No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
A/N: I said that the story is winding down, but that doesn't mean it's over. It just means that the end of the main part of the story is near. Don't worry, I won't leave threads hanging. If they aren't handled in the main part of the story, they will be handled in the MULTIPLE epilogs. I'll also be using those epilogs to float ideas for a possible sequel.
`
Chapter 44
On the Side
`
As the party started to break up, Matt got Reggie away from Lily for a brief chat. "How you doing, man?"
A real smile cracked his face. "I think that girl could cheer up anyone. I'm better."
That reply spoke volumes to Matt. Before, Reggie would say he was fine, and laugh it off. "Hey, man, it's me you're talkin' to. I know this was more than your usual fling. What did you do?"
Another un-Reggie-like look crossed his face. Sheepish? "Well, I thought we were doing great, so I figured she let me go farther with her. So yesterday, when we were at a movie, I tried the old arm-over move."
"Aw, man, you didn't!"
"I did. I got about a half-second's feel before she slapped me, called me bastard, and stormed off."
"Have you tried to apologize yet?"
"Yeah, when I caught up to her. But she wouldn't hear of it."
"She was probably still pissed that it happened. Have you tried to talk to her since?"
"No." He tried to sound like that was an absurd idea, but failed. "She made herself clear."
"Do you remember when you dumped Sara? She warned you that you would be hurt one day." Reggie looked daggers at him at the reminder. "Listen, man. The last time mom and dad argued, he made up to her with flowers," Matt paused, knowing Reggie's likely reaction to the next part, "and groveling."
Reggie was still contemplating the flowers, and did a double-take when the second part registered. "What?!? Uh, uh! No. I am NOT groveling."
All Matt could do was smile. 'Trust Reggie's pride to stop him when he finally falls for one.' "Your life, man. But if it were Miranda, no amount of humiliation would be too much."
~~~~~~~~
"It's not THAT funny." Matt said grumpily. He and Miranda were alone in the game room, and she had needled him into telling her what happened to Reggie. This resulted Miranda laughing hysterically.
She tried to compose herself. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't, but . . ." She broke into another bout of laughter, then continued "in all the movies and shows that I've seen that move in, it NEVER works! I can't believe he thought he'd get away with it."
A small smile crept on his face. "It wasn't one of his better ideas, was it?"
"No, it wasn't." She had finally calmed down. "I remember you called him a playboy before. Does that mean he dates a lot of girls?"
"Yes, and more." Miranda's eyebrows arched. "Not THAT more. I mean he was the first of us to see girls in 'that' way. I remember he was stealing kisses from the girls during recess in first grade."
"You're kidding!"
"Nope. The rest of us still thought that girls were 'yucky', so we all teased him about it. But later, whenever another one of us realized girls weren't so bad, he's the one we talked to."
"If he has so much experience, how could he make THAT mistake?"
"Well, he's never been serious about any of the other girls. It was always a kind of game to him. He'd get as far as they let him, which was never very far, then move on. If it ever bothered him, it never showed."
"It showed today. We all saw it."
"That, and the way he'd talk about her before they were together, is why I think this is different. I think he really cares for her. He just doesn't know how to deal with it."
"So he makes a blunder he should know better than to try."
"That's what I think."
"What did you tell him?"
"I suggested flowers and groveling."
"I bet that went well."
Matt rolled his eyes. "I just hope he'll try something."
Something struck Miranda, and she smiled. "Matt, hon, you do know that most people don't find their life mate at thirteen, don't you?"
At first he looked at her like she'd lost her wits. Of course he knew that. That's what most has worries about what he'd become were based on. Then he realized what she meant. "Yes, I know. But I guess I'm not acting like it yet, am I?"
"Listen. It's great that you care about your friends like this. But you have to remember that most of them are going to have a lot of failed relationships before they find the one meant for them. I'm not saying you shouldn't help Reggie, or anyone else. Just be careful you don't push too hard. And if it doesn't work out, be there for him."
That last part made him grimace. "It doesn't work quite like that for boys, but I'll do what I can."
Miranda chuckled. "I guess boys aren't into those Lifetime movie moments."
Matt smiled slyly at her. "Well, not with each other . . ."
Miranda saw the suggestion more in his eyes than in his words, and accepted.
~~~~~~~~
The night went fairly well for everyone, except for one young man trying to decide if the girl who just dumped him was worth swallowing his pride.
