Lizzie yawned. "Stupid Matt" she thought to herself. Leave it to him to
keep her up half the night laughing with his stupid girlfriend. She glanced
at her watch.
7:20
"shit" she whispered inbetween taking sips out of her cappuccino. Graduation was in 5 minutes and she hadn't even made it to the car yet. Not that the miserable bucket of bolts would manage to carry her ass to school in five minutes. She paused only long enough to snort at the rusty old Volkswagen sitting in her driveway. Then she plopped in the drivers seat and shut the door. She started to buckle her seatbelt when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Lizzie said with detectable exasperation in her voice.
"Hey Mcguire"
"Ugh! Hey Gordo, listen can you tell Ms.Ungermeyer that im gonna be a little late?"
"Sure but umm...do you have a deathwish??? You know the Ungermeyer is gunna be pissed right?"
"Yeah I know but im doing the best I can. Save a spot for me okay?"
"Sure thing. See you soon"
"Bye Bye"
Lizzie hung up the cell phone and peeled out of her driveway. Good old Gordo would figure out something. He always did. She smiled thinking fondly of her best friend. They had always been best friends. Even in her sophomore year when things were a little weird they had still managed to work it out. Lizzie had gotten involved with Kate and began to drink heavily. One night after one too many margaritas Lizzie had climbed Gordo's terrace , and proceeded to confess some sort of love for him. This resulted in Gordo replying that he loved her too. Then they kissed. They took it a little too far that night. In only five minutes Gordo had had his hand up her shirt lazily caressing her...
"ugh just stop Lizzie", She said with disgust. After that things had become awkward around her and Gordo. They didn't talk for two months. But, once again Gordo had pulled through and they became better friends than ever. Sometimes she wonders if she really does love Gordo like that, but then she remembers who he really is. Just her goofy neighbor.
Lizzie was drawing nearer to the school. Her phone began to ring again. She looked down at the caller ID. Gordo again. "what now?" she mused. She looked up from the phone just in time to see the red jeep. Just in time to see the drivers horrified face. Just in time to hear the glass break and a strange gutteral primitive noise escape her own throat.
In the middle of the road a jeep and a cruddy old Volkswagen lay intertwined. On the ground, flung from one of the vehicles, a cell phone continued to ring. A blonde girl with blood streaming out of her mouth, ears, and nose lost conciousness. And a curly haired boy heaved an exasperated sigh, because his friend was late. He had no idea just how late she'd be.
"DAVID!!!" the Ungermeyer roared.
"WHERE IS ELIZABETH??"
"I...I...I told you already...I don't know where she is. I've called her twice and-
just then a police officer shyly poaked the stocky brunette on the shoulder.
"umm excuse me ma'am. Are you the principal of Hillridge High?"
"Yes, Yes I am, and right now I'm dealing with our valedictorian so if youd excuse me.."
"Youd better come with me", said the officer grimacing.
As soon as the officer and Ms. Ungermeyer were out of sight a spunky latina girl with flowing shoulder length curls poked Gordo in the ribs playfully.
"So what'd ya tell her?" she laughed
"Nothing yet, I just hope she gets here in time for her diploma" Gordo said, clearly worrying aloud.
"Eh, Im sure she'll be just fine." Miranda said ruffling Gordo's hair.
Gordo then turned his head to the sound of feet hurrying through the uncut grass in their courtyard. Gordo was startled at what he saw. Ms. Ungermeyer wobbling at an unsteady pace toward himself and Miranda. Her face was pale and saddened...there was something so odd about this image. Never had the Ungermeyer shown any sign of weakness, but now it looked as if she might faint. It was an image that would never leave Gordo's mind. It was like watching A strong statue crumble before him. And almost instantly, he knew. He knew something terrible had happened. And he knew it had been Lizzie. The world was spinning around him. Ungermeyer uttered his name "Gordo" she said softly, almost in a whisper. Never, in David Gordon's four years at Hillridge High had the Ungermeyer EVER called him Gordo. He couldn't hear what she had to see. He wouldn't let the terrible sound waves reach his eardrums. He crumpled over in to the grass and was soon greeted by darkness. But not before hearing words. Words like crash, and lizzie, and worst of all, two words stood out: Possibly Fatal.
Miranda Sanchez stood in shock at the news her principal was delivering the sun played off her auburn highlights and caught the tears as the fell down her face like rain on a car window. Gordo lay at her feet. His bunched up hoodie was crumpled around his face, and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
Miranda stood like this, in this surreal state for about a minute, but it seemed like an eternity. She could feel, hear and sense everything around her. The bees buzzing above flowers, Gordo's heartbeat thumping steadily on her shoe, the dry tongue licking her lips searching for something to say. Finally she jerked back to the real world. Thinking quickly she knelt down next to her best guy friend. She wiped the sweat from his brow and with as much calm as she could muster she whispered in his ear.
"Gordo, Gordo please, I know this is hard, but you need to come back to us. You need to come back so that we can go to Lizzie. We have to help her Gordo. We have to be there for her...so get your head up and lets GO!"
Gordo only stirred. Miranda decided to take drastic measures. She poured the diet coke that she had managed to keep in her hand through this whole hideous ordeal all over his face. He sputtered and jerked his body into an upright position. Miranda bet down and grabbed his hand. She looked at Ms. Ungermeyer who nodded solemnly and her and Gordo were headed toward the officer.
"Where?" Miranda asked
"I...umm...that information is..." the officer sputtered
"Where!" she demanded grabbing his arm.
Begrudgingly he muttered the name of a street near the school. Miranda and Gordo took off toward her car. She just hoped her trusty LaBaron could get them there on time. The Car sped off and the entire senior class of Hillridge High School starred quizzically at their principal.
