Author's note / disclaimer / etc. : you all rock, and I love you all! I still own nothing, okay? So just go, read, and do that review thing ya'll do. =)

Chapter 04: Bon Voyage Lizzie

"David, honey, at what time does Lizzie's flight leave?" asked a busy Ms. Gordon. She, along with her teenage son, was clearing the table in preparation to start washing dishes. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

Gordo shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, probably. Her flight is at eleven-something… We're all leaving from the McGuire's at eight though," he explained as he took the last chicken thigh he saw in the serving dish and took a bite. "Good chicken ma. Did I tell you that already?"

Roberta just shook her head. "It's a special recipe that only me and the Kernel share hon."

"Oh, thank goodness for home-cooked meals from KFC," he chuckled as he shook his head, handing his mother the last plate.

"So, with Lizzie being gone for the summer, what do you and Miranda have planned?" she asked, turning on the faucet and handing Gordo a plate. "Here."

Once again Gordo shrugged. "Sure." He began soaping up the dishes and responded to his mother's question. "I'm don't know, I mean…I'm not really sure. It's going to be kind of weird…"

"Weird? David, spending a summer with your best friend isn't suppose to be 'weird'," Roberta told him. "It should be fun."

He put down a dish, and turned around to face his mother. "Yeah, I know, but…this is the first time that I've had a whole summer alone with Miranda. Every summer up until now I've always had Lizzie around."

"And what's wrong with being 'alone' with her? She's your best friend! At least, that's what you've been telling me all these years anyway…"

"Yeah…yeah, she is. It's just…lately…things have changed, between me and her. We've become, so…" he never finished his thought. Gordo sighed. "I don't know…"

His mother just laughed. "Why David, I haven't seen you this nervous over a girl in a while! What could have possibly gotten into my son?" She stared at him knowingly.

"N-no! No!" he protested. "Ma! It's not like that!" He, unfortunately, could not look his mother in the eyes during his protest.

Folding her arms in front of him firmly, Roberta stared at her son. "Then tell me, why on earth are you so nervous?"

"Let's just change the subject…please," he pleaded.

"Okay then…" she said to him as she put her arm around his shoulder. "What do you think of Ted?"

Furiously he shook his head and chucked, "I love you…I got to go. Bye ma." Quickly he kissed her on her cheek, a habit which he had picked up ever since his father passed away, and left for Lizzie's house.

The truth was, he would rather talk of what made him so nervous about his summer with Miranda than discuss his mother's new boyfriend. Not that Ted happened to be a bad guy, but, he still wasn't use to the idea of his mother going out on dates. Since, he had never experienced her dating while his father was alive, being that they were together, it was a little hard trying to accept the fact that one's mother was "on the market." Especially if he got to thinking of what usually happens on dates, he couldn't continue to leave the thought in his mind. Could be the fault of having two best friends who had been nothing but obsessed with the Sex and the City DVDs. Either way, he would rather not think about it at all.

But, then again, thinking about the summer that was to come wasn't exactly his cup of tea. Unfortunately, it was full of too much uncertainty, which was one of the things David Gordon did not like in his life.

By the time he made it to Lizzie's, Mrs. Jo McGuire, along with Matt and Lizzie were standing around the family's car, while Mr. McGuire was loading luggage into the trunk. Miranda was there as well, standing beside her own car. Gordo decided to walk up to his brunette-haired best friend and be an onlooker too.

"Is…Lizzie leaving for three months, or…three years?" he asked her rhetorically upon noticing the many suitcases being packed into the trunk of the McGuire's car.

"Don't you realize that you can never be too prepared? C'mon now! Especially in Europe," Miranda pointed out.

He shook his head. "Girls…"

"You'd think after eighteen years you'd understand," she commented, pretending to show disappointment.

"And their going to be able to fit Lizzie and Matt in that car?"

"Matt isn't coming. He's staying home. And it's not just because they didn't have room for him in the car…that's just, a coincidence."

Gordo shook his head and laughed.

Just then Sam closed the trunk door and declared, "I think that's it!" He smiled, basking in his "accomplishment."

"Oh! Wait, dad! My shoes. You forgot my shoes!" Lizzie reminded him.

"Oh, honey, those could just go next to you in the car," Jo told her.

Lizzie shook her head. "Yeah. Okay. I rather sit next to my shoes then sit next to Matt!"

