Two Lizzies, Another Path 2

by BitterSweetTeller

Lizzie and her three best friends are about to head on a trip to Rome. But, even with how far they've come...dreams, love, and adventures are not going to come easy. A sequel to Two Lizzies, Another Path. Also a alternate take on The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Rated K Plus for suggestive content, middle school graduation drama, humor in places, and action in places.

10. Tryouts and Promises

Two Lizzies, Another Path 2: A Lizzie McGuire Fanfiction Story

Chapter 10: Tryouts and Promises

Soon...

Lizzie has got to the lobby.

She's wearing her mostly dark red quilted dress.

Miranda helped her pick it out.

Kate is going back to her hotel room while talking on her cell phone.

Lizzie is nervously standing behind a pillar.

She looks out some.

She sees assistant hotel manager Giorgio looking through postcards.

Well...more like kind of flimsily holding them up and looking at them.

Then... Lizzie hears a familiar voice whisper, "I'm here, Lizzie."

Lizzie gets a little startled.

She starts to slide down the pillar and fall.

But...she has a good grip on it to steady herself.

Lizzie tensely whispers, "what took you so long?"

Andie is standing right behind her.

Andie whispers, "sorry Lizzie. But..."

Lizzie whispers, "what?"

Andie whispers back, "I came with a plan."

She's holding her CD player without the headphones for it.

It looks identical to Lizzie's CD player: Only with red lining instead.

Andie puts down her CD player behind the base of the pillar.

She briefly bends down to press play.

The Diner Brawl movie score and sound effects from a certain Agent Banks movie starts to play.

Giorgio drops the postcards.

Giorgio goes, "what...what...?! Bad waiters. Everywhere. The pots and pans. Ahh!"

He's run charging to the kitchen in back of the hotel's restaurant area.

Andie and Lizzie chuckle some with their hands over their mouths.

Then... Andie says, "go, go!"

Andie and Lizzie run for it through the front door.

They stop just outside to catch their breath a little.

As soon as they're outside... Miranda stops the CD player and kind of quickly takes it back up to her and Lizzie's room.

Lizzie wonders, "okay. What did you do to your CD player? And, how can I get it done on mine?"

Andie faintly chuckles.

She insists, "sorry Lizzie. But, I didn't do anything to it. It's from unedited music from Rosen's Deal."

Lizzie concludes, "the diner fight in the back kitchen? Really?"

Andie lightly argues, "hey. I've been saving that CD for just a time."

With a faint chuckle... Lizzie admits, "well...it was funny. But, I think we would've been better off sneaking with you leading me like old times. What if the commander of the Italian Navy back there catches it?"

Andie admits, "thanks Lizzie. But...yeah. Maybe that was only good for one sneak away."

Lizzie adds, "yeah. Now...let's really sneak away."

They very faintly smile to each other.

They both part the other's hair a little in the front to come out nicer.

Paolo waves to them.

They wave back, still faintly smiling.

Andie says, "I'm right with you."

She and Lizzie casually hold hands.

They giggle a little.

They fast walk over to Paolo.

Lizzie says, "Paolo."

Paolo says, "si."

Lizzie wonders, "what is this?"

Paolo casually brings up, "um, a car."

Lizzie is leaning over the bars made door of Paolo's new age space buggy like four seated car.

Andie runs her hand down some on the bars made door.

They're both faintly grinning.

Andie remarks, "you sure you didn't bring it out of a movie studio? Because I feel like I'm on one myself."

They all chuckle.

Paolo thinks out loud, "sorprendente! Life is getting very kind to me like a movie. I can't even tell you two apart anymore."

Lizzie and Andie chuckle kind of loudly.

Lizzie is quick to say, "I'm Lizzie. This is Andie."

She points both her arms out Andie's way.

Paolo figures, "I'm glad you could remember for me. Now, come on. Come on. Get in. I want to show you two the Tivoli Gardens before sunset. We'll have to get back by ten."

Almost at the same time... Andie and Lizzie say, "okay."

They both get in and buckle up.

Lizzie gets the seat next to Paolo. Andie sits right behind Paolo.

But, Andie looks completely unphased.

Paolo starts to drive off.

Then... Lizzie asks, "so...are we supposed to be singing?"

Paolo asks, "excusa?"

Andie chimes in, "are Paolo and Lizzie as Isabella supposed to sing at the awards?"

Paolo confirms, "si. But, not if Lizzie doesn't want to."

