Ramble, ramble. Did you know I'll hit 20,00 words with this chapter? 'course the notes are kinda long...
I know in the party chapter I kinda skipped ahead a little fast, sorry. When I decided which episodes to write chapters around, I basically copied down what happened, then tried to add a little more of what they were thinking...
I stretched out the Christmas part a little much.
There are more "flashbacks" coming starting here, but I'm trying to only include what's necessary. Sorry.
I finally signed up for "support services" Couldn't before, it wouldn't clear a lousy $10 grrrr. Oh well...
"Rox" LOL... That's why I tried to make it clear. They weren't thinking THAT.
A little plug here... Go check Lizzie stories from Keeponwritin and hiddenwriter Two VERY gifted authors...
Disclaimer - Just a fan, have no connections with the show or etc.
All songs used are property of respective artists, labels, writers, agents, etc and ASCAP/BMI.
On to Chapter 12.
Chapter 12
Sunday it started to get HOT. If the public pool had been open, Lizzie, Gordo, and a bunch of others would have gone, but it wasn't open yet...
Gordo waited Sunday for a call from Lizzie, but it didn't come. If they had gone to the pool, he knew how much attention she'd attract. She always had boys turn their heads when she walked by.
He kept listening to songs he had found... He HAD to find a way to get Lizzie to hear some of these. They said what he felt so much better than he ever could.
I hear a voice in my mind
I know her face by heart
heaven and earth are moving in my soul
I don't know where to start
tell me, tell me, the words to define
the way I feel about someone so fine
how do you talk to an angel
how do you hold her close to where you are
how do you talk to an angel
it's like trying to catch a falling star
He simply could not tell Lizzie. Wait, yearbooks were coming out this week, maybe he could write something... But what? He turned off the music to think...
Lizzie didn't know what to do. She was still shook up over the party. She convinced herself that since Gordo didn't say he liked her, then it must not be that serious. Still, she started to rethink things when she heard the following from her mother's radio...
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
Take a chance on me
We can go dancing, we can go walking, as long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking, get to know you better
'Cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go
NO, NO, NO! It wasn't meant to be... She refused to listen to any more music, it got her mind all mixed up. She kept herself busy that day, and didn't give Gordo another thought.
Monday started the final week of school. Lizzie was very, very excited to be almost out of Jr. High. She came bounding downstairs singing a simple little song:
I'm going to High school! I'm going to High school!"
She bumped into Matt who had for some reason slept in the kitchen. As soon as Matt was gone, she started up with her song again...
"Not yet!" Her father cut her off.
She looked at him, puzzled. He continued. "First you have to graduate Junior High."
"Duh, Dad, of course," she thought, but didn't dare say... Her mother looked like she was about to cry. She started to bawl.
"First it's high school, then college, then you get married, have kids, and we never see you again. Whaaaaaa!" Jo knew she would do fine next year, but things were changing so fast. Lizzie told her parents to relax, and got ready to leave for school.
Lizzie walked in to school with Gordo, and again began singing her little ditty.
He held his hands over his ears, and begged, "Please! Another song!" While he loved to listen to Lizzie, a five word song got old rather quickly...
She stopped as they approached their lockers. There were flyers posted by high school students all over the place. The flyers were composed of threats, about what happened to lowly fresh meat, err, freshmen.
Kate Sanders walked by, tearing her paper in half. " I hang out with the captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. These rules only apply to people like Gor-dork and Loo-zie."
She was stopped by the principal speaking over the intercom. "Attention, yearbooks will be available tomorrow. Please bring your school ID to receive them."
Kate turned back to Lizzie and Gordo. "Too bad Miranda's not here, you could have each had TWO signatures in your yearbooks."
Lizzie reminded Kate that she had left early to vacation with her family in Mexico. Gordo remained silent. When Kate was gone, Lizzie turned to Gordo, with a sad look on her face.
"Kate's right, Gordo. I am a loser." She sighed loudly.
