I DON'T OWN LIZZIE MCGUIRE! Thank you for all the reviews! I'm really glad you like this story, because, honestly, I really like writing it. I will not say right now (because I haven't completely decided…any suggestions?) if this is a Lizzie/Gordo and/or Hailey/Jake story, but I have decided that one or both of those pairings is going to be a couple. As for when Lizzie and Gordo meet up…be patient. I want the characters to have a chance to develop their own relationship friendship first. It shouldn't be too long, but it won't be right away, either.

Chapter Five

"Nice car," Hailey said, when he pressed the button to unlock the door and she opened the passenger side.

"Thanks," Jake said, "I got it last week."

"Cool," she said, and then got in and so did he. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, and they were on their way home. It took approximately eight minutes, including the stop signs, to get to Hailey's house from the school.

As he rode her home, Hailey realized that they were driving in silence and felt like she should say something. After all, if Jake was possibly going to take her to school every morning, she didn't want to come off as rude, or even worse, the silent type. So she interrupted the silence when they were about halfway there and started to strike up a little small talk, "So," she said, "If you don't mind my asking, why Hill Ridge?"

Jake shrugged, "Well, I guess my mom figured we needed a change and since she grew up here, it just made the most sense."

"Oh," she said. She sensed that he was keeping something from her, mostly because of the whole "my mom figured we needed a change," bit, but didn't want to make him uncomfortable. "Well, I've lived here since I was five, and I don't find Hill Ridge particularly exciting, but I do like it here. My uncle and his family grew up here."

Jake nodded. He noticed that Hailey's family seemed unconventional when he went there and was introduced to her uncle, "So you live with your uncle?"

Hailey sighed, "Yeah. My parents died when I was young and my uncle has taken care of me ever since."

"I'm…sorry," Jake said, "About your parents, I mean."

She half smiled, "It's okay. It happened over ten years ago."

"Oh."

"Besides, what my uncle and I have is kind of unique. Not only does he act as some sort of 'father figure,' but we're really close. He's almost like my best friend."

"That's cool," Jake said, thinking about his own father, "you're lucky that he cares so much about you."

Hailey looked confused, "what do you mean?"

Jake sighed heavily, trying to sort through the pain he was feeling, "My dad…never cared. That's why I'm here actually. My mom and my dad---I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell you all of this."

"No," Hailey said, "It's cool. I won't tell anyone."

"Well," Jake said, "my parents got a divorce recently."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she said, as if she knew what he was going through, "that must be really hard for you."

Jake shrugged, looking a little depressed, "Well, the divorce was the best thing that ever happened, actually. He treated us like crap."

"Oh," Hailey said, feeling a little awkward, but she understood, "well, I hope you like it here. If there is anything I can do to help you, just tell me."

Jake smiled and glanced at Hailey, "Thanks."

Hailey hardly noticed when they pulled into her driveway. It was when he pulled the car in park when she realized it was time to leave.

"You know," Jake said, as she started getting out of the car, "If you ever need a ride to school or anything…I live, like, two streets away."

Hailey's eyes lit up, "Really??" She didn't mean to sound so excited. She calmed down a little, "I mean, um, if you wouldn't mind?"

He shrugged, "Not at all. You're on my way to school and well, I could use the company, really."

Jake had never been so honest to anyone. He was so used to holding up a front with his friends and the people he knew. For the brief time he talked to Hailey, though, he realized how good it felt. Maybe since she at some point went through a tragedy, he felt like he could open up to her comfortably.

"Well," Hailey said, biting her lower lip, "I don't want to take advantage of this, but I really do not like the bus…if you took me to school and took me home every day, could I at least have my uncle pay you?"

"You don't have to pay."

"No, I want to."

Jake shrugged, "Well, I guess if he wants to pay me, I won't argue."

"Great!" Hailey smiled, "Uh, why don't you come inside? My uncle is here and he might want to talk to you."

Jake looked confused, "Wait…what?"

Hailey blushed, "I mean, I'm not really allowed to drive with anyone unless they trust you. Also, if he's going to pay you, he might as well know who it is he is paying."

"Um," Jake said, as he turned off the car and unbuckled his seatbelt, "Okay."

Jake got out of the car and they walked to the front porch, and Hailey let herself in, "Davie!" she called, as they walked in, "I'm home!"

"Okay!" Gordo called back, from upstairs, "I'll be there in a minute!"

Hailey smiled nervously at Jake. She wasn't sure why she was nervous—she knew Gordo would be cool with the whole thing, but something about this situation intimidated her. Maybe it was Jake. Jake was older, cute, and probably used to popularity, while she was only fifteen, popular with her friends, and didn't feel like she had as much to offer.