"Kids...I have some bad news." She choked.
7:20
"shit" she whispered inbetween taking sips out of her cappuccino. Graduation was in 5 minutes and she hadn't even made it to the car yet. Not that the miserable bucket of bolts would manage to carry her ass to school in five minutes. She paused only long enough to snort at the rusty old Volkswagen sitting in her driveway. Then she plopped in the drivers seat and shut the door. She started to buckle her seatbelt when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Lizzie said with detectable exasperation in her voice.
"Hey Mcguire"
"Ugh! Hey Gordo, listen can you tell Ms.Ungermeyer that im gonna be a little late?"
"Sure but umm...do you have a deathwish??? You know the Ungermeyer is gunna be pissed right?"
"Yeah I know but im doing the best I can. Save a spot for me okay?"
"Sure thing. See you soon"
"Bye Bye"
Lizzie hung up the cell phone and peeled out of her driveway. Good old Gordo would figure out something. He always did. She smiled thinking fondly of her best friend. They had always been best friends. Even in her sophomore year when things were a little weird they had still managed to work it out. Lizzie had gotten involved with Kate and began to drink heavily. One night after one too many margaritas Lizzie had climbed Gordo's terrace , and proceeded to confess some sort of love for him. This resulted in Gordo replying that he loved her too. Then they kissed. They took it a little too far that night. In only five minutes Gordo had had his hand up her shirt lazily caressing her...
"ugh just stop Lizzie", She said with disgust. After that things had become awkward around her and Gordo. They didn't talk for two months. But, once again Gordo had pulled through and they became better friends than ever. Sometimes she wonders if she really does love Gordo like that, but then she remembers who he really is. Just her goofy neighbor.
Lizzie was drawing nearer to the school. Her phone began to ring again. She looked down at the caller ID. Gordo again. "what now?" she mused. She looked up from the phone just in time to see the red jeep. Just in time to see the drivers horrified face. Just in time to hear the glass break and a strange gutteral primitive noise escape her own throat.
In the middle of the road a jeep and a cruddy old Volkswagen lay intertwined. On the ground, flung from one of the vehicles, a cell phone continued to ring. A blonde girl with blood streaming out of her mouth, ears, and nose lost conciousness. And a curly haired boy heaved an exasperated sigh, because his friend was late. He had no idea just how late she'd be.
"DAVID!!!" the Ungermeyer roared.
"WHERE IS ELIZABETH??"
"I...I...I told you already...I don't know where she is. I've called her twice and-
just then a police officer shyly poaked the stocky brunette on the shoulder.
"umm excuse me ma'am. Are you the principal of Hillridge High?"
"Yes, Yes I am, and right now I'm dealing with our valedictorian so if youd excuse me.."
"Youd better come with me", said the officer grimacing.
As soon as the officer and Ms. Ungermeyer were out of sight a spunky latina girl with flowing shoulder length curls poked Gordo in the ribs playfully.
"So what'd ya tell her?" she laughed
"Nothing yet, I just hope she gets here in time for her diploma" Gordo said, clearly worrying aloud.
"Eh, Im sure she'll be just fine." Miranda said ruffling Gordo's hair.
Gordo then turned his head to the sound of feet hurrying through the uncut grass in their courtyard. Gordo was startled at what he saw. Ms. Ungermeyer wobbling at an unsteady pace toward himself and Miranda. Her face was pale and saddened...there was something so odd about this image. Never had the Ungermeyer shown any sign of weakness, but now it looked as if she might faint. It was an image that would never leave Gordo's mind. It was like watching A strong statue crumble before him. And almost instantly, he knew. He knew something terrible had happened. And he knew it had been Lizzie. The world was spinning around him. Ungermeyer uttered his name "Gordo" she said softly, almost in a whisper. Never, in David Gordon's four years at Hillridge High had the Ungermeyer EVER called him Gordo. He couldn't hear what she had to see. He wouldn't let the terrible sound waves reach his eardrums. He crumpled over in to the grass and was soon greeted by darkness. But not before hearing words. Words like crash, and lizzie, and worst of all, two words stood out: Possibly Fatal.
Miranda Sanchez stood in shock at the news her principal was delivering the sun played off her auburn highlights and caught the tears as the fell down her face like rain on a car window. Gordo lay at her feet. His bunched up hoodie was crumpled around his face, and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
Miranda stood like this, in this surreal state for about a minute, but it seemed like an eternity. She could feel, hear and sense everything around her. The bees buzzing above flowers, Gordo's heartbeat thumping steadily on her shoe, the dry tongue licking her lips searching for something to say. Finally she jerked back to the real world. Thinking quickly she knelt down next to her best guy friend. She wiped the sweat from his brow and with as much calm as she could muster she whispered in his ear.
"Gordo, Gordo please, I know this is hard, but you need to come back to us. You need to come back so that we can go to Lizzie. We have to help her Gordo. We have to be there for her...so get your head up and lets GO!"
Gordo only stirred. Miranda decided to take drastic measures. She poured the diet coke that she had managed to keep in her hand through this whole hideous ordeal all over his face. He sputtered and jerked his body into an upright position. Miranda bet down and grabbed his hand. She looked at Ms. Ungermeyer who nodded solemnly and her and Gordo were headed toward the officer.
"Where?" Miranda asked
"I...umm...that information is..." the officer sputtered
"Where!" she demanded grabbing his arm.
Begrudgingly he muttered the name of a street near the school. Miranda and Gordo took off toward her car. She just hoped her trusty LaBaron could get them there on time. The Car sped off and the entire senior class of Hillridge High School starred quizzically at their principal.
"Kids...I have some bad news." She choked.