"Why would I do that?" Gordo asked the stuffed bear now making camp on his desk. Lizzie hadn't even noticed 'him', and Jo was too occupied with comforting them, to even look Gordo's way. Fredrick just kept the blank stare, only an inanimate object can have, on his plastic little eyes. Yet to Gordo's over active mind it spoke volumes. He sighed, flopping on his bed. "I just don't know what possessed me to do that. Sure we're friends, even good friends, but we're not best friends, despite Lizzie's protests, we're not best friends, we're Lizzie's best friends." Regardless of a few class projects, and their shared bond with Lizzie, they'd never had a close personal relationship, not like he and Lizzie. To be perfectly honest most of the conversations he and Miranda had revolved around Lizzie. Simple fact: Lizzie was their best friend, thus their bridge…until now.
But he could remember the few times when they were alone, thinking what an interesting person Miranda seemed to be. Once they got past all the small talk and teasing, and Lizzie-centric conversation there was something there, he just wasn't sure what. In one of those rare conversations she mentioned her love of the old Superman films, and thus Fredrick was his next birthday present to her.
"Perhaps that's why I did it, I want to get to know Miranda, and not Lizzie's other best friend." As he mumbled this, he looked over at Fredrick for conformation; then chuckled...'if my parents could see me now' he thought.
Miranda sat anxiously waiting, for the pilot to announce it was okay for her to get her bag. She hadn't had time to look through it before boarding, and since she was obviously alone, the attendants were watching her like hawks. 'Why doesn't any one give these people something to do? You'd think they paid them to watch Me.' she mentally wined. 'Gordo said I had to go away before I could look in the bag, well her I am, away and "oops no bag any way"!' before she could think any more annoyances, it was announced (in that annoying tone only ever achieved on planes by the person manning the loudspeaker, when you're having a bad day) that it was safe to move about the cabin. She grabbed the bag and pulled out a sleek black volume, with the words 'Year Book' written on the cover. This wasn't what she was expecting, mainly because she wasn't expecting anything in particular, but a year book? Who's? This wasn't the school yearbook; there was no insignia, or cheesy title, just the single word, and the year.
Upon opening the book Miranda realized it was their yearbook, literally. It was a professionally printed album, and all the pictures were of the trio. As she continued to flip through it, she saw it was littered with drawings. Some of the drawings she recognized as her own doodles, and others she figured were done by Gordo himself. In addition to the pictures and drawings he had all sorts of Gordo-isms, there were quotes, fun facts and Miranda was even voted most poised. But what really caught her eye was the last page, there were two drawings of the trio, one under the headline 'Our Trip to Rome' the other had them all donning caps and gowns. On the bottom he'd scrawled, 'you're with us in spirit, so you can't tell me you're bored.' In blue ink as if an after thought.
Miranda kept flipping through the book, studying the pictures and caricatures even taking a minuet to appreciate the 'Matt page' which had Matt's picture in little hearts over and over again (he would not let that go). But something about this whole thing was off. She couldn't place it, that nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. She finally let it go until she arrived in Mexico and was getting ready to go to sleep; emptying out the pockets of the jeans she wore that day, Miranda threw all the junk on her night stand. Taking the twenty in the back pocket she, opened the back cover of the book to place the money for safe keeping, when she saw the all too familiar script she copied her notes from.
Miranda,
By the time you read this you'll be gone and probably missing Lizzie like crazy. I know how much you were looking forward to our graduation, and the trip, even the yearbook. Well, I can't take you to Rome, or our graduation, but I thought this might help make the transition a little bit easier. I know it's not the real thing but I hope you like it…sorry I'm the only one to sign it.
Miss you already,
Gordo
"Missing Lizzie like crazy?" Miranda mumbled to herself. For some reason that struck her as weird, she quickly flipped through the yearbook again not sure what she was looking for, and then suddenly the realization hit her. Aside from the pictures taken with Lizzie, there were very few pictures of Gordo and Miranda together, and some of those were his drawings or Photo Shop-ed.
'We're supposed to be best friends…' she thought, "yeah, Lizzie's best friends." She finished aloud. She quickly unpacked her laptop, all thoughts of sleep vanishing. "That just won't do."
