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

"Very handsome."

He knew that she was just giving a friendly compliment, he knew that he shouldn't read into it. But he'd be lying if he said that comment hadn't made his heart skip a beat. "You think so?"

Gordo turned the page in his newly acquired yearbook, spotting a photo of Lizzie, "Hey! Look! It's-ooh-um-nevermind-don't look-" he covered it with his hands.

"What?!" Lizzie grabbed his hand, tearing it away.

"Great, it's in print what a klutz I am."

He almost said, everyone already knows you're a klutz anyway, but figured it wouldn't go over well. Instead, he came up with, "Well, no one falls to the floor quite as gracefully as you."

And apparently he'd scored and avoided a huge Lizzie drama when she smiled and said, "Thanks!"

They continued flipping through the pictures, reminiscing, when Tudgeman appeared. Heh Tudgeman.

Gordo smiled as he heard what Lizzie wrote in his yearbook. She cared so much about material things that it would be easy to miss how kind hearted she was. She had given the biggest loser in school a chance, to see what he was like inside. It gave Gordo a grain of hope that one day, she'd give him a chance.

At a mention of Larry being the only boy that truly liked her in junior high, Gordo almost snorted in the absolute irony. For one, Larry hadn't even truly liked her- it had just been a crush. And second, the person sitting right next to her more than truly liked her, he was absolutely infatuated with her.

The thing was, how could she know the true irony if he never got up the guts to tell her.

But, "What about that Ronnie guy?" he threw out, as if vaguely recalling the name, rather than having thought about them as a couple a million times in total jealousy and longing.

She didn't seem too happy at his random input. Luckily, she was called away to sign another yearbook.

Gordo sighed, his mind still on Ronnie. Or rather, on a moment, the first moment when he'd started to confess his feelings and then chickened out. Looking back on it, he was probably right that time. Lizzie had been hurt, and as glad as he was to see Ronnie as history, he'd honestly felt awful and sick to see her so upset. She would have run a mile if he'd told her his tentative new feelings back then.

She would run a mile now, Gordo thought. Which is why he still hadn't told her.

But what if she didn't?

"Gordo! Are you okay?" Lizzie asked, making him aware of the fact that he was banging his head against the railing.

Thinking about how much his head hurt now, he answered stupidly, "Oh-uh-yeah, I'm fine. Just-a little headache."

But what if she didn't? Gordo, filled with momentary courage had an idea, "Sign your yearbook?"

"Sure, it better be good though."

"It will," Gordo answered.

Gordo spent every minute of the day and night thinking about what to write. To decide to reveal his true feelings would be such a risky thing. First on his mind, what if Lizzie didn't feel the same way. His embarrassment would forever be scribed in junior high history in Lizzie's yearbook. But, it would never happen if he didn't try, and he refused to start high school without at least knowing for sure that he tried.

He wrote rough draft after rough draft. Most either too rambly and self conscious, or too mushy and over-sentimental.

Finally he settled on something, mainly showing his appreciation for her friendship in his life, but also hinting at the addition of more. He hoped it reminded her just how good they were together, thus how good they could be together. He also hoped it wasn't too pushy and wouldn't scare her.

Dear Lizzie,

We've been best friends for as long as I can remember. I can honestly say I wouldn't be the person I am without you and your friendship. There's nothing to be afraid of if we have each other. We've shared everything together and so I feel I should share this with you. I really, really like you a lot and I think you're beautiful, both inside and out. I'm your friend always, and I hope, more…if you want. Regardless, I will always be by your side.

Gordo.

Once the ink had dried on the pages of the yearbook, Gordo felt nervous and panicked. He held it in whitened knuckles and kept rebuffing Lizzie's requests for her yearbook so others could sign.

The moment that he stepped away from it, he saw Lizzie pick it up, he was her start to read it, and he saw her start to smile. From his discreet perusal, he saw her hand cover her mouth in surprise and astonishment. Emotions flashed across her face: astonishment, disbelief, fear, wonder, panic and excitement.

Shouts for congregating for the class photos took Gordo's focus. He moved over, stiffening awkwardly as Lizzie stood beside him, their shoulders brushing. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, too embarrassed to meet her eye. She seemed the same.

Then as the photographer yelled 'say cheese' and the camera flashed, a soft press of lips brushed his cheek. His heart skipped a beat and then started again double speed. His skin burned, centred at the place her lips had been. He froze, in absolute shock.

Lizzie had just kissed him.