I did not like covering them as much as you might think, but not everyone has seen every episode, there are those who only watch on ABC, or are not in the United States, or new viewers, and there will be more people discovering the show after the movie's release.
And I tried to add a little, give a little different spin on things, show it from a different character's perspective. From now on, there will be references to past events, but it's almost all fiction from here on...
Part of Miranda's "problem" is revealed here, finally, but there will be an entire chapter devoted to it later. There is MUCH more to it.
I have no problem with negative comments, but one person was reviewing the "after party" chapter, and they said it wasn't original, they had seen it before. I don't THINK so.
I know I won't please everyone, but I hope this chapter is better. I'm now registered with "Support Services" (finally), so I can see how many hits I get, and it you want you can get alerts when I update.
As for Gordo's yearbook inscription, that was the aired version plus the script version. In the episode, you can tell Lizzie's still reading, but it's up in the air as to what the rest says.
Disclaimer - I own nothing. Do not work for Disney or Ren-Mar studios.
On to Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Nobody actually saw the kiss, not even the photographer, but Kate saw Lizzie straighten up, and Gordo's goofy smile. She quickly whispered something to Ethan, who blurted out, "Yo Gor-DON! Congratulations! You da man!"
Ethan always seemed to speak without thinking. Kate pulled him off to the side, and several other students began to disperse. The photographer would not be able to retake the picture. Kate couldn't help smiling at Lizzie and Gordo. She tried to snarl at them, but it was impossible. She walked off with Ethan.
Lizzie felt faint, what a rush! She couldn't believe what she had just done! She had kissed her best friend, and let the whole school in on it! Was that good, or bad? She wanted to laugh, and at the same time, to cry. The latter seemed to be winning...
Gordo was shocked. It could just be a friendly gesture, but he hoped it was more. He looked over at Lizzie, and saw she was on the verge of tears. He summoned his voice. "Thank you, Lizzie."
That was all he could say? Lizzie looked at him, then the ground, then him again, managed a weak, "You're welcome", and hurried off. He watched her disappear, then went over to the lunch area. Lizzie's yearbook was in a different place than he'd left it. Oh no, NOW what had he gotten himself into?
Lizzie and Gordo didn't see each other until last period. Lizzie arrived first, and sat near the front, where there were two available seats. A minute later, the empty seat was taken, not by Gordo, but by Gustav, the boy she remembered from the food fight incident. Gordo was nowhere to be seen.
Mr Dig entered the room a moment later. "Since this is the next to last day of school, and you have no real homework, I'm going to assign you something for this hour."
Groans came from all over the room. Nobody wanted a real assignment. "Quiet, class. I want you to---"
He was cut off by the classroom door flying open, and Gordo rushing in. He took the only available seat, in the back. "Well, Mr. Gordon, nice to see you could make it."
Lizzie couldn't help herself, she spun around to see Gordo, and then immediately turned back to the front of the class. Both parties turned red. The whispers she'd heard before, but ignored, grew louder, and she heard both hers and Gordo's names.
"I said, QUIET class! Your assignment is this. Write at least 3 sentences about what you are going to do for the summer, and at least 3 sentences about what you WISH you were going to do for the summer. Please put your names on them, and turn them over when you are finished, or at the end of class. Begin." More groans, but everyone started to write.
Lizzie put only her name on the paper, then couldn't decide what else to write. She stared at the paper, willing the words to appear.
After 15 minutes or so, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Gustav handed her a note. Carefully, she opened it in her lap, after checking to make sure Mr. Dig wasn't watching.
Lizzie, why can I say whatever on paper, but not out loud? I don't know. Anyways, I know you read what I wrote in your yearbook, and I have a feeling that contributed to what caused you to kiss me.
She turned red, and checked to see if Mr. Dig was paying her any attention. He was filling out forms, so she continued to read.
I have so much I want to tell you, but I need to do a few things first. Will you please meet me at my house one hour after school? Please nod your head for yes, shake for no. Gordo.
Slowly she nodded. She folded up the note, pocketed it, and tried to concentrate on her assignment. She didn't know how much time had passed, before long, the bell had rung, and she was the only one left in class.
Mr. Dig approached her... "Ms. McGuire?"
"Aaaaahhhh! Oh, sorry, Mr. Dig, Hey where is everyone else?"
