* Chapter 13 – Gordo *

I was dreaming… I had to be.

Breaking apart from our kiss, I just stared, dumbfounded, at my best friend.

"Whoa," I said softly. Lizzie nodded and looked at me quickly.

"Whoa," she established. I ran a hand through my hair, blushing furiously. Lizzie laughed nervously, and avoided eye contact with me. I licked my lips quickly. I could taste her lip-gloss on my tongue – it was strawberry flavored, and I admit, it tasted good. Lizzie was watching me as I looked up. She smiled sheepishly and bit her lip.

"Lizzie, I'm –" I started. Lizzie cut me off, raising a hand. She watched my face with shining eyes, and smiled softly.

"I take full responsibility," she said, ignoring my protests, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?!" I almost shouted, staring at her in disbelief. Lizzie looked at me quizzically.

"What?" she asked. I laughed under my breath and blushed, growing a dark shade of scarlet as her hazel eyes swept over me. "Oh."

We sat there for a while, unmoving. I didn't know what to say. I mean, what would you do? Finally, I broke the awkward silence.

"So…" I said, trying to act nonchalant, "breakfast is probably downstairs."

"Yeah." Lizzie said, nodding her head. I got up from my position on the bed and walked toward the door. I tried to stay at least a foot away from Lizzie. I was afraid that if I got too close, I would get caught up in the moment, and do something that I would regret later. I was itching to touch her, to hold her in my arms again. In fact, I was starting to scare myself.

As soon as we reached the bottom of the stairs, I could smell bacon and eggs, along with other various foods I did not even recognize. I took it in, trying to calm myself. But, however far my mind wandered, it always came back to Lizzie. I sighed and turned around, suddenly conscious of a pair of eyes watching me.

"What?" I questioned, turning Lizzie's way. She looked down at the floor.

"Nothing."

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah." I began to walk toward the smell of sizzling food. Suddenly, Lizzie's hand was on my arm, holding me back. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt dizzy.

"Wait," Lizzie breathed, "Gordo… promise me. Promise me nothing will be different." I looked at her face and shivered slightly.

"I promise," I pledged, holding out my pinkie. "Pinkie swear." Lizzie looked at me with a playful grin. She held out her smallest finger and laughed.

"Pinkie swear," she agreed, locking her finger in mine. We smiled at each other. I couldn't keep my eyes from searching her face. Her eyes… it was always her eyes that made me feel different. When I looked at Lizzie, her eyes seemed to sparkle with satisfaction. It was uncanny, yet pleasant at the same time.

 After about a minute, I realized we were still holding our pinkies together. Looking down at our hands, we laughed quickly, and broke apart. I desperately tried not to blush, fighting my emotions every step of the way.

Without a word, I turned away and started to walk toward the kitchen. That promise, that oath we made; it was worthless. I couldn't stop yearning for Lizzie. I couldn't just throw away everything and burn the remains. My brain no longer led me, my instincts and soul did. When I looked at this girl – my best friend – I just wanted to make her feel special, important. I wanted to make her realize that I cared deeply for her.

When she kissed me, I realized that maybe something was different between us. Maybe she had feelings for me, too. Whenever I touched her, even slightly, it sent shivers down my spine. I felt clammy and dehydrated. When I touched her, I felt chemistry. That was what it was. She was driving me crazy.

There was a question unanswered though. Did Lizzie truly care for me, or was she substituting me for another guy like Ethan Craft? Was I her choice, or was her kiss just a spur of the moment sort of thing? I lowered my head and breathed deeply. She always liked Ethan; not really love-wise, but in a desperate 'oh-my-god, got to get him, he's so hot' kind of way. For a long time, I've accepted this; dealt with the fact that the girl that I loved would never love me back. But, every time her heart breaks over some random guy, I feel my compassion for her flowing even stronger in my veins. I sense myself pining for her to see me as more than just a friend.

At the kitchen table, Matt, Jo, Sam, and Miranda were sitting, eating a delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs, Pancakes, sausages, and hash browns. I breathed deeply, taking in the soothing aroma of the prepared meal. It smelled great, as I expected.

As Lizzie and I walked in through the doorway, Jo looked up from her eggs.

"Glad you could join us, Lizzie." She prodded her eggs with a fork; "Gordo," she added. She gave her husband a look, but he wasn't paying attention. The sausages had his full concentration.

"Yeah. We were, um – are very hungry," Lizzie replied, quickly grinning in her most innocent way. Miranda smiled at us pointedly.

"Did you guys finish your science project?" she asked, full of curiosity. She smiled again, jerking her head towards Jo. I glanced at Lizzie.

"Yeah!" I lied, faking enthusiasm, "we were stuck on part of it, but now it's okay."

"Oh. I see." Jo nodded and piled more eggs on her plate. "May I ask what it is about?"

Both Lizzie and I responded almost instantly.

"The Pythagorean theorem!"

