[Yeah, I own nothing...]
Chapter 15
"O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow, fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow when thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me kiss this princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!"
Mr. Dig beamed with pleasure. "Beautiful, Mr. Craft."
"Yes," Ethan answered, "just like my costar."
Lizzie blushed furiously.
::Cartoon Lizzie:: Am I having that dream again where Ethan Craft says that I'm beautiful? (pinches
herself) I'm awake! YES!!!
"Okay, onto the Mechanicals! Bottom! Peter Quince! Snug! Flute! All the rest of you! Onstage! Craft, McGuire, Tudgeman, Sanchez - offstage!"
Lizzie scampered backstage. She was exhausted and had a serious migraine. She needed some alone time to relax while she was offstage. Ethan had disappeared, as had Miranda and Tudgeman. Finally. Quiet. She took a deep breath, and sat back against the couch that was always backstage. That couch was rumored to be the beginning of many relationships. But for now, it was just Lizzie's escape from reality for the time being. 'Wow,' she thought to herself, 'Busy week.' Just then, someone covered Lizzie's eyes, taking her completely by surprise. She let out a little yelp and she heard a familiar chuckle behind her. Before she knew it, Gordo had jumped over the back of the couch and plopped down next to her. Lizzie smiled.
"Hey, you. What's up?"
"Nothing," Gordo answered, "Whatcha doing back here by yourself?" The last word of his sentence was kind of pointed, but Lizzie didn't notice.
"I don't feel so hot, so I came- hey, I thought stage crew had off today?"
'Damn,' Gordo thought to himself. He hadn't counted on her remembering that. He didn't want to give it away that he was here just to see her. She'd think he was a total loser. "Uhh..." he stammered, "What's wrong with you? Why don't you feel well?" 'Good cover, Gordo,' he thought.
Lizzie looked into his eyes...his blue eyes...
::Cartoon Lizzie:: (in an astronaut's uniform) Uh, he-llo? Earth to McGuire!
Gordo looked at Lizzie. Why was she staring at him like that? He brushed his hand over his face self consciously, just in case he had some orange around his mouth from those Cheese Doodles he ate earlier.
"Oh!" Lizzie suddenly snapped back into reality.
::Cartoon Lizzie:: (still in astronaut uniform) Houston, we have contact!
"Sorry. I just kinda...spaced out for a second," Lizzie said, trying to gather her wits together. What had just happened? "I kinda have a migraine and I was gonna lie down for a while until I have to go back onstage."
She finally dared to look at Gordo again. He was looking at Lizzie with a concerned look on his face.
"You should lay down. Come here. Put your head in my lap and go to sleep."
"Gordo-"
"No, McGuire. Do it. 'Cause you have to finish rehearsal and then go to the dance tonight. Just take a nap. I'll wake you when you have to go back onstage."
Lizzie didn't need to have her arm twisted. Her head hurt a lot and she kind of liked the way Gordo was taking care of her. She sprawled out on the couch, putting her head in Gordo's lap. Good old Gordo. Always there for her. He was the best friend anyone could ever have. He was...............................................
Gordo looked down at her. She had no idea how much he was shaking during that conversation. He was terrified. What if she had said no? thought he was a freak for suggesting she lay in his lap? And now...well, he had an angel laying across him. Lizzie's breath became heavy and even, a sure sign that she was asleep. She was so beautiful when she slept. She seemed to glow. Her hair tumbled across his lap, glossy and pale. Gordo brought his hand to finally touch her golden hair. After all this time of longing to touch it, touch her, here it was. He ran his hand gently through her silky tresses. God, this is heaven. Gordo softly stroked Lizzie's sleeping face. Her eyes fluttered and Gordo froze, frightened that she had felt his hand on her face. Lizzie half opened her eyes, and said in her sleep, "You're...you're my everything." Then she smiled peacefully and fell back into a deep sleep. Gordo blinked in disbelief. Was that meant for him?
"Okay, everyone. Since today's rehearsal has gone seamlessly today and you all have that dance, I'm going to let you go early." Mr. Dig's announcement was met with cheers and a stampede of actors. Ethan looked around the auditorium, but couldn't find who he was looking for. What he did see was Tudgeman giving Miranda a kiss on the cheek, then leave. His mouth dropped open, then into a huge grin. "Way to go, Tudgeman!" Miranda spun around to find Ethan grinning at her. She flushed a bit, then smiled back. "What's up, Ethan?" she asked, trying to get the attention off of her for a minute.
"Well, I was looking for Lizzie, but I haven't seen her since we were onstage before."
"Huh. Me neither," Miranda realized, "Well, I know she wasn't feeling too well before. Maybe Mr. Dig told her to go home early so she could get some rest before the dance tonight."
Ethan looked reassured. "Yeah, that's probably it. Well, I'll see you tonight, Mirandaaa...and the Tudeman!"
Little did either of them know, backstage was a sleeping Gordo and Lizzie, curled up together on the couch.
