Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewed! You've all been so incredible reviewing! Well, here's the latest! Tell me what you think! Please, read and review! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The gym was being prepped for a basketball tournament, so the principal, Ms. Ungermeyer, had given into the dance committee's pleas to hold the dance at a hotel. The room was beautiful and larger than the gym. Lizzie had to admit, Kate had done a wonderful job. Twinkling white lights were draped from the ceiling, the doorways swathed in white gauze.
Her arm was looped through Gordo's and she felt a smile tugging at her lips as he patted his hand.
"Wow," Miranda murmured. "The cheerleader can decorate."
Gordo snickered at her comment and Lizzie slightly bumped him with her hip. Miranda's attention suddenly landed on someone across the room and she hurried away.
Lizzie smiled, saying nothing as she lightly squeezed his arm.
Gordo looked over at her and smiled.
"Have I told you yet, how awesome I think you are?
"You could always tell me again," he smirked.
Lizzie suddenly leaned over and pressed her lips to his. "You're the best thing that has happened to me."
Gordo seemed surprised by the gesture and by the statement. He smiled softly at her, turning and putting his arms around her waist. "You may just be right."
Lizzie laughed and he placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head back up to look at him. He placed a soft, romantic kiss on her lips. "Be my girlfriend," he whispered softly.
"I thought you'd never ask," Lizzie answered. Her heart was pounding in her chest. The past week had been true hell, but during it, she'd found Gordo. Really found him. The way he'd automatically come to her aid when she needed him most, how he'd been there for her to lean on, it really opened her eyes.
"I'm going to grab a drink, you want anything?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Lizzie turned to him and shook her head. "I'll be all right," she answered. She watched him as he merged in with the crowd, then her eyes danced around the room. All her classmate had dressed nicely for the occasion.
"Lizzie," a voice breathed in her ear.
Jumping, she reeled around to find herself face to face with Ethan. "Hey," she answered, wondering if he caught the way her voice wavered.
"You look awesome," he smiled.
Lizzie forced a smile to stretch across her lips, but she couldn't help but wonder if he'd seen her in this dress already, if he'd taken pictures of her in this dress. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. He was a guy. Someone would have noticed that he wasn't supposed to be in there.
"So, you going to dance with me?" he questioned, leaning closer.
Lizzie hesitantly took a step backwards. "I promised Gordo that all my dances are for him."
Ethan closed his eyes, just half a second longer than to be called a real blink, but his face showed no change of emotion. "That's cool. At least when you win princess, if I win prince, I may get a dance." He nodded, flashed her another smile and disappeared into the crowd.
Lizzie let her breath out in a whoosh and decided to move. She walked through the crowd smiling and waving, looking for Miranda.
"Well, look who it is," a snappy voice called.
Lizzie put a gloved hand to her head. This girl would not give it a rest would she? She continued walking but Andie would have none of it.
"You actually showed up? You actually thought you would win?" her squeaky voice demanded.
Irritably, Lizzie turned on her heels and glared at the girl. "You know what, Andie, I'm sick and tired of your bitchy attitude. Leave me the hell alone, or I'm going to press harassment charges. Okay? There's been a lot that's happened to me this week that we don't know who did it, and it could be you, you could be the one harassing me. So leave me alone, or I'll press charges." She didn't wait to see the other girl's reaction, she just turned and quickly pressed through the crowd again. Finally she made it to a darkened corner and leaned back against it. Blood was pounding in her temples, and her head was starting to hurt. Then with a renewed force of will she stood up. She would not let that girl ruin her night. If Andie wanted to whine and complain about something, let her do it. But Lizzie was here with a great guy and her best friend, and Andie would not ruin that.
She couldn't push what she'd just said out of her mind though. Yes, Ronnie had gone berserk at Larry's house, but what about the dressing room, that could have easily have been a girl. Ronnie didn't know her classes either, but because her schedule was similar to Kate's, Andie did. What if he had had a partner? What if Andie did the dirty work and Ronnie was the muscle.
With a cry, Lizzie shook her head. She was becoming the embodiment of paranoid.
She looked around and suddenly saw Miranda. Miranda's face wasn't smiling though, she was looking around the room confused.
Lizzie hurried over to her. "Miranda," she called.
Her friend let out a yelp and whirled around to face her.
"What's going on?" Lizzie demanded, suspicion rising in her chest as she crossed her arms.
"Where's Gordo?"
"Getting a drink. Miranda, what's wrong!?" Lizzie demanded.
Miranda shoved a small black frame that folded to cover the picture inside. It was usually sold with pictures purchased at the dances
Lizzie quickly took it form her hands and found the picture of Gordo lying on the ground, the one she'd received earlier this week. On the opposite side written in whiteout was written: "Wouldn't a repeat be sad?"
She jerked her head up, but Miranda was gone. Lizzie felt as if a hand of ice had locked its grip around her heart. She ran over to the nearest group of people. "Have you seen Miranda?" Everyone looked at her blankly and shook their heads. Lizzie let out an aggravated cry, asking several more groups.
No one had seen her.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Lizzie strode over to Ethan. She grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.
"Lizzie," he stated, seeming surprised to see her. The others he was talking to lost interest quickly and drifted away.
She shoved the folder towards him. "Do you know anything about this?"

With a raised eyebrow, Ethan took it from her hand and flipped it open. "Wicked photo op," he stated, then his eyes went to the words. "Is this real?"
Never had Lizzie wanted to smack sense into his as much as she did at that precise moment. "You know nothing about this? Or how Gordo got beat up a few days ago?"
Ethan stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "Lizzie, you okay?"
"Damn it, Ethan! Just answer me!"
Her tone took him back, he raised his eyebrows. "Lizzie, I think you need to chill."
"Who the hell do you think you are to tell me to calm down?" she growled through gritted teeth. With a low growl, she turned and quickly walked past the surrounding students and outside. She leaned back against the wall, trying to think. Where could Miranda and Gordo have gone?
Not far off, a twig snapped. Her head jerked up. She looked around, seeing no one. "Who's there?" she called. No one answered, but Lizzie knew she wasn't hearing things. "Who's there?"
"It's only me," a familiar voice called as a figure stepped forward.