–6–
A/N; Sorry for the long wait! I had myself a much needed vacation :) And thanks for the reviews. They really inspire me to write more sooner!
"Guys, come on, I'm really serious. If I see one more slice of pizza, I'm gonna go crazy," Gordo complained as his friends tried to drag him into a pizzeria. After an afternoon of swimming and sunning, the group had brought their stuff back to the cars and wandered over to the boardwalk. The first thing they wanted to do–and 'they' meant the girls of course–was get some food.
"You always say that!" Miranda whined back. "I haven't had a slice of pizza since you started working at Michelangelo's, and I've been craving something with mushrooms and pasta sauce all week."
"So why don't you just eat mushrooms with pasta sauce?" Jeremy pointed out.
Miranda grimaced. "Eww! That would be so gross!"
He shrugged. "Actually I've tried that a few times. Not that bad."
Miranda just looked at him with disgust, not even knowing how to respond to that statement.
"I don't really want to eat right now," Lizzie admitted.
"I'm not even hungry," Scott added.
How about this?" Vanessa spoke up. "I'm not really in the mood for pizza either since I'm usually right there with Gordo, being the loving girlfriend that I am and all, so we'll go get something else and meet back up with you guys in, say, a half hour?"
"As long as I don't have to eat anything Italian!" Gordo readily agreed.
"I was thinking more like Thalia's Tacos," Vanessa said, pointing to the tiny shack-like restaurant a little farther down the pier.
"I don't want to eat alone!" Miranda cried.
"No worries, babe, you still got me," Jeremy said with a grin, leaning an elbow on Miranda's shoulder.
Miranda eyed him for a moment. "I don't want to eat alone!" she repeated, earning a few laughs from her friend.
"Come on, don't be such a tight-ass all the time." He began to pull her into the pizzeria. "We'll catch y'all later."
"A few ground rules," Miranda said, reluctantly following him in. "No burping, no spitting, no chugging, no food fights, no disgusting conversation about girls and/or dead animals, and no, *absolutely no*, saying...y'all. Ever again."
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!"
"And no touching me! Of any kind!"
"That one might be a little tricky..."
The others laughed as Miranda and Jeremy disappeared inside the pizzeria.
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" Lizzie asked. "The two of them, alone for thirty minutes? They'll kill each other."
"It'll be worth it just to get a break from their bickering," Gordo said. He and Vanessa set off for their tacos with a wave back at Lizzie and Scott.
And there they were. Alone again. Lizzie would have burst out laughing if she didn't think Scott was going to look at her like a total freak. But when she glanced at him, he was smirking a bit himself.
"What?" Lizzie asked curiously.
He shook his head. "Nothing. Just... Is it just me or have they all been acting even weirder than usual lately?"
Lizzie laughed. So he had noticed that ever since the club incident, which had been almost two full weeks ago, Vanessa and Miranda had been trying to play matchmaker. And to be honest, Lizzie was complaining less and less. At least on the inside. Briefly she wondered if he had been getting flack, too, from Gordo and Jeremy. "Oh, don't worry, it's definitely not just you. It's finally official, our friends are freaks!""
"And, like, does this whole thing feel like..." He could barely look at her, and Lizzie knew exactly what he was trying to say.
"A set up?" she asked softly, her own eyes focusing at the beach rather than Scott.
"Well... Yeah."
They both turned towards each other simultaneously and their eyes met. She realized she was still wearing his glasses, and pushed them up self-consciously.
"Yeah," Lizzie nodded. "Which is so ridiculous," she quickly added, thinking he was disgusted with the thought. But did Scott actually wince at that comment?
"I know. 'Cause you like Ethan."
"And you like... Well, you don't like me," Lizzie laughed. Right? "So obviously they're just wasting their time. Hopefully they'll get over it soon."
There was a very long, very uncomfortable, very nerve wrecking pause between them. Was it something she had said? Or hadn't said? Or said wrong?
She finally broke the silence. "So... What do you wanna do?" He shrugged in response. Lizzie was about to give up and just suggest tagging along with Miranda and Jeremy, or Gordo and Vanessa, when she spotted something that made her eyes light up. "Oh my gosh! I have the best idea! Come on!" She grabbed a hold of his arm and began pulling him along down the boardwalk.
–*–
"Are you still on this thing? The Lizzie–Scott deal?"
