Chapter 4: Kitchen table conversations

Miranda gulped nervously. She was so not ready for this.

"Gordo, could we please not do this tonight?"

"I've been putting this off since Friday, Randy. I've let you avoid me all day and weekend. You ran out as soon as you saw me and Friday night you kissed me and left me. I think it is time you suck it up and face me."

"Gordo.."

"Miranda!"

"Okay. Okay. Fine. We will discuss this. Would you like some lasagna?" she offered. "Or something to drink perhaps."

"Feeding me won't get you out of this, but sure. I would love some lasagna. You get the food and I will get the drinks. Your usual?" Gordo replied. Miranda nodded in response. Silently the two got the drinks and food before sitting across from each other at the Sanchez family table.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Gordo asked as soon as Miranda had taken a bite of her lasagna.

Why do you have to ask questions now? I should have known he wouldn't wait.

"Do we have to discuss this now?"

Gordo gave her a hard look.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her plate away and got up.

"Randy."

"I'm scared, ok? And I am confused. And.. Well, I am a lot of things right now. This is complicated for me."

Gordo looked at the petite brunette in front of the sliding glass door. She was biting her lip and fiddling with the cross charm on her necklace. She was vulnerable and beautiful to him. Getting up from his chair, he walked up behind her, placing his hands on her hips.

"How do you think I feel, Rand?"

Miranda didn't respond. She just stared out the window.

"How do you feel about me, David?"

The way she said his name gave him the chills. She rarely called him by anything other than Gordo. Acting on impulse, he twirled her around and kissed her.

"Does that answer your question?" he asked her breathlessly.

"We can't do this," she whispered and wiggled out of his arms.

"Why not?" he questioned, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to him.

"You know why not."

"No I don't!" He argued.

"David, please don't do this."

"Do what, Miranda? I like you! I care about you! I want to see where this goes. You can't tell me that you don't feel something between us," Gordo argued.

"You need to leave."

"I am not leaving till we discuss this."

"There is nothing to discuss."

"Miranda!"

"No, Gordo."

Gordo growled in frustration. Him and Miranda were going to get nowhere tonight. "Fine. I'll leave you alone for now, but I am not the same little push over Gordo. This could work, Randy. You know it can. Call me when you are ready to talk."

Miranda cursed under her breath at the sound of the front door slamming. She didn't need this. She didn't want this. Okay, so she wanted something with Gordo, but could she really cross that line?

Miranda Sanchez was not the same little girl anymore. She had grown into herself the summer she was in Mexico. While everyone was bonding in Rome, Miranda was starting to find herself. She had spent a lot of time with her grandmother and older aunt Katia. Her Aunt Katia worked for a fashion magazine in Mexico that was a big seller in most of Latin and South America. Katia opened Miranda up to a whole other fashion market. At 13, while Lizzie was singing, Miranda was getting an intro into the fashion world, her future world. Miranda was an early admission on scholarship at FIDM, complements of her cousin's magazine. Kate was the only one to know of this, her being an early admission herself.

Miranda Sanchez was no longer playing in the shadow or background of Lizzie McGuire. The two were still best friends, but not as close. Their high school lives had taken them on different routes. Lizzie had popularity and cheerleading and Miranda was well Miranda. She was happy and nothing else mattered. She was completely content with herself. But then there was the Gordo factor. Choosing to ignore what just happened, she picked up her plate of lasagna and headed up stairs. It wasn't that she was in denial. She knew how she felt for Gordo, she just was not sure about crossing the line and possibly loosing him. She saw how Lizzie and Gordo ended up in the end of their relationship.

"No more thinking!" Miranda shouted at herself as she entered her bedroom/ studio. She loved her room. Her parents had extended it in order to put in Miranda's workspace of design table and two "dummies."

After turning on a light and making herself comfortable she took a seat in front of her design table near the window. While enjoying her lasagna she started work on her designs for prom and for the play.

I really should get Lizzie over for her dress fitting. I wonder what she is doing now? Should I talk to her about Gordo? Maybe I just won't mention it's Gordo…"

"Hey Liz, it's Miranda. Do you have time to come by my place for dinner and a dress fitting. I have a delicious Caesar salad and plate of lasagna with your name on it….Excellent! I will see you in 10." She tossed the phone on her bed and sat back at her desk. It was covered with her designs. She had designed a dress for Lizzie, Kennedy, Veruca, Kate and herself. Veruca's dress was complete and sitting in her closest for a final fitting. Lizzie's would be done in a week. Kennedy needed to pass final inspection. And Miranda's dress was only a design. She could not wait to work on her dress. She had found an old dress in a thrift store and was going to turn it into the masterpiece she had designed as soon as the play was over.

"Hey Randa!" Lizzie greeted walking into the room. "Omg! Is that my dress!" She cried looking at the light blue creation on one of the dress dummies. Miranda had designed a corset top with an almost ball gown skirt dress for Lizzie with thin straps.

"Miranda, I love it! I wish I was as creative as you. This is perfect," Lizzie gushed, grinning at her best friend. "Can I try it on?"

