The next thing that Lizzie pulled out of the box was a miniature golf scorecard. It was from their first real date after they'd confessed their feelings in Rome. Lizzie smiled remembering how nervous Gordo had been when he'd asked her out on a date for the first time. They were sitting side by side on the airplane home from home. Although both had admitted to one another the feeling they had, they weren't sure how to proceed. Were they supposed to act like they always had or what? For the first few hours of the flight each was just delighted in the knowledge that the other liked them back. Finally working up the courage Gordo turned to Lizzie and stuttered, "S-so, um, maybe when we um, get back home, we can um, go out sometime?"
Lizzie grinned over at him and said, "I'd love to, but aren't you forgetting something? I'm grounded for the rest of the summer, remember?"
Clearly disappointed Gordo continued, "Well, then, as soon as you are not grounded, do you want to go out sometime?"
"Like on a real date?" Lizzie asked, butterflies making wild loops around her stomach.
"Um, yeah," Gordo said shyly.
"Sounds perfect," Lizzie said as she grinned lopsidedly.
In another attempt at courage Gordo reached out and held onto Lizzie's hand. They were reluctant to let go at the airport when each spotted their parents. Before they separated they drew together and Gordo whispered, "Don't forget about our date."
Lizzie whispered back, "Not in a million years." She kissed him gently on the cheek before they went their separate ways. Both sets of parents noticed, realizing that what they had been waiting for was finally starting.
It was a long summer for both Gordo and Lizzie. But due to her good behavior and lack of whining over her punishment, Jo and Sam decided to let her off early. Two weeks before school started Lizzie was free and the first thing she did was to call Gordo and ask when he was free for their date. They decided on the next evening.
Miranda sat on her bed as Lizzie prepared for her date. "So, let me get this straight," Miranda asked, "I go away to Mexico, miss the class trip and you and Gordo get together?"
"We didn't get together. We finally professed our feeling to each other," Lizzie said.
"And you kissed him," Miranda reminded her.
"Yeah," Lizzie said dreamily. "What do you think I should wear?"
"You know, you could wear a burlap sack and Gordo would drool," Miranda said.
"Whatever. Please help me. Do I go casual and just wear jeans and a tank-top or should I wear a nice sundress or a skirt?" Lizzie said.
"Wear your new suede skirt, that is kind of dressy and kind of casual at the same time," Miranda suggested.
"Great idea. Thanks Miranda," Lizzie said.
"I just have one question," Miranda said, "Who am I supposed to hang out with now that you guys are going to be sucking face all the time?"
Gordo picked Lizzie up in his car and nervously they proceeded to the miniature golf course. Gordo paid for her and the played the first few holes in silence.
"Why are we so nervous?" Lizzie asked, "We've been friends forever, it shouldn't be that different."
"It shouldn't be, but for some reason it is," Gordo said, "I don't know why you're nervous, but I'm nervous because I spent so many years hiding the fact that I liked you and trying to impress you so that you'd like me too, that now I just don't know what to do."
"Let's just try to be ourselves." Lizzie said, "So what did you do this summer?"
"Let's see, I hung out with Ethan a few times, worked on my movies and mostly I thought about Rome and our date," Gordo said, blushing.
"Well, then we have something in common. While I was locked up in my room all summer I thought about Rome and our date too," Lizzie said.
The rest of the date went pretty smoothly, they found things to talk about and managed to keep their nervousness at bay. After mini golfing Gordo took Lizzie out for ice cream and he insisted on paying for that too. The drive back to the McGuire residence was quiet.
"I hope he kisses me," Lizzie though, not wanting to be the instigator again.
"I hope she'll let me kiss her," Gordo thought remembering the rooftop kiss in Rome.
When they pulled into the driveway Lizzie said, "Do you want to come in for a minute, I have something for you."
"Sure," Gordo said.
Lizzie took Gordo up to her room, which seemed weird this time, even though he'd been in there a million times before. "So," she said, "Isabella sent me a package," she motioned to crate sitting next to her desk.
"Holy cow," Gordo said, "What was in there?"
"Isabella sent me two of every newspaper and magazine that my picture appeared in after the IMA's," Lizzie said.
"Wow," Gordo said as he started looking through a few of the publications. As he paged through and looked at the pictures of Lizzie, he remembered how amazing that night was. Lizzie was awesome on stage, he'd been so proud of her.
"So, most of the pictures in all of these are the same, but there was one that was different and really kind of special, so, since I got two I want you to have one too," Lizzie said as she handed him a glossy tabloid magazine. The headline across the front page read, "Isabella Look Alike in Love?" Below the headline was a large photo of Lizzie kissing Gordo up on the roof.
Gordo grabbed the tabloid out of her hands and said, "Oh my gosh, is that us?"
Lizzie smiled and nodded, "So, what do you think?"
"Well, I think it's a little embarrassing having your first kiss with someone published on the cover of a tabloid," Gordo said, "But other than that, pretty cool."
"Well, maybe the next time can be more private," Lizzie said as she moved closer to him.
Catching her drift he held her hands and leaned in for a kiss. Intending for it to be short and sweet, Gordo was surprise when Lizzie deepened the kiss. But by no means did he protest. When they finally pulled away from one another, slightly out of breath, Gordo said, "Well, me may be nervous around each other now, but that certainly makes up for it." Lizzie giggled and pulled him back in for another. Jo broke them up a few minutes later and sent Gordo home.
It hadn't been the most amazing date ever, but because it had been their first official one, it would always remain special in her heart. She added the scorecard as well as the tabloid to the hatbox and shut her eyes again to retrieve another item from the box.
Author's Note: So, now that I have started on this I am really on a roll! I hope people are liking it, please review and let me know. And, yes, eventually it will be revealed as to why she it going through these things, for now sit back and relax and read!