Disclaimer: I still don't own things. Except Zelda, of course.

A/N: Wow, you guys are persistent! *grin* Anyway, you will be happy to know, that as of today, I have decided that I am going to be updating ALL my stories at the same time. That way, my Lizzie McGuire fans won't feel shafted when I post more onto my Harry Potter stories. See? I love ALL of you!

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"It' s the way you love me. It's a feeling like this. It's centrifugal motion. It's perpetual bliss. It's that pivotal moment. It's, ah, impossible. This kiss, this kiss Unstoppable. This kiss, this kiss."

-Faith Hill, This Kiss

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When I called to invite him over, I didn't believe he would come. After all, the last time he'd dated, seeing me (and Miranda) hadn't been at the top of his to do list.

But he did, and with a shaking hand, I replaced the phone and set up the deck of cards.

"Hey," I greeted shyly as I swung the door open several minutes later.

"Hey, Lizzie," he returned, stepping inside.

"Your parents here," he questioned, moving to the kitchen table.

I nodded, following. "Yeah, upstairs."

We sat simultaneously and he grinned broadly at his stack. "Don't tell me we're about to play Egyptian Ratscrew," he teased. "You wouldn't want to be remembered as the girl that got destroyed ten games in a row, would you?"

I laughed, and for an instant, I could forget the fact that I would be in deep trouble when our hands touched, and how I got lost in his eyes. "I think I deserve another chance."

Gathering his cards, his eyes were twinkling. "Hey, as many times as you want to lose, I mean, it's okay with me."

So we started playing, and I could see the concentration tightening his eyebrows. Double tens found their way to the top of the stack and I slammed my hand down instantly.

"I think you're cheating," he joked, eyeing my stack and his comparatively.

I winked. "Don't be jealous just because I have skill that you clearly do not possess."

He flipped a jack and I a six. Taking the cards, he grinned. "Yeah, Lizzie, you're right, I have every right to be concerned."

For the next hour our hands occasionally raced to the stack and there was no getting around the fact that I was putting up a fight. Never mind that he had all four jacks and three queens. I was going to win. I had to. Because now… Now I had something to prove. Now that my feelings for him were so clearly beyond friendship, I couldn't explain it, but I had to win.

And I did.

As I gathered the entire deck between my hands, I raised a triumphant eyebrow at Gordo.

"Not up to your usual standard," I informed him. My heart fluttered lightly as he gave me a lopsided smile.

"It's a proud day when the student surpasses the master."

I chuckled and rose. Opening the fridge, I grabbed two cokes and threw him one.

"I was glad you could come," I said, in what I hoped was a conversational manner.

He opened his and took a swing. "Well, I was going to hang out with Zelda but she called and said she was coughing up a lung and not to worry about it."

"She going to be alright?" I wondered if my voice sounded as thin as I thought it did.

"Her mom said it's just the flu. So I'm not worried."

"Well, I'm glad." I paused. "That it appears she'll be okay," I added, just in case.

"Me too."

There was a long silence.

"Gordo…"

I could feel my insides shaking with apprehension.

He glanced up to meet my eyes.

Uh oh.

"Yeah?"

'Nice weather we're having. Excited about high school? Please don't leave me behind…'

"Were you ever going to tell me you were in love with me?"

Well, okay, I had intended to be more subtle than that. So much for *sliding* it into conversation.

He choked on his cola.

"What?!"

I examined my hands silently before I had the strength to respond. "I never knew. Gosh, I must have been so stupid." I leveled my gaze to his. "And I must have hurt you."

Were these words actually coming out of my mouth?

He shifted, but, I guess, knowing that I was waiting for an answer, words formed on his lips. "No."

"No?"

"No, I wasn't going to tell you."

I nodded, disappointed. So his feelings weren't strong enough to take to that level. I could accept that.

"Oh."

I am so eloquent, I swear.

"I wanted to," he continued, as though I hadn't spoken. "I did. But I guess the words just wouldn't come out."

"Not that it matters, now," I interrupted.

He slid a glance at me.

"What would you have said, if I had told you?" he asked.

We were treading on thin water.

"Does it matter?"

"To me."

Boy, he seemed close. Through the windows, the moon slid a pale beam across my best friend's face.

"I… don't know."

There. Evasive. Evasive is always good.

I looked up to see if I had been caught in a lie, and found his lips planted firmly against my own. I caught a breath, and as quickly as it had been there, it was gone. He stood over me, his eyes wide with something that I couldn't discern.

But he reached out a hand and pulled me to my feet and suddenly we were eye to eye and lip to lip once more. The kiss deepened. My hands slid up his chest and, progressively, around his neck. His were placed firmly on my waste and I couldn't think anything except WHY OH WHY HADN'T I SAID ANYTHING BEFORE????

And then, suddenly, it was over.

"Ah…"

"Uh…"

We stared silently at each other.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly.

I nodded. I couldn't pretend to feel the same.

"I should go."

Another nod.

And he did. Go, that is. And once again, I was left alone, swallowing back tears.