DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine…* sigh *
Chapter 7: Party Paddy Wagon
Lizzie and Gordo stood at the end of Lizzie's driveway. They had been standing there for a long time, neither wanting to part. Gordo's watch chimed the hour.
"Wow! It is * really * late," he said, looking at his watch. "Where did the time go?"
"He looked up to Lizzie's dark house then back at her.
"You think it's time for me to go inside, don't you?" Lizzie asked.
"I don't want you to, but you probably should." He looked back up at the house. "I'm actually surprised no one's waiting up for you."
"Actually…"Lizzie bit her lip, "I was supposed to be spending the night at Miranda's house tonight."
ANIMATED LIZZIE: * thoughtfully * Hmm…I know I'm forgetting something…
"SO that's why you left your clothes—"
ANIMATED LIZZIE: * eyes bulge – jaw drops *
"—at Miranda's house!" Lizzie hit her forehead.
ANIMATED LIZZIE: And the award for the Worst Mistake in History goes to…ME!
"How could I be so stupid?!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"It's not that big of a deal, is it?" Gordo asked. "I mean, it's just a bag of clothes."
"Gordo, are you forgetting that my parents forbade me to go out of the house like this??"
"Oh…now you've got a problem."
"Yeah, I do," Lizzie remarked dryly.
The two thought for a moment.
"You could stay at my house," Gordo offered.
Lizzie smiled.
ANIMATED LIZZIE: No way! Bad news!! * holds up WARNING sign * Back away from the boyfriend!
"That's probably not a good idea," Lizzie said, "you know, since we're…"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It'd be kind of weird," Gordo said, somewhat uncomfortably.
"Uh…Gordo?" Lizzie whispered hesitantly.
"What is it?"
"What are we?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
ANIMATED LIZZIE: Make this harder, will you? Sheesh! Why are guys so hardheaded!?
"We're more than friends now…right?" she asked.
Gordo bit his lip. "Uh…" he hesitated.
"I new I shouldn't have said anything!" Lizzie said, tears forming in her eyes.
"No, Lizzie. I…I'm just worried that our friendship will be ruined if we…you know, start going out."
"What are you saying?"
"I want to be with you more than ever…as more than a friend, as my girlfriend. The thing is, we both need to realize that it puts 15 years of friendship at risk."
"I'm willing if you are," she said.
"I am, too." He smiled.
"Good night, Gordo."
"Good night, Lizzie." Gordo leaned forward and kissed her. She placed her hands behind his head. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. They deepened their kiss. Lizzie wanted to stay like that forever.
They broke softly, still in the grasps of one another.
"I'll call you tomarrow," Gordo said.
"I'll be waiting." Lizzie smiled. "Lizzie and Gordo, girlfriend and boyfriend." She liked the way it sounded.
"Who would've thought?"
"Probably everyone except us."
"I guess you're right." Gordo kissed her again. "Goodnight Lizzie."
"Goodnight Gordo." Lizzie turned reluctantly and headed up to her house. It was dark and uninviting. She felt like she was walking into a trap, but she didn't have too many options.
She found the key under the doormat and quietly walked into the house. She closed and locked the door and headed upstairs. She walked quickly to her room, hoping to avoid the floorboards she knew were squeaky.
ANIMATED LIZZIE: * dressed in black * I'm only a few feet away. Quick. Quiet. I am a Burglar of the Night!
Lizzie reached for her doorknob when a noise behind her made her jump. She turned around, only to be greeted by the tired face of Jo McGuire.
ANIMATED LIZZIE: CODE RED!! CODE RED!!! The Party Police has arrived! I repeat: the Party Police has arrived!!
"Lizzie, what are you doing here?" she whispered. "I thought you were going to stay at Miranda's house."
ANIMATED LIZZIE: Stay calm. Avoid suspicion. Stay in the shadows. Keep her eyes at eye level.
"Miranda and I got into a fight. I decided I'd just come home. I'm sorry. I tried to be really quiet." Lizzie played the "Whimpering Puppy" card.
"Mother's intuition." Jo winked. Her eyes strayed to what Lizzie was wearing. "Elizabeth Brooke McGuire!!"
ANIMATED LIZZIE: * being handcuffed by Party Police * I have the right to remain silent. Anything I say can and will be used against me in the Court of Mom.
Lizzie's arms immediately went to cover her bare midriff.
"I strictly told you I didn't want you looking like this at the party! What were you thinking? How could you?" Jo sniffed the air. No doubt she could smell the smoke from the party. "I don't even want to know what went on at that party. But I can assure you, you're not going to be seeing one of those for a long time!"
Lizzie hung her head in shame.
"Why did you so deliberately disobey me?" Jo asked harshly. "Why?"
ANIMATED LIZZIE: I plead the Fifth!
Lizzie said nothing. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
"We'll talk about this later. I'm going back to bed."
Jo turned and marched back to her room.
Lizzie walked quietly into hers. She had been caught.
[A/N:] When Animated Lizzie says "I plead the Fifth", she is referring to the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution which gives us the right to remain silent, protecting us from self-incrimination.