This is the first part of the chapter: Movies & A Makeover. Enjoy!
Soon, Lizzie, Miranda, Mo, Christine, and Gordo were seated around the tiny kitchen table. It was a little too close for comfort. Christine would squirm in her chair every time someone came near her, even Gordo.
Lizzie, Miranda, and Gordo rambled on for most of dinner about their childhood memories. Christine looked bored and Mo was somewhat intrigued but for the most part they were uncomfortable.
"Oh Liz, remember that one time, in middle-school, you dove in front of the green paint for me? That was so traumatizing back then…now it's kind of funny." Miranda chuckled.
Thank you Miranda for breaking awkward silences.
"That was not funny!" Lizzie said defensively. "It took me like ten washes to get the green out of my hair!"
Gordo laughed, remembering his blonde friend's green-tinted hair.
"Want to talk about traumatizing? What about when you maxed out that credit card Gordo? I was so upset about it." Lizzie stated.
"I still remember the movie I was trying to do. It was some sci-fi crap. I can't believe I actually thought it was going to be good. Or I was stupid enough to think one credit card would pay for a movie!"
"We were young." Miranda added as the three of them laughed.
Lizzie was ecstatic because this night brought back so many old, heartwarming memories. Memories she had shoved in the back of her mind ever since the incident with Gordo.
Just as dinner was almost through, there was another knock at the door. Lizzie stood, being the good host she was, to answer. She knew it either had to be Miriam or Cindy because she had told them both to come with Mo. Lizzie turned the door knob and opened it to find Cindy and Brian staring back at her.
"Hi Liz." Brian greeted cheerfully. He was dressed in some jeans and a bright red shirt with Nintendo etched across the front in white lettering. His hair was messy and hung into his brown eyes.
"I finally found Brian and got him to quit studying for a night." Cindy laughed as she followed Brian into the apartment.
"Glad you could come out Brian…there's food in the kitchen if you want to grab a plate." Lizzie motioned toward the kitchen door and before she even finished her last words Brian had flew past her and into the kitchen. "Cin, I need to talk to you before you grab some food." Lizzie said in a whisper.
"What's up Liz?" Cindy furrowed her eyebrows.
Lizzie gently grabbed her wrist. "David's in there."
Cindy's eyes widened. "In the kitchen?" She whispered loudly trying to mask some of her excitement.
"Yes in the kitchen." Lizzie whispered with a hint of frustration.
"Ok McGuire, explain to me why he is sitting in your kitchen." Lizzie could sense the confusion in Cindy's voice.
"I invited him and well," Lizzie gulped, "his fiancé to dinner." She stopped and waited for Cindy's reaction.
"His fiancé?" She asked in utter shock. "What?"
"He's engaged." Lizzie said quietly.
"I have to meet her. Is she pretty?" She began to make her way toward the kitchen.
"Yes, she's pretty but Cindy if you say a word I swear I will kill you!" Lizzie whispered hurriedly.
Cindy dashed gracefully into the kitchen and saw the full table of people. Her eyes landed directly on the prim and proper woman sitting quietly with her hands folded on the table.
Lizzie already knew what Cindy would say about her and she knew Cindy would judge the woman before she even spoke. That's how Cindy was- extremely outspoken.
Lizzie gulped as she walked over to the stove.
"Hi, you must be David." She walked over to Gordo and stuck her hand out at him. He politely smiled and grabbed the appendage dangling in his face,
"That's me and you must be Cindy. I recognized you from a picture Ms. Dines showed me." They shook hands as Cindy sat in the seat Lizzie had previously occupied.
"And this is Brian." Cindy pointed to Brian who was stuffing his face full of pasta. "I'm sure he passed you guys up to hit the spaghetti." Brian smiled as best as he could with a full mouth of pasta and waved.
Cindy watched as Gordo's fiancé sat quietly, looking from him, to her watch, and back at him.
"Nice to meet you both. This is my fiancée, Christine." Christine stiffly smiled.
"Hello." She spat out.
