Chapter 4! Thanks to everyone that reviewed! It's nice to know people are reading my story!
Disclaimer: I would love it if I owned something other than a car and a cat but I don't.
Lizzie scrubbed the counter of the bar fervently as if she were wiping away a disease. She hadn't even realized she had been washing the same spot for the past fifteen minutes.
"I think that spot is clean McGuire." Mel's voice came booming from the kitchen. "You've been washing it for like an hour!" She laughed to herself as she threw fries in the fryer.
Lizzie shook her head in order to toss out thoughts of Gordo actually, physically, being in Carterville. It was almost laughable. One minute she was staring at the overly clean spot on the counter, and the next, straight into Mel's large brown eyes.
"Somethin' on your mind McGuire?" Mel asked, taking the rag from Lizzie's hand.
"Oh no…I'm fine." She replied distantly.
"Right and I'm a 100 pound super model." Mel chuckled at her attempt at a joke.
Lizzie couldn't help but smile at the mere fact that Mel was no where near being a super model.
"Mel, did you ever have someone you knew you would always be in love with?" Lizzie sat on a nearby stool and plopped her temple against the palm of her hand.
"Well, Liz, I always was a free spirit and never looked to settlin' down with anyone but Bobby Franklin always had my heart. I can still see that boy and get butterflies." She paused and looked at Lizzie with a questioning gaze. "Wait, McGuire, are you in love?" Mel's eyes brightened and her cheeks seemed to become even rosier.
"No…well, I was… but not now. It's been years since I was actually in love." She sighed.
"Yeah, I know how you feel. Aren't many good men that come moseying into O'Malley's." Mel stood to cook some more French fries as Lizzie sighed and grabbed the dirty rag from the counter. Just as she was dunking it into the bucket of soapy water by her feet she heard Miriam's giggling. Great, she thought, Miriam is flirting. I wonder how much money this guy ma…Lizzie's thoughts were put on pause as she realized who was walking in with Miriam and on the receiving end of her giggle. She didn't even think before her feet were carrying her into the women's bathroom. With her butt tightly seated on the toilet closest to the door, she carefully listened to the drama ensuing outside. What was David Gordon doing with Miriam?
"Hello Melanie." Miriam sang as she bobbed the upper half of her body over the bar.
"Hi Mrs. Danes, can I help you with something?" Mel asked coming face to face with the woman.
"Where is Lizzie my dear?" Miriam was looking from side to side in search of her blonde friend. "I know she is working."
"I'm not sure where she went but she was here a moment ago. Try her cell."
Miriam took out her phone and dialed Lizzie's number.
In the bathroom, Lizzie was cursing herself because she knew they would hear her phone ring. She held her breath as she heard the muffled ring of her cell phone…she was caught.
"Maybe she is in the bathroom." She heard Mel say. What was Mel doing? She was giving her away.
"Oh, well in that case I think my nose could possibly use a good powdering." Miriam smirked as she made her way to the women's restroom. She swung the door open.
"Elizabeth McGuire I know you're in here." Miriam whispered loudly to the barren stalls.
"No I'm not." Lizzie yelped back.
"Lizzie get out here!" Miriam exclaimed.
"Miriam, what's going on?"
"Lizzie what are you doing? Honestly my dear, you're hiding in a bathroom stall." She said smugly as she tapped powder against her creamy skin. Miriam had aged well.
Lizzie rolled her eyes and sighed as she stood from the toilet seat. She knew Miriam was right and she also know she wouldn't leave until Lizzie did what she wanted.
"Seriously Miriam, what is he doing with you?" She fiercely pointed her finger toward the door.
"Lizzie, didn't you say he was your best friend?" She asked, raising a perfectly waxed eyebrow.
"Yeah, Miriam, was. I haven't spoken to him in five years. He hasn't been my best friend since high school." Lizzie could feel her palms begin to sweat and her heart beat rapidly increasing. She began to breathe a little heavier.
"There is no harm in talking to someone whom you haven't seen in a while. Especially if he was your best friend so long ago…and I think I remember you telling me that you loved the boy. Isn't that right?" She turned to Lizzie, folded her arms across her chest, and watched Lizzie's expression soften from the look of fear and frustration she had been wearing.
"Yeah I did love him but we left on a really awkward note. Something that I had pushed to the back of my head for a while." She leaned against the counter. "I told you guys I loved him but I didn't tell you guys that I told him that too."
Miriam's eyes grew wide as she pleaded with Lizzie to tell her what happened. Lizzie began by telling Miriam how Gordo had loved her since he was thirteen and how she never gave him the time of day, and when she did think about her feelings for Gordo she would push them out of her head. Her fear of losing his friendship consumed her and caused her to pretend she only thought of him as a friend. It wasn't until Gordo had his first high school girlfriend, Kari. Gordo brought Kari flowers and treated her so well. He really liked her.
Lizzie told Miriam about the day she decided she was going to tell Gordo, even though he was happy and she knew she was being selfish to ruin his relationship with Kari, she had to tell him before she snapped. She had gone to his house on the day he was moving. She remembered being completely numb that day. The only thing she could feel were the wet tears against her face. Gordo was loading his stuff into his small Honda Civic and just as she was about to spill her guts, Kari pulled up into his driveway. She sat and watched as they kissed and cried and then something came over her…she couldn't stop this outrageous feeling that was consuming her. It was like anger, jealousy, love, and sadness all mixed into one moment. And then it happened, those fateful words fell loudly from her mouth. "I love you Gordo." That was it. Kari and Gordo, wrapped in an embrace, turned and glared at her. She saw the anger in Gordo's eyes as Kari's sobbing increased. Lizzie didn't know that Kari and Gordo had planned on staying together. She remembered her heart breaking and the tiny shards of glass drifting onto the concrete of his driveway. Next thing she knew, her tennis shoes were hitting the pavement and carrying her back to the safety of her house.
"Did he ever say anything to you about it?" Miriam asked in complete shock.
"Uh yeah, he yelled at me for being selfish and ruining his relationship with Kari. He told me the only reason I did that was because I wasn't dating anybody and he wasn't there to be at my beck and call. It was awful. I was depressed for weeks. He called an apologized but it didn't matter my stupidity ruined seventeen years of friendship." She felt her cheeks get hot.
"Are you ready to start over with him because we have some exciting news!" Miriam asked as her eyes lit up.
"No, but do I really have a choice?" She sighed.
"You know me too well Lizzie." She squeaked and lead Lizzie out of the bathroom.
A/N: Hopefully that helps you understand why Lizzie is so weird about seeing Gordo. I mean it is awkward to see someone you haven't seen in so long but even more awkward when you leave on that note. Happy Reading.