Disclaimer: I own very little. Okay, nothing. Well, I DO own my computer. And…. Uh…. Well, that's all.
A/N I appreciate all the feedback I've been getting. And I would like to add, that I am REALLY excited about this chapter. J
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're the hope that moves me
To courage again.
You're the love that rescues me
When the cold winds rage.
And it's so amazing
'Cause that's just how you are.
And I can't turn back now
'Cause you've brought me too far."
-LeAnn Rimes, I Need You
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the days following, Lizzie left her room for exactly three reasons: to eat, use the bathroom, and throw out the tie dyed sheets (the last of which her mother saw and promptly retrieved them from the trash).
Miranda called six times, her persistence wasted-each instance she was told by Mrs. McGuire that Lizzie was unavailable to talk, with regret in the elder's voice.
But as many times as Miranda called, Gordo twiced it, though he was given the same answer.
On the 5th night of her solitude, Lizzie's parents chose to go out to dinner.
"Do you want to come," Mrs. McGuire asked, stepping into her daughter's room.
"No thanks, mom," Lizzie answered, carefully studying her magazine. "I'll just get some frozen pizza or something. No biggie."
"Honey," Mrs. McGuire began, taking a seat on the bed next to her. "You can't stay up here forever. You refuse you speak to your friends, or us, your family. We all care about you."
Lizzie nodded and brushed away a tear sliding down her cheek. "I know. I'm just… I feel so lost."
"Is it Gordo?"
"How did you know?"
She smiled. "The boy's called about 12 times. It wasn't hard to decipher."
"I just thought he liked me. And now he's dating some girl, and she's really smart and perfect for him. But he was going to kiss me, I KNOW he was."
Mrs. McGuire pulled her into a hug. "Just talk to him. Its really the only thing that will sort out this mess."
"I know."
"We can stay in if you like," she offered, smiling gently at her daughter.
"No," Lizzie answered, "I'll be okay. Really. To be honest, I think I'd like to be alone."
And alone she was for the next hour. The house was silent. Outside, summer had taken on a frightening mask as rain poured against the windows and door, and lighting lit up the dark corners of the house.
She was suddenly very aware of just how alone she was.
Another lightening bolt and the swift thunder following made her jump in surprise and fear, and she raced from her room downstairs. Up there confined to her bedroom was the last thing she wanted.
Then the lights went out.
She screamed.
"Candles," she whispered, and rushed for the kitchen. She fished through the drawer they were normally kept in, but found nothing. Her mom had spent last week rearranging the kitchen. There was no telling where they would be, and she wouldn't be able to find them in the dark.
A banging at the door caught her attention. Maybe it was her parents. Maybe they would be home, and had just forgotten their keys.
She swung open the door and immediately regretted it.
"Hey, Gordo," she said, ignoring her trembling hands.
"Hey," he returned, and stepped around her into her house. "Um, your mom called our house and asked us to tell you that the candles are in the drawer beside the sink."
Lizzie automatically moved to the drawer mentioned and removed three candles and the matches. She lit one of the wicks and breathed a sigh of relief when it illuminated the room. She placed it into the holder, drew out several more and repeated the same motion.
"Thanks," she whispered as she worked, unable to took him in the eyes.
He nodded and moved to stand beside her. "She tried to call here but Matt had left the phone off the hook." He picked up the phone and hung it up.
Almost immediately it rang.
"Hello," Lizzie answered, pulling at the cord so that she could light and talk at the same time.
"Honey!" Mrs. McGuire cried, the moment she heard her voice. "How are you?"
"Okay," Lizzie answered, ignoring the fact that Gordo was watching her every move. Her hand shook as she went to light another candle, and he reached out and placed his on hers to steady it.
"Lizzie, we're on the way home but we're caught in traffic. There was a huge wreck up ahead and no one is really moving."
"It's okay."
"Listen, would you ask Gordo to stay there with you?"
*Me and Gordo in the candlelight, alone? This has canNOT be reality. I must be trapped in a Greek tragedy. SOMEONE LET ME OUT!*
"Mom," she hissed, jerking away from her friend and turning so that only her back faced him.
Mrs. McGuire sighed. "I know that the two of you are having problems, but I'd feel much better knowing that he's there with you. There's no telling when we'll be able to get home."
She glanced at Gordo. "My mom wants to know if you'll stay here with me."
His eyebrows shot up, and there was no denying that the same things she had been thinking were going through his mind.
"You can say no," she quickly added.
"No, it's fine," he agreed after another moment of thought.
Lizzie relayed the message and hung up.
"Um, I guess I'd better set these out," she said, gesturing to the dozen candles she'd lit.
He moved to help her. "We could just put them in the living room and sit in there."
*Sigh. If my life were just a little simpler than this might be incredibly romantic.*
Between the two of them they were able to set them out, and together they collapsed on the couch. Right beside each other.