"You paid for it," Miranda shrugged. Lizzie let out a squeal and dashed off to the bathroom. Her dress in hand. Miranda smiled at her best friends antics. She was such a girl. Miranda looked back to her table at the small paper amongst the larger ones. She was making a nice profit from her friends. They each had paid her anywhere from 200-250 to dress them from head to toe. She still had to pick up Kennedy and Veruca's shoes.

"Miranda!" Lizzie called stepping back into the room. "It is so beautiful. Thank you! Thank you!" The blonde pulled the slightly smaller brunette into a tight embrace.

"You look amazing," Miranda commented, looking at her best friend. Oh yeah. I am good. FIDM here I come! She thought as Lizzie twirled. The dress was perfect for the fair skinned blonde. Just the right shade of blue and style for her slim frame.

"Do you think you could make a tie for Jack? I think I am going to have him take me to prom. You know it's funny. When I was younger I always imagined either Ethan or Gordo being my date, but oh Jack would be excellent."

Miranda grimaced at the mention of Gordo.

"What's wrong? What was that face for?" Lizzie inquired, catching Miranda's grimace in the reflection of the mirror. "Miranda, come on. Don't say nothing. I know you. I'm your best friend. I may be dense and oblivious a percentage of your time, but it doesn't mean I am totally blind. Fess up."

"Lizzie, can we please drop this for tonight. I am not ready to discuss anything with anyone, much less myself. Please, as my best friend just drop it. I'll talk when I am ready."

Lizzie looked ready to argue, but knowing Miranda it was like arguing with a wall.

"Fine, but when you are ready to talk, please come to me. I know we aren't as tight as we used to be, but you are still my best friend and I hope you feel the same way. If you ever need anything, you know I am always here, right?"

"Yes, Liz. Thank you," Miranda replied, hugging her best friend of 15 years.

"Anytime," Lizzie grinned. "Hey Randa. Do you know what Gordo's deal is? I think he is seeing someone. He has been acting really weird lately."

"No, I don't." Miranda said awkwardly. "You know Gordo. He isn't exactly normal."

"I think I am going to set him up with a girl from work. Do you think he would mind? Well, if he isn't seeing anyone. He hasn't been on a date in 6 months. I just want him to be happy. I want both of you to be happy," Lizzie rattled on.

Miranda wanted to shout in protest, but until she got her self together, she smiled. She had to get her act together before Lizzie played matchmaker. Damn McGuire

As the week went on, Gordo and Miranda danced around each other. Gordo respected her wishes and kept his distance, but he did not back down. He kept up his persistence in small acts that went unnoticed to everyone other than Miranda. He did until the end of the week, however.

"Flowers, Miranda! OMG! Who are they from? You have to tell me! Have you been dating someone I don't know about? Oh! They are so beautiful!" Lizzie gushed looked at the white, orange, and pink roses on Miranda's desk in homeroom.

Miranda knew exactly who they were from, from the tell-tale smirk on Gordo's lips.

He is going to pay.

"I don't know. All the note said was to my favorite senorita," Miranda lied. The note really said: M- I am not going to back down. Who cares about everyone else this is about you and me. Let there be an us. -D.

"Oo! Secret Admirer. How exciting," Lizzie replied, standing up to inhale the gorgeous scent of the roses. "Any ideas at all?"

"None."

"That's all right. It will be fun to find the romantic one. Which reminds me, Jack and I are going to the movies this weekend. His friend Eric is in town, would you like to join us?"

"No thanks, Liz. I have a lot of costume work to start on. You are meeting me in 5th period to take your measurements."

"Yup. I have the pass from Mrs. Hart. I will meet you in the music room, right?"

Miranda nodded, her eyes once again finding David's across the room. The bell rang, halting all conversations in the room.

"See ya later, Randa!" Lizzie called as she rushed from the room. Miranda watched Gordo walk out of the room with Larry as a plan formed in her head. She didn't plan on talking to him till later, but after the roses were delivered to her first, second, and third period classes, she knew she had to get him. With a get out of class pass from Mr. Kane, she put her plan into action.

"Kate, can you make sure Larry is no where near the chem. lab?" she asked, jogging after the much taller blonde.

"Huh?" Kate asked confused.

"I need to get Gordo alone. Can you work your magic and make Larry disappear?"

"What are you up to Sanchez?"

Miranda smiled innocently. "Take care of Larry and we will talk later. I have to get something from Mrs. Hart."

"You owe me!" Kate called at her retreating form.

"Yeah, yeah!" Miranda called back before disappearing around a corner.

"Where the hell is Larry? This project is not going to observe its self," Gordo complained, as he jotted down his own notes. Putting down his notes, he walked into the hall.

"Woah!" he cried out as he was yanked into the janitor's closet next to the chemistry. Before he knew what was happening, he was assaulted by a very familiar pair of lips.

"Miranda?" he mumbled against the soft lips.

"I hope you weren't expecting Larry," she shot back, before pulling his head back to hers.

"You'll do just fine," he retorted in between kisses.

"Does Kate know?"

"Shut up, Sanchez before I have to shut you up."

"Is that a promise?" Gordo just smirked and kissed her again. Their friendship was past the g-rated stage now.