A/N: Mrs. Ungermiyer? Ms. Ungiermeyr? Miss Ungermyer? I don't know! Sorry it's short :(
"Bye, Kate!" Lizzie called a final goodbye as Gordo, her parents, and Matt got into a taxi. As soon as Mr. and Mrs. McGuire returned from the concert and talked to Ms. Ungermeyer, they decided since Lizzie and Gordo had gotten into a lot of trouble and been kicked off the trip, and the McGuire's were planning on leaving the next day anyway, it made sense to fly back to the states together. However, since the flight was already almost filled by the time the McGuire's tried to get tickets, the seats were not all together on the plane. Lizzie was sitting with Gordo in the front of the plane, while the rest of the McGuire family was sitting in the back together. Originally, Lizzie had been grateful to escape her parents questioning and have some time to talk with Gordo, but now she was less enthusiastic. Last night Gordo wasn't upset and refusing to tell her why.
"So, kids. Are you excited to get back to Hill ridge?" Mr. McGuire asked in a pathetic attempt to start a conversation so they wouldn't have to listen to the obnoxious Italian music blaring out of the speakers.
"NO!" Lizzie and Gordo both yelled at the same time. Both were lying, however. Lizzie needed to escape the city where everything reminded her of Paulo, and Gordo needed to leave the trip which once again reminded him Lizzie would rather date a handsome jerk than him. They both knew that if they admitted they actually wanted to leave Rome, though, the questions would start up again.
"Why do we have to leave, again? I didn't do anything wrong!" Matt whined.
"Matt, you were asked to leave the country. I don't know what you did, but it had to be something pretty major..." Mrs. McGuire argued back.
"That guy at the hotel was crazy!" Matt protested. Lizzie felt herself dozing off as the fighting continued around her.

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"Lizzie, Lizzie, wake up!" Gordo was tapping Lizzie gently. She blinked a few times and then realized that the taxi was parked in front of the airport. She got out of the car and pulled her bags out of the trunk.
"I'll take that, Liz." Gordo graciously held out his arm for Lizzie to put her bag on.
"Are you sure, Gordo? I have, like, my whole make-up bag in there! It's pretty heavy." Lizzie was taken aback at Gordo's boyfriend like behavior. He had always been a sweet guy, but carrying her luggage? It was a bit extreme.
"Do you doubt my strength, Miss McGuire?" Gordo looked her in the eye and grinned.
"As a matter of fact I do, Mr. Gordon." Lizzie looked him right back, defiantly.
"I bet I can carry your luggage, my luggage, AND Matt up the stairs."
"No fair, Matt's like two pounds! And there's no way he trusts you enough to try it."
"Do you trust me?"
"I don't think I should, but what the heck."
After gathering the bags, Gordo stuck his arms out and motioned for Lizzie climb into his arms. He had been waiting all his life for something like this to happen.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Once again with the doubting! It's an excellent idea." In addition to getting to carry Lizzie in his arms, Gordo was also looking forward to proving how strong he had gotten. He just hoped no one mentioned it to his father, or his dad might notice the weights missing from the downstairs gym.
"Okay." Lizzie got up her courage and climbed onto his outstretched knee, then positioned herself in his arms. After Gordo had made it up the stairs and into the airport lobby, he gently placed Lizzie on the couch.
"Gosh, Gordo. I never knew you were so strong! I might need to start taking advantage of this." Lizzie said with a wink.
"Well, I'd be more than happy to be taken advantage of."
"Enough flirting, Lizzie and Gordo. We need to check in our luggage." Lizzie gasped as she realized what her mother had just said. She had just been flirting with her best friend. This couldn't be good.