A/N: Thanks for the reviews! They were really positive! =) Onwards we march…chapter one!
Disclaimer: (Okay, so I forgot about it in the prologue) I don't own Lizzie McGuire. Never have, never will. It's Disney's.
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I scrambled into history, barely escaping the harsh ringing of the late bell. I absently scanned the room. There was only one seat empty and its desk was covered by a bulky pink binder with scrawls all over it. I blinked. The binder looked strangely familiar. Oh, that's right. It was Lizzie's. She was sitting next to it. She gave me a quizzical expression and gestured to the clock. I shook my head and slid into the seat, gratefully setting the binder on Lizzie's desk.
"Okay, class! Today we begin our talk of the Reformation and the changes it brought to Europe…"
Oh joy of joys. More talk about Catholicism. It's what I've always wanted to hear. I yawned suddenly and flipped to my notebook, opening it to a clean page. I sat there, seemingly attentive, holding a pencil in my right hand as I doodled. Ms. Parvin's voice droned onwards and only a portion of me was paying heed to her lecture. A folded note appeared in my line of vision, obscuring my view of my one-sided tic-tac-toe game. My name was busily scribbled on the front. I glanced at Lizzie. She nodded.
I opened the note:
Gordo –What were you doing? You're never late to class and you barely made it by the bell this time. TELL ME NOW.
- Lizzie
I stifled a laugh. It was Lizzie's I-must-know-everything-about-my-friends thing kicking in again. I drew a line underneath her words and leaned in to write my own, checking to see if Parvin was paying attention. She was drawing a strange diagram to explain about Martin Luther. I copied it down into my notebook and went back to Lizzie's note.
Liz –You know I was tutoring. Just got a bit carried away, that's all. Don't worry. I wasn't mauled by any big jocks or anything. Thanks for caring.
- Gordo
I folded it and slipped it back on her desk. I studied her reaction out of the corner of my eyes. As she scanned my writing, she twirled a lock of her blonde hair around her index finger, winding it and then letting go. I watched it as it sprung back into place. She frowned at the end, eyes darkening with my unsatisfactory answer. Her mouth opened slightly in silent protest. She looked at me. I swiftly turned my gaze away. I could feel her glare burning into my face. I loved teasing her.
Gordo –You're not getting off that easy. Spill, you big jerk. I don't believe a word of that note.
- Lizzie
I felt a grin tugging on the side of my mouth.
Liz –That's not true. I –was- tutoring and I wasn't mauled. You're wrong.
- Gordo
This time I could literally see the frustration coming off of her. She pressed on her pencil tip so hard, I heard the soft snapping of lead. Parvin droned on in the background.
Gordo –
You are a grade A dirk. TELL ME.
- Lizzie
I looked at her again. She flashed me her best puppy-dog look. I melted. She was adorable that way. I nodded, surrendering to her game. Lizzie smiled and her entire face lit up. I made a mental note to make her smile more. She gestured to the note and then busied herself to look like she was listening to Parvin.
Liz –
I met Taylor Shanley while tutoring. Nothing big. I'll see him at lunch. We were discussing the book I was reading, okay? Calm down.
- Gordo
She gaped as she read it. I inwardly groaned. I shouldn't have told her.
Gordo –
YOU MET TAYLOR SHANLEY?!?!?!?! Was he totally hot? He was, wasn't he? He has a smile to DIE for. And his voice…his voice is SOOOOO gorgeous. You're gonna see him at lunch? Can I come? Please? I'll love you forever. I take back what I said about you being a dirk.
- Lizzie
"Crap." I whispered in an undertone to myself. Now Lizzie would go and make a fool of herself over some other guy. And this time, one who hadn't even met her yet. I gritted my teeth together. Flirtatious Lizzie was hard to control and even harder to reason with. I listlessly wished that she'd get worked up over me. Fat chance.
Liz –
I'm not gay for starters, so I can't say that he was hot. He was nice and a good conversationalist. And if we do talk at lunch, you're more than welcome to join us.
- Gordo
I passed it to her as the bell rang out our freedom. I stood, gathering my stuff and closing my barely-used notebook. Lizzie read the note and crumpled it up, stuffing it into the pocket of her jeans. She gave me an adoring thank-you look. I shrugged. She picked up her binder and started for the door, starting to talk to me as we walked.
"I can't believe you met him." Were the first words from her mouth.
I kept my face blank. "Coincidence."
"Lucky…maybe I should tutor too…" Lizzie mused, brows creasing together.
"Lizzie, it's not that fun." I said. "All I get are a few extra credits."
"But to meet Taylor Shanley – "
I shook my head. "I gotta go get some stuff from my locker. I'll see you at lunch, okay?"
Lizzie looked puzzled at my cutoff, but nodded. "Okay. Talk to you later, Gordo."
"Bye."
I mentally kicked myself on the way to my locker. How much worse was it gonna get? And how completely stupid did I have to be?
Little did I know….the worst was still yet to come. We were just anticipating the hurricane.
