author's notes: thanks for all the reviews, guys! i'm so glad you guys keep coming back and reading this, i love hearing about how much you love my story. i can't believe it. but anyways, that last chapter was my favorite but i think this one's my new favorite, i really like this one. i'm not sure if you guys will like it, it's kind of different in different ways and i was really really nervous to post it. i really hope you guys like it. my story's not over yet, though..we've still got a few more chapters to go, so i hope that you guys stick with me and keep reading and reviewing! - laynie
Lizzie awoke the next morning to warm sunshine spilling over her cheeks. Blinking quickly, she looked around, unaware to detect where she was. And then she remembered. She had came over last night to see Gordo, and they'd ended up falling asleep. Lizzie looked over at Gordo, careful not to move as she realized that his arms were still wrapped around her. She laid there looking at her best friend for awhile, a small smile playing on her face.
Minutes later, Gordo's eyes flickered open, and he too looked around, confused. Realizing that his arms were around his best friend and she was looking at him, he smiled, slightly embarassed, and let go of Lizzie. He touched his arms, still tingling from touching her. He felt as if he were flying, having been in Lizzie's arms all night.
She looked in his eyes, also embarrassed. "Sorry, I guess I kind of fell asleep."
Gordo nodded and looked around. All the candles had burned themselves out, and the power was obviously back on. The sun was shining and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. "I..do you want me to drive you home?" Gordo asked, studying her face. She even looked beautiful after she'd been sleeping all night.
She smiled. "You don't have to, I think I'll walk home." She got up from the couch and slowly started towards the door, picking up the videotape off the floor on her way out.
"You really don't have to, I'll drive you," Gordo said, getting up and following her to the door.
Lizzie smiled at him again. "I want to walk. You've already done enough for me. Thanks for everything, Gordo." She paused slightly, and then tentatively put her arms around him, pulling him towards her in a close hug. "Thanks. You're such a good friend." Pausing again, she thought quickly. "I'm so glad I have you in my life."
With that, Lizzie opened the door and walked outside, turning around to smile at Gordo, waving goodbye, holding the videotape in one hand. Gordo waved goodbye at her, and then closed the door. He collapsed against it, the smile across his face bigger than he'd smiled in a long time.
Thinking about the previous night, Gordo had become more and more confused. Lizzie told him things like 'I love your friendship so much' and then she'd tell him things like how she was so glad that he was in her life. How was he supposed to take that?
Regardless of how Lizzie felt, Gordo knew Lizzie would know his feelings for her soon enough.
Lizzie walked home slowly, contemplating last night's events. She was even more confused now about the way Gordo felt about her. Lizzie was unsure as to whether or not the things Gordo had done last night were mere acts of friendship, or something more.
If that was the way Gordo would act towards her if they were going out, Lizzie wanted to be together with Gordo for sure. There was that one problem, the girl. The girl. Lizzie repeated the words Gordo had said to her. 'I think I've fell in love.' The way his eyes shone with happiness as he admitted his love for a girl. He hadn't said anything when she told him she loved his friendship. He had given her the tape.
And then Lizzie remembered Miranda telling her that maybe, just maybe, Lizzie was the girl Gordo was talking about. Lizzie's heart leaped with hope that Miranda's words were true, that maybe she was the girl Gordo was talking about. Maybe, just maybe.
"To Lizzie. Love, Gordo." Lizzie repeated the words printed on the videotape.
Finally, she arrived at home and found her mother, sitting in the kitchen. "Mom!"
"Hey, Lizzie." Jo McGuire looked up from the morning newspaper. "Did you have a sleepover at Gordo's house last night?"
"Yeah. I hope that's alright, I wasn't intending to sleep over." Lizzie paused, thinking of a way to leave the complete truth out of what she told her mother. "I went over because I didn't want to be alone, I heard there was a thunderstorm coming and I didn't know when you guys would be home, so I just went over to have some company for awhile." Lizzie studied her mother's face, waiting for a reaction.
Jo only smiled. "Okay, honey. Did you and Gordo have fun?"
"Yeah. I guess it was better than being at home alone all night."
"We got in pretty late."
"Yeah." Lizzie walked to the other side of the kitchen and took out some juice from the refridgerator. While she was pouring herself a cup, she was oblivious to the smile playing across her mother's face. The smile of a mother who knew something was up with her daughter.
Jo got up from the table, dropping the newspaper. "I'm going out for the afternoon, and I'll be back around five or so tonight. See you later, sweetie." She walked over to Lizzie and gave her a quick hug. Noticing Lizzie's purse contents slightly spilling onto the counter, she saw the corner of the videotape and curiously picked it up, turning it over in her hands. "Hey, Lizzie, what's this?"
