Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire and Co., so don't sue me!

Chapter 7

Lizzie's POV

"Oh, there you are!" I exclaimed as I walked up to Gary and one of his friends. He gave me a kiss. I was a little surprised. "Oh! Hi!"

"Kyle, this is the girl I was telling you about! Lizzie, this is my friend, Kyle. Kyle, Lizzie," Gary introduced us.

I shook Kyle's hand. "Hi, nice to meet you," I said, seeing Kate motioning towards me at the door.

"Um, actually, Gary, Kyle, I'm really sorry to be so rude, but I have to go now. I'm getting a ride with my friends, and they're leaving right now." I waved at Kate for her to wait a little. I turned back to the two guys just in time to see them exchange a glance.

"Oh, wait! You can't go home yet! I was going to show you my house! Remember how I told you I got the brand new furniture?" Gary said quickly. Kyle hastily turned his laugh into a cough. I looked at him suspiciously.

"Um, is something going on?" I asked them.

"Oh, no," answered Gary quickly. "Kyle here was just telling me he had to get back to his girl."

"Oh, yeah!" Kyle laughed. "It was nice to meet you, Lizzie!" He shook my hand and turned to Gary. "Time's a ticking!" he muttered.

"What was he talking about?" I asked Gary.

"Uh, little inside joke," he replied.

"Um, ok," I said skeptically. "But anyways, I have to go now."

"Oh, come on, Lizzie!" he argued. "We just got to know each other!" He made a sad face that made me grin. "Plus," he added, whispering in my ear, "I'll specially make you some of that soufflé! You can see some of my culinary achievements."

"I think you wore me down, Gary," I said, laughing. "How can I resist an offer like that? Let me just tell my friends, hang on just a second."

I walked over to Kate and Ethan. "Hey guys! Um, Kate, let me talk to you for a second."

Kate turned to Ethan. "Just a second, sweetie," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

"You know that guy, Gary, I was telling you about?" She nodded.

"He invited me over to his house, so you guys can go without me."

"Are you sure?" she asked doubtfully. "What about Gordo?"

"What about Gordo? Nothings going to happen, Kate, I'll be ok," assuring her. She agreed hesitantly.

"Ok, call me if you need anything. I guess Ethan and I are going to stay a while longer then."

I walked back to Gary. "Ok, I'm ready, let me just get my coat."

******

Gordo's POV

I sat at the counter glumly, still waiting for Lana. Something brushed against me and I turned. I saw Lizzie walk briskly to the coat check and started to call her but Lana came back.

"Sorry I took forever, there was a long line in the bathroom," she said to me.

"Mmm hmm," I said, barely listening. My eyes followed Lizzie's beautiful figure as she put on her jacket.

Lana started talking again. "So, anyways, we were talking about work, and…"

Lizzie walked to the other side of the counter where she talked to a guy. He stood up and said something, and put his arm around his waist. He looked really familiar… I started to get up.

"…and then she just looked at me and said, 'What cabbage head?'" Lana laughed. "Um, David," she prompted me.

"Hold on, I'll be right back," I muttered, walking towards Lizzie.

"Wait, David, where are you going?" Lana called.

I hurried outside, behind them. "Lizzie!" I called. She turned around.

"Gordo?"

"Lizzie, what are you doing, with this, this, creep?" I asked, glaring at the guy. He was the one who picked on me at the bar.

"Oh, lookie, it's shrimp boy!" he mocked.

"Hey, look," I said, starting for him, but Lizzie pushed me back.

"Gordo, what are you doing?" she hissed at me.

"Look, this guy is not as nice as you think he is, ok? I heard him talking to his friend." I paused, not wanting to hurt her. "He's using you, just to get you in bed and add a tick mark to his count."

"What?!?" Lizzie exclaimed, shocked. "Is this true?" she demanded, turning to Gary. Lana came rushing out.

"David? What's going on? Who are they?"

"Oh, come on, Lizzie! Of course not!" Gary answered. "How do you know this little shrimp anyways?"

"Hey! Don't pick on David!" Lana piped up. I groaned.

"Um, Lana," I muttered. She didn't hear me.

"Excuse me?" Gary said.

"That's right, don't pick on David! You're just scared that he's going to beat you up!" Lana continued.

"Oh, is that so?" Gary sneered at me.

"Oh, no, um, actually-"

BAM!

Gary's fist met the side of my head. I must have fallen back, and blanked out for a few seconds, because when I came to, Lizzie was kneeling over me.

"Gordo? Are you ok?" Her voice seemed so far away. I blinked, and it seemed as though three faces were hovering over me. I blinked again, and everything came back into focus.

"Ohmygosh, Gordo, are you ok?" Lizzie said anxiously. "Do I need to call an ambulance?"

"No, no, I'm fine," I insisted, trying to sit up. My head was in pain.

"Here's some ice," I heard Lana say to Lizzie. "Um, Gordo?" she said quietly. "I think I have to go. So I guess I'll see you around."

"Here, Gordo, do you have your car keys?" Lizzie asked me. I felt in my pocket.

"Yeah."

"Ok, here, hold this, I'll drive you home."

She helped me hobble to the car and got into the driver's seat.

"Ok, let me see this," Lizzie murmured, flipping on the small lights in the car. She had me lean against her while she looked at the bump at the side of my head, just above my eye.

She pressed her cool hand on my forehead and carefully brushed my hair back.

"Ooh, there's definitely a bump," Lizzie announced. "And you'll probably have a bruise for a while. It's still kind of red." She put the ice on it.

"Thank you, Doctor McGuire," I joked. We both laughed, but I quickly stopped when my head started to throb again.

"Shhh," Lizzie murmured, stroking my hair. It felt so good to be cared for like this. I met her gaze and wanted to kiss her so badly.

Lizzie looked away. "Um, we should probably get home."

"Yeah," I said, trying to sit up. She helped me.

After a silent ride, she pulled up into my parents' driveway.

"You sure you're ok?" she asked again, turning off the engine.

"Yeah, I'll be ok, except that I feel bad for ruining your date," I replied.

Lizzie looked down. "No, well, actually, thank you," she said quietly. "He wasn't worth it, and I'm glad I didn't go to his house." She looked up at me. "I'm sorry your date didn't go so well."

I smiled. "It's ok. It was only one of Carol's lame attempt to set me up with one of her friends."

We got out of the car. "You can drive the car home," I offered, "and give it back tomorrow morning."

She shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I'd prefer to walk."

"You shouldn't! It's like, 11!" I said apprehensively.

"Gordo, I'll be fine! It'll take me a minute just to get home! Don't worry!"

"At least let me walk with you," I persisted.

"Seriously, Gordo, I'll be ok! I like to have some time by myself, even though I love your company. Look, if you're so worried, I'll call you right when I get home, ok?" Lizzie assured me.

"Ok, fine," I relented. "If I don't get a goodnight call in two minutes, I'm coming over."

"Ok," she laughed.

"Goodnight, Lizzie."

"'Night, Gordo."

**********

A/N: Hope you like my story so far! I've got what going to happen in the next chapter basically down, so I'll try to find the time to get that up! Too bad school started- only three days, and I'm already wishing it was summer again! Please review, thanks!