Title: Surviving Exile

Author: Anisky

Summary: Based on my little "Finding Solace" vignette. Lizzie and Miranda enter high school, and change isn't always good.

Rating: PG-13 (so far) For cursing and sexual themes

Disclaimer: Miranda, Gordo, Lizzie, Kate, etc all, do not belong to me. They are the property of Disney Channel.

Reviews: Yes please. All flames will be put towards my annual campfire where I roast yummy marshmallows.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update… very busy year.  I have the whole summer now though!  And I, unlike Miranda, am never going to have to go to school again.  That's right, I'm done 10th grade and this teenage writer is "dropping out"!!! Leave your congrats in the reviews please. J


Chapter 2: First Faltering Steps


I edged into the school cafeteria, eyeing everybody and trying to figure out where to sit.  My generic school lunch slop with a milk carton was almost knocked over as several Juniors pushed by me and I fell into a (mercifully empty) table.  I straightened quickly, brushing off my pants and checking to make sure that the Mystery Meat didn't stain my shirt.

So the eternal question: Where to eat lunch when Lizzie and Gordo aren't here?  Should I go with strangers or my "acquaintances" from middle school?

I strolled around the cafeteria slowly, trying to make it look like I knew where I was going.  It was only the first day and already the cafeteria was firmly divided into the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Thespians, the Art Freaks, the Druggies, the Nerds…

I didn't belong to any groups in middle school, and it really never bothered me.  I had two great friends, that was more than almost anyone else had.  Heck, Kate admitted that she was jealous of my friendship with Lizzie and Gordo.  Yeah.  I'm in good shape.  I lifted my head and strode to—

oh yeah.  Great friends don't do much good if they're not here. 

"Hey! Dumb People-Girl!" I heard a voice call from behind me.  "You with the rainbow hair?"

I spun around, looking back and forth for the source of the voice. "Oy! Over here!"  I saw a guy waving to me.  He had spiked hair, baggy pants, a ripped shirt, and a smirk on his face.  The people around him were all dressed the same way, except the girls were all in black, down to the lipstick and nail polish.  There was, however, room at his table, so I cautiously approached.  "Yes?"

"You looked lost.   Need a place to chill?"  He smiled at me.  It wasn't a reassuring smile though.  It actually scared me a little.

"Sure," I said with a grin, sliding into the empty seat.  "So, where are you guys from?" 

One of the Wednesday Addams girls giggled, but just like Spiked-Hair's laugh, it was most scary than cute or mirthful. 

"Ah, so you're the fresh meat, huh?" another one of the guys asked, leering at me.  I shifted, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Huh?" I asked, feeling stupid. 

He rolled his eyes.  "A freshman."

"Oh.  Right."  I nodded.  Feeling extremely awkward, I picked up my plastic fork and started picking at the Mystery Meat, hoping that nobody would try to talk to me. 

"Hey Loser-chez!" I heard the evilly perky voice from behind me.  Dammit.  I sunk lower into my seat, hoping she'd just go away.  No such luck; Kate strode right up to the table with a smirk on her face. 

"So," she said, tossing her hair as all her groupies formed in a pattern around her, just as if they were in the middle of a cheer, "Loser-chez has been here half a day and already is joining the freaks.  I can't say I'm surprised, it's not like anybody else would welcome a little nothing like you." 

I stood up and glared at Kate.  "If I'm such a nothing, Kate, then why are you talking to me?  You know what they say about people who talk to nothing.  Maybe they should lock you up in a mental hospital." 

Kate snorted (but somehow managed to make it graceful), and all her little cheerleader friends tittered around her.  "That is just about the lamest thing I've ever heard," she said scornfully.  With one final flip of her hair, she spun and stalked off to the Cheerleader table.

"Bitch," I muttered as I sat back down, feeling drained.  The upside was that all of the people around me were looking kind of sympathetic.

"They got 'em in every grade," said one of the girls.  She had extremely short—like, buzz cut short—black hair and was wearing a baggy black shirt.   "You just have to learn to ignore them is all.  I'm Jessie," she added her name almost as an afterthought. 

"Miranda," I told her, playing with the fork. 

"Well, Miranda, I think you're okay," she told me with a smile.  This smile was warm.  I smiled back.  Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. 

