Author's Note: WOW! I just keep getting more and more reviews... This is so cool! Thanks, you guys are great! I really feel like my story is being read! ::sob:: I have *repeat reviewers*, you guys! My life has meaning... :)
liz3386: Wow, what a long review! That deserves a long answer.... :-D Yeah, Gordo is definitely his own person. I loved the Rat Pack episode... Gordo is definitely one of those guys who can pull of the slightly-odd-but-classy. :) Lizzie and/or Miranda setting him up... hmm... I really like that idea and might add it into my story! As for the realistic aspect of it, duh ;) Gordo wuv Lizzie. Lizzie wuv Gordo when she gets her head out of her butt. :) But I'm sure, at some point or another, one of them will or would have tried, if Lizzie McGuire were real life. But believe me, I am thinking about where this story is going *all the time*, so have no worries in that regard!
LizzieC: Thanks for another review! I'm glad you like my story, that is so cool to hear.
Angelique: Hey, thanks for leaving a message!
Kirsty: I agree, Lizzie and Gordo are way cute together! They're totally meant to be. Erm... even if they're only in eighth grade... Anyway, I'm glad you're reading the story, and it's so great that you like it! I'm glad you think I'm doing the characters justice... I'm trying really hard to!
Lara: Wow, two reviews from you! How nifty... That is so freaky about you and your sister! Way, *way* freaky. :) Aren't the teeny-bop little sisters great for when you want to see movies you know are for people younger than you? She gives me the greatest excuse, and we always have a great time... :) I'm sorry for being so evil! So as an 'I'm Sorry', here's the next chapter out, as quick as I could! P.S. Of *course* I absolutely *loved* the end of The Lizzie McGuire Movie! How could I not? hee hee... :-D
littlebean: Thanks for the compliments!
Now on with the show! Hope you enjoy!
~*~*~*~
Lizzie poured some of the oil onto her hands, rubbing them together to warm it up. Straddling his hips, she began at his tailbone and started running her hands up his back in long, firm strokes, slowly settling into the familiar pattern. She loved doing this, and had ever since tenth grade when her mom had bought her a 'How-To' massage book as one of her birthday presents. She remembered the hopeful, every-so-slightly sneaky look on her mother's face (probably hoping to reap some benefits, Lizzie thought with a smile) as she'd torn open the paper....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Well?" Jo asked expectantly.
"Ummm..." Lizzie trailed off. What could she say? A *book*? Her mom got her a freaking *book* for her birthday? But she'd really wanted those cute hip huggers at the mall.... Lizzie looked up just in time to see the crestfallen look on her mom's face. "I love it!" Lizzie said with feigned excitement. "I never even thought of learning how!" At the brightened expression on Jo's face, Lizzie heaved a sigh of relief. *That* had been close...
"That's so great, honey!" Jo said with a smile. "One of my girlfriends said her daughter loves learning this kind of thing, and I thought you might like it too! Oh!" she exclaimed, running behind the couch to pull out a gift bag, "I got these for you too! I saw them at the mall, and I knew you'd love them!" Jo said excitedly.
Lizzie was very relieved. Finally, a *good* birthday present. She took the bag from her mother and tore out the tissue paper on top excitedly, gasping at the jeans she saw in the bag. Yes! Just the ones she'd wanted! And right underneath it the cutest red top and a sparkly belt to go with it.... She gave her mom a big hug.
This was without a doubt, she thought, the best birthday she'd had in a long time....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Little did I know, Lizzie thought wryly. The shirt had faded after a few month; there had been more glitter around her room than on her belt; and she was too tall for the jeans by the end of the school year. But that book had given her more direction and thought about her future than anything else ever had. Shaking her head a little to clear the memories, Lizzie moved to one side and began making short chopping motions on Gordo's back, listening to the sharp, satisfying thuds. She remembered the last time she'd done this for Gordo. Had it really been almost two years ago...?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Gordo, what are you doing to yourself?" Lizzie asked in a concerned voice as Gordo stepped out of the gym doors. It was 10 freaking o'clock! she thought to herself. On a Friday night, no less!
