Chapter 14

-----The Next Day at School--------

Lizzie sees Miranda and Gordo at their lockers at school. "Hey guys."

"How are you? You didn't call." Gordo kisses her on the cheek.

"I wanted to, but things were so crazy, and I had to think."

"That's okay. Miranda filled me in."

"Hope you don't mind," Miranda appologizes. He called me right after you left."

"It's fine." Lizzie frowned.

"Hey, Lizzie!" Kate sneers. "Heard you and Gordo 'got it on'! When's the baby due?" Her posse laughed and walked off.

Lizzie turns a bright shade of red.

"Come on, Lizzie. Let's get out of here." Miranda guides her and Gordo away from Kate.

"How'd they know? Did you guys say something?" Lizzie cries.

"No." They reply in unison.

Kate walks back over to the trio, "Oh, and by the way, I know your little secret."

Lizzie looked at her in shock.

"I was in the ER because I broke my finger. I was in the next curtain and heard the whole thing." She waves her broken finger in Lizzie's face. "So, who's the slut now?"

Miranda slaps Kate across the face. "No one calls my best friend a slut."

Kate shrieks, "You're gonna pay for that! Just you wait, Miranda." She shoves her and walks off.

"I don't think so. You leave my girlfriend and my good friend alone." He pulls Kate back.

"Get your grubby hands off of me! They get you in trouble."

"Stop now, Kate," Gordo warns.

"Or what, you'll knock me up too?"

"Don't go there! I mean it!"

Kate looks the trio over. "It's not worth it! Losers!" She walks off.

"Thanks, guys," Lizzie sighs.

"Anytime, mi amiga."

"I'm glad the school year's almost over. I don't think I could take a whole school year of Kate ragging on me."

"You know we're here for you," Miranda reminds her friend.

Gordo takes her hands, "I love you, Lizzie, and no matter what Kate says, you're the love of my life and I love that you're having our baby."

"Oh, Gordo!" Lizzie melts into his embrace.

----Back At Home------

Lizzie returns home from school, slamming the front door behind her.She storms into the kitchen and slams her books on the counter. "How was school?" Jo greets from the other room.

"The taunting has officially begun," Lizzie replies, disgusted.

Jo walks into the kitchen, "What happened?"

"Kate happened."

"Oh?"

"She knows, mom! She knows!" Lizzie cries into her mother's arms.

"Tell me what's going on." rubbing her daughter's back.

"Kate broke her finger. Mom, she was in the ER, in the next bed, and heard EVERYTHING!"

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry."

"Mom, what's worse is that I thought she really changed in Rome, but she's still the same mean Kate."

"I wish I could make this go away, but I can't."

"I know. This isn't the way I imagined being pregnant with my first child would be." Actually, I've never imagined being pregnant! I'm just a kid myself!

"This isn't the way I imagined having my first grandchild either."

"I'm sorry Gordo and I got in this mess."

"I know, but your dad and I will help you through this."

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too." She pulls back and looks Lizzie in the eyes. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure mom, what is it?"

"I'm sorry, but I overheard you and Matt yesterday. Is it true that Gordo proposed to you?"

"Yes, it is."

"The two of you are only fifteen. You're too young to get married."

"We're also too young to have a baby, but here we are," Lizzie replies, a bit irked.

"I don't mean to upset you, but marriage is a permanent commitment. I'm not sure that you're ready for marriage."

"I know it is. I haven't told him yes. I want to, but I've got enough on my plate."

"Have you given any thought to how you're going to raise the baby? Is Gordo going to be involved?"

"Mom, don't start. Gordo wants to help raise the baby. After all, he's the father."

"How do you know he'll be there after the baby's born, or when it's three, or...?"

"Look, I've known Gordo since I was one day old. We've been friends forever, and I've never known him to walk away from a difficult situation. I don't know how we'll make this work, but we will."

"I know you will. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and when you set your mind to doing something, you do it."

"Thanks, mom," Lizzie replies, giving her mother a hug.

"You're welcome, sweetheart."