Title: Not How You Expected

Black Knight 03: Thanks for your help.

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

Chapter 7

NO POV:

When Gordo got home, he went straight to his room. The first thing he saw was his answering machine blinking. He had four new messages. He pressed the play button and sank into his bed.

"Damn, Gordo! You sleep so much. Get up out of bed and answer the phone!" The call had been Miranda.

"I know you have to be there, Gordo. Um, it's 2:00 right now. Where the hell are you? What happened to picking me up and going to the library and the park?" This one was also from Miranda.

"Crap. Here I am. It's four. Where are you? Do you want me to come and pick you up? It's not too late yet. Well, for the library it is, but not the park." Another from Miranda.

"I guess you're not coming. Are you ok?" It was Miranda again.

As the messages finished playing, Gordo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in thought. He had almost forgotten about Miranda. He couldn't believe it. Just then, there was a ring on the doorbell. Gordo shuffled over to see who it was. He opened the door to see a solemn faced Miranda clothed in a dark trench coat. Her facial expression changed when she saw Gordo and she immediately embraced him in a hug while rocking him back and forth.

"I was so worried about you," she sighed in relief. "For you to get hurt would kill me." Something didn't seem right to her, when she grasped her best friend in her arms. Something was different, and she noticed a tension of some sort in the hug she received – or didn't receive – back. She stepped back to look at him. "Gordo," she said, "something's on your mind. Wanna talk about it?" She laid her hand on his shoulder.

"Where were you yesterday?" asked Gordo in a somewhat agitated and confused tone.

Miranda rubbed her head. "Well, I waited at the park for at least an hour for you. What happened?"

Gordo walked inside and sank down into a nearby couch. Miranda relaxed next to him.

"Well," he said, "I was at a party I thought you would be at."

"Not Lizzie's party, were you?" asked Miranda with a parental glare.

"Yeah," answered Gordo. The previous night all of a sudden hit on him, and he felt tense and confused. His mind was spinning and he was lost and frustrated.

"Why was I supposed to be at the party?" she asked. "No one ever gave me the memo. I didn't think you would be there. We had already made plans and I didn't think you'd blow me of for a party. At least not intentionally. What's going on?"

Gordo didn't answer. His mind had strayed. All he could think about was her. All he wanted was her. He longed to feel her by his side again.

"Gordo," said Miranda, "you are too impossible for words." She was getting concerned about her best friend.

Just then the phone rang. Gordo was quick to answer. Miranda listened to the short call in which Gordo said, "Bye, ba- bye." He caught his tongue before he slipped and called her baby in front of Miranda. For some reason, he just didn't want her to hear that.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"Lizzie," said Gordo.

Miranda laughed. "Since when do you get calls from Lizzie?"

Gordo didn't laugh and was serious which caused Miranda's face to go blank and she stopped laughing.

"Dunno," was all he said.

Miranda wondered what was wrong and what was going on. All she knew for certain was that her best friend wasn't the same attitude as usual, and it worried her. There wasn't much of a response she could get from him at all about anything, and she just stared at him looking for his true self.

"Gordo," she asked trying not to sound concerned, "what happened at the party?"

"Nothing," was all Gordo said. Miranda shrugged, disappointed at his answer.

"Just wondering. No big deal, just wondering what I missed out on," she said. Miranda knew he was lying and had a sinking feeling about what it was, and for a reason she couldn't really explain, it hurt.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lizzie sat in front of the full screen mirror, curling her hair and putting it up to make it just right. She wore it in a high ponytail. All hair that wasn't tied up was curled. Her dress of choice was knee high and sleeveless, but she covered her arms with a white shawl. The fabric was a shimmery, simple blue dress. She finally grabbed a pair or faux pearl earrings and a matching necklace. While taking extra care applying her makeup, it also took her extra time to get ready. She nervously looked in the mirror one last time. "Do I look ok?" she thought. She wanted everything to be perfect.

Being the average, fifteen minutes late, he wasn't the least bit surprised. Looking at her rush through the door made up all nice, made it worth the wait.

"Gordo," she breathed heavily when she saw him. Her knees felt like collapsing.

"You're late," said Gordo with a smirk and motioning towards his watch.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but you should know me by now." Then she paused. "Seriously, I am sorry...our first date and I'm really late. It's not that I don't care."

"Don't worry about it," said Gordo. "I had a table reserved for fifteen minutes after seven anyway. Didn't think I'd forget your tardiness just like that, do you?"

Lizzie playfully smacked him with her purse.

"Table reserved for Gordon," he said to the front desk.

