A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, big hugs to all of you. The reviews for my stories are going to start getting farther apart, but they won't get to far apart, hopefully. Well, anyways, here's the third chapter to this story, it has quite a bit of dialogue, but I'm hoping it has enough description in it too. Let me know what you think. I really hope the chapters aren't to boring, if they get boring, let me know. I'm going to try to spice the next few up a little bit more.
Back to the Beginning
Chapter 3: Friday
Lizzie carefully adjusted her blue, 3-pleat, cheerleading skirt. She smiled brightly. They squad had just purchased new uniforms at the beginning of the year. They were red, white, and blue, with 'Wildcats' printed across the chest of the top. Lizzie honestly loved her uniform to death.
Then, Lizzie did one quick fix on her hair, added another swipe of lip gloss to her lips, and headed out her bedroom door. She quickly jogged down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Her fourteen year old brother was already sitting at the island, in the middle of the kitchen, eating breakfast.
Lizzie sat beside him, grabbed a waffle, covered it in syrup, and grabbed a fork. She began to eat slowly. After a few minutes, Lizzie was finished. She called out a quick good-bye to her parents, and picked up her pink and gray bookbag. Heaving it onto her shoulder, Lizzie grimaced.
'Leave it to the teachers to load on the homework during homecoming.'
Closing the door behind her, Lizzie headed down the walkway to her red GT. She pushed the small button, and heard the familiar click of the unlocking doors. She set her bookbag in the passengers seat, and moved herself to the drivers seat. Seconds later, she sped off into the road.
Lizzie greeted a few people as she walked down the hallway, headed towards her locker. Starting cheerleading in her freshman year had really boosted her popularity. Although, her popularity wasn't completely over-the-top, everyone knew who she was.
She opened her locker and pulled a few books out of her bookbag, and shoved them into her locker. Sighing, she looked around, searching for any sign of Gordo or Miranda. She smiled as she saw Kate approaching her, with a bright smile.
"Hey, Lizzie," Kate started, pausing for a second, "Do you have plans after the game tonight?"
Lizzie sighed, her and Gordo were supposed to spend some time together, they hadn't had a lot of time together with the stress of the beginning of senior year.
"Well, I'm supposed to do something with Gordo. Why? What's up?"
"Ethan's having a party, at his house. He said it was kind of an "after game pep rally", or something like that. Anyway, he wants all the cheerleaders there, and you're a cheerleader..." Kate trailed off, not wanting Lizzie to feel guilty for already having plans. Lizzie let out a deep sigh, and brushed her bangs from her forehead.
She bit her lip, and then began to speak, "I'll talk to Gordo about it, I'm sure he'll be cool about it, we can go to the party together."
"Coolie," Kate responded, "You're coming over after the parade, right?"
"Of course, it's our homecoming day tradition, isn't it?"
Kate giggled slightly, and gave Lizzie a small wave before headed towards another group of people. Lizzie shook her head as Kate walked away. The eighth grade trip had really changed Kate, ever since, she had been a lot nicer to everyone. She was even the one that had gotten Lizzie into cheerleading, which Lizzie was eternally grateful for. Cheerleading was Lizzie's life, and she wouldn't ever give it up.
A voice broke Lizzie from her thoughts.
"Oh, hey, Gordo," Lizzie told him, giving him a tight hug, and a kiss on the cheek.
"So, we're still on for tonight, after the game, right?"
Lizzie bit her lip. "Lizzie. Right? Please say right."
"Wrong," Lizzie responded, crinkling up her nose.
"What? Lizzie," Gordo started, exasperated.
"Well, right, kind of. Just a change of plans," Lizzie started, shifting her weight back and forth, "Ethan's having a party after the game. He wants all the cheerleaders there, so I was hoping you'd go with me."
"But we," Gordo began, moving his hand between himself and Lizzie, "had plans."
"I know, and I'm so sorry. I am. But it's a big thing, you know that."
"Why's it such a big thing?"
