"No Lizzie!" her Mum almost yelled.
"What Mom? You gotta be kidding me?" Lizzie was stoked.
"I said, no! You went to Justin Timberlake's concert only a couple of months ago. The tickets aren't cheap you know!" Joe replied.
"Yeah I know that mom. But I'll do anything to go! I promise! I have to go; Good Charlotte is the best band ever!" Lizzie begged.
"You said the exact same thing last time Lizzie! When I say no, I mean no!"
"Well you changed your mind about me going to Danny Kessler's pool party!" Lizzie said.
"But that was back then, okay? Now stop arguing with me young lady, you can't get everything want!"
Lizzie sighed deeply, charged upstairs and slammed her room door shut. She sat on the bed and sulked. She couldn't believe she was going to miss out on the best concert ever and Gordo and Miranda was going to go and she wasn't. Her mum made her life miserable, she thought to herself. Lizzie tried to think of all the good things that would happen if she didn't go. She wouldn't have to do extra chores or be nice to Matt. But it still wasn't worth it; she wanted so desperately to go. All of a sudden, the phone on Lizzie's bedside table started to ring. She picked it up angrily, saying a nasty 'hello' which sounded like she was about to explode.
"Hello?" This person asked. "Is that you Lizzie?" The person said in a strong Italian accent.
"Isabella?" Lizzie asked surprisingly.
"Si! It's me Lizzie! How are you?" Isabella asked excitedly.
"Oh, I'm not too good, but thanks for asking! How about you? I'm so glad you called." She said, feeling a bit happier.
"I'm good. Si, I am. I've been pretty busy lately, I'm recording a new song and I have to wake up very early in the morning." Isabella sighed. "How come you are not good?" she asked.
"Well I've just had an argument with my mom. She won't let me go to Good Charlotte's Concert that's on next month and I'm really angry with her. She said it was because of the price of the tickets, they cost 80 bucks!" Lizzie replied. "You might not think that's that expensive, cos you're so rich! My Mom sent me to a private high school and it's so expensive!"
"Look, cheer up Lizzie; it's not the end of the world."
"Yes it is! This is once in a lifetime opportunity, their not gonna come back again!" Lizzie cried.
"Well, if money is a problem, then maybe I could help you out there." Isabella said. "Help me out? Like how? What do you mean?" Lizzie was beginning to get curious.
"Maybe I could send you some of my money to you, and you can by the tickets with it." Isabella suggested.
"REALLY?" Lizzie was overwhelmed. "You would actually do that? For ME?"
"Si! Of course. You're a great friend of mind Lizzie. I'll do anything to make you happy!" Isabella replied.
"Oh. That's so nice of you Isabella, you have no idea how much I'd appreciate it. It's eighty dollars by the way, and do you have my address?" Lizzie heard a loud shuffle of papers over the phone.
"Si, I have your address right here."
"I don't mean to pester you Isabella, but do you reckon you could get the money here before the end of next week? Cos we have to get the tickets by then." Lizzie said.
"Ok then. I'll send the money in by "quick post". It gets there in a couple of days."
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. I promise to pay you back sooner or later. I'll just do extra chores." Said Lizzie
"No, it's okay, really! You don't have to pay me back. Just make it a gift from me to you, for being such a great friend to me." Isabella said. Lizzie agreed a while later not to pay her back, even though she still felt bad. She also felt so touched about Isabella saying she was a great friend to her. Lizzie promised her she'd make it up to her as soon as she could. The two friends chatted for a long time. About friends, family, school, boyfriends and Isabella's singing career. About 45 minutes later, Lizzie hung up the phone and couldn't have felt any happier. Then something inside her felt that something was wrong, that something was still going to stop her from going to the concert. Her Mum. Lizzie all of a sudden realised that no way would her mum allow her to use Isabella's money and would demand for Lizzie to call her again to not send it.
Feeling nervous, Lizzie tip toed downstairs to tell her mum the news. Matt was watching TV on the couch, while her Dad was fixing the sink in the bathroom. She went into the kitchen where her mum was still preparing dinner.
"Hey Mom." Lizzie said quietly. Jo turned her head slowly and saw her daughter standing there.
