author's note: hey guys, sorry that last chapter took me so long. i hope this one's more satisfying, it's much longer and i think it's a fairly good chapter. the next chapter will be gordo and lizzie's goodbyes, miranda's return, and lizzie telling miranda the news about gordo. chapters to come will involve gordo's new life in new york, lizzie's situation in hillridge without one of her best friends and the love of her life, and that's all i'm going to say about it for now! i'm thinking that this one might be a little bit longer than i said it would - i said it would be over by the tenth chapter and i think i'm still going strong, so maybe it will be more around fifteen chapters long? i hope you guys are still liking this, i think i'm losing some reviewers, but that's alright. if you like it, let me know! i like feedback. here's a guarantee for you guys. this story will have a happy ending. -- love, laynie
The next morning, David Gordon woke up with a start to the sound of his parents yelling at each other. He muttered a few words to himself under his breath and scowled, pulling the covers over his head. He had been awake for around two minutes before he realized that today was the day he was leaving. At six o'clock tonight. He needed to spend as much time with Lizzie as he could.
Gordo sprung out of bed, ignoring the sound of his parents yelling at each other. He took a quick shower and shook his dark brown curls dry, brushed his teeth quickly, and examined his reflection in the mirror, sighing to himself. He certainly didn't see any reason for Lizzie to like him as much as she did. Gordo thought he was maybe average looking, a little bit on the short side. He was wearing a white short sleeved shirt that was just the right size for him - not too baggy, and not too tight. His blue jeans were the same, and he wore them low on his hips with a black belt that had a silver buckle. On his feet, he wore a pair of gray and white skateboard shoes.
Walking out of his bedroom, he grabbed his brown zip up hoodie from an open box beside his door. He checked his watch on his way down the stairs - six thirty. Shrugging, he continued. It was his last day ever in Hillridge; Lizzie wouldn't mind if he got her up a little bit early.
"Mother, father! I'll be out all day with Lizzie and I'm done packing," he yelled to his parents on his way out the door. He didn't wait to hear their response, not caring whether they were planning on letting him go out today or not.
"Be back by four," his mother called, but she spoke only to the closed front door that her son had just exited seconds earlier. "What have I done?" She said quietly to herself.
Lizzie woke up gradually to the early morning sunlight streaming through her windows. The first thing she did when she woke up was wonder when Gordo would be coming over to get her so that they could spend their last day in Hillridge together until they were seperated for however long that they might be seperated.
The day was beautiful and bright, not a cloud in the bright blue sky. It didn't do much to reflect Lizzie's mood. She smiled, a smile with bitter undertones, as she remembered the events that had unfolded the previous night. The feeling of kissing Gordo still hadn't worn off, and she was still filled with an odd giddiness as she remembered the too-brief sensation of his lips on hers. Sparks flew. Fireworks ignited.
She threw her covers off of her and checked her clock. Six thirty in the morning. Maybe Gordo would actually get up early for once so that they could spend some time together. Lizzie staggered over to her window and opened her blinds, pulling the window open. She breathed in the sweet morning summer air, perfect. If only Gordo wasn't leaving, then everything might have been finally perfect and complete.
As she was looking out her window, Lizzie lost track of time and daydreamed. The beginning of this awful summer day had started off so beautifully. The weather was mocking her, and she almost wanted to cry out. Minutes had passed, and Lizzie hadn't noticed a car drive up her driveway.
Gordo opened Lizzie's bedroom door quietly, hoping that she wouldn't be angry that he was at her house so extremely early. He had only wanted to make the best of their final day together. When he saw her standing at the window, he stopped dead in his tracks. Her long blonde hair was flowing behind her in the wind, and she looked almost angelic. Gordo smiled at her back, and then he walked slowly towards her.
He slid both his arms around her waist. She jumped slightly, not expecting the gesture, but smiled as she realized that it was just him.
"Morning," he said quietly into her ear.