Lizzie's eyes widened and she grabbed at the tape. "I don't know. Gordo gave it to me and told me to watch it, I have no idea what's on it." Lizzie was slightly blushing, although she didn't know just quite why. "It's probably some stupid movie he filmed and wants me to watch, I don't know."
Turning away from Lizzie and walking away, Jo smiled knowingly. Grabbing her keys, she left through the front door.
Hearing her mother's car leave the driveway, Lizzie ran up the stairs to her bedroom, clutching the videotape in one hand and her bag in the other. Upon the arrival into her room, she dropped her bag and the videotape on the floor. She quickly went to have a shower, brush her teeth, and style her hair. After, she got dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a simple white belt, a dark black t-shirt, and black socks.
She couldn't hold herself from not watching the tape any longer. Fearing for what might be on there, anticipating what might be on there, and waiting in excitement, she picked it up off the floor and placed it in.
Gordo's face appeared on the television screen and Lizzie smiled. She sat on the floor directly in front of the television, staring up at his face. He looked slightly nervous, and Lizzie recognized the clothes as the ones he was wearing the day before, the day she'd went over and the night that she'd spent there with him during the thunderstorm.
The on-camera Gordo swallowed and spoke. "Hi, Lizzie. I've been meaning to talk to you about something for awhile now, but I didn't really know how to say it. I don't know why you've been avoiding me lately and I don't know why things are weird between us, but I know that they are, and if I've done anything to provoke that, I want to apologize. Friends?" Gordo smiled and paused, looking down at his hands. Lizzie smiled.
Gordo continued. "We've been friends forever, Lizzie, and I've never regretted a moment of time that I've spent with you. Well, that's not completely true. Maybe some of those times that you and Miranda dragged me to the mall. And maybe some of that time when you were always talking about Ethan. I got kind of sick of that, me being a guy and all." Gordo stopped.
"I love your friendship so much, Lizzie. I love being friends with you and I love seeing you every day and I love the fact that you're friends with me. I wouldn't trade you for anybody else in the world. You, and all the memories we have together, mean so much to me that I don't think I'd be the same person if I'd never met you."
"Things in the past few months have changed a little bit. I don't mean like that our friendship has gotten stronger, or anything. I mean that, my feelings for you have been changing. Actually, it's really the past few years. I just didn't really realize it until awhile ago, mainly around when you started going out with that Ronnie guy. And then when you kissed me in eighth grade and stuff. That meant more to me than you'll ever know, you kissing me in Rome. I know all I ever said was thanks, but I meant to say more. And we never really talked about it." Gordo paused again, and Lizzie waited in anticipation, the nervous feeling returning in her tummy. This was really happening. She was getting butterflies in her stomach from talking to her best friend. Seeing her best friend.
"Remember how I told you that I was falling for this girl? You got all quiet and stuff and I didn't really know what to make of it. I didn't really know if you knew about the girl, I didn't really know if you were jealous, I didn't really know if you were just sad. I wasn't sure how to take the way you reacted. I kind of got scared. But the truth is, I really did fall for this perfect, amazing, beautiful, talented girl. And she's one of my best friends."
Lizzie took a deep breath, shaking, at the same time that Gordo did on-camera.
"I really, really like you, Lizzie." Gordo paused, a nervous smile coming across his face. He looked down at his hands quickly and then faced the camera again, serious. "I don't mean as a friend, I mean as..more than a friend. I really don't want you to reject me, and I really don't want you to be scared to be yourself around me, I don't really want things to change at all. By that, I mean, I don't want us to be awkward or anything. I have these feelings for you, really deep feelings. And I don't mean like when I dated Brooke. You're different." Gordo bit his lip.
"You're different because I can't stop thinking about you. You're all I ever think about, you're always on my mind. I think you're beautiful, I think you're perfect, you're the best friend I could ever ask for. I'm so glad that you're my best friend, but I only wish that you were something more. And I wish that you wanted to be something more than just a best friend to me. I hope you feel the same, but if you don't, I don't want anything to be different between us." Gordo paused again, as if gathering the courage to go on.
"I tried to say this a long time ago, Lizzie, when we were at the murder mystery party, but I'm going to say it now. Do you want to maybe sometime go out with me? Not as friends, like a date, kind of. If you wanted to. I hope you do. All you have to do is phone me sometime or something." Gordo's voice sounded nervous, and his tone became quieter.
"Lizzie, I'm more thankful for you then I am thankful for anything else that's ever been in my life. Thanks for always being there for me. I hope that you'll always be there for me, because I know I'll always be there for you. No matter what. Thanks, Lizzie. You're the best friend that I could ever ask for."
Gordo's face faded away into black, and Lizzie felt tears roll down her cheeks. A smile spread across her face as she realized what had just happened and what Gordo had just said to her. She pressed the rewind button and took the tape out, finally realizing the meaning of "Love, Gordo" on the front.
