Disclaimer: "Lizzie McGuire" is not owned by me. It belongs to Disney and
Co.
Author's Note: Thanks to Jess, GordosGirlie, nimrodel, Baby Bunnie, and Kobe-Mac for the great reviews. Since it's been a week Baby Bunnie, I assume you're back, but this should be in your mailbox too!
Another Way - Chapter Eight By: Taygeta
"I'm so sorry, Lizzie," said Miranda for the fifteenth time on their half- hour phone call- their seventh in two weeks.
She sighed, "It's okay. I'm fine. Can't say I was happy working there."
Miranda broke the gloominess of the phone call with a laugh, "You're not going to become a pop star now, are you?"
The New Yorker rolled her eyes, "I'm 27-years-old so I'm out of teeny- bopper Disney sugar pop singer zone. I'm not going to audition for American Idol Season 357...as much as Gordo may encourage me, I don't think pop star is my next career move."
"What *are* you going to do?"
"Don't know...working in finance will probably just make me paranoid that I'm going to get fired the next day. Job market's not been too hot either."
"Maybe you should try and find something out here. It's a bit ridiculous living in that place of yours when you have no income coming in. You could stay with us for a while or you could go back to your parents. It'll be a big move, but if it works out...it's all good."
"I don't know. It's a possibility though. I'll think about it," she replied. "Anyways, Miranda...I better go...I need to get some food."
"Okay...call me if you need to talk."
"Definitely. Bye!"
Lizzie hung up the phone and stared at it for a while. She had been calling Los Angeles for the last few days: her parents and Hannah and Miranda.... and oddly enough, Gordo. Gordo and she had been talking every few days since she had made that random call to him after getting fired two weeks ago.
The long distance bill was going to be killer, but somehow it didn't matter. The money was worth it. .
The phone rang.
Lizzie picked it up quickly and faked a breezy, "Hello, Lizzie speaking."
"Hi honey. How are you holding up?" said the familiar voice of Pamela Lasco, wife of her former boyfriend Gary Lasco.
"I'm doing all right," she replied. She paused and then continued, "Well...I'm a bit tired of people asking me if I'm okay when they call me every few days."
The last part was said with sarcastic emphasis at the caller.
"Okay...okay...I'll stop, hon," said Pamela.
"Good," replied Lizzie. "I'm just joking though...I appreciate the concern. It's an annoying kind of love...but it's love."
"Well...we're just hoping to get your money when you become a pop star."
Lizzie fell silent and then managed to stutter out, "W-w-what?"
Pamela laughed, "Gary's been talking to David Gordon."
She rolled her eyes, "Gordo's still on that idea? I thought it was just a passing thing."
"Well I think he's half-joking and half-serious...he's not sure which. You do have a lovely voice, Lizzie."
"Why don't I just forget about business and become some lounge singer in a sleazy bar in Vegas?" she suggested.
Pamela paused, "Well...I'm not sure that's *exactly* what Gordo had in mind for your singing career."
"I thought the point of a new job was supposed to be me finding a sense of stability?"
"True, but look at Gary and where his sensibilities took him? It took a phone call from you to get him to really focus on his love of film again. He's so happy now, Lizzie...not that he was sad before, but just so much more satisfied with his life."
The unemployed blonde smiled at the loving tone in her friend's voice, "I'm glad I could help...that Gordo could help."
"What is with you and Gordo anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean..."
"He has a girlfriend..."
"So?"
"Pamela!"
"I'm not suggesting you do anything improper, Ms. McGuire. I'm just saying that a lot of times, people are attached to the wrong people."
"Maybe so...but I saw them at Miranda and Larry's anniversary. She's perfect for him."
"Maybe I'll get to meet this Gordo person one day if things work out for Gary, then I'll assess his perfect other."
"Pamela Lasco...always the matchmaker."
"I just make life more fun, honey," she replied. In the background, Lizzie heard a beeping sound. "Oh, that's the cake I'm making for the dinner we're having."
"Okay, have a good dinner."
