Disclaimer: "Lizzie McGuire" isn't mine. It belongs to Disney. I make up
these stories without any monetary compensation...only the joy of writing
them and the happy-happy feedback I get back (hopefully *G*!)
Dedication: To Jess, starzygirl, Julz, lizzie-fan, Nimrodel, Baby Bunnie, Rainbow Princess, Karly, and Kobe-Mac for such wonderful reviews for chapter six.
Author's Note to Karly: All I can hint for you is the word "Patience" (.
Another Way - Chapter Seven By: Taygeta
"Ms. McGuire, how was your trip?" inquired Herbertha Grey, Lizzie's assistant, when her boss arrived into the office after her two weeks off.
The blonde executive smiled, "It was great. Got some rest, saw some old friends, visited my family...the whole shebang."
"That's good to hear," said Bertha closing the door of Lizzie's spacious office. "God knows, you needed the break. Though...."
The peppy expression on her assistant's face altered to one slightly gloomier.
Lizzie sat down on her leather chair and looked warily at her, "Bertha...what's wrong...?"
"I didn't want to bother you while you were out, but you know we haven't settled the financial issues and...."
"I know...I know..." said Lizzie, "I already discussed this with them when I left. We all decided we needed to step away from it all before we could head back into it again. But what else is the matter?"
"There's talk that that wasn't a good idea," Bertha whispered. "I mean, I know I'm not exactly high on the company ladder, here, Ms. McGuire, but I've just been hearing so many things..."
"Are you saying that they're thinking of firing me? What about the other people on this merger?"
"They've been on the job longer...and I heard someone saying something about you might not being as qualified as Mr. Brooks...and maybe he shouldn't step down from the job."
"Oh..." said Lizzie as she bit her bottom lip. "How long have you been hearing this, Bertha?"
The assistant began hesitantly, "Ever since this all started..."
The blonde exhaled and said under her breath, "Oh God..."
"They heard about what happened in LA, by the way," the assistant continued.
"Of course..." she said. Lizzie gave Bertha a weak smile, "You're just full of good news today, aren't you?"
"I'm sorry...I didn't want your first day back to be like this, but I thought you should know. I mean...I guess it'll all get settled once the money matters settle down a bit."
"I know Mr. Brooks is far more qualified to be in my job than I am, especially considering all the years he's spent with OriginalMix Records. Have you heard anything about him wanting to take the job - my job that will happen after all this is settled?"
"Not really. Nothing from Mr. Brooks - just some talk about maybe they should have offered it to him instead and see if he would take it."
"But they assumed he'd retire...so they didn't."
Bertha supplemented, "I'm sure it's just the head honchos and their financial jitters, Ms. McGuire. I'm sure these are just stupid rumors...and I shouldn't have told you them. Mina Biegler probably spread them...not to spread gossip myself."
Lizzie sighed at the mention of the name Mina Biegler. Mina had been the second person who was considered for Lizzie's current job with Ally Records before all the merger zaniness. Mina was older and slightly more experienced than Lizzie, but her fatal flaw was that she wasn't very nice. They hadn't hired her because of her less-than-amiable ways. Our blonde executive, on the other hand, was well liked by everyone...at least, until recent events.
OriginalMix Records was merging with Ally Records. Ally had bought out OriginalMix and its artists in the past year or so. The merger appeared simple, but it was really a financial mess - one in which everyone expected Lizzie to handle.
There was a part of the head of finance that wanted to quit...that thought she should be afraid of the rumors, but her more confident self prevailed over all the whispers and the suggestions. She knew that it would only take a few more days of number crunching and lack of sleep and then it would be all gone.
She wondered how it would look if she took another vacation after that as Miranda had suggested. She was beginning to realize it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
"In any case Bertha, I'm not going to worry about it," Lizzie said resolutely. "I'm just going to do my job and if they're going to fire me then...well...I have no control over that."
~ * ~ * ~
Lizzie walked into her apartment. The sound of her keys on the counter echoed in the unit. She placed her briefcase by the closet. Closing the door to the apartment, she walked into the kitchen.
She pulled out a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and poured herself a glass. She let the bitter liquid run down her throat and held the glass as she walked toward the couch. Setting the wine glass on the coffee table, she leaned back on the cushions.
They had finished with everything.
All the money matters were squared away.
Everything was done.
Including Lizzie.
They hadn't fired her per se. They just left her without a job to be in. Mr. Brooks apparently wasn't retiring at all. Everyone had assumed that Lizzie would keep her position in finance because she would not be leaving anytime soon.