"Gordon...ok. For seven-fifteen. Right this way, please." The waiter lead them to their table and after the two sat down, placed a menu in front of each of them.

Gordo quickly scanned over the menu and set it back down again. Meanwhile, Lizzie was still looking at her menu. "Tostadas! No! Enchiladas! No. Tacos sound better," she muttered to herself. Gordo gave a slight laugh. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. The way her face was all frustrated, and the way she occasionally would give off a frustrated moan and shake her head. It made him laugh.

The waiter came back and said, "May I take your order, please?"

"I'll have the tortilla soup and your shredded beef burrito platter," said Gordo, "and I'd like the medium sauce."

The waiter then turned his head to Lizzie. "And you, Senorita?"

"Uh...I'll have the...burritos...no, tacos," she said.

"What kind?" he asked.

"There are kinds?" asked Lizzie.

"Chicken or beef," he said.

"What did you get, Gordo?" she asked.

"The burritos," Gordo answered. "Beef burritos."

"Well...I'll get beef then," she said.

"Ok," said the waiter, "shredded or ground?"

"Ground, I guess," shrugged Lizzie. "No! Gordo has shredded. I'll have shredded."

"Your platter comes with a side of refried beans, rice, nachos, or a slice of homemade bread," said the waiter.

"She'll have the rice," said Gordo quickly butting in before Lizzie had a chance.

"Thank you," said the waiter, grabbing the menus.

"What's up with girls trying to make up their damn mind? Even about food," said Gordo.

Lizzie stuck out her tongue at him.

Gordo laughed. "You'd think it was some life changing decision with how long it takes."

"I am making that kind of decision, Gordo," she said softly. "I'm trying to make a good impression on you." She reached out and touched his face and pulled him in for a light kiss. "I hope it's working."

"Of course," said Gordo.

"I messed up so badly before and I wanted to make it up to you," she said looking at his hands as she held them. "I really feel bad about how I've treated you in the past...letting my popularity screw things up." Lizzie still knew though, that popularity was still the reason why she didn't make her new found relationship with Gordo public, but she was working on it. "Really, Gordo, having this date with you means a lot to me. I know I tried to put it off, and you're such a sweet guy."

"I shouldn't have blown up on you," said Gordo quickly.

"No, it was me, Gordo," said Lizzie. "You didn't blow up. I wouldn't call that blown up. I can see why you would get a little frustrated with me. I was being selfish. Forgive me?"

Gordo tightened his grip on Lizzie's hands and said, "Let's not think about that right now. Of course I forgive you. Let's just think about today. Yeah, I know it sounds corny but...I'd better shut up right now."

"No, I like hearing your voice," she said.

Just then Lizzie saw Mike come in the door. Panicking, Lizzie said the first thing that came to mind: "I heard they have a little museum somewhere in here."

She grabbed Gordo's hand and pulled him up the stairs.

"Wow, all these pictures!" she said with too much enthusiasm.

"What got into her all of a sudden?" thought Gordo.

Lizzie took him to each picture, taking her time until she figured the coast was clear. "I'm bored now," she said, "but my gosh! How interesting."

When they sat back down, Lizzie saw Mike's table a little too close for comfort.

"You know what?" asked Lizzie, "I feel really sick. Can we get some doggie bags and go home?"

"Sure," said Gordo, a little disappointed that their first date hadn't gone as planned.

"I mean, if you really wanna stay, that's ok too," said Lizzie, thinking that she sounded too rushed.

"No, no. If you're sick then we should go home," he said. He was annoyed and suspicious at Lizzie's constant fleet of emotions. They were starting to get on his nerves, but he still kept his cool and walked Lizzie out to the car.

With his arm around her, she turned towards him. "I'm really sorry," she said. She reached for the car door and opened it.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home?" he asked. They had both driven in separate cars, because Lizzie wanted to surprise him with her apparel. Besides, she knew it would take her much longer to get ready.

"No," she said, "I'm fine." She started to get into the car, but hesitated slightly as if making up her mind about something. Then she bobbed her head back up and glanced around a bit. Then, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave him a farewell kiss.

She then climbed into the car and waved goodbye to Gordo. She bit her lip and sighed. "What a close call," she said aloud. "Talk about the chaos that would've gone on." She felt bad for leaving on Gordo like that, but was just relieved that Mike hadn't seen them.

A/N: I've felt bad for leaving you guys so long without a chapter, so I decided to get this one out quicker, and hopefully all the following will come out with little delay. Thanks for all of your reviews so far. It's awesome to check my email and see something. Thanks! My computer is acting fussy and we may have to take it in, but hopefully all will be well so I can get the next chapter up asap.