"Lizzie," a frazzled Gordo began to explain (for the fiftieth time, he thought), "the California State Swim Championships are in *one week*. I've *gotta* be practicing as much as I can! Scouts from a lot of different colleges are gonna be there!"
"Well I realize that, Gordo, but you're gonna kill yourself at the rate you're going," she said gently.
"Don't worry," he said with a groan, "I think I'm already living on borrowed time."
"That bad?" she asked sympathetically, and gave him a hug at his nod. "You're easily the best swimmer in the school... you're gonna do great and those scout guys are gonna be so impressed!" she finished encouragingly.
He glanced over at her shyly. "You really think so?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"'Course I do," she answered with a grin. "You're like a *fish*, Gordo!" They laughed together. Since starting swimming in ninth grade, Gordo had proved remarkably gifted and had, by his senior year, even broken some Hillridge High School records. "Come on," Lizze said suddenly. "Let's go over to your house and watch a movie, and I'll give you a nice back rub so you can actually *function* tomorrow."
"Stop twisting my arm, Liz," Gordo joked. "Anyway, you sure you want to do that? You've already spent most of the night waiting around to give me a ride home; don't you have anywhere else you want to go?"
"Well, my hot date cancelled," Lizzie said with a wink. Then she grinned. "I've already wasted most of my night on you, might as well finish what I started," she teased him. "Besides, don't you want me around?" Insert pouty lower lip and big wet puppydog eyes.
Gordo had to cave... like it was that hard.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lizzie smiled at the memory. It had become something of a tradition with them in the years since she'd gotten that book; Gordo would (as always) put 110% into his swimming, and Lizzie would fix him up... as well as she could, anyway. Then they'd sit back and watch 'The Princess Bride' and laugh at the jokes they'd heard a hundred thousand times, and Lizzie would always cry when Buttercup found out that Westley had been killed, then clutch Gordo's arm while she stared at the screen with sparkling eyes when she was reunited with her True Love.
And as she recalled, Gordo had finished first in the 100M butterfly stroke, setting a new state record and attracting the attention of *several* university scouts.
Moving up, Lizzie started kneading the back of Gordo's neck, the short, stubbly hair there tickling her palms every once in awhile. This was what she hated about swimming season, she thought. Gordo would get a buzz cut every year at the beginning of the season, getting a trim every three weeks until the end. She sighed; Gordo had had that curly mop of brown hair since they were babies. It was one of his defining characteristics. She'd been so sad the first time he'd cut it off....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Miranda and Lizzie stared at Gordo, dumbfounded for a few seconds. Then they turned to look at each other for a long moment.
"*GORDO*?!?!" they shreiked in unison.
"Yeah..." he said sheepishly, running his hand over his head. His *NEARLY BALD* head, Lizzie noted sourly.
Miranda regained her wits first. "*What* did you do to your *hair*?" she wailed.
"I... um... cut it..." he stammered.
"Well we can see that," Miranda started, "but *why* did you cut it?"
"Well, it makes you faster in the water," Gordo explained. Both girls raised their eyebrows.
"Uh, Gordo, hello, isn't that what the *swim cap* is for?" Lizzie asked a little sarcastically.
"Yeah, McGuire, it is, but this works better, and I'm really serious about doing better in my swimming," Gordo answered, starting to get defensive.
Miranda, sensing the sparks were about to fly, hurriedly said, "We're sorry Gordo. It's just so... different." Lizzie nodded in agreement. "*But* we both really admire that you're so dedicated to your swimming. And it... doesn't look that bad. You look really good, actually. Can't keep hiding that handsome face behind your hair forever," she'd joked, punching him lightly on the shoulder.
At that, Gordo had smiled, and neither Lizzie or Miranda mentioned it again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
High school had been good, Lizzie thought with a smile. But college, she decided, was even better. Not that she was really going to *college*. More like vocational training. But whatever, she was living in SAN FRANCISCO with Gordo and Miranda, sharing an apartment with the latter and living 15 minutes away from the former. Did life get any better than this? Miranda was working towards a degree in fashion design and had already begun attracting the attention of her teachers at SFSU; Gordo was working toward his dream of being a director and learning everything he could, while swimming on the university team; and Lizzie was attenting the *very* prestigious Samuel T's Massage Therapy School. The three had sworn to be friends forever, and to never lose touch... and what better way to do that than go to school together in the big city?
