First off, if for some strange reason you came to this page, and skipped over ANY of the story, PLEASE go back and read the other parts first.
Second, this is VERY long. I have been dubbed "The King of Author's Notes", and I guess this 'chapter' confirms it.
Third, thanks to new reviewers since I posted the mega-list at the end of installment 20: Jillybean, smart-cookie, MsJML, Dreamcatcher, nightshadow67, Kami Potter (meaning they had never reviewed previous)
Fourth, thanks to ALL readers, and ALL reviewers from the past ten weeks. If you review after this chapter, and you haven't before, thanks to you as well.
AH! The "King of Author's Notes" is back, one last time. Yep, this is the end. Any more posted will be in story #2, and beyond. I was planning to post this Saturday or Sunday, but life has been crazy of late. Also, if this is the last installment, I wanted it to cover everything.
Why the alternate endings? Because as good as the first ending was, it is way off from where the movie took things. If I was to write more, it would be a) from this 'alternate universe' I created, b) far off in the future where things changed c) in the past before 'stuff' happened... Unless I made it a dream...
I had that first 'dream' chapter ready two months and was going to post it as the first chapter of story #2, or as the 'real' ending to this story, but had no idea at the reaction my story would get. So I posted it as an 'alternate ending'. I created the second 'dream' two days before I posted it. Right now there are talks of a sequel movie, or a new series, but nothing solid. I don't HAVE to follow the way Di$ney writes things, but it's tough not to. Several authors here have stories that have conflicting plots, meaning one story cancels out another as being possible, unless you ignore the first.
When I started my story, I knew two things. 1) I wanted to invent a bigger reason for Miranda's absence 2) I wanted to extend what we saw in Bye, Bye, Hillridge Junior High.
I wasn't really planning on taking the story THAT far, it just happened. When I wrote the first few chapters about Christmastime, not many questioned it, because none of that happened on the show. When I started re-covering ground that the show had done, I got complaints if I stuck to close to what the show had done, and complaints if I changed it.
I never anticipated getting as much feedback as I recieved, both the good, and the bad. With every review, every email, I felt a little better. I even memorized the URL for the reviews, and checked it via my cell phone when away from my computer. A couple of people told me never to stop writing, one said they quoted lines from my story to their friends. Sorry friends! Kidding... What lines?
This story is far from perfect. I used to get straight A's in English, but could have done a lot better in some places. One thing I'm surprised NO ONE complained about is that in Lizzie's thoughts about her body-switching with Matt, I referred to the mess that fell on Kate as baked beans, even though it's said about three times that it's chili. Funny looking chili, if you asked me. Most, if not all of you, probably thought/think the same.
In some ways, I 'wrecked' a beautiful story, but I was at such a high point, what could I do for an encore? Even the second ending is impossible, though it shouldn't be. So now, I have three possible starting places for a new story, which I haven't written yet..
If you look at the last few chapters, there are hints of it being a dream. Many, but not all, are below, and not in any order.
HINTS?
Most of Lizzie's thoughts are just written out, not as "she thought" and "she wondered" and the like. Meaning they could be what Gordo wants her to think.
A long rambling part of a chapter devoted to a coffee spill.
Lizzie suddenly being able to remember lyrics when it's stated before she doesn't pay attention to them much.
Gordo intentionally aggrivating Miranda online.
Gordo wanting to meet Lizzie in the park, a more public place, and then when she yells when he tries to keep her from leaving, no one hears her and tries to help?
More pronouns, (He, She, They) and less "Lizzie, Gordo" in the story from chapter 13 on. Gordo is a better student than Lizzie, would use more 'proper' terminology.
Things are much, much more detailed after 'the BBHJH kiss'. See previous clue.
Mr. Dig popping up everywhere. Oh, wait, he does that already.
Gordo suddenly can't talk but only sing when he meets Lizzie at the park?
Gordo wouldn't want Lizzie to be bad, she tried to be bad in seventh grade, he and Miranda talked her out of it.
She just gets a little upset when she thinks he kissed Kate, but goes ballistic when he says it was Miranda instead? Why?
Did Kate have a crush on him, or does he just maybe wish she did?
Suddenly, when he's explaining Miranda's problem, he can almost read her thoughts? Why couldn't before? Then he could see she liked him back, and he could have just admitted his feelings?
Miranda, 14, can get into clubs twice?
He DID tell Mr. Dig it was Parker who called him short. He didn't try to hide who it was so that Mr. Dig might think it was Lizzie he was referring to.
He wouldn't get that mad at Lizzie for interrupting his story, it's not an easy story to hear.
The little kids in the last chapter could be Lizzie and Gordo, and he's seeing how things were...
Lizzie can't say she loves Gordo in return, because if it is a dream, he needs to hear it from her, not in a dream.
QUESTIONS: If it's a dream how come he knows two things? 1) She was kissed by Aaron Carter, 2) Kate told her Gordo liked her during the murder mystery party.
ANSWERS: Lizzie could have told Miranda, and she could have told Gordo in one of their 'chats'.
If I write anymore from the standpoint that the last few parts are a dream, then it erases many things. Mainly, is that really Miranda's 'problem' or is it something different?
I've read lots and lots of stories on here, and still think I have ideas that haven't been done before, but that story was a LOT of work. Some people on here juggle multiple stories, and they are all excellent. I don't think I could do that...
I may start a new story tomorrow, I may never post another. I honestly don't know. I wrote this whole story ahead of time, then posted. It's too difficult for me to sit and try to figure out what to type without having at least 'some' ideas on paper...
