Chapter 15: it takes time
"I can't believe you told her!" Miranda shrieked, shoving Gordo by his shoulder.
He nearly fell backwards onto the wood floor, thankfully Lizzie caught him by the arm.
"Miranda?! What's wrong with you?" Lizzie's voice strained, as Gordo caught his balance.
Lizzie glared at Miranda with confusion while Gordo stood emotionless beside her. "It just happened," Gordo told Miranda. "I'm sorry."
"No you're not," Miranda raised her voice even louder. "Because if you were, you wouldn't have told her." With arms tight against her chest, Miranda stomped away towards the stairs.
"I don't see what the big deal is." It was Gordo's turn to strain his voice.
Miranda whipped around. "It was a private conversation, and if I wanted to tell Lizzie, then I'd do it myself."
Miranda stormed off upstairs to her bedroom, leaving a stunned Lizzie and a not-phased Gordo.
"We should just leave her be right now."
"Fine by me," Gordo grumbled. "Couldn't care less."
"Jeez, what is going on with you two?" Lizzie asked.
Gordo shuffled to the front door. "Miranda's being a big crybaby."
"Gordo!" Lizzie shouted as Gordo left Miranda's house, leaving everything unfinished.
...
Gordo rode home, his calves burning from
him pedaling like he was chased by a vicious angry dog. The drama-filled birthday party and the aftermath of Miranda's confession inflated his brain like a balloon stretching farther than the latex could handle. He desperately needed to pop his brain, yet the atmosphere and elements of his home would just inflate it more. His parents, who were hardly present didn't ask Gordo how he was doing or offer encouragement or advice when he was visibly upset.
Gordo locked himself in his room till the night, not going out for dinner even though his stomach ached for food. He finished up the baby genetics project that was due in three days since he figured he and Miranda wouldn't be meeting up before then. That wouldn't be an issue for him. The thing that was a problem was that he'd left their "baby" at Miranda's house and it needed to be returned when they presented their presentation.
Gordo didn't want to call Miranda and remind her to bring the baby to school, so the next day, he went to the Sanchez's hoping her mom would grab the doll for him and he didn't have to interact or see Miranda
"Gordo," Mrs. Sanchez greeted with a warm smile. "Are you here to see Miranda?"
"Not really," Gordo told her, his hands deep in the pocket of his khakis. "I need our baby back."
He pressed lips together firmly.
"Oh of course. Miranda's in her room if you want grab it." Mrs. Sanchez's gestures towards the stairs.
"We'll actually I was thinking you would—" Gordo sighed softly. "Never mind. I'll go up and get it."
Gordo slumped up the familiar stairs to the familiar bedroom door that was covered in faded stickers of guitars, flowers and smiley faces. The door was cracked, enough to see through without having to open it. Gordo peeked in, seeing Miranda curled up on her bed, back facing him. He was about to knock, but stopped when he heard sniffling. Gordo sighed, spotting the baby beside her bed in the toy stroller. There's no way in hell he was going in there; not when she was crying. Gordo rushed out downstairs and out the Sanchez's before he could run back into her mom. He was taking the chance on Miranda bringing their baby to school the next day.
When Gordo went back home and entered the front door, he was met with his parents presented on the couch, tilting close together, but not a coffee cup, newspaper or magazine were insight. Gordo delicately closed the door behind him before fully stepping into the living room and directly facing them. A deep pit of nerves dug into his stomach as their eyes rounded and the painful silence loom over he house and Gordo's body. Quick breaths began to exit his nose in rapid movements and all his limbs twitched and became antsy. It's happening. It really happening. This can't be happening to me.
"David," his mom spoke softly."Your father and I have something to discuss with you."
"I knew it!" Gordo shouted, his whole body boiled and blew up like lava. "Dad did cheat on my mom and you guys are getting a divorce." Gordo pointed an aggressive finger at his father then clutched his buzzed head. His nails dug into his scalp and all of his muscles tensed.
"Where in the hell did you get that from?" His dad asked, flabbergasted and a bit offended.
"You kept calling this 'woman' all the time an you've been acting suspicious lately," Gordo confronted,his breathing still heavy and heart racing.
