A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys!! Not many chapters left, lol!! Enjoy.

The Prince You Charmed

Chapter 15: Sympathy and Sincerity

Lizzie regretted going to school the next day. It was like living a nightmare, it made Gordo's accident even more real. She had lost count early in the morning how many people had came up to her and told her how "sorry" they were for her.

Lizzie had never realized that the words could mean so little to her. Some would come up saying "Oh, Lizzie. I heard about what happened with Ryan, I'm so sorry."

But Lizzie would simple shake her head, indicating that they shouldn't be. Then she'd respond with an "I'm not." Which was the complete truth. It was a relief, not to having Ryan around her all the time.

But the "I'm Sorry's" that really bothered Lizzie, were the ones directed towards Gordo's accident, the one's that came from people's mouths that had never even talked to him before. Not even a "hello" in the hallway. They told her they were sorry, but she could tell the weren't. They felt it was a responsibility to be sorry.

Lizzie only took a few of the apologizes to her heart. The one's that came from reliable sources, the one's that came from people who had sent him get well cards, or the one's that had visited him in the hospital.

The one's like Kate, Ethan, Larry, Parker, the one's she had lived through Junior High with. Most people didn't even have the courtesy to go to the hospital, or to send a card. At first, it angered Lizzie a little, but then she realized, that if someone she had never talked to was in an accident, she didn't know what she'd do.

Send a card, she'd decided on.

So why couldn't people do that? Why'd they all have to come up to Lizzie, telling her they were sorry?

What were they sorry for? Her loss? But she hadn't lost Gordo, yet. She hoped she never would.

Were they sorry for his accident? Probably. But why didn't they tell him that, instead of her. Even Miranda had gotten a gist of the sorry's. They didn't bother her as much though.

Lizzie sat down beside Miranda at the lunch table and vented all of her frustrations out on her food. "Lizzie! Lizzie? Why are you killing your food?"

"Because. It's not like I was going to eat it, I can't even tell what it is."

Miranda nodded. Lizzie had a good point. Miranda wasn't planning on eating her whatever it was, either.

Lizzie felt a gently tap on her shoulder. She rotated herself to see Kate standing behind her, a small, polite smile on her face. "Mind if I eat lunch with you guys?"

Lizzie shrugged, and looked at Miranda. Miranda shot Kate a smile, "Hey, we said that there'd always be a spot for you, didn't we?"

Kate smiled appreciatively, and sat down. "So, how are you days going?"

Lizzie shrugged. "It's going. But I can't wait to get out of here to go see how Gordo is."

"Are you two walking there after school?"

Miranda nodded, answering Kate. "That's cool," Kate said, "I'd come with, but I really shouldn't miss practice again. You understand, right?"

Both Lizzie and Miranda nodded. "Don't worry about it, Kate. I'm sure nothing to interesting is going to happen anyways."

"You never know," Kate responded, "Today could be the day he wakes up."

"Well, I hope it is," Lizzie said, "I really need to talk to him. You know, when he's conscious."

The end of the day didn't come fast enough for Lizzie. She really just wanted to get out of the school, and go see Gordo. Maybe he had made some improvement or something. Or what if something really bad had happened? Lizzie quickly shoved all over her things into her locker, not bothering to but her homework into her book bag.

Miranda came over, much more calm than Lizzie, and sighed. "Lizzie, we've missed two days of school, you have to have homework to do."

"I do, but I don't care, I just want to go see Gordo."

"Liz, you've got to get your homework," Miranda told her, sternly.

Lizzie sighed, and groaned. Since when did Miranda start sounding like her mother? Lizzie re-opened her locker and pulled a few books out, followed by notebooks, and folders.

"There, you happy? I've successfully stuffed most of my locker into my bookbag, can we go now?"

Miranda nodded, pleased. "Of course, chicha!"

The two walked out of the school, and turned down the sidewalk, anxiously awaiting the news they could receive upon entering the hospital. It could be bad, it could be good, or it could be none of the above, or all of the above.

