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

A/N: Sorrysorrysorrysorry for not updating in SUCH a long time! I just felt like I needed to take a break from writing for a while, since I felt so uninspired. But then I got lazy, and my break turned verrrrryyy long. And I've been so preoccupied with graduation and everything. Tomorrow I'm driving from California to New York with my friends. Then I will be totally on my own for the first time. So scary! So I've been packing and stuff, and I just got back from Oregon- where I felt more inspired, I guess, since there was the gorgeous, beautiful, lovely, lovely ocean view, and it was nice to get away from everything for a while.

Okkkkkk, sorry, I think I'm just rambling on and on right now, so I'll wind down so you can read the chapter that I took FOREVER writing! Also, thank you so so so so much, all you people who are reading this. And also thanks soooo much for the great reviews! It's nice to know there are people who like this story! Ok, so here FINALLY is the chapter I took FOREVER writing! Thanks so much for reading!!!

Ocean Front

Chapter 11: Just one of my movies

Lizzie awoke the next morning feeling groggy and hollow. It took a while for her to realize why she felt so empty, before images of Gordo began flooding into her mind.

Lizzie raised her head to look at the clock. It was already 1:00 PM. Lizzie groaned and plopped her head back onto the pillow. She had never slept in so late since college. Mustering up all of her remaining strength, she got up.

Lizzie stumbled around, washing up and changing, almost ignoring the fact that she was wearing a sneaker on one foot and a heel on the other.

"Ok, get a grip on yourself," Lizzie scolded herself, changing into a matching pair of shoes. Lizzie picked up her cell phone and dialed her voicemail.

"You have four new messages," the robotic voice answered.

"Lizzie! It's Miranda! Happy birthday! I guess you're still sleeping, so I'll call back later! Love you!"

"Lizzie, it's Matt. Just wanted to tell you to have a happy birthday! Bye, have fun in LA."

"Honey, it's Mom. Dad and I just want to wish you happy birthday. I'm so sorry that we have to go to that silly dinner tonight! Have fun, and be careful! We love you! Call me later, sweetie."

"Brooke, it's Michelle. Hope everything is going ok. This is just a reminder that you may be able to squeeze in a few more interviews before the premiere. Try to get one with Kate Sanders. Good luck."

Lizzie let out a sigh and pondered what her next action would be. Her gaze was drawn to something on the couch. She slowly picked it up. It was David's jacket. Drawing it close to her face, Lizzie caught a whiff of his familiar smell- the Gordo smell.

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Matt was earnestly trying to work, but a certain person that was very near his office kept intruding his thoughts.

"Ok, report, report, monthly growth…"

"Matt, Hanson wants you to do these and call the new client."

Matt looked up.

"Also someone-"

"Whoa, hold on," Matt said, standing up and walking around the desk to Miranda. "Hi," he said, kissing her softly. They broke apart.

"Hi," Miranda replied, grinning.

"I couldn't stop smiling at all last night," said Matt.

"Me neither," Miranda answered. There was a comfortable silence as they beamed at each other. A noise from the computer jolted them.

"Oops, sorry," said Matt hastily, bending down and turning off the speakers. Miranda cleared her throat.

"Oh, ok, I didn't finish. This Laura Randolph person called again, said it was urgent. She sounded kinda mad." Miranda glared at him in mock anger. "Who is she? Some girlfriend you didn't tell me about?" Matt laughed.

"If I had a girlfriend, would I do this?" He leaned in and kissed her deeply.

"Matt-" One of Matt's colleagues entered.

Miranda and Matt broke apart quickly.

"So, uh, Ma…Mr. McGuire, she wants you to call her back," Miranda said, obviously flustered. "Excuse me," she muttered to Matt's coworker as she sidled out of the room.

"Uh, Brian," Matt said, nervously running his hand through his hair, "I got the memo!"

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Hearing her cell phone ring, Lizzie took a trembling breath and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Lizzie! Are you ok? You sound like you've been crying!"

Hearing her best friend's voice from the other side of the country brought out a new wave of tears.

"Miranda," Lizzie wailed. "Gordo, he came, yesterday there was, there was a fight, he came to the hotel, and, and, and then we kissed, and I told him to go, and his jacket, and I don't know what to do!"

"David kissed you?" Miranda shrieked. Even though Lizzie was crying, she marveled at the fact that Miranda still understood what she was saying through her sobs.

"Uh huh," Lizzie said tearfully.

"Oh, my god," Miranda said in a hushed voice.

"No, no, and I couldn't handle it, so I just told him to leave," Lizzie continued, sniffing. "'Randa, I don't think I can go to premiere. And they want me to get an interview with Kate Sanders too."

"Lizzie, listen to me," Miranda said firmly. "David is a jerk, and you can't not do this because of him-"

"But it's him," Lizzie pointed out, her tears subsiding.

"So? This is your one chance to move up the ladder. Just think of this as a rung you have to climb. This could very well be the one thing you have to do to make it to the top. Next week, you could be writing for the New York Times!" Miranda exclaimed. Lizzie smiled weakly.

"I wish," she said mournfully.

"Sweetie, forget about him. Ok, I know the whole history thing," Miranda cut in, hearing Lizzie beginning to protest, "but once this whole thing is over, it's over. That's it. Closure."

Lizzie was silent. "Liz, you there?"

"Yeah," she said finally. "I get you. Thanks, Miranda."

"No problem. Happy birthday!"

"I doubt it will be very happy, but thanks anyway," Lizzie replied.

"Now, none of that," Miranda warned. "Be happy, enjoy being a year older. When you get home, you will receive a wonderful present from your best friend."

Lizzie hung up the phone and sighed. Talking to Miranda did help, she grudgingly admitted. Feeling somewhat lost, she grabbed David's jacket and went out.

