Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire, people, places, etc…don't sue me. I do own characters you don't recognize…i.e. Brenna, Carissa, Ethan's family, Kate's family and all medical personnel mentioned in the articles.
Thanks to everyone who continues to review! Your comments keep me wanting to write!
TheRealXenocide – Thanks for the tip on WebMD…I looked up some stuff and found out most of what I wrote was pretty accurate! Yay!
keeponwritin – I say ooh a lot too…it's a good word…!
And one last bit…now when you read this chapter, y'all are probably gonna hate me with a passion. But just remember, just because it's happened in the story doesn't mean it's final, that it won't change…and I honestly have no idea anymore where this is going, so I'm open to any and (almost) all suggestions.
And now, without further adieu…Chapter 14…
Several days later Lizzie was flipping through the paper looking for movie show times when she came across another article about Ethan's death. Forgetting about the movie, Lizzie sat down with the paper and read.
Earlier this week, the family of the late Ethan Craft filed a lawsuit against St. Anthony's Medical Center. The Craft's attorney asserts a lawsuit is necessary to partially compensate for the emotional and physical pain and suffering experienced by all members of the Craft family.
An ongoing investigation by the board at St. Anthony's and members of the local medical community has produced evidence that the death of twenty-year-old Ethan Craft may have been prevented. After being injured in a car accident, Craft was transported to St. Anthony's Medical Center and several specialists at St. Anthony's evaluated his condition. Craft died several days later from complications stemming from internal bleeding.
Dr. Emil Blake, a specialist at Lutheran Medical Center in Los Angeles asserted that a properly performed MRI would be able to detect damaged internal organs and bleeding. Further investigation confirmed Blake's statement. Three MRI scanners, including the machine used in Craft's evaluation produced faulty images.
Since the investigation reports were released on Friday, just three days ago, twelve specialists and MRI technicians at St. Anthony's Medical Center have been released from their jobs.
Lizzie couldn't believe it. Ethan could still be alive and if that Dr. Blake hadn't mentioned anything, the mistake would have gone completely unnoticed. Lizzie looked back at the paper, as if she had to read it again to make sure it was right. She had never liked doctors much, but she never thought they could make big mistakes like that. And the article implied that several workers at the hospital knew, or should have known, that the machinery wasn't working properly.
And it wasn't just the Craft's. How many other people had their lives affected by malfunctioning MRI's? They never would have known it if Ethan hadn't died and all this was brought to attention. The thought of people being so severely misdiagnosed like that made Lizzie angry; she wanted to do something. She wanted to help them.
"Lizzie?" Miranda's voice interrupted her thoughts as she walked into the kitchen. Lizzie quickly flipped to the back of the paper and located the movie show times. She wasn't sure she wanted to share this news with her friends just yet; she couldn't figure out why it bothered her so much and wanted to keep it to herself.
"We still on for the movie?" Lizzie asked, trying to keep her voice normal.
"Yeah," Miranda answered, sliding into the seat next to her. "What do you want to see?" she asked.
"I dunno." Lizzie answered, frowning. She hated being indecisive. She had gotten better at over the years, but every once in a while she fell back into the old habit.
Miranda grimaced looking at the movie selections. "There's not really anything out that looks good." Lizzie looked back at the paper and agreed.
"Why don't we just go get some food?" Miranda suggested. Lizzie nodded, food was always a good idea.
As usual and mostly out of habit, they ended up at the Digital Bean. Lizzie had been there a couple times over her break and each time she went, she felt older and older. This time with Lizzie and Miranda walked in, several middle school age kids stared at them. Lizzie and Miranda stared back and the kids quickly left their table.
"You'd think we have walking canes and blue hair the way they were staring." Miranda commented after ordering her coffee.
"Yeah," Lizzie agreed, "we're not that old."
Three teenage girls walked by, one holding a piece of paper and the other two squealing, "What'd he say? Does he like you?" Lizzie and Miranda looked at each other.
"Ok, so we are that old." Lizzie shook her head and led the way to an empty table, coffee in hand. "Please tell me we never did that."
"Well, we may have done the squealing thing once or twice," Miranda grinned sheepishly, "but I'm positive we never had to write a note to someone telling them we liked them. Except for maybe in second grade." Lizzie grinned, glad they had grown out of those phases.
"So Miranda, how are things going with Alex?" she asked. "You haven't mentioned him lately."
"Alex and I broke up." Miranda said quietly.
"Oh Miranda, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's ok. I broke up with him." Miranda said. "We were too different. And when he got kicked out of school for failing grades, that was the kicker."
"Ouch." Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Why is it so hard to find a decent guy?"
"Who's motivated." Miranda added.
"Definitely motivated." Lizzie agreed. "And smart."
"Or at least works hard." Miranda countered. "And is fun."
"And fun to be around." Lizzie added.
"And encouraging. Goodness knows we both need that." Miranda smiled.
"Is that too much to ask for?" Lizzie demanded. Miranda's smile vanished; this was not going the way she wanted.
"I don't think so." She started but Lizzie was on a roll.
