Disclaimer: no one mentioned belongs to me, I guarantee it.
The Worst That Could Happen
Chapter Four: Tuesday
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
My rest that night was better than the previous nights. I still would jump awake in the middle of the night, sweating profusely, but I easily remedied my unease with the reminder that Gordo was awake, he was okay, he loved me.
That was enough of a sleeping pill for me.
I was late for school again the next morning, further evidence of my bettering mood. Miranda approached me at my locker, almost hesitant. "Hey, Lizzie."
"Hey."
"So, um, the hospital yesterday?"
It occurred to me that maybe in the hustle and bustle of things, the Gordons had never called her. "He's awake!" I said, finally understanding the meaning of the word jubilant and all of its synonyms. The only way things could get better was if he was here right now, not tied up in tubes and bandages.
"Really?" If she was disappointed that she hadn't been informed before now, she was a trooper and didn't show it. Just genuine relief and happiness.
"Yesterday."
"That's such great news," she sighed, leaning against the row of lockers. "So, um, Liz...did you tell him?"
I knew instantly what she was talking about, although we'd never officially discussed my feelings for Gordo. I don't know how she knew, maybe I was giving off vibes. It was always there though, the idea that I loved Gordo, and she acknowledged it without bringing attention to it. How she knew I was regretting having never told him was just good best friend instincts. I loved Miranda for that.
"Yeah," I said quietly, hiding behind the security of the open locker door between myself and her. Somehow, talking about this aloud made it seem less sacred.
"And?"
"And...he feels the same way."
"Well, duh, McGuire."
That took me by surprise. I slammed my locker shut and glared at her. "What is that supposed to mean, exactly?"
"Like it wasn't painfully obvious to everyone in the whole of Hillridge how you two feel about each other. Why do you think everyone came to say they're sorry yesterday? Why do you think the Gordons called you about the accident hours before they thought to call me? Why do you think they called you the second he woke up?"
"Well, if everyone *knew* about us, why didn't they give us a little push before now?" I blew my bangs out of my face, annoyed. It had taken a horrific accident and a coma for me to finally admit how much I loved him, and to think I could've said it all this time ago and it would have worked out fine. "I mean, geez."
Miranda shrugged glibly. "I guess we all thought that you two would get together in your own time. Wouldn't have you resented it if someone had tried to push you together?"
We were incredibly late for class, the only ones in the hallway. Still, we strolled at a leisurely pace, discussing for the first time the evolution of my feelings for Gordo. "I guess I would have...I don't know. Maybe I wouldn't have. It doesn't matter now, though, does it?"
"You're rambling, Lizzie," Miranda informed me, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"He's okay," I said in a rush of breath, amazed at how important those words were to me. "He's okay."
"So, are you going to be Lizzie Gordon, or Lizzie McGuire-Gordon?"
"*Very* funny, Miranda."
She giggled. "Mrs. Gordo!"
It was like everything was normal again. It had only been three days, but the longest and hardest three days of my life, and I was glad they were over. It was like the fates were giving us a test, to see if Gordo and I could overcome and finally get our act together. And we'd passed.
We exploded into the classroom. Mr. Dig looked up. "Miss McGuire, Miss Sanchez," he greeted us. He didn't look happy, but he didn't look upset. "Glad you could join us."
We slunk into our seats at the front of the room, abashed. "Sorry, Mr. Dig," we chorused.
"Well, considering the events of late, I think I can excuse your --ahem-- *extreme* tardiness," I glanced at the clock -- thirteen minutes late, that had to be a record, "this *one* time," he added with a pointed stare at the both of us. "If you don't mind my asking, however, how is our Mr. Gordon faring, Miss McGuire?"
"He's awake," I announced proudly. Again, my statement was meant with murmurs, but these were much more positive. I could feel the eyes of my classmates on my back, and I wondered if they could see the glow I was feeling. I wondered if they knew that Gordo and I had done it, we'd finally admitted our feelings, and that the planets had aligned and everything was right with the world.
This time, when I was bombarded with questions, I fielded them all with ease. The period flew by, although not much got done academically. To be honest, I don't know if I actually accomplished any learning that day. My mind was back in the hospital, at Gordo's side.
My mom was waiting in front of the building after school, ready to usher me to the hospital. I leaned across the divider and gave her a hug. "What's that for?"
"For being so supportive."
"Oh, honey, of course. I love Gordo, and I understand how hard this must be for you."
"You know I love him, don't you?"