For a while, Lizzie drove around aimlessly, hardly noticing she was getting farther and farther away from her hotel. It was getting late by the time she made a sudden decision to turn off the highway. Lizzie manuevered through the narrow streets that she had traveled dozens of times before, and turned onto an unpaved road that was cleverly hidden by the trees. Soon, the trees diminished and the dirt melted into sand. A faded old sign read "Private Beach." She parked the car and got out.

Lizzie took a deep breath of the salty air. The wind whipped her hair and gulls cried overhead. The area was completely deserted. Walking to the water's edge, Lizzie shaded her eyes and saw a few people in the distance catching the last of the sun's rays on the other beach.

Lizzie shivered. It was getting cold. Clouds were beginning to gather in the clear blue sky and the wind was picking up. Lizzie put on David's jacket and sat down, leaning against the boulder that had always been there. It felt good to watch the sun slowly set with the sound of waves crashing onto shore; the cold water washed up to tickle her feet and legs. The sun dropped, engulfing the world in darkness.

Lizzie lied back, clutching Gordo's jacket tightly around herself, and looked at the sky, hoping to see brilliant stars. This place was full of memories. She remembered their bonfire, the time they built a sandcastle, and the time she and David had lied here, looking up at the stars.

"That one is um, Cassiopeia, I think," Gordo had said, pointing at a constellation.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Smarty Pants?" Lizzie replied, snuggling closer to him. Gordo wrapped his arms around her. "I see the big dipper," Lizzie said smugly. Gordo laughed.

"Yeah, me too," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. Lizzie craned her head up to look at him.

"I love you, Gordo."

"I love you too, Lizzie. And I will always love you, no matter what."

That was the night that they had given themselves fully to each other, coming together as one and joining with passion and lust. Gordo was so patient, so gentle, and so loving about it all.

Lizzie suppressed the urge to cry again, and instead looked back at the sky. No stars were visible tonight, but she watched as the clouds rolled, becoming gray and dark. Finally, the sounds of the ocean lulled her into an uneasy doze.

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David tried to keep a firm hold on Max's leash, but the dog yipped excitedly, jumping towards the water.

"Whoa boy, be careful, it's high tide," David admonished as a freezing wave washed up and cascaded around their legs. Max barked, looking at David with big, puppy-dog eyes.

"Fine," David relented, unhooking Max from his leash, "but be careful." He watched as his golden retriever ran around happily, snapping at gulls and yapping.

Squishing his toes in the wet sand, David shivered as a particularly chilly blast of wind whipped around him. He wished he had dressed more warmly. As the cold ocean water rose again and soaked the bottoms of his pants, David longed for his jacket. Almost automatically, he turned to look at constellations, a nightly ritual. However, a glance at the cloudy sky told David that rain was imminent.

Plopping down on the damp sand, David picked up a shell, mindlessly turning it around and around in the palm of his hand.

"What did she mean, it can't work?" he muttered bitterly, flinging the shell into the ocean. He kept replaying yesterday's scene in his head. Why did he have to kiss her? He thought he had succeeded in forgetting, but once they touched, memory after memory came back to him. The first time they kissed. The first time they professed their love for each other. The first time they made love. David almost smiled when he thought about it, lost in that memory. It had been here. On the beach. With the waves rolling and wind blowing…

A sudden gust of wind took David by surprise. Seconds later, a gigantic wave engulfed him, filling his mouth with salty water. Sputtering and coughing, David stood up angrily and began to wring out his wet shirt. However, he soon found that it was a futile task. Big drops of water began to fall from the dark sky. In the distance, he heard barking.

"Max!" he called apprehensively, peering through the rain. It was coming down so hard that it seemed as if sheets of water were falling. He raised his voice as to be heard over the storm that was now thrashing the trees violently.

"Max!" David shouted. Unable to see more than a few feet in front of him, David hurried towards the sounds of insistent barking. Finally, he saw Max's faint outline, moving excitedly around something.

Seeing his master, Max eagerly jumped to greet David. David bent down to pet Max's wet and matted fur.

"Hey, boy," David said, wiping off some of the water from his face. "Hold on, what's that?" he murmured, looking towards the water. He squinted through the rain and made out something in the water. "Hey! Isn't that my jacket? Wait…"

"Oh, my…" he said in shock. Someone was in the water, getting swallowed up by the churning waves. Without hesitation, David ran down the sodden beach and waded into the icy water. A blonde head was bobbing up and down yards away him. Even though his legs felt numb from cold and rain was still pelting him, David took went deeper. The water rose up to his chest, but the girl was still a few feet from him. He saw an enormous wave coming and braced himself.

When it passed, David searched frantically for the person. For a minute, he saw nothing. Finally, the head bobbed back above the water. Abandoning all forethought, David jumped into the water and swam towards it. After a few seconds of overwhelming darkness, he felt a body. Surfacing, David gasped for air.

"Please, please, please let this be the way to shore," David prayed silently, struggling to keep both the girl and himself above the turbulent water. He strained to see a sign of land through the overcast storm. Finally, his feet met land, and he pulled the girl onto the sand. Even though he was exhausted and frozen through, David gathered himself and turned the girl on her back. He realized who she was.

Paralyzed for a moment, David regained his senses when Max pulled in his pant leg. David pulled back the girl's wet hair and felt for her pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just unconcious," he mumbled. "Ok, here we go. I can't believe I'm doing this." Although David was shivering and freezing, he mustered up his strength and gathered Lizzie's limp form into his arms. "Come on, Max," he said to his dog, and they started through the pouring rain to David's car.

"Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie," David mumbled. "I feel like I'm in one of my movies."

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AN: Please review!!!