[Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Lizzie, Gordo, Hilary, Adam, Rome, Italy, The Trevi Fountain, etc, etc, etc. I do, however, own this story, and affections for Adam Lamberg. Oh, and Evelina. She's cool.
Onto the story.]
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Lizzie said randomly, heaving out a dramatic sigh before she began. Gordo, I have something to tell you. My heart skipped a beat or two...or three. It just wasn't like Lizzie to make big, official statements like that. If she wanted to say something, she usually just came out with it. That's why I had to wonder: what is so important that she had to have an opening line and everything? I know you think I don't know anything about Rome. So after you fell asleep last night, I went on the Internet and learned as much as I could. So when we get to a certain spot, ask me anything. She grinned a mile-wide smile, obviously so proud of herself.
I responded, masking my disappointment. That's pretty cool, Lizzie. I--I'm proud of you. Honestly? It was a pretty admirable thing. Yet another Lizzie transformation: The old Lizzie, in response to my comments on her lack of knowledge, would've just made some jokingly snide comment back to me, or worse, become completely insecure about it. (I didn't mean to make her insecure. I can be such an idiot sometimes, though.) But now, the new Lizzie doesn't get mad---she gets even. It was that sort of I'm-gonna-show-YOU' attitude that made her so intriguing.
I snorted aloud. Lizzie? Intriguing?
I stopped myself. For once, I stopped myself from putting Lizzie down. So maybe I wasn't talking behind her back, but I was doing the next worst thing: thinking those thoughts. I was a relatively good friend, right? Then why did I do this? Friends just don't insult friends. Not even in their thoughts. I was just an egocentric ignoramus. And that's not how I was.
Was it? I mean, have I been spending the last few years being completely narcissistic and not realized it? Did Lizzie know? Why didn't she tell me?
Or, if by some miracle I haven't been, did she notice my transformation? You'd think that new Lizzie' would step up and say something if I was really weirding her out.
Only a few minutes had passed before we arrived at our first stop on our long list of monuments and museums to visit.
As the bus came to a halt, a beautiful, tall dark-haired woman stepped on. Taking a microphone, she spoke in her heavy Italian accent, Hello, Hillridge Junior High students! Welcome to your official Roman adventure. Lizzie turned to me and grinned so wide, I thought her face would split into two. I could tell she was excited, and I knew why: adventure. That one word made her jump with joy. I am Evelina, and I will be your tour guide for the next 2 weeks. Now, I know most of you probably only came on this trip because your friends were. I turned to Lizzie and wondered...would I have gone on this trip if Lizzie hadn't? My parents could afford it, and it was a trip of a lifetime. But if Lizzie wasn't here... But I can assure you, that even if you do not care a thing for any of this, by the end of our adventure, you will have learned something about Rome.
Even though I still despise all tour groups of any kind, I kind of liked Evelina. Most tour guides I'd had in the past were rude, obnoxious people who didn't even attempt to communicate with their tour group on any level except a strictly factual one. Evelina looked young, maybe even in her 20's, and even with those few sentences, I could tell she understood us. Most other tour guides assume you care. She didn't make that assumption, and that was pretty cool of her.
Now, I know the itinerary says that today we are going to visit the Piazza di Spagna. And while the Piazza di Spagna is very fascinating, she commented (I sensed a bit of sarcasm in herwords, which made me chuckle), I have personally chosen this place to be your first spot, because I think it gives the most accurate insight into what La Citta Eterna is all about. So if you'll follow me off the bus, we can get started on a bit of history about this wondrous landmark, the Trevi Fountain.
And so we did, and the crowds of people around us were amazing yet frightening at the same time. You could get lost so easily in the hundreds of people there.
This is the Trevi Fountain. Now, I probably should've listened to Evelina's description of the fountain, but I was just dying to know if Lizzie was telling the truth earlier. So I leaned over and whispered in her ear.
Okay, little Miss Know-It-All, who built it?
She took a second, biting her lower lip and closing her eyes, something she did often when she was trying to remember something from long ago. Then, she opened her eyes and brightened up a bit.
