Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire or anything related to it. The song 'Shadow' belongs to Ashlee Simpson.

Chapter 3. Shadow

3 years later, at school (they are in 3rd grade):

"Here you are, kids. I want this tests signed by your parents," the teacher said. Bella looked at Lizzie.

"What did you get?" she asked. Lizzie smiled.

"98! And you?" Lizzie asked as well.

"69… I don't get Math!" Bella complained. "Gordo?"

"100…" he said, smiling.

"I got 87 and Kate got 85," Miranda said.

"Maybe you need a tutor," Lizzie suggested her sister. Bella shook her head.

"Mom and Dad are very busy with Matt now," she said.

"Maybe Liz can help you," Kate suggested. "She's almost as bright as Gordo, plus it would be easier"

"Yeah, whatever;" Bella muttered before shutting her folder closed and getting out of the room. She walked to their next class, History, alone. Later, her friends joined her. Kate was chatting with Lizzie and Miranda was following them. Gordo was surrounded by Parker McKenzie, Brooke Baker and Claire Miller.

"Everybody has crushes," Kate was saying. "It's a rule" Lizzie shook her head.

"I do not have a crush on Gordo!" she protested.

"But Parker and Brooke do," Kate pointed. "Randy likes Danny and I like Ethan. Whom do you like? And you, Bella?" Bella was staring at Gordo and didn't pay attention to Kate. "You like Gordo!"

"No! Gordo's my friend!" Bella yelled.

"I hope you studied for your quiz, kids!" Bella's lip began to quiver. She had forgotten about it.

Half an hour later:

"97!" Gordo exclaimed.

"72," Kate said. "Randa got 76"

"I got 89!" Lizzie said. "Bella?"

"53…" Lizzie smiled at her sympathetically.

"Why is Lizzie always better than Bella?" Kate asked. Bella's eyes began to fill with tears and Lizzie hugged her. "Lizzie always gets better grades, and is more popular and-" Gordo cut her and squeezed Bella's hand.

That night:

"What is a crush?" Bella asked Lizzie while studying.

"Well, you like a boy and think about him all the time," Lizzie explained her.

"Do you have a crush?" Bella asked.

"Boys are icky," Lizzie said. "Except Gordo" Bella nodded, thinking.

"I am thinking about a boy all the time… do I like him?" Lizzie nodded.

"Who? Is it… Cody? She asked. Bella shook her head.

"Not gonna tell"

End of chapter.

"I was six years old
When my parents went away
I was stuck inside a broken life
I couldn't wish away
She was beautiful
She had everything and more
And my escape was hiding out and running for the door

Somebody listen please
It used to be so hard being me
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
My chains are finally free
Don't feel sorry for me

All the days collided
One less perfect than the next
I was stuck inside someone else's life and always second best
Oh, I love you now 'cause now I realize
That it's safe outside to come alive in my identity

So if you're listening
There's so much more to me you haven't seen
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally see
Don't feel sorry for me-

Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now
Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now
Oh, my life is good
I've got more than anyone should
Oh, my life is good
And the past is in the past

I was living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
I'm living in a new day
I'm living it for me
And now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally see
Don't feel sorry for me
Don't feel sorry, don't feel sorry for me
Don't feel sorry, don't feel sorry for me

Living in, living in, living in the shadow
Living in, living in, living in a new day"

AN: Not that good chapter… Next will be better, I promise! (Yay, I didn't write it!"

Hotchic12: Yeah, he might appear… we're not sure yet.
Masamor99: Maybe not that soon, but…

To all of you: I updated in my last day before school cause I felt I needed to. We'll only have weekends to work in this, so I thought I owed you... Hope you like it, cuz you'll have to wait a little.
XXX,
LGFever.