Vanessa looked at Gordo in surprise as they sat down at one of the restaurant's outdoor tables with their food. "Yeah... I thought you said he liked her."
Gordo shrugged. "I don't know. I thought he did, but..."
"But what? I think she likes him, too! Miranda and I noticed the way she's stopped denying it as much," Vanessa said with excitement. "I told you to leave it to me. We'll have them together by the time you guys leave for Malibu, watch."
"I don't know," he said with a frown. "I don't think it's such a good idea anymore. I mean, it's really none of our business. I was just joking around with him, but I don't want to force them to be together."
"Trust me, neither Scott nor Lizzie would do anything unless they *really* wanted to. If Lizzie hadn't wanted to stay out there with Scott alone, she would have gone with one of us. And if they've even noticed, and are really mad, they would say something." Vanessa picked up her taco and bit into it. "Ooh, this veggie taco is so good. What do you think?"
"I don't think Lizzie and Scott would be good together."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I was actually talking about the food, but we can talk about Lizzie and Scott some more. I guess." She stared at him for a moment. "Why not?"
Gordo was fiddling with the hot sauce packets on the table. "They're just different."
"Ever heard of opposites attracting?"
"They're *too* different. He's never even had a girlfriend, I don't think."
"And, what, Lizzie's like the town slut?"
Gordo's head snapped up. "No! Not even! You know that's not what I meant."
Vanessa laughed. "Okay, okay, calm down. I get it. I just don't see where you're going with this. You say they're so different, but maybe they're more alike than you think. Both of them are pretty innocent when it comes to the whole relationship thing, and I think that's great. That's better than him being a major player who could break her heart. It shows that they both are serious about who they decide to date and don't take it lightly."
"Whatever. He'll never make a move."
"I think she would."
"You do?" Gordo asked. The skepticism was clearly written all over his face.
"Yeah, I really do. She's hardly as shy as she used to be, even from a few months ago. I can totally see her taking charge of the situation. It may take her a while, but she's got guts."
"But still... Their personalities totally clash," Gordo insisted. "They wouldn't get along as a couple. They barely even talk as friends! He's too quiet and grumpy for her–"
"Lots of girls dig the whole 'brooding-mystery-man' act," Vanessa interjected.
"And she's way too happy and bubbly for him–"
"Maybe that's just what he needs."
"It wouldn't work. He's not right for her."
"Then who is?" Vanessa asked. "Ethan?"
The word 'you?' was on the tip of her tongue, but she forced herself to restrain from blurting it out. If Vanessa didn't know any better, and if she wasn't his girlfriend, she'd think Gordo was acting slightly jealous. Okay, wait, make that insanely jealous.
Gordo scoffed. "Yeah, right. Hardly. I know the types of guys she should be with. And right now, I really think she's better off being single."
"Yeah, 'cause you're such the expert on romance and dating, right?" Vanessa dead-panned. If you were, you wouldn't be talking about some girl as if you like her right in front of your girlfriend, she thought to herself.
"I am her best friend."
"Exactly." And it'd better be *just* her best friend, Vanessa's mind screamed.
"Right..." Gordo was looking extremely confused by this point. Almost as confused as Vanessa felt. He must have noticed that her defenses were up. "Are you okay?"
She sighed. "Yeah. Peachy." She picked up her taco again. "So can we stop arguing about Lizzie and Scott and just eat now?"
Gordo's eyebrows furrowed as he watched her stuff her mouth, almost as if she was trying to keep it busy so she couldn't say anything farther on the topic. "Who's arguing?" he muttered, biting into his own food. But he was barely hungry anymore.
–*–
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this!"
Lizzie grinned at Scott as the two roller bladed down the boardwalk, weaving carefully among the crowd. "It's not *that* bad. Is it?"
"I'll survive, don't worry," Scott said with a smile. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a large overzealous dog came bounding over to him, barking playfully and running in circles around his legs. "Woah!" he yelled out as he stumbled and tripped over his own feet, trying to get away.
"Watch out!" Lizzie cried, grabbing onto his arm and trying to steady him as he crashed into a bench. But it was too late and he pulled her down with him to the ground.
"Ow!" they yelped simultaneously, then promptly burst out laughing, rolling around on the wooden planks.
"I am so sorry! He just got away from me, I couldn't help it. Are you kids okay?" A young flame haired woman was peering down at them, concern evident in her large brown eyes.