Behind her was Matt mimicking her words. Obviously, no matter how much some people grow up, some things never change.

Suddenly, Jo turned around and jumped a bit, being somewhat surprised. "Oh! Hi Gordo, honey. When did you get here?"

"Just a few minutes ago Mrs. McGuire."

"Ah, well I'm glad you and Miranda could come along to see Lizzie off," she told them.

A bright-smiled Lizzie approached Gordo and Miranda chiming, "I'm so excited you guys! I'm going to Ireland! Oh my God, I'm going to Ireland!"

"Yeah… Yay…" Gordo said with his arms in the air, faking his excitement.

"Don't be too excited Gordo," she responded sarcastically.

"Lizzie, come on, we have to get going. It's already eight," Sam explained as he got into the car. Jo signaled her daughter on over.

"Okay, well, I'll see you guys at the airport!" Lizzie squealed. "I'm so excited!" She turned around and hurried over to the car, peaking back to her friends through the window.

"Miranda, you know the way, right?" asked Jo.

Miranda assured her, "yeah Mrs. McGuire." Jo smiled back and went inside the car. "Did you bring reinforcements Gordo?"

Gordo shook his head. "Not one."

"Oh boy. Hour and a-half drive to Sac. International…no CDs…broken car stereo…this is going to be a long drive…" she noted as she started up the car.

The drive to the airport was a long one, and in the car that contained Lizzie's two best friends, it was a particularly silent one as well. One would think that two best friends would have a vast majority to things to say to one another, especially when caught in a situation in which conversation could be considered necessary. But, things were noticeably different between them. It was weird how things could change so quickly between friends. The tension within the car was so thick it could be cut through with a knife.

By the time everyone arrived at the airport, everyone seemed relieved, but with anticipation as well due to Lizzie's departure. Miranda and the McGuires parked their cars and quickly headed into the building.

"Okay now Lizzie, you have your carryon bag in case they lose your luggage, right?" asked Jo. By now her daughter had already checked her bags and was [almost] on her way to the metal detector and then gate 26A. But, before anything, they all needed to say their goodbyes. And she needed to reassure her parents that everything would be okay.

Lizzie nodded her head. "Uh hum."

"Now Lizzie, just remember," her father began, "you're taking this flight to…"

"Chicago," his daughter confirmed.

He continued. "Then you're taking a flight to…"

"Boston," she confirmed again.

"And then you'll be taking another flight to…"

"Dublin," she laughed. "And then cousin Bridget along with Uncle Pat will be meeting me there at the airport at around eight-something in the morning…"

Jo interjected. "And?"

"And as soon as I get there I'll grab their phone, use up their long distance, and contact my lovely parents," their daughter said, giving them a witty smile. "Mom, dad, don't worry. This isn't my first time to Europe, remember?"

"Yeah well, the last trip is one we'd like to forget," Mrs. McGuire commented.

Gordo and Miranda laughed in the background.

"Mom, dad, don't worry. I'll be fine. I'll be with family, it'll be okay," Lizzie told them as she wrapped her arms around each parent's shoulders. Both gave her a sharp look. "Okay, I promise to call every hour on the hour, okay?"

"Thank you honey," Jo said upon kissing her daughter on the cheek.

"Do we get hourly calls too?" Miranda joked.

Lizzie hugged her best friend instantly and told her, "of course Miranda. Oh my God, I'm going to miss you so much!"

Gordo cleared his throat. "Don't I get one too?"

"Oh, of course Gordo!" Lizzie said while hugging him. "I'm going to miss you! Just remember guys, I'll be back by the end of August…I promise."

"With gifts?" asked Miranda.

"With gifts," Lizzie assured her. "Oh, no tears, no tears," she laughed off while wiping off a few that crossed her cheek.

"Sweetie, have fun," Sam said to his daughter for one last time. She smiled at him before she hugged her parents one last time. Soon enough she turned around and was on her way. Both parents placed smiles on their faces while they were filled with a mix of emotions inside. They didn't exactly know which feeling controlled them most at the moment; excitement over the fact that their first born was growing up, or disconsolateness that their daughter was to spend an entire summer without them.

But, in spite of that, they turned around, brave-faced, and smiled at Gordo and Miranda.

"So, what are you two going to do now that you're all alone for the summer, huh?" asked Jo.

Gordo and Miranda eyed each other for a quick moment, and then returned to their about-face stature. They had no clue…