The lunch bell rang and I jumped in surprise, spilling my milk on my shirt.  "Dammit," I exclaimed, stealing napkins from Joey's tray as Jessie laughed at me.  When I was done cleaning up I waved goodbye to my new friends and started for the door.   Once I was out of the crowd and into the hallway, I checked my schedule for the next class.  Biology, room 128.  All the way on the other end of the school.  Just my luck. 

I was about five minutes late by the time I got across the school and actually found the classroom.  It didn't matter; the teacher wasn't there yet either.  Kate, however, was.  Damn, was that girl going to follow me everywhere this year?  Judging from her behavior so far she wouldn't be willing to just ignore each other, either.  It looked like it was going to be a long year. 

I lit up when I saw that Gordo was in the class as well, and slid into a seat behind him, tapping his shoulder.  "Hey Gordo.  How's it going?"

"Miranda!" he exclaimed.  "Wow, I haven't seen you all summer! Well, besides this morning, I mean.  You look really different."

"So do you!" I responded, grinning widely.  I'd really missed him.  "Your hair is all… long! Wow."

"At least it's not rainbow!" he told me, grabbing a piece of orange hair and pulling on it. 

I glared at him, crossing my arms, feeling kind of hurt.  "What's wrong with rainbow hair?"

"Uh, nothing, Miranda, I was just kidding around," he said, looking alarmed.  "Don't be so sensitive."

Great, now I'm too sensitive.  This day is really going well.  I was about to ask him how Lizzie was when the teacher came in and everybody quieted down as she began the same monologue as every other teacher had been given all day… you're in high school now… you're in honors… we won't baby-sit you… you're getting tons of work… no easy A's.  Blah, blah, blah.  It was the same for every class. 

Finally, after another three hours, the school day was over.  I plunked down on a seat in the bus, putting my head down.  This was not exactly how I envisioned the first day of high school.  Sure, I made some new friends, but when would I see Lizzie?  I knew she wouldn't like the group I'd sat with at lunch.  Maybe I wouldn't even end up friends with them.  They're all sophomores, after all, and I'm just lousy Fresh Meat.  Plus, for all the classes I didn't have with Lizzie, I had plenty of them with Kate, and she seemed determined to make me miserable. 

(Oh, cheer up, Miranda.  You got to see Lizzie and Gordo again, and things always get better.)

(Yeah.  Sure.  I'll just keep telling myself that.)

I was sitting at home, nibbling at some pretzels, when the phone rang.  I looked at the caller ID; it was Lizzie! I picked up the phone eagerly.  "Hey Lizzie!" I exclaimed.  "What's up?"

"Miranda!" I could practically hear Lizzie grinning on the other end.  She's so cheerful, it always makes the day seem brighter.  I couldn't remain sad while talking to her.  "Gordo and me and a couple other people we met today are going to the digital bean.  You interested?"

"Of course! I'm really bored.  When are you going?"  I twirled the phone cord around my finger. 

"We'll come by and pick you up in about ten minutes okay? Great! I really think you'll like the people we met today, Miranda.  This'll be fun!" She squealed and hung up before I could say anything.  My lips quirked into a small smile as I shook my head in amusement, gently setting the phone on the hook.  Lizzie was such a pure soul.  She was always happy, and nice, and playful.  She always had a smile on those perfectly-shaped lips, pink and sweet and perfect for kissing…

Whoa there Miranda!!! Hold the trains!! What the hell am I thinking? Lizzie's lips, kissable? Right.  I think I'm just a little depressed about how the school day went is all.  I'm letting Kate get to me, can't do that.  Concentrate on something else.  Joey.  The guy I met at school.  All punk, with a nose ring and everything, but still really cute.  I have a crush on him.  Yes, he's cute and was actually surprisingly nice.  Of course I'd get a crush on him. 

The doorbell rang, breaking me from my reverie.  I opened the door and smiled when I saw Lizzie there.  My mom was out, so I just closed the door behind me and grinned at her.  "I'm ready to go!"

She smiled back at me.  "I miss you, Miranda," she said, her soulful blue eyes looking into mine like two pools of…

Joey.  Think of Joey.  He's cute.  Yes.  Um…

"Miranda? You okay?" Lizzie looked concerned.  I smiled at her.

"I'm fine.  Sorry, just thinking.  I really missed you too.  I'm glad we're doing something tonight."  I grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

A spark of electricity seemed to run through me.  I quickly let her hand go and started walking for the car, waving at Gordo and some girl I don't know.  I still had time to turn this day around, and by God that's what I'd do!