Gordo couldn't take it when Lizzie beat herself up. "No, you are NOT! Don't listen to what Kate says, you are so much better than that! Don't worry, high school is going to be great!"
Before they knew it, the day was over. Lizzie went home, and went straight to bed. Her parents were worried about her, she never went to bed after school.
Her father came to talk to her. She showed him "the rules" the high school students had posted, and he laughed. He told her not to worry, she'd be just fine. Then he began to name all the things she had accomplished in the last two years.
"Dad! I didn't really do good at any of those!" If he was trying to make her feel good, he'd have to do better than that.
"That's okay, honey. Maybe not, but you tried. That's what's important." He left her alone to her thoughts...
The following day, they received their yearbooks. Gordo and Lizzie sat off to the side, in a stairwell, poring over them. Some good things had been captured, and some not-so-good things were also featured.
When they got to pics of the big food fight, Larry Tudgeman appeared behind them. "Yeah that pudding sure was good."
Larry was a weird guy. A nice guy, but definitely traveling to the beat of a different drum. "Sign my yearbook?" He held out the book to Lizzie.
"Sure!" She took the book, and thought for a minute... She spoke the words as she wrote... "You ate worms, and beat me out for class president. You surprised me and ended up being a great date. You are so Tudgeman, and I am so glad."
She handed his book back, and watched him walk off... "There goes the only boy who ever truly liked me in Jr. High. Now I get to go get rejected by a whole new group of guys."
"Say something, Gordo!" Both of them thought at the same time. "Uh, what about that Ronny guy?", Gordo said before he realized the impact of his words. "Smooth, real smooth. Stupid stupid!" Gordo told himself.
"Thanks for bringing up Ronny, Gordo!" She got up in a huff, and began to sign another student's yearbook...
Gordo thought back to when Lizzie and Ronny had been going out, the pain he had felt, and when she told him of their breakup. He'd simply said Ronny was a jerk for breaking up with her, and he'd told her no one else was prettier or more fun to be with. He'd almost told her of his feelings then, but stopped short. Something had told him it wouldn't be right. He started to bang his head against the railing, and yet another song came to mind.
Here I stand head in hand
Turn my face to the wall
If she's gone I can't go on
Feelin' two-foot small
Everywhere people stare
each and every day
I can see them laugh at me
And I hear them say
Hey! you've got to hide your love away
He looked up, Lizzie was looking at him strangely. "Gordo, are you okay?"
He tried to cover what he was thinking... "Uh, yeah, just a little headache. Can I sign your yearbook?"
Lizzie smiled. "OK! It better be good though!"
"Oh, it will!", he assured her. But he had no idea what to say.
The next day, he still had her book. It was now Wednesday. Time was running out. He had scribbled notes at home, wanting to practice first. All attempts had been silly, or corny, or rejected for other reasons... He paced back and forth, and almost bumped into Tudgeman.
"Let me guess, lady troubles?" Gordo didn't say anything, so Larry pushed a little more. "It's Lizzie, isn't it? She's some dame. Take my advice, stay away, she's a heartbreaker..."
"Thanks, Tudgeman, but I don't need your pity." Even Larry could sense how Gordo felt. How could he make Lizzie understand?
Larry walked away, saying he'd be there, if needed. Gordo thought back to how he felt when accidentally saw Ronny kiss Lizzie. How he had reacted, and Miranda didn't believe him then, when he said he wasn't jealous. He was. He had to make this good. He started to write.
"Dear Lizzie,"
Lizzie appeared from nowhere, and was still upset about high school, and getting picked on. He again told her not to worry about it. Ethan popped up to get his yearbook signed, and Gordo blanched. Surely, she was going to write something sappy in his book...
Ethan told her to hurry up, he had cheerleaders waiting. Suddenly, Lizzie changed what she was going to do, and wrote a simple, "You rock, don't ever change." Ethan gave her book back, read his, and was surprised to see they each had written the same thing. He told her next year he was going to play team sports, she'd better root for him, then he was off to the cheerleaders.
