Hey, thanks for the reviews! I was in a fiasco for a while, but now, I'm back – as Tic-Tac2. Now, don't worry about the number – call me Tic-Tac.
pixie: Purple arrows are great, aren't they? Well, I'm very glad you enjoy reading my stories, 'cause I love to write them! Thanks for the positive review!
GordosGirlie: Hey! Thanks for the wonderful review! I really like getting reviews from you – they always make me smile. And, of course, you deserve the compliment. Case closed. No questions asked. Hands down.
harrypocd: *hehe* here you go! Hope you didn't die of impatience! I'm much obliged to you!
Lola: I'm not putting your number down, cause you'll always be Lola to me. *grins* And, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, you're right. Matt… well… just read. ^_^
Donzabobo: Yo! Dini! Wazzup? Lol – I'm not good at the whole "cool" thing… *looks ashamed* Oh well. Thanks for the review!! And, well, here is your update. Have fun! Muahahahahaha…
maria: Of course, your number does not need to be added. *hehe* And thanks, your review made me smile. All I can say is: I feel sorry for our favorite couple…
Em: Em!! Buddy! Your reviews are *always* long… *laughs* But, that's the best part, eh? And thanks, I like how this is turning out too – when I started, I didn't even know what to do. I just improvised…lol… And, not just Jo saw the pictures – Sam too! Ooooo… that's not good. *hehe* Thanks, thanks, thanks, and yeah, the dance will be interesting. If you're still reading this… *coughs* Why would you even read this when the update is right below you? *grins* O well. *shrugs* ENJOY!
cutechica06: Of course! Hey! How are ya? *hehe* thanks for everything, and I hope you like this chapter – it was fun to write! ^_^ Thanks again, Manda! Much luv from me to you. Oh, and too bad about the Florida trip… it's a pity.
If I missed some people, I'm REALLY sorry. My account, like I told you, was changed (like lots of other people's) and some reviews weren't placed on the review page. Well… anyways… ENJOY! And, please review!
* Chapter twenty – No POV *
Lizzie and Matt stood in front of the junior high, their eyes sweeping over the decorations that were strung haphazardly over the doors. On the way to the school, Matt had hid behind a bush to shed out of his casual clothes into his tuxedo. Reluctantly, Lizzie had agreed to hide his casuals in her locker. Now, Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest and glanced over at her brother, pursing her lips in annoyance.
"I'm not doing this as a favor, Worm," she established. Matt straightened his tie, looking smug.
"Of course."
"You are not going to ruin this for me." Lizzie watched as a couple walked past them, and pushed through the decorative double-doors, laughing and smiling. Matt smoothed out the wrinkles in his pants, ignoring them completely.
"Sure."
"You will not converse with Gordo, Ethan, or me before, during, or after the dance." Matt sighed.
"Listen, Liz. I may be your little brother, but I'm not a total moron. I know what you're saying, okay? Let's go in."
Lizzie bit her bottom lip nervously. "Fine." With a grin, Matt handed her his clothes, and walked through the doors, confident as ever. Resentment boiling in the pit of her stomach, Lizzie followed after him. Except, instead of heading left, she made a beeline for the stairs, glancing over her shoulder anxiously. The shoes she was wearing made echoing clunks every time she walked up a step, and Lizzie cringed, expecting a teacher to emerge out of the shadows and ask her why she wasn't in the gym with all the other students.
"I'm probably missing all the good songs," Lizzie hissed through her teeth.
From the gym, Lizzie could hear the music – the song was buoyant, and Lizzie had to smile quickly and nod her head. It would be fun to dance to, she concluded. But, right now, dancing was out of the question. She had to get to her locker without getting caught.
Heart beating loudly, she tiptoed to her locker. With a little relieved sigh, she pressed her hand against the metal, and daintily spun the combination lock, shaking from head to foot. She had no idea if she was allowed to be up there or not, but right then, she felt like an escaped convict.
"A criminal. Sure. It's my brother whole deserves juvie, not me." Lizzie stuffed the clothes into the locker, and glared at them. Suddenly, she heard footsteps echoing through the gloomy hallway. Lizzie froze, and her heart began pounding at a machine-gun pace. She bit her lip, still frozen at her locker. The footsteps stopped, and beads of sweat trickled down her forehead.
"Lizzie?" a voice asked. Lizzie gave a little paranoid yelp, and slammed her locker shut. The banging reverberated loudly off the walls, and she turned around. A familiar figure walked towards her, book in hand. Soon, Gordo was standing in front of her, a lopsided grin lighting up his features. Lizzie let out her breath slowly.