She shivered upon the sensation of his lips so extremely close to her ear. She could feel his breathing, slow and steady and warm against the skin of her ear. "Hi," she said. It was a romantic moment for the two of them and she didn't want to ruin it by saying too much.
So she didn't say much. Lizzie turned her head around to face him. She smiled, her eyes locked with his. She tilted her head to one side sweetly and moved one of her hands up to his face, letting her fingers trace along his cheeks, and then slowly move into his hair.
His arms still fully grasping her waist, he leaned towards her, smiling at her. He then closed his eyes after seeing her do the same. Their lips met in a slow, chaste kiss. Yes, it was still the same as yesterday night - amazing and perfect in every single way possible. He still felt the fireworks, the sparks. Complete chemistry.
Hesitantly, he pulled away and smiled into her face.
She looked down at the floor bashfully, and then backed slowly away from Gordo, taking some clothes out of her closet on her way out to the bathroom. "Wait here, I'll try to be really fast."
Gordo smiled. "Sure."
An hour later, Lizzie emerged from the bathroom. Gordo smiled at her apperance. He couldn't believe that she had chosen him - she was simply breathtaking. Today, she was dressed in a pair of low rise gray pants that hugged her form, black skateboard shoes, a longsleeved plain white shirt, silver necklace, and light gray belt with a silver buckle. Her hair was soft and curly and fell past her shoulders in large waves. She was beautiful.
"Are you hungry? We can go have breakfast before we leave. My parents are awake and everything." She paused, thinking about what she had just said. "What are we going to tell them?" Lizzie bit her lip, nervously.
"What do you mean, what are we going to tell them? I'm moving away and you wanted to spend one last day with your best friend. I mean, that is really all I am, just your best friend." Gordo looked down, slightly dejected.
Lizzie looked apologetic. "Oh, Gordo. You're so much more than just my best friend, you have been for a while. I just wish we could have realized that we felt the same about each other before you're moving away halfway across the country. Long distance just isn't my thing. And I don't want a breakup today at six because you're leaving. One day just isn't enough, Gordo. I need more time."
Gordo nodded, and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of her bedroom and towards the stairs. They walked down to Lizzie's kitchen hand in hand, each of them letting go when they saw Jo and Sam McGuire sitting at the kitchen table.
"Hi, Lizzie, Gordo," Jo said to the two. "Gordo, you're sure here early. It's not even eight yet!"
"Actually, Mrs.McGuire, I'm leaving tonight for New York, so I wanted to spend as much time with Lizzie today as possible, because we won't have any time together when I'm not here. I don't know when I'll ever get to visit or anything." Gordo looked down at the floor.
"Uh, mom? I'm not really that hungry. Are you hungry, Gordo?" Upon seeing Gordo shake his head, Lizzie turned to her parents with a smile. "We're going to leave now. I'll be back later. I don't really know when yet."
Jo McGuire smiled. "Okay, honey." She paused, turning to Gordo. "Gordo? If I don't see you again, I just wanted to say goodbye. It was so nice having you around all the time. We almost thought of you as a sort of second son to us, and we'll miss you being around the house." She turned to him and engulfed him in a hug, sniffling. "Have a great time in New York, okay, honey?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Mrs.McGuire." Gordo smiled. Lizzie's mother had always been so nice to him, almost like a second mother.
"If you ever come back and you need a place to stay, feel free to come here, okay?" Gordo nodded, and Jo continued. "Yeah, see you two later. Lizzie, please call and check in later today, alright?"
Lizzie nodded. "We really do have to get going. See you tonight!"
Gordo and Lizzie left the McGuire household and started towards Gordo's car which was parked in Lizzie's driveway haphazardly. Gordo turned the car on as soon as Lizzie had gotten in on the passenger side, but Lizzie wasn't about to let him back out of the driveway just yet. She smiled to herself and then leaned towards Gordo, kissing his cheek softly and pulling away back to her seat quickly.
He felt a red tinge spread across his cheeks. "What was that for?" he asked curiously.
She smiled, looking out the window. "Nothing," she said, completely nonchalant.
