I don't own it.

===Voices Carry===

"Who was that guy?" Lizzie asked.

"What guy?"

"The voice in the background."

"...What voice?" Gordo said, confused.

"The one who told Miranda it was time for dinner."

"I never heard a voice...maybe it was her dad..?"

"It wasn't her dad."

"Then it's the kidnapper holding them hostage who also happens to like prompt meals."

"Gordo, I'm serious."

"And I'm not?"

Lizzie sighed. "I'm worried."

"I know you are. And I told you that she would talk to us when she was ready to, didn't I?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're like a broken record."

"But aren't I usually right?"

"Emphasis on *usually*," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes. "Okay. Well. I'll see you in school tomorrow, I guess."

"Of course."

She hesitated, then sighed. "Bye."

"Bye."

Gordo hung up the phone. School wasn't supposed to be complicated. Not when you were as smart as David Gordon. Well, it wasn't school, exactly. School he could handle fine. It was the people at school. Specifically his best friends.

His parents, while they loved Lizzie and liked Miranda (they thought she was on the verge of being "trouble"), had, once he had reached a "mature age", warned him extensively of the problems that came with being best friends with two girls. Gordo had ignored their warnings, having found that his worst problem was having to listen to Lizzie and Miranda talk incessantly about people like Danny Kessler and Ethan Craft. But now... Now, Gordo found himself liking Lizzie. *Liking* Lizzie. Not entirely out of nowhere, because she was pretty and smart and fun and caring and nice...he supposed this was what his parents had been trying to warn him about.

And if that wasn't enough, *now* he had Miranda to worry about. He didn't even know where to start with that. Maybe his instincts were off, just a mother hen complex kicking in full gear and blocking out logic, where logic might prevail.

He had talked to Mrs. McGuire. It had been a step, a good step, and that was good. So he should just wait for some new developments. It was all he could do.