Grateful that the internet had been set up before she arrived; Miranda got on her e-mail account and set to work composing a letter to her soon to be best friend. 'Not like he'll say "no", right?'
From: mira-quen-anda (a)musiclover . com
To: ratpack-brat (a)vintagejunk . net
First things first, thank you for the book I love it! But that's not why I'm writing, actually I have a problem, and I think you can help. You see I think there's something wrong with me… why, you ask? well that's simple; I only have one best friend. I know that may not seem like a big deal to some, at least I have one, but the thing is, Lizzie has two…and well unless I'm broken, there should be no reason I don't as well, especially now that I'm all the way over here…alone!
This is where you come in, I figured since, we're already friends, and you're bonding with Fredrick and all that you'd be the perfect best friend. But let me warn you this isn't a job to be taken lightly, you must be willing to deal with random rants, breaking out into song, and most importantly speak some language other than 'girlgish'.
That's settled then, after looking over all the information, I've decided you're the best applicant for the job. Welcome to My World!
Bye Miranda
From: ratpack-brat (a)vintagejunk . net
To: mira-quen-anda (a)musiclover . com
Never mind I was the only applicant, and that Fredrick submitted the application for me. I'd be glad to take the post, even though the 'girlgish' might be hard to keep in check. ;)
But I do have one request, you have to be my best friend too, I can't be the only one without two best friends, especially since I'm teaching Fredrick to swing (oops the string broke!), make that teaching him how to fall.
T/k- Gordo
P.S. glad you liked the book.
SOMETIME LATER
From: mira-quen-anda (a)musiclover . com
To: ratpack-brat (a)vintagejunk . net
Hey buddy! What's the haps? I know you don't have much time to write to little ol' me, and I can imagine what the wireless connection's like. Well my work here is almost done, so I'll be back in about a week and a half. In the meantime though I'm writing a new song, it's all about how we're all just waiting for something big to happen to us, as apposed to actually going out and doing something big. Well, I'll let you go, and I can't wait to see ya'll.
Much love La Flaca
From: ratpack-brat (a)vintagejunk . net
To: mira-quen-anda (a)musiclover . com
Hey sorry about the long wait, the connection her is pitiful, but things have been crazy. Lizzie snuck out with some Italian superstar, pretending to be his singing partner, Isabella, and then when I covered for her I almost got sent home. But the real Isabella was at the airport, so she and I went to expose Paulo, the singer guy.
Even though Lizzie didn't believe me at first (even with Isabella there), Paulo was proven a fraud and Isabella got her life back. Lizzie though, got to perform in a packed arena, no stage fright, possibly got a record deal in the states, and got kissed by one very confused David Gordon.
She said 'thank you' is that good? Need help! Can't wait to see you, and hear your song.
See ya' soon- El Gordo
P.S. lover boy told Liz's 'rents about the Isabella thing and now they're here.
From: mira-quen-anda (a)musiclover . com
To: ratpack-brat (a)vintagejunk . net
Brain fart! That was way too much to process! So Lizzie's an international superstar, you took the rap for her, saved her, and then kissed her? And the McG's are all there? Darn boy, I knew you'd get into trouble but I figured take a hotel pen, or maybe a towel. Not go knight and shining Gordo on me! Any way, my opinion is that Lizzie is just as confused as you are right now. I suspect she likes you, not just in a, you're-my-best-friend kind of way, but in a, maybe-we-could-go-out-some-time-and-see-how-things-work-out sort of way. And you kind of give off the same vibe, so why don't you hang out now before I get there so you can be alone together and test it out. I'll see ya' soon!
Good luck Miranda
P.S. he's not lover boy! gags
A.N.: hey ya'll so that was the gift! Oh and about Freddy, no he's not in the show, he's actually my bear, but he made a cameo in my other fic 'With Out You'. Any way he's like the confessional, or the journal I had in 'With Out You', he's a way for the characters to speak. Plus I thought it was a nice bond. I'm trying with all the spelling but bear with me. Thanks, and do what you do, flame or review.
Their closings: La Flaca and El Gordo, are from a Spanish language version of a 'Regis and Kelly' type show (El Gordo y La Flaca)