Mrs. Gordon's brows bent deep with her face smothered in confusion as her son spouted out accusations that had no real evidence to back it up.
"David," Mr. Gordon sighed, holding his forehead. "Sit down. I think you've got the wrong idea."
"First of all," Mrs. Gordon said while Gordo took a seat on the couch with them. "We're not getting a divorce so you can calm your breathing."
"Then what did you give me a crap load of anxiety for?" Gordo asked, feeling the palpitations on his chest.
"We're flying to New York tomorrow," announced his mom.
"How come?"
His father angled his body to face Gordo. "You see, I have this friend. Close friend. In fact we used to date back in high school. We we're pretty serious actually until college and—"
"Dad, get to the point."
"Right, sorry. Well, last year she was diagnosed with cancer. In the last few months it progressed worse and she passed away a couple of days ago."
Gordo silenced, not knowing how to react or answer to that news. He had no idea his dad had a serious relationship besides his mom before, let alone a close friend having cancer. And then to hear they were suddenly flying to New York. Was he coming with them? Would he have to attended a funeral for a stranger with a bunch of strangers.
"Am I coming with you guys?" Gordo wondered, hoping he didn't have to be dragged along.
"We've arranged with the Sanchez's for you to stay with them," said his mom.
Crap. Not the home of Miranda whom hates his guts at the moment.
"Why can't I stay with Lizzie's family?" Gordo whined.
Mr. Gordon shook his head. "We already arranged with Miranda's mom."
Gordo thumped back on the couch, growling like an angry cat.
"What's the matter? You love the Sanchez's," said his mom.
Gordo sighed thick. "I don't think Miranda is speaking to me right now."
His mom and dad stood to their feet at the same time. "I'm sure she'll talk to you when you stay over. You two can play games, watch movies. It'll be fun."
His mom's perky tone sickened Gordo to the bone as she patted his head before going upstairs with his dad. As per usual, no further questions were asked and he was left to deal with his issues on his own.
"Fudge!" Gordo cursed at himself.
...
Gordo's parents dropped him off the morning of their flight to New York, at precisely 8 am on Saturday. They stalled the car a few feet away from the Sanchez's home, allowing Gordo to hall his duffle bag and himself out.
"Have fun son," his mother told him through the rolled down window as he slung the strap over his shoulder.
"I wont, but thanks anyway," Gordo grumbled.
"We'll be back in about four days," Mr. Gordon called out, the car gradually speeding up down the street.
Gordo forcefully walked up to the front door, and knocked with defeat. Not long after, Edward Sanchez opened the door.
"Aye! David nice to see you," he cheered with a tooth-full smile. "Come on in."
"Thanks Edward." Gordo followed him inside the house. His nose immediately was filled with the smell of freshly cooked tortillas and the oldies rock radio station playing in the kitchen, a station his parents wouldn't be caught dead listening to. Although Gordo was dreading confronting Miranda, their home, an her parents comforted him and gave him some confidence that maybe he would survive the four days.
"I think Miranda's awake if you want to go see her," Edward told Gordo, swiping the newspaper off the coffee table and bring it with him to the kitchen.
Gordo dropped his duffle bag down, fixing himself a spot on the couch. "I'm just going to chill here for a bit read book or something," he said.
Mrs Sanchez's appeared from the kitchen."There's some breakfast if your hungry David."
"Thanks Daniella." Gordo fished out a book from his bag, settling into the couch, extending his legs on the across the whole surface.
Gordo didn't even read a full sentence when he heard a foot steps coming from the stairs. He removed his eyes from the page, and as soon as he looked up towards the stairs, the world stopped. It was Miranda bouncing down the stairs, wearing a small tank top that revealed an inch of her stomach and long grey wool sweats. She moved in slow motion, her black hair swaying like it was being swept by wind, and Gordo swore he saw a glow around her body bright as the sun.
What the hell is wrong with my eyes.
Gordo blinked, squeezing his eyes tightly. All of a sudden he felt hot, and a stream of sweat dripped from his forehead. He swung his legs back around to set normally and shifted uncomfortably. When the world seemed normal again, he grabbed a pillow, covering his lap. Stupid Hormones.