*Move, move, get up!*
But she didn't. All she did was whisper something inwardly: "God, if you will PLEASE, just for tonight, let him love me, I promise, I will be nice to Matt for the next… 24 hours. Amen."
"What are you thinking," Gordo asked, nudging her gently.
"Just about, you know, stuff."
"Stuff, huh?" He paused and lowered his eyes. "You used to be able to tell me everything."
She flushed. "It's different now."
He took her hand and held it loosely. She shivered, still unable to look him in the eye. "What's changed," he asked, weaving his fingers through hers.
Slowly she allowed her eyes to catch his. "I'm not sure."
"Is it me?"
"No," she answered quickly. "No, it's not you. You're perfect."
Not catching what she meant, he pressed, "What then?"
*How can he not notice? Is this how I was when he liked me?*
"It's…complex."
"What's so complex that your best friend wouldn't understand?"
She swallowed. "It's that guy, the one I told you I loved."
He blinked. Whatever he'd been expecting, it hadn't been that. "What do you mean?"
"I thought I could get over him," she replied, shifting. "I thought if I ignored it, pretended it wasn't there, it would go away, but I just don't know anymore."
She felt his hand begin to tremble . "You still love him?"
In for a penny, in for a pound. "Yes, I do."
She gazed at his face, uncertain as to how clear this was coming across, and wondering if, assuming he caught on, this would be the last time she'd see him. He may get the message and never want to see her again.
"8th grade seems so far away," she murmured when it appeared he wasn't going to comment.
"A lifetime," he agreed. "I mean, since then, you've had a singing career. Not too many 14 year olds can say the same."
"LeAnn Rimes can."
He chuckled. "Yes, that's true." The laughter only seemed to add to the warmth surrounding them. Reaching out, he brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes.
"Much better," he whispered.
She smiled self consciously.
He didn't move his hand from her face. Instead he slowly began stroking her cheek. His fingertips made her heart race.
"Who was he?" he asked.
"Who was she?" she returned.
He didn't answer. Neither had to. For the first time in too long their two hearts knew exactly what the other was thinking. They were in sync.
He slid his eyes shut and swallowing once, she did the same. She reached out with her right hand slid it behind his neck. And slowly, achingly slowly, they brought their lips together and they touched. Electricity unlike anything she had ever experienced shot down her spine and everything else, the rain, Sara, the fact that at any moment her parents could walk through the door, all those thoughts flew from both of their minds as they strengthened the kiss.
A/N Nope, it's not over. I'm going to write at least another two chapters. I hope you have enjoyed it thus far.
A/N I appreciate all the feedback I've been getting. And I would like to add, that I am REALLY excited about this chapter. J
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're the hope that moves me
To courage again.
You're the love that rescues me
When the cold winds rage.
And it's so amazing
'Cause that's just how you are.
And I can't turn back now
'Cause you've brought me too far."
-LeAnn Rimes, I Need You
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the days following, Lizzie left her room for exactly three reasons: to eat, use the bathroom, and throw out the tie dyed sheets (the last of which her mother saw and promptly retrieved them from the trash).
Miranda called six times, her persistence wasted-each instance she was told by Mrs. McGuire that Lizzie was unavailable to talk, with regret in the elder's voice.
But as many times as Miranda called, Gordo twiced it, though he was given the same answer.
On the 5th night of her solitude, Lizzie's parents chose to go out to dinner.
"Do you want to come," Mrs. McGuire asked, stepping into her daughter's room.
"No thanks, mom," Lizzie answered, carefully studying her magazine. "I'll just get some frozen pizza or something. No biggie."
"Honey," Mrs. McGuire began, taking a seat on the bed next to her. "You can't stay up here forever. You refuse you speak to your friends, or us, your family. We all care about you."
Lizzie nodded and brushed away a tear sliding down her cheek. "I know. I'm just… I feel so lost."
"Is it Gordo?"
"How did you know?"
She smiled. "The boy's called about 12 times. It wasn't hard to decipher."
"I just thought he liked me. And now he's dating some girl, and she's really smart and perfect for him. But he was going to kiss me, I KNOW he was."
Mrs. McGuire pulled her into a hug. "Just talk to him. Its really the only thing that will sort out this mess."
"I know."
"We can stay in if you like," she offered, smiling gently at her daughter.
"No," Lizzie answered, "I'll be okay. Really. To be honest, I think I'd like to be alone."
And alone she was for the next hour. The house was silent. Outside, summer had taken on a frightening mask as rain poured against the windows and door, and lighting lit up the dark corners of the house.
She was suddenly very aware of just how alone she was.
Another lightening bolt and the swift thunder following made her jump in surprise and fear, and she raced from her room downstairs. Up there confined to her bedroom was the last thing she wanted.
Then the lights went out.
She screamed.
"Candles," she whispered, and rushed for the kitchen. She fished through the drawer they were normally kept in, but found nothing. Her mom had spent last week rearranging the kitchen. There was no telling where they would be, and she wouldn't be able to find them in the dark.