"Hi Lizzie. I'm sorry you can't go to the concert. It's just some things in life you just can't get. I hope you're not still angry at me and you do understand about the money thing, right?"
"Well that's what I wanted to talk to you about Mom. I understand that we're going a little tight on the budget right now." Lizzie began to say.
"Well that's great sweetie! I knew you'd understand, you're growing up so fast!" Her mum said proudly.
"That's why when Isabella called me; she offered to send me some of her money to me to buy the tickets." Lizzie continued. When she saw the look on her mother's face, Lizzie regretted saying what she said. Her mum's face went from all happy and sweet, to an angry, sharp look.
"ELIZABETH BROOKE MCGUIRE! HOW DARE YOU!" Her mum yelled the roof off. At that same moment, her Dad walked in holding a spanner and her brother with the remote. "How dare you go begging Isabella for money just because she's rich!" her mum glared at her. Matt laughed hysterically with a mouthful of popcorn. He loved it when his sister got in trouble.
"MOM! I didn't beg her for god's sake! She offered it to me okay? I told her I would pay her back when I got the money but she insisted not to! She wanted to do it for me! Is that so bad?" Lizzie shouted. Matt was still laughing.
"You are not going to the concert with Isabella's money Lizzie! It's just not right!"
"So what am I suppose to do when I get the money, throw it in the bin?" Lizzie shouted sarcastically.
"Well you can just send the money straight back to her young lady! You are not going AND THAT"S FINAL!" It looked like her mum was about to explode with anger and Lizzie couldn't help letting out a small giggle. She looked hilarious.
"I'm in High School Mom! I'M NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE! YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T DO!" Lizzie felt like she was going to explode her self. Her throat was beginning to get sore from all the yelling.
"When you are under this roof and not 18, I can tell you EXACTLY what to do, AND YOU HAVE TO OBEY ME!" Her mother pointed her finger at her.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY TO ME, I'M GOING TO THE CONCERT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT! AT LEAST ISABELLA LOVES ME!" Lizzie, once again, stormed upstairs and locked herself in her room. She felt like she was going to cry again, twice in one day. By the time she lay down on her bed, she wished that she never said what she had just said to her mum. Or maybe she shouldn't have yelled it. Lizzie didn't dare go downstairs to dinner; she was scared that her mum was going to have a hissy fit again. She would rather starve. She thought she would wait until her dad came up, but no one did. It was soon 8 o'clock, and Lizzie felt like she could eat a horse. She got up, searched through her school bag and found an apple and a few biscuits. Lizzie was relieved. She thought she would just wait until everyone was asleep and walk down stairs to find some leftovers in the fridge.
It was time to face another day of school. Lizzie had tossed and turned all night, thinking about what was going to happen between her and her mum. She'd hoped she hadn't ruined their relationship. Not that is was that good before. She quickly got dressed in her uniform, washed her face, packed her bag and quietly walked down stairs, trying not to attract any attention. Lizzie went to the dining table and sat down. No one was there, just her mum preparing lunches in the kitchen. She suspected her dad was going to work early today and Matt was probably still asleep, since she started school and hour before him.
Her mum saw her at the corner of her eye and turned away, ignoring her. Lizzie was going to say something, but stopped herself, incase she said something wrong. She looked at the big pile of toast on the plate and devoured four pieces, each covered with peanut butter and jelly. She was starved since she hadn't eaten a proper dinner last night. After she finished, she brushed her teeth and came back down stairs to get her lunch. Lizzie looked and the brown paper bag sitting next to her mother while she was spreading butter on a piece of bread. Lizzie went to get her lunch and slowly put it in her bag.
"Thanks Mom," Lizzie said. Jo didn't reply and just continued what she was doing.
"Mom, I'm really sorry about-," Lizzie began to say, but was interrupted.
"Look Lizzie, I don't wanna hear it. Just, just go to school." Her mum said calmly, not even turning to look at her daughter.
Lizzie sadly slid her bag over one shoulder, and walked slowly out the door, feeling angry with herself. She trudged along the footpath with the rays of the sun shining in her eyes. Lizzie regretted all the bad things she said to her mum, maybe not going to the concert was better after all. Better than her mum hating her for the rest of her life.
