Chapter 4- "Growing Pains"
As the sun rose, so did Lizzie. Getting up rather earlier than usual, she got dressed, danced with her comb, and had breakfast.
Successfully avoiding parental control, and bratty younger brother danger, she walked to the bus, meeting up with Miranda and then Gordo. She actually hated, for the first time ever, meeting Miranda first. Only because she knew she couldn't give Gordo the good morning greet she really wanted, and she knew deep inside that Gordo felt the same way. How did she know? She can't explain it, but she knows.
Chatting like usual, their time together was interrupted when a convertible pulled up, a very expensive looking one, and beeped at the trio. Oddly looking to their back, the astonishment on their faces was bedazzling.
It was Kate. Driving the vehicle WITHOUT a guardian or parent. Inside was Claire, so typical, and some friends that even Miranda, the 'know girl', didn't recognize.
"Hell has just froze over," commented Gordo with a dire pain in his voice.
"And we're stuck deep inside it," agreed Miranda. As Kate stopped, she gave the gang a look so cocky and arrogant you'd have to take ten steps back to see it.
"Hi guys! Like my new ride?" asked Kate with a sarcastic wit.
"No," responded all three at the same time.
"Oh well, thought you ought to be the first to see it!" said Kate.
"I'm so excited," said Gordo sarcastically.
"You should be, because now I can meet Ethan even earlier than before...than tell everyone about your secret romance. See you later."
She drove off with a largely ignited thrust of the engines that left skid marks that could be traced miles long.
"I don't believe, I just don't believe it!" screamed Lizzie.
"Seeing is believing," gestured Gordo.
"How come she has a car? I don't understand!" asked Lizzie.
"Cough- she's a year older than us- cough," implied Gordo as Miranda laughed teasingly.
"So? How come she gets a car??? I can't even drive yet, not to mention actually owning one!" explained Lizzie.
"Well, there are rumors..." began Miranda. Both Lizzie and Gordo looked at her strange.
"What?" said Lizzie. "Tell me." "Do tell," began Gordo "I haven't heard any of those in quite some time."
Lizzie playfully hit Gordo on the shoulder and glared back at Miranda. "C'mon Miranda or we're going to be late for the bus! Spill!" yelled Lizzie with anticipation.
"I kind of heard that..." Miranda started to trail again.
"Just say it!" admitted Gordo with a tinge of excitement hinting at his tone.
"I heard a rumor that Kate has had sex," finished Miranda nervously.
Lizzie didn't speak. Gordo began to cough and choke. The two couldn't get around it.
"Sorry. Should have warned you," apologized Miranda.
"That would have helped," gulped Gordo as he tried to regain power in his throat.
"I..." Lizzie couldn't speak. She was too shocked. "How could Kate Sanders have had sex???" shouted Lizzie.
"Calm down, you're going to attract attention!" pleaded Miranda.
"I'm dumbfounded. I can't...I don't...how-"
Gordo tried to explain.
"Technically, she is a year older than us, sixteen going on seventeen, and technically, we're in high school, and technically, people our age do that sort of stuff-"
"I got it!" complained Lizzie. She was still enamored, but suddenly remembered something.
"Wait a second...does that mean Ethan-"
Miranda and Gordo's eyes widened.
"Don't finish that statement, please, I beg you!" pleaded Gordo loudly.
"I never thought of that before," admitted Miranda earnestly.
At that moment, a bus passed them by, as the trio was still thinking about this shocking revelation. Miranda was the only one that took notice.
Lizzie began to think out loud. "Wait a minute, so if Kate is older, what about Ethan? He has always been like really tall-"
"Yeah, he has. I always thought it was genetics, but possibly it could be-" began Gordo.
"Ah, guys," started Miranda.
"I mean, if he's also a year older than everybody else, like Kate, does that mean-"said Lizzie, cutting Miranda off.
"Guys!" said Miranda, trying to intervene. Gordo continued.
"What does it mean, Lizzie?" asked Gordo.
"I don't know. All I do know is that if we don't hurry we're going to miss the buss."
"Good point, Lizzie. We should get going," agreed Gordo.
As the two began to walk, they looked at Miranda, who was furious.
"What is it, Miranda?" asked both Lizzie and Gordo at the same time.
"Ah, nothing. I think we should walk to school, though," advised Miranda.
"Why?" questioned Gordo.
"Just...never mind," finished Miranda. Just shrugging, the two followed.