A/N Ooh another chapter! Hard to believe I got around to updating this...but oh well. Read it and see what you think!

Lizzie

I know this may sound incredibly cheesy but as soon as I stepped out of the van I couldn't help but feel like I was stepping into a new world. I guess I just had a feeling, even then, that High School would be a whole lot different then the sheltered world of elementery and middle school. Kind of like stepping out into the real world I guess.

I couldn't help but look over at Gordo who was standing next to me. The corners of my mouth automatically turned up at the sight of the sun glinting of his dark messed up curls. It felt weird to look at him like that. It felt weird to notice those tiny little details that had always been there but had become increasingly obvious in the last few months. To tell you the truth it kind of scared me a little as well.

"Nervous, Mcguire," he asked, meeting my eyes and interupting my thoughts.

"Aren't you," I asked him.

"Not a chance."

"Do you honestly think I wouldn't be able to see past your act after fourteen years," I asked him, crossing my arms across my chest.

"No not really but if you hadn't known me for the past fourteen years would it've worked."

"Hmm...probably not," I replied, laughing as he pretended to be insulted.

"You guys done," Miranda asked, something strangly similar to bitterness in her voice. I watched as she started walking towards the large brick building, already half way to the doors. Ever since she'd gotten back she'd been acting upset. Jealous maybe? But that didn't really seem to fit. I mean it was like she was no longer comfortable around Gordo and I. I don't think we changed that much over the summer. I mean, yes things did happen but it wasn't as if we'd shut her out. I'd been really looking forward to Miranda coming back from Mexico but now it just seemed to add a few more confusing twists and turns to an already complicated situation.

"Do you think she's mad at us?"

I shook my head slowly, as Miranda reached the steps of the school, causing a sinking feeling in my stomach. It was only the first day of High School and we were already splitting up. I'd always imagined us facing the first few defining moments of High School together but maybe that was just too much to hope for.

"I guess we better go," I said to Gordo. He returned my gaze but didn't say a word. He just reached out and took my hand as we started walking through the crowd of students to our first day at Hillridge High.

---

By the time my first free period roled around I was already home sick for the familiar, not to mention shorter, halls of Hillridge Junior High. Everything seemed bigger. Bigger school, bigger classes, bigger kids...bigger feelings too.

I managed to find my new locker after only five minutes, twirling the nob to the right numbers and breathing a sigh of relief as it clicked open. I replaced my books within seconds and then wondered what I'd do for the next hour I had until English started. I grabbed my purse and decided to check out the canteen, which was supposed to be at least half way decent. As I stood in line, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around and realized that it was none other then Kate Sanders, my former best friend. Would she ignore me? Insult me? Be nice to me? She was surrounded by her posse, Claire, Brooke, Alicia, Kristen, and Michelle, so I figured I'd soon find out.

"Hey, Liz," she smiled. I scanned the faces of the other girls, the calm pleasant smile still fixed on my face, looking for a sign if this was for real or not. They had been nice to me in Rome but still...

"We're not gonna bite you know," Kate said, smirking in a relatively friendly way. I laughed a little. So far she was the same Kate I remembered back in sixth grade but two years of her playing the role of "Bitch Queen Extraordinaire" had taught me a few things.

"You sure," I asked, feeling a little taller then my current height of five foot one.

"Do you honestly take me for the kind of person who would apologize to anybody? You're pretty cool Mcguire and I think it's time to grow up...we're not in Junior High anymore," she replied. I knew that she was sincere and maybe it was worth a try. But she was right, we weren't in Junior High anymore...maybe it was time to put the past in the past and get over it.

"You're right, it's kind of stupid to keep up this whole enemy thing. I mean in Rome we were quite a force to be reckoned with." I agreed.

"Yeah, and you two basically dominated the sixth grade," Claire added with a grin.

"First sixth grade and now High School," Brooke joked.

"Next thing we know, they'll be ruling the world and we'll be their lowly slaves," Michelle chimed in.

I couldn't help but giggle as the rest of the girls made a big deal of pretending to bow down to us as we walked through the halls aimlessly, talking and laughing. Kind of like old times. All the girls seemed to welcome me back. Except for Brooke. I mean she's always been pretty quiet but she seemed like she was uncomfortable. Maybe it was just me. As my first free period came to an end Kate pulled me aside.

"So...you and Gordo," she asked. I had definately seen this coming.

"What do you mean," I replied, trying to look innocently confused.

"Oh like I didn't see you guys walking into school holding hands, and I was in Rome you know," Kate said, crossing her arms over her chest. Busted.

"I dunno...that was just cause I was nervous."

"I am so sure," Kate laughed.

"Well we've barely talked since Rome," I told her, sadly.

"We'll have to fix that now won't we. I'll come up with something, don't worry," Kate said confidently, as the bell rang. I walked to class wondering if she could be right about Gordo and I. Hoping she'd be right about me and Gordo.

A/N Okay well if you hadn't noticed, this chapter is in Lizzie's point of view. I was in a bit of a block and I needed to get a good view on the whole Gordo plot as well as introduce Kate and the rest of the girls into the story. I may try a few more chapters in her point of view...but then again I may not. Either way I hope to get lots of reviews to see how I'm doing.

PS BTW, if Jennifer10 happens to be reading this...I'm STILL waiting for an update on "Junior Year"! lol