Pietro della Cortona and Bernini started in the late 17th century. Building ceased after the death of Pope Urban VIII, but construction was restarted by Nicola Salvi a hundred years later, and was completed in 1792. She squinted her eyes and nodded affirmatively at me, as to say, Told you so.'
I was so caught up in the amazement, and Lizzie was so caught up in the self-pride, that we both didn't notice the rest of the tour group staring at us like we had 3 heads. Or would it be 6 heads?
Excuse me, Evelina said, tapping Lizzie on the shoulder. May I ask you, what is your name?
L...Lizzie Mc-McGuire, ma'am. I was getting a kick out of how embarassed she was getting just talking in front of a few people.
And you, sir? she asked, eyebrows raised, looking directly at me. Uh...dah....erm...what's my name again?
D-David Gordon. Some of my classmates chuckled. I should've known they would. Well, I mean, that's my name, but people usually call me...
I want to thank you both, Evelina stated, cutting me off. Out of all of the class trips I have ever taken on tour, you are the only two to ever not pretend to be interested in everything I am droning on about, and instead, have your own conversation about it. Lizzie and I both stood there, anticipating the punch line. Which would be something like, Please stop disrupting my tour, or I will be forced to send you back to your hotel.' But there was none. Evelina was serious.
You're welcome? Lizzie responded accordingly, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.
And Evelina went on about the Trevi Fountain, and even though we'd been commended on not doing so, we listened, anyway.
I am positive you are not interested in the architecture or history of the Fontana de Trevi. But you must realize you are at the most famous fountain in Italy. It is wondrous not only because of its size and detail, but as legend goes, anyone who tosses a coin into the fountain will one day return to Rome. As legend also goes, as with most fountains in the world, you can make a wish as you throw the coin in. Personally, none of my wishes have ever come true as long as I've lived in Rome, but if you want to waste your money, feel free.
This sent Lizzie into crazy' mode. For some reason, she loved legends and myths. She was an avid astrology fanatic, and loved anything associated with fate. She was hopping up and down and begging me for coins. Digging in my pocket, it was then that I realized I still had yet to exchange my dollars for euros. I pulled out a couple pennies.
Think the gods will be angry if you give them American money? I quipped sarcastically.
She grabbed a penny out of my grasp and turned her back towards the fountain. Then, as she shut her eyes tightly, she threw the coin over her shoulder and into the fountain.
This was one of those times that you wish we had better technology in our world. If only I could see into her brain. I yearned just to know what was going through her mind. Just for a minute. Only a minute.
When she was done, she turned to me and smiled.
Your turn! Uhhh...my turn? I furled my eyebrows at her. Come on, Gordo, don't be such a sourpuss.
I'm not a sourpuss. I'm realistic, I affirmed.
Can't you just, for once, get your head out of that practical mold it's stuck in? Just to think out of the box? Just once? I groaned and rolled my eyes. There is nothing wrong with practicality. Well, if I made a wish and you didn't, then that means one day I'm going to go to Rome again...without you. I pondered this. Is it just me, or does she know me all too well? She's sneaky. She found her way to my heart without leaving a fingerprint along the way. I don't know how she does it, but I know she's the only one who can.
I said reluctantly, holding the shiny copper coin in my palm. I turned around slowly and began to think. A wish. One wish. Only one.
Well, let's see. I wanted Lizzie to like me. I wanted to be a famous director one day. I wanted Lizzie to like me. I wanted to own a house in the Carribbean. I wanted Lizzie to like me.
Slowly, I tossed the coin over my shoulder and heard it land with a plunk into the water.
I wish for Lizzie McGuire to be happy, always and forever.
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[A/N: I am such a sucker for happy, heartwarming L/Gness. As if you didn't know that.
I actually didn't want them to go to the Trevi Fountain first, because it would be too much like the movie, but I wanted them to make their wishes before anything else happened in the story, you know? It would be weird if all this stuff happened before the wishes. Okay, I'm odd, yes.
Lemme know what you think: please review. Thanks!]