It was her. The girl was her.
"Love, Gordo." Lizzie repeated the words, tears falling onto the tape. "Love, Gordo."
Lizzie awoke the next morning to warm sunshine spilling over her cheeks. Blinking quickly, she looked around, unaware to detect where she was. And then she remembered. She had came over last night to see Gordo, and they'd ended up falling asleep. Lizzie looked over at Gordo, careful not to move as she realized that his arms were still wrapped around her. She laid there looking at her best friend for awhile, a small smile playing on her face.
Minutes later, Gordo's eyes flickered open, and he too looked around, confused. Realizing that his arms were around his best friend and she was looking at him, he smiled, slightly embarassed, and let go of Lizzie. He touched his arms, still tingling from touching her. He felt as if he were flying, having been in Lizzie's arms all night.
She looked in his eyes, also embarrassed. "Sorry, I guess I kind of fell asleep."
Gordo nodded and looked around. All the candles had burned themselves out, and the power was obviously back on. The sun was shining and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. "I..do you want me to drive you home?" Gordo asked, studying her face. She even looked beautiful after she'd been sleeping all night.
She smiled. "You don't have to, I think I'll walk home." She got up from the couch and slowly started towards the door, picking up the videotape off the floor on her way out.
"You really don't have to, I'll drive you," Gordo said, getting up and following her to the door.
Lizzie smiled at him again. "I want to walk. You've already done enough for me. Thanks for everything, Gordo." She paused slightly, and then tentatively put her arms around him, pulling him towards her in a close hug. "Thanks. You're such a good friend." Pausing again, she thought quickly. "I'm so glad I have you in my life."
With that, Lizzie opened the door and walked outside, turning around to smile at Gordo, waving goodbye, holding the videotape in one hand. Gordo waved goodbye at her, and then closed the door. He collapsed against it, the smile across his face bigger than he'd smiled in a long time.
Thinking about the previous night, Gordo had become more and more confused. Lizzie told him things like 'I love your friendship so much' and then she'd tell him things like how she was so glad that he was in her life. How was he supposed to take that?
Regardless of how Lizzie felt, Gordo knew Lizzie would know his feelings for her soon enough.
Lizzie walked home slowly, contemplating last night's events. She was even more confused now about the way Gordo felt about her. Lizzie was unsure as to whether or not the things Gordo had done last night were mere acts of friendship, or something more.
If that was the way Gordo would act towards her if they were going out, Lizzie wanted to be together with Gordo for sure. There was that one problem, the girl. The girl. Lizzie repeated the words Gordo had said to her. 'I think I've fell in love.' The way his eyes shone with happiness as he admitted his love for a girl. He hadn't said anything when she told him she loved his friendship. He had given her the tape.
And then Lizzie remembered Miranda telling her that maybe, just maybe, Lizzie was the girl Gordo was talking about. Lizzie's heart leaped with hope that Miranda's words were true, that maybe she was the girl Gordo was talking about. Maybe, just maybe.
"To Lizzie. Love, Gordo." Lizzie repeated the words printed on the videotape.
Finally, she arrived at home and found her mother, sitting in the kitchen. "Mom!"
"Hey, Lizzie." Jo McGuire looked up from the morning newspaper. "Did you have a sleepover at Gordo's house last night?"
"Yeah. I hope that's alright, I wasn't intending to sleep over." Lizzie paused, thinking of a way to leave the complete truth out of what she told her mother. "I went over because I didn't want to be alone, I heard there was a thunderstorm coming and I didn't know when you guys would be home, so I just went over to have some company for awhile." Lizzie studied her mother's face, waiting for a reaction.
Jo only smiled. "Okay, honey. Did you and Gordo have fun?"
"Yeah. I guess it was better than being at home alone all night."
"We got in pretty late."
"Yeah." Lizzie walked to the other side of the kitchen and took out some juice from the refridgerator. While she was pouring herself a cup, she was oblivious to the smile playing across her mother's face. The smile of a mother who knew something was up with her daughter.
Jo got up from the table, dropping the newspaper. "I'm going out for the afternoon, and I'll be back around five or so tonight. See you later, sweetie." She walked over to Lizzie and gave her a quick hug. Noticing Lizzie's purse contents slightly spilling onto the counter, she saw the corner of the videotape and curiously picked it up, turning it over in her hands. "Hey, Lizzie, what's this?"
Lizzie's eyes widened and she grabbed at the tape. "I don't know. Gordo gave it to me and told me to watch it, I have no idea what's on it." Lizzie was slightly blushing, although she didn't know just quite why. "It's probably some stupid movie he filmed and wants me to watch, I don't know."
