Chapter Three: Finding Lizzie
Gordo got Lizzie's answering machine again. He left a frustrated message for her roommate to call his cellphone as soon as she got home. He was sure the hospital had tried to call her and he needed to know where they took Lizzie. The work day was nearly over and he was getting desperate to know what happened with Lizzie. He was gravely concerned for his friend.
"Calm down, I'm sure she'll call you," Miranda startled Gordo.
"Oh. Well I'm starting to wonder if that girl ever goes home," Gordo sighed.
"I know you are worried," Miranda patted him on the back, "you'll get to see her. You're clearly determined."
Gordo's cellphone finally rang, "Hello."
"Hi, are you David Gordon?" a female voice asked.
"Yes! You're Carla?" Gordo inquired.
"I am. You are the one who found Lizzie this morning?" she questioned.
"Yeah. Look, where did they take her? I have to see her and know that she's okay," Gordo rushed.
"She's at St. Anthony's North. She is going to be okay," Carla explained calmly, "but there is a problem. I don't know if she told you, but I'm moving to Texas, I leave tomorrow. I don't know if I can go now. I can't leave her alone."
Gordo was silent for a moment, "Okay, I"m off work at 6:30 and I'll meet you at the hospital then. We can talk more."
"All right, I will see you then," Carla hung up.
"And?" Miranda inquired.
"They took her to St. Anthony's North. All the roommate said was that 'she is going to be okay.' She also said she's supposed to be moving, only she can't leave Lizzie alone now. So she's going to need somewhere to stay from the sounds of it," Gordo relayed what Carla had told him.
Miranda digested that information, "I'd let her stay with me in a heartbeat, only my apartment is so small. So if Lizzie's in bad shape, she wouldn't want to stay with me, there's not room for anyone else with me. I'm crowded myself. I'm sure I can find someone who's willing to take her in."
"I wonder about her parents, I mean if they are coming down," Gordo suddenly said.
"I hadn't thought about them. I don't know, we'll go see her soon and see what she needs," Miranda said, "it is okay if I come with you to see her right?"
"Of course," Gordo told her. Miranda was her best friend after all.
The rest of their day went by quickly and they went out to get their cars. It was decided that Miranda would follow Gordo to the hospital and they would go to see Lizzie together. The two went in to the information desk and were directed to the floor that Lizzie was on. They still didn't know exactly what condition Lizzie was in, but they would soon be able to see her.
A doctor met the two at the elevator, "You are here to see Lizzie McGuire?"
"Yes," Gordo answered.
"She has specifically asked to see a Miranda Sanchez," he lead them down the hall to a waiting room.
"That's me," Miranda raised her hand a bit.
"Okay, and your name sir?" the doctor asked Gordo.
"I'm David Gordon, the one who found her this morning," he added.
"I'll see if she wants you to visit, but for now you'll have to wait here," the doctor whisked Miranda away leaving Gordo standing in the waiting room alone. A couple other people sat on chairs and they looked at Gordo oddly. He was still in his work uniform, he'd forgotten about it completely. He looked awkward in his red and white Hawaiian shirt and dark blue shorts. He spotted an empty section of chairs and sat uncomfortably.
About ten minutes later, Miranda returned, "Lizzie wants to see you now, I have to go home though. Room 301, down the hall and on the left."
"Thanks," Gordo trotted down the hall to the correct room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a weak voice commanded.
"Hi Lizzie," Gordo said quietly, "how are you doing?"
"Never been better," Lizzie joked.
He couldn't believe her sense of humor, "Okay that was a bad question."
"I will be okay, I have a broken ankle, a broken wrist, and a few cracked ribs. And of course a few scrapes and bruises," Lizzie explained, then added, "and I have nowhere to stay. My parents told me they'd pay all the bills, but couldn't come stay with me. They wouldn't say why, and said if I couldn't find anywhere to stay, they'd take me home. But I'm not up for a trip to Alaska. And my roommate is supposed to be moving, but she said she'd stay. I don't want to force her to stay here though."
Gordo looked at her sympathetically.
"Oh I'm sorry Gordo. I didn't need to burden you," Lizzie hung her head.
"No. It's okay," Gordo appeared lost in thought, "I'd say you could live with me, but that'd be too weird. Since I'm your boss and all."
"Well, technically, I'm not going to be working at Water World right now," Lizzie offered.
"That's true. Would you be okay with staying with me?" Gordo asked.
"I don't want to say it's because I have no other options, but it is. And I do like you, as a friend. I guess it would be the best place for me to stay," Lizzie agreed.
"Okay. I have a spare bedroom that you can stay in, and I'm on the first floor of my building so you don't have any stairs to worry about, except the 3 to get into the building," Gordo explained.
"I have to stay here overnight, but tomorrow morning I am going to be released," Lizzie told him, "so do you think you can pick me up?"
"Tomorrow just happens to be my day off," Gordo smiled, "so it's no problem. What's your favorite food?"