"So where do you want to go today? Is there anything you really want to do?" Gordo asked her. Since it was their last day together for awhile, he figured he'd make it as great for her as he possibly could. He wanted this to be a day that they'd remember for a long time, to make up for the time they'd be missing together when he moved to New York.
"Anything. As long as I'm with you." Lizzie smiled, and then thought about what she had just said. "Ouch, that was a pretty bad cliche there. Oh, Gordo! I'll go anywhere as long as I'm with you!" She mocked her own words, a playful tone in her voice.
Gordo's car sped along the paved road at the speed limit. "Do you think you could get your parents to relocate to New York?" He stopped, a bitter smile spreading itself across his face. "I'm sorry, Lizzie. We should try to ignore the fact that after six o'clock tonight, I'll be out of your life forever."
Sighing, Lizzie touched Gordo's hair. "You shouldn't be so pessimistic about this. Maybe next year your parents will have calmed down with all this and you'll be allowed to move back to Hillridge. After senior year, I'll be eighteen and so will you. Then we can do whatever we want without worrying about what they'll say. Gordo, you're not out of my life forever. I hope you understand that I'm not going to just go and forget you when you're gone."
The silence in the car was unbearable for the next few moments. Out of nowhere, Gordo spoke again quietly. "I could never forget you, Lizzie. Ever. I mean, no matter how many friends I do or don't make in New York, you'll still be my best."
Lizzie looked out the window in contemplation, not knowing if she should ask him something or not. She decided against it and kept quiet. Seconds later, she plastered a smile on her face and turned to Gordo, smiling fakely. "Thanks. It means so much to me."
Gordo and Lizzie spent a wonderful day together, sharing everything together. It would be their last for awhile, so they tried to do everything that they could possibly think of. Laughter and smiles were shared, as well as tears and regrets of the past years of their lives together. Gordo and Lizzie had never been apart for very long, and Gordo's moving away was going to be extremely hard on Lizzie, not to mention Gordo himself. He'd always thought that he had the perfect family, and now that beautifully built up illusion was destroyed, murdered, though he still had the perfect best friend. The only thing missing in their perfect day was their other best friend, Miranda Sanchez. Lizzie and Gordo had agreed that Lizzie would tell Miranda the news when Miranda got back, so she wouldn't worry Miranda while she was in Mexico.
The day passed by all too quickly, and before they knew it, they were pulled into Gordo's driveway at four thirty. The movers had already taken Gordo and his mother's furniture and belongings on the way to New York, and Gordo and Lizzie sat in Gordo's car, neither of them speaking because they were afraid of the words that they thought might be said.
Finally, Lizzie opened the door and headed into the house. Reluctantly, Gordo followed right behind her. They entered together and Gordo's parents, Roberta and Howard, were sitting together on the couch in silence and complete peace. His parents looked up when they heard Gordo enter with Lizzie. Gordo stood wordlessly, facing his parents.
"We're sorry, Gordo," Roberta said quietly. "Your airplane bags are right by the door. We're leaving right away, and Lizzie can come to the airport with us if she wants to. Your father will be driving us there, and he will drive Lizzie home."
Gordo's expression remained unchanged. "Fine." He started up the stairs to his bedroom silently. When Lizzie didn't follow, he motioned to her to follow him, so she shot one more distraught gaze at the Gordons and followed her best friend up to his old bedroom.
The door was closed, and so Gordo turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The room was completely empty and devoid of Gordo's personality and identity. Together, they stood alone in the middle of the room that he'd grown up in. Lizzie knew she didn't have to say anything, and though Gordo didn't speak, Lizzie knew he just needed her to be there with him.
He turned around to face her and she silently opened her arms to him. He gladly fell into them, and she sighed. She couldn't cry anymore, and she didn't want to right then. Gordo needed her to be strong for him, and so she did.
Moments later, Gordo and Lizzie released their embrace and Gordo started walking out of the room with his lifelong best friend, turning off the light and shutting the door behind him on his way out.
