A/N: OK, I made up names for Gordo and Miranda's parents since I don't know what they are. If you know them you can tell me in a review and I'll change 'em. Thanks!

GORDO

"I think the man owes us something," my dad said in the living room talking to Lizzie's parents and Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez. He was referring to Jared O'Brien.

"Yes, he does," mom said. "I think we all agree that he does. But yet, we'll never get back everything that he took away. It almost wouldn't make sense to even try."

"I would like to completely set aside this incident as soon as possible," Mrs. Sanchez said. "We'll never be able to forget about it, of course, but I don't think we should drag it out, either."

"Just because he can't pay back everything," Mr. McGuire said. "That doesn't mean that he shouldn't try. I say we press for the money."

"Maybe this is pointless," my mom said. I could tell that she thought we shouldn't sue, yet she didn't want to disagree with anyone. "Maybe if we called him he would be glad to pay us quietly without a courtroom."

"That's always an option," Mr. Sanchez agreed. "But we need to decide what we want first, so that if he disagrees we can take him to court. If we decide to."

I was tempted to call him on my own. I really wanted this issue resolved, but it wouldn't be for awhile. I knew that. Especially if we decided to sue, because that would drag it on even longer. I hoped that he'd just hand over the money "quietly without a courtroom," but yet I doubted he would.

Mrs. Sanchez shook her head. "I don't want this to get too much publicity."

"We won't do anything that you aren't comfortable with," Mrs. McGuire said quickly. "Your opinion and your husband's should count the most."

They were narrowly escaping mention of Miranda's death. They were implying it, but not actually coming out and saying it. I knew what that was like… I'd done it myself.

At the moment I was in the kitchen pretending to look for something to eat just to listen to them talk. I didn't know what they'd think if I asked to listen in on it, so instead I just looked for the Ritz crackers.

There was a pause, when Mrs. McGuire said "Peter? What do you say?"

Mr. Sanchez thought. "I don't know what I say. I just think that whatever we do, it has to be well thought out." There were nods and sounds of agreement at that. "And what do you think, Jo?"

"I think we should leave things as they are. Leave "well enough" alone."

"He hurt us all," dad said. Then, with a glance to Sanchezs, added "Some of us more than others. But the money will make some of it go away. It won't erase the pain, it won't erase the nightmare from the kids, but it will aid in the healing process, I think."

"How?" mom asked.

"Well, the only way he has hurt you and I directly is by the hospital bill. If he pays that, then it goes away. Not for everyone, but for us at least."

"It seems a little materialistic to be worrying about money at a time like this, don't you think?" mom asked.

"Not at all. If we take what he owes us, it's fair. Nothing more, nothing less."

Go dad, I thought. That was how I felt. And Lizzie had called me insensitive for thinking about that when Miranda was gone and I had no answer because I couldn't put my feelings into words. This was how I felt.

"David, honey?" mom asked. "Do you need something? You've been in the kitchen awhile."

Busted.

I froze. "Um… no. I was just… looking for a snack," I answered.

"There are some fruit snacks in there somewhere."

"Thanks."

My mom turned back to the rest of the parents. "Would anyone like something to drink?"

"I'll have some water," Mrs. McGuire said. Mom took orders from the rest and came into the kitchen with me. She looked at me.

"Why don't you meet Lizzie at the Digital Bean? I think she's home alone."

"Nah, Matt's probably with her."

"Then call some other friends and go somewhere with them."

I smiled. I knew what she was doing, and she knew what I was doing. And she knew that I knew what she was doing. "But-"

"You'll be informed once we're done talking. Now go on."

"Mom, I'm not a kid."

"David…" she said using her warning voice.

I sighed and grabbed the phone. "K, I'll be in my room."

"With the door closed," she added.

I shut my door and planned to call Lizzie. That's when I realized that I really needed a life. My best friend was a girl. I'd been hanging out with girls since 5th grade. What I needed was some good guy friends.

Oh, well. I dialed her number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Lizzie. Do you wanna hang out today?"

"I'm watching Matt till our parents get home. I thought you were gonna talk with them."

"No, I was gonna eavesdrop. And I got caught."

Lizzie chuckled. "Um… you could probably come over here if you wanted."

"OK. I'll be over in a sec."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and went back into the living room. My mom looked at me. "What is it?"

"Um, I called Lizzie. I was wondering if I could go over to their house." I also looked at McGuires for their permission.

Mrs. McGuire nodded. "That's fine with me."

"Go on," mom said. "But don't leave the house, and keep Matt some company, too."

"Yeah, sure." I walked out.

I got to Lizzie's house soon after that. I knocked on her door and Matt answered.

"Hey," he said. "C'min. Lizzie said you were coming."

"Where is she?" I asked as I entered the house.

"Her room. I think she's changing."

"Oh."

"You can sit down. I'll go get her." He walked up the stairs.

I blinked. Matt seemed different somehow. He's just maturing, I told myself. He must have been 13 or 14 by now. He was growing up.

I sat down on the couch for a minute, then Lizzie came down. "Hey, Gordo. Tell me about the conversation."

"What?"

She sat down next to me. "Our parents' conversation at your house. What have they said so far?"

"The girls are basically against it, and the guys are mostly for it. I don't know how it's gonna turn out."

"What did my parents say?"

"Basically just that. Your dad wants to sue, your mom doesn't. Your dad said that he should try to pay us back, no matter if it would really make a difference or not. You mom wants to leave "well enough" alone."

Lizzie nodded. "I think talking about Miranda's death in front of a court would be hard on Sanchezes. I think we should just leave it, instead of pouring lemon juice on the paper cut."

"And let this guy get away with it?"

"But he's not getting away with it. He has to pay a fine or whatever… depending on how drunk he was, the government is punishing him their way. Just because he isn't paying us back doesn't mean he isn't paying."

I shrugged. "Well, I guess we'll see what they decided later."

A/N: I don't know what should happen myself, so please offer any opinions you may have about them suing the driver. Thanks!