"Y-y-yeah, we're fine," Lizzie choked out.
"Oh my God, Fluffy, no! Leave the cotton candy man alone!" she shrieked, taking off.
Lizzie and Scott were on their way to picking themselves up, but collapsed with even more laughter at that.
"That monster's name was Fluffy?" Scott howled.
"Aww, it was cute."
"Yeah, try saying that after it almost killed you."
Lizzie rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Ooh, yeah, he was licking your hand. How ever did you survive?" she teased.
"Ugh, he slobbered on me," Scott complained, holding up his fingers. Lizzie crinkled her nose and tried to roll far away from him, but he was quick and lunged toward her. "So you think this was nothing, huh? Huh?"
"If you go near my hair, I'm breaking those off!" Lizzie warned, holding on to his wrists to keep his arms at bay. "Why am I being abused so much today?"
"You're just too irresistible." The words were out of his mouth before he even realized.
Lizzie just nodded gravely. "Yes, that is very true. Being beautiful is such a curse." She sighed dramatically.
"Good to know you haven't let it go to your head." He smiled down at her for a moment before gripping the edge of the bench, taking her hand, and pulling her up with him. "You alright?"
"Minor funny elbow syndrom aside, I'm good to go. I have to say, though, that's a first for me."
Scott raised an eyebrow. "Um... You do realize who you are, right?"
"Haha, very funny. I just meant that's the first time *I* haven't fallen down."
"It was the dog's fault," Scott objected.
"Sure. Keep telling yourself that, buddy."
"So how much longer are you planning on subjecting me to this torture?" Scott asked, wiping his hands on his shorts.
"It's only been fifteen minutes. The rental's for a whole hour. We still have a lot of blading to do!" Lizzie told him with a grin.
He smirked. "Great. So what's the attraction to the roller blades again?"
"First love nostalgia," Lizzie quipped. She laughed at his confused expression. "I don't know, it's just fun and I haven't done it in a while. Come on, let's race!"
She was off before he even had time to react. "Cheater!" he screamed, rushing to catch up with her.
"You snooze you lose!" she threw over her shoulder.
–*–
A/N; Sorry for the long wait! I had myself a much needed vacation :) And thanks for the reviews. They really inspire me to write more sooner!
"Guys, come on, I'm really serious. If I see one more slice of pizza, I'm gonna go crazy," Gordo complained as his friends tried to drag him into a pizzeria. After an afternoon of swimming and sunning, the group had brought their stuff back to the cars and wandered over to the boardwalk. The first thing they wanted to do–and 'they' meant the girls of course–was get some food.
"You always say that!" Miranda whined back. "I haven't had a slice of pizza since you started working at Michelangelo's, and I've been craving something with mushrooms and pasta sauce all week."
"So why don't you just eat mushrooms with pasta sauce?" Jeremy pointed out.
Miranda grimaced. "Eww! That would be so gross!"
He shrugged. "Actually I've tried that a few times. Not that bad."
Miranda just looked at him with disgust, not even knowing how to respond to that statement.
"I don't really want to eat right now," Lizzie admitted.
"I'm not even hungry," Scott added.
How about this?" Vanessa spoke up. "I'm not really in the mood for pizza either since I'm usually right there with Gordo, being the loving girlfriend that I am and all, so we'll go get something else and meet back up with you guys in, say, a half hour?"
"As long as I don't have to eat anything Italian!" Gordo readily agreed.
"I was thinking more like Thalia's Tacos," Vanessa said, pointing to the tiny shack-like restaurant a little farther down the pier.
"I don't want to eat alone!" Miranda cried.
"No worries, babe, you still got me," Jeremy said with a grin, leaning an elbow on Miranda's shoulder.
Miranda eyed him for a moment. "I don't want to eat alone!" she repeated, earning a few laughs from her friend.
"Come on, don't be such a tight-ass all the time." He began to pull her into the pizzeria. "We'll catch y'all later."
"A few ground rules," Miranda said, reluctantly following him in. "No burping, no spitting, no chugging, no food fights, no disgusting conversation about girls and/or dead animals, and no, *absolutely no*, saying...y'all. Ever again."
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!"
"And no touching me! Of any kind!"
"That one might be a little tricky..."
The others laughed as Miranda and Jeremy disappeared inside the pizzeria.
