Chapter 12: Ignoring the voices in my head

Lizzie bitterly packed up her make up and costumes. Gordo had been too distracted for her to do anything. He had even had the audacity to ask Mrs. Biles to change partners. She was stuck with Frtiz Wellner.Lizzie cringed in mid- thought. Fritz was a strange kid obsessed with blue cheese and Princess Leia. Lizzie shook her head and picked up her two bags.

"Don't forget to collect the cast party money tomorrow in fifth!" Lizzie heard someone cry out as the door opened and two people walked in. Lizzie looked in the mirror and locked eyes with Miranda and Kate. It was only 4 years ago she would have laughed at the sight.. Maybe even freaked about it- now it made her numb.

"Hey Liz," Kate greeted politely. Lizzie glared at both of them and stormed out of the room to meet Abby and Candace.

"Well, that went well," Miranda commented and started packing up.

"I don't get it. You guys were beyond tight. How did it come to this?" Kate asked, picking up her old cheer bag.

"I don't know. I really do not know. She never freaked out when Gordo dated other girls. This is all messed up, Kate. It's like some parallel universe. You and I are better friends than Lizzie and I have been in years. She's practically taken over your role of top bitch and out running around with Abby, Candace, and Shannon. Did I miss a huge memo or something?"

Kate shook her head at the sad brunette and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's all apart of growing up. Ran- you and Lizzie have been best friends since before we all even met. She'll grow up one day and get a clue. Now stop your sulking and get a move on. Our men are waiting and I am hungry," Kate declared and made her way out the door. Miranda shook her head and chuckled at the Kate Sanders she once again called friend.

Candace Delgado, Shannon Smyth, and Abby Burton all stood outside the auditorium waiting for Lizzie to appear. The four girls were going to a party thrown by Shannon's boyfriend on the other side of town

"Liz, hurry your ass up!" Candace shouted at the blonde as she appeared out the door. Lizzie flung her long hair over shoulder and joined the other girls in Shannon's car.

The other girls chattered on, while Lizzie lost herself in her thoughts. As much as she hated to admit it, Gordo and Miranda looked extremely happy together. So happy it made her jealous. She couldn't remember looking that happy with someone. Now she sat and doubted if Gordo had ever been happy with her. His words had cut her deep, deeper than she realized. As childish as it may sound, she wanted to hurt them both for hurting her, but could she really blame them? Yes, yes I can! No, I cant. Gordo and Miranda have every right to be together.

"Stop it!" Lizzie blurted out loudly. Thankfully her shout went unnoticed by the other girls in the car. Laying her head against the glass, she saw two figures in the distance. She knew exactly who they were.

Get yourself together, McGuire! They hurt you! If they had just been honest there would be no mess. You wouldn't be out to break them up and most certainly not be in a car with Abby Burton, plotting ways to break them up. Why couldn't they just trust me?

Lizzie suddenly felt very lost.

Miranda felt weird. Sipping her soda, she watched Larry, Kate, Ethan, his date Olivia, Eric, Kennedy, Veruca, her boyfriend Max, and Gordo joke, laugh, and eat. No matter how much she was hurt by Lizzie's behavior, she missed her best friend. They had barely spoken to one another in 2 weeks. The 2 weeks felt like 2 lifetimes to the quiet brunette.

"Hey are you all right?" Gordo asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

Miranda smiled, and replied, " Everything is almost perfect."

Gordo leaned over and kissed her softly. He knew what would make the moment perfect. Sadly, Lizzie was a world away from them and with the act she was pulling, he wasn't sure how long it would be before they would ever find her again.