Lizzie tilted her head to one side. "Well, actually, I don't know. It's just, I really want to go. It'll--"
"It'll what? It'll boost your popularity? Make people like you more? Is that what you were going to say? Lizzie, I'm so tired of you always trying to do everything to make people like you. Why is being popular more important to you than spending time with your boyfriend?"
"Gordo! That's not it at all," Lizzie protested.
Gordo held up his left hand. "You know what Lizzie? Forget it, okay? I don't want to hear it. If you want to go to that stupid party, then go. Just don't expect to see me there," Gordo finished, an angry tone in his voice. He watched Lizzie for a few seconds, waiting for her to say that no, he was more important and she wouldn't go. When the objection didn't come, he walked away from her, slamming his locker door shut on his way.
Lizzie sighed and leaned her head against her locker.
'Well, that didn't go as planned.'
It wasn't long before Miranda appeared on the left side of Lizzie. "Hey, Liz, what's up?"
Lizzie simply shrugged, so Miranda continued, "Did you hear about the party tonight?"
Lizzie turned her head to face Miranda, and shot her a menacing glare.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes, it's a yes," Lizzie snapped. "I'm sorry, Miranda. It's just, Kate said that Ethan wanted all the cheerleaders there, but I had plans with Gordo. I asked Gordo, but he got mad at me."
"Mad? About the party?"
Lizzie nodded. "Well, he got the impression that popularity was more important to me than he was. Which is crazy."
Miranda nodded her head in agreement. "Don't worry about it, Lizzie. He'll come around."
"I don't know, doesn't it seem like we argue an awful lot lately?"
Miranda shrugged. "Lately, yeah. But before that you didn't. I mean, you fought a little before you go together as a couple, but other than that, all of high school you two spent flirting with each other, and putting on sill little shows for everyone to see."
"So, what are you saying? You think it's just a phase?"
"Yeah, I'm sure it'll get better."
Lizzie lazily drug herself outside and sat down beside Miranda. They had decided to stay on campus for lunch. Lizzie glanced around, she had become a people watcher. Lots of red, white, and blue surrounded her. The day of the homecoming game was always 'school color day' for the dress up. Everyday of homecoming week was a different one. Pajama day, crazy day, 50's, the list changed every year, except for red, white, and blue on Friday, and lounge/pajama day on Thursday.
Lizzie sighed as she tried to find Gordo in the large crowd. She really wanted to talk to him before the parade started, after it started she really wouldn't have much time to talk to him.
"Looking for Gordo?" Miranda questioned.
"Yeah, I don't know when else I'm going to talk to him, the parade starts during next hour."
"Um, hello? Have you completely forgotten?"
Lizzie gave a confused look. "Forgotten what?"
Miranda's eyes widened. "Lizzie! You're on court this year, your escort is Gordo. You're riding in the parade together."
Lizzie's eyes suddenly lit up. She had forgotten all about that. Normally, she marched with the cheerleaders, but being a senior, she was elected to court, but she had decided she would wear her cheerleading uniform and her crown, instead of a dress. Gordo was elected to court as a soccer representative, so they were paired together. "Thanks, Miranda."
"You bet."
Lizzie listened to the clock tick as she waited for the announcement that would get her out of class to get ready for the parade. Lightly tapping her pen against her desk she sighed loudly, but not loud enough for to many others to hear. Sneaking another glance at the clock she heard the teacher give a loud sigh.
"Alright, I can see none of you are paying attention, so have some free time until dismissal."
The room immediately filled with chatter. Kate came over to Lizzie, beings they were really the only ones each other knew well. They immersed themselves in talking, and not much later the announcement came.
Lizzie left the girls bathroom after just fixing her make-up and hair. She opened the door to the school, and entered the bright sunshine. She walked over to the parade advisors, to announce that she was here. Lizzie twirled a few pieces of hair around her finger, still looking around for Gordo.
He would show, wouldn't he?
He hadn't been at lunch, nor had she seen or talked to him since their earlier spat. Lizzie heaved a big sigh before spinning around. She was met with Gordo, who was in his soccer uniform, holding a dozen roses.
