Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Lizzie McGuire characters in this story. Hey, wouldn't you know it! I own something. I own Tara, Jack, and Ben. And well...Jack is gone now! Haha! I killed my own character. Bad Sarah!

A/N: This Lizzie fanfic is a sequel to my story "Everything at Once."

Chapter 21

LIZZIE'S POV:

"Come in," I replied to a knock on the door. "Oh, Gordo! It's you. Sorry, but I'm not properly dressed...again. If I could I would, but it's just that...it's just that I don't have the strength."

"Here. I could help you," he said. Then he randomly grabbed two items out of my dresser. He brought the items over to my bed and revealed a black mini skirt and a pink tube top.

"Gordo, I can't wear those!" I exclaimed. "They just wouldn't look right." I thought about the bruises all over my body and how that outfit would show almost every one.

"It's ok," he said. "No one's here but me, and I don't care how it looks...not saying that it will look bad or anything, but..."

"I know what you mean," I interrupted. Then I stumbled over to the full view mirror. I looked over at Gordo. "Um, I'd feel more comfortable if you left the room. Before I wouldn't have minded as much but we're not a couple anymore."

"Oh yeah...of course I'll leave," he said. Then after he stepped out of the room, I put on the outfit that Gordo had chosen for me.

"You can come in now," I said.

He stepped up to me and looked at my clothing. He fingered it to see how big it was. My outfit no longer fit me; it was much larger than before. As he felt it, he touched my arm and a chill ran up my spine. "I'll be right back," he said, "stay right here."

"It looks bad doesn't it?" I asked.

"No. You look beautiful," he said. Then he left me standing there clinging to my oversize outfit.

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"Are you still here, Lizzie?" asked Gordo.

"You returned fairly quickly," I said.

"I have a surprise for you!" he said.

I smiled. "I like surprises. Uh...what kind of surprise?" I asked.

"Cover your eyes. No peeking," he commanded. So I did. And when I opened them, he gave me a bag. In it was a light blue plaid sundress that was ankle length. With it came a matching shawl and handbag.

"Thanks, Gordo!" I exclaimed.

"Try it on," he said.

"Just as long as you leave," he said.

"Right," he agreed.

Then I tried on the dress and it fit me perfectly. It was the right size around the waist and everything. "You can come in now."

"You look beautiful," he said. I twirled around and he repeated himself.

"I can't look beautiful," I said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Why would anyone like someone who looks like me?" I asked.

"Because you're beautiful," he said.

"No I'm not. I have bruises all over my body and I'm so skinny that I bet if I shined a flashlight up to my stomach, you could see all of my insides," I said.

"Lizzie, now I don't know why anyone would do that to you, but let me tell you that you are beautiful...both inside and out," he said.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"When I see you I can just tell that your soul is perfect," he said. Aw, he's just trying to butter me up.

"Aw, that's so sweet," I mumbled.

"You'd better get some rest," he said. "I promised your mom that I wouldn't keep you up too long."

"And you keep promises?" I thought.

"Ok. Bye then," I said. I crawled in bed and fell fast asleep.

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When I woke up, everything was quiet. I went downstairs to see where everyone was. Everything was dark and quiet. Then I turned on the light. Various people around the room shot up and yelled, "Surprise!"

"We were wondering what was taking you so long!" yelled Matt. "I was just about ready to go up there and get you myself."

"You're such a wonderful daughter," said my mom giving me a hug. "I love you very much. Happy birthday, sweetie."

My dad was next, and he hugged me too. "I'm very proud to have someone like you for a daughter. Thanks for making me proud."

"You're my role model," said Isabella. "I don't know what I did without you all of those years."

"Trust me," I whispered, "you don't want to be me."

"Yeah, but you give me someone to look up to. You stay so strong, and that's really amazing," she said.

Next came Miranda. "Happy birthday, chica! It's nice to see you smile again," she said.

"I really missed you, Lizzie," said Gordo. Then he gave me a hug.

"Thanks to Miranda and Gordo for planning the surprise party," said my mom. "They made all of the plans, decorations, and everything. They've been planning for a while. All credit goes to them."

I forgot that it was my birthday. With all of the recent events that had gone on, I forgot about my own birthday. I had never done that before. Good thing I had my family and friends to remind me.

"We've got cake and ice cream for anybody who wants some," said my dad.

"Wait a second. There's something I have to do first," I said. I walked outside the front door and motioned to Miranda and Gordo to follow me.

"Hey, chica, what's up?" asked Miranda taking a seat next to me.

"I don't know where to begin," I said. "I owe you two an apology. I'm so sorry about everything that I've said to you two.

"What do you mean?" asked Miranda.

"I accused you two of cheating me," I said. "Now I see that I was totally wrong. At Kate's party, is that why you two were late?"

"Yes," said Gordo. "We were planning your party at Miranda's house, and forgot about everything, and we ended up late to the party. It was hard to keep it from you, because you seemed to want to know what we were doing, so I told you homework."

"I'm so sorry," I said. "So, so sorry. Will you ever forgive me?"

"Of course," they both said at the same time.

"Cake and ice cream!" yelled my mom from the inside of the house.

"Ooh, I want some!" yelled Miranda. Then she ran into the house, leaving Gordo and me alone.

"Gordo, I don't even know what to say. I feel like such a jerk," I said.

"It's ok," he said. "I'm just sorry about the confusion."

"You have nothing to be sorry about. Here I was accusing you of cheating on me, while all along you were just planning me a surprise birthday party," I said.

"I just wish that it hadn't led to what it led to," he said. "I don't like seeing you get hurt."

"Gordo...about everything I said the other day. I'm sorry. I really am. I do love you, and want to be with you. I know this is sudden, but could we start our relationship over from the beginning? Please, if you want me back, will you have me?" I asked.

"Of course I want you back," he said, "in my opinion you never left me. You're the only one I want."

Then we both stared into each other's eyes and slowly leaned in, and gave each other a long passionate kiss, only briefly stopping for air.

"Gordo," I said, "it's good to be back."

"It's good to have you back," he said. "Happy seventeenth birthday." Then we melted back into each other's arms.

As I went to bed that night, I thought about what the upcoming year would bring. Now I was back with family and friends. And best of all, I had my boyfriend back. In just one more year, we would be off to college, discovering more of what life offered...and it was just beginning.

A/N: Well first of all, I want to congratulate I3itterSweet for being totally right in her prediction! It was a surprise party, and I was totally shocked when I read your review. Anywayz, I only have one more chapter of what I have written while the computer was being fixed, and then I have to write more! This story will probably last forever. Hope y'all will read it. I'm skipping a year now to the summer before Lizzie starts college. So next chapter is one year later. I just don't want to write every single day in their lives. Wasn't this a happy chapter in the end? (sighs) I told you all that everything would be all better.

Thanks to Winter blaze, Amber, hilaryrocks101, Marie Dandy, and crazyhanyoued for their reviews. And my deepest apologies go to all of my reviewers of whom I read stories. I am very sorry that I haven't reviewed anyone's writing lately, so please forgive me. I've only had the time to post stories lately, and it has been one heck of a summer. And I'm leaving again on Thursday for a while. I have one more written chapter to post before I leave, and then I'll have a couple of weeks off. Keep reviewing please, and have a great day. Oh, btw. I just finished watching, "Stuck in the Suburbs." Who was disappointed with the ending? I sure was.