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.  And I don't own Peter Weir.

kmacheerchic13 – I didn't mean to make it a cliffhanger…I just ran out of stuff to write!  But I like little cliffhangers…they add drama!

Xo bELLa ItAliAnA oX – Unfortunately I know some college age kids who still talk like that…it drives me nuts!  And I can see Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo growing into intelligent people, obviously Gordo will, so I think a lot of their dialogue should reflect that.  I'm glad you like it.

And to everyone else who reviewed: You're the best!!!  Oh yeah…and keep reading!

Sorry I've made everyone wait so long for this chapter…well it's long for me.  But this week has been insane…four exams, two projects, and a skating test…is it over yet!?  Ok, enough complaints…

I am proud to present…Chapter 15!

"Gordo, sit down." Lizzie pulled him into a chair.  "What's wrong?" she repeated.

"Yeah," Miranda added, "You look sick."

"I'm-" Gordo tried to say fine, but it wouldn't come out.  "…Not sick." he finished.

"You guys remember the short film contest I entered my fictional movie in?" Gordo asked Lizzie and Miranda.  They both grinned, knowing what was coming. 

"I got a call last week.  My film won the contest.""

"Gordo, that's awesome!"  Lizzie and Miranda exclaimed in unison.

"There's more." he told them quietly, not sharing in their enthusiasm.  "I thought it was a typical student film contest, you know, faculty from different film schools judge them and if you win, you get fifty bucks and your film shown someplace cool."

"So what's different?" Miranda asked.

"Well, it was sorta similar." Gordo said slowly.  "But the top five entries were judged by real directors."

"And…" Lizzie prompted.  Whatever was going on was really bothering Gordo, but he was starting to get on her nerves, he needed to just tell them and stop stalling.

"And Peter Wier was one of the judges."  Lizzie and Miranda looked at him blankly.  "You know who he is." Gordo insisted.  "Remember when I made you guys watch Dead Poets Society when we were in high school?  He directed that."  Miranda and Lizzie nodded, looking less lost than they had a second ago.

"Anyway, apparently he really liked my film and I've been offered a spot working on his next film as an intern."  Lizzie's jaw dropped.  "I probably wouldn't be doing too much," he told them, "probably just getting people coffee and getting in the way between takes, but it's a great opportunity for me to see what it's like making a real movie."

Lizzie and Miranda began talking excitedly at the same time; exactly what he expected them to do.  Looking from one to the other, he almost felt like he was back in middle school, the day he told them about the possibility of him going to high school.  He remembered their reaction about him leaving them behind and wondered how they would react this time.

"There's one thing." He interrupted his friends.  "The movie is being filmed in Australia.  And I'll probably be gone for over two years.  They want me to be able to preproduction and all that…" Gordo trailed off, waiting for Lizzie or Miranda to say something.  For maybe the first time in all the year he had known them, they were speechless.

Lizzie recovered first.  "You still have to go Gordo.  This is an amazing opportunity."

Miranda agreed, "That's so cool!  You're going to Australia, and you're gonna work on a movie.  It doesn't get any better than that."

"What's there to think about?" Lizzie asked.

"Nothing." Gordo mumbled, standing abruptly.  He walked out of the Digital Bean without another word, leaving Lizzie and Miranda in shock.

Lizzie glanced at Miranda and hurried after Gordo.  She spotted him halfway across the parking lot and called, "Gordo!  Wait!"

Gordo paused, but didn't turn toward her.  She jogged over and stood in front of him, asking, "Gordo, what's wrong?"

Gordo stared at her for a moment.  Lizzie was starting to feel uncomfortable under his stare when he finally spoke.

"Lizzie, can you honestly tell me you think I should leave everything, everyone behind for two years and go off and do this?"

"Yes." Lizzie answered.  "Honestly.  This is such a great opportunity for you.  This is what you've always wanted to do.  You've been talking since elementary school about cameras and documentaries and movies and directing.  This is your chance to take a big step in that direction."

"So you really think I should go?" Gordo asked again.

Lizzie nodded.

"Okay then." Gordo answered, getting in his car.  He pulled out of the parking lot, leaving Lizzie behind wondering what was going through his head.