Still silent, they walked down the stairs and out the open front door and right into Gordo's father's car. The summer air was suffocating, and the silence was defeaning but there were no words to be spoken. Lizzie's eyes watered. The two elder Gordons got in the car and Howard Gordon began driving to the airport, where Gordo would leave Lizzie for longer than she had ever been left by him ever before.
The next morning, David Gordon woke up with a start to the sound of his parents yelling at each other. He muttered a few words to himself under his breath and scowled, pulling the covers over his head. He had been awake for around two minutes before he realized that today was the day he was leaving. At six o'clock tonight. He needed to spend as much time with Lizzie as he could.
Gordo sprung out of bed, ignoring the sound of his parents yelling at each other. He took a quick shower and shook his dark brown curls dry, brushed his teeth quickly, and examined his reflection in the mirror, sighing to himself. He certainly didn't see any reason for Lizzie to like him as much as she did. Gordo thought he was maybe average looking, a little bit on the short side. He was wearing a white short sleeved shirt that was just the right size for him - not too baggy, and not too tight. His blue jeans were the same, and he wore them low on his hips with a black belt that had a silver buckle. On his feet, he wore a pair of gray and white skateboard shoes.
Walking out of his bedroom, he grabbed his brown zip up hoodie from an open box beside his door. He checked his watch on his way down the stairs - six thirty. Shrugging, he continued. It was his last day ever in Hillridge; Lizzie wouldn't mind if he got her up a little bit early.
"Mother, father! I'll be out all day with Lizzie and I'm done packing," he yelled to his parents on his way out the door. He didn't wait to hear their response, not caring whether they were planning on letting him go out today or not.
"Be back by four," his mother called, but she spoke only to the closed front door that her son had just exited seconds earlier. "What have I done?" She said quietly to herself.
Lizzie woke up gradually to the early morning sunlight streaming through her windows. The first thing she did when she woke up was wonder when Gordo would be coming over to get her so that they could spend their last day in Hillridge together until they were seperated for however long that they might be seperated.
The day was beautiful and bright, not a cloud in the bright blue sky. It didn't do much to reflect Lizzie's mood. She smiled, a smile with bitter undertones, as she remembered the events that had unfolded the previous night. The feeling of kissing Gordo still hadn't worn off, and she was still filled with an odd giddiness as she remembered the too-brief sensation of his lips on hers. Sparks flew. Fireworks ignited.
She threw her covers off of her and checked her clock. Six thirty in the morning. Maybe Gordo would actually get up early for once so that they could spend some time together. Lizzie staggered over to her window and opened her blinds, pulling the window open. She breathed in the sweet morning summer air, perfect. If only Gordo wasn't leaving, then everything might have been finally perfect and complete.
As she was looking out her window, Lizzie lost track of time and daydreamed. The beginning of this awful summer day had started off so beautifully. The weather was mocking her, and she almost wanted to cry out. Minutes had passed, and Lizzie hadn't noticed a car drive up her driveway.
Gordo opened Lizzie's bedroom door quietly, hoping that she wouldn't be angry that he was at her house so extremely early. He had only wanted to make the best of their final day together. When he saw her standing at the window, he stopped dead in his tracks. Her long blonde hair was flowing behind her in the wind, and she looked almost angelic. Gordo smiled at her back, and then he walked slowly towards her.
He slid both his arms around her waist. She jumped slightly, not expecting the gesture, but smiled as she realized that it was just him.
"Morning," he said quietly into her ear.
She shivered upon the sensation of his lips so extremely close to her ear. She could feel his breathing, slow and steady and warm against the skin of her ear. "Hi," she said. It was a romantic moment for the two of them and she didn't want to ruin it by saying too much.
So she didn't say much. Lizzie turned her head around to face him. She smiled, her eyes locked with his. She tilted her head to one side sweetly and moved one of her hands up to his face, letting her fingers trace along his cheeks, and then slowly move into his hair.