After they hung up, Lizzie made herself a sandwich and settled herself on her sofa. After a bite of the sandwich, she felt her mouth dry at the stale taste and she put it down. She half-wished she could be at the Lascos enjoying their dinner. She would have been invited if not for the 100-mile distance.
Standing up, she rummaged through her kitchen and found a can of soup and some crackers that ended up being a quick and edible dinner. After dinner, she tried to curl up on the couch with a novel, but the romantic aspects annoyed her.
She was glad when the phone rang. She was a bit tired of phone calls, but it was better than the book she had promised to read from a friend who wrote it.
"Lizzie McGuire," she said.
"Hi," said a familiar voice.
Placing the book aside, Lizzie smiled, "Hi, Gordo."
"How are you holding up?"
Those words out of any other person would have made her scream, but for this person she took it in good stride, "Besides everyone asking me how things are...things are pretty good. Still unemployed, but I'm keeping a look out for things. I'm sending resumes and the whatnot."
"Good to hear."
"Though a friend of mine married to another friend of mine happened to mention that you're doing some P/R work for my pop-star career?"
Gordo laughed, "Not pop-star...but I did mention to Gary that I thought you'd be good - possibly low-cost...hint...hint - to hire to do the main song for his film that my company has decided to pick up."
Lizzie's eyes widened, "Oh my God...when...how...what...how come Pamela didn't mention anything?"
"He's going to announce a temporary leave at the dinner tonight...and she's going to find out tonight," he said with a smile.
"Oh my God!" she squealed. "If you were telling me this in person...I'd hug you."
Gordo laughed again, knowing that she really would if those were the circumstances...and he was trying his best not to wish that they were.
"Well now Ms. McGuire...it seems like you do have a job."
Lizzie frowned, "What?"
"The song for Gary's movie."
"What song? What is this about? You can't be serious?"
"It's a standard ballad that appears throughout the movie. We'll give you a script to look at. You've got plenty of time to write the song...it's perfect."
"Gordo, the last song I wrote was five years ago for Miranda and Larry."
"Well you better get to practicing, shouldn't you?"
Lizzie sighed.
His tone shifted, "Look, Lizzie, just give it a go, okay? If it doesn't work out than we'll just find someone else and we'll pay you for the time you contributed to the movie and everything. Think of it as a part-time gig before you get another posh financier job."
She breathed in, "Well...if you don't convince me...Gary and you *both* will drive me insane...so...to save you guys and my insanity, why not?"
"Great!" smiled Gordo. "I'll tell Gary all about this tomorrow."
"Geez... I introduce you two to each other again and you guys have gone from college rivals to business associates."
"Well, let's just say that the point of rivalry as ceased to be conflicting factor," he said softly.
Lizzie didn't tread on that unsturdy territory.
She gave a light laugh, "Can see the title of Variety now when the movie gets big, 'Former College Rivals Rival the Box Office'."
"So bad...I'm glad your journalism career never panned out."
"Anyways, what's going on with you? How's Gretchen?"
"Just finished up a big case. She'll have some down time soon so that she and I can just spend some time together."
Lizzie couldn't help but smile in spite of the twinge of sadness coming from somewhere inside of herself, "That's good to know. Will Gretchen be in Gary's film?"
"We've talked about it. It's a possibility. I think there's a role that she could do well. It depends on her schedule and whether or not she would want to be in the film."
"That's good."
The two friends talked for a few minutes more about random topics before Lizzie started to fall asleep.
"Okay, I think that is a sign that I should say good-bye," he said.
"Gotta love the time difference issues...and my inability to stay up late any more," she sighed.
"I can always call you tomorrow."
Lizzie paused.
A scheduled phone call...that would be oddly different.
"Yes, you could always do that," she managed to say.
It was Gordo's turn to pause.
Why did he just say what he did?
"So...then I guess I'll call you tomorrow..."
"Um...okay. Good night, Gordo."
"Good night, Lizzie."
Both placed their respective phones on their receivers.