~~~~~~~~
The next morning was not pleasant for two young blondes, both of whom were forced awake early by the need to vomit. The older of the two wasn't too concerned. This unstable system of hers was inherited. It had been like this a couple of times before when she was very nervous about things in her life. Between becoming the fiancé of the man she loved, the fact that her fiancé was blind, and trying to get back in with her old friends, Kate figured she was in for a wonderful few days of this. As another wave of nausea overtook her, she wondered if maybe she should check to see if there was something a doctor could give her to settle her system. She didn't want to be doing this on her wedding night!
The younger of the two, however, was definitely NOT calm. Indeed, Melina was near panic. Her mother tried everything she could think of to try to calm her, but nothing seemed to work. Melina was convinced that this was morning sickness. Even when she finally regained her wits, she couldn't be dissuaded of the idea. Instead, she insisted that the families needed to get together and get the details of their future in place. In that, her mother wouldn't budge. "Not until the doctor tells us IF you're pregnant. I know how nervous you've been, and that could be the cause of this morning."
While Melina disagreed with this, she understood why her mother felt like that, and didn't WANT push her on it. However, that didn't mean she was giving up. "I should at least tell Lanny. He is the father." She saw the argument coming. "I know you want a doctor's test. But somehow, I know. I just know."
While her mother was skeptical of that claim, she also realized if Melina was right about that, she was also right in wanting to tell the boy about her being sick. "You can write him. I won't even screen this one."
~~~~~~~~
The afternoon solo meetings Miranda and Matt had with Mr. Gordon went very well. There was a bit of a role reversal, however, as Miranda was cautioned about her displays of temper, and Matt was complimented on his control. After both of these meetings, the doctor made a call to the Sanchez home to gently remind them about getting Miranda in a martial arts class, which was something they had agreed to back when this all began (chapter 20).
~~~~~~~~
It being Monday also means that Matt and Miranda were back at the McGuire home for their nights. When Miranda arrived, Lizzie asked her up to her room to chat. Expecting to hear Lizzie's side of how things went with Gordo, she agreed. When Lizzie closed the door, however, Miranda got the question she hoped would never come. "Miranda, what happened Tuesday with you and our parents? It sounded like you had good news, but you haven't said anything."
Miranda's eagerness quickly deflated. "Lizzie . . . I would love to tell you. But they made us promise not to tell anyone." She saw the protest coming. "PLEASE understand, Lizzie. There's too much at stake to break that promise. Even for you."
Part of Lizzie was hurt that Miranda couldn't, or wouldn't, share this. But something in Miranda's tone struck her. Miranda was genuinely worried. That made Lizzie worried. "They wouldn't break you guys up, would they?"
"WHAT?!? No, Lizzie, no. They couldn't do that even IF they tried, and they know it." She took a breath. "I want to tell you, but I can't. I just can't."
Not so long ago, she probably would have been deeply hurt by this. But now, to her own surprise, she was able to put Miranda's obvious worry ahead of her own curiosity. She gently placed her hand on Miranda's shoulder. "Okay. I think I get it. I'll stop asking, and I'll tell Gordo not to ask."
"Really?" Miranda was as surprised as Lizzie was. "You're okay with this?"
"Weird, huh? Maybe dad was right when he said I'd grown up."
After a few minutes of awkward small talk, Miranda asked Lizzie about Gordo. While Lizzie played down her aggressiveness, she otherwise told the whole story. Miranda congratulated her, but couldn't resist a joke about plaster dust.
~~~~~~~~
That night was a break in the string of peaceful nights, with Miranda needing to be released from a nightmare. The night was otherwise uneventful.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday had two events of note. First, Jo received a call from the jeweler's. Lizzie's order was in, and Matt's rings were ready. Second, Matt was visited by Reggie. When they got into Matt's room, he asked. "What's up?"
"You must be catching, man."
"Huh?"
"I did it. I actually went to her and begged her to forgive me." Reggie flopped on the bed. "I must be losing my mind."
"Sounds like it didn't go too well."
"It went okay, I guess. She doesn't hate me, but she won't go out with me. She said I move too fast for her."
Matt wanted to say something meaningful, but knew that wouldn't go over well. At least, not yet. "I don't get why you didn't just ask her if she'd let you. I thought you knew better than to grab."
Reggie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, I guess we can't all get it whenever we want."
"I don't."
That admission caused Reggie to sit up. "You're kidding, right? I mean, I thought . . . are you telling me you haven't . . ."
"No, that's not what I'm saying. Listen, I'll tell you some about Miranda and me, but only if you listen to ALL of it, start to finish. Agree?"
"Yeah, man."
He buried the grin Reggie's eagerness caused. "First, you're right in thinking we've gone that far. But I still ask every time I want to, and she's turned me down more than once."
"What?!? No way!"