"Gordo… it's just you…" she sputtered. Gordo raised his eyebrows, looking at her face intently. In the darkness, Lizzie's red cheeks were inconspicuous.
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Again, Gordo was there to help her.
"Oh, nothing," Lizzie squeaked coolly, leaning casually on her locker.
Gordo's eyes shifted to the dappled ceiling. "You know, Liz, you're really bad at lying. Tell me what's wrong." Gordo's tone was firm, but sincere. Lizzie opened her mouth, but nothing came out. As he watched her, his eyes widened, then narrowed, and Lizzie stepped back. Gordo gritted his teeth, now seething mad.
"Ethan didn't try anything, did he?" he spat, clenching his fists subtly. Lizzie shook her head, amazed at the incredible change that came over her semi-geeky best friend. He looked like he would pulverize anyone who laid a hand on her…
Lizzie's heart skipped a beat. He was protecting her, and it felt right. Why, oh why, did this feel right?
She smiled quickly. "I-I have to go." She turned her head, desperate to avert her gaze from the heartfelt concern that reflected in his eyes. "T-to the dance." Her face burned.
"Yeah." Gordo looked embarrassed at his outburst. Lizzie rubbed her arm, gulping down words she was longing to say. The silence was only broken by an excited scream down in the gym. The two friends laughed tersely at the sound, and Gordo took a deep breath, trying to regain his confidence.
Gordo smiled, and held out his arm. "May I escort you downstairs?"
Lizzie linked her arm with his, smiling warmly. Their cheeks flushed crimson in the darkness. "Of course."
As they trekked their way to the gymnasium, Lizzie desperately struggled to overlook the fact that every second she was touching Gordo was like intercepting an electrical current. Sparks were flying. Actually, Lizzie was surprised to find that her body wasn't singed. But, as uncanny as the whole experience was, Lizzie couldn't help but relax onto Gordo.
"You look really nice today, Lizzie," Gordo blurted unexpectedly. Lizzie was taken aback, but she felt good all the same.
"Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself!" It was true – she had noticed that he was clad fancier than she had anticipated. He was – Lizzie searched for a word – handsome. Yes. Handsome. Gordo was handsome. Lizzie blinked her eyes rapidly, averting her thoughts from Gordo.
Soon, they were at the gym doors - open and inviting only when dances were at hand. Gordo craned his head to look at Lizzie. She showed no sign of letting go of his arm as she peered into the bustle of the gym. Suddenly, a tall figure appeared at the doorway. Gordo could feel himself automatically scowl in displeasure.
"Ethan," he acknowledged. Lizzie's head shot up.
"Hey Ethan!" she cried, smiling brightly. Ethan grinned, and ran a hand through his hair.
"Yo, Homies!" He stared at Lizzie and Gordo's linked arms. "Hey Gor-don! Tryin' to steal my date?"
Gordo fixed a sarcastic smile. "Of course not. She's all yours." Ethan's trademark grin did not alter. Lizzie looked between the two boys, biting her bottom lip.
"C'mon Lizz-ay – we can go chill for a while. This party is startin' to get pumped!" Ethan said sounding excited. Lizzie nodded, and looked at Gordo. Her eyes swept across his face, as if she were trying to find something, anything, that expressed what he was feeling. After finding no trace of emotion, she reluctantly pulled away his arm. Bliss… the pure bliss she was feeling… it was gone. Lizzie felt limp.
Ethan persisted, growing more impatient by the second. "Let's go, Liz!" Lizzie walked over to stand next to him, and they began to walk away, leaving Gordo standing by himself in the middle of the doorway.
Suddenly, Lizzie heard her name being called. She whirled around, only to find herself face-to-face with Gordo. They were too close… she expected to back away. But, neither she, nor he, backed off.
"Liz," said Gordo, a grin spreading across his face, "Save me a dance."
Lizzie rolled her eyes and punched his arm. "Of course, Gordo. Two, even."
"Thanks," Gordo said softly. Lizzie wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly.
"Hey. No prob." She moved closer to him, so her lips were almost touching his ear. "You're a better dancer anyway," she whispered, giggling. She pulled apart from him, grinned, and strode over to Ethan, who was dancing eccentrically to the music - an upbeat rock and roll hit. She rolled her eyes for Gordo to see, and pulled Ethan into the crowd. Gordo smiled after her.
**********~**********
Lizzie and Ethan walked through the mob of people, trying to get through to the punch bowl. It was hard, because a slow dance was playing, and no one, save the cheerleaders, was on the floor. Everyone else was nervously fidgeting on the side, trying to catch their partner's eye.
Ethan grabbed two cups of punch, and led Lizzie into a corner of the gym that was apart from everything else. Ethan grinned at the music.