He handed them to Lizzie. "These are for you. I wanted to apologize about this morning, I over reacted, and I'm sorry. I really am."
Lizzie happily accepted the roses, and reached out and gave Gordo a huge hug. "Thank you so much, Gordo. The roses are beautiful," she exclaimed, excitedly. She gave him quick kiss before pulling Gordo over to their small silver convertible.
Lizzie stretched out on the large chair in Kate's furnished basement. The parade had been a normal parade. Only this time, instead of her voice going hoarse from cheering, her arm fell asleep from waving. Either way, her cheeks became soar from smiling.
"So, Lizzie," one of the cheerleaders, Tiffany, who was also a senior, began, "you worried about those basket tosses?"
Lizzie shook her head. "Nah, I'm fine with those. It's hitting the switching lib that I'm worried about." Although Lizzie had stuck the stunt every time in the last few practices, it had taken a long time for her to perfect. She was always losing her balance and falling.
Kate shrugged. "Don't worry about it. We'll do great, we always do."
"So, what are we going to do until it's time to get ready?"
Lizzie brushed a few pieces of grass off of her skirt as the group of 12 cheerleaders lined up to do their starting chant. A while later, with the Wildcats up 8-0, Lizzie smiled brightly as she recited her favorite chant. It was getting close to the end of the second quarter, and Lizzie's nerves were slowly rising. Homecoming halftime was a big deal.
The cheerleading squad gathered on the sideline of the field, in a small huddle, as the football players trooped off of the field. They spoke small words of encouragement as they headed out to the field to give their performance.
Parker grimaced as she watched Lizzie out on the middle of the football field. "Look at her, Amber, she's so, happy. She won't be happy after I have Gordo, though."
Amber simply shook her head, tired of hearing about Gordo. Parker eyes the bleachers carefully and caught sight of Gordo sitting on the bleachers. He was surrounded by a few of his fellow soccer players, but the seat to his left was open.
"I'll be back," Parker told Amber, before quickly stalking away. She took her steps up the metal bleachers and finally reached Gordo. His eyes were fixated on Lizzie, as she did everything perfect. He cheered for the squad, along with all of the other students and parents watching the game. Parker rolled her eyes, and sat down beside Gordo.
"Hey, Gordo," she said, trying to subtly flirt.
He simply waved slightly, eyes still on Lizzie, as the whole squad took a step forward, and simultaneously held up an index finger, showing that they were number one.
"So," Parker tried again, resting her hand on his leg, "does it bother you?"
She sure had his attention now. "Does what bother me?"
"The fact that Lizzie is still so hung up on Ethan."
"She is not."
"You wanna bet? Why do you honestly think that she wants to go to this party so much?"
Gordo opened his mouth to answer her, but couldn't think of an answer that didn't sound completely cheesy. Parker grinned, happily. She was slowly putting more and more doubts in his mind, by the party tonight, she was sure they'd be done for good.
"Look Parker, I love Lizzie, and she loves me. She got over Ethan a long, long time ago."
Parker smirked. "I wouldn't be so sure," she told him, pointing to a certain blonde cheerleader that was currently embracing Ethan in a hug. Contrary to what everyone thought, Ethan decided not to play football his senior year, he wanted to focus on his grades.
Gordo felt his face heat up at he watched his girlfriend hug Ethan Craft.
Lizzie pulled away from Ethan, and glanced at the scoreboard, she didn't want to be late meeting with the other cheerleaders. She still had a few minutes thought.
"So Lizz-ay, you'll be at my party tonight, right?"
"Of course."
"Is Gor-don comin'?"
Lizzie simply nodded. She was really looking forward to the party. She had called her mom from Kate's and her mom was completely cool with it. Whenever Ethan hosted a party, you could be sure that there wouldn't be drinking or drugs, he usually held smaller parties to avoid that type of thing.
"Well," Lizzie started, "I wanna go see Gordo before I have to get back to the girls, so I'll see you after the game."
"Okay. See ya, Liz."
