Now at last the story moves along a little faster, with the introduction of both Parker and Lizzie. I'm setting up events that will lead to Parker's Obsession, which of course eventually brings us to that day at the beach which Gordo describes to Jo McGuire in The Graduate. I've had all the ideas for this complete storyline in my head for so long, and now at last I begin to see great gaps of it getting filled in, so it's exciting for me as the writer to see it all starting to gel.

By the way, all the girls who are crushing on Gordo have now been mentioned or made an appearance. This is the extent of his "studhood." LOL!

Enjoy!

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Gordo washed up after dissecting the piglet and was in the busy hallway, heading towards the courtyard for lunch. After spending a half hour messing around in a pig's innards, Gordo was hardly in the mood for food. What made the thought of lunch even more unappetizing today, though, were Kate's odd comments implying she knew exactly how he felt about all the different women in his life. Was he really that transparent? If so, trouble no doubt lay ahead.

Gordo walked alone, deep in thought, hoping it was only, as Kate had suggested, that she had magical powers that enabled her to see things nobody else could see. He hoped that was all it was, because if anybody else should figure out---

"Hi, David."

At the sound of this peculiar, yet all too familiar voice, Gordo winced. There was no way he could pretend he hadn't heard, so he looked up, force a smile and said, "Hi, Parker."

Parker McKenzie immediately fell into step beside him. "So," she questioned. "Going to lunch?"

"Yeah," he answered simply.

"With Nicole?" she asked, her annoyingly nasal voice raising up on the last syllable.

"No," Gordo answered. "Nikki's in B lunch. So are you. You should know that."

"Yeah, that's right," Parker conceded, then got straight to the point. "So I hear she's leaving."

Gordo nodded, wishing Parker would magically disappear.

"That's too bad," Parker drawled on, followed immediately by, "So when does she leave? I mean…exactly? What day?"

"Next Saturday," Gordo said. "Directly after school lets out for Winter Break."

"So she won't be around during Winter Break?" Parker clarified, then repeated, quickly, "That's too bad."

But she didn't sound like she really thought it was too bad, and Gordo responded, "Your sympathy is astounding, McKenzie. Thanks for caring."

They continued walking, and the crowd thinned as they approached the courtyard. Gordo knew that Parker had Drama class before B Lunch, and she wouldn't be headed this way to get there, so obviously she was continuing to walk with him because she had something up her sleeve.

Oh great, Gordo thought. I can hardly wait.

In a little bit, Parket suddenly asked, "You like Green Day?"

"Sure," Gordo said, caught offguard. "Everybody likes them."

"Ever see them in concert?"

"No. But sure would like to."

Doh! Gordo kicked himself, immediately realizing where this was going.

"I've got tickets!" Parker said brightly. "You know they're coming to the Coors Amphitheater December 28. Wanna go?"

"Oh, I---uh---you know---"

"Nicole will be gone by then, David. You wouldn't be cheating on her."

"I wouldn't be cheating on her anyway, Parker," Gordo said flatly, "because if---and I stress if---I were to ever go to a concert with you, it would only be as a friend. You know what happened last time we tried to date."

"I know," Parker said lightly.

"And we're not going there again," Gordo insisted.

"Oh, I know, Silly!" Parker almost sang, playfully punching his arm. "That's not what I meant, David! That's not it at all! I just want to---to---you know, hang out with you a little…"

Gordo sighed deeply. This was difficult. On the one hand, Parker. On the other hand, Green Day. He would love nothing better than to see Green Day in concert, and at the Coors, no less! But…on the other hand….Parker….

"Oh come on!" she cried, touching his arm again. "David, it will be so much fun! You have to say yes! I can't think of anybody else I'd rather have go with me. As a friend, I mean."

"I don't know, Parker. Nicoles will only be gone a few days. I don't think I'll much be in the mood for---"

"But that's exactly why you have to go!" Parker reasoned. "It will be fun, it will help you forget your troubles. Oh, David! Please say yes!"

By this time they were in the middle of the courtyard and quickly approaching Gordo's table, where Miranda and Tudge were already seated and eating. Gordo smiled at them quickly, embarrassed to be found talking to Parker, who had caused him more than a little trouble in the past. He knew Miranda was going to give him an earful about this.