"Genetics!"

Lizzie and I glanced at each other, knowing fully well that we were caught. Jo smirked suspiciously and laughed, watching our faces. Miranda made a cutting motion across her throat, and I saw Matt watching us. Even Sam looked up from his sausages. Suddenly, my throat felt dry.

"The Pythagorean theorem is math," I hissed at Lizzie. Apparently, Jo McGuire knew this. She folded her arms across her chest and waited for us to explain. Lizzie laughed for no reason and then, seeing the expression on her mother's face, looked at her plate. To my dismay, Jo spoke up.

"Now, usually I don't meddle in your business Lizzie, but when you start lying to me about doing science projects, when you're really doing something else… it makes me wonder what is going on."

Lizzie bit her lip.

"What were you two doing up in Lizzie's room?" Jo asked tenaciously. Matt was smirking in brotherly pleasure at seeing his sister get in trouble, Sam looked ready to jump in and kill, and Miranda looked fearful; something like a deer caught in the headlights of a speeding car.

I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up. Lizzie looked at me with wide, scared eyes, shaking her head no. I took a deep breath, ignoring her silent pleas.

"Mrs. McGuire, I have to talk to you. In private." Jo nodded her head and took me into the other room. I saw Lizzie bury her head in her hands. Sam tried to get up, but was sent back to his chair by the look that Jo gave him.

Jo motioned for me to sit down, and I did. Jo sat across from me, crossing her legs and leaning forward. I felt like psychiatrist patient awaiting an appointment. But, Before I could speak, Jo silenced me.

"Now Gordo," she said, smiling at me pitilessly, "I trust you. You're like another son to me. Don't get me wrong. Whatever you say, I will listen with complete respect and a controlled temper." She smiled again, but it seemed a little forced. "Go ahead and explain."

"Mrs. McGuire, it's not what you think," I began, at the same time pleading with god to forgive my lying, "Lizzie had a really hard day. I was just talking with her. You know, making sure she was okay. There was this guy she had a major crush on." I furrowed my forehead in thought. "She was trying to, you know, build up the nerve to ask him out. But, she found out this morning from Miranda that he had moved away - far away. To Italy or something." I smiled sadly, playing the part of a comforting best friend, "she was embarrassed that she was so upset. She needed to talk to me, that's all."

To my surprise, Jo had tears in her eyes. She dabbed at them with her shirt after removing her glasses. She leaned over and pulled me into a tight hug, sobbing.

"My poor baby," she cooed, "poor Lizzie. I know how it is when I have my mind set on something. How awful!"

She let go of me and held me by the shoulders, looking into my face, "you're so sweet, Gordo. Lizzie must be so happy to have such a good friend like you."

I smiled quickly and shrugged.

"Thanks," I said apprehensively. Jo looked at me in the face and grinned again.

"Sorry about that Gordo. I just thought something else was going on between you two…" I blushed, and Jo quickly put a hand to her mouth. "Oops. I'm probably embarrassing you!" She laughed and pulled me to my feet rather forcefully, "sorry about that – it's my job."

I still couldn't believe it; either I was a really good actor, or Jo was ready to consider anything. I breathed deeply and shrugged it off, following Jo back into the kitchen through the arched doorframe.

When I sat down, Lizzie looked at me out of the corner of her eye. Before I could reassure her that everything was all right, Jo spoke up, speaking directly to Lizzie.

"I'm so sorry about your unfortunate turn of events sweetie!" Jo cried, groping her hands about and finding Lizzie's. The expression on my best friend's face was utter and complete confusion.

"Yeah…" Lizzie replied hesitantly, looking at me quickly. Jo was wiping her nose on a napkin. I had to stop myself from bursting into laughter.

"Are you okay? Do you need to talk to me about anything?" Jo persisted, determined to help her daughter in any way. Lizzie smiled uncertainly.

"Umm…no - no… I'm fine," she said. Jo squeezed her hand and smiled.

"If you need anything… anything… don't hesitate to ask."

Lizzie looked away, completely flabbergasted. Miranda stared at me, and I saw Jo lean over and whisper in Sam's ear. He nodded in understanding. Miranda mouthed, 'what did you say?' I ignored her, shaking my head. Suddenly, Jo glanced at her watch.

"Look at the time!" she exclaimed, smile widening, "it's one o'clock. Weren't you guys going to go to the Digital Bean about now?"

Miranda glanced at Lizzie and then me, a grin playing across her face.

"I have a better idea," she announced, smiling wickedly, "how about we go to the mall instead?" Lizzie's head snapped around at the mention of the mall, and I groaned. Jo thought about that for a moment, ignoring the hopeful looks of Matt and Sam. Finally, she made up her mind, laughing in feminine pleasure.

"Sure, why not?"

Ohhh… what's gonna happen now, huh? *laugh*

You'll find out soon!

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Thanks a bunch…

Tic-Tac  ^_~