Lizzie nodded, and headed up the bleachers. She took the same path Parker had, and noticed that Gordo looked tweaked about something.
"Hey, Gordo, are you okay?"
He gave her a slightly weird look, but nodded anyways. "Yeah, whatever, I'm fine."
Lizzie shot him an equally weird look. "Oh-kay?" Lizzie didn't believe him for one minute, and he knew that.
"Listen, Lizzie, I don't think I'm going to be able to make the party tonight."
"What?! Gordo, you have to be there!"
"Why?"
"Because I want you there."
"No thanks, Lizzie. I'd rather not go. I don't really care to see you all over other guys," he stated, before standing up from the bleachers, pushing past Lizzie, and bounding down them. Lizzie stared after him, shocked. Glancing at the scoreboard, she headed to the small group of returning cheerleaders, her mind never leaving Gordo.
She didn't turn back to see Parker's triumphant grin.
Lizzie grabbed her blue team warm-up jacket and slipped it over her head. She shot a small smile towards Miranda, and motioned for her to follow Lizzie. Flipping the strap of her cheer bag onto her shoulder, she headed towards her car, Miranda close behind. She opened the door, and threw her bag into the backseat. She slowly pulled out of the parking lot of the game. There was excited people bustling all over, they had won the game 42-6. Lizzie made a quick left turn, following Kate to Ethan's house.
Lizzie parked her car behind Kate's, and quickly got out of it, Kate was waiting at the end of the walk way for both Lizzie and Miranda. Lizzie sighed sadly, she had thought about bailing on the party, and going to Gordo's, but for some reason, she felt like she had to be at this party.
Lizzie shook her head as she waved slightly to Kate. "What's up, Lizzie? You don't look to happy," Kate stated, matter-a-factly.
"I'm not. Gordo and I kinda got into a fight at halftime," Lizzie summed up, not wanting to go into details.
Kate simply nodded, realizing that Lizzie probably didn't want to talk about it. She motioned for both Lizzie and Miranda to follow her and they headed into the gigantic house.
Upon entering, Lizzie immediately looked around, as if on a search for something, or someone. Lizzie knew she was looking for Gordo, hoping that he would have shown up anyways. She noticed Parker standing against a wall, twirling some hair between her fingers, and her face held a very satisfied grin.
Parker waved to Lizzie, and began to walk towards her. "Hey, Lizzie. Where's Gordo?"
"Oh, um, he's, well, he's not here."
"Oh, that's to bad. Why not?" Parker pressed, even though she already fully knew the situation at hand. Miranda had already wandered of to "mingle" with the other people at the party, but Kate had stayed but, as she listened intently to what Parker had to say. With any luck, Kate thought, Parker would say something that would confirm her suspicions.
"Well, we kind of had an argument, and he decided he didn't want to come."
"Oh, yes. I remember."
Kate squinted. It was coming soon, she could tell.
"You remember?" She heard Lizzie question.
Wait for it, Kate told herself, wait for it.
"Yeah, I was talking to Gordo before you came over, we were talking about the party. So I heard what he said to you."
There it was. Kate nodded in satisfaction.
"Oh," Lizzie said simply, "Well, listen, sorry to be rude, but I'm gonna go talk to a few people, and I'll probably jet early. Talk later, Parker."
Parker simply nodded and began to walk in the opposite direction of Kate. Kate reached out and grabbed her arm. "Knock it off, Parker. Just knock it off."
"Knock what off?"
"Your little plan to break Gordo and Lizzie up, that's what. It's never going to work."
Parker smirked. "Oh, that's what you think Kate, but I have something up my sleeve that will make Lizzie hate Gordo forever. And then he'll be mine, all mine."
"Try it, and I swear to God I'll kill you," Kate threatened, then turned on her heel and left her spot.
Lizzie stared into the bathroom mirror as silent tears rolled down her face. These little fights with Gordo were really taking their toll. Maybe they just weren't meant to be, Lizzie thought.
But after everything that they had been through together, since the beginning of high school, and even in middle school, how could they not be meant for each other?
