Her footsteps echoed as she walked down the dark alley way. Lizzie found herself regretting not taking the offer from Kate who had asked if she had needed a ride home. The raindrops pelted on the ground as well as her face. She lifted her hand over her eyes to keep the water from going into her eyes. She scowled, reminding herself why Miranda hadn't been able to go to Club CipAtor that night. She had been grounded for skipping school to hang out with Larry. Lizzie still couldn't fathom why Miranda found Larry Tudgeman so fun and desirable. He had been such an outcast in middle school and now just in their Junior year of high school Larry had become this god, all because he had been picked to model in this Teen magazine.

"You really should have brought an umbrella." A familiar voice brought Lizzie back to reality. She turned to see Ethan Craft standing with a newspaper over his head, guarding his hair from the rain.

"Go away Ethan." Lizzie rolled her eyes and returned to walking. She found it so ironic that the boy she had once found herself running after, was now always running after her.

"Alteast let me give you a ride." Ethan pleaded. Lizzie bit her lip. I ride did sound pretty good at that moment. She was starting to get cold as the wind was picking up speed.

"Well ok, but we can't let what happened last time to happen again." Lizzie said firmly. She was referring to the time when Ethan had driven her home from a party and they had ended up making out for the rest of the night. If it had not been for Ethan parents, Lizzie probably would have slept with him.

"Totally. We were both pretty damn buzzed that night anyway."

"Yes, that's very true." Lizzie followed Ethan to his new car and got in. Despite how dumb Ethan could be at times he was a very good driver.

"So how's that boyfriend of yours? Ya know…Gordy?

"GORDO. And he's fine." Lizzie responded. She knew that Ethan always got Gordo's name wrong on purpose just to piss her off.

"Oh excuse me. GORDO." by the tone of Ethan's voice she could tell that he was a bit peeved.

"How's that girlfriend of yours? What's her name? Tilly?"

"LILY. Ya know, I could just drop you off right here."

"Hey, you're the one who started it." then there was silence for a moment or two.

"He's fine. I guess." Lizzie looked down and traced the design of her purse with her finger.

"You said that already."

"I know."

"Wanna talk about itt?" Ethan asked out of concern.

"With you? No thanks."

"Why? Lizzie, if you don't recall, you and I became pretty good friends in ninth grade."

"Yeah, then we tried dating and you screwed me over by cheating on me with Kate."

"Yeah…I did do some pretty shitty stuff to you. Which I'm sorry for, I've told you that a million times."

"I know. I know. It was all for the best anyway, because I finally noticed that the one I was truly meant to be with was always right in front of my face." Lizzie smiled.

"No. You always knew it. You just didn't want to realize it." Ethan shrugged. Then after a moment he tried to get Lizzie to talk again.

"So I'm right here. I'm the driver, I'm listening." Lizzie hesitated and considered the percussions that would come with telling Ethan.

"I think that he likes someone else." When the words came out of Lizzie's mouth, she couldn't believe that she had said them. She had thought it but had never said it.

"Why do you think that?" Ethan asked, turning onto Lizzie's road.

"He's been distant in a way. Like he doesn't want to kiss as much and cuddle as much and even wanna have sex."

"Oh."

"Oh? What oh? Why is there an oh?!"

"Lizzie! Calm down! I was just responding to what you were saying. It sounds like the guy is scared of something. I don't know what, but he's defenitly scared." Ethan pulled up in front of Lizzie's house and stopped the car. She made no attempt to get out.

"I don't know. Maybe he's kind of…"

"What?"

"Falling out of love with me?" Lizzie looked at Ethan.

"No way. Not possible Lizzie Mcguire." Ethan shook his head. She smiled and gave Ethan a kiss on the cheek.

"Do not take that as an open invitation Ethan Craft." She told him.

"I'm not." They said good bye and Lizzie went into her house.

"Lizzie?!" Both of her parents called.

"Yeah! It's me." She took her jacket off and went into the living room. She walked into a scene that she never wanted to. There sat Matt kissing some girl from his school.

"MATT." She startled them both.

"Oh! Hi Lizzie! You remember Gloria right?"

"Hi." The young girl blushed and Lizzie decided to go easy on both of them since the girl actually looked nice.

"Don't tell mom and dad Lizzie please." Matt pleaded.

"Oh get a grip. You still have me held down with the whole Gordo and me on the roof bit."

"Oh right… I had forgotten about that." Matt got a mischievous look on his face.

"You better not." Lizzie warned, "Or I'll tell mom and dad what's stashed in those shoe boxes under bed." Matt's eyes got as big as saucers and he clamped his lips together.

"Mom, dad, I'm going over to Gloria's house!" Matt called.

"Ok honey. Have fun!" their parents were obviously oblivious to what was going on with their children.

"ciao." Matt look Gloria by the hand and headed out the door. Lizzie went into the kitchen to find her parents drinking tea and reading.

"Hi honey, how was your study date?" ok so they didn't know that Lizzie went clubbing, no big.

"Fine. Um, did Gordo call?" the look that was exchanged between both of her parents sent chills down Lizzie's spine.

"mom…dad…?"

"Lizzie, sweetheart, maybe you should sit down."