We don't need no education....

Thursday:

*Sits with my friends in our last class before lunch, all of us wondering how much longer the teacher is going to be talking. Eventually I end up turning my thoughts back to the subject the teacher is trying to explain to everyone except Gordo, yawning slightly because I was up a little later than I wanted to be last night into this morning. Something that the teacher doesn’t fail to notice*

World History Teacher: Miss McGuire, is there something about my telling of the story behind one of the more recent events in global history that bores you?
No.
World History Teacher: Well then, is it okay if we get back to what was being discussed?
*At that I just nod my head, too afraid my next words from my mouth might make things worse than they just were*

Later during lunch:

Miranda: Will you quit worrying Lizzie? I’m sure that whatever it was that your boyfriend was going to ask you is nothing major. Think about it, when has it been a big deal with him, as far as anything he wants to ask is concerned?

Gordo: *after sitting down when he has walked out of the cafeteria* I was just wondering how to divide the rest of the chores that the study group has to tackle
Me, Miranda: Oh. Well hopefully that matter will be taken care of before the first test might be headed our way
Yeah sure, whatever, probably will get dealt with by the weekend, one of the 2 days that we have away from here
Miranda: Lizzie? What’s wrong?
Nothing. Why?
Miranda: Well normally, someone doesn’t go and mistake applesauce for butter when they apply it to the slice of bread they might use to eat with the chili

[Toon Lizzie]: Way to go. Go and revert to the ‘airhead cheerleader wannabe’ a little more often why don’t ya? [Fade] oh. Sorry. My mind was elsewhere just now. *And luckily, the bell that tells us its time to go back and think about school, as opposed to eating,sounds before anything else can go wrong*

Later, my house, after school:

*Sits on the couch reading one of the textbooks that I need to read more than the others when my mom walks in and spies Gordo inspecting it as closely as what I am*
Mom: Lizzie? Is there something wrong? You two have been awfully quiet in here.
*Looking up* hmm? Nope nothing wrong mom
Gordo: Trust me Mrs. McGuire, I think I would know, around the same time that you do, if there was a problem with anything I was trying to explain to Lizzie
Mom: Okay you two, I’m going to trust you. *At that she leaves and returns to the kitchen*

Gordo: Anyway Lizzie,about the rest of the tasks that we need to deal with,pertaining to the study group. What are we going to do about that?
*Twirls a few strands of hair around one of my free fingers while looking at one of the pictures in the chemistry textbook* uh huh,yeah,sounds like we need to work on that as well
Gordo: Earth to Lizzie, please respond so we know Lizzie is okay.
Huh? Sorry
Gordo: Its okay. Really. So what do you think we should do? Ask Miranda if she might have any ideas?
Sounds good to me. Well, since we got that problem out of the way, what now?

Gordo: I don’t know. What do you suggest we do McGuire?
I have no idea. Other than maybe going someplace a little more private to study, before my brother gets home from school, and it gets hectic in here. *At that I stand up and walk into the kitchen to see if my mom is busy, which she isn’t*
My mom: Lizzie is there something you needed to speak with me about?
Yeah. Would it be okay if Gordo and I went upstairs to study? Not that you have to say yes or anything, I just didn’t want to be in the way when Matt gets home

My mom: You know that’s not a good idea Lizzie. There is a lot of distance between your room and here. What if Matt were to walk past and see you doing something that you aren’t supposed to be doing? Then there is the whole concept of you liking to keep your door closed when you are studying.
Mom, please. I think I can be trusted enough not to start ‘making out’ with my boyfriend where you would know about it
My mom: Lizzie! Don’t even joke about something like that!
I wasn’t kidding mom. I wouldn’t go and mess up, thereby giving you or dad a reason not to trust me anymore, especially if I wanted to have some quiet study time alone with my boyfriend
My mom: Well I would hope that you wouldn’t go and make a mistake that would cause us to not trust you again young lady.
So can I?
My mom: I suppose. Just try to keep it down will you? You know how your brother hates when he is unable to do his own homework.
Got it. *At that I head back into the living room*
Gordo: So what did she say?
She said yes, provided we keep it on the quiet side.
Gordo: Well lets’ go then McGuire. *Which we do a few minutes later*

My room,a little later:

Gordo: *after seeing one of my magazines lying open on my bed, and the model in it* Whoa, she’s hot looking. You think that you’ll ever do anything like that Lizzie?
*Blushes and scoops up the magazine, closing it as I do so* what are you, crazy? I could never look like that in a million years and we both know it
Gordo: Oh come on Lizzie, you aren’t fat or anything.
*Blinks* I thought you didn’t like talking with me, as far as ‘girl stuff’ was concerned
Gordo: Things change. Besides, isn’t a given that I would try to make you feel better about your ‘body image?’
I suppose. Sorry if I over-reacted
Gordo: Think nothing of it. So, are we going to study or not?
Sure, might as well.

Slightly later:

Gordo: Anyway, there doesn’t seem to be anything you might need help with Lizzie. So I guess maybe I should be heading home now?
If you’re done helping me, maybe you should. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with your parents or anything
Gordo: Before I go though, just one, no two questions?
Okay. Shoot. What are they?
Gordo: Do you think maybe you will, at some point in our relationship, dress like that one model?
Gordo! How could you ask me such a thing?
Matt: *calling out from his room so he can be heard* Hey keep it down will you?
Sorry Matt! *turns back to Gordo* I think now is where you leave
Gordo: Maybe I should be going home at that. I’ll see you at school Lizzie.

~Not if I can help it~ *just like that, he’s gone. My boyfriend. Without so much as a glance back over his shoulder as he walks out of my room, down the stairs, and exits the front door. Predictably, my mom shows up when he is gone and uses the old ‘oh I’m just looking for dirty laundry’ excuse to see if she can pump some information out of me*
My mom: Lizzie, you okay? Gordo left awful abruptly.
I’m fine. He just wanted to get home so he wouldn’t be late for dinner is all
My mom: Okay. Well I’ll leave you alone now so you can maybe have a chance to talk to Miranda on the phone before we have dinner
Thanks mom.
My mom: Don’t mention it sweetie.

*And just like that she too is gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Thoughts that have me wondering if maybe Gordo was on the right track, as opposed to me, when he asked me what he did before I got all upset and practically ordered him to leave. Before I can dwell on it very much I simply shrug it off and head over to my bed, flopping down on it so I can call Miranda. After I do, only to find out that she is preoccupied with something of a crisis of her own, I just tell her that I’ll talk to her after dinner, then hang up so we can both have some peace and quiet*