"I love cheeseburgers actually," Lizzie admitted, "why?"
"So I know what to make for lunch tomorrow," Gordo told her.
"Oh, you are so sweet," Lizzie blushed a little.
"I'm just helping out a friend in her time of need," Gordo turned to leave.
"Thank you so much, David," Lizzie smiled as he left.
She was relieved to have somewhere to stay. She was not up to a trip to Alaska. She didn't want to be an imposition on Gordo, but she did need somewhere to stay while her body healed. She just wished she'd never been walking along that path. Why did she have to be hit by that car? This was the last thing she needed in her life. Now she had to depend on a guy that she didn't really know that well and who had a crush on her. What a pinch she had gotten into, and not even of her own free will. But staying with Gordo wasn't the worst thing in the world. He was at least a pretty nice guy. And she knew he'd be at work a lot, so he wouldn't be hanging around her the whole time. The more she thought about the more it didn't seem so bad.
Lizzie made a few phone calls to let people know what had happened and who she'd be staying with.
"Elizabeth McGuire, you will not be staying with a boy," Josephine McGuire cried indignantly.
"Mother, it's either that or you drive down here to bring me home, and I couldn't handle that long of a car ride, and you know how I hate airplanes. Besides, he'll be off at work most of the time," Lizzie reasoned.
She heard her mother sigh, "Oh all right. I give in."
"Thank you, Mother," Lizzie said.
"Your sister wants to talk to you," the phone was handed over.
"Hi Lizzie," a little voice said.
"Jenny, how are you?" Lizzie asked.
"Um. Okay," she responded, then quickly changed the subject, "how are you?"
"Well I'm on a lot of pain killers," Lizzie said, "so not too bad."
"That's good. You're not in pain?" Jenny inquired.
"None, at least not now," Lizzie assured her.
"Good, I hate pain," her sister said.
Lizzie sensed something was up with her sister. She seemed off. But Lizzie figured it could just be herself because she was on pain killers and it was getting harder to think straight.
"Matt says hi," Jenny added.
"Tell him I say hi back," Lizzie yawned.
"Well you sound tired, so I'll let you get some sleep," Jenny said.
"Good night," Lizzie told her sister, "I love you."
"I love you too big sister, so much," Jenny ended the conversation.
Lizzie couldn't help but feel that something was not right with her sister. She was too tired to care at the moment though and she drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Now this story may not be entirely realistic, but there's a reason it's called fiction. Of course I'm not a doctor, so I won't get specific with my medical details.
Gordo got Lizzie's answering machine again. He left a frustrated message for her roommate to call his cellphone as soon as she got home. He was sure the hospital had tried to call her and he needed to know where they took Lizzie. The work day was nearly over and he was getting desperate to know what happened with Lizzie. He was gravely concerned for his friend.
"Calm down, I'm sure she'll call you," Miranda startled Gordo.
"Oh. Well I'm starting to wonder if that girl ever goes home," Gordo sighed.
"I know you are worried," Miranda patted him on the back, "you'll get to see her. You're clearly determined."
Gordo's cellphone finally rang, "Hello."
"Hi, are you David Gordon?" a female voice asked.
"Yes! You're Carla?" Gordo inquired.
"I am. You are the one who found Lizzie this morning?" she questioned.
"Yeah. Look, where did they take her? I have to see her and know that she's okay," Gordo rushed.
"She's at St. Anthony's North. She is going to be okay," Carla explained calmly, "but there is a problem. I don't know if she told you, but I'm moving to Texas, I leave tomorrow. I don't know if I can go now. I can't leave her alone."
Gordo was silent for a moment, "Okay, I"m off work at 6:30 and I'll meet you at the hospital then. We can talk more."
"All right, I will see you then," Carla hung up.
"And?" Miranda inquired.
"They took her to St. Anthony's North. All the roommate said was that 'she is going to be okay.' She also said she's supposed to be moving, only she can't leave Lizzie alone now. So she's going to need somewhere to stay from the sounds of it," Gordo relayed what Carla had told him.
Miranda digested that information, "I'd let her stay with me in a heartbeat, only my apartment is so small. So if Lizzie's in bad shape, she wouldn't want to stay with me, there's not room for anyone else with me. I'm crowded myself. I'm sure I can find someone who's willing to take her in."
"I wonder about her parents, I mean if they are coming down," Gordo suddenly said.
"I hadn't thought about them. I don't know, we'll go see her soon and see what she needs," Miranda said, "it is okay if I come with you to see her right?"
"Of course," Gordo told her. Miranda was her best friend after all.
The rest of their day went by quickly and they went out to get their cars. It was decided that Miranda would follow Gordo to the hospital and they would go to see Lizzie together. The two went in to the information desk and were directed to the floor that Lizzie was on. They still didn't know exactly what condition Lizzie was in, but they would soon be able to see her.
A doctor met the two at the elevator, "You are here to see Lizzie McGuire?"
