* Chapter six – Lizzie *

I shucked off my clothes and threw them in a corner. Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself and turned on the shower, setting the temperature to hot. A chill ran down my spine. I was freezing, dirty, and sticky.

Stupid brothers!

I stuck out my hand and made sure the water was close to boiling. Then, satisfied, I stepped inside and closed the curtain behind me. Heaving a sigh, I allowed the water to run through my hair and down my back, which was covered in goose bumps. I sighed again, and focused on reality, which all of a sudden was more complicated than it was all set up to be.

My mind was reeling. All of my thoughts were jumbled, and I couldn't think clearly.

What was I thinking, laying my head on Gordo's shoulder? I had never done that before…

It just seemed so right. He was right there, and he was Gordo.

Gordo, of all people!

I grabbed the shampoo bottle and squeezed some of the gel onto my hand. I massaged it onto my scalp, still fighting desperately with myself.

I like him!

No!

Yes!

No!

Yes? Did I?

I mean, I didn't have to think of it like that. I could say I like him as more than a friend, or that he's a sweet, caring, wonderful guy that I'm falling for.

Yeah, I mean, it could've been anyone that I started to have a crush on! It just happens that Gordo was there, and…

Who am I kidding?

I kneaded my head with my knuckles and applied conditioner to my hair, standing off to the side and watching the water cascade out of the shower nozzle. I reached for some soap and rubbed it all over my body. I ran a hand through my silky, wet, locks of blonde hair.

Finally, when my hair and body was rid of all dirt and grime – and marshmallow -, I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a lime-green towel around me. I grabbed another small towel and wrapped my hair up in a bun, covering it professionally with the towel. I sighed, tightening the towel around my body.

I opened the door a crack, and peered around the corner. I didn't want Matt screwing with me right now. I was confused – I might think he was a huge piece of Turkish delight. I might try to eat him.

Don't doubt me, it's possible.

The coast was clear, so I stepped into the hallway. I looked over the balcony to the floor below and saw my whole family – including Gordo and Miranda – talking. I shuddered, wondering what my parents would think to talk about this time.

The last time my friends came over, they started talking about college funds. Only Gordo was slightly interested. I had to drag my mom and dad out of the room and teach them a bit about who are my friends, and who are their friends. Finally, I just had to shorten it to, 'go bug your own buddies!'

They were a little resentful after that. But, like all parents, they got over it. Quickly.

I hurried into my room and got dressed, drying my hair with one hand, and brushing my teeth with the other. I moved to get the toothpaste cap and I yelled as I tripped over the hairdryer cord and toppled to the floor. Untangling myself from the cable, I stood up, embarrassed, and brushed off my clothes. It was a good thing my friends weren't there. I probably would've killed them during my fall.

Then, knowing me, I would electrocute myself with the hairdryer.

I sighed. I was such a klutz. I always thought of it as a stage, you know, like a toddler's 'terrible twos', but, somehow, that didn't get through to my brain.

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes in exasperation and started downstairs to rescue my friends from my family.

Tally-ho! {A/N: Tally-ho! Ha! Okay, I'll shut up now…}

"…And so, she yells: you are on the other side!" Sam said, laughing. I heard scattered forced laughter and I rolled my eyes, coming into the room. I sighed, taking a seat next to Gordo and Miranda. I pushed Matt of the couch.

"Dad," I said, "you aren't telling your dumb blonde jokes again, are you?" He looked at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Lizzie, my jokes are funny!"

"Yeah Liz, they're pretty good." Gordo said, coming to my dad's defense. I looked at him in amazement and turned to my mom.

"Mom, you're a fellow blonde… back me up here!" I cried, shoving Gordo towards Miranda. She pushed him back.

"Sam," Jo said, looking over her spectacles, "I agree. It's discrimination against blondes, and all recessive genes."

"What do genes have to do with it?" Sam asked, scrunching up his forehead. Jo smirked.

"Everything." Everybody laughed and my mom and dad looked away from each other, sticking out their tongues. Miranda and I laughed.

"Oh, real mature." I said, shoving Gordo again. Miranda responded by shoving him back and grinning.

"So, Miranda, Lizzie, when are you going to stop treating me like the human tennis ball?" Gordo asked, raising his eyebrows. Matt's eyes lit up and he suddenly got up, standing tall in the middle of the room and placing his right hand over his heart.

"I read about him in a comic book once," Matt said randomly, sighing happily, "He's my hero."

"Son, we're men. We are our own hero's." Sam said, beginning one of his annoying 'men' speeches. I raised a warning hand.

"No, Dad, not here." I said, rolling my eyes so Miranda and Gordo could see. Jo looked at Sam.

"Men, huh?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, "remember when you couldn't fix the pipes…"

Sam shook his head frantically at Jo.

"…And I had to do it for you?"

Matt looked up at Jo and sighed happily, "Mother, Father, I know what I want to be when I grow up…"

Sam and Jo leaned in to hear.

"… I want to be a woman!"

Everybody laughed and Sam looked in horror at his son. Matt was grinning, bowing before us. I knew he was joking – or I hoped so.

Suddenly, Jo glanced at the clock, "Oh, kids, it's time for bed. Time goes by so fast when we're having fun!"

We turned to leave.

"Oh, Gordo honey. I saw you didn't bring a sleeping bag – just ask Lizzie for one. She has a lot in her room." My mom looked at me sharply, reminding me that I still needed to give some away to the less fortunate.

Oops.

"Thanks, Mrs. McGuire." Gordo said, following Miranda and me up the stairs. Without all the commotion distracting me, I once again felt the fluttering in my stomach just by being a few feet away from Gordo. I swallowed loudly and proceeded to my bedroom.

This was going to be an interesting night.

Thanks for reading! You did, right? Good!

*haha* I love writing this story… I guess the McGuire's are sort of like my family. My parents are really weird, and I have a little brother about Matt's age… *confused look*

Oh. And I have a close friend that's a boy… hey! I don't like that look on your face! It's not like that, you sick-minded people!

Whatever. Lol. ^_^

Turkish delight! What the heck, you're asking. Well, it just came into my head. So there! *sticks out tongue* They're actually sorta bad – like Peeps. Well, they're actually a bit better, if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

If not, go eat a pickle!

Thank you, thank you! And again, thank you!

Tic-Tac  ^_~

dogzcrazy@hotmail.com - feel free to email me with questions, and stuff. Yeah, very descriptive.

Don't worry, I don't bite! =)

As Ned Flanders would say, 'If that don't put the dink in quinky-dink!'