Lizzie started rubbing his long arms with short, circular strokes, being sure to cover them from shoulder to fingertips. Gordo had gotten so tall in high school....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Miranda," Lizzie whispered to her best friend while they were standing at her locker.
"Ummm, yeah?" Miranda inquired.
"Have you noticed how *tall* Gordo's getting?" she asked, thinking she kinda sounded like a dork.
"Err..." Miranda scratched her head, then her head snapped up and her eyes widened. "Wow, Lizzie," Miranda whispered. "You're right!"
Lizzie looked behind her shoulder to where Miranda was looking to see Gordo walking towards them, easily an inch or two taller than most of the guys around him. Lizzie barely came up to his chin, she'd noticed the day before, and she was 5'8"!
"Then again," Miranda continued, "we *are* in eleventh grade... it was bound to happen sooner or later," she finished with a shrug.
"Remember how he always thought he'd be short forever?" Lizzie half-asked with a smile.
"Yeah... guess he didn't have anything to worry about though, huh?" Miranda joked.
Lizzie just smiled and shook her head. "Guess he didn't," she agreed softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gordo had stopped growing at 6'2"... while Lizzie and Miranda had both stopped at 5'9". And in the process, Gordo had turned into the human vaccuum, eating everything in sight, Lizzie remembered fondly. Hmm, she thought as her tummy started grumbling. Speaking of eating....
~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Okay, really long chapter done, hoping it explains some stuff about their past and why they're where they are now. Keep the reviews coming, I feel all sparkly inside and stuff... :-D I think the ending's kinda lame, but if I don't end it now I'm gonna be writing this chapter for a long time. And it's 1 a.m., and I have to be up at 7 a.m. (again) for that whole 'real job' thing. THE MAN IS BRINGING ME DOWN!! ::ahem:: Nevermind the outburst. More to be put out soon!
liz3386: Wow, what a long review! That deserves a long answer.... :-D Yeah, Gordo is definitely his own person. I loved the Rat Pack episode... Gordo is definitely one of those guys who can pull of the slightly-odd-but-classy. :) Lizzie and/or Miranda setting him up... hmm... I really like that idea and might add it into my story! As for the realistic aspect of it, duh ;) Gordo wuv Lizzie. Lizzie wuv Gordo when she gets her head out of her butt. :) But I'm sure, at some point or another, one of them will or would have tried, if Lizzie McGuire were real life. But believe me, I am thinking about where this story is going *all the time*, so have no worries in that regard!
LizzieC: Thanks for another review! I'm glad you like my story, that is so cool to hear.
Angelique: Hey, thanks for leaving a message!
Kirsty: I agree, Lizzie and Gordo are way cute together! They're totally meant to be. Erm... even if they're only in eighth grade... Anyway, I'm glad you're reading the story, and it's so great that you like it! I'm glad you think I'm doing the characters justice... I'm trying really hard to!
Lara: Wow, two reviews from you! How nifty... That is so freaky about you and your sister! Way, *way* freaky. :) Aren't the teeny-bop little sisters great for when you want to see movies you know are for people younger than you? She gives me the greatest excuse, and we always have a great time... :) I'm sorry for being so evil! So as an 'I'm Sorry', here's the next chapter out, as quick as I could! P.S. Of *course* I absolutely *loved* the end of The Lizzie McGuire Movie! How could I not? hee hee... :-D
littlebean: Thanks for the compliments!
Now on with the show! Hope you enjoy!
~*~*~*~
Lizzie poured some of the oil onto her hands, rubbing them together to warm it up. Straddling his hips, she began at his tailbone and started running her hands up his back in long, firm strokes, slowly settling into the familiar pattern. She loved doing this, and had ever since tenth grade when her mom had bought her a 'How-To' massage book as one of her birthday presents. She remembered the hopeful, every-so-slightly sneaky look on her mother's face (probably hoping to reap some benefits, Lizzie thought with a smile) as she'd torn open the paper....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Well?" Jo asked expectantly.
