Disclaimer – The familiar may not be mine :D I lay no claim to it so please do not sue me as Christmas is coming and well I need the little money there is to my name lol thanks

AN – Sorry its bin a while guys but here you are chapter 4 enjoy

Heather sat quietly in the car as she made her way to her aunt's house. She couldn't help but feel scared. This wasn't just another holiday this could very well be the rest of her life, she was having all the usual new girl worries would she fit in? Would people like her? Would she be cool? Life was complicated.

She knew she shouldn't worry at least she knew somebody. She'd been transferred in to all of Lizzies classes so would have her cousin by her side but still a new school was scary stuff. She didn't start till Monday so she had the whole weekend to fret about it.

"We're home guys," Jo said as she pulled the car up on to the drive.

Heather smiled it was weird but it really did feel like home and she hadn't been here for a long time.

"Come on Heather I'll show you your room and we can get you unpacked and settled in" Lizzie gushed at her, her cousins excitement was infectious and soon she was dashing through the door behind her and up the stairs.

"Taa daa" Lizzie called as she threw the door open to her bedroom.

Heather peered inside and grinned "wow" was all she could say

Lizzie beamed "This bed is yours along with this wardrobe and this desk oh and these drawers" Lizzie said pointing to things in turn. "So you can unpack now and then we'll go survey the neighborhood or we could do that then unpack or we could get something to eat whatever you want"

Heather laughed "Slow down Lizzie before you go in to a sugar induced coma"

Lizzie laughed it was true she was extremely hyper but she couldn't help it she'd always wanted a sister and Heather was like that to her.

She sat on the edge of Heathers bed as her cousin pulled one of her suitcases towards her. She watched as she opened one of the drawers and started to fold away her shirts and tops. She began to bounce slightly up and down on the bed as Heather put away the rest of her clothes and started with her belongings. She looked up to find her cousin staring at her.

"You know this isn't gonna go much faster with you distracting me like that"

Lizzie grinned sheepishly "Why don't I get us some Sodas" she offered heading towards the door.

"That would be great" Heather smiled "I'm almost done I promise"

Lizzie made her way downstairs as the door closed behind her Heather frowned to herself "What the hell is a soda?" she hoped it wasn't what she thought it was.

Lizzie came back in to the room 10 minutes later with a tray laden with goodies.

Heather true to her word was finished unpacking so she set the tray on her bed and sat beside her.

"You look nervous" she stated handing her a bottle.

Heather eyed it suspiciously.

Lizzie almost choked on her soda the look she was giving the bottle was so comical. "It's just a soda Heather it wont bite and leave you frothing at the mouth"

Heathers head snapped up so fast Lizzie thought she might have whiplash.

She looked at her for a second then burst out laughing. Lizzie frowned in confusion.

"I thought that's what soda was" Heather giggled

Lizzie continued to look confused

"I was in the launderettes with my mum and this woman asked for some washing soda I thought you were offering me detergent or something"

Lizzie laughed so hard she thought her soda might reappear through her nose.

"Why on earth would I offer you detergent?" Lizzie asked when she could form the words.

Heather shrugged "Crazy American housewarming gift?"

Lizzie laughed some more "Haven't you heard of American Cream Soda or Strawberry Cream Soda or anything like that?"

Heather shrugged she had but that didn't mean she'd known what they were talking about.

Lizzie sighed if Heather had trouble knowing what a Soda was one of the simplest of American terms she couldn't imagine what else the language barrier was gonna throw at her.

"We have a lot of work to do" Lizzie told her cousin who merely nodded in agreement as she gulped her soda.

"So I was thinking I could take you out for a bit. You know show you the local hang outs and the likes maybe go for some pizza or something"

Heather nodded enthusiastically "Sounds good" she jumped from her bed and put the bottle on the shared bedside table between the two beds.

Grabbing her coat she waited as Lizzie surveyed the room.

"Who are they?" she asked pointing to a poster hanging above Heathers bed.

"McFly" Heather replied handing her a CD with the same four guys on the front cover "They're big in Britain. My dad went to school with Harry's dad" she said pointing to one of the guys

"Cute" Lizzie replied Heather shrugged again.

"I love what you've done with the place" she told her Heather had a knack for making things seem so similar yet so different. She'd transformed the room with the simplest of possessions.