"Yes," Gordo answered.
"She has specifically asked to see a Miranda Sanchez," he lead them down the hall to a waiting room.
"That's me," Miranda raised her hand a bit.
"Okay, and your name sir?" the doctor asked Gordo.
"I'm David Gordon, the one who found her this morning," he added.
"I'll see if she wants you to visit, but for now you'll have to wait here," the doctor whisked Miranda away leaving Gordo standing in the waiting room alone. A couple other people sat on chairs and they looked at Gordo oddly. He was still in his work uniform, he'd forgotten about it completely. He looked awkward in his red and white Hawaiian shirt and dark blue shorts. He spotted an empty section of chairs and sat uncomfortably.
About ten minutes later, Miranda returned, "Lizzie wants to see you now, I have to go home though. Room 301, down the hall and on the left."
"Thanks," Gordo trotted down the hall to the correct room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a weak voice commanded.
"Hi Lizzie," Gordo said quietly, "how are you doing?"
"Never been better," Lizzie joked.
He couldn't believe her sense of humor, "Okay that was a bad question."
"I will be okay, I have a broken ankle, a broken wrist, and a few cracked ribs. And of course a few scrapes and bruises," Lizzie explained, then added, "and I have nowhere to stay. My parents told me they'd pay all the bills, but couldn't come stay with me. They wouldn't say why, and said if I couldn't find anywhere to stay, they'd take me home. But I'm not up for a trip to Alaska. And my roommate is supposed to be moving, but she said she'd stay. I don't want to force her to stay here though."
Gordo looked at her sympathetically.
"Oh I'm sorry Gordo. I didn't need to burden you," Lizzie hung her head.
"No. It's okay," Gordo appeared lost in thought, "I'd say you could live with me, but that'd be too weird. Since I'm your boss and all."
"Well, technically, I'm not going to be working at Water World right now," Lizzie offered.
"That's true. Would you be okay with staying with me?" Gordo asked.
"I don't want to say it's because I have no other options, but it is. And I do like you, as a friend. I guess it would be the best place for me to stay," Lizzie agreed.
"Okay. I have a spare bedroom that you can stay in, and I'm on the first floor of my building so you don't have any stairs to worry about, except the 3 to get into the building," Gordo explained.
"I have to stay here overnight, but tomorrow morning I am going to be released," Lizzie told him, "so do you think you can pick me up?"
"Tomorrow just happens to be my day off," Gordo smiled, "so it's no problem. What's your favorite food?"
"I love cheeseburgers actually," Lizzie admitted, "why?"
"So I know what to make for lunch tomorrow," Gordo told her.
"Oh, you are so sweet," Lizzie blushed a little.
"I'm just helping out a friend in her time of need," Gordo turned to leave.
"Thank you so much, David," Lizzie smiled as he left.
She was relieved to have somewhere to stay. She was not up to a trip to Alaska. She didn't want to be an imposition on Gordo, but she did need somewhere to stay while her body healed. She just wished she'd never been walking along that path. Why did she have to be hit by that car? This was the last thing she needed in her life. Now she had to depend on a guy that she didn't really know that well and who had a crush on her. What a pinch she had gotten into, and not even of her own free will. But staying with Gordo wasn't the worst thing in the world. He was at least a pretty nice guy. And she knew he'd be at work a lot, so he wouldn't be hanging around her the whole time. The more she thought about the more it didn't seem so bad.
Lizzie made a few phone calls to let people know what had happened and who she'd be staying with.
"Elizabeth McGuire, you will not be staying with a boy," Josephine McGuire cried indignantly.
"Mother, it's either that or you drive down here to bring me home, and I couldn't handle that long of a car ride, and you know how I hate airplanes. Besides, he'll be off at work most of the time," Lizzie reasoned.
She heard her mother sigh, "Oh all right. I give in."
"Thank you, Mother," Lizzie said.
"Your sister wants to talk to you," the phone was handed over.
"Hi Lizzie," a little voice said.
"Jenny, how are you?" Lizzie asked.
"Um. Okay," she responded, then quickly changed the subject, "how are you?"
"Well I'm on a lot of pain killers," Lizzie said, "so not too bad."
"That's good. You're not in pain?" Jenny inquired.
"None, at least not now," Lizzie assured her.
"Good, I hate pain," her sister said.
Lizzie sensed something was up with her sister. She seemed off. But Lizzie figured it could just be herself because she was on pain killers and it was getting harder to think straight.
"Matt says hi," Jenny added.
"Tell him I say hi back," Lizzie yawned.
"Well you sound tired, so I'll let you get some sleep," Jenny said.
"Good night," Lizzie told her sister, "I love you."
"I love you too big sister, so much," Jenny ended the conversation.
Lizzie couldn't help but feel that something was not right with her sister. She was too tired to care at the moment though and she drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Now this story may not be entirely realistic, but there's a reason it's called fiction. Of course I'm not a doctor, so I won't get specific with my medical details.