"This party is totally terrif!" He had to shout over the music. Lizzie nodded, and Ethan continued.
"I think it would be fun if we went out some time! We have, you know, something goin' on! I feel something when I'm with you!"
Lizzie heard this, and froze. She did the first thing that came to mind. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
Shrugging, Ethan grinned. "Later. I'm going to request a song! Be right back!" Lizzie nodded, and watched him melt into the hustling crowd. She rubbed her eyes, aware that she probably smudged all of her mascara. Itching to do something, Lizzie looked out towards the dance floor. She gritted her teeth. Matt was dancing with Miranda. To a slow song! Even though Lizzie had asked Miranda to, it seemed stupid to be so upset over a few pictures. Her parents would understand, wouldn't they?
Yeah, right McGuire, and your parents aren't overactive.
Lizzie hit her head with her hand. Now she had a headache.
"I hate this damn situation!" she murmured, rubbing her forehead.
Suddenly, Ethan rushed back through the crowd, knocking some people over, and grabbed Lizzie's arm. He grinned at the surprised expression on her face, and pulled her into the center of the dance floor. No one else was dancing, and Lizzie could feel herself blush. Suddenly, a voice rang out over the gym.
"Hey guys! Having fun?" Everyone whistled and cheered. "Ethan Craft is the first person to request a song! That means he wins a dinner for two at Thai Ginger…" Ethan cheered, and Lizzie raised her eyebrows somewhat. "Now, is everyone ready to partaaayyy?" A few more whistles and screams met Lizzie's ears. "HERE WE GO!"
She asks me why… I'm just a hairy guy
I'm hairy noon and night; Hair that's a fright
I'm hairy high and low,
Don't ask me why; Don't know!
It's not for lack of bread
Like the Grateful Dead; darling
Ethan began dancing and singing along, occasionally twirling Lizzie. Despite herself, Lizzie couldn't stop laughing. The song was so… Ethan.
Gimme a head with long, beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there, hair!
Shoulder length, longer (hair!)
Here baby, there mama, Everywhere daddy daddy
Hair! (hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair)
Flow it, Show it;
Long as God can grow it, My Hair!
Lizzie looked over the crowd, her face burning. It was funny, yes, and Ethan was great, but still, she wanted to dance with someone else. She saw Miranda across the room in a fit of sputtering giggles; Matt was slapping her back.
Let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees
Give a home to the fleas in my hair
A home for fleas, a hive for bees
A nest for birds, there ain't no words
For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder of my –
- Hair! (hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair)
Flow it, Show it;
Long as God can grow it, My Hair!
Lizzie was mortified, but Ethan was dancing away, totally oblivious to Lizzie's obvious will to stop. Miranda was now on the ground coughing, and Lizzie could feel her face burning an even brighter red. In the crowd, she heard Kate and Claire catcalling.
I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy
Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
Oily, greasy, fleecy, shining
Gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen
Knotted, polka-dotted; Twisted, beaded, braided
Powdered, flowered, and confettied
Bangled, tangled, spangled and spaghettied!
O-oh, Say can you see; my eyes if you can,
Then my hair's too short!
Down to here, down to there,
Down to where, down to there;
It stops by itself!
Doo doo doo doo doot-doot doo doo doot
Lizzie sighed, smiling fixedly at Ethan. This was her dream date?
They'll be ga-ga at the go-go
When they see me in my toga
My toga made of blond, brilliantined, Biblical hair
My hair like Jesus wore it
Hallelujah I adore it
Hallelujah Mary loved her son
Why don't my Mother love me?
Finally, the music stopped, and everybody was cheering and laughing manically. Lizzie shut her eyes, and clenched her fists. Ethan grinned at her.
"Wasn't that total chaos?" he asked. Lizzie smiled; inside though, she felt like crying. She was humiliated.
"Yeah, just great," she said testily.
***********~***********
"T-that was s-s-so funny!" Miranda blurted, clutching her side. Matt grinned also, helping her off the ground. Miranda received a few looks from the people around her as she began another fit of giggles.
"O-okay, I'm fine now!" she sighed. "But the expression on her face! Priceless!" She turned to Matt, who was raising his eyebrows. She narrowed her eyes as another song began.
"Still got the pictures, Matt?" She put her arms around his neck, and he put his hands on her waist. He nodded furtively, and snickered.
"Right here." He patted his pants pocket. Miranda sighed.
"I wish I could see them…"
"You're going to. Later. Remember how I told you that they couldn't stay away from each other?" Matt raised an eyebrow and motioned towards the other side of the gym. "Look." Miranda turned her head, and smiled.
"I can't believe Lizzie blew Ethan off!"