She glanced at me. "Lizzie, don't kid yourself. Everyone knows how you two feel about each other. Roberta and I were nearly going to start an intervention to get you two to realize it."
I rolled my eyes. A typical response for me, but I think we were both grateful that things were finally getting back to normal enough that I could do that. "You know, everyone telling me that is beginning to get a little annoying."
I could find my way to Gordo's room with my eyes closed. I felt like I had spent a lifetime in this hateful building. Although right now it wasn't such a bad place. It was a place of healing, of renewal, of life and love.
This time, only Mrs. Gordon was in the room. When pressed, she revealed that her husband had gone to get coffee. Now that Gordo was awake, they didn't spend a twenty-four hour vigil.
Gordo saw me first, and a grin erupted on his face. "Lizzie! You came back."
"Of course I came back. I never wanted to leave in the first place."
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"Do you two need a moment alone?" Mrs. Gordon said, looking amused.
"Would you mind, Mom?"
"No, no, of course not. I understand." She vacated the chair and passing me, grasped my hand slightly, smiling that knowing mother smile. Then she and my mom left to go have motherly chats.
"Did you know they all knew?" I asked, sitting down next to him.
"Who all knew what?"
"Everyone knew that I loved you except you. And everyone knew you loved me except me. Our parents, our friends, our teachers..."
"So we're stupid. Get over it, McGuire."
"It just seems like we've wasted so much time."
"What, because we've been dating for only one day in the years that we've known each other?"
"Gordo, I knew early on that I was meant to be with you, and the only thing stopping me from admitting that --even to myself-- was fear. And then I knew real fear, when I realized I could lose you forever and you'd never know the truth. We've wasted so much time lying to each other and ourselves."
"I don't think of it as wasted time," Gordo said thoughtfully. "I think that all this time we spent denying ourselves was just time spent building our friendship into the rock solid foundation we have now. And I know that should the world end and we for some reason or another stop loving each other as boyfriend and girlfriend--" I had to smile at his sentiment, "--I know we're still going to be friends. *That's* how solid we are."
"Gordo, you are always going to be my best friend," I swore.
"I love you, you know. I've waited such a long time to say that, and I can't say it enough."
"Were you always a romantic?"
"I think the coma brought it out of me."
"Ever see a bright light?"
"You were the only thing at the end of the tunnel."
I kissed him. Words just weren't sufficient anymore.
The Worst That Could Happen
Chapter Four: Tuesday
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
My rest that night was better than the previous nights. I still would jump awake in the middle of the night, sweating profusely, but I easily remedied my unease with the reminder that Gordo was awake, he was okay, he loved me.
That was enough of a sleeping pill for me.
I was late for school again the next morning, further evidence of my bettering mood. Miranda approached me at my locker, almost hesitant. "Hey, Lizzie."
"Hey."
"So, um, the hospital yesterday?"
It occurred to me that maybe in the hustle and bustle of things, the Gordons had never called her. "He's awake!" I said, finally understanding the meaning of the word jubilant and all of its synonyms. The only way things could get better was if he was here right now, not tied up in tubes and bandages.
"Really?" If she was disappointed that she hadn't been informed before now, she was a trooper and didn't show it. Just genuine relief and happiness.
"Yesterday."
"That's such great news," she sighed, leaning against the row of lockers. "So, um, Liz...did you tell him?"
I knew instantly what she was talking about, although we'd never officially discussed my feelings for Gordo. I don't know how she knew, maybe I was giving off vibes. It was always there though, the idea that I loved Gordo, and she acknowledged it without bringing attention to it. How she knew I was regretting having never told him was just good best friend instincts. I loved Miranda for that.
"Yeah," I said quietly, hiding behind the security of the open locker door between myself and her. Somehow, talking about this aloud made it seem less sacred.
"And?"
"And...he feels the same way."
"Well, duh, McGuire."
That took me by surprise. I slammed my locker shut and glared at her. "What is that supposed to mean, exactly?"
"Like it wasn't painfully obvious to everyone in the whole of Hillridge how you two feel about each other. Why do you think everyone came to say they're sorry yesterday? Why do you think the Gordons called you about the accident hours before they thought to call me? Why do you think they called you the second he woke up?"
"Well, if everyone *knew* about us, why didn't they give us a little push before now?" I blew my bangs out of my face, annoyed. It had taken a horrific accident and a coma for me to finally admit how much I loved him, and to think I could've said it all this time ago and it would have worked out fine. "I mean, geez."
Miranda shrugged glibly. "I guess we all thought that you two would get together in your own time. Wouldn't have you resented it if someone had tried to push you together?"
