Disclaimer: All I own in this story is Pine Ridge and the students and workers in it. Don't own Lizzie, Miranda, nothing. (Though I wish I owned Gordo.) -It may seem like I'm rushing things now, but she's going to be in this school for a long time. Figured I should rush now so you could get the details on Gordo's thoughts- *************Letters to the Skinny Girl*************Chapter Ten**************

The days contiuned this way, and on her free time, she would write back. She didn't mention what Gordo had said because she knew he'd tell her soon. She lost a few points for hiding food, but all in all, by the eighteenth day, she'd accumulated 83 points. That was when she got the leters during study hall.

Miranda's was her usual lined paper, about how much she loved Lizzie, and about how much she had her back. Her parents raved on about their love and support for her. Matt's letter talked to her about the day's events and asked annoying little brother questions about her school. "Do they really put you in a closet for five hours if you misbehave? Because that's what Melina said they do at those schools. And Lanny said they only fed kids there twice a week. Is that true?" But what really caught Lizzie's eye was Gordo's letter. This time on computer paper, it was typed out:

-Dear Lizzie,

Hey. This is Gordo. This letter is going to be short because it's currently midnight and we have PE first period tomorrow. I started this letter in the afternoon, and I couldn't finish it. We miss you so much. Ugh; you need to come home.

I've been writing to you everyday without mentioning again what I wrote on that first letter. After almost three weeks, I figured I was ready to tell you what I've been hiding for over three years. Ah, but I'm typing this time. I can backspace if I regret this!

Okay, so . I really don't want to tell you this. Remember at the murder mystery party when I wanted to tell you something, but your dad interrupted? Remember when Ronnie broke up with you and I also wanted to tell you something? Or when I put you on the school newspaper and you got a letter from Confused Guy? Lizzie, I was trying to tell you something very important all those times that I acted weird. I don't know how to say it. I'll put it simply: I'm Confused Guy. And when I was talking about my best friend, I was talking . about you.-

That's how it ended. The letter WAS short. Lizzie dropped the letter on her desk and scooted her chair back as the bright light of the room hit her eyes suddenly. She remembered the letter.

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Lizzie sat down to check her column mail. The next letter would be the one. Her finishing one. The last advice she would give before turning in her pen.

-Dear Lizzie, I think I may like my best friend as more than a friend. I don't know what to do.
Signed, Confused Guy- +++++

Lizzie looked up at the ceiling as she remembered that day. That was Gordo? All this time she'd been blabbering about Ethan, and Danny, and Frankie, and Ronnie . and the only guy who was actually interested in her . was right under her nose? Her very best friend? Her Gordo? She thought about it for a second. Ethan had hair, Danny had money, Frankie had fame, Ronnie was available. But what did all those guys really have? Nothing. She'd been an idiot. Ever since seventh grade, she remembered, her feelings for Gordo had changed, too. She liked him as more than a friend, too. But she'd thought it was just a phase, and pushed her feelings aside, forcing herself to like the guys with the good hair. When all along, her weird, subconscious feeling was right. Gordo. He was right there, how could she have missed him? In her times of need, he was there. In her happiness, he was there. In her anger, he was there. Even when she got the flu, and her parents were running erands, he held her hair back for her to throw up. Something only the most loving guy would do, he'd done. As these thoughts rushed to her, she wanted to slap her self. She felt like throwing up more than when she'd had the flu five years ago, but she hadn't eaten all day. She had nothing to regurgate. That's when she realized. By the time she got out of this place, Gordo could meet another girl.

She had to get cured and out.