His arms still fully grasping her waist, he leaned towards her, smiling at her. He then closed his eyes after seeing her do the same. Their lips met in a slow, chaste kiss. Yes, it was still the same as yesterday night - amazing and perfect in every single way possible. He still felt the fireworks, the sparks. Complete chemistry.
Hesitantly, he pulled away and smiled into her face.
She looked down at the floor bashfully, and then backed slowly away from Gordo, taking some clothes out of her closet on her way out to the bathroom. "Wait here, I'll try to be really fast."
Gordo smiled. "Sure."
An hour later, Lizzie emerged from the bathroom. Gordo smiled at her apperance. He couldn't believe that she had chosen him - she was simply breathtaking. Today, she was dressed in a pair of low rise gray pants that hugged her form, black skateboard shoes, a longsleeved plain white shirt, silver necklace, and light gray belt with a silver buckle. Her hair was soft and curly and fell past her shoulders in large waves. She was beautiful.
"Are you hungry? We can go have breakfast before we leave. My parents are awake and everything." She paused, thinking about what she had just said. "What are we going to tell them?" Lizzie bit her lip, nervously.
"What do you mean, what are we going to tell them? I'm moving away and you wanted to spend one last day with your best friend. I mean, that is really all I am, just your best friend." Gordo looked down, slightly dejected.
Lizzie looked apologetic. "Oh, Gordo. You're so much more than just my best friend, you have been for a while. I just wish we could have realized that we felt the same about each other before you're moving away halfway across the country. Long distance just isn't my thing. And I don't want a breakup today at six because you're leaving. One day just isn't enough, Gordo. I need more time."
Gordo nodded, and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of her bedroom and towards the stairs. They walked down to Lizzie's kitchen hand in hand, each of them letting go when they saw Jo and Sam McGuire sitting at the kitchen table.
"Hi, Lizzie, Gordo," Jo said to the two. "Gordo, you're sure here early. It's not even eight yet!"
"Actually, Mrs.McGuire, I'm leaving tonight for New York, so I wanted to spend as much time with Lizzie today as possible, because we won't have any time together when I'm not here. I don't know when I'll ever get to visit or anything." Gordo looked down at the floor.
"Uh, mom? I'm not really that hungry. Are you hungry, Gordo?" Upon seeing Gordo shake his head, Lizzie turned to her parents with a smile. "We're going to leave now. I'll be back later. I don't really know when yet."
Jo McGuire smiled. "Okay, honey." She paused, turning to Gordo. "Gordo? If I don't see you again, I just wanted to say goodbye. It was so nice having you around all the time. We almost thought of you as a sort of second son to us, and we'll miss you being around the house." She turned to him and engulfed him in a hug, sniffling. "Have a great time in New York, okay, honey?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Mrs.McGuire." Gordo smiled. Lizzie's mother had always been so nice to him, almost like a second mother.
"If you ever come back and you need a place to stay, feel free to come here, okay?" Gordo nodded, and Jo continued. "Yeah, see you two later. Lizzie, please call and check in later today, alright?"
Lizzie nodded. "We really do have to get going. See you tonight!"
Gordo and Lizzie left the McGuire household and started towards Gordo's car which was parked in Lizzie's driveway haphazardly. Gordo turned the car on as soon as Lizzie had gotten in on the passenger side, but Lizzie wasn't about to let him back out of the driveway just yet. She smiled to herself and then leaned towards Gordo, kissing his cheek softly and pulling away back to her seat quickly.
He felt a red tinge spread across his cheeks. "What was that for?" he asked curiously.
She smiled, looking out the window. "Nothing," she said, completely nonchalant.
"So where do you want to go today? Is there anything you really want to do?" Gordo asked her. Since it was their last day together for awhile, he figured he'd make it as great for her as he possibly could. He wanted this to be a day that they'd remember for a long time, to make up for the time they'd be missing together when he moved to New York.
