A/N: Believe it or not, I wrote this chapter about two weeks ago, only I never typed it. Unfortunately, I lost the notebook, and I had to start over again with this from memory. Oh well, I hope you enjoy this and come tomorrow; it will have been exactly a year since I started my first story. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and please continue to review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Lizzie McGuire
Chapter Three
Day One
10 July 2004
I am in England! I thought the plane ride would never end! Anyway, after we got out of the plane, we met up and walked to immigration together. After immigration, we went through baggage claim, and then went to find Anna and her family. I have to say, all of this has made me feel so independent. I mean, there were no adults on the plane with us or anything. We made it here all by ourselves!
Anyway, since we had nothing to claim, we went to go see Anna. Anna was so excited to see us, and we were so excited to see her. Her hair looked a little shorter and maybe with a slightly reddish tint. She was with her parents, John and Lilly and her older sister, Jaime. After all the greetings, we headed to the Gatwick parking lot. It didn't really feel like I was in a different country, though. Maybe it was the fact that everything was in English, or maybe it was just not clicking. It was weird.
Anyway, the Spencer's had brought two cars to the airport, a large van and a slightly smaller van. The large van was for us to go to their house, which was about an hour away, and the smaller van was for our entire luggage.
We all crammed into the larger van, which barely held us all. Her dad, John, was supposed to drive that one. Anna sat up front while the rest of us sat in the back. Being in England, they drove on the opposite side of the road and the steering wheel was also on the other side of the road. It was a little weird hen Anna would turn around and look at us sitting at the passenger seat, when you expect someone to be driving. I guess it will be something I will get used to, though.
"So, how are all you?" Anna asked, breaking the separate chattering and trying to get a group discussion going.
"Good," we all said.
"What are we going to do while we are here?" Miranda asked.
"Yeah, are we going to go with you to school or something?" Sarah asked.
"You aren't out yet?" David asked.
"No, she doesn't get out for another week or something," Sarah answered.
"Oh. Are we going to go to school with you?" David asked, obviously not wanting to go.
Anna laughed, "No, actually, I won't be going to college while you are here. I have already worked it out with my teachers."
"College? You go to college already?" Miranda asked.
Anna shook her head, "Over here, what is called college is more like a variation of high school. College is called university. After two years of college, you go to university."
The English school system is really different from America's school system.
"So, anyway, I made a list of things to do while you are here. I hope you don't mind, and if you have any more ideas, let me know," Anna said. I discovered last year that Anna was a list person. She would make lists for everything. I had to work on a history project with her in ninth grade, and she was so obsessive compulsive about what to do and due dates. I really learned a lot from her.
"Well, what's on the list?" Gordo asked. I glanced back at him, and he looked at me. For a few seconds we made eye contact. Once I realized what I was doing, I immediately turned forward, to listen to Anna.
"Actually, I made copies for everyone to look at," Anna said and she passed back several copies of the list. We all took one.
Anna's List of things to Do with Friends
July 10th- They arrive; hang out/sleep; work
July 11th- Chessington (theme park)
July 12th- Windsor; Castle
July 13th- Guildford; movie; mall
July 14th- Godalming; party w/ England friends.
July 15th- London Day 1
July 16th- London Day 2
July 17th- unplanned
July 18th- return to LA
Then after the schedule, which was quite impressive, and I am sure she had a reason for everything, there was a list of things to do in London.
What to Do in London
1. Aquarium
2. The London Eye
3. Westminster Abbey
4. Buckingham Palace
5. St. James Park
6. Wax Museum
7. Shakespeare Dome
8. Parliament
9. London Bridge
10. Whatever else you can come up with.
~*~*~*~*~
"What plays can we see?" I asked.
"Oh! There are a lot of plays out there! The London Theatre is awesome. There is everything from 'Mamma Mia!' To 'Fame' to 'Phantom of the Opera'. We have quite a few options. Also, there will be plenty for shopping everywhere we go."
"Oh! Do we get to go to King's Cross?" Brian asked.
"What is that?" Anna asked, confused.
"You know, that train station in the Harry Potter books?"
"Oh!" Anna said, "I don't think so. We have to get to London through Waterloo and I think that station is all the way across town."
"Also," John, Anna's dad, spoke up, "That is out of the way of everything you will probably want to do and see. There really isn't much to see there, anyway."
"Yeah, so anyway, we have time to figure out the schedule! What I want to hear about is you people! I haven't seen you in over a year and just tell me all the gossip and everything! Who is going out with whom? Any major break-ups? Have any of the teachers left? Is the cutest couple still going out?" Anna asked, looking at Gordo, and then me smiling.
