Chapter 2: It Only Gets Harder

Hey everyone. This is my first fan fiction, so if you can just let me know what ya think then I will be a very happy young lady!

Hey again. Guess what? I do not own any of Lizzie McGuire. Not even a fingernail. If I did, then tell me what the point would be in writing a fan fiction? I do however, own Roxy, the aunt and uncle, Abbey, and Trevor. But nothing else. ("AN" stands for animated Lizzie) Enjoy!

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Lizzie poked at her food and felt just a tad bit better after her brief conversation with Roxy on the phone. Matt munched his salad quietly.

(AN-- Quiet? Matt? [shakes head] Those two words do not go together!)

"Son, is something the matter?" Sam McGuire asked. Matt looked up from his food and stared over his plate to Lizzie. Their eyes met.

"Not with me. But something is bugging Lizzie. Major." Lizzie gave her little brother the evil eye. Matt pleaded with his parents.

"Make Lizzie tell me what's wrong." Jo smiled at her son.

"You can't do that, can you?" Lizzie asked hesitantly. Sam shrugged, but Jo slapped her husband's arm.

"No. Sorry Matt. If you want to know so bad then ask Lizzie yourself." Matt smiled angelically at his older sister. Lizzie groaned.

(AN-- I will not tell, I will not tell, I will not...)

"Come upstairs after dinner."

(AN-- Apparently, I will tell)

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Lizzie closed her bedroom door behind her and her brother. But before she could even mutter a sound, Matt began.

"Melina knew. So did Lanny." Lizzie threw a confused look at her brother. That made no sense. Lanny and Melina? They didn't even go to Rome.

"What do you mean 'they knew'?" Matt shrugged and played with one of Lizzie's hair scrunchies, twirling it in his palms.

"When I told them how you had been acting since you got home from your trip, they told me that it had something to do with your emotions. Well, Melina told me that. She is the girl of our group. So, what happened in Rome, besides you kissing Gordo on the last night there."

(AN-- What?! WHat? How did he?...I guess that I underestimated my brother after all. And his friends.)

"Just how did you know that?" Lizzie stammered. Matt flicked the hair scrunchie against Lizzie's door, and turned around to face her.

"Ethan told me," he said matter-of-factly. Lizzie's mouth dropped open.

(AN-- Well, now that Ethan knows...wait. [eyes light up, and suddenly she begins to run around in circles] If Ethan knows then...oh my gosh.)

"Wait, Matt! Does Kate know about this?" Matt paused and thought for a moment.

"Not that I know of, but she will." Lizzie stood up and began to pace.

(AN-- Well, isn't this a lovely way to begin 4 long years of high school?)

"How do you know that Kate will find out?" Lizzie asked. Matt looked at her incredulosly.

"Duh. Cause Kate and Ethan are dating."

(AN-- [spits out her drink] I swear. Nothing more can surprise me.)

"But they fought the entire time in Rome! How can they possibly be going back out?" Matt shrugged.

"They had a good night the last night in Rome. Kate and Ethan are dating. Get over it Lizzie. Besides, you do have someone else to worry about." Lizzie stared at him coolly.

"Sorry. But come on. You and Gordo have to go out. I mean, everyone knew that it would happen some time or another."

"Define 'everyone' please."

"Well, me, mom, dad, Miranda, Kate, Ethan, Melina, Lanny..." Lizzie held up her hands in defense.

"Okay, I get it! But now what do I do Matt," she asked, flopping onto her bed.

(AN-- Whoa. I just asked Matt for advice.)

Matt sat next to Lizize on her bed and pondered the question.

"I think that you should call and talk to Gordo. Think of how he could be feeling too. I mean, you know how confusing this is for you." Lizzie stared at her brother with awe.

(AN-- [holds up baseball glove] Going...going...[catches a ball]...gone. I think that my brother has left the park. This new Matt gave me good advice. Wow.)

"Thanks Matt. You know I always thought that you were just there to annoy and bug me and make my life miserable." Matt opened the door and paused by it, his sinister smile returning again.

"That's just a hobby." he replied, then added. "And we mention this to..."

"No one," Lizzie finished. Matt smiled. They were back to normal bro-sis turf.

Lizzie sighed and stared at a photo of her, Miranda, and Gordo. She pointed accusingly with one finger at Gordo.

"This is all your fault for liking me." Then, she stopped.

(AN-- Or is it my fault?)

"I hate having a love life," Lizzie muttered and buried her head in Mr. Snuggles. "Bet you wouldn't understand though, huh Mr. Snuggles." The little pink pig with the blue ribbon looked up at her with knowing eyes. At least he can understand my life, Lizzie thought to herself.

(AN-- [cuddling Mr. Snuggles] Cause I sure can't.