A/N: New story time! Woo woo! Hope you guys enjoy it! Leave me a few reviews, ok? Hehe! Oh, by the way, this takes place between 8th and 9th grade. And Bye Bye Hillridge Junior High never happened, and they didn't go to Rome.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Right Here Waiting

Chapter 1:

Gordo sat on the McGuire's front porch, staring out into the dusky neighborhood. The mid-July sun was beginning to go down yet another warm summer day in Hillridge. All around him, Gordo watched kids playing early evening games of kickball, joggers trying to get a run in before dark, fathers returning home from work. He put his hands behind his head and watched a plane fly through the reddish-pink sky. He felt calm and relaxed. And excited. At any moment the McGuire's Excursion would pull into the driveway, and in it would be Lizzie, returning home from her four-week stay at camp.

Gordo's pensive state was interrupted by the opening of the front door. Mrs. McGuire emerged, phone in hand. "I just got off the phone with Sam. They'll be here in 10 minutes." She explained. "Dinner's almost ready. Do you want a salad?"

"Sure." Gordo replied. "Thanks Mrs. McGuire. Want me to set the table?"

"That'd be great." Mrs. McGuire smiled, glad her daughter had such a wonderful friend. She headed back into the house. Gordo followed shortly behind her.

He grabbed the napkins and silverware off the counter and began to place them on the McGuire's kitchen table.

"Matt!" called Jo. "You need to come wash up for dinner. Lizzie will be here soon."

Gordo looked up as he heard the sound of Matt McGuire coming down the stairs. "Hey Matt." He greeted him.

"Hey." Matt remarked, as he entered the kitchen. "What are we having for dinner?" he asked, as he washed his hands.

"Lizzie's favorite: oven fried chicken." Jo announced.

"Yuck!" Matt exclaimed, wrinkling up his nose. "I don't know why you all make such a big deal when she comes home. I personally consider this a sad day."

"Matt!" yelled Jo. "Stop that right now. Your sister has been gone for a month!"

"I know." Remarked Matt, with a smile on his face. "It's been great."

Gordo chuckled to himself, as Mrs. McGuire playfully hit Matt with the dishtowel. He loved being at the McGuire house. As annoying as Matt was, Gordo almost envied Lizzie; he wished he wasn't an only child.

Gordo had just set down the last fork when he heard the familiar sound of a car door opening. She was back! Gordo ran out the front door and into the front yard.

Lizzie saw him, jumped from the Excursion and ran towards the front step.

"Gordo!" she called out, as they met, wrapping their arms around each other. "I missed you!"

"Welcome back!" he replied, stepping back a little.

He looked at her. Exactly the same. He thought happily to himself. Every year he worried that she would come back from camp completely transformed, like Kate. And every year, his fears were put to rest the moment he saw her. She was tanned, and her hair was lighter from being out in the sun, but other than that, she was the same Lizzie he knew and loved.

"How was camp?" he asked, walking over to the trunk of the car, in order to help Mr. McGuire carry in Lizzie's bags.

"It was awesome!" she exclaimed. "I had a great time. How were things around here?"

"Pretty good, I guess." He replied, as they walked toward the house. "I got all of my summer homework done."

"Wow, you must have been really bored!" Lizzie remarked.

"Um, hello, my two best friends were gone." He pointed out.

"I know." She replied sheepishly. "But I'm back now!"

"I know." He smiled. "I'm glad."

They both smiled at each other as they entered the front hall. Lizzie dropped her bags as Mrs. McGuire came running out to greet her.

"Lizzie!" she exclaimed, hugging her. "I'm so happy you're back! We missed you so much!"

"Thanks Mom." Lizzie replied, trying to wiggle free. "Uh, Mom, I can't breathe."

"What? Oh!" Jo realized how tight she had been hugging Lizzie. "Sorry sweetie. I'm just so glad you're home!"

"Me too Mom." Lizzie smiled. She looked over her shoulder at Gordo and rolled her eyes. Gordo laughed.

"Well, come sit down, dinner's ready." Jo announced.

Lizzie and Gordo sat down next to each other at the table. Matt was already across from them.

"Hey runt." Lizzie greeted him.

"You know, it's remarkable." He commented. "Each year you come back from camp you look more and more like the swamp thing."

"You better stop it, you weasel." Lizzie threatened. "Or else I'll let Mom know about the plastic creepy crawlies you put in my suitcase."

"Some people just don't appreciate nature." He remarked.

Gordo laughed.

"Don't encourage him!" Lizzie scolded Gordo, slapping him on the shoulder. This caused Gordo to laugh even more. Until Lizzie glared at him.

"Kids, stop fighting." Mr. McGuire commanded, as he sat down at the table.

"Lets just have a nice, peaceful family dinner." Jo added, as she set the plate of chicken down.

Matt nodded, and Lizzie rolled her eyes. Gordo stifled a laugh. They all dug in.

After dinner, Gordo and Lizzie retreated to the back yard. Both lay on the lawn, hands behind their heads, looking up the nighttime sky.

"So, you must have done something besides homework while I was gone." Lizzie remarked, glancing over at Gordo.

"Well, lets see." Gordo though aloud. "Visited my grandparents, went to the Digital Bean..."

"Thrilling." Lizzie remarked.

"Well, those things were a lot more interesting than hanging out with Ethan Craft!" he retorted.

"You hung out with Ethan?" Lizzie sat up, stunned.

"Tried to anyway." He replied. "Parker was right...wallpaper is much more interesting."

"Ooooo..Speaking of Parker." Lizzie teased. "Did you see her at all?"

"I told you, I don't like her anymore." Gordo replied.

"Well, then who?" Lizzie asked.

Gordo tensed up. "Um, uh, well...no one. Not really anyway." He stammered.

Lizzie raised an eyebrow. "Ok." She dismissed the topic.

"So, did you make any new friends at camp?" Gordo asked, changing the subject.

"There were some nice girls in my cabin." Lizzie replied. "And we had this dance with a boys camp!"

Gordo braced himself. He hated listening to her swoon over some pretty boy dimwit. It was more out of jealousy than anything else. Just once, he'd like to be more than her best friend.

"Anyway, there was this guy, and I like him a lot, and we're..."

Lizzie was interrupted by Mrs. McGuire coming out to the back porch.

"Gordo!" she called, waving the telephone. "Its your Mom, she wants you home."

"I better take off." Gordo said, getting up.

"Yeah." Lizzie agreed. "I've got a lot of unpacking to do."

"So," he started. "I'll uh, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure." She replied, cheerfully. "Thanks for coming over."

"I'm glad you're back." He smiled at her, and walked away.

Lizzie smiled to herself. She was so lucky to have Gordo. Who else would come over and wait for her to get back from camp every year?

"Me too." She said to herself.

TBC!

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