Lizzie turned to Miss Ungermyer and began to sweat. 'C'mon I can do this! Wait, no I can't. What am I talking about of course I can, I have too!" Lizzie said to herself.

"Well what is it McGuire?" Miss Ungermyer asked impatiently. Lizzie looked up at her nervously.

"U-um, well y-you know w-when Miranda and G-Gordo got busted a few weeks ago?" Lizzie stuttered. Miss Ungermyer shot her an odd look and they slowly nodded revealing her double chin.

"What about it?"

"It was my fault that they got into trouble. I made Gordo cheat and I put those cigarettes into Miranda folder, to them into trouble." Lizzie sank lower into her chair and didn't want to make eye contact with Miss Ungermyer. Miss Ungermyer sat down in her chair and sighed deeply.

"Why'd you do it?" She asked seriously. She didn't seem so rushed anymore.

"Well I-I don't know. My head was in the wrong place back then and I didn't remember them so I hated them. I just wanted to hurt them cos that was what I was feeling. Hurt. I know if I feel that way that I shouldn't let it out on other people but- but I just dunno. I feel so ashamed of myself when I think about it."

"You do understand the seriousness of this McGuire, don't you?" Miss Ungermyer asked. Lizzie nodded and looked at her in the eyes. "And you do understand how much trouble you are in?" She continued. Lizzie sighed and nodded again.

Miss Ungermyer contacted Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon to tell them that their kids were let off and were no longer in trouble. Lizzie could hear their happy voice over the phone and wished that they were her parents right now. But Lizzie wasn't let off so easily. Miss Ungermyer called her parents and told them everything about what Lizzie had done. Luckily, she didn't get suspended but it was placed in the school records. She knew she was going to be in the most trouble with her parents but she was glad that her secret was out.

"So how did it go?" Isabella asked at Lunch. Lizzie had missed one period and wasn't in the same class as Isabella for the second. She told Isabella and Ben everything she had told to Miss Ungermyer and what had happened.

"That wasn't that bad, at least you came out alive!" Ben joked.

"Yeah I know. But I'm glad I got that off my chest. Now all I have to worry about it getting Miranda and Gordo to be friends with me again."

"Why don't you go try now? If you told them what you did, I'm sure they will forgive you Lizzie." Isabella said.

"Well, I guess it's worth a try..." Lizzie said.

"Of course it is, after all you did! Go on, if anything happens, Ben and I will come help you, okay?" Isabella said as she gestured for Lizzie to go. Lizzie nodded and walked over to Miranda and Gordo where they were sitting about ten metres away from them. When she arrived where they were, Miranda looked in her direction and gave her a look of disgust. Gordo just glanced up at her and then turned away.

"Hey guys." Lizzie said as she tried to sound happy. Miranda and Gordo ignored her and continued talking. "Look, I know you guys still hate me, but please just hear me out. You might end up not hating me as much anymore." She continued. Miranda looked up at her and hesitated, then nodded as she looked over at Gordo who nodded as well.

"As long as you go away after and leave us alone. And make it quick!" Miranda said. Lizzie didn't like the idea but agreed as long as they listened to what she had to say.

"Okay. Well, you know how you- I mean how I got you guys into trouble? Well I went to Miss Ungermyer and told her that is was all my fault. So your names are cleared, your parents now know that I'm the one to blame and I'm the one that's gonna be punished this time! And I just want to say that I'm so sorry again and that I hope one day, you guys can forgive me. Um, well, I'll see you around!" Lizzie said and turned to go.

"Wait!" Miranda said. Lizzie turned around quickly hoping they were getting somewhere. "We still agree that what you did to us was pretty bad, but we appreciate that you confessed to Miss Ungermyer which shows us that you really do care about us and our friendship. So thanks."

"So, I'm forgiven?" Lizzie asked. Miranda looked over at Gordo who nodded. A smile spread over Lizzie's face and she rushed over to hug them. She couldn't have felt better. She knew she was going to be totally busted when she got home but she knew it was worth it to have her old best friends by her side.

"Is everything going okay over here?" Isabella asked with Ben by her side. Lizzie hadn't realised that they were right behind her. Miranda looked up and saw them and screamed in fright.

"Miranda, this is Isabella. The one from Rome, remember?" Lizzie said.

"Oh wow! Lizzie's told me all about you!" Miranda said, while shaking Isabella's hand excitedly.

"It's good to finally meet you! Lizzie talked about you too." Isabella smiled.

"It's good to see you again Isabella." Gordo added. Isabella smiled again and shook his hand. Gordo looked over at Ben and asked who he was.

"I'm Ben," he said. "Lizzie's boyfriend."