But then Mr. Brooks wasn't leaving anytime soon either.
Lizzie's eyes burned.
After the hospital she had sworn to be done with tears and feeling sorry for herself, but somehow life wasn't working with that vow.
She reached over by the phone and dialed a familiar number.
After a few rings, she heard, "You've reached the residence of Miranda Sanchez and Larry Tudgeman. We are unable to take your call right now, but please leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible."
"Hi Miranda," Lizzie tried to say brightly. "I'm just calling to say 'hi'. I forgot that it's a Thursday and you two are probably on your way to your parents' house for dinner. But call me back whenever. Hi Larry and Michelle...as well. Talk to you guys soon. Bye."
After she hung up the phone, she turned on the TV and found there was nothing to watch on her satellite television. She turned it off and sat in silence again. It took her a moment before she grabbed her purse on the side table and pulled out a business card.
She picked up the phone and the business card and stared at both of them. She hesitated momentarily, but then just let herself dial.
It felt right to talk to him.
"Hello?" a voice said over the phone. He sounded a little winded.
"Hi," she said. "Am I calling you at a bad time?"
"Lizzie?" asked Gordo.
"That's my name," she said, and then repeated, "Am I calling at a bad time?"
Gordo smiled at the confirmation as he closed the door that he had left open, "No....perfect actually. I just got home. You would have gotten my answering machine otherwise. How was your flight back? How are things going?"
Lizzie leaned back on the cushions again. She was glad that he didn't find a random phone call from her so odd.
"The flight was good. Things are...um...okay."
He took off his suit jacket and put it on the couch before he sat down. He frowned, "Things don't sound okay." His voice grew concerned, "Lizzie...what's wrong?"
Inside, she felt oddly hollow. The words came out of her mouth and they entered her ears like a foreign language, "I...I got fired today."
Gordo felt his mouth drop slightly. She heard him exhale on the other line.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering Gordo. I just...I called Miranda...and she's not home...and I didn't know...who...and you were there for me the other week at the hospital and...."
She babbled, but somewhere in the middle of her babbles, she realized she was sobbing.
Hearing her crying made Gordo wish he could just be by her side and give her a hug.
"Lizzie...it's okay," he said. "You're not bothering me at all. We've been out of each other's lives for five years...we've established plenty of non-bothering time."
He heard her laugh a little.
"That sounds a little better," he said. Lizzie could imagine him smiling. "So what happened?"
She told Gordo the entire story and finished, "Everyone just assumed...and I guess that was stupid of me. I know so many people have lost their jobs over these things..."
"And they didn't even offer you a different position?"
"They couldn't really... not one that didn't bear some semblance to just an accounting job. And that's all well and good, but they probably thought they'd be disrespecting me."
"You're highly qualified in your field, Lizzie. I'm sure you'll find a job in no time." He hesitated before he continued, "Are you okay though? Financially?"
"I'm fine. This apartment is costing me an arm and leg, but I've got money saved up to live here for awhile."
"That's good to know," he said. "But if you ever need anything...don't hesitate to call me."
"Thanks Gordo," she said. "You're a really good friend. How did we let so many years go by?"
He shook his head, "I don't know...but the more I think about it, I realize that maybe we had to...to get back to this - this friendship."
"Maybe..." she said. Changing the subject she said, "Oh, I gave your information to Gary. He said he'd call you."
"He called me yesterday actually. I think there's definitely potential to work with him in the future."
"That's good to hear," said Lizzie. She heard her cordless beep that indicated that it had low batteries. Confused, she glanced at her living room clock and said, "Oh, God...we've been talking for two hours."
Gordo looked up at his clock and said, "We have? Oh...wow, time flies."
"I should probably let you go," she said. "Thanks for lending your ear."
"Anytime, McGuire."
"Bye, Gordo."
"Bye."
Lizzie placed the phone back on the receiver. She grabbed a pillow cushion and hugged it. Her body shifted on the couch and she closed her eyes. With the memory of Gordo's voice in her ears, she fell asleep.
~ * ~ * ~
Gordo pressed the "off" button on his cordless and sat looking at his phone for a while.
He couldn't help it. He missed her.
Shaking his head, he stood up to change his clothes. Gretchen would be over with dinner and they'd watch some rental movie for the night. It was usually a satisfactory way to spend the evening, but something made everything all seem so unsatisfactory.
