Disclaimer: I don't own "Lizzie McGuire" or any of the characters you recognize from the show.

Ocean Front

Previously:

"We met on the set of Ocean Front," David answered numbly, still watching "Brooke" eat. "And then- oh my god, forget it!" David suddenly snapped. "Lizzie, why are you doing this? I know it's you and you know it's me!"

Chapter 8: How Stupid Could I Be? (But You're The Only One I See)

The girl froze.

"Uh, no, I'm sorry, sir," she stammered. "You must be mistaken. My name is Brooke. I, um, probably just look like Li- the girl you were talking about."

"Yeah, with the same voice, the same eyes, and the same mannerisms," David shot back frustratedly. "Lizzie, stop it. Ok, I'll give you Brooke, that was clever, but McIntire?"

"Hey, at least I don't sleep around like somebody when they promised their girlfriend they would be faithful and love them forever," Lizzie hissed back bitterly.

"Oh, yeah, like you're so perfect, McGuire," retorted David. "I'm just a massive jerk and you're Lizzie 'I'm perfect' McGuire, or is it Brooke McIntire? I really don't know anymore."

By this time, the whole restaurant was staring at them.

"Well, finally, you got something right," Lizzie snarled. "You know, I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you!"

"You think I believe it? After eight years you just show up out of nowhere, pretending to be someone else? Maybe, maybe it's because I'm successful and life doesn't ask you if something is ok before it happens! I mean, really," David said heatedly, "how hard would it have been for you just to tell me the situation beforehand so we could talk through it like professional adults? But no, you had to go and try to fool me like I'm some kind of idiot! Lizzie…" David shook his head.

"Don't you 'Lizzie' me!" Lizzie snapped back.

"Yeah, I should just call you Brooke instead, since you're not the same girl I knew before." Lizzie opened her mouth to say something but David continued. "I mean, we grew up together, we were closer than brother and sister. Did you really think I wouldn't recognize you? I know it's been a long time, but you had to know that I'd never forget you, no matter how much time has passed. I would never forget you, your eyes, your smile…" David suddenly felt lost. "Why did you try to trick me?"

"You know what, I don't have to listen to this right now," Lizzie said quietly. "Good-bye, Mr. Gordon."

She got up from her chair and strode angrily out of the restaurant. The people staring at him had turned back to their own conversations and were undoubtedly talking about the scene that had just happened. David sunk down in his chair and put his head in his hands.

"I. Am. So. Stupid," he moaned.

Lizzie got into her car and slammed the door shut with so much force that it almost bounced open again. She threw off her wig and sunglasses and collapsed in the seat. The tears she had been holding through the fiasco at the restaurant finally erupted. Lizzie leaned on the steering wheel and cried. How could he have been so insensitive? Did he even realize that he had been the one cheating on her? Finally, her sobs diminished and she took a minute to wipe her eyes and recollect herself. She started her car and began driving, not entirely sure where she was going. She aimlessly roamed the streets for over an hour, until she found herself parked in front of a very familiar house.

Lizzie sat silently in the car for a while before she slowly opened the door and stepped outside. Everything was just as she remembered it. She felt much younger than the twenty-seven years she was. Lizzie walked up the the front door and rang the doorbell. She waited for a while, but nobody answered. Lizzie searched for the lawn gnome outside. It had been moved to the other side. She was happy to see the spare key still hidden in the same old spot inside. She dug it out and opened the door.

"Hello? Mom?" Lizzie called softly, shutting the door behind her. The house was silent. Lizzie wandered into the bright kitchen and saw a figure outside.

"Hi, Mom," Lizzie said, trying to sound cheerful. Jo looked up.

"Lizzie!" she cried, dropping her pruning shears next to the azaleas she had been tending to and enveloping her daughter in a big hug. "What are you doing here?" she exclaimed happily.

"Oh, nothing, just visiting!" Jo took one look at Lizzie and knew something was wrong.

"Honey, what happened? What's wrong?"

Lizzie knew her mom would know. Lizzie allowed herself to be ushered into the house and fussed over. Over a plate of cookies and a glass of milk, Lizzie poured out her heart to her mother. Jo listened attentively to Lizzie's lament.

"Well, you know I'm appalled at what David did to you," she replied thoughtfully when Lizzie finished. "He was wrong to do that. And he shouldn't have gotten mad at you today." Lizzie nodded fervently, stuffing a cookie into her mouth. Somehow, her mom's cookies always made her feel a little better. "But," continued Jo, "I can understand why he did get angry. Oh, Lizzie," she sighed. "Did you really wear a wig?"

Lizzie swallowed and nodded embarrassedly.

"I didn't want to have to face him again," she confessed.

"Sweetie, you know that eventually you'd have to meet again. I'm just surprised it didn't happen sooner. Ok, look. You and David have known each other your whole lives. You can't just throw that away. Yes, I know he was horrible," she said when Lizzie opened her mouth to protest, "but I know Gordo. It's not in his character to do something like that."

Lizzie thought over what her mom said.

"I guess you're right," she sighed. "I may not forgive him, but I should still talk to him. Thanks, Mom," she said, hugging Jo.

"Oh, let me get something!" Jo exclaimed, running into the bedroom. Lizzie shrugged and finished the last of the cookies.

"Happy birthday, honey! I know it's not until Thursday, and your father and I would take you out to celebrate, but we have this company dinner thing that we can't get out of. I was going to mail it today, but as long as you're here…"

Lizzie opened the envelope excitedly.

"Oh, wow!" she gushed. "Thank you guys so much!" Lizzie looked at the gift certificate for Bloomingdale's.

"What's all the commotion?" a familiar voice called.

"Dad!"

Lizzie had temporarily forgotten about David when she went out to dinner with her parents, but thoughts of him kept popping up in her mind as she drove back to her hotel room. A grin tugged on her lips as she remembered their childhood- those times on the playground and Gordo protecting her. Then there was middle school, and their first dates in high school. Then other images appeared, causing her slight smile to fade- their big fallout before they graduated; David leaving for the east coast; David with another girl. As she walked into the hotel lobby, she tried to erase those memories from her brain.

Feeling exhausted and wanting to curl up under the covers and fall asleep, Lizzie didn't notice a man walk around the corner. She crashed into him and his briefcase spilled open.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry!" she gasped, stooping down to help him pick up the pencils and papers that had tumbled to the ground. As she reached for a stack of forms, her eyes caught the name typed on the top.

"Ethan Craft?" she gasped. The man looked up.

"Yes, and you would be…"

"Lizzie! Lizzie McGuire, from Hillridge High-"

"Oh, yeah! Lizzay!" Ethan gave her a hug. "I didn't recognize you! It's been a while!"

"I didn't recognize you either!" Lizzie stepped back for a minute to study him. He still had his handsome looks but something was different. "Ethan, since when did you start wearing glasses?"

"Oh," Ethan said, pushing the bridge of his eyeglasses up his nose. "Um, well, I wanted to seem more intellectual," he whispered to Lizzie conspiratorially. "My students weren't taking me seriously before."

Lizzie nodded confusedly. Since when did Ethan use big words like "intellectual?"

"Students?" she wondered out loud.

"Yeah. Well, I gotta run," Ethan said. "I'm keynote speaker tomorrow morning, so I prepare. Hey, why don't we meet for coffee some time, to catch up?"

"Sure!" Lizzie blurted out. As they parted, she shook her head in amazement. "Ethan, a teacher!" she muttered under her breath.

A/N: Thanks for reading! (Sorry for the kinda abrupt ending). Please review! Next up: Matt and Miranda!

4