Lizzie somewhat nervously asks, "si?! Well, why didn't you tell me?"

Andie asks, "and...yeah: What do you mean by that other part?"

Paolo mostly assures, "I wanted to tell you. But, you told me not to telephone the hotel. Let me assure you Lizzie and Andie: There is still pretending to be Isabella so she doesn't get sued. That has not changed. I'll explain more on the way."

Lizzie smiles. Andie faintly smiles.

Almost at the same time... They say, "okay."

Andie can't help but wonder, "and...where's Sergei?"

Paolo remarks, "you're not the only ones who sneak off at night."

He faintly smirks.

Lizzie and Andie chuckle hard some.

Paolo starts to drive the car into a road tunnel.

At the Tivoli Gardens...

After Paolo has explained what the full deal seems to be with the record company threatening to sue him and Isabella... Paolo, Lizzie, and Andie go fast walking together through the Tivoli Gardens.

Paolo is holding Lizzie's hand and Andie's hand.

Paolo takes the lead.

Lizzie and Andie lightly chuckle and squeal. Paolo faintly chuckles.

Then... They start to walk more slowly together in the circled moss covered rustic nymphaeum around the Fontana dell'Ovato.

They're not holding hands right now. But, Paolo is smiling wide.

Lizzie somewhat nervously tells him, "look Paolo. I'm...I'm thankful it doesn't have to be me. I mean, I cannot sing in front of a audience. I won't even let my mom hear me sing in the shower. But, all this time, and..."

Paolo tries to assure, "don't worry. You can both try out in the rehearsal hall tonight. Even if you're left having to sing Lizzie, I'll teach you all you need to know."

Lizzie still looks somewhat nervous.

She brings up, "but, I... Does Andie know how to sing? Because I don't even know."

Andie faintly chuckles. So does Paolo.

Paolo offers, "well Andie, when we go to the rehearsal hall...let's see if it comes from you."

He opens his arm out toward Andie.

Andie twirls her hair some.

She hintingly faintly grins.

She says, "I was still kind of hoping you'd ask me."

Lizzie faintly chuckles.

She amusedly rolls her eyes.

Lizzie wonders, "okay. So...what is Isabella gonna do when she sees one of us being her?"

She gestures to herself and Andie as she asks.

Paolo assures, "ah. But, she won't. Knowing her, she's avoiding the international news. She's off on some island trying to get over all of this."

He starts to walk through one of the arches.

Lizzie and Andie faintly bittersweetly smile to each other.

Paolo gestures to them with his hand while most of his arm is backwards in a cupped position.

He urges over to them, "come on."

Lizzie and Andie faintly smile back to him.

Lizzie briefly cups her hands together by her nose.

Andie briefly cups her hands together in front of herself.

They both faintly sigh.

They both follow Paolo through the arch.

Paolo faintly awkwardly chuckles, standing there.

Water from the Fontana dell'Ovato lightly rains down inches away.

Lizzie and Paolo lightly laugh. Andie giggles some.

Paolo declares, "here's my vow to you. I, Paolo Valisari, will never let you, Lizzie McGuire and Andie Robinson, be embarrassed. If I fail...I have to spend seven days with that scary head-check woman."

Lizzie and Andie laugh.

With a playful grin... Lizzie adds, "her name's Miss Ungermeyer."

Paolo is about to say something.

But... Andie suggests, "or if it's me...seven days with Kate Sanders."

Lizzie looks incredulously at her.

She calls out, "Andie!"

Andie nervously asks, "what?"

There's a brief nervous silence.

Andie brings up, "okay. Maybe she's not as evil as she used to be. But, she's still more evil than I could be with her ideas of protecting you."

Paolo gulps very nervously.

But, Lizzie and Andie don't seem to notice.

Lizzie moderately sighs.

She says, "I hate to say it Andie. But...you're right. Let's hope that day never comes."

Andie says, "yeah. I hope that never comes too. Lizzie told me you're so kind to her, Paolo. And, you're already starting to be kind to me too. Thank you."

She puts a comforting hand on Paolo's.

Paolo very faintly smiles.

He says, "you're welcome carinas."

Lizzie and Andie faintly smile back.

At the closed rehearsal hall...

After Paolo has Lizzie try out two times to lip sync with him... Andie gets up on the stage.

She's left her jacket over one of the empty seats in the rehearsal hall.

Andie clears her throat a little.