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" Lizzie asked. "The two of them, alone for thirty minutes? They'll kill each other."
"It'll be worth it just to get a break from their bickering," Gordo said. He and Vanessa set off for their tacos with a wave back at Lizzie and Scott.
And there they were. Alone again. Lizzie would have burst out laughing if she didn't think Scott was going to look at her like a total freak. But when she glanced at him, he was smirking a bit himself.
"What?" Lizzie asked curiously.
He shook his head. "Nothing. Just... Is it just me or have they all been acting even weirder than usual lately?"
Lizzie laughed. So he had noticed that ever since the club incident, which had been almost two full weeks ago, Vanessa and Miranda had been trying to play matchmaker. And to be honest, Lizzie was complaining less and less. At least on the inside. Briefly she wondered if he had been getting flack, too, from Gordo and Jeremy. "Oh, don't worry, it's definitely not just you. It's finally official, our friends are freaks!""
"And, like, does this whole thing feel like..." He could barely look at her, and Lizzie knew exactly what he was trying to say.
"A set up?" she asked softly, her own eyes focusing at the beach rather than Scott.
"Well... Yeah."
They both turned towards each other simultaneously and their eyes met. She realized she was still wearing his glasses, and pushed them up self-consciously.
"Yeah," Lizzie nodded. "Which is so ridiculous," she quickly added, thinking he was disgusted with the thought. But did Scott actually wince at that comment?
"I know. 'Cause you like Ethan."
"And you like... Well, you don't like me," Lizzie laughed. Right? "So obviously they're just wasting their time. Hopefully they'll get over it soon."
There was a very long, very uncomfortable, very nerve wrecking pause between them. Was it something she had said? Or hadn't said? Or said wrong?
She finally broke the silence. "So... What do you wanna do?" He shrugged in response. Lizzie was about to give up and just suggest tagging along with Miranda and Jeremy, or Gordo and Vanessa, when she spotted something that made her eyes light up. "Oh my gosh! I have the best idea! Come on!" She grabbed a hold of his arm and began pulling him along down the boardwalk.
–*–
"Are you still on this thing? The Lizzie–Scott deal?"
Vanessa looked at Gordo in surprise as they sat down at one of the restaurant's outdoor tables with their food. "Yeah... I thought you said he liked her."
Gordo shrugged. "I don't know. I thought he did, but..."
"But what? I think she likes him, too! Miranda and I noticed the way she's stopped denying it as much," Vanessa said with excitement. "I told you to leave it to me. We'll have them together by the time you guys leave for Malibu, watch."
"I don't know," he said with a frown. "I don't think it's such a good idea anymore. I mean, it's really none of our business. I was just joking around with him, but I don't want to force them to be together."
"Trust me, neither Scott nor Lizzie would do anything unless they *really* wanted to. If Lizzie hadn't wanted to stay out there with Scott alone, she would have gone with one of us. And if they've even noticed, and are really mad, they would say something." Vanessa picked up her taco and bit into it. "Ooh, this veggie taco is so good. What do you think?"
"I don't think Lizzie and Scott would be good together."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I was actually talking about the food, but we can talk about Lizzie and Scott some more. I guess." She stared at him for a moment. "Why not?"
Gordo was fiddling with the hot sauce packets on the table. "They're just different."
"Ever heard of opposites attracting?"
"They're *too* different. He's never even had a girlfriend, I don't think."
"And, what, Lizzie's like the town slut?"
Gordo's head snapped up. "No! Not even! You know that's not what I meant."
Vanessa laughed. "Okay, okay, calm down. I get it. I just don't see where you're going with this. You say they're so different, but maybe they're more alike than you think. Both of them are pretty innocent when it comes to the whole relationship thing, and I think that's great. That's better than him being a major player who could break her heart. It shows that they both are serious about who they decide to date and don't take it lightly."
"Whatever. He'll never make a move."
"I think she would."
"You do?" Gordo asked. The skepticism was clearly written all over his face.
"Yeah, I really do. She's hardly as shy as she used to be, even from a few months ago. I can totally see her taking charge of the situation. It may take her a while, but she's got guts."
"But still... Their personalities totally clash," Gordo insisted. "They wouldn't get along as a couple. They barely even talk as friends! He's too quiet and grumpy for her–"
"Lots of girls dig the whole 'brooding-mystery-man' act," Vanessa interjected.