Lizzie wiped the tears away before sighing loudly. She couldn't stay cooped up in the bathroom the rest of the night, she decided.
Pushing her way through the crowds of people Lizzie stood in a semi empty spot, in search of Miranda. Suddenly, she felt someone sneak up behind her, and before she could spin herself around, they wrapped their arms around her. Lizzie gasped loudly, but not loudly enough for anyone besides the two to her, and jumped a few feet in the air.
She heard small, familiar chuckle from behind her, and turned instantly to see who it was. She was met with the blue eyes of none other than David Gordon.
"Sorry, Lizzie, I didn't mean to scare you," he told her, seriously.
Lizzie simply shook her head. "Don't worry about it, I'm fine. What are you doing here?" She asked bluntly.
He shrugged. "Can we go out back to talk, it's kind of loud in here."
"Sure."
Lizzie turned herself around, and pushed her way back through the crowds of people. After finally reaching the back door, she pulled it open and stepped outside. The cool air hit her like a slap in the face, and Lizzie took a deep breath. The wind was blowing slightly, just enough to ruffle her hair in short wisps around her face.
She heard Gordo step out onto the porch behind her, and then the faint click of a closing door. Lizzie turned around to face him.
"So, what's up?" She questioned.
"I wanted to apologize, again. I don't know what got into me, or what I was thinking. I really don't. Parker just said some things before, and I don't know, it just had a weird effect on me, I guess."
Lizzie nodded, "What did you mean by 'you didn't want to watch me all over other guys'? I don't get that Gordo."
Gordo shrugged, once again. "It just came out, I don't know, I saw you hugging Ethan, and I guess maybe I was jealous."
"Jealous? Gordo, you know I love you, right? And that I got over Ethan a long, long time ago, we're just friends now, you know that."
"I know, I do. I just--I don't know, Lizzie. I'm really sorry though. I just have a lot on my mind lately, I think, and it's making me really agitated. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Lizzie told him. "I hate fighting with you Gordo," she said, as tears began to slip down her cheeks again. Gordo took a few steps towards her and wiped them off her cheeks. He cupped her face in his hands, and brought her face just a few small inches away from his own.
"I hate fighting with you, too. I love you, Lizzie McGuire, and that's never going to change. I promise. And I'm going to try so hard to never fight with you again, because I love you to much to waste time fighting."
Lizzie let a small smile break through her tears. "I love you too, David Gordon," Lizzie replied simply, pulling his head to hers. She kissed him passionately, and ran her hands through his hair. They pulled away from each other, and Lizzie rested her forehead against Gordo's.
"What do you say we get out of here?" Lizzie questioned, knowing that that was what he really wanted to do. Even though she wanted to stay, she wasn't going to make him stay if he didn't want to.
Gordo shook his head slightly. "Nah, I know you Lizzie, you want to be here. And if you really want to be here, then we're going to stay here."
"But Gordo, you don't want to be here, you--" Lizzie started to protest, although she was secretly hoping they would get to stay.
Gordo cut her off mid-sentence. "No, Lizzie, we're staying. Sure, I don't like coming to these parties, but I always have fun at them anyways, and I know I'll have fun at this one. So let's go inside." Gordo kissed Lizzie's forehead softly, grabbed her hand, and began to walk back to the door.
Lizzie pulled him back to her. "Thank you so much, Gordo, and I promise, next time we don't have to come." Lizzie finished her talking by giving Gordo another small kiss. She pulled away and noticed that Gordo had a goofy grin on his face, she loved that grin. Lizzie giggled, and leaned in again.
After a few more minutes, they entered the party. They spent the night dancing, being happy, talking, laughing, but mostly, they spent the night in each others arms. Neither ever wanted to let this fulfilled feeling go.
A/N: Voila! End of chapter 3. It's long!! Well, for me it's long. Not all the chapters will be this long, some might be longer. It all depends on what I want to get into it, right now I'm doing a whole day in a chapter, which it will most likely stay at, except for when it goes back to the "present" time. Please leave a review!