Gordo nearly stopped breathing at the sound of 'Lizzie's boyfriend'. He knew that Lizzie had been mean to him, but he still liked her. A lot. Now that he was friends with her again, he thought that he could continue to be her boyfriend again. But since she had already found another one, he knew he was too late. Gordo lowered his head and felt sad.

"What's up Gordo?" Miranda asked.

"Oh, um, it's nothing, really." He said. Miranda looked at him weirdly and began to talk.

"Now that we all know each other, maybe we could all hang out as one big group from now on, since we are in most of each others classes. And Gordo, you'll have another guy too, since you've been the only boy in our group for years!" Miranda laughed.

Gordo forced a smile but he didn't feel happy that another boy was hanging with them. Instead, he felt jealous and angry. He had been Lizzie's best friend; he had known her longer and he use to be Lizzie's boyfriend. How could she just run off and find a boyfriend that she didn't even know? Gordo knew he should feel happy for Lizzie, but he didn't. When he saw them together, he just felt like breaking them apart.

"Hey Gordon!" Ben said as he punched Gordo on the shoulder.

"For your information, dude, it's Gordo!" He replied grumpily.

"Sorry man! Did someone get up out of the wrong side of the bed today?" Ben joked. Everyone giggled.

"NO!" Gordo yelled in his face and walked off.

"Was it something I said?" Ben asked.

"Don't worry about it. He'll come around; he's probably just having one of his bad days!" Miranda said.

"Hey Isabella, are you still coming over after school?" Lizzie asked.

"Yes. I can't wait. And my parents are coming over later for dinner; well that's what they said."

"Come over here, I've got something to show you!" Lizzie said as she slid a tape into the video player when they got home from school.

"What is it?" Isabella asked curiously. "You'll see." Lizzie replied.

"Oh my goodness! It's when we sang at the IMVA's in Rome!" Isabella said excitedly as her eyes glued to the screen.

"Yeah, I watch it all the time! My little brother video taped it with his camera cos he wanted to catch me making a fool of my out of myself in front of everyone, but luckily, it didn't happen and he let me keep the tape cos he reckoned it was a waste of time!" Lizzie said.

"You look so small!" Isabella exclaimed.

"We look so small! I can't believe I did that, I mean if it wasn't for Gordo and you, Paolo would have completely fooled me!"

"Please, don't mention that name in front me! It makes me sick!" Isabella cried. Lizzie laughed and her mother came into the room.

"Hey girls, would you like something to eat?" She asked as she scanned Isabella from head to toe. She had grown so much since Jo last saw her and she was already taller than her.

"No thanks Mrs. McGuire, I'm fine!" Isabella replied politely.

"Okay then, call me if you need anything!" Jo said as Lizzie nodded.

At seven, Isabella's parents came to Dinner. Lizzie thought they were very nice, friendly people and were much younger than she had expected them to be. Their names were Don and Marie and they were very talkative during dinner. They constantly complimented Jo's cooking which made her blush every now and then.

When it was time for Isabella and her parents to leave, Lizzie felt sad because she wanted Isabella to stay with her forever.

"Please Mum; can I stay for a little longer?" Isabella pleaded.

"You can stay the night if you want!" Jo offered. Isabella looked at her parents who agreed as long as she behaved herself. Lizzie beamed at them and couldn't have felt happier.

That night, Lizzie and Isabella talked all night and hardly got any sleep. It was about three in the morning until Isabella had finally fallen asleep. Lizzie stayed awake in her bed and stared up at the ceiling and felt cheerful and happy. 'I wish Isabella could live with us and stay with me forever and we could be like sisters. That would be a dream come true.' Lizzie said dreamily to herself. Even though she was friends with Miranda and Gordo again, Isabella would always be her best friend.

The two were awoken in the early hours of the morning by the ringing of the telephone. Lizzie's Mom answered it and was talking for a long time but neither Lizzie nor Isabella could hear what she was saying. "Maybe it's my parents asking when to pick me up!" Isabella said.

About ten minutes later, Lizzie's Mom opened the door to her room. Jo's eyes were red and puffy like she had just been crying. Lizzie looked at her worriedly.

"Mom! What is it?" Lizzie asked with curiosity as she sat up in bed. Isabella did the same. Jo came and sat on the ground where Isabella was in a sleeping bag and looked sadly into her eyes.

"Isabella, sweetie, that was the hospital on the phone. They called to say that last night your Dad fell asleep at the wheel and drove off a cliff along with your mother. I'm so sorry sweetie!" Jo said sadly. Tears formed in Isabella's eyes as she cried softly on Jo's shoulder.

THE END

A/N: Sorry about the cliffhanger but there will be a sequel to this story later on, so keep your eyes open! Thanks so much to everyone for your reviews, I love you all!