Thanks for the reviews everyone, it's great to hear them. I didn't realise that you couldn't leave anonymous reviews so I changed that and now you can. I hope you like this chapter. I was kind of struggling and made myself force it out. So fingers crossed that it's all right. Anywho on with the show. (And BitterSweet, I wouldn't rule out a L/G just yet, you just don't know how young hearts can twist and turn :) )

Lizzie Maguire: Not mine, Not even a little.

Ethan watched as Gordon Sulked off. He was confused as to why Gordon was in such a mood. They had just had a fun night of Mini Golf. They had laughed and joked and Lizzie had said it wasn't a date. Did Gordon think it was a date?

Ethan really hoped he hadn't cause that would suck. He had felt down in the dumps because Kate had stood him up for like the zillionth time and was happy to spend some time with a couple of good friends like Lizzie and Gordon but he would never want to get in the way of them going on a date. He liked them too much and even he could tell that Gordon and Lizzie would make a great couple. But he had asked if it was a date and they had said no so... So it must be cool. Gordon's probably just upset cause he hadn't done very well at Mini Golf.

Ethan turned to Lizzie who was also watching Gordo walk off. Lizzie looked confused as well or was that anger?

"Hey Lizzie. You ready to go? Lizzie?"

"What's that? Sorry, I was...what were you saying?"

"Just asking if you were ready to leave? Lizzie? Hello?"

"Oh sorry. What did he mean by hassle?"

"Hassle?"

"Gordo. Gordo said that you walking me home would save him the hassle. What did he mean by that."

"Em. Maybe like you said to him that since it was out of his way to walk you home, it would be easier for me to walk you home. Which I guess means less hassle for him. Did that just make sense?"

"Yeah, kinda. But it was more the way he said it than the sense of it. He said it like I was such a hassle. How could he say I was hassle?"

"I don't think he meant it that way. Not Gor-don. No way. Are you sure you guys weren't on a date cause..."

"Ethan I told you me and Gordo are just good friends. C'mon lets get going before I get grounded for being late...again."

Lizzie and Ethan laughed and headed on their way. It wasn't that far from the Mini Golf place to Lizzie's and they soon arrived on her doorstep. They had been having fun all night and Lizzie didn't really want the night to end. She had never gotten to spend this much time alone with Ethan and she remembered why she had had a crush on him.

He was so cute. Sure he wasn't the smartest guy in the world, but he was so cute and he could be a lot of fun. He was such a laugh. Who wouldn't want to spend time with Gordo? Ethan who wouldn't want to spend time with Ethan?

Lizzie paused confused at why Gordo's name had suddenly popped into her head. Ethan was her crush. Ethan had always been her crush. Gordo was just her best friend. That's all. She couldn't possibly have a crush on Gordo. Sure he was cute and fun and she loved... no, no she liked him as her best friend. Just liked him as a friend and anyway she was alone with Ethan. Her crush.

Why was she thinking of Gordo? Why was she still annoyed at the way he had called her hassle and just left. Why couldn't she stop thinking about it? She had asked Ethan to walk her home not Gordo. If she had a crush on Gordo, why wouldn't she have wanted him to walk her home?"

"Because you were afraid."

"What?"

"I said you did it because you were afraid of losing Gor-don."

"What?"

Lizzie was suddenly worried that Ethan was a mind reader or worse maybe she had been thinking out loud.

"Were you listening to anything I said? I was laughing at the time you and Miranda had an intervention for Gor-don cause you were afraid you were going to loose him to the Dwarf Lord geeks."

"Oh. Yeah that was pretty funny. How did you know about that?"

"Miranda told me about it. I've chatted with her a few times since summer break started. We go to the same swimming pool."

"Oh that's right she's told me that. You play water polo right?"

"Yeah. I love it. I really want to make the team next year as well."

"Cool. Hey Ethan can I ask you something?"

"Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. Of course you can. Ask away."

"What would you do if you thought you might have feelings...?"

"Lizzie, we've had this talk. I like you as a friend. I like spending time with you but there's just no chemistry."

Lizzie blushed. It still hurt a bit that Ethan didn't like her like that. He was her first big crush, bigger than Danny Kessler and maybe not as big as Ronnie but Ethan had been there before Ronnie and she had still had a crush on him after Ronnie. But now, now she just wasn't sure were her feelings were leading her but she had a feeling that it was away from Ethan and leading her to think more affectionately about a certain curly haired friend of hers.

"No Ethan I wasn't talking about you and me."

"Oh sorry. Were you talking about Miranda and me? Did She say something to you? Do you think she knows that I like her?"

"You like Miranda? What about Kate? Have you said anything to Miranda? Have you asked her out?"

Lizzie couldn't believe it. Had Ethan Craft just told her that he liked Miranda? Was this good news or bad news? Was she happy for Miranda or sad for herself? Was it possible to have both feelings at once?

"No I haven't asked her out. I haven't said anything to her. I like her but I don't know if she likes me. She's cool. I like when we get to hang out at the pool."

"And Kate? What about her?"

"I don't know why I keep agreeing to go out with her. Half the time she stands me up and the other half she's mean to me and treats me like I'm her property. I was so ticked that she hadn't shown up again tonight but getting to hang out with you and Gor-don really cheered me up."

"But you would have been happier if Miranda had of been there too. I bet." Lizzie added with a knowing smile.

This time it was Ethan's turn to blush. Something Lizzie was pretty sure she had never seen before. Probably not a lot of people had.

"Hang on. If you weren't talking about you and me and you weren't talking about me and Miranda then who is it that thinks they might have feelings for someone?"

"Never mind I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's you and Gordo isn't it? Tonight was a date wasn't it?"

"No it wasn't a date but yes I think I might have feelings for Gordo." Lizzie said hesitantly. She couldn't believe that she was saying these words. It wasn't just that she couldn't belive she was saying them to Ethan. She actually was having a hard time believing the words themself. Feelings for Gordo? No way.

"Of course you do everyone can see it. Even me."

"But I can't. I just can't. I don't know what I'm feeling. I'm not sure I'm even feeling anything. I mean it's Gordo. It just couldn't happen.

"Why not?"

Lizzie paused and was saved from having to answer that question by the front door being opened. Jo Maguire stood in the doorway illuminated by the hall light.

"Oh. Hi Ethan" Jo said surprised to find Ethan Craft at her door and not Gordo. "Lizzie you better get in before you dad gets into crazy over protective mode and he has Matt urging him on so...say goodnight to Ethan."

Lizzie thanked Ethan for a fun night and for walking her home and headed inside as Ethan walked off.

"I thought you were going out with Gordo tonight"

"I did. We met Ethan at the Mini Golf and he walked me home to safe Gordo the hassle."

All Jo could manage was "Oh" She was confused not only at the story but also at the way Lizzie had said it, especially when she said the word hassle.

Jo didn't have much time to think about it though. She saw Sam and Matt approaching Lizzie like they were the Spanish Inquisition ready to bombard Lizzie with a tirade of questions. She knew she would have to intervene or there would be war.

"Dad!! You're not going to listen to this little weasel are you?"

Oh here we go!

A/N Subliminal message: REVIEW, review, REVIEW