Title: Not How You Expected

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters you recognize in this story.

Chapter 2

NO POV:

Miranda Sanchez walked through the cafeteria, out into the lawn, and saw Kate and Lizzie sitting underneath a tree eating lunch. "Hey, Lizzie!" she exclaimed. Then she plopped herself next to Lizzie and Kate and picked up a piece of pizza. "I have something to tell you that you wouldn't believe," she said in an anticipated voice.

Kate turned around and snapped a look at Miranda. "We were talking here!" she exclaimed. "Now just move your butt for a minute while we finish."

Miranda looked Lizzie in the face, and Lizzie looked confused as to whom to listen to. After a moment of scanning both girls faces, she told Miranda, "Just beat it for a while. We can talk later."

Rising up quickly from her seat, Miranda gave an astonished look at Lizzie. "It can wait then," she said. She ended up running into Gordo next. "Let's sit over here," she said.

"Where's Lizzie?" asked Gordo.

"Oh," sighed Miranda, "with Kate as usual. I thought we were all going to try our hand at being friends, but like that would happen. Kate's is still the same snob as she will ever be. The scary thing is Lizzie is acting more like her day after day. It's a gradual transformation to a popular snob."

"Hmm," said Gordo.

"You didn't even listen," said Miranda.

"Yeah, I did," he said. "It's just that this pizza tastes a little different."

"It always tastes different from normal pizza," she said. "How come the sudden notice of change?"

"I guess I'm hungry today, that's all," mumbled Gordo taking another bite.

Miranda shoved aside her food. "Lizzie didn't even say 'hi.' All she said was 'beat it.' How does that make me feel after I was going to share my great news with her? After all, it's not everyday that I get an 'A' in science, is it? But no! She doesn't seem to care. She's too wrapped up in her private talk with Kate. In truth they're probably only talking about Lizzie's next body piercing. What would be so wrong with me getting into their conversation about piercings?"

"I don't know what's up with you, Kate, and Lizzie all of a sudden with piercing," said Gordo.

"It's not me, it's them. I've had my eyebrows pierced for how many years now?" asked Miranda. "But Kate got her tongue pierced; now Lizzie needs to do the same."

"Lizzie's popular, what can I say?" commented Gordo.

"What does that have to do with it?" asked Miranda. "Little Miss Snob comes home from Rome with a huge ego."

"She does sing well," added Gordo.

"She comes home, popularity takes her away, and she doesn't know her identity anymore," said Miranda.

"That's the way with most teens," said Gordo.

"Look at me," said Miranda.

Gordo looked at Miranda, clad in a black top and plaid mini skirt, with her hair pulled up in a ponytail. She looked distressed and confused to Gordo, and really sad.

"I know my identity," said Miranda. "I know who I am."

"You look...sad," said Gordo.

"Well, duh, Gordo," said Miranda. "Lizzie used to be a good friend of mine. Now she isn't. A best friend is part of your identity. I know who I am, but I can't be me without my best friend. It tears a person up inside."

"Lizzie will come around," said Gordo. "Just wait."

"How many years?" she asked.

Gordo was silent.

A moment later, Lizzie walked up and sat near Miranda. "See," said Gordo, "I told you she'd come around."

"What do you want?" asked Lizzie.

Miranda just shook her head, got up, and left.

"Wait, Miranda," said Lizzie.

"Later," replied Miranda and continued on her way.

"People nowadays," commented Lizzie. "So picky!"

Gordo snorted. "Picky?" he thought. "What does that have to do with it?"

"Whatever," mumbled Lizzie. "That's her problem. I'm sure she's just tired."

"That's it," said Gordo.

"You're awfully quiet today," commented Lizzie.

Gordo had his eyes fixed upon Lizzie's face. He remembered all the many times that he had wanted to reach out and gently touch her face with his hand. Her skin looked so soft and her eyes were beautiful. Curls of light blonde hair framed her face. He wanted to reach over and kiss her glossy lips. It had been a long time since Rome, but he still remembered the kiss she gave him. Odd enough, he still wondered what she had meant by it. He figured it was just a thank you kiss, because nothing ever came of it; they just remained friends.

Lizzie caught his glare and smiled slyly. Keeping his stare, she picked up her book and stood up. Then she walked a foot and dropped her book. She quickly bent down to pick it up, finding Gordo's hand already on top of it. She met his face once again and smiled.

"You're cute, Gordo," she said softly.

He had never heard her call him that before.

"H-here's your book," he stuttered.

Lizzie smiled. She loved it when she could make guys stutter around her. She thought it was so cute and boyish. She especially liked hearing it from Gordo.

She giggled. "I'm going to get my tongue pierced in a week. You have to come with me."

"Sure," he said. Then he thought of what she said. "No. I don't want my tongue pierced," he said.

"You could get something else pierced like your ear or nose or something," she said. "Besides, Kate is piercing it for me. Isn't that awesome!"

Gordo just shrugged. "That's ok," he said. "I don't mind what you get pierced, it's ok with me. It's just not my style."

"But it's cool," she said.

"It's not always the 'cool' thing that I do. It's nice to be a different personality," he said.

"Yeah, whatever," she mumbled. Then she perked up and drew close to him and gently whispered in his ear. "It will be fun. We'll party afterwards."

"Just over a piercing?" he asked confusedly.

"No," she whispered. "Parties are fun, and you're invited to Kate's mini-party. It will be just you, me, her, and her boyfriend, that's all. But she's going to have nice refreshments and entertainment. Oh wait, I forgot. You're no fun. You go for no fun refreshments."

"I only go for what's legal," said Gordo.

Lizzie rose up, brushed herself off, and said, "Think about it."

"No thanks," he said.

"Whatever floats your boat," she said. "If you wanna be a party pooper go ahead. You'll be the one missing out."

"Lizzie," said Gordo. "I want to talk."

"You'll have to save that for later cuz I'm out," said Lizzie, "to hang with the cool guys."

Gordo watched Lizzie waltz off waving her hand. Miranda was right. This wasn't the Lizzie he used to know. The Lizzie he used to know would've talked to him if he wanted to talk. "She has such a pretty face," he thought, "but such a bad attitude." Gordo started wondering if he still wanted a more than friends relationship with Lizzie. The friends part was difficult enough.

A/N: I'm updating today because I don't know if I'll be able to update in the next few days cuz I'll be so busy with homework. I'm such a procrastinator, but I'm trying to change that. Please review my story and let me know whatcha think of it so far! I'll be updating this within the next four days. So check back soon!

Thanks Winter Blaze, blahthepickles, Black Knight 03, and Jersey Princess for your reviews.

Jersey Princess: Don't worry. I'm not going to write any 'R' fics at the moment. There are some good ones out there, but I'm not in the mood to write one just yet. I read one of your songfics! :) I'll check out the rest later.