Lizzie again wondered if she'd be anything in high school. Gordo said it didn't matter if she was whatever in high school, she'd be ok. She said that Ethan was going to be a jock, and Kate a cheerleader, and she didn't matter.
Gordo told her for all her faults, at least Kate had been paid back several times for her attitude. Lizzie thought of a few. Kate falling into a cake, a lake, slipping on banana peels, and getting covered with chili, and getting an entire bowl of punch poured over her head. Lizzie started to laugh...
"I like it when you laugh, " said Gordo, and he meant it. Lizzie blushed, and he took back her yearbook once again.
That afternoon, Lizzie was sitting home, contemplating things, when Gordo came by. They thought of all the fun they'd had, and all the fun ahead. Again, he reassured her, that she was a good person, even to her enemies, and she was a good friend.
"Don't worry, I got your back McGuire." And they both knew it was the truth.
Gordo had finally decided what to write. He had been inspired by the late, great, Ricky Nelson, and the wisdom of Billy Joel...
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
And so I come to you, my love, my heart above my head.
Though I see the danger there
If there's a chance for me, then I don't care
Fools rush in where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love, so how are they to know?
If he was a fool, then so be it. But like the song said, if he had even the slightest chance, then he HAD to go for it...
You're a big boy now
You'll never let her go
But that's just the kind of thing
She ought to know
Tell her about it
Tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept
That you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her
Let her know how much she means
When you love someone
You're always insecure
And there's only one good way
To reassure
Why was it so crazy? He picked up his pen, and started to write.
Thursday, he didn't see Lizzie until lunch, and Lizzie joked that he'd had her book for a month... 3 days, a month, it was still too long. He told her he was almost done.
Someone asked Gordo to sign their book, and he left his and her books on the table, cautioning her not to look at it, it wasn't ready. Of course, this only perked her curiousity more...
She sat down, and decided a peek wouldn't hurt...
Dear Lizzie,
You rock, don't ever change. And only, I really mean it.
"Aww, that's sweet," she thought. "Wait, why? That's what everyone seems to be writing." It was sweet, because he really meant it, nobody else seemed to. She continued to read...
We've been best friends for as long as I can remember, we've shared everything together, and so I finally think I should share this with you.
I really, really like you, a lot, and I think you're beautiful, both inside and out. I can honestly say I wouldn't be the person I am, without your friendship.
There is nothing to be afraid of if we have each other, I will always be by your side.
Your friend always, and hopefully more, if you want,
Gordo
Lizzie was stunned. He did like her. He couldn't say it aloud, but he'd poured out his soul on this paper... She thought back on all the times he'd been there for her, through the good, the bad, and the crazy. She realized no matter what the problem, he was always there to help, and never asked for anything in return. What could she do now?
She was jolted out of her thoughts by the principal saying it was time for the class picture. She put down the book, and joined the group, standing next to Gordo. Suddenly, she was worried. She turned to Gordo, and asked, "Promise me that we will always stay close to each other even in high school!"
He said just what she wanted to hear. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."
"That's so sweet!" she thought again. "I've got to do something to let him know it's okay that he likes me, and I think I like him back. I wish they'd hurry up with the photo!"
An idea popped in her head, and she tried to dismiss it. No, it was crazy. No, it was just right.. She took a deep breath, and kept stealing glances at Gordo...
When the photographer said, "Three!", and snapped the picture, she planted a kiss on the cheek of a very surprised, and very glad Mr. Gordon.
A/N Whew! That was harder than I thought. Lots of lyrics here... Next chapter to be up early Friday morning. As always, review if you like, or email me at JP5683@msn.com or JP5683@webtv.net
Messages will be replied to, and anyone whose reviews include an email address will receive a reply as well.
Songs in this chapter:
The Heights - How Do You Talk To An Angel
Abba/Erasure/A*Teens - Take A Chance On Me
Beatles - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Ricky Nelson - Fools Rush In
Billy Joel - Tell Her About It
Thanks!
JP
March 19, 2003