Chapter one
"Mom?" I called, coming into a silent kitchen, "Matt?"
I waited for a second, expecting an answer, but none came. Shrugging, I walked to the cabinet. I shuffled around, finally bringing out some bread with peanut butter and jelly – which I got from the refrigerator.
I put my bread in the toaster and set it up, sitting with a sigh at the kitchen table. I put my head in my hand and looked down at the table to find a note. Rubbing my eyes, I focused on the tidy scrawl.
Dear Lizzie,
I am taking Matt to Lanny's place. I should be home at 3:30, but I might stop to get groceries on the way back, so I might be a little longer than expected. Don't worry though – I'll be home soon!
Love,
Mom
I sighed and yawned loudly, putting a hand to my mouth. When I heard the pop of my toast, I scooted out my chair and walked to the toaster. I pulled out the bread and attempted to spread the peanut butter and jelly on it with a plastic knife from our silverware drawer. I rolled my eyes, thinking of Matt and his metal silverware. We had to switch to plastic because Matt found it funny to bring the metal forks and knives to school. Of course, his principal - and the district associate – didn't find it funny. Mom decided it was necessary to cure this strange habit by using plastic utensils for the next few weeks.
Gritting my teeth, I once again tried to spread the peanut butter with the knife. But, of course, being peanut butter, it stuck to the plastic knife quite easily.
"Stop it!" I yelled, hitting my utensil on the countertop. That didn't help very much. With a loud snap, the knife broke in two, and I stormed off to get another one, mumbling under my breath. With a loud stomp of my feet, I grabbed a washcloth, and, wetting it, I turned around to clean off the stray peanut butter. Of course, it wasn't the knife or the peanut butter that was bothering me, it was something totally different…
Ring… ring… ring…
Dropping the soaking washcloth on the counter, I picked up the phone.
"Hello?" I asked irritably, holding the phone with my shoulder as I wiped my wet hands on my jeans.
"Lizzie? This is Miranda."
"Oh! Hi Miranda!" I cried, my mood brightening considerably, "what's up?"
"Oh, nothing… just excited about the field trip tomorrow, I guess." Miranda replied in a way that was clear that it wasn't what she really called me to talk about. I sat down at the kitchen table and waited for her to speak, knowing that she would.
There was silence at the end of the line – for about ten seconds.
"Fine, Liz. You got me… I was just wondering – do you have a crush on Gordo?"
I clutched the phone tighter, growing red with embarrassment, "what makes you say that?"
"I don't know. It's just, um, he seems to like you."
I was blushing like mad now. It was lucky Miranda was on the phone, not sitting next to me. I was practically radiating with the heat from my cheeks. I quickly came up with a response.
"Of course he likes me, Miranda! He's my best friend!" I said, a little too shrilly. Miranda picked up on my delayed reply.
"Stop playing the fool Lizzie! What's going to get you two together? Some sort of disaster, or God himself?"
I didn't say anything. What was there to say anyway? I forced myself to open my mouth.
"Miranda, listen to me -," I pleaded, wringing my hands.
"No. Elizabeth Brooke McGuire, you listen to me," I heard Miranda take a deep breath. "Okay, look. You've liked Gordo since the fourth grade, and who knows how long he has had a crush on you. I'm serious, Liz. You've always had your head in the clouds over Ethan or some random guy that delivers papers. Think of how hard that must have been for Gordo. But you know what? He still supported you. I would be lucky to have a guy that is half as sweet, caring, or kind as Gordo. I mean, c'mon already! He's your best friend. Lizzie, you should have seen how he looked at you today. That boy's in love."
"Miranda," I said, still shocked hearing what she told me, "h-how can you know this for sure?"
I could practically see her throw up her hands in exasperation, "oh-my-gosh Lizzie! Please do the world a favor and admit that you, Lizzie McGuire, like, or are in love with David Gordon."
"Miranda –,"
"Say it!"
I licked my lips. Why was this so hard to say? I swallowed and bit my lip, wiping some sweat off my forehead.
"I-I'm in love with Gordo." I whispered, shaking from my head to my toes.
"Finally!" I heard Miranda scream. I could hear her jumping on her bed and yelling in Spanish. Finally, she picked up the phone, wheezing and out of breath.
"Sorry. It's just so great… I've been waiting for this moment since I first became friends with you and Gordo!" Miranda screamed. I heard her hic-up and sigh happily, giggling into the telephone.
"Yeah. Great…" I said, a little annoyed at Miranda. Thinking about it though, there wasn't any reason to be irritated by her. I was just confused. And confusion and disorientation does weird things to the mind. Like getting mad at your friend for being happy for you.
"Okay. Lizzie, I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Don't you dare call Gordo, you little backstabber!" I yelled into the phone. Miranda laughed on the other line.
"Love ya too!"
I set down the phone and put my head in my hands. Suddenly, I wasn't very hungry anymore.
I had just confessed a huge secret I had been holding carefully. I had promised myself that it was just a phase. Gordo and I hang out so much together; we might as well be brother and sister. But, if I loved him more than a friend, I couldn't really call him a brother, now could I?
Why was this so difficult? I should feel better – like weight has been lifted off my chest. But it wasn't like that. I felt as if I had piled more pounds onto my already overloaded shoulders, and about half had dropped into my stomach.
I sighed dramatically and grabbed my toast, stuffing it in my mouth. Chewing slowly, I made my way up the stairs to start packing for the field trip.
There can never be enough packing.
Thank you for reading and reviewing! If you didn't, please?
It just takes 2 minutes max, and it makes me write faster. I swear! ^_^ I already love to write, so it's a bonus! Yay!
To the people who can't decipher my ramblings and stuff, here's the basic idea: more reviews, more chappies and faster.
HALLELUYAH!
*hehe*
I know the story isn't interesting so far, but, I promise, it will be. In the next chapter, which I am writing right as you're probably reading this, there will be more stuff, k? But, I can't tell you much about the story, 'cause there's a little twist.
Well, if some of you have seen a certain movie, then you know what I'm talking about. BUT, PLEASE DON'T RUIN IT FOR OTHER PEOPLE! PLEASE! THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!
If you don't know what the freak I'm talking about, that's okay too.
Thanks a bunch,
Tic-Tac ^_~