"On their way home. Class was over 5 minutes ago. I see you didn't do the assignment."
Before she could apologize, he spoke again. "That's okay, it wasn't for any grade. It was just to keep you busy. I know you have other matters on your mind."
How did he know? "Yes, Lizzie I heard what happened at lunch, and it's okay, really. Care to see Mr. Gordon's paper?" He walked with her to the desk Gordo had been using, and flipped his paper. Drawn on the paper was a large heart, with lots of "Lizzie's" written inside...
She blushed, and Mr. Dig laughed. "Ah, young love. How sweet it is. Go get him, and good luck!"
Lizzie gave him a big hug. "Mr. Dig, you're wonderful. I'm really going to miss you next year." She almost started to cry on his shoulder, but he stopped her...
"Stop that, missing a teacher is not allowed. Now, get! See you tomorrow."
He watched her leave, and shook his head. So many things had changed since he was 14, but so many things remained the same...
She gathered up her books, emptied her locker, and headed home on the late bus. Her mother was straightening up the living room when she walked in. "Hi, honey, what's up?"
She couldn't hold it in. She started to speed ramble. "I kissed Gordo when they took the class picture, I think he wanted to kiss me the other day after the party, but then Dad messed up the moment, and then what he wrote in the yearbook was so sweet, it just hit me how much he must like me, and I started to think maybe I like him too, and I have to meet him in, EEK! 30 minutes! Tell you more later Mom, gotta get ready, bye!"
Jo watched her daughter climb the stairs two at a time. She hadn't seen her so enthusiastic since, well Ronny, but that didn't last long. Even when she had dated Frankie she wasn't this frantic. She smiled. She liked Gordo, knew she could trust him, and hoped he was okay with the fact that Lizzie had been the one to possibly push their friendship to a new level. She knew things were going to get very interesting from that moment on.
Gordo took the first bus, and made it home 10 minutes after school... To his surprise, his mother was in the kitchen, sipping tea, and reading the newspaper. She looked like a normal mother for a change. He made small talk for a minute, then she asked him what was on his mind. She never asked him that, and like Lizzie, he told his mother the whole story.
When he finished, his mother told him she had expected this for years, and knew that he was intelligent enough to handle it himself, she had nothing magic to tell him. Anytime he needed her, or his father, they would be there, no matter what transpired. For the first time in years, Gordo hugged his mother. Finally she was talking to him like a son, not as someone to practice her profession on. He left the room, feeling ten feet tall.
He had to talk to Miranda. Every day this week, she'd been waiting, and every day he had nothing new to share. She was online, but under her usual handle instead of the alternate. Gordo switched to his regular name as well.
A/N As I stated in a previous chapter, chat names are made up.
DGord: Hey, what's up?
MSanc: You're supposed to tell me.
DGord: Well, something finally happened. I wrote my feelings in Lizzie's yearbook, and told her not to read it yet, but she did, and then when they called for the class picture, she kissed me on the count of three.
MSanc: You sure it wasn't the other way around?
DGord: No, she kissed me. I didn't ask her to, or anything. I hope it meant something.
MSanc: You don't know? Didn't you ask her?
DGord: Well, I couldn't. She's going to be here soon, and I'll talk to her then. How are you?
MSanc: Ok, but still feel cooped up. Why won't they let me go out and shop or something? It's not like I killed someone or something! I'll be fine!
DGord: Well, not all 14 year olds get ahold of fake id's, get drunk, or all the rest you know.
Miranda couldn't believe he had just said all that. Since she had started to trust him with each of her "secrets", after telling him just once, they never referred to specific events again. She didn't want to think of what happened, just wanted Gordo to help her get past it...
MSanc: Shut up! It wasn't all my fault! I told you not to remind me about it!
DGord: Miranda, how can you expect me to help if we can't discuss the specifics? Please, can I tell Lizzie?
MSanc: Why
DGord: Because it's time she knew. She should have known from the beginning. Please?
Gordo waited for a reply, it took a couple of minutes.
MSanc: Ok, but, tomorrow, ok? Tell her about your stuff today, and me tomorrow? Let me try to contact her first.
DGord: Thanks, Miranda. I gotta go. Gotta get some stuff ready before she gets here. Don't worry, everything will be just fine. Anytime you need me, I'll be here, and I know when you tell Lizzie, she'll say the same.
