[Thank you so much, guys, for your reviews. Keep 'em coming!]

Chapter 18

FLASH! Lizzie blinked open her eyes.

::Cartoon Lizzie:: (waking up) What the...??

Lizzie sat up in her bed to find Matt standing there, grinning, with a camera.

"Score!" Matt said, "I have captured Godzilla sleeping! This'll be worth a fortune!"

"Matt!" Lizzie started after Matt, but he was already on his way, running out the door.

"RRRRRR!!!!!" Lizzie growled, exasperated. Matt was such a pain in the neck. Although, come to think of it, he really had been pretty cool at play practice. He hadn't been bothering her or embarrassing her at all. Weird.

Twenty minutes later, Lizzie and Matt were downstairs eating breakfast. They had a long day ahead of them - today was the all day Saturday rehearsal. The play opened in one week and Mr. Dig wanted to be prepared. Lizzie looked over at Matt, who was eating (or rather slurping) his Lucky Charms straight from the bowl.

"Hey, weasel?"

Matt glanced at his sister. "What, fungus breath?"

"Thanks."

Matt gaped at her. "W..w..what did you say?"

Lizzie smiled at him. "I said thanks. You've been pretty cool since you've been doing the play. You haven't done anything embarrassing or mean to me since then."

Matt pondered over this thought. "You know, you're right. We've actually seen each other less now that we spend more time together."

"Yeah...Weird."

"Yeah...You know, I don't really mind doing stuff with you."

"Well...me neither, Matt."

"Hey, Lizzie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

The two siblings smiled and went back to their breakfasts, with an unspoken agreement of friendship. Unbeknownst to them, a figure lingered in the doorway behind them, smiling at her children's' newfound friendship.

Lizzie and Matt stepped into the school. Lizzie smiled. Her and Matt were...friends, she was in a play with her best friend, she was playing opposite Ethan Craft-

"LIZZIE!"

Tudgeman came sprinting down the hallway.

"Hey Tudg- Larry."

"Hey, Tudgeman," Matt said.

Tudgeman stopped. Lizzie and Matt McGuire - together and smiling?!?! He shook his head. Weird. He started again.

"Lizzie, have you heard?"

Lizzie stifled a yawn.

::Cartoon Lizzie:: What? It's 9 a.m.!

"No, I haven't heard anything. What are you talking about?"

"Ethan-"

Mr. Dig ran out of the auditorium. "Miss McGuire! Mr. McGuire! Mr. Tudgeman! Auditorium! Now! Emergency meeting!"

Lizzie and Matt looked at each other and shrugged, then followed Tudgeman and Mr. Dig into the auditorium.

Lizzie saw Gordo and waved, but he turned away really fast and sat down with some of the stage crew kids.

::Cartoon Lizzie:: He must not have seen me. Right?

She sat down with Tudgeman and her brother. After everyone had settled down, Mr. Dig started the meeting.

"Well, there have been a few little mishaps since yesterday's rehearsal. Unfortunately, we will be rehearsing without a few of our lead actors. Miss Sanchez is temporarily...out of commission till Wednesday. Miss Miller is home resting today and will be back here tomorrow. She will, however, have a bandage on her nose. I expect no one to badger her about it when she returns. And, as for Mr. Craft...well...this is the most important part of this meeting. I have some very bad news in regards to Mr. Craft. There was an accident last night-"

"An accident?! Is Ethan okay?" Kate screeched.

"Yes, Miss Sanders, he is okay. As I understand it, a skateboard and a staircase was involved...Anyway, Mr. Craft's stepmother called me this morning. He has a broken leg and will not be able to be in the show."

Lizzie sat, stunned. Ethan was out of the play? But who-

Mr. Dig continued. "So, this means that we need a new Demetrius. It was my mistake not casting understudies. And everyone is settled in their parts now and it's too late to have another audition...Does anyone have any ideas?"

LARRY'S POV

This is my chance. I could help. He's gonna hate me for awhile, but eventually, he'll thank me. I hope.

END OF LARRY'S POV

Tudgeman raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Tudgeman?"

Tudgeman cleared his throat. "Well, all that you said was quite true, Mr. Dig. What we need is someone who's been to all of the rehearsals, who knows all of the blocking and the lines just from hearing the all the time."

Mr. Dig looked intrigued. "Go on, Mr. Tudgeman."

"Well," Tudgeman continued, "There is one person who fits all of the requirements - he doesn't have a part, so no one will have to fill his place and he's been to every single rehearsal."

Suddenly, Larry's idea clicked in Mr. Dig's head. "Brilliant, Mr. Tudgeman! So, Mr. Gordon, what do you say?"

Both Lizzie and Gordo's jaws dropped open in shock as every head in the auditorium turned towards Gordo to hear his answer.

"I...I...uh...I"