"Anything. As long as I'm with you." Lizzie smiled, and then thought about what she had just said. "Ouch, that was a pretty bad cliche there. Oh, Gordo! I'll go anywhere as long as I'm with you!" She mocked her own words, a playful tone in her voice.
Gordo's car sped along the paved road at the speed limit. "Do you think you could get your parents to relocate to New York?" He stopped, a bitter smile spreading itself across his face. "I'm sorry, Lizzie. We should try to ignore the fact that after six o'clock tonight, I'll be out of your life forever."
Sighing, Lizzie touched Gordo's hair. "You shouldn't be so pessimistic about this. Maybe next year your parents will have calmed down with all this and you'll be allowed to move back to Hillridge. After senior year, I'll be eighteen and so will you. Then we can do whatever we want without worrying about what they'll say. Gordo, you're not out of my life forever. I hope you understand that I'm not going to just go and forget you when you're gone."
The silence in the car was unbearable for the next few moments. Out of nowhere, Gordo spoke again quietly. "I could never forget you, Lizzie. Ever. I mean, no matter how many friends I do or don't make in New York, you'll still be my best."
Lizzie looked out the window in contemplation, not knowing if she should ask him something or not. She decided against it and kept quiet. Seconds later, she plastered a smile on her face and turned to Gordo, smiling fakely. "Thanks. It means so much to me."
Gordo and Lizzie spent a wonderful day together, sharing everything together. It would be their last for awhile, so they tried to do everything that they could possibly think of. Laughter and smiles were shared, as well as tears and regrets of the past years of their lives together. Gordo and Lizzie had never been apart for very long, and Gordo's moving away was going to be extremely hard on Lizzie, not to mention Gordo himself. He'd always thought that he had the perfect family, and now that beautifully built up illusion was destroyed, murdered, though he still had the perfect best friend. The only thing missing in their perfect day was their other best friend, Miranda Sanchez. Lizzie and Gordo had agreed that Lizzie would tell Miranda the news when Miranda got back, so she wouldn't worry Miranda while she was in Mexico.
The day passed by all too quickly, and before they knew it, they were pulled into Gordo's driveway at four thirty. The movers had already taken Gordo and his mother's furniture and belongings on the way to New York, and Gordo and Lizzie sat in Gordo's car, neither of them speaking because they were afraid of the words that they thought might be said.
Finally, Lizzie opened the door and headed into the house. Reluctantly, Gordo followed right behind her. They entered together and Gordo's parents, Roberta and Howard, were sitting together on the couch in silence and complete peace. His parents looked up when they heard Gordo enter with Lizzie. Gordo stood wordlessly, facing his parents.
"We're sorry, Gordo," Roberta said quietly. "Your airplane bags are right by the door. We're leaving right away, and Lizzie can come to the airport with us if she wants to. Your father will be driving us there, and he will drive Lizzie home."
Gordo's expression remained unchanged. "Fine." He started up the stairs to his bedroom silently. When Lizzie didn't follow, he motioned to her to follow him, so she shot one more distraught gaze at the Gordons and followed her best friend up to his old bedroom.
The door was closed, and so Gordo turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The room was completely empty and devoid of Gordo's personality and identity. Together, they stood alone in the middle of the room that he'd grown up in. Lizzie knew she didn't have to say anything, and though Gordo didn't speak, Lizzie knew he just needed her to be there with him.
He turned around to face her and she silently opened her arms to him. He gladly fell into them, and she sighed. She couldn't cry anymore, and she didn't want to right then. Gordo needed her to be strong for him, and so she did.
Moments later, Gordo and Lizzie released their embrace and Gordo started walking out of the room with his lifelong best friend, turning off the light and shutting the door behind him on his way out.
Still silent, they walked down the stairs and out the open front door and right into Gordo's father's car. The summer air was suffocating, and the silence was defeaning but there were no words to be spoken. Lizzie's eyes watered. The two elder Gordons got in the car and Howard Gordon began driving to the airport, where Gordo would leave Lizzie for longer than she had ever been left by him ever before.