Turning away from Lizzie and walking away, Jo smiled knowingly. Grabbing her keys, she left through the front door.
Hearing her mother's car leave the driveway, Lizzie ran up the stairs to her bedroom, clutching the videotape in one hand and her bag in the other. Upon the arrival into her room, she dropped her bag and the videotape on the floor. She quickly went to have a shower, brush her teeth, and style her hair. After, she got dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a simple white belt, a dark black t-shirt, and black socks.
She couldn't hold herself from not watching the tape any longer. Fearing for what might be on there, anticipating what might be on there, and waiting in excitement, she picked it up off the floor and placed it in.
Gordo's face appeared on the television screen and Lizzie smiled. She sat on the floor directly in front of the television, staring up at his face. He looked slightly nervous, and Lizzie recognized the clothes as the ones he was wearing the day before, the day she'd went over and the night that she'd spent there with him during the thunderstorm.
The on-camera Gordo swallowed and spoke. "Hi, Lizzie. I've been meaning to talk to you about something for awhile now, but I didn't really know how to say it. I don't know why you've been avoiding me lately and I don't know why things are weird between us, but I know that they are, and if I've done anything to provoke that, I want to apologize. Friends?" Gordo smiled and paused, looking down at his hands. Lizzie smiled.
Gordo continued. "We've been friends forever, Lizzie, and I've never regretted a moment of time that I've spent with you. Well, that's not completely true. Maybe some of those times that you and Miranda dragged me to the mall. And maybe some of that time when you were always talking about Ethan. I got kind of sick of that, me being a guy and all." Gordo stopped.
"I love your friendship so much, Lizzie. I love being friends with you and I love seeing you every day and I love the fact that you're friends with me. I wouldn't trade you for anybody else in the world. You, and all the memories we have together, mean so much to me that I don't think I'd be the same person if I'd never met you."
"Things in the past few months have changed a little bit. I don't mean like that our friendship has gotten stronger, or anything. I mean that, my feelings for you have been changing. Actually, it's really the past few years. I just didn't really realize it until awhile ago, mainly around when you started going out with that Ronnie guy. And then when you kissed me in eighth grade and stuff. That meant more to me than you'll ever know, you kissing me in Rome. I know all I ever said was thanks, but I meant to say more. And we never really talked about it." Gordo paused again, and Lizzie waited in anticipation, the nervous feeling returning in her tummy. This was really happening. She was getting butterflies in her stomach from talking to her best friend. Seeing her best friend.
"Remember how I told you that I was falling for this girl? You got all quiet and stuff and I didn't really know what to make of it. I didn't really know if you knew about the girl, I didn't really know if you were jealous, I didn't really know if you were just sad. I wasn't sure how to take the way you reacted. I kind of got scared. But the truth is, I really did fall for this perfect, amazing, beautiful, talented girl. And she's one of my best friends."
Lizzie took a deep breath, shaking, at the same time that Gordo did on-camera.
"I really, really like you, Lizzie." Gordo paused, a nervous smile coming across his face. He looked down at his hands quickly and then faced the camera again, serious. "I don't mean as a friend, I mean as..more than a friend. I really don't want you to reject me, and I really don't want you to be scared to be yourself around me, I don't really want things to change at all. By that, I mean, I don't want us to be awkward or anything. I have these feelings for you, really deep feelings. And I don't mean like when I dated Brooke. You're different." Gordo bit his lip.
"You're different because I can't stop thinking about you. You're all I ever think about, you're always on my mind. I think you're beautiful, I think you're perfect, you're the best friend I could ever ask for. I'm so glad that you're my best friend, but I only wish that you were something more. And I wish that you wanted to be something more than just a best friend to me. I hope you feel the same, but if you don't, I don't want anything to be different between us." Gordo paused again, as if gathering the courage to go on.
"I tried to say this a long time ago, Lizzie, when we were at the murder mystery party, but I'm going to say it now. Do you want to maybe sometime go out with me? Not as friends, like a date, kind of. If you wanted to. I hope you do. All you have to do is phone me sometime or something." Gordo's voice sounded nervous, and his tone became quieter.
"Lizzie, I'm more thankful for you then I am thankful for anything else that's ever been in my life. Thanks for always being there for me. I hope that you'll always be there for me, because I know I'll always be there for you. No matter what. Thanks, Lizzie. You're the best friend that I could ever ask for."
Gordo's face faded away into black, and Lizzie felt tears roll down her cheeks. A smile spread across her face as she realized what had just happened and what Gordo had just said to her. She pressed the rewind button and took the tape out, finally realizing the meaning of "Love, Gordo" on the front.
It was her. The girl was her.
"Love, Gordo." Lizzie repeated the words, tears falling onto the tape. "Love, Gordo."