"Oh, hey, Kate," Lizzie greeted her cheerfully as she entered the room. Tonight had been so great, that not even she could ruin it.
"You're back?" She asked softly, looking behind her shoulder as Lizzie entered, "How did it go? Did you guys practice?"
"Actually," Lizzie smiled, "No. He took me to his house, and fixed me dinner, and asked me-" She stopped, "He just.....it was a wonderful night."
Kate placed her brush on the vanity in front of her, slowly turning to face Lizzie.
"He asked you what?" She asked slowly. Lizzie shook her head, a smile pressed across her face.
"Nothing! He just...he just-"
"Oh come on," Kate sighed in exasperation, "It's not like you're not totally dying to spill all the details anyway. You might as well just go on and say it."
Lizzie eyed her carefully before taking a deep breath. She didn't know if she could really trust Kate, but things had already gotten far enough as it was. If she spilled now, all hope was lost. Letting her in on one more teensy tiny secret wouldn't harm anything.
"Okay," she smiled, gripping the necklace, "Paolo asked me out!"
"What?" Kate asked, "You mean, as in boyfriend/girlfriend out?"
"Yes!" Lizzie bounced excitedly, "I mean, as in,' me, Lizzie McGuire, the girlfriend of an Italian popstar' OUT!"
They squealed in unison.
"Oh my gosh, this is so cool! I cannot believe YOU, Lizzie McGuire, are going out with a totally hot Italian star!"
Lizzie sighed softly, her smile softening a little.
"What's that for?" Kate asked quickly, "He asked you out, right?"
Lizzie nodded.
"Yeah."
"And you said yeah, right?" She asked expectantly. Lizzie hesitated. Kate groaned, "Lizzie, you're KIDDING! You did NOT say no to Paolo, did you?"
"No! No, I haven't said no to him," she stated, "I just....haven't exactly said yes yet."
Kate sighed.
"You are SO stupid, Lizzie! How many chances will you get to date a guy like HIM?"
Lizzie shook her head, following Kate across the room.
"It's just....I don't want to ruin anything, and, you know, I mean, we're going home soon, and it's just..."
Kate rolled her eyes.
"Lizzie, I seriously thought you were starting to turn UN-loserish," she stated frankly. Lizzie cocked her head to one side before sighing.
"Well, look, anyway, don't tell Gordo about this," She hurried, "I think-"
"Oh," Kate sighed, "That's it. It's Gordo."
Lizzie shot her an odd glare.
"What's Gordo, Kate?"
She sighed, shaking her head.
"The reason you won't agree to go out with Paolo. Duh, Lizzie. It's so obvious."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"It is NOT Gordo! Kate, this has nothing to do with Gordo!"
"Oh no?" She asked softly, "Then why are you keeping this from him?"
Lizzie stopped suddenly, glaring at her.
"I just.....I don't think Gordo likes him, that's all," she answered softly. Kate's mouth dropped slowly.
"And why do you think he doesn't like him?" She asked expectantly. Lizzie contemplated her words for a moment, Kate nodding.
"I don't know," she answered, "I just...I don't want him to be upset."
Kate nodded.
"You're right. If Gordo found out about this, his little heart would be broken." She looked reluctantly at the floor, clucking her tongue. Finally, she looked back up at Lizzie. "I won't tell."
Lizzie sighed, watching her. Kate was so full of it. She'd been trying to convince Lizzie for the past few months that Gordo was desperately in love with her. Obviously she didn't know him very well.
She shook her head.
"Whatever. Look, Kate, I'd really appreciate if you just kept quiet about all this, okay?" She asked weakly. Kate turned back to her vanity.
"I said I would, didn't I?"
Lizzie sighed tiredly, turning away from her. She got so tired of arguing with her ALL the time. Didn't Kate realize that she was just a person?
Lizzie disappeared in the bathroom, returning a few moments later in her pajamas. She yawned, crawling into bed and dropping her head onto her pillow. Her feet kicked the blankets toward the end of the bed. Today seemed like such a long day, and her mind was still racing with Paolo's question in her head. She, however, could now feel herself falling to sleep, and knew that those thoughts could wait until tomorrow morning.