Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire or anything related to it. The song 'Where Are You Now?' belongs to Michelle Branch.

Chapter 9. Where Are You Now?

"Liz?" Jay whispered, his head buried in her golden locks. She turned around and faced him. "Don't ever leave me again" She smiled and placed a sweet kiss on his lips.

"I won't, Jay. I couldn't," she whispered back. He welcomed her into his arms and sheburied herself in his warm, protective embrace. That was all they both needed. As if on a cue, her cellphone rang. Jay groaned and reluctantly grabbed it, placing it on her ear. She smiled and kissed his strong chest, before picking up. "Hello? ...Bella. Nope, what's wrong? ...Okay, I see. Well, I-I'm not sure" She glanced quickly at Jay, who had his eyes closed. "We'll talk later. Bye" Jay wrapped his arm around her body and brought her closer to himself.

"Has she got an internal clock or something? She always seems to know when to call," he joked. She managed to crack a smile and he opened one eye. "What's wrong?" Lizzie sighed and rested her head on his chest, trying hard not to look into his face.

"Bella and Gordo had a fight. She said she needs me there," Lizzie muttered. She could feel his arms tensing up. "Baby, please... She's my sister. She knows she can rely on me"

"Then go. I'm not gonna wait you forever, just so you know," he said, annoyed. She sat up on his bed and gave him a look. "Lizzie, I've-I can't lose you yet again. I'm sorry, but it pains me too much. If you're going there... then just don't come back. I don't think I could take it" Lizzie shut back tears and got up, looking around for her clothes. His saddened eyes followed her movements and he watched as she took off his own shirt slowly and carefully folded it, before putting on hers.

"Bye, Jay. I'm gonna miss you," she whispered, her voice cracking. He looked down as she turned around and left slowly.
···
That had to be Lizzie's saddest flight ever. Callie cried all the time, making Lizzie feel even worse. Ryan remained silent, his face somber. She knew he was also worried about his best-friend. They had hugged firmly before she stepped into her gate. She had spent over two weeks in New York, and actually enjoyed them the whole time. Jay had taken her in shortly after her show the first night, and they had been going steady since then. It had taken her all of her strength to reject him once again, breaking their hearts, and flying back home to her sister. She hadn't planned on any more flights anytime soon, and bus trips were just too long. Sighing lowly, Lizzie walked down to her sister's house and got in.
"Bella?" Lizzie slowly said, while stepping into her sister's bedroom. Bella walked out, looking a little paler and messier than usual. Lizzie rushed to hug her. "What's wrong, Bell? What happened?"

"I-I think I'm pregnant," Bella whispered. Lizzie stared at her, surprised.

"I thought you said things weren't going so great with Gordo," Lizzie whispered back. Bella shook her head.

"They aren't... And there's something more," Bella muttered, looking down. "I don't think it's his" Lizzie opened her mouth in shock and plopped down on Bella's bed.

"Y-You cheated on him? With who?" Lizzie asked. Bella faced her slowly.

"Paolo. I think he's the father," she confessed, breaking down into her arms.
·
Lizzie and Bella lied undercovers in Bella's, both silent. It helped them to think better before speaking, and made them feel they had each other.
"So... you're not gonna tell them?" Lizzie slowly asked. Bella bit her lip, shutting back tears, and Lizzie lied on her side to face her. "Bell..."

"Look, I'm not even sure yet, ok?" Bella said. Lizzie nodded, looking down, and Bella sighed. "I don't know. I don't wanna hurt them"

"You'll have to, you know. They both deserve to know," Lizzie whispered. Bella nodded slowly and Lizzie placed her arm around her gently. Bella rested her head on her sister's shoulder and wiped off some tears with the back of her hand.

"How did you manage to come back so quickly? How are things with Jay?" she asked in a soft whisper. Lizzie shook her head. "You didn't talk?"

"Well, we were going on great... he didn't want me to come back. He told me not to leave him," Lizzie said, before closing her eyes. Bella stared at her, surprised. "I'm tired of us always hurting each other. Maybe we weren't meant to be" They heard the front door being opened and someone walking upstairs, then standing on the doorframe.

"Hello?" Gordo's voice said. The girls pushed the covers to a side and he stared at them. "Lizzie? I thought you were in New York..." Lizzie shook her head and tucked her blonde hair behind her ears.

"I'll leave you guys alone now. I promised Callie I'd call," Lizzie lied, hopping out of the bed. She turned around and looked at them slowly. "Bye. I guess we'll talk" Gordo waved at her, then turned to stare at Bella, who evaded his eyes.
···
Lizzie got into her department and looked around, while slowly unpacking her bag. She came across Jay's shirt, the one she had been wearing earlier that same day, and brought it closer to herself, tears slowly streaming down her face. She kneeled down on the floor, still hugging the shirt, and let out a loud sigh. How come everytime they were happy she had to mess it all up? Why couldn't he see that she loved him? It broke her heart to know he felt unsure about her. She heard a knock on her door and got up reluctantly, opening it. Gordo stood there, looking down, and she stared at him, surprised.
"Gordo?" she said, then shook her head and let him in. Her voice had cracked a little. "What are you doing here?" He followed her to her couch and sighed.

"Bella's pregnant?" he said. She nodded slowly and looked at him. He ran his hand through his black curly hair. "I-I sure didn't see this coming... We've been fighting a lot lately" She nodded again.

"I know. She-She told me things aren't going so great..." she whispered. He looked at her, his baby-blue eyes lost somewhere else. Maybe it was the fact that he was feeling confused, or that she was looking specially pretty that evening, but something pushed him to try and kiss her. Her eyes opened wider and she pulled apart soon enough, getting up. "G-Gordo, I'm sorry, but you'd better leave. I couldn't do this to you, Bella, myself or..."

"Jay," he finished. She nodded slowly. "If you love him so much... how come you keep coming back?" She shook her head.

"I don't know. I wish I did," she said. "Gordo, he's the one who helped me move on from you. He showed me how beautiful love could truly be" Lizzie closed her eyes and he gazed at the shirt lying on top of her bag.

"You're right. I should better leave," he admitted. She nodded and opened the door. "Bye... Thanks for listening and sorry for what I tried to do"

"It's ok. No hard feelings!" she tried to joke. He cracked a smile and looked back at the shirt, then grabbed her arm gently.

"Just tell him, Liz. He won't know it otherwise," he whispered. She frowned as he smiled again and left. What did everyone see that she couldn't? With a small cry of frustration, she closed the door and threw herself on the couch.

End of chapter.

"Maybe I'd be better on my own
No one ever seems to understand me
It's easier for me to be alone
But there's still a piece of me that feels so empty
I've been all over the world
I've seen a million different places
But through the crowds and all the faces
I'm still out there looking for you.

Where are you now?
I'm trying to get by with never knowing at all
What is the chance of finding you out there?
Or do I have to wait forever?

I write about the things I'll never know
And I can't find a moment just to slow down
It makes me think I'll never have the chance
To figure out what it's all about
So tell me what it's all about.

Where are you now?
I'm trying to get by with never knowing at all
What is the chance of finding you out there?
Or do I have to wait forever?

Where are you now?
I'm trying to get by with never ever knowing at all
And I still don't know
Where are you now?
I'm trying to get by with never ever knowing at all
What is the chance of finding you out there?
Or do I have to wait
Or do I have to wait
Or do I have to wait forever?"

AN: Ok, I should've uploaded this on Sunday, but my PC wouldn't open Fan Fiction... I don't know what was wrong.