"Ummm..." Lizzie trailed off. What could she say? A *book*? Her mom got her a freaking *book* for her birthday? But she'd really wanted those cute hip huggers at the mall.... Lizzie looked up just in time to see the crestfallen look on her mom's face. "I love it!" Lizzie said with feigned excitement. "I never even thought of learning how!" At the brightened expression on Jo's face, Lizzie heaved a sigh of relief. *That* had been close...
"That's so great, honey!" Jo said with a smile. "One of my girlfriends said her daughter loves learning this kind of thing, and I thought you might like it too! Oh!" she exclaimed, running behind the couch to pull out a gift bag, "I got these for you too! I saw them at the mall, and I knew you'd love them!" Jo said excitedly.
Lizzie was very relieved. Finally, a *good* birthday present. She took the bag from her mother and tore out the tissue paper on top excitedly, gasping at the jeans she saw in the bag. Yes! Just the ones she'd wanted! And right underneath it the cutest red top and a sparkly belt to go with it.... She gave her mom a big hug.
This was without a doubt, she thought, the best birthday she'd had in a long time....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Little did I know, Lizzie thought wryly. The shirt had faded after a few month; there had been more glitter around her room than on her belt; and she was too tall for the jeans by the end of the school year. But that book had given her more direction and thought about her future than anything else ever had. Shaking her head a little to clear the memories, Lizzie moved to one side and began making short chopping motions on Gordo's back, listening to the sharp, satisfying thuds. She remembered the last time she'd done this for Gordo. Had it really been almost two years ago...?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Gordo, what are you doing to yourself?" Lizzie asked in a concerned voice as Gordo stepped out of the gym doors. It was 10 freaking o'clock! she thought to herself. On a Friday night, no less!
"Lizzie," a frazzled Gordo began to explain (for the fiftieth time, he thought), "the California State Swim Championships are in *one week*. I've *gotta* be practicing as much as I can! Scouts from a lot of different colleges are gonna be there!"
"Well I realize that, Gordo, but you're gonna kill yourself at the rate you're going," she said gently.
"Don't worry," he said with a groan, "I think I'm already living on borrowed time."
"That bad?" she asked sympathetically, and gave him a hug at his nod. "You're easily the best swimmer in the school... you're gonna do great and those scout guys are gonna be so impressed!" she finished encouragingly.
He glanced over at her shyly. "You really think so?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"'Course I do," she answered with a grin. "You're like a *fish*, Gordo!" They laughed together. Since starting swimming in ninth grade, Gordo had proved remarkably gifted and had, by his senior year, even broken some Hillridge High School records. "Come on," Lizze said suddenly. "Let's go over to your house and watch a movie, and I'll give you a nice back rub so you can actually *function* tomorrow."
"Stop twisting my arm, Liz," Gordo joked. "Anyway, you sure you want to do that? You've already spent most of the night waiting around to give me a ride home; don't you have anywhere else you want to go?"
"Well, my hot date cancelled," Lizzie said with a wink. Then she grinned. "I've already wasted most of my night on you, might as well finish what I started," she teased him. "Besides, don't you want me around?" Insert pouty lower lip and big wet puppydog eyes.
Gordo had to cave... like it was that hard.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lizzie smiled at the memory. It had become something of a tradition with them in the years since she'd gotten that book; Gordo would (as always) put 110% into his swimming, and Lizzie would fix him up... as well as she could, anyway. Then they'd sit back and watch 'The Princess Bride' and laugh at the jokes they'd heard a hundred thousand times, and Lizzie would always cry when Buttercup found out that Westley had been killed, then clutch Gordo's arm while she stared at the screen with sparkling eyes when she was reunited with her True Love.
And as she recalled, Gordo had finished first in the 100M butterfly stroke, setting a new state record and attracting the attention of *several* university scouts.