When she arrived at school, Gordo and Miranda were waiting at the gates for her.
"Hey girlfriend! Guess what? My parents agreed to let me go to the concert! How cool is that? But I have to wash the dishes, vacuum the house, wash the car and take out the garbage for a whole month! But I reckon it'll be worth it, it's gonna be great! Oh, and Gordo can come too, how fun is this gonna be!" Miranda said excitedly. Then she saw the sad, painful look on Lizzie's face, which seemed like bad news for Miranda and Gordo.
"What's up Lizzie?" Miranda asked curiously. The excitement from her voice had all of a sudden disappeared. Lizzie told Gordo and Miranda about Isabella offering to pay for the tickets and the big fight with her mum and all the things she said to her. Her two best friends were speechless.
"So what's gonna happen now?" asked Gordo. "Are you gonna come or not?"
"I really don't know Gordo, I just can't think straight right now, and I have a lot of thought's going through my head." Lizzie replied.
The bell went to start school and the first period of Ancient History was incredibly boring to Lizzie. Never, throughout the lesson, had she ever listened. When it was finally recess, Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo sat under the shade of a huge tree.
"So do you think you're Mom will ever forgive you for what you said to her Lizzie?" asked Miranda.
"I dunno. Well, I hope so. But I'm just stuck on thinking whether I should go to the concert or not." "Lizzie, just talk about it calmly to your Mom, don't raise your voice, and don't get angry. Get it through her head that you're sorry for everything you said to her, and if you could take it back, you would." Gordo said.
"I tried that this morning Gordo. I told you already, remember?"
"You said like, 5 words and that's it? You didn't even try!" Gordo said while trying to fix his tie.
"Okay, Okay. I'll try to talk to after school, let's just hope it's not too late." Lizzie said nervously.
After school, Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo walked home together, but left in their own directions as they got closer to Lizzie's house. Lizzie was on her own, and thought carefully about what she was going to say to her mum and how she was going to say it. She revised it over and over as she couldn't stuff this up. A sick feeling filled her stomach and her palms began to sweat as she reached the front door.
"What Mom? You gotta be kidding me?" Lizzie was stoked.
"I said, no! You went to Justin Timberlake's concert only a couple of months ago. The tickets aren't cheap you know!" Joe replied.
"Yeah I know that mom. But I'll do anything to go! I promise! I have to go; Good Charlotte is the best band ever!" Lizzie begged.
"You said the exact same thing last time Lizzie! When I say no, I mean no!"
"Well you changed your mind about me going to Danny Kessler's pool party!" Lizzie said.
"But that was back then, okay? Now stop arguing with me young lady, you can't get everything want!"
Lizzie sighed deeply, charged upstairs and slammed her room door shut. She sat on the bed and sulked. She couldn't believe she was going to miss out on the best concert ever and Gordo and Miranda was going to go and she wasn't. Her mum made her life miserable, she thought to herself. Lizzie tried to think of all the good things that would happen if she didn't go. She wouldn't have to do extra chores or be nice to Matt. But it still wasn't worth it; she wanted so desperately to go. All of a sudden, the phone on Lizzie's bedside table started to ring. She picked it up angrily, saying a nasty 'hello' which sounded like she was about to explode.
"Hello?" This person asked. "Is that you Lizzie?" The person said in a strong Italian accent.
"Isabella?" Lizzie asked surprisingly.
"Si! It's me Lizzie! How are you?" Isabella asked excitedly.
"Oh, I'm not too good, but thanks for asking! How about you? I'm so glad you called." She said, feeling a bit happier.
"I'm good. Si, I am. I've been pretty busy lately, I'm recording a new song and I have to wake up very early in the morning." Isabella sighed. "How come you are not good?" she asked.
"Well I've just had an argument with my mom. She won't let me go to Good Charlotte's Concert that's on next month and I'm really angry with her. She said it was because of the price of the tickets, they cost 80 bucks!" Lizzie replied. "You might not think that's that expensive, cos you're so rich! My Mom sent me to a private high school and it's so expensive!"
"Look, cheer up Lizzie; it's not the end of the world."
