FRANKIE,

PART NINE: FRANKIE, KATE, AND MIRANDA IN THE MIDDLE

Gordo looked on with shock. Did he just see what he thought he saw?! He looked over at Kate, who had a small smile on her face as she watched them on the dance floor.

"Did they? What did? Did you see that?!" He cried, totally in shock and utter dismay.

Kate beamed at Gordo, her eyes twinkling. Instantly, she grasped his hand in hers. Pulling him to his feet, "C'mon! Let's dance! I love this song!"

"What?! But"

She managed to drag him to the dance floor, much to his resistance. Once there, she placed her arms around her neck, leading him to sway to the beat of the song.

The 98 degrees' song, My Everything, began to fill the air. Every couple danced in tune to the sweet melody.

Lizzie turned her eyes from Frankie for a brief second when instantly they connected with Gordo's. Gordo had rolled his eyes at the sound of the song, but quickly met and stayed with Lizzie's eyes. It was if they both had forgotten everyone else present, and stayed solely on each other.

They were so in sync with one another that they didn't notice the silent exchange between Frankie, Kate, and Miranda, who was dancing with her date.

Miranda mouthed "Phase Three now!" to Kate and Frankie, nodding as they witnessed the signal.

Frankie pulled slightly away from Lizzie, while Kate managed to lead herself and Gordo closer to Frankie and Lizzie.

"Oh, Lizzie. I'm a bit thirsty. I'm going to grab some punch, you want some?"

Lizzie snapped back from her trance on Gordo. Looking up at Frankie, "Huh?"

"A drink. Do you want some fruit punch?"

Nodding her head quickly, "Uh, sure! Yeah, punch sounds fine."

Kate smiled as Frankie turned around to face both her and Gordo. Realizing something herself, "Oh, punch sounds awesome right about now." To Gordo, "Gordo, sweetie, I'm just going to follow Frankie Muniz right now to get something to drink. You don't mind, do you?"

A bit thrown off by her sudden behavior. "Uh sure, I guess."

"Great," Frankie's face lit up. He looked at Gordo, "You're Gordo, right? Miranda's friend?"

Nodding suspiciously, "Yeah why?"

Smiling, and placing a hand on the small of Lizzie's back, leading her a bit closer towards Gordo, "Oh this is awesome. While Kate—your name is Kate, right?" Frankie asked Kate, pretending to have met for the first time.

Kate grinned, "Yep, Kate Sanders."

"Okay, Kate Sanders can show me to the refreshment table. And since you're friends with Miranda, you must know Lizzie, right?"

Turning to face his angel, a small shy grin on his face, "Yeah I know Lizzie."

"So you won't mind dancing with her and keeping her company while I go to grab our drinks? As a big favor for me, right Gordo?" Suddenly remembering his manners, he held out his hand, "Oh, duh! How rude of me my name's Frankie. Nice to meet you, Gordo."

"Yeah, I know who you are. I watch your show." Gordo replied, deciding to be civil and returning the hand shake.

"Well, now that we're past the formalities Kate and I will be back with the drinks, and you and Lizzie will keep each other company while we're gone."

Before both Lizzie and Gordo could protest, Frankie quickly lead Kate off the dance floor, leaving the two estranged friends to finally face each other once again.

At first, an awkward silence fell upon the two. A new song found its way onto the floor, S Club 7's Never Had a Dream Come True. Gordo chuckled, "They seem to be cranking out all the slow songs tonight, huh?"

Lizzie cracked a smile, laughing quietly. "Yeah"

They looked at each other, a strong emotion pulling them towards one another.

"Lizzie"

"Gordo"

They both stopped, laughing as they realized what they had done. Without thinking too much, they both blurted out at the same time, "I'm sorry."

Gordo began, "Lizzie, I'm sorry for any pain I caused you. I really didn't mean to hurt you I care a lot about you. Y'know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, Gordo. And I'm sorry for throwing you out that night when you told me how you felt. I was just angry and confused"

Both fell quiet. Gordo and Lizzie held gazes, until they both spoke simultaneously what they wanted to say to each other for a long time.

"I love you."

They shared a smile. Lizzie threw her hands around him, holding him tight and refusing to let go. Gordo also held her tight, never wanting to lose her again.

Lizzie pulled back a bit, laughter and love in her eyes as she asked him, "So do you think that Kate can let me borrow that little movie' of hers that she had offered to show me before?"

Gordo rolled his eyes, an amused smile on his face as Lizzie's musical laughter rang into his heart. Instead of answering her with words, he leaned over to silence her with his kiss. A kiss that she gladly returned.

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