Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Lizzie McGuire characters.

Chapter 9

NO POV:

As Lizzie ran out of Garden's Café, she knocked into and unexpected person. "Miranda!" exclaimed Lizzie. She brushed off her clothing as she sat up off the ground.

"Lizzie...I," started Miranda.

Lizzie interrupted. "You were 'just passing by,' right?" Lizzie rolled her eyes and talked in a sarcastic manner. "You know what, what is going on here? You must think this is a sick joke. You and Gordo made a total fool out of me! Here I thought you were my friends. Now it turns out that you just like making a mockery out of me."

"How did I make a mockery out of you, Lizzie?" asked an irritated Miranda.

"Um, uh. Well, you...you set me up on a date with Gordo!" yelled Lizzie.

"And what I ask, is so bad about that?" asked Miranda.

"Everything. I can't even believe this. You don't even understand. Gordo's been my best friend longer than you, and if Gordo and I were to date...it would not make sense," said Lizzie.

"A lot of things don't make sense," said Miranda.

"Like what?" asked Lizzie.

"Like the whole fact that you just broke Gordo's heart!" exclaimed Miranda.

"What do you mean?" asked Lizzie.

"Don't you even ask that question! If you don't know what I mean, than you must be blind. I heard the whole thing. I heard every little dirty thing you said to him. If he is as great a friend as you make him out to be, then why does he deserve to be treated like that? Why? Look at him," said Miranda pointing inside the café, "just look at him!"

Lizzie glanced over reluctantly at the inside of the café. There, at the other end, sat a slumped Gordo. His arms were on the table, and his head was resting on them. His curly brown head was down on the table, and he was completely still. Lizzie felt a pang of sorrow hit her, but tried to just brush it off. She had no idea what pains Gordo was feeling inside. His heart was crushed and his whole being was wounded. The only one who could almost feel Gordo's pain, was Miranda. She looked at her friend in disgust and disbelief.

"What about him?" asked Lizzie trying to ignore Gordo.

Miranda shook her head. "Lizzie, he loves you. Do you even have any idea? He loves you entirely. Do you know what? This date was my idea. He didn't want to do it...he never thought it would work. And I thought it would...but then I had more faith in you. I never thought you would treat him this way. And it really could have worked! You could have been in there right now having a good time. But, instead you were a total jerk. I'm disappointed to be your friend right now. What I want you to do is go in there right now and make things right. Tell him you're sorry."

"That's what you should be telling me, Miranda!" yelled Lizzie. "You were the one who lied to me! Aren't you going to apologize to me for lying! No, you're little miss always right. You never have to apologize! You know what? I'm not going to apologize. You know why? Because I don't owe him an apology...I don't owe you an apology! I don't even know what got into you. I thought you two were my best friends." Then Lizzie looked down at the ground and her eyes filled with anger. "You know what? I can't talk to you about this anymore. Just leave me alone and stay out of your stupid match making! It ruins lives. Thanks a lot, Miranda." Then Lizzie left leaving Miranda standing there by herself, holding back the tears and anger. The way Lizzie had said her name was in the coldest tone of voice that Miranda had ever heard from Lizzie. Miranda was scared, and decided to let Lizzie go on. She was very angry with Lizzie for hurting Gordo. Miranda wondered whether not she should go get Gordo. She decided that he needed a while alone...she would check on him later.

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Lizzie walked home in a midst of tears. She ran inside the house, and ignored her parents' inquiries about what was wrong. She rushed up to her room and slammed the door behind her. Her mascara streamed down her face. She hopped onto the bed and sat upright, and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She yelled and threw a pillow to the wall. Then she sank down into her covers, and lied stomach first on the bed. She rolled over and spotted a picture of Gordo, Miranda, and her on her bedside table. She wiped her tears, picked up the picture and let it drop to the floor out of her hands. She then got out of bed, and kicked the picture under her bed. She decided that she didn't want her friends. She didn't want to see them or ever talk to them again, and was glad that it was summer so that she could do just that.

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Gordo slowly walked home from the café, slumped over and almost falling to pieces. He tried to keep hold of himself as he felt mixed emotions about the evening. He started to ask himself questions like, "Am I too short?" and, "Did I say something offensive?" His mind was confused, and he wondered what he had done to make Lizzie so upset. One thing he knew for sure though was that he was killing inside. The pain in his heart was almost more than he could bear. He had never felt so intense of a pain before. Girls had turned him down before, Parker for one. But Gordo wasn't as deeply hurt the precious times as with Lizzie. He loved Lizzie, and what he thought he had had for Parker, was just a crush.

He arrived home, and slowly crawled to his room. He immediately began picking up things around his room that reminded him of Lizzie and put them in a big brown box. He found a few cards from her that he had saved just for the sake of memories. He opened one up and read:

Dear Gordo,

Today is your 13th birthday! Yay! You are such a great friend to me that I can't even begin to find the words to thank you! Remember that I'll always be:

Your best friend, Lizzie

He quickly stuffed the card back into its envelope and threw it into the box. He cleared everything from his bedroom that reminded him of Lizzie, putting everything away. Then, when he was finished, sealed up the box addressed to the McGuire's house and set it outside the house. The box was specifically addressed to Lizzie, and contained a note inside.

Lizzie,

I don't know what happened, and I don't know what's wrong with me. Here is a gift of all the memories we have had in the past. I can't live with memories that hurt too much. I don't understand how you could just throw our friendship away. Now I can't live with these memories.

Gordo

Later that night, while sitting inside home alone, Miranda tried calling to see if he was ok. She tried and tried, but Gordo didn't answer. It was almost as if he was lost to the world. Miranda sighed and hung up the phone...she decided to try him tomorrow. She just hoped that he was ok, all though she knew that he was suffering from a wound that was going to be hard to heal.

A/N: Wow. Are y'all proud of me for updating so quickly? I'm pleased as punch. Yes, it's even a sadder chapter then last! But remember: I love happy endings. Nothing ever ends in the dark in my stories. I'm really angry with Lizzie right now...and sad for Gordo. This is almost as painful for me to write as I am sure it is for you to read. But, I can honestly tell you that I know where I am going with this story. I know how it will end...this is a first! I just thought it up this morning. So expect more regular chapters.

Bec: Thanks for your review! Well, I won't tell you for sure if it will me L/G or not, because I don't want to wreck it. But, knowing me, I won't leave Gordo sad forever. Thank you for your ideas!

Winter blaze: Thanks! Um, yeah I reread it after I got your review. And I guess it could be taken as two different ways. Sorry about that. Gordo wasn't dreaming unfortunately.

Lostworld: Thanks! Um, as soon as I get one of my four current fics finished, I will get going on an M/M fic.

Lvfgd: Thank you for your wonderful review. I used you idea! Thank you very much! I myself feel very sad for Gordo.

Essychi: Thank you! I'll try to put them together. Hehe, just if my writing lets me.

Taguay18: Oh I'm sorry! Hehe, I change my writing all of the time. I thought I'd make it more dramatic. Just for lucks sake, I'm putting this in again: GO FLAMES! Thanks for reviewing.

Black Knight 03: Thanks!

Artsigirl16: Thanks!

Ok, just one more thing: As I was reading this over again, I ran into the problem that I could easily make this an M/G fic. But, since I said that L/G was the pairing I'd stick to, I guess that's what I'll do. Please review! Thanks much! :-)