"Yes it is! This is once in a lifetime opportunity, their not gonna come back again!" Lizzie cried.
"Well, if money is a problem, then maybe I could help you out there." Isabella said. "Help me out? Like how? What do you mean?" Lizzie was beginning to get curious.
"Maybe I could send you some of my money to you, and you can by the tickets with it." Isabella suggested.
"REALLY?" Lizzie was overwhelmed. "You would actually do that? For ME?"
"Si! Of course. You're a great friend of mind Lizzie. I'll do anything to make you happy!" Isabella replied.
"Oh. That's so nice of you Isabella, you have no idea how much I'd appreciate it. It's eighty dollars by the way, and do you have my address?" Lizzie heard a loud shuffle of papers over the phone.
"Si, I have your address right here."
"I don't mean to pester you Isabella, but do you reckon you could get the money here before the end of next week? Cos we have to get the tickets by then." Lizzie said.
"Ok then. I'll send the money in by "quick post". It gets there in a couple of days."
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. I promise to pay you back sooner or later. I'll just do extra chores." Said Lizzie
"No, it's okay, really! You don't have to pay me back. Just make it a gift from me to you, for being such a great friend to me." Isabella said. Lizzie agreed a while later not to pay her back, even though she still felt bad. She also felt so touched about Isabella saying she was a great friend to her. Lizzie promised her she'd make it up to her as soon as she could. The two friends chatted for a long time. About friends, family, school, boyfriends and Isabella's singing career. About 45 minutes later, Lizzie hung up the phone and couldn't have felt any happier. Then something inside her felt that something was wrong, that something was still going to stop her from going to the concert. Her Mum. Lizzie all of a sudden realised that no way would her mum allow her to use Isabella's money and would demand for Lizzie to call her again to not send it.
Feeling nervous, Lizzie tip toed downstairs to tell her mum the news. Matt was watching TV on the couch, while her Dad was fixing the sink in the bathroom. She went into the kitchen where her mum was still preparing dinner.
"Hey Mom." Lizzie said quietly. Jo turned her head slowly and saw her daughter standing there.
"Hi Lizzie. I'm sorry you can't go to the concert. It's just some things in life you just can't get. I hope you're not still angry at me and you do understand about the money thing, right?"
"Well that's what I wanted to talk to you about Mom. I understand that we're going a little tight on the budget right now." Lizzie began to say.
"Well that's great sweetie! I knew you'd understand, you're growing up so fast!" Her mum said proudly.
"That's why when Isabella called me; she offered to send me some of her money to me to buy the tickets." Lizzie continued. When she saw the look on her mother's face, Lizzie regretted saying what she said. Her mum's face went from all happy and sweet, to an angry, sharp look.
"ELIZABETH BROOKE MCGUIRE! HOW DARE YOU!" Her mum yelled the roof off. At that same moment, her Dad walked in holding a spanner and her brother with the remote. "How dare you go begging Isabella for money just because she's rich!" her mum glared at her. Matt laughed hysterically with a mouthful of popcorn. He loved it when his sister got in trouble.
"MOM! I didn't beg her for god's sake! She offered it to me okay? I told her I would pay her back when I got the money but she insisted not to! She wanted to do it for me! Is that so bad?" Lizzie shouted. Matt was still laughing.
"You are not going to the concert with Isabella's money Lizzie! It's just not right!"
"So what am I suppose to do when I get the money, throw it in the bin?" Lizzie shouted sarcastically.
"Well you can just send the money straight back to her young lady! You are not going AND THAT"S FINAL!" It looked like her mum was about to explode with anger and Lizzie couldn't help letting out a small giggle. She looked hilarious.
"I'm in High School Mom! I'M NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE! YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T DO!" Lizzie felt like she was going to explode her self. Her throat was beginning to get sore from all the yelling.
