Michelle-Note: Three updates?! One after another?! I've lost my grip on humanity! Oh noes!!!

Chapter 25: Well…

Kate: Sanders house, kitchen, Hillridge: 3:54pm: 28 June

My parents weren't home. They were never home. I didn't bother to even call them and tell them I'd be coming back way later than anticipated. Did they care? No. They didn't notice. I hadn't even been home a whole day yet. I did some laundry, and ate some leftover takeout from the refrigerator, and then just sat at the bar twiddling my thumbs. I couldn't wait to get away from here. I'd be off to Western Oregon University with Lizzie and Miranda in a little over a month.

The doorbell rang, and I wondered who it could possibly be. Probably UPS or something dropping off some crap for my parents. I hopped down from the high stool, and shuffled my way to the door in my ultra-soft pajamas.

I opened the door to find not anyone from the UPS, not anyone from FedEx, but instead Lizzie. Not just Lizzie, but Lizzie and a suit case. Her car was parked out front with more things packed inside it, and she looked as if her dog died, but she didn't have a dog. I failed to make any sort of connection between the bits of information I was given.

She just stood there and stared at me, her eyes bloodshot, and hands shaking. She dropped the suit case and collapsed into me in a mess of tears.

"Lizzie?" I put my arms around her as it seemed the correct response, but I really had no idea what to do.

"My parents…kicked me out…" She muttered.

I gasped, "What happened?"

"What do you think happened?!" She yelled, and sobbed at the same time.

"I don't know…" I had no idea. We had just gotten home.

She looked up at me, "Did you know I have a sister? An older sister."

I shook my head. It was news to me, and I still could find no connection.

"Neither did I."

"Huh?"

"They pretend she doesn't…exist…never existed. It was years ago before Matt was born, when I was too young to know much of anything…"

I held her nearly limp body in my arms, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how I'm no longer part of the McGuire family because…because of you!" She said, clinging to me, which made me confused as to whether or not she was angry with me.

"Me?"

"Yes! You!"

"Are you blaming me for this? Are you mad? I'm confused."

"No…no…not blame. You're just the reason."

"That's sort of blaming me, Lizzie…" I held her tighter.

She finally hugged me back, "All of the stuff I could get is in my car…I don't know what to do."

"You can stay here…don't worry." I tried to console her.

"But your parents…"

"They probably won't notice."

She took a deep breath, "It's only a little while before we leave for school anyway…I won't get in the way…or eat much…or-"

"You're good, I promise. Do you want some Chinese food?"

She pulled away from me, "Chinese food?"

"Yeah…it's sort of all we have." I wiped her tear-stained cheeks, "My parents usually eat out, and I haven't been home, so…"

"I'm ok."

"So why'd you…you know…tell your parents?" I asked, closing the front door and holding her hand.

"I didn't…Matt did." She said disheartened. She had stopped sobbing uncontrollably at least.

"That dick." I would punch him in the face the next time I saw him.

"No, no, no." She corrected, "It wasn't like that. He just told them…and then they flipped out. I don't wanna talk about it."

"Ok. So…" I began, "Why didn't you go to Miranda's…or Gordo's?" She eyed me, and I thought she might start yelling. "Not that I don't want you here…" I recovered, "I just…they're your best friends, and…"

She shrugged, "I don't know…you're just the first person I thought of…since…" She sniffled, "Since you're the reason."

"I'm really sorry…" I guided her carefully toward the couch, "I just have no idea what to do…"

"I don't know what I want you to do." She leaned her head onto the back of the couch and covered her eyes with her arm, "I'm sorry…"

"It's ok." I moved closer to her and placed my hands on her waist. Slowly and carefully I leaned forward and kissed her neck. I kissed her more passionately and felt her body press into mine. I moved my hands up and felt her ribs beneath her shirt.

Suddenly she gasped, "I have no idea how to do this."

"Do what?" I asked, looking into her eyes.

"Um…girls."

"Huh?"

She tried to repress a laugh, "I can see why you got held back in Kindergarten."

"What?" I pulled away.

"I'm sorry." She smiled.

"Well…I'm glad you're smiling at my expense."

She laughed. "I'm sorry," she apologized again, "I just…I don't know how to…you know…with girls."

"Well, I don't know either." I crossed my arms.

"I can't believe I got kicked out of my house for fucking girls when I haven't even done it. I may not like it. I might suck," she rattled off with frustration before abruptly getting to her feet, "I want some water."

"Kitchen," I told her, "I'm going upstairs."

"K, I'll be there in a minute."

I trekked up to my bedroom, thinking about having sex with girls. How hard could it be? I lay down on my bed and flipped on the television. Lizzie stepped in with a glass of water and closed the door behind her.

"I haven't been in your room since we were in like fifth grade." She observed, "There are more pictures of shirtless men than I remember."

"Yeah…well…"

Lizzie sat her glass on the nightstand and lay down next to me. She propped up on her elbow and put her other arm around me, "I'm tired and sad."

Not knowing what to say, I looked at her and made a sad face. In response, she snuggled up close to me. I heard some noises downstairs, but ignored them. I figured it was the icemaker.

"Kate, honey! Are you here?!" My mom yelled up the stairs.

I winced, "And now she realizes I exist…" I hopped out of bed. "What's up, mom?" I shouted as I opened my door, "You're home early."

"No. I realized I forgot my adapter for my computer," she said from downstairs.

I leaned over the banister, "So what's up? Do you want me to go to the grocery store tomorrow?"

"Yeah, that'd be good." She said rummaging through things in the kitchen, "Now I've lost my keys…whose car full of shit is parked on the street in front of our house?"

"Lizzie's," I answered.

"Have her move it around behind the hedge so no one can see it. It's sort of an eyesore."

"Ok, I will."

"Oh, and there was something else…" Her voice was sort of muffled. She moved to the hallway. "Claire's mom called…said something about…you and someone named Jizzy…or was it…Fizzy? Something. I don't know. You know I hate that woman. She was ranting and raving, and I wasn't really listening. Doesn't matter. Make sure you use a condom, and I won't tell your dad. Have a good night, dear," her voice faded more and more until I was certain she was yelling from outside. "Make sure you get some milk tomorrow and those figs that I like!"

I ran back up the stairs, "Lizzie! My mom wants you to move your car, and she said to make sure we use a condom."

She poked her head out of my door, "Seriously?"

I nodded and laughed, "I told you it'd be fine."

Michelle-Note #2: Ha. You thought there'd be lesbian sex, didn't you? Too bad. I wasn't in the mood, so I had to have some interruptions. If I'm not getting any, neither are these silly characters. But if I am getting some...I don't really write fanfics now do I? What a predicament!