. His psychiatrist parents had had a field day when Miranda's father had left the family for a stripper several years ago.

"That girl is going to be bad news," Mr. Gordon had remarked. "Just try to imagine the lessons that she'll learn from the dominant male presence in her life setting an example like that." So, Gordo wasn't surprised that Miranda had turned out the way that she was.

"I feel sorry for her," Gordo told Lizzie. Lizzie rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. She was my best friend, and she couldn't even tell me about something huge like that!" She played with one of the straps on her customized LL Bean backpack.

"Maybe she was ashamed," Gordo suggested. Lizzie shook her head.

"She's not ashamed. She and Carlos freaking brag about it." They arrived at Lizzie's class and Gordo dropped her off.

"I'm going over to Kate's after school," Lizzie reminded him. "So I'll call you later tonight!" Gordo nodded. Maybe time with Kate would help Lizzie cool down.

As Lizzie hurried to her last class period of the day, cheerleading, she ran straight into Miranda, knocking her down.

"Sorry," Lizzie said, continuing down the hall.

"Lizzie, wait!" Miranda called. Lizzie stopped and turned around."So what, you're too good to talk to me now?" Miranda challenged her. Lizzie wasn't sure what Miranda meant.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Miranda. I'm late to cheerleading." She

waved her fingers at Miranda and turned back around.

"Just because I slept with Carlos, it's like everything changed with us. Having one partner doesn't make me a slut if that's what you think, Lizzie."

"Miranda, I didn't say—" Lizzie stammered. But Miranda cut her off.

"You don't have to say it. You're not better than me just because you're a prude,"

Miranda countered. Lizzie was stunned. Someone had finally said it out loud. Lizzie was self conscious about the fact that she was so sexually inexperienced, but she didn't think Miranda would stoop low enough to throw it in her face. Without saying another word to Miranda, Lizzie walked quickly down the hall and into the gym.

After cheerleading practice, a man in a Bentley convertible pulled up next to the chain link fence and honked. Kate grinned.

"That's our ride," she told Lizzie. Lizzie rolled her eyes, but she had to admit she was pretty pleased. Kate liked to show off by occasionally having her dad's drivers pick her up from school. Lonny helped them into the car and Lizzie admired the plush oyster colored leather. She wished that her parents had gotten a new car like this one instead of Jo's new Chrysler Town and Country Minivan. "So, Ethan's having a party this weekend," Kate said, biting one side of her lower lip mischievously.

"Finally," Lizzie replied. Ethan was known for his badass parties, but he hadn't had one in a while. His mom, Carla, tried to be more of a friend to the kids than a parent. She always provided them with plenty of "beverages" when Ethan had a party. "Miranda called me a prude today," Lizzie suddenly confessed. Kate laughed. "Lizzie, you're not a prude. You've done everything but sex. You're saving yourself. There's a big difference." Lizzie nodded. But the truth was, she hadn't done everthing but sex. She had told Kate and the other cheerleaders that at camp because she didn't want to be the only one who hadn't. She really was a prude. But she still wanted to prove Miranda wrong. And Ethan's party would be the perfect chance to do that.