"When you are under this roof and not 18, I can tell you EXACTLY what to do, AND YOU HAVE TO OBEY ME!" Her mother pointed her finger at her.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY TO ME, I'M GOING TO THE CONCERT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT! AT LEAST ISABELLA LOVES ME!" Lizzie, once again, stormed upstairs and locked herself in her room. She felt like she was going to cry again, twice in one day. By the time she lay down on her bed, she wished that she never said what she had just said to her mum. Or maybe she shouldn't have yelled it. Lizzie didn't dare go downstairs to dinner; she was scared that her mum was going to have a hissy fit again. She would rather starve. She thought she would wait until her dad came up, but no one did. It was soon 8 o'clock, and Lizzie felt like she could eat a horse. She got up, searched through her school bag and found an apple and a few biscuits. Lizzie was relieved. She thought she would just wait until everyone was asleep and walk down stairs to find some leftovers in the fridge.
It was time to face another day of school. Lizzie had tossed and turned all night, thinking about what was going to happen between her and her mum. She'd hoped she hadn't ruined their relationship. Not that is was that good before. She quickly got dressed in her uniform, washed her face, packed her bag and quietly walked down stairs, trying not to attract any attention. Lizzie went to the dining table and sat down. No one was there, just her mum preparing lunches in the kitchen. She suspected her dad was going to work early today and Matt was probably still asleep, since she started school and hour before him.
Her mum saw her at the corner of her eye and turned away, ignoring her. Lizzie was going to say something, but stopped herself, incase she said something wrong. She looked at the big pile of toast on the plate and devoured four pieces, each covered with peanut butter and jelly. She was starved since she hadn't eaten a proper dinner last night. After she finished, she brushed her teeth and came back down stairs to get her lunch. Lizzie looked and the brown paper bag sitting next to her mother while she was spreading butter on a piece of bread. Lizzie went to get her lunch and slowly put it in her bag.
"Thanks Mom," Lizzie said. Jo didn't reply and just continued what she was doing.
"Mom, I'm really sorry about-," Lizzie began to say, but was interrupted.
"Look Lizzie, I don't wanna hear it. Just, just go to school." Her mum said calmly, not even turning to look at her daughter.
Lizzie sadly slid her bag over one shoulder, and walked slowly out the door, feeling angry with herself. She trudged along the footpath with the rays of the sun shining in her eyes. Lizzie regretted all the bad things she said to her mum, maybe not going to the concert was better after all. Better than her mum hating her for the rest of her life.
When she arrived at school, Gordo and Miranda were waiting at the gates for her.
"Hey girlfriend! Guess what? My parents agreed to let me go to the concert! How cool is that? But I have to wash the dishes, vacuum the house, wash the car and take out the garbage for a whole month! But I reckon it'll be worth it, it's gonna be great! Oh, and Gordo can come too, how fun is this gonna be!" Miranda said excitedly. Then she saw the sad, painful look on Lizzie's face, which seemed like bad news for Miranda and Gordo.
"What's up Lizzie?" Miranda asked curiously. The excitement from her voice had all of a sudden disappeared. Lizzie told Gordo and Miranda about Isabella offering to pay for the tickets and the big fight with her mum and all the things she said to her. Her two best friends were speechless.
"So what's gonna happen now?" asked Gordo. "Are you gonna come or not?"
"I really don't know Gordo, I just can't think straight right now, and I have a lot of thought's going through my head." Lizzie replied.
The bell went to start school and the first period of Ancient History was incredibly boring to Lizzie. Never, throughout the lesson, had she ever listened. When it was finally recess, Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo sat under the shade of a huge tree.
"So do you think you're Mom will ever forgive you for what you said to her Lizzie?" asked Miranda.
"I dunno. Well, I hope so. But I'm just stuck on thinking whether I should go to the concert or not." "Lizzie, just talk about it calmly to your Mom, don't raise your voice, and don't get angry. Get it through her head that you're sorry for everything you said to her, and if you could take it back, you would." Gordo said.
"I tried that this morning Gordo. I told you already, remember?"
"You said like, 5 words and that's it? You didn't even try!" Gordo said while trying to fix his tie.
"Okay, Okay. I'll try to talk to after school, let's just hope it's not too late." Lizzie said nervously.
After school, Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo walked home together, but left in their own directions as they got closer to Lizzie's house. Lizzie was on her own, and thought carefully about what she was going to say to her mum and how she was going to say it. She revised it over and over as she couldn't stuff this up. A sick feeling filled her stomach and her palms began to sweat as she reached the front door.