"Yes way. And I listen to her. And you know what? She's always right." Reggie smirked. "Ever time she's turned me down, we were someplace where it would have been very easy to be seen. And sure enough, not long after she says no, somebody shows up."
"So, she turns you down when you could get caught."
"It's more than that. She turns me down then because she doesn't want anyone else to see her like that. But when we're alone . . ." He said the last part suggestively enough for Reggie to get his meaning. "For all you know, if you would have asked, Angela might have been willing. IN PRIVATE."
Reggie hung his head when it all hit him. "So, after all these years, it's my turn to take the advice." He looked up, a lopsided smile on his face. "I get it, man. I made two mistakes. I didn't ask, and I tried it in public."
"That about sums it up." Matt's grin took the bite out of his words. "Just remember next time, okay."
"Yeah. Besides, my jaw still hurts."
They both laughed at that. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing games and talking about everything except girls.
~~~~~~~~
"Have you noticed how little we watch TV anymore?" Miranda asked him that evening. They were in the McGuire den, with about an hour before it was time to sleep, laying on their sides facing each other. The hands they weren't resting their heads on were slowly roaming, without any particular instruction from their owners.
"I hadn't really thought about it. Anyway, I think I prefer you to the TV."
"Well I should hope so." She leaned in to give him a light kiss.
As she pulled back, he asked "I never mind being with you like this, but you said you had something to tell me. What's up?"
Her grin faded slightly. "My folks finally remembered that I was suppose to take some self defense classes too. They asked me today if I was still willing."
"And you said?"
"I said I'd talk to you about it."
"Having second thoughts?"
"I wanted to be sure you're okay with it."
She looked uneasy, and that worried him. But he quickly realized what the problem probably was. "You're worried about how I might react to seeing you in training, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah."
"It's okay. Dr. Hyde has been a real help with my temper. I still think it's a good idea, and knowing you're learning to defend yourself will be a load off my mind. Ya know, if you take judo like me, we can work out together, and once I'm done with Dr. Hyde, we can go to the same classes."
She smirked. "And the fact that you'll have an excuse to put your hands on me has nothing to do with it."
"Actually, I was thinking about how interesting it could get when we start doing each other's massages."
"I like the sound of that."
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Is Melina right in believing she's pregnant? Is Kate right in believing her problem is nothing serious? How will Lanny react to Melina's letter? That, and more, still to come.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
A/N: I said that the story is winding down, but that doesn't mean it's over. It just means that the end of the main part of the story is near. Don't worry, I won't leave threads hanging. If they aren't handled in the main part of the story, they will be handled in the MULTIPLE epilogs. I'll also be using those epilogs to float ideas for a possible sequel.
`
Chapter 44
On the Side
`
As the party started to break up, Matt got Reggie away from Lily for a brief chat. "How you doing, man?"
A real smile cracked his face. "I think that girl could cheer up anyone. I'm better."
That reply spoke volumes to Matt. Before, Reggie would say he was fine, and laugh it off. "Hey, man, it's me you're talkin' to. I know this was more than your usual fling. What did you do?"
Another un-Reggie-like look crossed his face. Sheepish? "Well, I thought we were doing great, so I figured she let me go farther with her. So yesterday, when we were at a movie, I tried the old arm-over move."
"Aw, man, you didn't!"
"I did. I got about a half-second's feel before she slapped me, called me bastard, and stormed off."
"Have you tried to apologize yet?"
"Yeah, when I caught up to her. But she wouldn't hear of it."
"She was probably still pissed that it happened. Have you tried to talk to her since?"
"No." He tried to sound like that was an absurd idea, but failed. "She made herself clear."
"Do you remember when you dumped Sara? She warned you that you would be hurt one day." Reggie looked daggers at him at the reminder. "Listen, man. The last time mom and dad argued, he made up to her with flowers," Matt paused, knowing Reggie's likely reaction to the next part, "and groveling."
Reggie was still contemplating the flowers, and did a double-take when the second part registered. "What?!? Uh, uh! No. I am NOT groveling."
All Matt could do was smile. 'Trust Reggie's pride to stop him when he finally falls for one.' "Your life, man. But if it were Miranda, no amount of humiliation would be too much."
~~~~~~~~
"It's not THAT funny." Matt said grumpily. He and Miranda were alone in the game room, and she had needled him into telling her what happened to Reggie. This resulted Miranda laughing hysterically.
She tried to compose herself. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't, but . . ." She broke into another bout of laughter, then continued "in all the movies and shows that I've seen that move in, it NEVER works! I can't believe he thought he'd get away with it."
A small smile crept on his face. "It wasn't one of his better ideas, was it?"
