"Roberta!" Mrs. McGuire screamed as she engulfed my mother in a hug. Mom hugged her back just as fiercely. The men grinned shook hands, and slapped backs. I stood off to the side waiting for this little celebration to end. I wanted them to move already so I could go upstairs to see Lizzie. Fortunately I didn't have to wait long.

"30 seconds? More like 45."

I looked up in the doorway and saw a smiling Lizzie leaning against it with her arms across her chest.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself."

"Don't I get a hug?" I asked.

She squeezed in-between our parents who were the only things standing in the way. When she reached me, she didn't throw her arms around me like I expected. Instead she stood before me, with one hand cocked on her hip. She was obviously waiting for ME to act first. I sighed in exasperation and held my arms open.

"What?" she asked.

I laughed. "C'mere."

She just laughed as I threw my arms around her in a huge bear hug. I kissed the top of her head, stepped back, then ruffled her blonde hair.

"Hey!" she protested. She socked me in the shoulder.

"Ow," I rubbed my 'fatal wound'. She had actually become a whole lot stronger. I didn't know why this had surprised me so much. We stood there for several long moments until I noticed she was examining me. It felt a bit awkward, but I couldn't help but indulge in those brief moments. She was obviously as curious about me as I had been about her.

I looked down at myself then back up at her. "Am I pretty enough for you?"

"If I said yes would you be offended?"

"Why would I be?"

"Because boys aren't supposed to be pretty."

I only grinned. "Okay I'll give you that one, McGuire."

"Have you talked to Miranda yet?"

"Nah, we just got in today. I actually was planning on surprising her at school on Tuesday."

It took her a moment to comprehend what I had said. "Oh! Your going to Hillridge?"

"Well...yeah." Wasn't it obvious?

"Oh, duh!" she smacked her forehead with the heal of her hand.

"Kids, c'mon inside!" Mr. McGuire was waving me and Lizzie inside the house. After the door closed behind us my parents practically mauled Lizzie. My mother kept saying the same things over and over. Oh, you've turned into such a beautiful young lady. Or, you have such gorgeous hair. And my favorite, Howard look at that sparkling smile.

My amusement was cut short when Mrs. McGuire pulled me into a hug. "Gordo I can't believe how much you've grown! Look at him Sam! I remember when even Lizzie was taller than you." That was an embarrassingfact I'd rather forget.

She took both my hands into hers and held me at arms length, examining me the same way Lizzie had. "And your hair!" she almost sounded horrified. I had to laugh. I had went to the barber's shop the day before we left New York. I was just about the get the usual when a sudden impulse hit me. I knew my life was about the change again, so I thought why not another change? Couldn't hurt. My hair was shorter than ever, but there was still acurl here and there. When I had returned home my mother shrieked whereas my father just beamed at me. He said it made me look more mature.

Mr. McGuire decided to swoop in at that point. "Nice to have you back Gordo. Good thing too, we need someone watching out for Lizzie and Miranda at the high school. They trail more boys than I can count."

Mrs. McGuire swiped her husband's shoulder. "Stop trying to incorporate Gordo as your own personal spy."

"Well look at your daughter, Sam." my mom said. "I can see why there'd be so many boys. I bet you have to fight the boys off with a stick, don't you Lizzie?"

She merely laughed and shook her head. Just then the front door swung open. Matt entered. And to be frank, it was quite obvious that he was going through his awkward stage. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. It wasn't exactly a favorite time in anyone's life.

"Matt!" Mr. McGuire appeared excited. "Look who's here, buddy."

He peered at me, trying to place my face.

No such luck.

He then looked at my parents and then it clicked. His eyes immediately shot back to me. His whole face lit up. "Gordo!" We slapped hands then he ran upstairs claiming he had something to show me.

I looked to Lizzie. "He's not gonna like play a trick on me is he?"

"I'll just let him surprise you himself."

The parents had moved to the kitchen and were talking amongst themselves.

"So..."

"Yeah..."

This was exactly what I had feared. Awkward silences. Any silent, awkward moments with my former best friend were so far and few in-between. The thought disconcerted me.

"So what made you decide to come back?" Lizzie asked suddenly. The question had come out of nowhere and I wasn't sure I had heard her correctly. Her expectant eyes told meI had heard right. I was about to respond when Matt came bounding the stairs.

"Check it out." Apparently he had developed a fetish with filming as I once had. My chest swelled with pride. Lizzie seemed to read my thoughts and said "just wait until you see what's on those tapes."

He hooked up the camera to the television and showed me a few cassettes. In short, it was Matt going around the town playing practical jokes on unsuspecting strangers with his friends. And here I thought I had inspired him. Nonetheless it was entertaining to watch. If it was aired on television I'm sure I'd be an instant fan.

"Matt!" Lizzie warned him in a low voice. I looked back and noticed our parents making their way back into the living room. He quickly shut the camera off and switched the channel to regular television. He obviously didn't want his parents to view his borderline illegal antics. Wait! Lizzie helping to keep Matt out of trouble? My things had changed.