Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire or the characters. Disney does.

"Why are you taking all of my clues?"

Lizzie questioned, just about fed up with Gordo.

"You're the one that wants to solve the mystery and you want Ethan to notice you. I don't think you can do both."

Well, he was right…so what? Ethan asking her to host his Murder Mystery Party was a huge thing. She had an opportunity here to finally get what she'd always wanted. And Gordo was her friend, he should want her to be happy.

"Well, you know what?" she said in a huff. "I don't think that you can play this game without being a total dirk about it."

"Too bad!" Gordo exclaimed harshly. Then obnoxiously, he continued, "Still, I shouldn't think that 'dirk' is in the vocabulary of young Penelope. You might want to brush up on that…thanks for the glass," he finished meanly, and hurried out of the room

"Gordo!" Lizzie called after him, shocked and a little hurt.

It took a moment to gather herself, before she set off after him. Seeing him standing quietly by himself near the front door confirmed it. Something was wrong with him. Lizzie grabbed him and dragged him through the living room and outside, to the back porch.

"Spot of fresh air, eh?" he started, with a lame cheerful act. "I suppose that's all very well, but it does keep one from tip-top sleuthing, what?"

"Gordo!" she exclaimed, "what is going on in there, I mean..."

"Madam, allow me to inquire as whether you recognize..." Matt, the world's biggest annoyance interrupted. He pulled out her blue pyjama pants from behind his back. "THIS item of clothing?"

"Matt! Those are my pyjama bottoms!" Lizzie screeched. And when Matt threatened to show them to everyone, she threatened a wedgie. She figured she'd won that round. But there was something much more important, that she needed to give her full attention. Figuring out Gordo was never an easy task.

"Okay, Gordo, what is going on here?"

"Well, as I understand," Gordo started sarcastically, "wealthy Lord McGuffin was murdered by one of the guests at his son's wedding."

"Gordo, I mean, what's going on with you? It's like you're obsessed with winning. I thought you didn't care anything about this." It was sometimes so frustrating to see Gordo stoop to trying to be noticed by people who didn't even matter, when he so often chastised her for doing the same thing.

"Well, I decided I wanted to win. That shouldn't worry you with your 'Nancy Drew training' and whatnot," Gordo said in that same obnoxious haughty tone he'd used all night.

Lizzie snapped, suddenly so frustrated with him that she just didn't care about helping Gordo or their friendship. "Okay, you don't have to worry about me because I am going to win this thing and Ethan is going to be impressed with me and this is going to be the best murder mystery party ever."

"And may the best man win," Gordo said, accompanied with rolled eyes.

"Have at it," she said.

"Have at it," he replied.

After much searching, and competitive glares when they crossed each others paths, Lizzie found the last clue.

"I know who killed Lord McGuffin! I've got to gather everyone and give them my theory before that lousy Gordo beats me to it."

"Tsk, Tsk," Kate said. "So very good at figuring out mysteries, but so very blind as to see what's in front of your own nose." It was questionable as to what was more strange, what she'd just said, or how kind she was acting.

Kate led Lizzie to her bed and sat her down.

"Don't you see what's happening, don't you see why Gordo's behaving this way?"

"Well, yeah, because he wants to beat me."

"Wake up Lizzie! Why does he want to beat you?!"

"Because he wants people to notice him," Lizzie said.

"That's partly it. Gordo's human, he's probably just tired of being a doormat."

"Okay, but he does not have to be obnoxious to get noticed Kate."

"Hello, he doesn't want just anybody to notice him. He wants you to notice him."

"Me?" Lizzie questioned.

"Everybody at school can tell, Gordo's had a crush on you for-like- ever!"

Lizzie felt as if she'd been smacked in the face. She felt so confused, and was so unable to get her head around that statement. "That's crazy Kate."

"You've just been busy paying attention to Ethan. Gordo thinks that if he wins, you'll pay attention to him. So why don't you do him a favour and yourself a favour. And I'll pay attention to Ethan."

Gordo…no. She couldn't even think about it. Just…no. She had to get away. "I've-I've gotta go reveal the um-killer person guy."

But it didn't matter how fast she hurried out of the room, or how hard she tried to concentrate as she stood up in front of everyone, she couldn't escape what Kate had told her.

Beside the fact that Gordo, her best friend since birth felt…-no-she couldn't even think about it. Besides that, looking at Gordo's utter disappointment at not being the winner, at not being able to impress everyone-to impress her, really wrenched at her. So, she named the wrong person, just knowing that Gordo would be the only one clever enough to put her clues together and come up with the real killer.

Lizzie stood by herself, watching everyone congratulate Gordo. She gave him a smile. Then, she considered what had happened and what it meant. She had no idea.

"So, congratulations, old chap."

"Yeah," Gordo said. "You did really well, too."

"Well, you're the one that everyone was talking about. I mean...people noticed you." She said, not knowing why she was pushing for something that she was too scared to talk about. That must mean something, subconsciously.

"Yeah, well..." He started, looking so uncomfortable. "I shouldn't care what people think. It's not that important."

She looked down and smiled awkwardly, "Well, you impressed me." The words were out, and she had no idea what she was doing. She was leading him on.

"I did? Great!... I mean-um…You're my best friend. Why wouldn't I want to impress you?"

Lizzie bit her lip, as she looked at him. My God, it was true. He looked so nervous!

"And...and you were very impressive, too. You know, with the uh..."

Usually if Gordo were this nervous, Lizzie would give him a hug, but right now, she felt just as nervous for some reason. She couldn't help the smile and the blush.

"…Stuff." Gods, that was so cute…cute?

"So," she struggled to find something to say, "I impressed you, and you impressed me. It's all good."

"Yeah," he said, as their eyes played a coy game of tag. "All systems go."

"You know, Lizzie..."

He inched closer, and Lizzie's breath caught.

"Maybe sometime we could um..."

She moved her flowers, almost as an invitation for him to come closer. That thought just added to her blush, and the rush of heat throughout her entire body.

"You know..."

He was going to say it. Oh God, she didn't know if she wanted him to. Or what she was going to do if he did.

Immediately she was relieved of anticipation when her Dad suddenly flung the door open.

"Hey, Lizzie," he said, eagerly. "You're missing the eel-cooking competition!"

"I'll be right there, Dad," she said, suddenly disappointed. Then, she did something that surprised herself even. She made solid eye contact, brought back the intimate mood and urged, "Maybe sometime we could...what?"

"Nothing. Just...you know...do this again sometime. It's your turn to win." He looked so disappointed.

"Sounds good…Um... so I-guess I-I'll see you later?" she stammered, Gordo's discomfort feeding into hers. It was like they had the awkwardness from what Gordo had been planning to do, but they didn't get the outcome (such as a date).

"Yeah, see you," he said, sounding deflated and a little angry.

"Good night." She could relax now. But she had no idea what to feel about their encounter. Gordo was her friend. Her Best Friend. That's how she'd always thought of him. Yet, why did she feel all flushed and light headed?