With a faint smile... Paolo asks, "you sure you can sing? Or, are you just trying to impress me more than I already am?"

Andie blushes a little.

Andie says, "maybe kind of both."

All three of them lightly laugh.

Then... Andie sings strikingly similar to Hilary D:

When I see you by yourself today, I get by myself.

It's like the cameras have it out for us for shining.

I know I should be better than this.

Sometimes, they just won't stop keep taking pictures.

Sometimes, I feel I should just give up.

But, when we're around each other, the good and bad comes out.

Lizzie and Paolo clap kind of loudly.

Andie bows.

Paolo goes, "brava!" Lizzie goes, "grazie!"

They both smile wide.

Andie looks up.

With a grin... Andie adds, "thank you."

Paolo realizes, "that's from It's Like the Cameras Have it Out for Us. One of our songs on my first CD with Isabella."

Lizzie lightly nudges his arm.

She recalls, "I told you she's really fast at learning stuff."

Paolo adds, "yes. You have."

He looks spellbound.

Then... Andie thinks out loud, "I can even be more official bodyguard material. So, if you or Sergei ever want to teach me...I'd love to be."

Paolo concludes, "sorry. But, I'm not really good at it myself. And, Sergei isn't really a teacher."

He sounds off all a sudden.

Andie says, "oh."

Then... Andie can't help but ask, "did...did I say something wrong?"

Andie starts to look uneasy. Lizzie starts to look quite nervous.

Paolo insists, "no, no. Just..."

Lizzie asks, "what?"

Paolo says, "I'm sorry I can't help you Andie. But...but, I'll be okay. There are worse things."

Almost at the same time... Lizzie and Andie say, "okay."

They all very faintly smile.

Then... They're moving on to dancing tryouts.

Lizzie admits, "we both danced before..."

Andie finishes the thought, "but, not away from school dances."

Paolo concludes, "there's no better time than now. Now, we dance!"

Lizzie trips over her own feet three times. Aside from that, she does okay dancing with Paolo.

Andie does really well dancing with Paolo...aside from constantly moving a little too fast and out of sync.

She almost knocks Paolo over with her elbow. But, Paolo slightly side steps to the side to avoid it.

Then... Paolo somewhat nervously gulps.

He tells them, "this is a hard decision. You both did really well to sing. But... For dancing and singing, Lizzie..."

Lizzie nervously bites her lip.

She asks, "yes Paolo?"

Paolo puts a comforting hand on hers.

With a smile... He assures, "don't worry, carina. If we continue to rehearse, you won't be tripping on stage."

Lizzie looks stunned.

She realizes, "wow. You...you really think I can dance on stage?"

Andie comments, "hey. He said it Lizzie. I didn't."

Andie and Lizzie faintly chuckle.

Lizzie walks over to Andie.

Lizzie adds, "thanks. But...are you going to be okay?"

Andie puts sympathetic hands on hers.

She insists, "thank you Lizzie. But...I will. I'm happy for you...because you really do get to be cooler than me on this adventure."

Lizzie blushes a little.

She says, "ohh. That's so thoughtful Andie."

Andie says, "you're welcome. Just promise me something."

Lizzie lightly adds, "sure!"

Andie asks, "promise you'll let me call a few times to check on you while you're out so I don't worry much?"

And... Lizzie answers, "I promise."

Then... Many images go by in a blur:

Lizzie rehearsing more with Paolo night after night. More sleeping in mornings and not having to pretend to be tired in her hotel room.

More and more photos of close ups of rubber masks on random Italian people's faces on Andie's bed. More and more zoomed out photos too.

Andie and Gordo holding hands and lightly laughing. Them sneaking out at night to the Castel Sant'Angelo, gelato shops...and DVD stores to buy a Director's Cut of Cinema Paradiso among a few more Italian movies.

Miranda e-mailing some of the band members from Vanity Rebels. Moderately sighing to herself in her bed with everyone else mostly busy.

Kate and Miranda helping cover for Lizzie and Andie, with audio recordings of Lizzie and Andie to play on Lizzie's and Andie's CD players. The CD players playing under the covers by covered up lines of pillows.

Lizzie trying out Paolo's motor scooter at night with Paolo in back, speeding circles by stone monuments, city fountains, and speeding by cars.

Paolo taking Lizzie to see fireworks one night...and them sneaking over to see more of the Tivoli Gardens some nights.

And, in a blur... The song Open Your Eyes(to Love) by LMNT is playing over it all.