A banging at the door caught her attention. Maybe it was her parents. Maybe they would be home, and had just forgotten their keys.
She swung open the door and immediately regretted it.
"Hey, Gordo," she said, ignoring her trembling hands.
"Hey," he returned, and stepped around her into her house. "Um, your mom called our house and asked us to tell you that the candles are in the drawer beside the sink."
Lizzie automatically moved to the drawer mentioned and removed three candles and the matches. She lit one of the wicks and breathed a sigh of relief when it illuminated the room. She placed it into the holder, drew out several more and repeated the same motion.
"Thanks," she whispered as she worked, unable to took him in the eyes.
He nodded and moved to stand beside her. "She tried to call here but Matt had left the phone off the hook." He picked up the phone and hung it up.
Almost immediately it rang.
"Hello," Lizzie answered, pulling at the cord so that she could light and talk at the same time.
"Honey!" Mrs. McGuire cried, the moment she heard her voice. "How are you?"
"Okay," Lizzie answered, ignoring the fact that Gordo was watching her every move. Her hand shook as she went to light another candle, and he reached out and placed his on hers to steady it.
"Lizzie, we're on the way home but we're caught in traffic. There was a huge wreck up ahead and no one is really moving."
"It's okay."
"Listen, would you ask Gordo to stay there with you?"
*Me and Gordo in the candlelight, alone? This has canNOT be reality. I must be trapped in a Greek tragedy. SOMEONE LET ME OUT!*
"Mom," she hissed, jerking away from her friend and turning so that only her back faced him.
Mrs. McGuire sighed. "I know that the two of you are having problems, but I'd feel much better knowing that he's there with you. There's no telling when we'll be able to get home."
She glanced at Gordo. "My mom wants to know if you'll stay here with me."
His eyebrows shot up, and there was no denying that the same things she had been thinking were going through his mind.
"You can say no," she quickly added.
"No, it's fine," he agreed after another moment of thought.
Lizzie relayed the message and hung up.
"Um, I guess I'd better set these out," she said, gesturing to the dozen candles she'd lit.
He moved to help her. "We could just put them in the living room and sit in there."
*Sigh. If my life were just a little simpler than this might be incredibly romantic.*
Between the two of them they were able to set them out, and together they collapsed on the couch. Right beside each other.
*Move, move, get up!*
But she didn't. All she did was whisper something inwardly: "God, if you will PLEASE, just for tonight, let him love me, I promise, I will be nice to Matt for the next… 24 hours. Amen."
"What are you thinking," Gordo asked, nudging her gently.
"Just about, you know, stuff."
"Stuff, huh?" He paused and lowered his eyes. "You used to be able to tell me everything."
She flushed. "It's different now."
He took her hand and held it loosely. She shivered, still unable to look him in the eye. "What's changed," he asked, weaving his fingers through hers.
Slowly she allowed her eyes to catch his. "I'm not sure."
"Is it me?"
"No," she answered quickly. "No, it's not you. You're perfect."
Not catching what she meant, he pressed, "What then?"
*How can he not notice? Is this how I was when he liked me?*
"It's…complex."
"What's so complex that your best friend wouldn't understand?"
She swallowed. "It's that guy, the one I told you I loved."
He blinked. Whatever he'd been expecting, it hadn't been that. "What do you mean?"
"I thought I could get over him," she replied, shifting. "I thought if I ignored it, pretended it wasn't there, it would go away, but I just don't know anymore."
She felt his hand begin to tremble . "You still love him?"
In for a penny, in for a pound. "Yes, I do."
She gazed at his face, uncertain as to how clear this was coming across, and wondering if, assuming he caught on, this would be the last time she'd see him. He may get the message and never want to see her again.
"8th grade seems so far away," she murmured when it appeared he wasn't going to comment.
"A lifetime," he agreed. "I mean, since then, you've had a singing career. Not too many 14 year olds can say the same."
"LeAnn Rimes can."
He chuckled. "Yes, that's true." The laughter only seemed to add to the warmth surrounding them. Reaching out, he brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes.
"Much better," he whispered.
She smiled self consciously.
He didn't move his hand from her face. Instead he slowly began stroking her cheek. His fingertips made her heart race.
"Who was he?" he asked.
"Who was she?" she returned.
He didn't answer. Neither had to. For the first time in too long their two hearts knew exactly what the other was thinking. They were in sync.
He slid his eyes shut and swallowing once, she did the same. She reached out with her right hand slid it behind his neck. And slowly, achingly slowly, they brought their lips together and they touched. Electricity unlike anything she had ever experienced shot down her spine and everything else, the rain, Sara, the fact that at any moment her parents could walk through the door, all those thoughts flew from both of their minds as they strengthened the kiss.
A/N Nope, it's not over. I'm going to write at least another two chapters. I hope you have enjoyed it thus far.