MSanc: Bye
DGord: Bye
And Gordo was gone. Why had she kept it all from Lizzie so long? Because she felt since she didn't know in the beginning, she just couldn't fill her in after the fact. She knew now that had been the wrong attitude to take, but could she fix it? She started to compose an email to Lizzie, then noticed she had just signed on. What should she tell her?
As soon as Lizzie came into her room, she'd changed clothes, then flipped on her computer. She had to talk to Miranda. She was surprised to find her online.
LizzBlizz: Hey girl! What's up?
MSanc: I should ask you that. So, what's it like to kiss your best friend? :-)
LizzBlizz: Wait, how did you know? I didn't say a thing!
MSanc: Gordo was just on like a minute ago. He told me everything. It's okay
LizzBlizz: You don't think it's weird?
MSanc: Lizzie, it was just a kiss. And even if it becomes more, no, it's not weird. I think it's been a long time coming.
LizzBlizz: Meaning?
Msanc: Meaning you two were made for each other. And I'm glad to have you both as friends. I'm sorry I haven't been as good of a friend to you as you to me, but I promise to make things better in the future.
LizzBlizz: What do you mean?
MSanc: It's too complicated to tell you now. I understand you have to meet Gordo this afternoon, you don't have time for me to talk to you now. Gordo can tell you later, but he's got enough on his mind for now.
LizzBlizz: yeah, I gotta be at his house in 15 minutes. Can't you tell me a little?
MSanc: All I can say is I'm sorry, and in the future, I'll tell you when something happens, and I will tell you everytime that I need you. Now, hurry up, don't keep loverboy waiting!
Miranda signed off before Lizzie could respond. "That was weird", she thought. She had a feeling that she'd find out more about her two best friends in the next day or two than she'd ever thought possible, and she was right.
Gordo was practicing what he was to say to Lizzie. Sure, he could say it now, to a mirror, but not Lizzie. He jotted down several notes, and if worse came to worse, a complete note to hand to Lizzie.
Wait, what about the music? He hadn't even thought of it all day. He started to construct a new CD. If he couldn't tell Lizzie, maybe he could play a song or two for her... Did he have time to finish? He checked his watch. It was exactly one hour since school let out. She was never late. He hoped she hadn't changed her mind about coming over. He wrote some more notes as he waited for the CD to finish, hoping he'd hear a knock any second...
Lizzie came downstairs to find her mother just relaxing. She couldn't tell if she was waiting for her or not. She tried to sneak past her...
"Lizzie, come here please." Oooh, she was busted. Reluctantly, she walked over to her mother.
"Honey, I know you're in a hurry, this will only take a second. I knew this day would come sooner or later, and I'm here for you, for whatever you need, or if you just need someone to listen. It will all work out just fine." She reached out for a hug.
Lizzie gave her Mom the hug she requested. She hadn't expected that reaction. She left the house, and arrived a few minutes early at Gordo's. She didn't want to appear too eager, so she hung out in the park across from Gordo's house. She sat on the same swing she had spent so much time on as a child. So many times she had come here with Gordo. Not much with Miranda.
She recalled many times just swinging away with Gordo, carefree. That was back when life was much simpler. She got into her thoughts and forgot to check her watch.
"Oh, no! I'm ten minutes late!" She jumped from the swing, and slowed her breathing, collected her thoughts and bearings and crossed the street. She didn't quite know what to expect, but hoped she wouldn't look so nervous in front of Gordo.
Gordo kept checking his watch. No Lizzie. He gathered his notes, and the CD, and left his room. He looked out the peephole of his front door. No Lizzie. He went to his parents room, and peeked out the curtain, where he could get a better look outside. No Lizzie. He was seriously considering that maybe she had stood him up, when he saw her walking up his driveway. She was breathing hard, but working to control it. She shook herself all over, then took a deep breath, and knocked. He ran to the door, out of breath, and yanked it open.
"Lizzie! I was beginning to think you weren't coming! Please step inside."
He held the door open, and motioned for her to come into the house...
A/N Dun-dun-dun-dun. What will happen? Check back soon to see. Next chapter should be up Monday night or Tuesday morning. As always, your input is not required, but is greatly appreciated. Review if you like, or email JP5683@msn.com or JP5683@webtv.net. If you include an email on a review, I will probably contact you.
Thanks!
JP
March 22, 2003