He couldn't even let himself wonder if that had anything to do with Lizzie.
He couldn't let himself wonder because he knew it did.
Dedication: To Jess, starzygirl, Julz, lizzie-fan, Nimrodel, Baby Bunnie, Rainbow Princess, Karly, and Kobe-Mac for such wonderful reviews for chapter six.
Author's Note to Karly: All I can hint for you is the word "Patience" (.
Another Way - Chapter Seven By: Taygeta
"Ms. McGuire, how was your trip?" inquired Herbertha Grey, Lizzie's assistant, when her boss arrived into the office after her two weeks off.
The blonde executive smiled, "It was great. Got some rest, saw some old friends, visited my family...the whole shebang."
"That's good to hear," said Bertha closing the door of Lizzie's spacious office. "God knows, you needed the break. Though...."
The peppy expression on her assistant's face altered to one slightly gloomier.
Lizzie sat down on her leather chair and looked warily at her, "Bertha...what's wrong...?"
"I didn't want to bother you while you were out, but you know we haven't settled the financial issues and...."
"I know...I know..." said Lizzie, "I already discussed this with them when I left. We all decided we needed to step away from it all before we could head back into it again. But what else is the matter?"
"There's talk that that wasn't a good idea," Bertha whispered. "I mean, I know I'm not exactly high on the company ladder, here, Ms. McGuire, but I've just been hearing so many things..."
"Are you saying that they're thinking of firing me? What about the other people on this merger?"
"They've been on the job longer...and I heard someone saying something about you might not being as qualified as Mr. Brooks...and maybe he shouldn't step down from the job."
"Oh..." said Lizzie as she bit her bottom lip. "How long have you been hearing this, Bertha?"
The assistant began hesitantly, "Ever since this all started..."
The blonde exhaled and said under her breath, "Oh God..."
"They heard about what happened in LA, by the way," the assistant continued.
"Of course..." she said. Lizzie gave Bertha a weak smile, "You're just full of good news today, aren't you?"
"I'm sorry...I didn't want your first day back to be like this, but I thought you should know. I mean...I guess it'll all get settled once the money matters settle down a bit."
"I know Mr. Brooks is far more qualified to be in my job than I am, especially considering all the years he's spent with OriginalMix Records. Have you heard anything about him wanting to take the job - my job that will happen after all this is settled?"
"Not really. Nothing from Mr. Brooks - just some talk about maybe they should have offered it to him instead and see if he would take it."
"But they assumed he'd retire...so they didn't."
Bertha supplemented, "I'm sure it's just the head honchos and their financial jitters, Ms. McGuire. I'm sure these are just stupid rumors...and I shouldn't have told you them. Mina Biegler probably spread them...not to spread gossip myself."
Lizzie sighed at the mention of the name Mina Biegler. Mina had been the second person who was considered for Lizzie's current job with Ally Records before all the merger zaniness. Mina was older and slightly more experienced than Lizzie, but her fatal flaw was that she wasn't very nice. They hadn't hired her because of her less-than-amiable ways. Our blonde executive, on the other hand, was well liked by everyone...at least, until recent events.
OriginalMix Records was merging with Ally Records. Ally had bought out OriginalMix and its artists in the past year or so. The merger appeared simple, but it was really a financial mess - one in which everyone expected Lizzie to handle.
There was a part of the head of finance that wanted to quit...that thought she should be afraid of the rumors, but her more confident self prevailed over all the whispers and the suggestions. She knew that it would only take a few more days of number crunching and lack of sleep and then it would be all gone.
She wondered how it would look if she took another vacation after that as Miranda had suggested. She was beginning to realize it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
"In any case Bertha, I'm not going to worry about it," Lizzie said resolutely. "I'm just going to do my job and if they're going to fire me then...well...I have no control over that."
~ * ~ * ~
Lizzie walked into her apartment. The sound of her keys on the counter echoed in the unit. She placed her briefcase by the closet. Closing the door to the apartment, she walked into the kitchen.
She pulled out a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and poured herself a glass. She let the bitter liquid run down her throat and held the glass as she walked toward the couch. Setting the wine glass on the coffee table, she leaned back on the cushions.
They had finished with everything.
All the money matters were squared away.
Everything was done.
Including Lizzie.
They hadn't fired her per se. They just left her without a job to be in. Mr. Brooks apparently wasn't retiring at all. Everyone had assumed that Lizzie would keep her position in finance because she would not be leaving anytime soon.