"But instead we get stuck with guys like Alex and Caleb. Remember him? I dated him for a month or so last spring and after I broke up with him I found out he dropped out of school and started working at a used car dealership. I can't even believe that!" Lizzie shook her head.
"So Lizzie, you're not seeing anyone, right?" Miranda decided to try another approach. Lizzie shook her head and Miranda continued, "Do you have any one special on your mind lately?"
"Well, sorta." Lizzie smiled slightly. "But I don't want to get my hopes up."
"Why not?" Miranda asked, confused.
"It's this guy who was on Brenna's floor in our dorm last year. All the girls in the dorm were completely in love with him. Anyways Brenna told me she was at a party he was at and he asked about me! I don't want to get all excited cause it could be nothing and he does have a little bit of a reputation for being a player, but still I-"
"Lizzie, I can't believe you!" Miranda exploded, nearly sending her coffee cup across the room.
"What?" Lizzie looked at her friend in shock. What was her problem?
"Do you know who you just described?" Lizzie shook her head. "Encouraging, motivated, smart, fun to be around…" Lizzie still looked confused. "Gordo!" Miranda cried exasperatedly.
"What?" Lizzie felt even more confused than she had a minute ago. "Miranda, what are you talking about? You know I outgrew my crush on Gordo in high school."
Miranda couldn't believe how dense her friend was sometimes. "But he didn't." she said quietly, waiting for Lizzie to catch up.
"Wait, what?" Lizzie tried to comprehend what Miranda just said.
"Lizzie, you heard what I said." Miranda replied quietly. She took a sip of her coffee and looked expectantly at Lizzie.
"You mean…." Lizzie stammered, "Gordo has…a thing…for me?"
Miranda let out a short laugh. "It's more than a thing, Lizzie."
Lizzie was at a loss for words. "But…" she tried as Miranda interrupted her.
"Lizzie, what's wrong with you?!" Again, Lizzie couldn't find the words. Outbursts like this from Miranda were very rare and only about something serious; they never happened twice in the same day, let alone twice in the same five minutes. Lizzie couldn't grasp what was going on in her friend's head. "What do you mean, what's wrong with me?"
Miranda took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm down and began to talk. "You know how we talk about the perfect guy and what he'd be like or how we always go on and on about how hard it is to find a decent guy ?" Lizzie nodded. "Well, you've got one right in front of you!." A look of confusion overtook Lizzie's face. "Look at Gordo," Miranda told her, "and think about what you describe every time. If you look at it, you'll see, he has every quality you describe, every time. It doesn't matter what mood you're in or how much you change what you want; everything you say, everything you think, goes back to Gordo. I know you guys have known each other for your entire lives, but that's what makes it so perfect. You know him; you know he's someone you can trust with anything. And honestly, there's a lot of us that have been waiting years for this to happen. It was pretty obvious you both liked each other in middle school; or rather, it was obvious to everyone but you two. Lizzie?" Miranda waved her hand in front of Lizzie, who was sitting in stunned silence.
"Lizzie?" She looked at Miranda, but said nothing. "Lizzie, c'mon, say something!" Miranda begged as she began to look worried. "Lizzie, are you okay?"
"Miranda, I just found out my best friend has feelings for me that I never expected him too." Lizzie's words echoed through the Digital Bean, which luckily, at the moment, was fairly empty. She quickly lowered her voice. "I never expected for him to feel like that about me. I was always so…not like him." she said quietly. "He was always going on about conformity or films or something intelligent while I spent my time worrying what people thought of my dress at a dance. It just seems so strange."
"But you guys are best friends. Why should that be any different?" Miranda smiled. Finally after all these years, her two best friends were going to get together. "But think about it Lizzie! You've liked Gordo for years. Now's your chance to do something about it!"
Lizzie shook her head. "I can't do anything." she whispered.
Miranda nearly choked on her coffee. "What do you mean, 'you can't do anything'?" she asked between coughs.
"I mean exactly what I said earlier." Lizzie told her. "I don't know that I feel that way about him anymore."
"What do you mean?" Another outburst from Miranda; Lizzie had to put a stop to this.
"Miranda, why are you so hung up on this?" Lizzie asked. "If Gordo's so perfect, why don't you take him."
"Because I have never felt that way about Gordo. And he's never felt that way about me. So we don't have to worry about it. Besides, we're not talking about me. We're talking about you and Gordo."
"Miranda, there is no 'me and Gordo'!"
"And why not? 'Cause we all know there should be. Except you're to hung up on Gordo being your 'friend'! Remember all those times you told me you just wanted a boyfriend who could be your best friend as well? Well, you've got it now, so deal with it!"
Lizzie, angry beyond belief with Miranda, opened her mouth to respond as the door to the Digital Bean opened. She quickly shut her mouth and put on a fake smile. Miranda did the same until they noticed that Gordo was pale and looked sick. Lizzie and Miranda exchanged a look of concern.
"Gordo?" Lizzie ventured. "What's wrong?"
"I need to talk to you guys," was all he would say.