It felt like hours before Gordo finally came down the stairs, smiled at Hailey, and then saw Jake, "Whoa," he said, recognizing him from the day before, "hi, there."

Gordo and Jake shook hands once again, and Gordo looked at Hailey for an explanation to his presence, "Did you have another shirt of his?" He joked.

Hailey rolled her eyes, "Very funny. Actually, I was wondering if Jake could give me a ride to school everyday."

"Oh!" Gordo said, sarcastically. He looked at Jake and said, "are you sure you want to do this?"

Jake shrugged, "I don't mind. She's on my way to school."

"Well…" Gordo looked at him for a very long minute and then shook his head, "Fine, Hailey. Jake can take you to school. I trust him. I don't know why, but I do. What kind of car do you drive?"

"A Jeep Cherokee."

Gordo peeked out the window, "nice car. I used to drive one of those myself," he then turned back to Jake, "Now, I suppose I need to talk to you about paying for gas and convenience."

"Actually, sir, I don't need your money. It would be my pleasure to pick her up and drop her off."

Gordo, although surprised at the young man's refusal of money, insisted. "Nonsense! I'll be happy to pay you. What's the going rate these days, Hails? Forty dollars a week?"

Hailey nodded, "Yeah."

"No, that's not really necessary," Jake insisted, "none of this is necessary."

"Uh, Jake, I don't know about where you are from, but gas these days is really expensive," Gordo said, "besides, you might be happy you have the money for the weekend or something."

Jake sighed, "Okay, Mr. Gordon, if you insist."

Gordo smiled, "Good! Now, I'm trusting that you are a good driver and there aren't policemen out here looking for you."

"No, sir," Jake said.

"And you don't smoke, drink, or do any drugs?"

"No, sir."

"Davie!" Hailey said, giving him a look as if he was going to have to pay for this later.

"Hold on, Hailey. I want to make sure this Jake is clear of what I expect of him," Gordo said, and turned his attention back to Jake, "Unless one of you calls this house, I expect her home by four, or else I'm calling the cops. At 3:30, I'm calling your cell phone, Hails."

"Okay," Jake said.

"And I don't want Hailey to be late for school."

"Okay, Davie, you can stop trying to be a parent, here," Hailey said, getting more and more annoyed and embarrassed.

"Fine! I get it, Hails," Gordo said, "I trust Jake. The only thing I need to know now is your phone number in case I need to call you."

Jake write down his home and cell phone numbers and gave them to Hailey's uncle. They shook their hands one more time before Gordo said, "I'll see you tomorrow morning, then, Jake. It was nice meeting you again."

Jake left and Hailey hit Gordo on the arm, "Davie!" she whined, "what was all that for?"

"What?" Gordo said, failing to see why she was upset, "This is California! There are plenty of psychos around here and I'm not about to let you hang around one of them. Besides, he's older than you and could take complete advantage of you."

Hailey rolled her eyes, "You said you trusted him."

"Well, I trust a lot of people when I first meet them. That still doesn't mean I'm going to ask them questions on how responsible they are. Especially when it concerns your safety."

Hailey sighed, and then let out a frustrated "Argghh!" Then she hurried upstairs.

Gordo watched, sighed, and then stuffed Jake's numbers in his wallet, went to the living room and sat down on the couch. He didn't see anything wrong with what he just did. He liked Jake, and he thought he'd made that clear. At least he didn't ask something crazy like "what are your intentions with Hailey?" like HIS parents probably would have asked.

In the back of his head, something still bothered Gordo about this Jake West. Sure, he was a nice person, but there was something faintly familiar about him. It was as if he was supposed to have known this guy all of his life.

888

By the time Jake pulled into his own driveway, everyone else seemed to be home. He saw Andrew in the next-door neighbor's yard, talking to some girl. When he walked into the house, he saw his mom on the computer in their living room, looking at cars. "Hey," she called, "How was your first day of school?"

Jake walked to the living room, "It was fine. Who's the girl Andrew is with?"

Lizzie shrugged, "I don't know…some girl at his school. They aren't doing anything I should be worried about, are they?"

Jake laughed, "No, mom, they're just talking."

"Well, that's nice," she said, "Do you know anything about Corollas?"

Jake shrugged, "They're okay. Why? Thinking about getting a Corolla?"

"Yeah…" Lizzie said, slowly, concentrating on the screen, "you don't think silver is too tacky for a car, do you?"

"Sounds fine to me," Jake said, "I'm not the one who is going to be driving it."

Lizzie sighed, "So," she said, turning to her son an smiling, "sit down. Tell me all about your first day of school."