Lizzie had gone through about every possibility in the book. She wanted to prepare herself for bad news. She wanted to expect to go to the hospital and come out feeling pain and sorrow. That way, good news would make her feel like she was on cloud nine, but bad news wouldn't be so bad.

It kind of seemed like a win-win situation. Lizzie bit her bottom lip, pulling open the heavy glass door to the hospital. The horrible sterile smell mixed in with the smell of coppery blood came to Lizzie. She briefly wondered if all hospitals smelled this bad, or if maybe it was just her that smelt it.

"Ugh. I hate the smell of hospitals," Miranda voiced Lizzie's thoughts.

Okay, definitely not just her, and definitely not just this hospital.

Lizzie nodded her head, mutely agreeing with her friends. She rest of the trip to the ICU was silent. Both girls continued to take deep breathes, praying that everything would be okay, but knowing that there was a possibility that everything wouldn't be okay. Upon entering the ICU, Lizzie noticed her mom was already there, giving Mrs. Gordon a hug.

From the girls' spot, Lizzie couldn't tell if it was a good hug or a bad hug. But from the smile on their faces, Lizzie assumed it was a good hug. The two girls glanced at each other, and then broken into a slow jog.

"Lizzie! Miranda!" Mrs. Gordon called. "Great news! David woke up!"

A huge, almost triumphant grin passed over Lizzie's features, as she ran to join in with the hug fest.

"Really? That's great!" Lizzie exclaimed. "Can I go see him?" She questioned.

Gordo's parents simply nodded, excitedly. "Of course you can. You too, Miranda."

Miranda smiled, thankfully. "Thanks, but I'll let Lizzie go first."

"Thanks," Lizzie told her best friend, very appreciatively.

Miranda simply nodded as Lizzie turned the door knob on Gordo's hospital room door. Lizzie entered the plain, white room, and looked at Gordo. he was staring up at the white ceiling, his eyes open wide.

"Hey," Lizzie responded, quietly. Gordo turned his head towards her, but kept silent.

"Okay, I guess I deserve that. So, I'm, um, glad you woke up."

Good one, McGuire, Lizzie thought. That sounded just lovely.

Lizzie wrung her hands nervously. There was strong tension in the room, and Lizzie could tell that Gordo was still angry with her.

"How are you feeling?" Lizzie asked, quietly. Again, Lizzie was answered with silence.

"Okay, well, maybe I should just go?" Lizzie asked, silently pleading that Gordo would tell her not to go.

"Yeah," he started.

Not what Lizzie was hoping for. She turned, her hand on the knob. "Maybe you should, then you wouldn't have to stand around in a hospital talking to someone you don't care about," Gordo finished, coldly.

Lizzie flinched at the iciness of his voice. The words stung Lizzie, the way he said them. She couldn't imagine the pain he must have felt when she told him that.

She whipped her head around to face him. "Gordo--you know I didn't mean that."

Gordo shook his head. "No, you know they always say that the truth comes out when people are mad."

"Gordo!" Lizzie cried, desperately. "You know I care about you. You're my best friend, and--" Lizzie trailed off, not sure how much she should be saying.

"Yeah, sure, okay, Lizzie. Why don't you just go back to your precious Ryan, and then you'll never have to worry about me again. Okay?"

"No. Not okay."

"Well that's to bad, Lizzie. I want you to leave."

Tears fell down Lizzie's face. She had never known Gordo to be to cold. Lizzie shook her head, turning back to face the door. She stood there, quietly for a few seconds. She turned her head back to face Gordo.

"Gordo?"

"What?" He snapped, coldly.

"You know-- nevermind-- I just wanted to tell you that I love you too," Lizzie finished, softly, shaking her head, and exiting the room.

Lizzie let a small sob erupt from her mouth after she closed the door. Miranda ran up to her and embraced her in a hug. "Are you okay, Lizzie?"

Lizzie shook her head. "No, Miranda. I'm not. I have to get out of here, I'm sorry."

Miranda nodded, understandingly. "Do you want me to come?"

Lizzie shook her head again. "I-I-I just have to get out of here," Lizzie exclaimed, sprinting out of the ICU.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.