Disclaimer: I do not own Lizzie McGuire, Disney does. I don't own anything except the plot and the program I wrote it on. I think most of you already know this.

Chapter One: Dealing

Gordo and Lizzie sat down at their usual table during lunch. Gordo had been talking excitedly about a convention taking place at the exhibition centre that he was looking forward to. He was about to suggest that Lizzie accompany him, when he noticed the very solemn look on her face.

"Lizzie…something wrong?"

Lizzie shook her head, wiping away at one eye, "Its nothing, Gordo, just me being a teenage girl again."

Gordo nodded. "I see, one of those 'You wouldn't understand, so just pretend its fine' problems."

Lizzie shrugged. "I guess so."

Gordo picked at his chocolate pudding "I probably would understand you know, " He said after a time.

Lizzie shook her head once more, then sipping on her juice box, she took on a brighter tone.

"It'll all be forgotten by science class, I'm sure!"

With that, Lizzie continued to eat her salad…if that's what it was. However, Gordo could not help noticing the sorrowed expression on his best-friends face. He decided not to take it further at that point though, and after a few minutes silence, he reconvened talking about the convention.

Lizzie did take on a happier countenance during science, at least for the first half, when they were receiving the graded papers from their practical examination.

"I got a b!" She said excitedly

Gordo smiled and placed his A in the back of his notebook. "Good for you, Lizzie!"

It was going well, except maybe for a few groans and snide remarks about various grades by other students. But Lizzie's good mood wasn't to last. Mr Pettus called his class to silence and began explaining their next topic of learning.

"Biology. The study of bios, life. Everything that lives and breaths on this earth is a member of our biosphere. For this unit, we will be concentrating on the area of biology that involves the human body, specifically disease."

A resounding sneer of disgust was heard around the classroom, except for the few…intrigued counterparts.

Lizzie, who had been smiling only a moment before, suddenly became quiet and sad again.

Gordo tapped her on the shoulder "Lizzie?"

Lizzie shrugged "Don't worry." And opened her text book to the specified page. However, she did not read it, she barely even looked at it. Gordo noticed that her eyes had glazed over and she was not focusing on her book at all, in fact, she didn't even seem to be in the room.

Science was the last class for that day. Immediately following the bell, Lizzie slammed her book shut and raced out into the corridor as fast as she could. She managed to run all the way to her locker without bumping into anyone, which was an effort, because through the blurred vision of her tears, she couldn't see much. She reached her locker, opened it, leaned right in as though she was reaching for something and began to cry.

Gordo had followed her right up to that moment, and didn't know what to say. A moment later, Lizzie emerged wiping away the tears from her wet cheeks and red eyes.

"Gordo." She said, barely audible.

"Lizzie, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Gordo, its really nothing."

"That sure is a lot of nothing to be so upset over."

Lizzie smiled her characteristic 'quick' smile and leaned into her locker.

"I don't know anything yet. I promise I'll tell you when I do. But right now I'm just figuring it out for myself."

Gordo sighed. " Ok then…C'mere" he said, offering his arms in embrace. Lizzie willingly accepted the offer of comfort. Hugs were good. Hugs didn't expect problems, or reveal them.

"When you…know more…" Gordo said "Be sure to tell me, I'm right here."

Lizzie stood back "Okay Gordo, thanks." The taking up her bag, she went home.

Twenty minutes later, Lizzie quietly slipped through the door to the house and made her way up the stairs, hoping to go by unnoticed by her family.

Unfortunately, Jo noticed her.

"Lizzie! Hey honey!"

Lizzie stopped in the middle of the stairway, a deep feeling of dread and grief beginning to surge through her.

"Hey Mom."

Jo sighed deeply "Uh, how was school?"

Lizzie shrugged. "Yeah, y'know."

Jo knew Lizzie didn't want to confront her, but she persisted, it was important for Lizzie to get over her grief and begin accepting the situation.

"We got the results back today."

"Oh…yeah?"

Lizzie held her breath, hardly daring to hope.

"They came back positive." Jo's heart began to break when she saw the look of true grief on her baby's face. "Haha, its ironic, isn't it, they say I'm positive, even though it's a negative thing." Her voice did not properly accompany her joke.

"Yeah mom…ironic." Lizzie felt a huge lump in her throat that began to burn, she wanted to escape this, she wanted to be alone and not deal with anything, especially her mom.

"Why don't you come down here, and we can chat a while. It feels like so long."

Lizzie shook her head, she didn't want to do that. She couldn't, it was too hard, too difficult.

"I…I have science homework to do…"

Jo nodded "Oh yeah…what about?"

Lizzie cringed inside. "Nothing. I mean…yeah…biology. Plants and stuff. I guess. I have to go."

With that Lizzie escaped further confrontation with her mother and retreated into her room.

She threw her bag down and slumped on her bed, face down into the pillow. She began to cry out into the cloth, tears of anger and pent up frustration.

"WHY ME! WHY NOW! WHY MY MOM!"

She rolled over, picked up her phone and dialled, waiting a moment for the tone to sound.

"Hello, Gordon residence, David speaking."

"Gordo?"

"Lizzie?"

Lizzie couldn't help it, she tried to hold it back, she had cried, but not in this excess. She began to sob heart wrenchingly into the phone.

"Lizzie? What's wrong?"

"Gordo…I…I j-just found out…Mom has cancer."

End Chapter one.

Au/Note

This is my first fic ever, please be kind…Its based on some life experiences…

Basically throughout the rest of the fic, Lizzie deals with her fears and how her mother's condition affects her emergence into womanhood. Basically, Lizzie suddenly realises that her mother might not be around to help her out forever, and suddenly feels the impulse to grow up and separate herself from her mum, before its too late and Lizzie has no mother to help her become a woman.

It will deal with the issues Lizzie faces, especially the distance she feels from her mum (Which happens for a lot of teenagers in this situation). I also want to show how Lizzie feels about becoming a woman, the euphemisms, the physical aspect (which only enters slightly). Mostly I Want to deal with the mental and emotional aspect of Lizzie's life as she deals with "growing up' and becoming an adult.