Jake reluctantly sat down, "Well, it was fine. I like most of my classes, I played ultimate Frisbee after school, and I think I'm going to be giving some sophomore a ride to school everyday."

"Hmm," Lizzie said, raising her eyebrow, "so you will make a little money, after all."

"Yeah," Jake said, "I guess."

"Is the sophomore male or female?"

"Female."

Lizzie raised her eyebrow again, "Really? And…what's her name?"

"Hailey."

Lizzie smiled, "Well, I'm glad you made some friends and liked your first day of school. I want to meet some of your friends and this new girlfriend or yours."

"What new girlfriend?" Jake asked, confused.

"The one you're taking to school."

"Um, she's not my girlfriend. We're friends. She lives, like, two minutes away from us."

Lizzie shrugged, "Okay. Well, girlfriend or not, she's still a friend of yours and if you are going to hang out with these people, I want to meet them eventually. Especially if her parents are paying you to be responsible for her. I don't want to get a call from this girl's mom freaking out because her daughter isn't home yet. Got it?"

Jake sighed. He knew his mother was under a lot of stress to get all these things done and the last thing he wanted was to argue with her, "Okay, mom. I'm sure you'll meet her soon."

Lizzie looked distressed as she shook her head, "I'm sorry, I know you're just trying to help this girl and make friends and you're under your own stress, but as your parent I worry. And lately, I'm worried that I haven't worried enough over the years. I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to and I certainly don't want you to feel awkward having to invite some friends over, because you don't, but…" Lizzie sighed. She knew he couldn't possibly understand what she was going through, "Grammy called and invited us…along with half of Hill Ridge…to their 40th anniversary bar-b-que two weeks from yesterday. I just don't know if I'm ready to socialize with all these people I haven't seen in over twenty years," Lizzie said and then she sighed, "I need a break from all of this."

Jake raised his eyebrow, not really knowing what to say to his mom's problem, "Well…" he started, knowing whatever he said would be the wrong answer, "Do you have to go?"

Lizzie seemed a little startled by what Jake said. "Well, I'm not sure how my own mother would feel about me saying I couldn't come, seeing as she's guilted me into coming."

"Then go. I mean, how bad can it be? If anything, Andrew and I are going to be the bored ones, right?"

Lizzie shook her head, "I don't know. I'm frankly not sure if I know anything right now," she paused. She was going to go more into detail, like how Matt was coming and bringing her nieces and nephew, (who she hadn't seen in over three years) but then she realized the Jake was her sixteen year old son. She didn't want to give him the impression that she was incapable of being Super Mom, "It'll be fine," Lizzie said, attempting to sound assuring, "Part of me is looking forward to it, actually."

Jake shrugged. What else was he supposed to do? "Okay, well, I'll be in my room if you need me."

"Okay," Lizzie said, cheering up a little, "I'm glad you had a good day. I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"Okay," Jake called, as he was already halfway up the stairs.

888

"Tell me this," Hailey heard Kelly ask. They were on the phone with each other, "If you were offered two tickets to Fiji right now, who would you pick to go with you? It has to be a guy."

Hailey rolled her eyes. Sometimes she wondered how Kelly ended up being her best friend. They'd been friends for years, of course, ever since they were in the same second grade class, but they had close to nothing in common. At the same time, they had a very strong friendship. "What are we? Twelve?" Hailey asked, as she hated these random theoretical questions.

"What are you talking about? I'm asking you seriously. Who would you pick?"

Hailey sighed loudly. "I'm not answering this question, Kel."

"It would be that Jake guy right?" Hailey could almost hear her friend smirking.

"No," Hailey said, "I barely know him."

"Yeah, but he's giving you a ride home every day. You will know him. Besides, you have to admit, he's slightly hot."

Hailey was shocked, "Um, Kel, I hate to burst your bubble, and I will admit that he's…cute, but I don't want to date the guy."

"Oh, why not? You two are perfect for each other."

"Um…" Hailey started, "Well, for one, we're friends. Besides, he's probably not interested. I mean, his parents just got a divorce and he probably has some girlfriend he's talking to right now in Houston or wherever he's from and planning a trip home."

"So you've thought about him, then."

Hailey blushed. Damn. She hated when Kelly did this, "Okay, fine. I give. Realistically speaking, if I had drag some guy off to Tahiti or wherever, I guess he would be the most obvious choice. Considering my recent luck with guys, however, I'm not pushing for anything." Hailey was glad she was talking on her cell phone. She would be mortified if anyone in the house heard this conversation.

"Okay, then," Kelly said, "That's all I wanted to hear."

"Don't you dare," Hailey threatened, "tell anyone about this."

"Are you kidding?" Kelly exclaimed, "What are we? Twelve?"

888

To be continued….