We were incredibly late for class, the only ones in the hallway. Still, we strolled at a leisurely pace, discussing for the first time the evolution of my feelings for Gordo. "I guess I would have...I don't know. Maybe I wouldn't have. It doesn't matter now, though, does it?"
"You're rambling, Lizzie," Miranda informed me, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"He's okay," I said in a rush of breath, amazed at how important those words were to me. "He's okay."
"So, are you going to be Lizzie Gordon, or Lizzie McGuire-Gordon?"
"*Very* funny, Miranda."
She giggled. "Mrs. Gordo!"
It was like everything was normal again. It had only been three days, but the longest and hardest three days of my life, and I was glad they were over. It was like the fates were giving us a test, to see if Gordo and I could overcome and finally get our act together. And we'd passed.
We exploded into the classroom. Mr. Dig looked up. "Miss McGuire, Miss Sanchez," he greeted us. He didn't look happy, but he didn't look upset. "Glad you could join us."
We slunk into our seats at the front of the room, abashed. "Sorry, Mr. Dig," we chorused.
"Well, considering the events of late, I think I can excuse your --ahem-- *extreme* tardiness," I glanced at the clock -- thirteen minutes late, that had to be a record, "this *one* time," he added with a pointed stare at the both of us. "If you don't mind my asking, however, how is our Mr. Gordon faring, Miss McGuire?"
"He's awake," I announced proudly. Again, my statement was meant with murmurs, but these were much more positive. I could feel the eyes of my classmates on my back, and I wondered if they could see the glow I was feeling. I wondered if they knew that Gordo and I had done it, we'd finally admitted our feelings, and that the planets had aligned and everything was right with the world.
This time, when I was bombarded with questions, I fielded them all with ease. The period flew by, although not much got done academically. To be honest, I don't know if I actually accomplished any learning that day. My mind was back in the hospital, at Gordo's side.
My mom was waiting in front of the building after school, ready to usher me to the hospital. I leaned across the divider and gave her a hug. "What's that for?"
"For being so supportive."
"Oh, honey, of course. I love Gordo, and I understand how hard this must be for you."
"You know I love him, don't you?"
She glanced at me. "Lizzie, don't kid yourself. Everyone knows how you two feel about each other. Roberta and I were nearly going to start an intervention to get you two to realize it."
I rolled my eyes. A typical response for me, but I think we were both grateful that things were finally getting back to normal enough that I could do that. "You know, everyone telling me that is beginning to get a little annoying."
I could find my way to Gordo's room with my eyes closed. I felt like I had spent a lifetime in this hateful building. Although right now it wasn't such a bad place. It was a place of healing, of renewal, of life and love.
This time, only Mrs. Gordon was in the room. When pressed, she revealed that her husband had gone to get coffee. Now that Gordo was awake, they didn't spend a twenty-four hour vigil.
Gordo saw me first, and a grin erupted on his face. "Lizzie! You came back."
"Of course I came back. I never wanted to leave in the first place."
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"Do you two need a moment alone?" Mrs. Gordon said, looking amused.
"Would you mind, Mom?"
"No, no, of course not. I understand." She vacated the chair and passing me, grasped my hand slightly, smiling that knowing mother smile. Then she and my mom left to go have motherly chats.
"Did you know they all knew?" I asked, sitting down next to him.
"Who all knew what?"
"Everyone knew that I loved you except you. And everyone knew you loved me except me. Our parents, our friends, our teachers..."
"So we're stupid. Get over it, McGuire."
"It just seems like we've wasted so much time."
"What, because we've been dating for only one day in the years that we've known each other?"
"Gordo, I knew early on that I was meant to be with you, and the only thing stopping me from admitting that --even to myself-- was fear. And then I knew real fear, when I realized I could lose you forever and you'd never know the truth. We've wasted so much time lying to each other and ourselves."
"I don't think of it as wasted time," Gordo said thoughtfully. "I think that all this time we spent denying ourselves was just time spent building our friendship into the rock solid foundation we have now. And I know that should the world end and we for some reason or another stop loving each other as boyfriend and girlfriend--" I had to smile at his sentiment, "--I know we're still going to be friends. *That's* how solid we are."
"Gordo, you are always going to be my best friend," I swore.
"I love you, you know. I've waited such a long time to say that, and I can't say it enough."
"Were you always a romantic?"
"I think the coma brought it out of me."
"Ever see a bright light?"
"You were the only thing at the end of the tunnel."
I kissed him. Words just weren't sufficient anymore.