A blue rug in the shape of a flower was lying on the floor beside her bed. Purple cushions were thrown up by the headboard along with an assortment of teddies and soft toys. A lilac fleecy blanket lay at the edge of the bed. Her chest of drawers had a couple of photo frames on top with snowglobes and little ornaments filling in the gaps. The bedside table had a framed photo upon it and a book. Her desk had writing sets on it and another photo frame. Her shelf held a few books a jewelry box and a couple of photo albums upon it with a pile of pictures beside it. Heather had really made this home. Lizzie loved it.

"We are so buying you a notice board while we're out"

It was now Heathers turn to look at her confused.

Lizzie led her over to a notice board already hanging in their room.

Heather smiled on it were loads of pictures of Lizzie with her friends, Lizzie with her family even Lizzie with her.

"Yea I think we need a new one of me and you added don't you think?" Heather nodded. There was so many pictures yet still loads of room for more.

Lizzie pointed to a bare space on the wall beside Heathers bed.

"It could go there and if we buy you some pins you can pin your pictures to it tonight" Heather beamed and nodded it was a great idea.

"Come on then I'll show you around" Heather followed her out as she closed the door behind her she locked her gaze on the picture by her bed. She smiled reassuringly at the picture as if to tell her parents she was ok. She knew she was imagining it but she could have sworn they smiled back.

"This is the pizzeria where we hang after school some days oh and this is the digital bean."

"The what?"

"Digital bean. It's like Starbucks only cheaper and more for kids"

Heather nodded in understanding.

"That's the park where we hang when its warm and that is . . . "

"The arcade where Lizzie loses all her money as she is no good at video games"

Heather and Lizzie whirled round coming face to face with Lizzie's best friends. Lizzie smiled "This is Heather guys and this is Gordo and Miranda"

Heather smiled and nodded the names sounded vaguely familiar but it had been a while.

"Hey" she replied gripping the notice board standing still meant it got heavier for some strange reason.

Miranda smiled "How you liking the place so far?" she asked

"Well its warm that's always a plus" Heather replied

Miranda and Lizzie laughed Gordo looked like he might pass out.

"Are you ok?" Heather asked him he was looking at her weirdly looking out of it.

"Oh yeah . . . who me . . . I'm fine . . . I erm . . . just need"

"Some Pizza great idea Gordo I'm getting kinda hungry myself how about you Thea?" Heather nodded in agreement as did Miranda.

Miranda led the way in to the pizzeria chatting away to Heather like they were old friends. Lizzie looked at Gordo who just smiled sheepishly.

Lizzie knew he liked Heather but the way he just acted was the way Lizzie herself used to act around her own crush Ethan Craft. Gordo had never let her forget her pathetic tendencies whenever he was around and made sure he let them all know what he thought about the stuttering and the loss of words. Yet here he was perfecting them.

"What was all that about?" she asked him ready to make some quick-witted comment like he was so fond of doing.

"First impressions count right" he shrugged nonchalantly "I was worried about botching it"

"Well you certainly made one hell of an impression" Lizzie laughed but Gordo just smiled and followed Miranda and Heather in to the pizzeria

Lizzie ran to catch up "FYI Gordo Heather likes a guy who can speak" she whispered as they joined their friends.

After their fifth slice of pizza each the conversation on the girls side suddenly went very quiet. Gordo looked around to see what had distracted them.

"Gordon"

"Why am I not surprised" Gordo muttered as blonde hared blue eyed surfer babe styled Ethan Craft made his way over to join them.

"Sup ladies?" he asked sliding in to the booth next to Miranda

Heather almost choked on her coke. Miranda looked like she might faint right in her pizza or maybe Ethans' lap and Lizzie looked like she'd won an Oscar and had forgotten her acceptance speech. What was the big deal? He was cute yeah but nothing amazing.

Gordo looked like he'd rather lick an electricity pylon than talk to the guy and had gone strangely silent. Heather was beginning to wonder if he spoke much at all.

"And who is this?" he asked smiling flirtatiously at Heather

"This is Heather my cousin" Lizzie replied "She just moved in with us"

Heather smiled "Hey"

"English?" he asked she nodded "Awesome. I'm Ethan"

"Nice to meet you" Gordo snorted but everyone ignored it.

"So will you be coming to school with us and everything?" Heather nodded and Ethans smile broadened.

"Excellent . . ." Ethan looked like he wanted to say more but was interrupted by the shrill calling of his name.

"Ethan . . . Ethan where are you . . . Ethan . . . there you are"

Miranda, Gordo and Lizzie all groaned Ethan merely smiled.

"Enter Kate Saunders" Lizzie whispered for Heathers benefit.

"Why are you sitting all the way over here?" she asked making it plainly obvious she was ignoring the rest of them.