"Oh, hi," Parker greeted lazily, looking down at Miranda and Tudge. Then she once again touched Gordo's arm, giving him all her attention as she said sweetly, "Please think about it, won't you, David? I won't offer the ticket to anyone else until I hear from you, okay?"

Gordo nodded. "Sure," he agreed. "See you, Parker."

A moment later, Gordo sat down , once again offering Miranda that apologetic smile. Miranda watched Parker saunter away, then turned to glare at Gordo.

"What was Parker McKenzie talking to you about?" she hissed.

"Oh, well, it seems she wants me to go to a concert with her."

"You're going to say no," Miranda stated.

"It's Green Day," Gordo explained simply.

"Dude!" Larry exclaimed.

"I know," Gordo replied miserably.

"Gordo!" Miranda reprimanded, once again slipping back to his childhood name. "I don't care if it's the freakin' Beatles themselves, with John Lennon come back from the dead. You cannot go out with Parker McKenzie. She's evil, she's wicked. You know what she's like."

Larry knit his eyebrows in confusion. "Parker's not the devil, Miranda."

Miranda gave him her biggest eyes possible. "You don't know, Tudge. You weren't there. Besides, you're an innocent, totally spoiled by Meryl. You have no idea how wicked that woman can be. Parker is not Meryl, Tudge. Think of it this way: the body isn't even cold yet, and already Parker's ready to pounce. I wouldn't wish her on my worst enemy, never mind my best friend."

"Look," Gordo said, feeling more aggravated by Miranda's attitude than by anything Parker may have ever done to him. "I'm a big boy, Randa. I can take care of myself."

"Dave," Miranda said gently, "I'm only saying you're going to be…at a very vulnerable stage over the next several weeks, maybe months. There are some girls who might want to…to take advantage…"

As Miranda looked at Gordo, she sighed, feeling suddenly very sappy. Yes, girls would take advantage, and she wanted to protect him. But she wasn't sure if what she was feeling was a motherly instinct to defend an innocent child, or a warrior princess jealously shielding her lover against the advances of all other warrior princesses.

Gordo looked at Miranda, noted her sappy expression, and instantly felt sorry for his harsh words a moment earlier. Of course Miranda cared for him. Everything she did was only because she cared for him. He gave her a sad smile and began, "Randa…"

"Gordo…" she returned, but a moment later, she saw his eyes lift from hers, following some movement behind her in the courtyard.

"Gordo," she repeated, but by the way his eyes were stuck, Miranda instinctively knew this could be only one of two things, and Nicole was not in this lunch period.

But Lizzie was.

"Lizzie!" Larry called, waving.

"Hi, Tudge. Hi, Miranda."

"Hi, Lizzie," Miranda said, tensing up, not even turning.

"Hi, Gordo," Lizzie said, finishing up her greetings, but this one much more softly than the others.

Gordo's eyes were stuck. Lizzie approached the table, holding hands with Brad (or was it Brett?). But Gordo did not see him. He only saw Lizzie.

"Hi, Lizzie," he said quietly.

"Oh, Gordo…" Lizzie said. "I heard about Nicole, I'm so sorry. So sorry."

"I…well…yeah…" Gordo said stupidly.

"If there's anything I can do, Gordo," Lizzie offered sympathetically. "Anything at all…"

Gordo looked at her, unable to speak. God! She was beautiful. There was something about Lizzie. There would always be something about Lizzie. Try as he might, he doubted he would ever be able to break completely free of her influence.

Damn! Nicole was still here, "the body not yet cold," as Miranda had put it, and already Gordo found himself looking at Lizzie, wondering if there was any way she might be persuaded to break up her string of tall, blonde boyfriends whose names began with "Br" for a short, dark boy she could never call David, no matter how many times he reminded her.

But he didn't mind, no, not really. Lizzie could call him Gordo all she wanted. As long as she did indeed call him. And Gordo so strongly felt at this moment that no matter what else might ever happen in his life, all Lizzie needed to do was walk by and call him with that single, sweet "Hi, Gordo," and all hope would be lost. There were girls, and there were girls. And then there was Lizzie.

Gordo felt sure there would always be Lizzie.