I don't know about Gordo, but I blushed. I guess I figured someone told her that we broke up, but I guess she really didn't know what was going on. "They broke up," Miranda finally said.
"Oh," Anna said, "I'm sorry." She looked like she wished she didn't ask that question.
After briefly going all we could remember about what was going on in Hill Ridge, we asked her about her life. She looked a lot happier here.
"Well, I really like it here," she admitted, "I have really great friends over here and college is a lot of fun."
"Do you miss us at all?" Sarah joked.
"Of course I miss you! I just really like it over here. I wish you could all move over here so I could have the best of both worlds," Sarah said.
"Awww!" we all said in unison.
A few minutes later, we pulled up into their house, which was beautiful. Her dad designed it himself, so it was bigger that most other homes in England.
Sarah explained that since most of the rooms were so small, the girls would be sleeping in the basement and the boys would be sleeping in the den. Both had nearby bathrooms, or "lavatories" and a TV. The basement was a lot bigger, so I guessed we would all be hanging out down there for the most part.
After a few minutes of unpacking, Jaime, her sister, came downstairs and said, "Whose hungry?"
We all said we were hungry and she suggested we go to the local pub for lunch. We all agreed. Her dad apparently agreed that Anna would be allowed to use the large van for transportation while we were here, but Jaime would have to drive. Jaime was a year older than Anna, and was more experienced as a driver. Anna and Jaime got along surprisingly well for siblings. I knew Jaime from when they lived in L A and she was really nice and was practically like another friend. She didn't go with us to movies or eat with us, but she was the type of person I would have casual conversations with and say "hi" in the hallway.
We all piled into the large van, and suggested I sit up front with her, so I looked at Anna, and Anna didn't mind, so I sat with Jaime.
"So, how's life, Liz?" Jaime asked. Everyone in the back was having his or her own conversation. It felt weird being in the passenger's side, when it was usually with a steering wheel.
"Life is okay," I said.
"Really?"
I nodded my head, "Yeah, life is okay."
She looked through her rearview mirror and then said, "So I hear that you and Gordo broke up," she lowered her voice.
I glanced back at him. He was conversing with David. I nodded my head, "Yeah, I broke up with him a few months ago."
"Why?" Jaime asked.
I sighed. I was getting sick of this question, "It's complicated."
"Okay," Jaime said. She seemed to accept that answer, "But if you want someone to talk to about it, feel free to talk to me."
"Okay," I said.
"You know, Liz, of all of Anna's friends, I have to admit you were my favorite," she said.
"Really?" I blushed.
"Yeah. Don't tell anyone I said that, though. You have always just been an inspiration to me for some reason." Jaime said.
"I don't know how I inspire you, but thanks," I said.
"Maybe some day I will tell you, but not today," Jaime said, smirking. We pulled up into the pub.
At the pub, we all ordered our meals. I ordered a steak, and meanwhile, we all talked. Anna talked the most out of all of us, telling humorous stories of the year and all about her friends. We get to meet them on Sunday at the party. It's a birthday party.
After the pub, we went back to the Spencer house and basically did what the schedule told us to do---hung out and watched TV. They had digital cable, so we watched a little bit of everything. Jaime said if we had come a week earlier, we wouldn't have been able to watch anything except tennis, because the Wimbledon thing was going on, and Anna is still obsessed with tennis. We ended up watching things like Friends, some movie on TV, and some other stuff. I was really tired, but decided I would not go to sleep because I needed to get used to the time change. Also, during this time, some of us e-mailed our parents saying we were there safely.
Later, we went to the nearest bank and got some English pounds. Before I left, mom decided I needed an ATM card that would go to my account. Anything I spent on this trip would be paid by this account. My parents agreed to put five hundred dollars in the account to help. Anything extra would be spent with my money.
I got about 200 pounds this time, thinking this would last me at least until London. Then I would probably need more money.
After we got back, it was about dinner time, and we ate Chinese food at her house. Nothing like English Chinese food. After that, we watched a movie in the basement and by then it was nine and everyone was pretty worn out, so we decided we would go to sleep. The boys all went upstairs to the den and we girls spread out on the two beds and two couches. Jaime was sleeping in her own room, although she was invited to sleep with us.
Miranda and I took the beds while Anna and Sarah took the couches. It was Anna's idea because the couches were closer to each other and they could spend time catching up with each other. Not tonight, though. Tonight, we all went to sleep pretty quickly.
Good night!