But then Mr. Brooks wasn't leaving anytime soon either.
Lizzie's eyes burned.
After the hospital she had sworn to be done with tears and feeling sorry for herself, but somehow life wasn't working with that vow.
She reached over by the phone and dialed a familiar number.
After a few rings, she heard, "You've reached the residence of Miranda Sanchez and Larry Tudgeman. We are unable to take your call right now, but please leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible."
"Hi Miranda," Lizzie tried to say brightly. "I'm just calling to say 'hi'. I forgot that it's a Thursday and you two are probably on your way to your parents' house for dinner. But call me back whenever. Hi Larry and Michelle...as well. Talk to you guys soon. Bye."
After she hung up the phone, she turned on the TV and found there was nothing to watch on her satellite television. She turned it off and sat in silence again. It took her a moment before she grabbed her purse on the side table and pulled out a business card.
She picked up the phone and the business card and stared at both of them. She hesitated momentarily, but then just let herself dial.
It felt right to talk to him.
"Hello?" a voice said over the phone. He sounded a little winded.
"Hi," she said. "Am I calling you at a bad time?"
"Lizzie?" asked Gordo.
"That's my name," she said, and then repeated, "Am I calling at a bad time?"
Gordo smiled at the confirmation as he closed the door that he had left open, "No....perfect actually. I just got home. You would have gotten my answering machine otherwise. How was your flight back? How are things going?"
Lizzie leaned back on the cushions again. She was glad that he didn't find a random phone call from her so odd.
"The flight was good. Things are...um...okay."
He took off his suit jacket and put it on the couch before he sat down. He frowned, "Things don't sound okay." His voice grew concerned, "Lizzie...what's wrong?"
Inside, she felt oddly hollow. The words came out of her mouth and they entered her ears like a foreign language, "I...I got fired today."
Gordo felt his mouth drop slightly. She heard him exhale on the other line.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering Gordo. I just...I called Miranda...and she's not home...and I didn't know...who...and you were there for me the other week at the hospital and...."
She babbled, but somewhere in the middle of her babbles, she realized she was sobbing.
Hearing her crying made Gordo wish he could just be by her side and give her a hug.
"Lizzie...it's okay," he said. "You're not bothering me at all. We've been out of each other's lives for five years...we've established plenty of non-bothering time."
He heard her laugh a little.
"That sounds a little better," he said. Lizzie could imagine him smiling. "So what happened?"
She told Gordo the entire story and finished, "Everyone just assumed...and I guess that was stupid of me. I know so many people have lost their jobs over these things..."
"And they didn't even offer you a different position?"
"They couldn't really... not one that didn't bear some semblance to just an accounting job. And that's all well and good, but they probably thought they'd be disrespecting me."
"You're highly qualified in your field, Lizzie. I'm sure you'll find a job in no time." He hesitated before he continued, "Are you okay though? Financially?"
"I'm fine. This apartment is costing me an arm and leg, but I've got money saved up to live here for awhile."
"That's good to know," he said. "But if you ever need anything...don't hesitate to call me."
"Thanks Gordo," she said. "You're a really good friend. How did we let so many years go by?"
He shook his head, "I don't know...but the more I think about it, I realize that maybe we had to...to get back to this - this friendship."
"Maybe..." she said. Changing the subject she said, "Oh, I gave your information to Gary. He said he'd call you."
"He called me yesterday actually. I think there's definitely potential to work with him in the future."
"That's good to hear," said Lizzie. She heard her cordless beep that indicated that it had low batteries. Confused, she glanced at her living room clock and said, "Oh, God...we've been talking for two hours."
Gordo looked up at his clock and said, "We have? Oh...wow, time flies."
"I should probably let you go," she said. "Thanks for lending your ear."
"Anytime, McGuire."
"Bye, Gordo."
"Bye."
Lizzie placed the phone back on the receiver. She grabbed a pillow cushion and hugged it. Her body shifted on the couch and she closed her eyes. With the memory of Gordo's voice in her ears, she fell asleep.
~ * ~ * ~
Gordo pressed the "off" button on his cordless and sat looking at his phone for a while.
He couldn't help it. He missed her.
Shaking his head, he stood up to change his clothes. Gretchen would be over with dinner and they'd watch some rental movie for the night. It was usually a satisfactory way to spend the evening, but something made everything all seem so unsatisfactory.
He couldn't even let himself wonder if that had anything to do with Lizzie.
He couldn't let himself wonder because he knew it did.