Both wondered what tomorrow might lead to.
Author's Note: Thanks to Jess, GordosGirlie, nimrodel, Baby Bunnie, and Kobe-Mac for the great reviews. Since it's been a week Baby Bunnie, I assume you're back, but this should be in your mailbox too!
Another Way - Chapter Eight By: Taygeta
"I'm so sorry, Lizzie," said Miranda for the fifteenth time on their half- hour phone call- their seventh in two weeks.
She sighed, "It's okay. I'm fine. Can't say I was happy working there."
Miranda broke the gloominess of the phone call with a laugh, "You're not going to become a pop star now, are you?"
The New Yorker rolled her eyes, "I'm 27-years-old so I'm out of teeny- bopper Disney sugar pop singer zone. I'm not going to audition for American Idol Season 357...as much as Gordo may encourage me, I don't think pop star is my next career move."
"What *are* you going to do?"
"Don't know...working in finance will probably just make me paranoid that I'm going to get fired the next day. Job market's not been too hot either."
"Maybe you should try and find something out here. It's a bit ridiculous living in that place of yours when you have no income coming in. You could stay with us for a while or you could go back to your parents. It'll be a big move, but if it works out...it's all good."
"I don't know. It's a possibility though. I'll think about it," she replied. "Anyways, Miranda...I better go...I need to get some food."
"Okay...call me if you need to talk."
"Definitely. Bye!"
Lizzie hung up the phone and stared at it for a while. She had been calling Los Angeles for the last few days: her parents and Hannah and Miranda.... and oddly enough, Gordo. Gordo and she had been talking every few days since she had made that random call to him after getting fired two weeks ago.
The long distance bill was going to be killer, but somehow it didn't matter. The money was worth it. .
The phone rang.
Lizzie picked it up quickly and faked a breezy, "Hello, Lizzie speaking."
"Hi honey. How are you holding up?" said the familiar voice of Pamela Lasco, wife of her former boyfriend Gary Lasco.
"I'm doing all right," she replied. She paused and then continued, "Well...I'm a bit tired of people asking me if I'm okay when they call me every few days."
The last part was said with sarcastic emphasis at the caller.
"Okay...okay...I'll stop, hon," said Pamela.
"Good," replied Lizzie. "I'm just joking though...I appreciate the concern. It's an annoying kind of love...but it's love."
"Well...we're just hoping to get your money when you become a pop star."
Lizzie fell silent and then managed to stutter out, "W-w-what?"
Pamela laughed, "Gary's been talking to David Gordon."
She rolled her eyes, "Gordo's still on that idea? I thought it was just a passing thing."
"Well I think he's half-joking and half-serious...he's not sure which. You do have a lovely voice, Lizzie."
"Why don't I just forget about business and become some lounge singer in a sleazy bar in Vegas?" she suggested.
Pamela paused, "Well...I'm not sure that's *exactly* what Gordo had in mind for your singing career."
"I thought the point of a new job was supposed to be me finding a sense of stability?"
"True, but look at Gary and where his sensibilities took him? It took a phone call from you to get him to really focus on his love of film again. He's so happy now, Lizzie...not that he was sad before, but just so much more satisfied with his life."
The unemployed blonde smiled at the loving tone in her friend's voice, "I'm glad I could help...that Gordo could help."
"What is with you and Gordo anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean..."
"He has a girlfriend..."
"So?"
"Pamela!"
"I'm not suggesting you do anything improper, Ms. McGuire. I'm just saying that a lot of times, people are attached to the wrong people."
"Maybe so...but I saw them at Miranda and Larry's anniversary. She's perfect for him."
"Maybe I'll get to meet this Gordo person one day if things work out for Gary, then I'll assess his perfect other."
"Pamela Lasco...always the matchmaker."
"I just make life more fun, honey," she replied. In the background, Lizzie heard a beeping sound. "Oh, that's the cake I'm making for the dinner we're having."
"Okay, have a good dinner."