"Just getting to know Lizzie's cousin" he replied

Kate's head snapped up at that the prospect of new blood thrilled her. Her smile faltered a little when she realized Lizzie's cousin was of the female variety.

Of course she is she thought to herself why else would Ethan want to get to know her

Kate's smile was soon firmly back in place however when she realized which cousin it was.

Lizzie really only had one cousin but her mom had friends whose kids were often referred to as Lizzies cousins. Kate remembered from being Lizzies ex best friend. She remembered one she loved and one she hated thankfully it was the one she loved.

"Heather is that you?"

Heather beamed and stood up as Kate enveloped her in a huge hug.

"Ohmygod" she gushed "it's been so long look at you"

"Look at you" Heather replied "you look amazing Kate"

"True facts" Kate laughed "So do you. How long are you in town for?"

"A while" Heather grinned

"She just moved in with me" Lizzie interjected Kate nodded without looking at her

"That is so cool" Heather nodded

"Listen we've really gotta go" Kate said looking disappointed as she pulled Ethan to his feet "But I'm having a party tonight and you so have to come. It'll be a great way for you to meet new people and everything and we just have to catch up. Say you'll come Thea" Kate pouted

"I'd love to. We all would" Heather smiled not noticing the looks of horror the trio were giving her

Kate's smile never faltered "Great see you around 8. McGuire knows where I live"

Heather sat back down as Kate and Ethan left.

"Wow I can't believe Kate remembers me. She's changed so much"

"More than you know" Lizzie groaned

"How do I look?" Heather asked spinning for her cousin's approval.

"You look great" Lizzie replied half heatedly.

She had been all ready to talk Heather out of Kate's party but she looked so happy and she knew her cousin's worst fear of moving here had been fitting in. Although she hated to admit it Kate was right her party would be the place to meet people.

Heather smiled at her reflection she had on a short denim skirt and a white vest top with a dragonfly print much like one Lizzie owned. Her hair was pulled back in an Alice band and she had cute sandals on her feet.

"Ready then?" she asked and Lizzie nodded

"Excellent lets go"

Lizzie groaned inwardly as she followed her cousin out the house she was wearing the same jeans but had a white gypsy top on now. She kept reminding herself it was all for her cousin.

When Miranda and Gordo joined them she made a point of reminding them to.

They arrived at Kate's just after half past eight.

Kate opened the door and beamed the moment she saw Heather. Lizzie was beginning to hate the fact they got on so well.

"Hey guys" Kate said before pulling Heather away with her "You can have her back in a mo. there's just some people who are dying to meet her."

That was the last they saw of them both till the end of the party.

Heather filled Lizzie in on all the details as they got ready for bed that night. She smiled and laughed along in all the right places but just wanted to go to sleep she was pleased Heather was happy but slightly put out that it was because of Kate.

"Oh I've gotta call Rory" Heather suddenly said rushing for the phone Lizzie had in her room "You don't mind do you?" Lizzie shook her head

"Of course I don't"

Heather beamed and hugged her as she dialed Rorys number.

"Hey you" she said as she released Lizzie "Oh god I'm so sorry I forgot about the time difference"

Lizzie giggled as Heather sat back on her own bed. "Yea I love it here Lizzies been showing me round and I met some really nice people"

Lizzie lay down smiling she didn't know why she'd gotten so jealous so Heather was making friends she was supposed to wasn't she. She was supposed to fit in. She put it down to lack of sleep and jet lag.

"I love you too tell the gang I say hi and I miss them. Yea . . . I will don't worry . . . ok . . . I miss you too . . . bye Rory"

Heather hung up the phone and switched out the light as she settled down in bed Lizzie turned to her.

"Ethan seems pretty keen on you" Lizzie couldn't see Heather but she knew she was blushing.

"Yea he's nice but he isn't . . . "

"Rory" Lizzie finished

Heather giggled and Lizzie knew she was right

"What's the deal with you two then?" she asked "Good friends or something more?"

"It's a long story," Heather said and Lizzie could tell by her tone of voice she was smiling

"Don't worry we have all night" Heather laughed and began the story

Lizzie didn't know why she'd been so worried there was no way she was gonna loose her best friend and cousin to Kate. At least not willingly.

AN – Taa daa chapter 4 tell me what y'all thought. And if I have any American readers could you tell me what the time difference is between Britain and America or just anyone who knows, as that would be a great help. Also if any one is good with American slang and the likes could you email me with them I know a few but any phrases etc would be really useful. My email address is in my profile page thanx a lot guys. Hope you liked this chapter we're really starting to get in to the story now. Well let me know and until next time :D