"No, it wasn't." She had finally calmed down. "I remember you called him a playboy before. Does that mean he dates a lot of girls?"
"Yes, and more." Miranda's eyebrows arched. "Not THAT more. I mean he was the first of us to see girls in 'that' way. I remember he was stealing kisses from the girls during recess in first grade."
"You're kidding!"
"Nope. The rest of us still thought that girls were 'yucky', so we all teased him about it. But later, whenever another one of us realized girls weren't so bad, he's the one we talked to."
"If he has so much experience, how could he make THAT mistake?"
"Well, he's never been serious about any of the other girls. It was always a kind of game to him. He'd get as far as they let him, which was never very far, then move on. If it ever bothered him, it never showed."
"It showed today. We all saw it."
"That, and the way he'd talk about her before they were together, is why I think this is different. I think he really cares for her. He just doesn't know how to deal with it."
"So he makes a blunder he should know better than to try."
"That's what I think."
"What did you tell him?"
"I suggested flowers and groveling."
"I bet that went well."
Matt rolled his eyes. "I just hope he'll try something."
Something struck Miranda, and she smiled. "Matt, hon, you do know that most people don't find their life mate at thirteen, don't you?"
At first he looked at her like she'd lost her wits. Of course he knew that. That's what most has worries about what he'd become were based on. Then he realized what she meant. "Yes, I know. But I guess I'm not acting like it yet, am I?"
"Listen. It's great that you care about your friends like this. But you have to remember that most of them are going to have a lot of failed relationships before they find the one meant for them. I'm not saying you shouldn't help Reggie, or anyone else. Just be careful you don't push too hard. And if it doesn't work out, be there for him."
That last part made him grimace. "It doesn't work quite like that for boys, but I'll do what I can."
Miranda chuckled. "I guess boys aren't into those Lifetime movie moments."
Matt smiled slyly at her. "Well, not with each other . . ."
Miranda saw the suggestion more in his eyes than in his words, and accepted.
~~~~~~~~
The night went fairly well for everyone, except for one young man trying to decide if the girl who just dumped him was worth swallowing his pride.
~~~~~~~~
The next morning was not pleasant for two young blondes, both of whom were forced awake early by the need to vomit. The older of the two wasn't too concerned. This unstable system of hers was inherited. It had been like this a couple of times before when she was very nervous about things in her life. Between becoming the fiancé of the man she loved, the fact that her fiancé was blind, and trying to get back in with her old friends, Kate figured she was in for a wonderful few days of this. As another wave of nausea overtook her, she wondered if maybe she should check to see if there was something a doctor could give her to settle her system. She didn't want to be doing this on her wedding night!
The younger of the two, however, was definitely NOT calm. Indeed, Melina was near panic. Her mother tried everything she could think of to try to calm her, but nothing seemed to work. Melina was convinced that this was morning sickness. Even when she finally regained her wits, she couldn't be dissuaded of the idea. Instead, she insisted that the families needed to get together and get the details of their future in place. In that, her mother wouldn't budge. "Not until the doctor tells us IF you're pregnant. I know how nervous you've been, and that could be the cause of this morning."
While Melina disagreed with this, she understood why her mother felt like that, and didn't WANT push her on it. However, that didn't mean she was giving up. "I should at least tell Lanny. He is the father." She saw the argument coming. "I know you want a doctor's test. But somehow, I know. I just know."
While her mother was skeptical of that claim, she also realized if Melina was right about that, she was also right in wanting to tell the boy about her being sick. "You can write him. I won't even screen this one."
~~~~~~~~
The afternoon solo meetings Miranda and Matt had with Mr. Gordon went very well. There was a bit of a role reversal, however, as Miranda was cautioned about her displays of temper, and Matt was complimented on his control. After both of these meetings, the doctor made a call to the Sanchez home to gently remind them about getting Miranda in a martial arts class, which was something they had agreed to back when this all began (chapter 20).
~~~~~~~~
It being Monday also means that Matt and Miranda were back at the McGuire home for their nights. When Miranda arrived, Lizzie asked her up to her room to chat. Expecting to hear Lizzie's side of how things went with Gordo, she agreed. When Lizzie closed the door, however, Miranda got the question she hoped would never come. "Miranda, what happened Tuesday with you and our parents? It sounded like you had good news, but you haven't said anything."
Miranda's eagerness quickly deflated. "Lizzie . . . I would love to tell you. But they made us promise not to tell anyone." She saw the protest coming. "PLEASE understand, Lizzie. There's too much at stake to break that promise. Even for you."