"Hi Christine, how long have you two been engaged?" Cindy asked as Lizzie watched her from near the stove.
"Three or four months." Gordo replied.
"It's been four David." Christine stated firmly, glaring at him for a moment, and then glancing back to Cindy. "Four months." She smiled and gently placed her hand on the table. The kitchen light reflected off of her 2 carat diamond and Lizzie could have sworn the rays bounced from her ring and hit her directly in the eyes. Lizzie blinked a few times and tore her eyes away from the light show taking place on her kitchen table.
She rolled her eyes as she fished a wine glass from her cupboard and poured Cindy a glass of wine.
"Wow, that's a beautiful ring." Cindy replied as Brian stood to place his dish in the sink.
"Hey Liz, do you need any help?" He smiled lopsidedly at her as he placed his dish carefully in the sink.
"Not as of now Brian but thanks for the offer." Lizzie smiled and placed her hand on his arm.
Brian stiffened. "Uh…y…yeah no problem." She walked past him and set the glass of wine in front of Cindy.
"Oh thank you, Lizzie. I needed this, the store was hectic today." She sighed and took a gulp of the pale liquid.
"Oh Cin, have you thought anymore about my internship?" Miranda asked hopefully.
Before Cindy could answer Christine actually spoke. "What kind of store do you have?"
Gordo breathed a sigh of relief, knowing fashion talk would make his fiancé loosen up a bit but he was sadly, sadly mistaken.
"I have a clothing store in the city. It isn't really big and flashy but more contemporary and quiet. And by the looks of your, is that, Marc Jacobs?" Cindy motioned toward the blouse she was wearing.
"Yes." Christine replied.
"Yeah, you most definitely wouldn't like my store." Cindy sipped the last of her wine. "That's ok though I have my crowd of people who enjoy shopping there."
Christine pursed her lips as she glanced to Gordo. Lizzie found her fingernails quite interesting as the uncomfortable atmosphere became a little more awkward. Cindy didn't care though- she had a plan concocted.
"Anyway, enough about my store…how did you and David meet?" Cindy continued.
"Anyone want more wine?" Lizzie called out from behind everyone, secretly hoping Cindy would shut up.
Miranda raised her hand. "Can I have the bottle?"
Lizzie nervously chuckled.
"Lizzie, stop. I want to know how they met! You know I love a good romantic story!"
No she doesn't, thought Lizzie. She hates anything to do with love.
"We met through some friends at a movie screening. She acted in a couple movies directed by my buddy. And the rest is history." Gordo replied, glancing over to his fiancé.
She smiled politely at him.
"So Christine do you ever want to act in one Of Gordo's movies?" Miranda butted in.
"I've thought about it." She replied.
Gordo chuckled to himself and shook his head. Lizzie watched as the light danced off his cinnamon curls.
"We're all really excited about is upcoming movie." Mo, who had been quiet for some time, piped up. "Are you getting a part in it?"
"Well, I know Ms. Dines is picking the parts." Christine replied uncomfortably.
Gordo had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting- SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN MY MOVIES!! But he was more polite than that and he knew Christine wouldn't appreciate it.
Gordo stood from the table and walked into Lizzie's living room. They all eagerly watched as Christine followed suit. Just before he entered the bathroom, Christine grabbed his arm.
"Honey, are you almost ready to go?" She whispered.
"Chris, I haven't seen these people in so long. It's nice to catch up." He said calmly.
"Well it would be nicer if that girl wasn't badgering me every second. I know she doesn't like me." She folded her arms over her chest.
"Well maybe if you would make conversation things would be less awkward. You're just sitting there like you're shit doesn't stink. You've been acting like that a lot." He gently touches her arm. "Honey, what's going on?"
She quickly moves her arm as a tear runs down her cheek. "I can't believe you think that of me David. I mean I don't know what to say to these people. We will have nothing in common."
"You aren't even trying. I mean you think you could be unselfish enough for me to try and talk to my old friends. They're people I care about." He said softly.
"Fine, David, I'll try." She sighed loudly and made her way back into the kitchen.
To be continued…