"Mom, dad, what is Gordo doing here?" Miranda asked, completely ignoring him to join her parents.
"We told you this Miranda," Gordo heard Edward say in the kitchen. "His parents had to go to New York."
"Damn, I was hoping I'd dreamt that," Miranda said.
"Hey! Language Miranda!" Daniella scolded.
"Yes mother."
Gordo listened to her imitating a young girl like a tv show in the 1950s. It made him giggle.
Their conversation continued.
"After breakfast your going to help David with his Spanish homework."
"Ugh, is this punishment for me swearing?"
"No, it is not. David's parents asked if you would help him."
"Can't you guys help him?"
"No we have some gardening to do."
"Don't roll your eyes," Edward added. "David's your best friend, you should be glad to help him."
Gordo sighed as the conversation he was eavesdropping on ended with a frustrated growl from Miranda. Seconds later, she appeared in the living room, and they locked eyes.
"We're going to my bedroom," stated Miranda, face drained of expression and voice flat.
"How come?" Gordo said, pretending he hadn't heard their conversation.
"To make out," Miranda said sarcastically as she turned to the stairs.
Gordo rolled his eyes then removed the pillow from his lap, slapping it to the side before he followed Miranda to her bedroom.
She was already sat on her bed, with the Spanish text book open.
"You can sit on the floor, or on the chair. I don't care," Miranda told him when he entered the room.
Ignoring both options, Gordo chose to sit at the foot of her bed, criss-crossed.
"So how do you say 'how are you?'" asked Miranda.
"Cómo Estás," Gordo answered easily.
Miranda looked down at the book, but it was opened to a random page. "And 'My name is?"
"Mi nombre es David."
"What about, 'nice to meet you?'"
"Encantado de conocerte."
Miranda looked up and slapped the hardcover book shut. "Seems like you know Spanish to me."
Her eyes pierced through his with a dead face and dead tone.
"I mean, you asked the most basic phrases we learned in lesson one," Gordo said with matching tones.
They had a staring match for at least a minute.
"You're parents asked me to help, but did you want my help?" Miranda broke the silence.
"No, but if I get a failing grade in Spanish my dad will be furious."
Miranda grabbed the book, handing it to Gordo. "Good. Then my work here is done."
Although Gordo didn't want to be there in her room as much as she did, he felt unsatisfied.
"Fine, I'll leave." Gordo scooted off the bed.
"But before I go downstairs, did you finish your part for our project? It's due on Monday." Gordo crossed his arms by the door.
"Of course I finished it."
"Then can I see it?"
Miranda went to her desk and opened the drawer pulling out a piece of photo paper. She handed it to him before taking her spot back on the bed. She extended her legs out and hugged her chest.
"Wow, this is incredible."
The picture looked like him when he was about four years old, but he could also see Miranda's features, prominently her eyes and nose blended with his face.
"I combined images of us when we were kids on my computer," Miranda explained.
Mesmerized, Gordo added, "and also creepy."
"Creepy?" Miranda scrunched her brows.
He looked at her frantically. "No, I just mean it looks so realistic. Life if we actually had a baby that's what she'd look like."
"Okay, that's creepy." A corner of Miranda's mouth slightly raised.
Gordo laughed. "Hey I saw a smile."
"That was an accident."
He shifted closer to the bed. "Miranda, look, I'm really really sorry I told Lizzie. What was said in the closet was between you and me."
"It's not that simple Gordo. You can't just spill my secrets and then apologize in the same day."
"What more can I do?" Gordo flailed his arms. "I said I was sorry."
"I told you something personal. I told you I liked you and you didn't return the feeling. So now I feel stupid and I don't want Lizzie teasing me or meddling or anything like that. I am trying to get over you."
Gordo softened. "I'm sorry."
Miranda held her head in her hands, screaming. "Stop saying that! Stop saying you're sorry. Every time you say it, I don't believe you!"
"Miranda, we've been best friends for years. When tell you I'm sorry, I mean it."
Miranda eyes watered and she sniffed as she faced away from Gordo, curling into a ball. "I don't care. I want to be alone right now."
"Alright, I'll leave you alone."
