DISCLAIMER: I don't own "The Lizzie McGuire Movie". That's owned by Disney. If you didn't know that, congratulations. You're a moron.

PREMISE What if Gordo and Isabella never showed up?

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"Because" he paused. "Because you shine like the light from the sun." With that, he kissed me on the cheek and walked off.

Being in love with Paolo was amazing. While everyone else would say, Suck it up and go out there, McGuire. You can't be any worse than last time,' Paolo had confidence in me. He's the first guy I ever met that actually knew I could do anything if I tried. That's more than anyone else could say.

My heart was pounding at 1,000 miles per second. The crowd beyond the curtains was so loud, I couldn't hear myself think. These people were there to see me. Well, Isabella, who I happened to be the spitting image of.

"Four more minutes, Isabella," a guy with a clipboard said as he passed by me. Isabella? Huh? Oh, no, Isabella is here? "ISABELLA! Three and a half minutes now!" I looked around, baffled. Then it hit me–duh, I'm Isabella!

"Ookay," I said back.

That's when I realized–I'm Isabella. Before then, I just felt likelike Lizzie as Isabella'. But I wasn't anymore. I was about to go out onstage and dance and lip sync in front of thousands of people.

Oh no–I can't do this. I can't. Not even Paolo could help me now. I don't think anyone can.

I gulped down a huge lump in my throat and stood there as my arms and legs literally convulsed. It made my knees buckle and go weak.

"30 seconds until your entrance, Isabella," the man said, passing by again. No, no, no! No, I'm not going out there! You couldn't even pay me to go out there right now! "Start going over now, Isabella!"

I hate that feeling you get where your heart feels so heavy in your chest, and it's beating so fast, it almost hurts to breathe. I was trying so desperately to stay calm, but nothing was working.

God, I wish Gordo was here.

Wait, did I just–

"GO!" And I was practically thrown onstage next to Paolo. And I had to start everything immediately, over the applause that followed my entrance.

"I could almost kiss the stars for shining so bright." I hear Isabella's harmonious voice echoing around the stadium as I mouthed the words.

"When I see you smiling, I go, oh, oh, oh," Paolo sang, turning to me and smiling.

"I would never want to miss this." I looked down and saw everyone: my parents, Matt, Ms. Ungermeyer, Kate, Ethaneveryone except

"In my heart, I know what this." My thoughts were interrupted when Paolo walked towards me and grabbed my hand.

"This is what dreams are made of." And we walked towards the front of the stage.

"This is what dreams are made of." Now the smile on his face was so happy, it almost lookeddevious.

"I've got somewhere I belong. I've got somebody to love." I wanted to cry at that second. Paolo and Isabella sounded so beautiful together. It sounded soright. But I loved Paolo too much

"This is what dreams" Paolo looked over at me, clearly anticipating something. My big finish, I thought happily.

"Are ma" Pause. "Mama.." A look of utter terror was plastered onto my face.

Oh. My. God.

This is not happening.

I turned to Paolo, looking for some guidance.

He was laughing.

Not a haha, ditzy Lizzie' laugh. An evil laugh that required no explanation. A laugh that unfoiled the entire plan. From Day 1.

I ran. As fast I could, I ran offstage. In total devastation.s

It didn't make sense.

I was in such a daze that I didn't even look to see where I was going. All I wanted was to get as far away as possible from that low-life jerk.

I felt so stupid. I had fallen in love with him, and invested every ounce of my trust into him. And he promised not to ever embarrass me. I am so stupid.

I kept running down the long corridor, not even bothering to open my eyes, when I fell into someone.

"Gordo?" I cooed out to the person in front of me.

"Gordo?" a heavily accented voice bellowed. "Oh, Lizzie McGuire, it is you!" I looked up to see I had smashed right into Sergei. And I thought it was Gordo? "Lizzie, you have been crying. What is the matter?"

"Sergei," I said, ignoring him and sniffling loudly, "Could you drive me back to my hotel?"

He looked a little hesitant, like he really wanted to know what had happened before we went. But after a second, he smiled faintly and said, "Okay."

And I walked somberly towards his car and sat in the back. He got in and we were quickly on our way home.

I noticed, from time to time, he looked back to check up on me. I didn't do anything, though. I just sat and cried quietly, below a whisper.

Finally, we reached our hotel and before I got out, Sergei said one final thing to me.

"Take care of yourself, Lizzie McGuire. You are very nice girl. Never let anyone take that away from you."

"Thanks," I said faintly, and closed the car door before it zoomed away.

I walked into the empty lobby and loaded onto the empty elevator. Everythingeverything was so empty.

And Gordo was thousands of miles away.

God, why did the thought of Gordo being here make me feel socomfortable? Why did I want him here so desperately? Sure, he was my friend, but it's not like I couldn't live without him.

I opened the door to my empty room and flipped on the light. I surprised myself at how calm I was. It was like, I'd really known it all along. I just chose not to accept it.

I walked towards the curtains and pulled them open. As the moonlight began to flood in, I stepped onto the outside porch. I leaned my elbows on the railing and stared at the moon.

I can't believe I'd been afraid of being embarrassed in front of my entire grade before. I had just been embarrassed in front of thousands of people. Not only that, but what about Isabella? How would she feel? What if she thought it was my fault? What were my parents going to do when I went back home? What would Miranda think of all of this? Could Kate ever be my friend? Would I ever find my one true love?

Please, God, I thought, closing my eyes. Send me a sign that everything's going to be okay. I sniffled. Please.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Slowly, I walked towards it and opened the door.

"Gordo?" I said, incredulously at the boy before me with a box of chocolates in one hand and a box of tissues in the other.

"I'm here," he said, smiling.

I looked up and bit my lower lip.

Thank you, God.

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[A/N: Wasn't that heartwarming? You know it was. A tidbit L/G, too, I suppose. But it leaves you hanging, eh? And it kinda got a little religious at the end, it seems. Which is funny, cause I'm practically an agnostic myself. J

Anyway, I found out today that Lizzie McGuire' franchise has come to an end because Hilary and Disney couldn't agree on salaries. Yep, that's pretty stupid.

But, on the plus side, at least all of my high school series fanfics will not be nullified!

Tomorrow's my birthday, FYI! Which is actually in like, 30 minutes! I don't know if I'll update anything tomorrow, so I'm just letting you know.

Well, lemme know what you think: please review. Thanks!]