Chapter Two: The Accident

Lizzie's POV

Gordo.

A subject I thought about each day, so complex that he couldn't be classified as a subject. He was more like an unexplored universe.

It was amazing how his brain worked, Always thinking, if not about the important things then about the unimportant ones, like ice cream sundaes or why the grass is green or how much George Bush weighs or how people pierce their ears or how fast a fan is capable of going. Things that none of us never stopped and wonder about, since they were so ordinary to us. But *he* found them fascinating.

But wouldn't someone's brain hurt by so much thinking?

I guess not.

That's what was so amazing about him. He never got tired. He was sweet, friendly, smart, and cute.

I had to tell him.

Who knew, maybe he liked me back. I doubt it, but maybe.

I grabbed my coat off the hanger and yelled, "I'm going to Gordo's!" to no one in particular. I slammed the door on my way out, taking my purse with me.

I was going to tell him how much I wanted him.

It was eight PM, dark, and sprinkling lightly, but it didn't stop me. I had put this off long enough. I had to tell him someday, and I chose to do it today.

'Why today?' I thought. 'Maybe tomorrow.' Or maybe next Tuesday. Or in eight hundred years.

I was growing chickener by each step I took.

I couldn't do this. I had to, but I was scared. What if he didn't like me? What if he thought I was crazy? What if he hated me and avoided me forever?

Maybe.

What if he liked me? What if he kissed me? What if we got married and lived happily ever after?

Maybe.

I didn't know, so I stopped. Stopped to think if I should turn back or not. Going could change so much. Not going meant things would stay the same, which was worse.

I was confused. Which way to go?

I decided to go on. Whatever happened, it happened for a reason, right? So if something happened, say for example, he says he only likes me as a friend, but then I meet this guy who made me really happy and spent my life with him, keeping Gordo as a friend.

Right.

I wanted yo live my life with Gordo. No one else. It seemed so strange for an eighth/ninth grader to be so serious about love, but hey, I am different, and I really like Gordo.

Different.

He liked different.

Anyone not like everyone else was bound to be a friend of his. So, if I was different, he'd like me too, right?

'Okay, I'm confusing myself.' I thought.

Gordo's 'thinking too much' habit was rubbing off on me.

I started walking, trying to forget my crazy, insane thoughts. They were just confusing me even more. It was no good to worry.

I had just cleared my mind and was walking by a street light post when I heard a rustle and a twig snap.

I gasped. "Is anyone there?" I called, looking around to make sure I wasn't just being paranoid.

All that answered me was silence. It was freakishly quiet.

Too quiet.

I bit my lip and was about to run when someone came up behind me and yelled-

"PICKLES! LOOK UP!"

Of, course, I had to look up. Wouldn't you. And when I did, the guy snatched my purse form behind me and started running.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "Stop!"

He didn't, so I grabbed his shirt to stop him. He struggled ot get out of my grasp, and I struggled to hold on.

This was scary.

Right when I was about to take my purse back, he punched me. Right in the face. I flew backward and hit the street light post. Hard.

Everything went pitch black.