He's going to be fine, the doctor finally responded to Mrs. McGuire's frantic, persistent pleas for an answer. A sigh of relief washed over all of them. In all of their minds, things were going to be okay.
Except Gordo's. In the back of his mind laid the knowledge that things wouldn't, and couldn't, ever be the same again. He watched on as the people around him hugged and whispered words of encouragement to one another. There he stood, alone in the crowd, feeling ignored and uncared for. As far as he was concerned, nothing was worse than that. He almost had another run away and hide episode, but he fought back against the urge. It had its benefits, but in the long run, did it really help? No. No, it didn't.
Gordo's mom said, approaching, his father not far behind. I'm not sure if we told you yet, but... She paused. The McGuires are moving in with us for a few days, and I think you'll agree that little Matthew is far too old to share a room with his parents--
If he's so old, Gordo mumbled, why did you insist on calling him
Don't you dare mutter under your breath, young man. Young man. Young man. I'm 18 years old, but I'm still a young man. I wonder if my dad will see me as mature. In any sense of the word. If you have something to say, you say it oud loud, his father scolded.
At this point, all of the others were dead silent, viewing the scene, taken aback by Dr. Gordon's sudden outburst thrown into the midst of all of their happy words. But nothing could prepare them for what came next.
I hate you all, Gordo finally proclaimed, loud enough so that even Matt, lying in his hospital bed a few doors down, could hear him.
~~~~~~
Gordo didn't even get to witness Matt's first trip outside his hospital room since that morning. After his sudden declaration of animosity, he ran out of the building and realized he had no place to go---but home.
So he walked and walked for that mile and a half, just thinking, as the blazing sun beat down on the back of his head. Perfect blue sky, not a cloud in sight. People were rollerblading and riding their scooters past him, wondering what was up with the dude in the khakis in this kind of weather, not smiling in the least. Wondering what could've possibly gone wrong that this guy was unhappy on this beautiful day.
But they could never understand. Most people go through their lives never having friends as understanding as Lizzie and Miranda were to him. Sure, they'd messed up a couple times, but they were only human. He'd made mistakes, too. Nobody's perfect.
~~~~~~
My world is being destroyed before my eyes. And I'm just lying here, doing nothing about it.
Then again, is there really anything I can do? What's done is done. I can't...change things.
Gordo ran a hand through his thick curls, worrying. About what? Even he himself wasn't exactly sure.
Brring, the phone purred. A pause. Brrrring.
Gordo walked somberly to his bare desk, with the telephone he had just set up last night--before he saw the obituaries, before any of this anything.
Brrrrin--
he murmured into the phone.
a prim English accent said, could I speak to Dr. Gordon?
He's not here right now, Gordo responded, sounding sort of annoyed. Can I take a message?
Click.
Gordo slammed the phone back down onto the receiver. Damn prank callers.
He flopped back onto his bed only to hear the sound of crumpling paper. He reached behind his back and pulled out a newspaper. Beneath him was Lizzie and Miranda's obituaries. Rereading them, it didn't make any sense--how you can be so blunt in reporting the death of a person, and so oblivious as to the pain that comes along with all of these deaths.
No one understood.
------------------------
[A/N: Sorry if it sounded like it was cut short. I really wanted to get this out tonight. I'm sorry if by rushing it, it lacks quality. I try my best.
I was thinking for a couple weeks that this would only be another 4 or 5 chapters. But I thought about it yesterday, and I'm going to make it longer. AKA, I'm not ending it where I initially was going to. Because I realized it's not realistic. Last week, I actually wrote a couple of the last chapters. I'm not sure why. But it was nice. I was feeling quite inspired.
In a related story, Dear Lizzie is officially one of my favorite episodes ever. I. LOVED. IT. I don't want to spoil it for the rest of you. But I had a heart attack at the end of that episode. Oh my gosh, I'm getting all giddy again.
Well, next story to be updated is Trials and Tribulations of David Zephyr Gordon, chapter 9. I'm going to post it right before the premiere of the new Lizzie McGuire episode . Be sure to watch that. Oh, L/G-ness!
Let me know what you think: please review. Thanks!]