"Blew him off? My sister? Knowing her, she just asked him if she could hang out with her 'friends' – or, in this case, friend. Singular." Matt rolled his eyes.
"Why don't we do this, then?" asked Miranda impatiently. "I mean, if they're already together… in a romantic environment…"
Matt shrugged carelessly. "Sure. You have the payment?"
Miranda reached over to the table beside her, and grabbed her purse. "Fifty dollars." She counted out five ten-dollar bills. "Here you go, Matt. Now can I see them?"
Matt nodded. "Just a sec."
He pulled the envelope out of his pocket, and opened it, grinning as he looked inside… Miranda looked over his shoulder, giggling in anticipation.
Suddenly, his expression was that of alarm.
"Oh God. Lizzie's gonna kill me."
**********~**********
Lizzie rushed through the crowd of people, desperately looking for a recognizable face. She pushed through all of her peers, searching… Suddenly, she spotted a familiar curly head standing at the punch table.
"Gordo!" she called in greeting, coming up to meet him. He turned around and his face split into a grin. "Gordo! Hey…" she clutched her knees, catching her breath.
"Hey yourself, McGuire!" he said, smiling. Lizzie beckoned towards the dance floor, flushing pink.
"Do you want to dance?" Gordo smiled brighter, happier than he had been in days.
"Well… I don't know…" he started, grinning playfully. Lizzie grabbed his arm and dragged him a side of the dance floor.
"C'mon Gordo, don't be nervous!" Lizzie called just as jokingly. Gordo rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms.
"Does it look like I'm nervous?" Lizzie chuckled. Suddenly, a another song came on. Gordo listened to it, smiling. Lizzie turned her eyes on him.
"How about this one?" she asked. "It's perfect!" Gordo flushed, realizing the truth in her statement. He nodded, and they stepped closer to each other. Gordo blushed.
"Listen…um, Liz – we don't have to do this, if it makes you uncomfortable." Gordo looked down at his hands. In response, Lizzie strode closer, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Gordo put his hands on her waist eagerly.
Lizzie shivered. This was… this was too much like the time they kissed…
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
I feel my heart start to trembling
Whenever you're around
Awkwardly, the two friends shuffled their feet, trying to listen to the lyrics instead of paying attention to their partner.
Oh baby when I see your face
Mellow as the month of May
Oh darling I can't stand it
When you look at me that way
I feel the earth move
Gordo caught Lizzie's eye, and he grinned. Lizzie couldn't help but smile. This was just Gordo, she told herself… she began to relax.
Oh darling when you're near me
And you tenderly call my name
I know that my emotions
Are something I just can't tame
I just got to have you baby
Lizzie closed her eyes, and smiled. Comfortable at last, she laid her head down gently on Gordo's shoulder. She felt him stiffen in surprise. Then, his hold tightened protectively around her waist.
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
I just lose control
Down to my very soul
I get hot
All over…
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
Tumbling down
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
Tumbling down…
The song finished.
Lizzie and Gordo stood like that for what seemed to them like forever. Finally, they broke apart. The exhilaration that the two felt was amazing. Lizzie could barely breathe, and Gordo was suffering from severe hyperventilation. Lizzie asked if he was all right, and he just nodded, and tried to calm his nerves. No, of course he wasn't all right!
Lizzie, while still trying to help her best friend, looked out over the crowd. She saw Matt and Miranda together at the other end of the gym. Matt was cowering, while Miranda was yelling and jabbing his chest with a well-aimed finger. Lizzie narrowed her eyes, and saw that Matt was holding in his hand none other than… the pictures?! Betrayal and hate boiled inside of her. With clenched fists, she turned to Gordo. He had gotten up, and his eyes were inquisitive. Lizzie bit her tongue.
"My brother. MY BROTHER!" she exploded, and Gordo's confusion deepened. "Gordo, come with me."
She grabbed his hand, and dragged him across the dance floor towards her brother and her best female friend.
Suddenly, the mood wasn't so romantic anymore.
A/N: Good? Bad? Love it? Hate it? Tell me, please! The review button is lonely.
Don't you just love the song, "Hair"? It's awesome. I thought it would be *perfect* for Ethan. Hahahahaha… *cough* ignore me. Anyway, tell me what you think, and more good stuff in the next chapter! Promise.
IMPORTANT: On Wednesday, August 6, I will be gone camping. So, that means no updates. Sorry. I had no control over the situation. If it were my choice, I would sit at my computer all day and write. *laugh* Yeah right. I love you all, but I need fresh air sometimes. Lol – but I did write you an extra long chapter. See?
Cheers **
~Tic-Tac
