Chapter One: A Thousand Miles

"Hey Lizzie!" Miranda tried her best to sound cheery.

"Hi." Lizzie grunted as she flopped down into the booth of Tony's Pizza Parlor. They had given up the Digital Bean long ago, mostly middle schoolers and freshmen hung out there. Now their stomping ground was the pizza parlor, which held pool tables, foozeball tables, and assorted pinball machines as well as a juke box. Anyone who was anyone at Hillridge High School hung out there.

The last four years had ushered in all sorts of changes for Lizzie and her friends. Though it went totally against her former middle school credo (don't do it if it's not cool) Lizzie had decided to pick up rythmic gymnastics again, and found she excelled at it. So much so, that she had a full scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles on the rythmic gymnastics team. Taking another cue from her junior high days, she was the writer for the advice column of her high school's newspaper, and occassionally did news pieces. She was going to college to major in Journalism using her full ride with rythmic gymnastics, and couldn't be happier about it.

The summer between eighth and ninth grade, Miranda had went on a trip to Mexico City and fell in love with the city, and as a result fully embraced her Latina roots. She was Vice President of the Hispanic Student Association at Hillridge High, a member of the Spanish club, and spent a semester of her junior year as a foreign exchange student to Spain. She planned to minor in Hispanic Studies in college, but her heart was in music. When she wasn't too busy globe trotting or boning up on Mexican history, Miranda was involved with Concert Choir, Chorale Ensemble, Gospel Choir, and Girls' Show Choir, and was the lead singer in an all girl pop punk band called Exit to Eden. She was going to major in music in college, and was attending UCLA like Lizzie. Though they were very different and definitely had different interests, Lizzie and Miranda were first and foremost best friends.

Perhaps the one that had changed the most, however, was Gordo. He was still into his movies, of course, that would never change. Over the past four years he had directed and produced quite a few independent films. Even more interesting than his films, however, was how he earned the money to make them. Lizzie didn't know exactly when it had occured, but some time in ninth grade Gordo had turned into a major pool shark. He would challenge anyone who knew how to hold a pool stick, and usually cleaned them out. Lizzie and Miranda were both convinced he could go pro, but no, he would tell them, pool is just for fun. Movies were what really mattered. Still, if he were to be honest with himself, he'd have to admit he really enjoyed the sport. It was one of the only ones where size didn't matter. Gordo was by no means the same height he was in middle school, but at 5'9, he was still shorter than the majority of the other guys in the senior class. He had gotten used to it though, it didn't really bug him anymore. He still managed to be bigger than life on campus, ever since sophomore year when he had taken over as DJ for Hillridge High radio. He was attending USC film school and hoped to possibly get a job working at the college radio station.

The three of them had underwent some changes, alright, but one thing had always stayed the same. They were best friends, first and foremost. And as of late, all of Gordo and Miranda's excitement about graduation and college had come to a screeching halt when their friend's world had been turned upside down. She just hadn't been the same since she found out she was adopted.

"Is Gordo playing pool?" Lizzie asked.

"Where else would he be?" Miranda said. "Oh wait, here he comes."

Gordo walked over to the booth and slid in next to Lizzie, taking apart his pool stick and putting it in its little velvet lined leather case. Gordo definitely took that sport seriously. He slammed his flat hand down on the table and Lizzie and Miranda both jumped. When Gordo moved his hand away, a large wad of bills sat in its place. Lizzie's eyes widened. Sure, Gordo made out like a bandit every time, but it still never ceased to amaze her.

"Geez, Gordo, how much did you make this time?" Lizzie asked.

"Two fifty. Not bad for a day's work, huh? You guys want a pizza?" Gordo asked.

"I'm not very hungry." Lizzie mumbled.

"Lizzie, you've lost like five pounds in the past week from not eating." Miranda said. "Eat something!"

Lizzie shrugged. "I just don't feel like eating, okay?"

Gordo sighed. "Well, I'm starving, so we're ordering. You can eat or not eat, whatever."

"Gordo!" Miranda said.

"Look, I just don't feel like getting into an argument about Lizzie's eating habits again, okay?" Gordo shot back.

"I can't believe they lied to me for eighteen years." Lizzie said.

"Lizzie, look at how you reacted." Miranda said. "You haven't spoken to them in two weeks. Imagine how you would've acted if they would have told you when you were six or seven."

Lizzie sighed. "I know, but...this changes everything. My entire life has been a lie."

"Your entire life has not been a lie. You're still you." Gordo replied.

"I just feel empty." Lizzie said. "Like there's a part of me missing."

"Well you're still the same old Lizzie McGuire." Gordo replied.

"Well why don't I feel like it?" Lizzie replied.

"Because you've just had a huge shock and had your world turned upside down. It's understandable, Lizzie!" Miranda said.

"This changes everything though." Lizzie replied. "I have no idea who I am, where I belong, none of it."

Gordo sat there, pondering, as he listened to Lizzie pour her heart out to Miranda. "So let's go find out."

"What?" Lizzie asked, looking at him.

"Let's do a little research, and then we'll find your parents. Your real parents."

"Gordo, it's a big country, they could be anywhere." Lizzie said glumly.

"So? School's ending in two weeks, Lizzie. That gives us enough time to do research, and then when school ends, we go on a road trip to find them."

"I don't know..." Lizzie said.

"You know, it is doable. I mean, what do we have to do this summer? Nothing! Let's find your parents, Lizzie." Miranda said.

"Seriously?" Lizzie asked.

"Let's do it!" Gordo said.

Lizzie smiled faintly. "Okay. We'll go find my parents." she nodded. "Okay."