Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire or the characters. Disney does.
Gordo groaned as early morning yellow sunlight hit his face and a far too cheery voice sung, "Wakey, wakey kids, time to get up."
"Wh-time-s'it?" Gordo groaned, rolling over and burying his face in his pillow.
"It's nine thirty, and we wanna get down to the beach in about an hour. Lizzie, c'mon, wake up. Don't be too long kids."
Gordo sat up, rubbing his eyes, and took a peek over at Lizzie's bed to find her still pretty much asleep. "Lizzie." He smiled as she grunted and tried to hide. He slid his legs out of bed and rest his bare feet on the floor. "Lizzie," he called again, louder.
"What?" Lizzie started grumpily, before frowning and peering out of half closed eyes, "Gordo?"
"Yeah, it's me. C'mon, your mom said we're going to the beach soon."
"Gordo?" Lizzie raised herself up on one elbow and peered at him, "What are you doing in my room?"
Gordo smiled in amusement, and at how adorable she looked all sleepy, her hair and clothes all mussed. "I swapped with Matt remember."
"Oh, yeah," Lizzie said slowly as she woke up completely. She vaguely brushed some tangled hair out of her face, and then realised how ridiculous she must look. She hastily smoothed down her hair, redoing her ponytail. She glanced down, noticing that the pyjama top she wore was pretty skimpy. She blushed, yanking the covers back over her chest.
She finally looked up at Gordo to find him looking at her strangely. Then, she threw back her covers, "Um, I'm going to get dressed- for the beach- in the bathroom."
She knelt over her bag and hastily grabbed at her bathers and some random clothes. To her horror, as she yanked them out, a stray white bra flew out and landed by itself on the floor. She kept her gaze resolutely away from Gordo as she snatched it and stuffed it back in her bag.
By the time she closed the door to the bathroom she was about as red as anyone could ever possibly get.
Gordo sat there uncomfortably, and then decided that he may as well put on his board shorts while Lizzie was in the bathroom.
After a while he heard Lizzie call from the bathroom, "Gordo?"
"Yeah?" he called back.
"Are you- are you decent? Can I come back in?"
Gordo sat down on his bed, and called out, "Yeah, I'm good."
Lizzie cracked the door open, peering around it. When she saw Gordo fully clothed, she smiled awkwardly and stepped out.
Gordo had to stop himself from choking in surprise, but he couldn't stop himself from staring dumbly. She wore a rainbow striped halter tankini and a short white skirt. Sure, it wasn't exactly revealing (this was Lizzie) but it brought a few things to Gordo's attention.
He'd only been focusing on how much he liked her as a person, and how pretty she was, but now he realised that he was very much…attracted.
Lizzie blushed, feeling the stare, and grabbed her towel and her thongs. "Ready to go?"
"Yep," Gordo jumped up from the bed and followed Lizzie downstairs.
They arrived at the beach under the perfectly hot sun. "Alright, all you kids make sure you have sunblock on."
"Mom did mine at home," Matt said as he raced off into the surf.
Lizzie sat down on her towel, grabbing the bottle, asking Gordo, "What about you?"
"Oh, I did it when I was waiting for you to get out of the bathroom," Gordo teased as he sat down also, flinging off her thongs and digging his toes into the sand.
"Ha. So, it's just me."
Gordo tried not to stare as she rubbed lotion into her legs and chest. But when she got to her shoulders, and started struggling, he couldn't very well not say something.
"Um, would you like- me…?" Gordo motioned to the bottle.
Lizzie looked at him strangely as she practically dislocated her arm trying to cover her back. When Gordo took the bottle, she realised, and blushed, "Um, thanks."
Gordo crawled around behind her, poured some lotion into his palm. He watched her gather her golden hair and move it out of the way. He lowered his shaky hands to her smooth bare skin. He rubbed it all over her back above her top, and over her shoulders. He noticed her shiver in reaction. His own hands tingled from the sensation of her soft skin.
"All done," he choked out, going to sit on his own towel, hoping against hope that Mr McGuire hadn't seen them.
"Thanks," Lizzie squeaked, hugging herself and biting her lip. Who would have thought that Gordo would be touching her so intimately, making her feel so shaky. Not friend Gordo, but boy Gordo. She thought that him having been her best friend, all this would feel safer. But it didn't. It all felt dangerous, and new. This was all so confusing. It was a rush, but she still wasn't sure whether she actually liked the rush.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Gordo stood before her, offering his hand, "You coming in?"
"Oh, yeah," she grabbed his hand. After he helped her up, she'd expected him to let go as per usual. Instead, they held hands all the way into the water.
Lizzie felt self conscious, as if every single person at the beach was staring at them, judging them.
She was able to relax, when, after a while, Gordo stopped touching her, and they were playing like friends in the waves. Lizzie laughed hysterically, when, for the hundredth time, Gordo was dumped by a wave and came up spluttering, his hair plastered over his eyes.
"Oi, you can stop laughing at my pain any time now," Gordo said, pouting, and looking even more pathetic.
Lizzie let out one more giggle, smiling at him innocently. "Me? I'd never laugh at you!"
Gordo rolled his eyes fondly, "Yeah right. More like it's one of your favourite hobbies."
Lizzie giggled and smiled at him.
The movie finished and Mrs McGuire announced that it was bed time. She asked her husband to go make sure Matt went to bed properly.
Lizzie stayed seated, happily still squashed against Gordo's side on the couch.
"Right, Lizzie, sweetie, could I talk to you?"
Gordo took a moment to understand and then jumped up, "I-think I'll head off to bed."
"Goodnight Gordo," Mrs McGuire said gratefully.
Once Gordo was gone, her mom sat down beside her on the couch and cleared her throat. Lizzie's heart dropped as she recognised what was going on. This was a 'serious discussion'. Lizzie hated serious discussions- they usually meant something embarrassing.
"Listen…Lizzie, I think we should have a little chat."
"Wh-why? What about?" Lizzie asked hesitantly.
"Well…after watching the two of you, even after you said-. look, your dad and I, we're worried that you've gotten yourself into something you're not ready for."
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
"You said that you and Gordo are not going steady?" Her Mom started tentatively.
"No, of course not!" Lizzie blushed horribly.
"Oh…but today you looked very…close. And I did walk in on the two of you-"
"Mom! Oh my God! No, we haven't even kissed, okay!?" Lizzie hissed in outrage.
"You- but I saw…?"
Lizzie buried her burning face in her hands, groaning a muffled, "That was the only time it was close. Apart from that, we just hold hands."
"Okay. Regardless, you need to know that just because you have a boyfriend, does not mean that you should start doings things. You're still young, you have many years ahead of you where you can do whatever you want- after you turn 21. I just want to make sure you understand this."
Lizzie grunted, still hiding her face in embarrassment.
"Lizzie?"
Lizzie looked up, "Yes, okay."
"Cause you're still too young to have to deal with-"
"I'm not too young! All the girls at school have had a boyfriend!" Lizzie retorted.
"I don't care about the girls at school, I care about you."
"Don't you trust me?"
"Lizzie, of course I do. But can I trust you to make the correct decisions in an adult situation? No."
Lizzie glared at her mother.
"Being alone with Gordo in a closed off bedroom is a situation that can present some opportunities to get ahead of oneself, and have one thing lead to another. I'm wary about the fact that even heavy kissing and touching will be overwhelming for you at your age."
Lizzie sunk into the cushions, wishing it would swallow her up.
"Some day you'll understand…I just want you to enjoy being young, happy and carefree."
"Is that all?" Lizzie questioned bluntly, and hastily escaped when her mother nodded.