With all the new fans, this area of fanfiction.net is growing faster than before, and considering the amount of material here before the movie, that's amazing. This story will slowly slip down the pages, as more and more stories are created and updated. Please pass on the word about my story. Don't let it just sit here, and not get any more attention after it falls out of the first few listings...
The two stories I've been asked to write are: 1) Miranda's side of this whole story, and 2) a continuation from where the movie left off. The first would be a real challenge, but would be interesting to try. Notice that Miranda wasn't really in this story much. No three way calls or anything. The second I will probably do, but there are plenty of 'continuation' fics already posted. most are very good.
I covered a LOT of ground in this story, but a lot I skipped over. I STILL have yet to see about half of the first season. If the last few chapters ARE a dream, I could re-do a lot of what's written there.
I started making a list of more songs for this story after I had written it, it previously only had about ten. The first list had roughly one hundred fifty songs, by story's end, it grew to two-fifty. I used just over fifty here, but a good deal of those 50+ I just named, or paraphased in chapter titles. If anyone wants to see the list, email me, and I'll forward it. If you have suggestions for possible additions, I'll look those over as well...
If I was in the show's 'target range', I don't think I could have written a story like this, I probably wouldn't have even attempted it. I thank each of you for taking the time to read my story, and post your thoughts. There are other 'older' viewers, most don't want to admit it. Only about four people offline know that I've written this story, or that I'm a Lizzie-o-holic.
I gave this story a 'PG' rating, and hope that was correct. Some parts could have been PG-13 but I censored myself a little.
Some of this story is very personal. Things that happened to me, or that I tried to make happen. Sigh. One of my best friends said I look like Jack Osbourne, maybe that's what scares everyone away...
If anyone has any suggestions or comments, or anything, you can IM me via MSN JP5683@msn.com or JP5683@webtv.net Yahoo JP5683@yahoo.com AOL IM is JP five 683, but hardly ever use it. I have my Webtv address in my profile, but I don't use it much anymore. I LOVE my laptop. I respond to ALL email to my MSN address, but please, if you haven't emailed me before, at LEAST put 'Lizzie' or 'Fanfiction' or something like that somewhere in the subject line, so I don't accidentally delete your message.
If you haven't, you should check the Lizzie McGuire message board at TVTome.com. Very informative, you have to register to post, but not to read. Also if you are looking for a good, active Lizzie Yahoogroup, check out hilarydufffans. (3 f's).
Egg-stra special thanks to the following people, if you will, my personal 'top ten'.
the Commster (thanks for checking out my story even though you didn't know much about the show. Guess you do now, huh? You're a great friend, wish you hadn't moved away from CA.)
Sesen ObsdianMoon (always reviewing, always upbeat, a great author, and always replying to emails. You're tops, kid.)
Jaime Sumner (You've been a great help, given great suggestions, and have been great to chat with. Thanks!)
TheRealXenocide (You have a fantastic story here, even though it's wayyyy different than any other, and you helped a great deal in many aspects. Thanks.)
TasChiBandGirl (Melissa, you too have been a great help. Made some great suggestions, reviewed your tail off, and answered email from this here nutcase as well. Go Diamondbacks! Go Red Sox! Go Devil Rays!)
Keeponwritin (Carstairs, you didn't review much, but that's ok. With as many user id's as you have, I can understand you don't have a lot of time. You are a great author, and your posts at TVTome are nothing but interesting and entertaining! foofoofoofoofoo!)
Rocio L. (I believe you were the first to add me to your favorite author list. Thanks for the honor, thanks for the reviews. If I ever meet Adam, I'll be sure to give him your email, k?)
Rob. (I see you at TVTome, hilarydufffans, and here. You are a little too perky sometimes in your posts, but that's okay. You share lots of good info, and now you're helping with a great fansite.)
Sally (You are probably the only person who reads all my posts. Thanks for all your help as well.)
Steve (Even though you don't read fanfic, I'll thank you anyways. Thanks for the help with Microsoft Word, and all the info. I wish I could have met the LM cast like you. WHAAAAA!)
If I left you off the above list, please don't think it means I think any less of you. There are hundreds of people posting on the five or six yahoogroups I'm in, the TVTome boards, Clayton Snyder's boards, Hilaryfan.com's boards, and here. Several of you have responded to my posts, emailed me, and helped a lot. I just can't list everyone here. Most of you were named in the previous author's note.
I thank everyone who added me to their favorite author's list (ten, as of this posting) and everyone who added me to their favorite stories list. (No idea how many) I'll keep my support services active so when I post again, if I post again, you will know.
Thanks also to all the incredible authors here at fanfiction.net.
Simply, to everyone. THANK YOU!!!!!!
If I could, I'd send you all a great big thank you card. You guys (and girls) are wonderful.
Wow, I type as much as I talk. Guess I deserve the "King of the Author's Notes" title, huh? This story would probably be UNDER 50,000 words without all the notes.
SO
Signing off (for now),
JP
MSN IM JP5683@msn.com or JP5683@webtv.net
Yahoo IM: JP5683 JP5683@yahoo.com
AOL IM: JP five 683
Email: JP5683@msn.com JP5683@webtv.net
What? Are you still reading this? Go review, or email me, or raid my favorite stories from my profile. That's it. The End. Finito. Game Over. Buh Bye. Estodo Muchos Gracias. Ya Estuvo. Fin.
May 8, 2003