After they hung up, Lizzie made herself a sandwich and settled herself on her sofa. After a bite of the sandwich, she felt her mouth dry at the stale taste and she put it down. She half-wished she could be at the Lascos enjoying their dinner. She would have been invited if not for the 100-mile distance.
Standing up, she rummaged through her kitchen and found a can of soup and some crackers that ended up being a quick and edible dinner. After dinner, she tried to curl up on the couch with a novel, but the romantic aspects annoyed her.
She was glad when the phone rang. She was a bit tired of phone calls, but it was better than the book she had promised to read from a friend who wrote it.
"Lizzie McGuire," she said.
"Hi," said a familiar voice.
Placing the book aside, Lizzie smiled, "Hi, Gordo."
"How are you holding up?"
Those words out of any other person would have made her scream, but for this person she took it in good stride, "Besides everyone asking me how things are...things are pretty good. Still unemployed, but I'm keeping a look out for things. I'm sending resumes and the whatnot."
"Good to hear."
"Though a friend of mine married to another friend of mine happened to mention that you're doing some P/R work for my pop-star career?"
Gordo laughed, "Not pop-star...but I did mention to Gary that I thought you'd be good - possibly low-cost...hint...hint - to hire to do the main song for his film that my company has decided to pick up."
Lizzie's eyes widened, "Oh my God...when...how...what...how come Pamela didn't mention anything?"
"He's going to announce a temporary leave at the dinner tonight...and she's going to find out tonight," he said with a smile.
"Oh my God!" she squealed. "If you were telling me this in person...I'd hug you."
Gordo laughed again, knowing that she really would if those were the circumstances...and he was trying his best not to wish that they were.
"Well now Ms. McGuire...it seems like you do have a job."
Lizzie frowned, "What?"
"The song for Gary's movie."
"What song? What is this about? You can't be serious?"
"It's a standard ballad that appears throughout the movie. We'll give you a script to look at. You've got plenty of time to write the song...it's perfect."
"Gordo, the last song I wrote was five years ago for Miranda and Larry."
"Well you better get to practicing, shouldn't you?"
Lizzie sighed.
His tone shifted, "Look, Lizzie, just give it a go, okay? If it doesn't work out than we'll just find someone else and we'll pay you for the time you contributed to the movie and everything. Think of it as a part-time gig before you get another posh financier job."
She breathed in, "Well...if you don't convince me...Gary and you *both* will drive me insane...so...to save you guys and my insanity, why not?"
"Great!" smiled Gordo. "I'll tell Gary all about this tomorrow."
"Geez... I introduce you two to each other again and you guys have gone from college rivals to business associates."
"Well, let's just say that the point of rivalry as ceased to be conflicting factor," he said softly.
Lizzie didn't tread on that unsturdy territory.
She gave a light laugh, "Can see the title of Variety now when the movie gets big, 'Former College Rivals Rival the Box Office'."
"So bad...I'm glad your journalism career never panned out."
"Anyways, what's going on with you? How's Gretchen?"
"Just finished up a big case. She'll have some down time soon so that she and I can just spend some time together."
Lizzie couldn't help but smile in spite of the twinge of sadness coming from somewhere inside of herself, "That's good to know. Will Gretchen be in Gary's film?"
"We've talked about it. It's a possibility. I think there's a role that she could do well. It depends on her schedule and whether or not she would want to be in the film."
"That's good."
The two friends talked for a few minutes more about random topics before Lizzie started to fall asleep.
"Okay, I think that is a sign that I should say good-bye," he said.
"Gotta love the time difference issues...and my inability to stay up late any more," she sighed.
"I can always call you tomorrow."
Lizzie paused.
A scheduled phone call...that would be oddly different.
"Yes, you could always do that," she managed to say.
It was Gordo's turn to pause.
Why did he just say what he did?
"So...then I guess I'll call you tomorrow..."
"Um...okay. Good night, Gordo."
"Good night, Lizzie."
Both placed their respective phones on their receivers.
Both wondered what tomorrow might lead to.