Chapter Seven

The Library

Lizzie and Matt walked over to the library. Lizzie was quiet the whole way there. She knew Gordo understood, but she hated canceling on him, especially for her worm of a little brother. She looked over at Matt. He was busy kicking a rock down the street. He looked kind of sad, actually. She felt bad for him at that moment. He wasn't the worst little brother in the history of little brothers. Sometimes, he could be... cool. Right now, he needed Lizzie. And she intended to be there for him. Sure, they fought a lot. That's what brother and sister do.

"Matt, are you okay? You've been quiet the whole way to the library, and you didn't even call me lizard breath once..."

Toon Lizzie: "Ok… maybe I went too far… lets not encourage the little twerp."

"Yeah, I'm fine… I'm just worried about school. I've always done really well in school. And now… well, my grades are slipping and if I don't bring them up, mom and dad will ground me until I do. "

"Don't worry Matt, I will help you with your English assignment, and I promise you will bring your grades up."

"Thanks, Lizard breath!"

Matt smiled at her.

Now, he really felt awful. Lizzie was a good sister. She was also a good friend. There must be something that she did to Miranda that made her so angry though. Miranda was a reasonable girl… she didn't go around getting mad for no reason. He hoped. He had a big crush on Miranda… but he didn't like hurting Lizzie; much against popular belief. Right now, Matt didn't know what to do. He just had to stick to the plan, and hope for the best. The up side to all of this was that Matt really was having trouble in English class. He figured at least if he was lying to Lizzie, there was some truth to it. They arrived at the library a few minutes later.

"Ok… I have to write a... po-em." He said that word like it was the plague. Lizzie loved writing poems. They were so romantic!

Toon Lizzie: "I LOVE poems. This will be fun!"

"What kind of poem do I write?"

"How about a love poem?"

'"Ewww… gross. Matt McGuire is not writing a sappy love poem, no way."

"Fine… what DO you want to write about?"

"Um…? Pizza?"

Toon Lizzie "My ode to Pepperoni..."

"I have an idea… why don't we go get a big book of famous poems and study them. I'm sure we will come up with something."

"Okay… I will go look for some. You stay here, and write down any ideas you think of."

"Deal!"

Lizzie would much rather sit there and think about Gordo. "My love is like a red red rose..." Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted because there was Gordo. He was walking up the stairs, heading for Lizzie's table!

Toon Lizzie: "AW! He came to the library just to see ME! That is so swee----"

Toon Lizzie was cut off.

Following Gordo up the stairs was Miranda!

Toon Lizzie: "what is going on here? ---And why is Miranda with Gordo? What is that girl up to?"

Matt saw Miranda and Gordo too. Then he saw the expression on Lizzie's face. She was anything but happy. Matt felt really bad at that point; after all, it was his fault that Gordo and Miranda were there. When Lizzie was getting ready to take him to the library he had snuck upstairs and called Miranda. He explained to her off as to where he and Lizzie would be, so that Miranda could make up an excuse to get Gordo to the library with her, so that Lizzie could see them together. Matt watched as Gordo and Miranda made their way up to Lizzie's table. Gordo and Miranda obviously didn't see Lizzie right away. They were about to pass the table she was sitting at, when Lizzie spoke up.

"Gordo, Miranda? Hey guys!"

Gordo gave Lizzie what he hoped was his best "I-will-explain-later-" face. Lizzie understood. She knew Gordo wasn't sneaky or underhanded, but Miranda certainly was.

"Oh, HEY Lizzie." She greeted casually.

"Hey Miranda. What are you two doing here?"

Gordo spoke up a little too quickly.

"Oh, Miranda needed some help with the Marine Bio assignment. We have to draw a diagram of the ocean floor, and label it. And we also have to identify all the properties of a wave. You know… the crest, trough, wavelength…----"

Toon Lizzie: "Gordo's rambling. He always rambles when he is nervous! --Wait, do I make him nervous?"

Toon lizzie smiled.

"Uh, that sounds cool guys. Well, if you want, we can share this table."

"Sure… um, let me go get some books, and I will be right back."

Miranda walked away.

Lizzie and Gordo both make sure she is at a safe distance before speaking again.

"GORDO! What's going on?"

