DISCLAIMER: Lizzie McGuire is Disney’s property. Be careful. Disney’ll bite you if you get too close.

CHAPTER 10: SING THE LEAVING SONG

The sun was just starting to rise as I left the tree house and headed back home. I quietly snuck in and packed a bag with clothes. I took some money I had been saving up from work and left.

I sat in a bus that was heading to Los Angeles. I was going to do the whole Hollywood thing again. I thought that it was worth another shot and if I failed at least I wouldn’t be near anybody.

My head leaned against the window and I felt like I was in a terrible, exhausted state. My eyes burned, my stomach felt empty, and my head ached, but my mind wandered far too much for sleep to come. I felt like I was in limbo – not really awake but not asleep either.

“Is this seat taken?” asked a voice. I turned and saw a pretty woman, about my age with black hair clutching a bag and pointing next to me. I shook my head no and she sat down. She ruffled her bag and clothes until she was comfortable in her seat and she looked over at me.

“Jesus, you look like hell” she said to me. I guess the bags under my red eyes, pale skin, and unclean hair was a lot worse than I first thought it was. “What happened to you?” she asked me.

“It’s a long story” I said, not wanting to talk about what had occurred.

“Okay, okay. I’m Miranda by the way” she said, sticking out her hand for a handshake. Despite my clamminess, I shook her hand back. The bus revved up and started to leave the depot, heading away from the town and towards California.

“I’m David, but call me Gordo.”

“Alright Gordo, now that we know each other, can I just suggest something?” I looked at her.

“Go ahead.”

“You’re pretty sexy, even in your little congealing state right now, but you’d be way better looking if you smiled.” I looked at her and cracked a grin. “See? You’re so hot right now” she said, smiling herself.

“You’re not bad looking yourself” I said. I didn’t know what I was doing, but it was better than saying nothing.

“Oh, signs of life? Good to know that Gordo isn’t totally dead inside.”

She was right. At least I wasn’t TOTALLY dead inside. I looked out the window, watching the town fade away slowly. This would certainly be an interesting trip, no matter what the outcome would be.