Part of Lizzie was hurt that Miranda couldn't, or wouldn't, share this. But something in Miranda's tone struck her. Miranda was genuinely worried. That made Lizzie worried. "They wouldn't break you guys up, would they?"
"WHAT?!? No, Lizzie, no. They couldn't do that even IF they tried, and they know it." She took a breath. "I want to tell you, but I can't. I just can't."
Not so long ago, she probably would have been deeply hurt by this. But now, to her own surprise, she was able to put Miranda's obvious worry ahead of her own curiosity. She gently placed her hand on Miranda's shoulder. "Okay. I think I get it. I'll stop asking, and I'll tell Gordo not to ask."
"Really?" Miranda was as surprised as Lizzie was. "You're okay with this?"
"Weird, huh? Maybe dad was right when he said I'd grown up."
After a few minutes of awkward small talk, Miranda asked Lizzie about Gordo. While Lizzie played down her aggressiveness, she otherwise told the whole story. Miranda congratulated her, but couldn't resist a joke about plaster dust.
~~~~~~~~
That night was a break in the string of peaceful nights, with Miranda needing to be released from a nightmare. The night was otherwise uneventful.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday had two events of note. First, Jo received a call from the jeweler's. Lizzie's order was in, and Matt's rings were ready. Second, Matt was visited by Reggie. When they got into Matt's room, he asked. "What's up?"
"You must be catching, man."
"Huh?"
"I did it. I actually went to her and begged her to forgive me." Reggie flopped on the bed. "I must be losing my mind."
"Sounds like it didn't go too well."
"It went okay, I guess. She doesn't hate me, but she won't go out with me. She said I move too fast for her."
Matt wanted to say something meaningful, but knew that wouldn't go over well. At least, not yet. "I don't get why you didn't just ask her if she'd let you. I thought you knew better than to grab."
Reggie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, I guess we can't all get it whenever we want."
"I don't."
That admission caused Reggie to sit up. "You're kidding, right? I mean, I thought . . . are you telling me you haven't . . ."
"No, that's not what I'm saying. Listen, I'll tell you some about Miranda and me, but only if you listen to ALL of it, start to finish. Agree?"
"Yeah, man."
He buried the grin Reggie's eagerness caused. "First, you're right in thinking we've gone that far. But I still ask every time I want to, and she's turned me down more than once."
"What?!? No way!"
"Yes way. And I listen to her. And you know what? She's always right." Reggie smirked. "Ever time she's turned me down, we were someplace where it would have been very easy to be seen. And sure enough, not long after she says no, somebody shows up."
"So, she turns you down when you could get caught."
"It's more than that. She turns me down then because she doesn't want anyone else to see her like that. But when we're alone . . ." He said the last part suggestively enough for Reggie to get his meaning. "For all you know, if you would have asked, Angela might have been willing. IN PRIVATE."
Reggie hung his head when it all hit him. "So, after all these years, it's my turn to take the advice." He looked up, a lopsided smile on his face. "I get it, man. I made two mistakes. I didn't ask, and I tried it in public."
"That about sums it up." Matt's grin took the bite out of his words. "Just remember next time, okay."
"Yeah. Besides, my jaw still hurts."
They both laughed at that. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing games and talking about everything except girls.
~~~~~~~~
"Have you noticed how little we watch TV anymore?" Miranda asked him that evening. They were in the McGuire den, with about an hour before it was time to sleep, laying on their sides facing each other. The hands they weren't resting their heads on were slowly roaming, without any particular instruction from their owners.
"I hadn't really thought about it. Anyway, I think I prefer you to the TV."
"Well I should hope so." She leaned in to give him a light kiss.
As she pulled back, he asked "I never mind being with you like this, but you said you had something to tell me. What's up?"
Her grin faded slightly. "My folks finally remembered that I was suppose to take some self defense classes too. They asked me today if I was still willing."
"And you said?"
"I said I'd talk to you about it."
"Having second thoughts?"
"I wanted to be sure you're okay with it."
She looked uneasy, and that worried him. But he quickly realized what the problem probably was. "You're worried about how I might react to seeing you in training, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah."
"It's okay. Dr. Hyde has been a real help with my temper. I still think it's a good idea, and knowing you're learning to defend yourself will be a load off my mind. Ya know, if you take judo like me, we can work out together, and once I'm done with Dr. Hyde, we can go to the same classes."
She smirked. "And the fact that you'll have an excuse to put your hands on me has nothing to do with it."
"Actually, I was thinking about how interesting it could get when we start doing each other's massages."
"I like the sound of that."
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Is Melina right in believing she's pregnant? Is Kate right in believing her problem is nothing serious? How will Lanny react to Melina's letter? That, and more, still to come.