Chapter 43: Seize the Moment
Gordo POV
"What I mean to say is that..." Lizzie took a deep breath. "Why were you kissing Isabella today at the train station?"
My eyes widened. Lizzie had seen that? She was there? Oh, man. How could I explain this?
I sighed heavily.
This was it.
The moment I had been dreading since forever.
The moment when I had to tell Lizzie I liked her.
"That kiss... it wasn't meant for her." I admitted.
Not meant for her? NOT MEANT FOR HER? Could I possibly think of a lamer excuse?
"Then who was it meant for?"
"You." I said, as quietly as I could.
Lizzie's jaw dropped. Man, were people doing that a lot today. "No way."
"I'm sorry. I saw Isabella and I thought you were her and I had to seize the opportunity... and then I found out that it wasn't even you..."
"No, I mean, 'no way' as in... why did you want to kiss *me*?"
"Because I..." I was stuck. What do I say to that? "I always wanted to."
Lizzie blinked, as if she were still trying to take in the information.
And slowly, we both started to lean in.
I couldn't believe what was happening. Me, Lizzie... it was just so hard to think about. But I gladly kissed her, and she kissed back. I could feel the fireworks.
It was amazing.
***
Lizzie POV
I could not believe it. I was kissing Gordo. Gordo, the guy I had known forever. The guy who knew every single thing that had ever happened to me. The guy who knew my secrets, my fears, and my dreams. My best friend. I was kissing my best friend.
Or maybe he was more.
It was confusing. Did I like Gordo for a long time? Or did I just begin to like him a couple days ago. And what about my crush on Ethan?
Well, none of it mattered. All that mattered was that I was where I belonged, kissing Gordo. I couldn't believe it had taken me 14 years to figure that out.
I mean, Gordo had never cared what I looked like. He had always said that I was beautiful no matter what. I had never taken it seriously... but I should have, because then maybe this would've happened sooner.
"Lizzie!" I heard Paolo's voice interrupt the moment.
I pulled away from Gordo.
"We're on in one minute!" He exclaimed.
I pranced away, feeling like a new person. "Thanks." I mouthed to Gordo.
He smiled warmly.
I was about an inch away from the curtain when I realized what had just happened.
"Oh, my GOSH!"
"Save that for later." Paolo whispered. "This is the one and only song you'll be doing. Make it a great one." He smiled.
"I don't think I can do it."
Then I glanced at Gordo, who was still smiling, and winked.
Suddenly I regained all my confidence.
Animated Lizzie: Okay, now I think I can.
We both stepped onto the stage, I was in the spotlight, and I was instantly hit by a bad case of stage fright.
I stared out into the audience. I saw Mom, Dad, Matt, Ethan, Kate, Danny, Brooke, Veruca, Mrs. Gable, Sergei... and everyone else I knew. Even the tour guide was there. Looking at them, and seeing their eager expressions, I felt confident.
Recharged.
I took a deep breath and started to sing.
Gordo POV
"What I mean to say is that..." Lizzie took a deep breath. "Why were you kissing Isabella today at the train station?"
My eyes widened. Lizzie had seen that? She was there? Oh, man. How could I explain this?
I sighed heavily.
This was it.
The moment I had been dreading since forever.
The moment when I had to tell Lizzie I liked her.
"That kiss... it wasn't meant for her." I admitted.
Not meant for her? NOT MEANT FOR HER? Could I possibly think of a lamer excuse?
"Then who was it meant for?"
"You." I said, as quietly as I could.
Lizzie's jaw dropped. Man, were people doing that a lot today. "No way."
"I'm sorry. I saw Isabella and I thought you were her and I had to seize the opportunity... and then I found out that it wasn't even you..."
"No, I mean, 'no way' as in... why did you want to kiss *me*?"
"Because I..." I was stuck. What do I say to that? "I always wanted to."
Lizzie blinked, as if she were still trying to take in the information.
And slowly, we both started to lean in.
I couldn't believe what was happening. Me, Lizzie... it was just so hard to think about. But I gladly kissed her, and she kissed back. I could feel the fireworks.
It was amazing.
***
Lizzie POV
I could not believe it. I was kissing Gordo. Gordo, the guy I had known forever. The guy who knew every single thing that had ever happened to me. The guy who knew my secrets, my fears, and my dreams. My best friend. I was kissing my best friend.
Or maybe he was more.
It was confusing. Did I like Gordo for a long time? Or did I just begin to like him a couple days ago. And what about my crush on Ethan?
Well, none of it mattered. All that mattered was that I was where I belonged, kissing Gordo. I couldn't believe it had taken me 14 years to figure that out.
I mean, Gordo had never cared what I looked like. He had always said that I was beautiful no matter what. I had never taken it seriously... but I should have, because then maybe this would've happened sooner.
"Lizzie!" I heard Paolo's voice interrupt the moment.
I pulled away from Gordo.
"We're on in one minute!" He exclaimed.
I pranced away, feeling like a new person. "Thanks." I mouthed to Gordo.
He smiled warmly.
I was about an inch away from the curtain when I realized what had just happened.
"Oh, my GOSH!"
"Save that for later." Paolo whispered. "This is the one and only song you'll be doing. Make it a great one." He smiled.
"I don't think I can do it."
Then I glanced at Gordo, who was still smiling, and winked.
Suddenly I regained all my confidence.
Animated Lizzie: Okay, now I think I can.
We both stepped onto the stage, I was in the spotlight, and I was instantly hit by a bad case of stage fright.
I stared out into the audience. I saw Mom, Dad, Matt, Ethan, Kate, Danny, Brooke, Veruca, Mrs. Gable, Sergei... and everyone else I knew. Even the tour guide was there. Looking at them, and seeing their eager expressions, I felt confident.
Recharged.
I took a deep breath and started to sing.