Disclaimer: Blah blah blah blah. I'm so tired of these stupid disclaimers. Let's just look at it this way: I haven't own ANY of these characters for the last fifteen chapters, what would make you think that I own them now?
A/N: I was such a nice author that I gave you two chapters in nearly complete succession. Wee!
Chapter Fifteen:
Gordo's Viewpoint:
It was Saturday evening and I was preparing to go on a double date with Lizzie, Miranda and Ronnie. Much like Lizzie, I had been cautious of Ronnie's presence, but I tried to conceal it so that I could comfort Lizzie. I figured that it wouldn't do much good if both of us were apprehensive. After I had finished making myself look decent for a date – what? You thought I wouldn't care about how I looked? Well, the way I look at it, everyone cares about how they look, just some to a different degree. Of course, some are completely out of control with the way that they make sure they're perfection before they leave their household, but that's not my problem. Everyone's vein, I think, that's why you look in the mirror before you leave the house. There's really nothing wrong with being concerned with one's appearance, just as long as it's a healthy concern. Anyways, I walked over to Lizzie's and patiently waited inside the doorway after her mother had let me in.
I watched as Lizzie descended the stairway, it felt like one of those badly written, badly directed teenage movies where the drop dead gorgeous female lead walks down the stairs in slow motion. She looked beautiful, as always and perhaps that's what gave it the clichéd feeling. Of course, this was Lizzie McGuire, just as soon as the moment had began, Lizzie's trademark klutziness kicked in and she tumbled down the stairway. Luckily, she had been about three quarters of the way down, so she'd only fallen down a few steps. I rushed to her and helped her up.
"You okay, there?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You get used to taking falls when you're a total klutz and fall every day of your life." She laughed lightheartedly and I joined in.
"Ready to go?" I asked and took her hand into mine.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She said and breathed heavily, I sensed her pensiveness.
"Still nervous about Miranda and Ronnie… primarily Ronnie?" I asked; she nodded. "Listen, everything is going to be fine and I'll be there with you in case you can't handle anything. If you need leave, you just say the word and I'll get you out of there. We'll get through this together and stop worrying… everything will be fine. I'll see to it." As soon as my last words escaped my lips, she threw her arms around me in a tight embrace.
"Thank you so much." She said. She kissed me with a fiery passion, and caught me by surprise.
"I didn't know that what I said was worth a thank you like that." I smiled. She kissed me again. "I meant every word."
"I know. I'm just so thankful and so lucky to have you. Thank you so, so much." She smiled.
"Listen, we'd better get going, otherwise we'll be late for the dinner reservations." We left the house and walked over to Miranda's. Her parents drove us to the restaurant, where we met Ronnie.
Lizzie's Viewpoint:
As soon as I saw Ronnie in the restaurant, my stomach felt weak. Miranda instantly perked up and when I saw the happiness in her face, I felt slightly better. A greeter brought us to our table and the four of us sat down. Gordo kept a firm grip on my hand, which I found comforting. I noticed Ronnie's arm loosely hanging around Miranda's waste. There was that feeling again. I decided to go to the bathroom to try and calm my nerves.
"Erm, I'm going to go to the bathroom really quick." I said, hoping that nobody else would follow.
"Uh, I think I'll head that way, too." Ronnie said. 'Great.' I said. "If you don't mind, Lizzie?"
"No, no problem." I answered. I figured once I got to the women's' bathroom, he couldn't bother me. I got up and made my way over to the restrooms when suddenly I felt someone's hands on my waist. "Gordo, I didn't know you—" I said as I turned around. "Oh, Ronnie. Uh… uh… What are you doing?"
Before I knew it, I had been pulled into the empty men's bathroom and pushed up against the wall. Ronnie kissed me hard of the lips. I could taste alcohol on his breath, which sickened me. I had been offered alcohol on special occasions like holidays or celebrations and never really cared for it.
"I want you, Lizzie." He breathed into my ear and then nibbled on it. "And, I'll have you. No matter what it takes."
"Ronnie.. I-You.. broke up with me. A long time ago. I have Gordo now and I'm happy." I blurted out. 'Please let this end now, please' I thought.
"I regret having broken up with you.. Now that I've seen you and I know how hot you've gotten. I want you back. I WILL have you." He pressed his body against mine.
"Ronnie!" I struggled to break free. "Please… let go of me!" He kept a tight grip on me and I did the only thing I could think of to get myself free: I kneed him in the groin. He quickly fell back and I ran out of the bathroom with tears streaming down my face. I rushed to the table and Gordo looked up with questioning eyes.
"Gordo.. I-I need to leave. Miranda, I'm sorry.. I just.. I need to go." I grabbed Gordo's hand and dragged him out of the restaurant, leaving Miranda there, astounded.
Gordo's Viewpoint:
Lizzie had just dragged me out of the restaurant. I stopped her once we'd gotten farther away from the building.
"Lizzie, what's wrong?" I asked.
"Gordo.. I…" she started. I watched the tears rolls down her face and I wished like nothing else that I could make this better. "I.. can't tell you. I want to, but I can't."
"But.. Lizzie… how do I know how to help you if you can't tell me what's wrong?" I asked, "but I can't respect that you need time before you tell me whatever just happened. Just… just tell me if you're okay."
"I'm … no… not really."
"What can I do to make you feel better?"
"Just hold me. Please. I'm so sorry, I just.. I can't explain."
"Shhh." I consoled her as I sat down on a bench. I pulled her down onto my lap and placed a kiss on her forehead. "It's alright, Lizzie. Everything will be fine. I promise I'll fix whatever it is whenever you're ready to tell me."
We sat there on the bench for a long time. I tried my best to calm her down and she eventually stopped crying. It felt good to have her in my arms; I'd just wished that it were for a different reason than her being upset. I continued to place feather-soft kissed upon her face as the minutes passed.