Lizzie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Do you still like it? I think I have decided that each day will be a chapter, that way, there will be fewer chapters. Also, each chapter will not be a cliffhanger necessarily. Anyway, please review! I will try to put up a chapter tomorrow because of the one year anniversary of Lizzie Speaks What and all. Anyway, please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Lizzie McGuire
Chapter Three
Day One
10 July 2004
I am in England! I thought the plane ride would never end! Anyway, after we got out of the plane, we met up and walked to immigration together. After immigration, we went through baggage claim, and then went to find Anna and her family. I have to say, all of this has made me feel so independent. I mean, there were no adults on the plane with us or anything. We made it here all by ourselves!
Anyway, since we had nothing to claim, we went to go see Anna. Anna was so excited to see us, and we were so excited to see her. Her hair looked a little shorter and maybe with a slightly reddish tint. She was with her parents, John and Lilly and her older sister, Jaime. After all the greetings, we headed to the Gatwick parking lot. It didn't really feel like I was in a different country, though. Maybe it was the fact that everything was in English, or maybe it was just not clicking. It was weird.
Anyway, the Spencer's had brought two cars to the airport, a large van and a slightly smaller van. The large van was for us to go to their house, which was about an hour away, and the smaller van was for our entire luggage.
We all crammed into the larger van, which barely held us all. Her dad, John, was supposed to drive that one. Anna sat up front while the rest of us sat in the back. Being in England, they drove on the opposite side of the road and the steering wheel was also on the other side of the road. It was a little weird hen Anna would turn around and look at us sitting at the passenger seat, when you expect someone to be driving. I guess it will be something I will get used to, though.
"So, how are all you?" Anna asked, breaking the separate chattering and trying to get a group discussion going.
"Good," we all said.
"What are we going to do while we are here?" Miranda asked.
"Yeah, are we going to go with you to school or something?" Sarah asked.
"You aren't out yet?" David asked.
"No, she doesn't get out for another week or something," Sarah answered.
"Oh. Are we going to go to school with you?" David asked, obviously not wanting to go.
Anna laughed, "No, actually, I won't be going to college while you are here. I have already worked it out with my teachers."
"College? You go to college already?" Miranda asked.
Anna shook her head, "Over here, what is called college is more like a variation of high school. College is called university. After two years of college, you go to university."
The English school system is really different from America's school system.
"So, anyway, I made a list of things to do while you are here. I hope you don't mind, and if you have any more ideas, let me know," Anna said. I discovered last year that Anna was a list person. She would make lists for everything. I had to work on a history project with her in ninth grade, and she was so obsessive compulsive about what to do and due dates. I really learned a lot from her.
"Well, what's on the list?" Gordo asked. I glanced back at him, and he looked at me. For a few seconds we made eye contact. Once I realized what I was doing, I immediately turned forward, to listen to Anna.
"Actually, I made copies for everyone to look at," Anna said and she passed back several copies of the list. We all took one.
Anna's List of things to Do with Friends
July 10th- They arrive; hang out/sleep; work
July 11th- Chessington (theme park)
July 12th- Windsor; Castle
July 13th- Guildford; movie; mall
July 14th- Godalming; party w/ England friends.
July 15th- London Day 1
July 16th- London Day 2
July 17th- unplanned
July 18th- return to LA
Then after the schedule, which was quite impressive, and I am sure she had a reason for everything, there was a list of things to do in London.
What to Do in London
1. Aquarium
2. The London Eye
3. Westminster Abbey
4. Buckingham Palace
5. St. James Park
6. Wax Museum
7. Shakespeare Dome
8. Parliament
9. London Bridge
10. Whatever else you can come up with.
~*~*~*~*~
"What plays can we see?" I asked.
"Oh! There are a lot of plays out there! The London Theatre is awesome. There is everything from 'Mamma Mia!' To 'Fame' to 'Phantom of the Opera'. We have quite a few options. Also, there will be plenty for shopping everywhere we go."
"Oh! Do we get to go to King's Cross?" Brian asked.
"What is that?" Anna asked, confused.
"You know, that train station in the Harry Potter books?"
"Oh!" Anna said, "I don't think so. We have to get to London through Waterloo and I think that station is all the way across town."
"Also," John, Anna's dad, spoke up, "That is out of the way of everything you will probably want to do and see. There really isn't much to see there, anyway."
"Yeah, so anyway, we have time to figure out the schedule! What I want to hear about is you people! I haven't seen you in over a year and just tell me all the gossip and everything! Who is going out with whom? Any major break-ups? Have any of the teachers left? Is the cutest couple still going out?" Anna asked, looking at Gordo, and then me smiling.
I don't know about Gordo, but I blushed. I guess I figured someone told her that we broke up, but I guess she really didn't know what was going on. "They broke up," Miranda finally said.