"And she's way too happy and bubbly for him–"
"Maybe that's just what he needs."
"It wouldn't work. He's not right for her."
"Then who is?" Vanessa asked. "Ethan?"
The word 'you?' was on the tip of her tongue, but she forced herself to restrain from blurting it out. If Vanessa didn't know any better, and if she wasn't his girlfriend, she'd think Gordo was acting slightly jealous. Okay, wait, make that insanely jealous.
Gordo scoffed. "Yeah, right. Hardly. I know the types of guys she should be with. And right now, I really think she's better off being single."
"Yeah, 'cause you're such the expert on romance and dating, right?" Vanessa dead-panned. If you were, you wouldn't be talking about some girl as if you like her right in front of your girlfriend, she thought to herself.
"I am her best friend."
"Exactly." And it'd better be *just* her best friend, Vanessa's mind screamed.
"Right..." Gordo was looking extremely confused by this point. Almost as confused as Vanessa felt. He must have noticed that her defenses were up. "Are you okay?"
She sighed. "Yeah. Peachy." She picked up her taco again. "So can we stop arguing about Lizzie and Scott and just eat now?"
Gordo's eyebrows furrowed as he watched her stuff her mouth, almost as if she was trying to keep it busy so she couldn't say anything farther on the topic. "Who's arguing?" he muttered, biting into his own food. But he was barely hungry anymore.
–*–
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this!"
Lizzie grinned at Scott as the two roller bladed down the boardwalk, weaving carefully among the crowd. "It's not *that* bad. Is it?"
"I'll survive, don't worry," Scott said with a smile. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a large overzealous dog came bounding over to him, barking playfully and running in circles around his legs. "Woah!" he yelled out as he stumbled and tripped over his own feet, trying to get away.
"Watch out!" Lizzie cried, grabbing onto his arm and trying to steady him as he crashed into a bench. But it was too late and he pulled her down with him to the ground.
"Ow!" they yelped simultaneously, then promptly burst out laughing, rolling around on the wooden planks.
"I am so sorry! He just got away from me, I couldn't help it. Are you kids okay?" A young flame haired woman was peering down at them, concern evident in her large brown eyes.
"Y-y-yeah, we're fine," Lizzie choked out.
"Oh my God, Fluffy, no! Leave the cotton candy man alone!" she shrieked, taking off.
Lizzie and Scott were on their way to picking themselves up, but collapsed with even more laughter at that.
"That monster's name was Fluffy?" Scott howled.
"Aww, it was cute."
"Yeah, try saying that after it almost killed you."
Lizzie rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Ooh, yeah, he was licking your hand. How ever did you survive?" she teased.
"Ugh, he slobbered on me," Scott complained, holding up his fingers. Lizzie crinkled her nose and tried to roll far away from him, but he was quick and lunged toward her. "So you think this was nothing, huh? Huh?"
"If you go near my hair, I'm breaking those off!" Lizzie warned, holding on to his wrists to keep his arms at bay. "Why am I being abused so much today?"
"You're just too irresistible." The words were out of his mouth before he even realized.
Lizzie just nodded gravely. "Yes, that is very true. Being beautiful is such a curse." She sighed dramatically.
"Good to know you haven't let it go to your head." He smiled down at her for a moment before gripping the edge of the bench, taking her hand, and pulling her up with him. "You alright?"
"Minor funny elbow syndrom aside, I'm good to go. I have to say, though, that's a first for me."
Scott raised an eyebrow. "Um... You do realize who you are, right?"
"Haha, very funny. I just meant that's the first time *I* haven't fallen down."
"It was the dog's fault," Scott objected.
"Sure. Keep telling yourself that, buddy."
"So how much longer are you planning on subjecting me to this torture?" Scott asked, wiping his hands on his shorts.
"It's only been fifteen minutes. The rental's for a whole hour. We still have a lot of blading to do!" Lizzie told him with a grin.
He smirked. "Great. So what's the attraction to the roller blades again?"
"First love nostalgia," Lizzie quipped. She laughed at his confused expression. "I don't know, it's just fun and I haven't done it in a while. Come on, let's race!"
She was off before he even had time to react. "Cheater!" he screamed, rushing to catch up with her.
"You snooze you lose!" she threw over her shoulder.
–*–