Disclaimer- This is the 23rd 'part' to this story, and I still don't have anything to do with Lizzie McGuire, Disney or Ren-Mar Studios..
On to Chapter 20.
Chapter 20
"He's waking up!"
"Well, then BACK OFF! You think he wants to see your face right now?"
"I guess not, I mean he didn't like it when I tried to wake him. The last time, he said to give him three minutes, well, it's been almost ten."
Gordo heard the voices as if in a dream. Kate and Larry, arguing. What was real and what was a dream? He tried to go back to Lizzie, but the voices wouldn't go away, and they were pulling him farther and farther away from his 'shangri-la'. He slowly opened his eyes, raised his head, and looked around. Gone. It was all gone. He was back at school, and he hadn't told Lizzie a thing. Or had he? He laid back on the grass. Several of his other classmates were nearby, and Ethan was with Kate and Larry. They were closer to him than the rest of the student body. He addressed the trio. "What happened?"
Ethan spoke up first."Dude! Lizzie kissed you when they took the picture, and then you passed out when you were leaving the lunchtables."
He tried to remember. He'd realized Lizzie had read what he put in her yearbook, then everything after that was a blank. Had he freaked out that much? He must have, but what a scene it must have caused. Why didn't they wake him up? Again, he asked a question for whoever was willing to answer. "How long have I been out? Why didn't you wake me?" Ok, that was two questions.
This time Larry chimed in. "About fifteen minutes I guess." He frowned, then corrected himself. "Actually, closer to twenty. You weren't really asleep, kinda like a sleepwalker, and it's dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker. We did try to wake you up a few minutes ago, but you put up a struggle, and asked for three minutes, then more time after that." He looked apologetically at Gordo. I hate to wake you up, but we're all late for class."
Kate hadn't said a word to Gordo, and he guessed it was now her turn. "You had this big smile on your face, and it sounded like you were singing most of the time, and when you weren't, you were talking about Lizzie."
Lizzie? Where was Lizzie? Was it possible? Could he have dreamed more than twenty four hours of life in less than thirty minutes?
Ethan and Larry both spoke at the same time. "Lizziesoverthere"
Gordo shook his head. It was like they had taken a funnel and poured the alphabet into his ear. He looked at them quizzically, and Kate easily pushed them both away.
"What they are TRYING to say, is Lizzie is over there." She pointed to the school entrance. "That's what you wanted to know, right?"
Of course he did, but he hadn't said it. He nodded to Kate, too surprised at her help to speak. He rolled onto his side, and set one elbow on the grass, and rested his head in his hand as he scanned the area. Lizzie was sitting just off to the side of the doors, her back to the wall, knees up to her chest, head in her hands. He guessed she had been occasionally looking in his direction. At least he hoped as much. She looked up for a second, and was about to look down again, when she saw he was watching her. She straightened up a bit. She had been crying, and a few strands of hair were in her face. She pushed them aside, and concentrated on her four schoolmates. No way could she hear what was going on at this distance. He had to talk to her. NOW. He sat up indian-style, took a deep breath, and said a quick prayer. He attempted to stand, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. He was too stiff.
"Need help?" Larry reached out his hand. He gave Ethan a quick punch in the arm, and when he reacted, motioned to Gordo.
"Ow, huh? Oh yeah, here Gor-DON, grab on." Ethan took one hand, and Larry the other, and Gordo was standing up. He stretched his legs several times, and popped one knee... He pushed away Ethan and Larry, he could walk on his own... Slowly, he walked over to Lizzie. Everyone else was going back to class... Several passed by her,as she was there, still sitting, waiting... He stopped just short. What could he say? He tried to recall something, anything, from his dream. He could remember bits and pieces, that's all. He had to hold on to what he could.
Lizzie sat there, just waiting. When Gordo passed out, she didn't know how to react. She had panicked, and ran off. She had been by the school entrance almost the entire time. Close enough to see what was going on, far away enough so she would be out of the chaos.
He stood over her for just a second, then sat next to her. "Lizzie? Are you alright?"
"Am I alright? Are you alright? I thought... I thought..." She couldn't finish. She started to cry again...
He gave her a gentle hug... "Shhh, it's okay. I guess it was just the shock of everything. I mean, not only did you kiss me, you did it in front of everyone..." He held her for a few more seconds then released her...
"Well, I read what was in my yearbook, and I wanted to say something, but they called for the pictures, and I had to do something, I felt like I'd bust otherwise!"
He knew she'd read it, but how would he explain it? He opted not to, for now. "Uh, Lizzie? Don't you think we ought to get to class?" They looked around, they were alone.
She sighed, and smiled, as they got up and started inside. "We're already late, a few more minutes won't hurt." She paused. "D-did you really mean what you wrote?"
She was looking at him intently, not angrily, but admirably. He nodded slowly, unable to speak.
She exhaled sharply. "I can honestly say I wouldn't be the person I am either, without your friendship. You are sweet. As for the 'friend and more' part, we'll see. Let's give it some time..."
He could handle that, as long as she knew what he felt was more than a crush, and maybe, just maybe, she'd return the sentiment later. They were almost to their classrooms. Suddenly, his face lit up.
"Lizzie, would you like to come over after school and listen to some music?"
"Sorry, I can't. Have a ton to do to get ready for Friday and the class trip. Don't worry, we have all summer."
His heart sank just for a second. Oh, well, he tried. They split to go to their respective classes, then turned back, and smiled at each other. Gordo blushed, and she laughed.
"I have a feeling things are going to get really interesting," thought Lizzie, as she entered her classroom. A lot could happen, but what? And how?
How it happens? She didn't care, she knew today was taking her where she's meant to be...
A/N Have a bunch to say, but I'll wait a bit to see what some of you think.
Thanks to all who thanked me for thanking them a couple of chapters ago. (No problem) This story needed people to read and review, and that's what it got...
Review or email me at JP5683@msn.com or JP5683@webtv.net
Thanks,
JP
'Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine' is a song by PM Dawn. It's also a lyric in the PM Dawn song, 'Set Adrift On Memory Bliss',(yes it's a completely different song than the one by the Backstreet Boys), both tracks are on the album, "Of The Heart, Of The Soul, Of The Cross: The Utopian Experience".
May 2, 2003