A/N: in answer to the anonymous reviewer who left no name, I know Gordo doesn't believe Jesus was the Savior, but he still believes in God (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm no Jewish scholar).

GORDO

That Saturday afternoon (3 days after Lizzie and I fought) I called her. I wanted her to come to Trey's party with me. I didn't want to go alone, and I didn't want to stay home. But part of me was worried that Lizzie would get mad again for my moving on. Actually, I was a little mad at myself for doing so, but I knew that I had to, and the sooner I did, the happier I would be later on.

"Hello?" said someone on the other line.

"Matt? This is Gordo. Can I talk to Lizzie?"

"What's it to ya?"

I was able to hear Lizzie's faint voice. "Matt… is that Gordo? Give me the phone! Give it to me!" I smiled a little as I heard a little rustling and struggling, then heard Lizzie's voice. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me," I said.

"I thought it would be."

"So… Trey wanted you to come to his party tonight, and I was wondering if you wanted to." That wasn't the whole truth. I'd asked him if she could come and he said yes.

"He wants me there?" she asked, sounding surprised.

"Well, yeah. But I wasn't sure if you wanted to, so I told him I'd call you."

"You know, I wouldn't mind getting a call from someone else for once, no offense."

"I know. What do you say?"

"What time is it?"

I looked at my watch. "1:13."

"No! The party."

"Oh. 8:30."

"8:30?" she demanded. "A little late?"

"Well, I don't know when it's gonna end, prob'ly around 2 or so."

"I don't know if my parents will let me go to a late-night party on a Saturday night."

"What if I pick you up and bring you home?" The words shot out of my mouth before I thought about them. Now that I had the chance to look at them, I wondered if I was ready to get behind the wheel of a car.

"Um… I don't know if my parents are crazy about teenage drivers at the moment."

"Will you ask them?"

"Sure. Hang on." I waited for a minute, when her voice came back. "OK, that's cool. What time are you picking me up?"

"Um, around 8:20, I guess."

"OK. Bye, Gordo."

"Bye, Lizzie."

~*~

I took in a deep breath as I looked at the car. I got in and made sure to buckle my seatbelt this time. Adjusted mirrors, seat, and started it up. Then I drove to Lizzie's house.

I got there and she came out right away. She was wearing red leather pants and a spaghetti-strap black snake-pattern shirt with an open back.

"You look good," I said as she opened the door.

"Thanks. You, too."

"I look the same as I always do. I didn't do anything special."

"Well, then you always look good," she replied. "Look, I'm sorry about the other day."

"No, I am. I should have been more sensitive."

"And I shouldn't have been a jerk. You're right. One thing went wrong, but we still have a lot of things going for us. Miranda wouldn't want us to be torn apart because of her."

I nodded in agreement. "She'd think the whole thing was crazy and stupid. And I agree."

"So do I."

When we got to the party not many people were there yet. I checked the time and it was 8:25.

"Do you wanna go in?" I asked.

She nodded. I parked on the street and we walked into his house.

"Hey, guys," Trey greeted. "You both look like you've been dead for a couple days, but I'm glad you came."

I forced a smile, but I felt Lizzie tense at his mention of us being "dead."

"How sensitive of you," I said. He took it as a joke, but I'm not sure if I meant it as one.

"I have a total of about 5 guests, but the party should heat up soon. Supposedly a lot of people are coming." He took a glance around. "So, we got a movie downstairs, food in the kitchen, and music in the living room. Make yourselves at home."

"Thanks," I said. I escorted Lizzie into the kitchen.

"What a creep," Lizzie said. "Doesn't he know?"

I knew what she thought he was supposed to know. She was talking about Miranda. "I don't know," I said. "But he's still a nice guy. You're just a little defensive right now."

Lizzie paused. "OK, so maybe I am."

"You want food?"

"Not really."

"Let's see what movie's playing. It probably just started."

"I don't know if I want-"

I grabbed her arm and started dragging her away. "You've got to do something, now let's go." We went downstairs where they were watching Billy Madison.

"Gordon!" Ethan said. "Have a seat. This movie's a classic."

I shrugged. "OK." I sat next to him on the couch, and Lizzie sat next to me.

"Did you guys come together?" he asked.

Technically, we did come together, but I knew what he meant. Was this a date for us.

"Um… no, not really," I answered. "We're just hanging out."

"That's cool."

"Quiet in front!" said a girl sitting behind Ethan on the couch's backrest.

"Hey!" Ethan replied, turning to face her. "Do you see us here? We're talking."

"Talk upstairs!"

Ethan shook his head and turned back to me. "Party just started and she's drunk already," he whispered to me. Was he serious? Was there beer here… and was she drinking it that fast?

But he chuckled and turned back to the movie. I ignored his remark and told myself he was just joking. Still, my insides sensed trouble at this party.