"Oh," Anna said, "I'm sorry." She looked like she wished she didn't ask that question.
After briefly going all we could remember about what was going on in Hill Ridge, we asked her about her life. She looked a lot happier here.
"Well, I really like it here," she admitted, "I have really great friends over here and college is a lot of fun."
"Do you miss us at all?" Sarah joked.
"Of course I miss you! I just really like it over here. I wish you could all move over here so I could have the best of both worlds," Sarah said.
"Awww!" we all said in unison.
A few minutes later, we pulled up into their house, which was beautiful. Her dad designed it himself, so it was bigger that most other homes in England.
Sarah explained that since most of the rooms were so small, the girls would be sleeping in the basement and the boys would be sleeping in the den. Both had nearby bathrooms, or "lavatories" and a TV. The basement was a lot bigger, so I guessed we would all be hanging out down there for the most part.
After a few minutes of unpacking, Jaime, her sister, came downstairs and said, "Whose hungry?"
We all said we were hungry and she suggested we go to the local pub for lunch. We all agreed. Her dad apparently agreed that Anna would be allowed to use the large van for transportation while we were here, but Jaime would have to drive. Jaime was a year older than Anna, and was more experienced as a driver. Anna and Jaime got along surprisingly well for siblings. I knew Jaime from when they lived in L A and she was really nice and was practically like another friend. She didn't go with us to movies or eat with us, but she was the type of person I would have casual conversations with and say "hi" in the hallway.
We all piled into the large van, and suggested I sit up front with her, so I looked at Anna, and Anna didn't mind, so I sat with Jaime.
"So, how's life, Liz?" Jaime asked. Everyone in the back was having his or her own conversation. It felt weird being in the passenger's side, when it was usually with a steering wheel.
"Life is okay," I said.
"Really?"
I nodded my head, "Yeah, life is okay."
She looked through her rearview mirror and then said, "So I hear that you and Gordo broke up," she lowered her voice.
I glanced back at him. He was conversing with David. I nodded my head, "Yeah, I broke up with him a few months ago."
"Why?" Jaime asked.
I sighed. I was getting sick of this question, "It's complicated."
"Okay," Jaime said. She seemed to accept that answer, "But if you want someone to talk to about it, feel free to talk to me."
"Okay," I said.
"You know, Liz, of all of Anna's friends, I have to admit you were my favorite," she said.
"Really?" I blushed.
"Yeah. Don't tell anyone I said that, though. You have always just been an inspiration to me for some reason." Jaime said.
"I don't know how I inspire you, but thanks," I said.
"Maybe some day I will tell you, but not today," Jaime said, smirking. We pulled up into the pub.
At the pub, we all ordered our meals. I ordered a steak, and meanwhile, we all talked. Anna talked the most out of all of us, telling humorous stories of the year and all about her friends. We get to meet them on Sunday at the party. It's a birthday party.
After the pub, we went back to the Spencer house and basically did what the schedule told us to do---hung out and watched TV. They had digital cable, so we watched a little bit of everything. Jaime said if we had come a week earlier, we wouldn't have been able to watch anything except tennis, because the Wimbledon thing was going on, and Anna is still obsessed with tennis. We ended up watching things like Friends, some movie on TV, and some other stuff. I was really tired, but decided I would not go to sleep because I needed to get used to the time change. Also, during this time, some of us e-mailed our parents saying we were there safely.
Later, we went to the nearest bank and got some English pounds. Before I left, mom decided I needed an ATM card that would go to my account. Anything I spent on this trip would be paid by this account. My parents agreed to put five hundred dollars in the account to help. Anything extra would be spent with my money.
I got about 200 pounds this time, thinking this would last me at least until London. Then I would probably need more money.
After we got back, it was about dinner time, and we ate Chinese food at her house. Nothing like English Chinese food. After that, we watched a movie in the basement and by then it was nine and everyone was pretty worn out, so we decided we would go to sleep. The boys all went upstairs to the den and we girls spread out on the two beds and two couches. Jaime was sleeping in her own room, although she was invited to sleep with us.
Miranda and I took the beds while Anna and Sarah took the couches. It was Anna's idea because the couches were closer to each other and they could spend time catching up with each other. Not tonight, though. Tonight, we all went to sleep pretty quickly.
Good night!
Lizzie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Do you still like it? I think I have decided that each day will be a chapter, that way, there will be fewer chapters. Also, each chapter will not be a cliffhanger necessarily. Anyway, please review! I will try to put up a chapter tomorrow because of the one year anniversary of Lizzie Speaks What and all. Anyway, please review!