A/N: It was really, REALLY hard for me to decide who to kill off because I love all of the gang, so all __________ fans, please don't take it personally, I love all three of 'em! And this takes place on the last minute of the last day of school their junior year. Wow. They're getting older! Anyway, nothing's really changed except Lizzie and Miranda got over Ethan ('bout time!). Everyone's still wondering if Gordo and Lizzie have a thing for each other, they're still basic-kind-of-a little-bit outcasts, you get the picture. Enjoy!
LIZZIE
"What's the first thing you're gonna do when you get home?" Miranda asked me once the final bell rang ending the school year.
I smiled. "Um… call you."
She laughed. "I'm not gonna be home, though. I'm goin' to the beach!"
"That's great! I got a new bikini that you'll totally love."
Miranda paused. "Wait… no. I'm not gonna do that just yet. First I'm gonna torch my notes, then I'm going to the beach."
I laughed as we rushed out into the hallway filled with students, all running around trying to get out. Summer vacation felt great.
I spotted Gordo also wandering, trying to get to his locker. "Gordo!" I called. I raised my arm so he saw us. The place was more crowded than a Destiny's Child concert!
He smiled and made his way towards us. "How's your summer break going?" he asked jokingly.
"Not good so far. I've spent the entire break at school!" I replied.
"We're going down to the beach," Miranda said. "Wanna come?"
"Partying already?"
"It's gotta start sometime, and it might as well be now!"
He smiled. "Well, maybe. But first we have to figure out how to get out of this place. I say they should excuse us class by class, starting with the juniors."
"Ahem," I said. "That's seniors. We're seniors now!"
"Eek! Can you believe it? High school sure whips past you…" Miranda said. "It seems like only yesterday we walked into this school as freshmen…"
"Here we go," Gordo muttered. Miranda hit him on the shoulder playfully. "Well, guys, this is my row. I'll see you later." He turned down a row of lockers.
"Will you be at the beach?" Miranda called.
Gordo shrugged and disappeared from view.
"I'll meet you there," Miranda said. "I've got to show you my new car."
"A car?" I demanded. "When did that happen?"
She was glowing. Seriously. Her face was totally lit up by her smile. "Yesterday! I wanted a convertible, but beggars can't be choosers, so…"
"What is it?"
"Ford Focus. It's blue."
"And your parents bought it for you?" I had a hard time believing that. For some reason, I just couldn't imagine Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez buying Miranda her own car.
"Um… kind of. It's theirs now, but I get it when I go to college."
"OK! So we're going to meet there?"
"Yeah. Bye, Lizzie!"
"Bye, Miranda!"
I made my way over to my locker inch by inch and pulled out my bag. I stuffed my stuff in it (pens, pencils, notebooks…) and slung it over one shoulder. I slammed my locker shut. I wouldn't have to do that again for awhile!
I skipped off home, threw my bag down, and quickly changed. I put on my new bikini and put jean shorts on over the bottom. Sandals, towel, sun tan lotion, sunglasses… I was ready!
I rushed out the door and hurried to the beach. Miranda was already there.
"Lizzie! Great bikini," she said.
"Thanks," I replied. "Where's your car?"
She smiled and led me over to the parking lot, and showed me her Focus.
"Looks great," I said. "Is it brand-new?"
She nodded. "Uh-huh. And it has a CD player."
"Cool!"
Miranda grabbed my arm. "But enough of this, let's go scope out the guys!"
We just started walking away from the car when I heard Gordo's voice call us. "Sanchez! McGuire! Wait up!"
We turned and saw him running up to us. Gordo looked a little strange to me without a shirt.
"Hey, Gordo," I said. "Glad you came."
"Just stay at least 10 feet away from me at all times," he replied. "Otherwise people will think I already have a girlfriend, and a spare to go along with her. That'll put a major cramp in my girl-spotting."
Miranda and I laughed. "Likewise," Miranda said. "Can't have those guys thinking we're already attached now, can we?"
We started for the beach a second time when we once again stopped when we heard loud music playing behind us. We turned back around and saw Ethan Craft driving his Mustang convertible with a couple guys and a few girls.
"Not fair!" Miranda wined. "He gets a Mustang? Convertible?"
"It isn't his," Gordo replied. "That's what he wants people to think. It's a rental car."
"How do you know?"
"I saw the tag on the keys before he ripped it off."
"Yeah, Miranda, at least you get to keep your car," I said.
"I still say it isn't fair."
~*~
A few hours later, when I was satisfied with my tan and started to get bored, I turned on my side to face Miranda who was also lying on her towel tanning.
"Will you give me a ride home?" I asked.
"Sure!" she answered. "Why not? Are you ready to go?"
"I think so. Unless you wanna stay longer," I replied.
"No, that's fine. I'll just see if Gordo wants a ride."
Miranda got up and waded into the water towards Gordo, who was having a splash fight with another girl. Another pretty girl.
Woah, there, calm down, I told myself. She can't compete with you. Gordo flirts with her for an hour, but you've been friends with him for the longest time. You're still way higher than her on his Christmas list.
Miranda swam over to them and talked to Gordo for a little bit. He looked at me, then back to her. I was probably as surprised as Miranda was when he pulled out a squirt gun and sprayed her.
I laughed. Then, out of nowhere, streams of water caught me, too. I screamed and leapt up. I stood to face Ethan and two other guys from my school.
"Hey!" I said. "Don't!"
They laughed and continued. I ran into the water and went under, knowing they were waiting for me above. Finally, I came up for air and was sprayed again.
"Quit it! Quit it!" I said.
"Do you surrender?" Ethan asked.
"Yes!"
They stopped. Gordo handed them his gun. "I'm leaving," he said. "See you guys later."
Gordo, Miranda, and I exited the beach together and got in Miranda's car. She was in the driver's seat, I was in the passenger seat, and Gordo was in the back.
"Not a bad car," he said. "New or used?"
"New," Miranda replied. "I'm not sure how my mom'll feel when she finds out that my first time driving it I got it all wet."
Gordo laughed. "Yeah, I guess that's a problem. I'm glad it isn't mine."
"All right, that's it. Get out of the car, I'm takin' Lizzie home," she said smiling. But then she started it and drove off of the parking lot.
"Have you had that note-barbecue yet?" I asked Miranda.
She smiled. "Nope. You're welcome to join me."
"A note-barbecue?" Gordo asked. "That sounds yummy. I hear they taste like chicken."
"You're welcome to come too, Gordo," Miranda said. "It'll be fun."
"Sounds like it," he said sarcastically.
We approached an intersection. Miranda looked both ways and no one was coming. She pulled out. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a car came speeding up and hit us from the side. I was thrown against Miranda and she was thrown against the side car window. The last thing I remembered was hitting her arm and a sharp pain in the back of my head and everything was dark.
A/N: Lizzie didn't necessarily die, if that's what you're thinking. I think she might have gotten knocked out, but I'm not sure…