Moving up, Lizzie started kneading the back of Gordo's neck, the short, stubbly hair there tickling her palms every once in awhile. This was what she hated about swimming season, she thought. Gordo would get a buzz cut every year at the beginning of the season, getting a trim every three weeks until the end. She sighed; Gordo had had that curly mop of brown hair since they were babies. It was one of his defining characteristics. She'd been so sad the first time he'd cut it off....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Miranda and Lizzie stared at Gordo, dumbfounded for a few seconds. Then they turned to look at each other for a long moment.
"*GORDO*?!?!" they shreiked in unison.
"Yeah..." he said sheepishly, running his hand over his head. His *NEARLY BALD* head, Lizzie noted sourly.
Miranda regained her wits first. "*What* did you do to your *hair*?" she wailed.
"I... um... cut it..." he stammered.
"Well we can see that," Miranda started, "but *why* did you cut it?"
"Well, it makes you faster in the water," Gordo explained. Both girls raised their eyebrows.
"Uh, Gordo, hello, isn't that what the *swim cap* is for?" Lizzie asked a little sarcastically.
"Yeah, McGuire, it is, but this works better, and I'm really serious about doing better in my swimming," Gordo answered, starting to get defensive.
Miranda, sensing the sparks were about to fly, hurriedly said, "We're sorry Gordo. It's just so... different." Lizzie nodded in agreement. "*But* we both really admire that you're so dedicated to your swimming. And it... doesn't look that bad. You look really good, actually. Can't keep hiding that handsome face behind your hair forever," she'd joked, punching him lightly on the shoulder.
At that, Gordo had smiled, and neither Lizzie or Miranda mentioned it again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
High school had been good, Lizzie thought with a smile. But college, she decided, was even better. Not that she was really going to *college*. More like vocational training. But whatever, she was living in SAN FRANCISCO with Gordo and Miranda, sharing an apartment with the latter and living 15 minutes away from the former. Did life get any better than this? Miranda was working towards a degree in fashion design and had already begun attracting the attention of her teachers at SFSU; Gordo was working toward his dream of being a director and learning everything he could, while swimming on the university team; and Lizzie was attenting the *very* prestigious Samuel T's Massage Therapy School. The three had sworn to be friends forever, and to never lose touch... and what better way to do that than go to school together in the big city?
Lizzie started rubbing his long arms with short, circular strokes, being sure to cover them from shoulder to fingertips. Gordo had gotten so tall in high school....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Miranda," Lizzie whispered to her best friend while they were standing at her locker.
"Ummm, yeah?" Miranda inquired.
"Have you noticed how *tall* Gordo's getting?" she asked, thinking she kinda sounded like a dork.
"Err..." Miranda scratched her head, then her head snapped up and her eyes widened. "Wow, Lizzie," Miranda whispered. "You're right!"
Lizzie looked behind her shoulder to where Miranda was looking to see Gordo walking towards them, easily an inch or two taller than most of the guys around him. Lizzie barely came up to his chin, she'd noticed the day before, and she was 5'8"!
"Then again," Miranda continued, "we *are* in eleventh grade... it was bound to happen sooner or later," she finished with a shrug.
"Remember how he always thought he'd be short forever?" Lizzie half-asked with a smile.
"Yeah... guess he didn't have anything to worry about though, huh?" Miranda joked.
Lizzie just smiled and shook her head. "Guess he didn't," she agreed softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gordo had stopped growing at 6'2"... while Lizzie and Miranda had both stopped at 5'9". And in the process, Gordo had turned into the human vaccuum, eating everything in sight, Lizzie remembered fondly. Hmm, she thought as her tummy started grumbling. Speaking of eating....
~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Okay, really long chapter done, hoping it explains some stuff about their past and why they're where they are now. Keep the reviews coming, I feel all sparkly inside and stuff... :-D I think the ending's kinda lame, but if I don't end it now I'm gonna be writing this chapter for a long time. And it's 1 a.m., and I have to be up at 7 a.m. (again) for that whole 'real job' thing. THE MAN IS BRINGING ME DOWN!! ::ahem:: Nevermind the outburst. More to be put out soon!