"I'm so sorry Lizzie. I didn't want to come here with her. But she showed up at my HOUSE. She said she needed help with the Marine Bio homework. She suggested the library. I would have stayed at my house, but I left my Marine Bio book in my locker. It's weird. In class, Miranda seems to know all the answers, and now, she is playing a helpless student.

"I'll bet she is… Gordo, she is up to something, a I fully intend to find out what!

"Just please be careful. I don't want you getting hurt. "

He gave her a sweet smile, and then he looked around making sure no one was watching. Gordo wrapped his arm around Lizzie's waist and pulled her close for a quick kiss.

Toon Lizzie: "Thanks… I needed that!"

"What was that for?"

Gordo smiled.

"What? Can't a guy give his girlfriend a kiss without getting the third degree?"

Toon Lizzie giggled: "Girlfriend. I can NEVER get tired of hearing that word especially coming out of Gordo's mouth!"

"THIRD DEGREE?" she faked, "I'll show you third degree mister!"

Gordo took off running, and Lizzie chased him down a long corridor of books. It was really dark back there. Lizzie caught up with him and pinned him to the bookshelf. Her hazel eyes sparkled wickedly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long, sweet kiss.She could feel his heart beating through his shirt.

Toon Lizzie: "Holy Guacamole!" That was an amazing kiss. Lizzie and Gordo were both left breathless.

"Um, not to ruin the moment, but… if we don't hurry back soon, Miranda will probably send out a search party. "There was truth to Gordo's words.

"Yeah… you're probably right. Lets go."

She smiled at Gordo, and squeezed his hand. They went back to the table just as Miranda was heading back too. The three sat down and got to work. Matt eventually came back with one poetry book and fourbooks on magic tricks.

Toon Lizzie shook her head.

"Matt! I thought you needed poetry books?"

"Hello? And what do you call this, The Betty Crocker Cookbook?" He said, holding up a copy of the best of Robert Frost."

"Ugh! Ok… lets just get this over with, okay?" Matt: "Fine by me, Lizard breath."

Lizzie smiled at him.

Even though he could be the biggest pain in her butt, he was still her little brother and she loved him. She just may never tell him that! Gordo and Miranda were deep in thought, working on the diagram of the ocean floor. Their heads were really close together. Lizzie didn't like that one bit. Miranda scooted her chair closer to Gordo, explaining that she was blocking the aisle. Lizzie caught Gordo rolling his eyes at Miranda when she wasn't looking. Lizzie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, too late, Miranda saw her.

"Lizzie… what's so funny?" She asked curiously.

Gordo started to laugh.

"Oh, nothing... it's just that I was thinking about that time that you leaned your chair back in the school library and you fell backwards!"

Toon Lizzie: "Horrible save, McGuire… but it will have to do."

"Um… Lizzie…that wasn't funny… I could have cracked my head open!"

Gordo burst out laughing which made Miranda even angrier.

"GORDO?"

"Sorry… sorry, it was funny though."

"Whatever, lets just get back to work----please?"

"Of course!"

He and Lizzie exchanged looks that both said "PHEW!"

They finished up all their work rather quickly, and they were just getting ready to leave.

"So, um…. Miranda, you still want to go to the mall with me? "

"Sure... ok. Lets go." She said reluctantly.

"Hey Lizzie, do you want me to walk home with Matt, since the mall is in the opposite direction of your house?"

"Thanks, Gordo! Yeah, that would be really nice of you!"

"No problemo, come on squirt lets go." He said, slinging his arm around Matt.

Matt pretended to be annoyed.

"Hey, don't call me squirt!"

"Matt, you are the only person I know who is shorter than me. I've got to say it to someone!"

Matt laughed.

He liked Gordo. Matt and Gordo headed for home, while Miranda and Lizzie headed for the mall. They all walked down the stairs to leave when Lizzie felt someone squeeze her hand.

She looked up at Gordo and he pretended to be interested in an imaginary piece of lint on his shirt. He finally looked down at her and smiled. Gordo silently held up his hand to his ear, mimicking talking on the phone and mouthed the words "call me?" Lizzie smiled and gave him a thumbs- up sign. They all exited the library and headed for their intended destinations.