I know I said I was going to wait until I'd finished writing this before I started posting, and I'm only about halfway through, but I can't wait! I'm excited about this story.

For those who may not know, this is part of my "Gordo Series," coming directly after Love Finds David Gordon. It would probably be that much better if you are familiar with the events that lead up to this story, but you could definately read this story on its own and follow it with no problem whatsoever.

If I don't post again in the next few days, here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Delightful Kwanza. Peace!

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David Gordon opened his wallet, pulled out a tattered copy of his 10th grade English class reading list and peeked inside the folds. Yep, it was still there. One condom, in a bright blue glossy wrapper. Just in case.

Not that he really expected anything to happen tonight, but it didn't hurt to be prepared. He had never been a Boy Scout, but he had the Boy Scout mentality. Be prepared.

And in the spirit of being prepared, he brushed his teeth one more time and gave himself a final squirt with Old Spice before slipping into his jacket and heading out the front door.

The place: The Holy Rigatoni, the nicest restaurant within walking distance from his house. The Girl: Nicole Hesselman, the most beautiful girl in the entire 10th grade class, and the sweetest girlfriend imaginable. The occasion: their anniversary celebration. It was exactly one year ago today that they had gone out on their first date, and ever since then it had been David and Nicole, Nicole and David…as it had never been Lizzie and Gordo in middle school.

In middle school Gordo had eyes for no other girl except Lizzie McGuire, but during their first term of high school, Lizzie had made it plain to Gordo that she considered him nothing more than a "brother." With his heart broken, Gordo had been fortunate enough to have Nicole come almost immediately to his rescue, picking him out of the pit of despair. But Nicole was so much more than a replacement, an alternate, a second choice. They had spent a wonderful year getting to know each other better. He wasn't exactly sure what love was supposed to feel like, but if this wasn't it, then it was surely something close.

And now, tonight, during this dinner at The Holy Rigatoni, Gordo hoped to remind Nicole of how many times she had said "I would never take it to the next level until I've been with someone at least one full year."

Gordo arrived at the restaurant and put his name on the list, then went outside to wait for Nicole. Generally they would have hooked up earlier and spent the afternoon together, but today she had a "family thing" and told him she would have her dad drop her off in front of the restaurant by seven o'clock Gordo checked his watch. It was seven o'clock now. He sat down on a bench, restlessly swinging his feet as he waited under the bright lights lining the busy sidewalk.

The next level…the next level. What did that mean? He knew what he thought it meant, and when he asked Nicole, she had blushed to a deep crimson and only said, "You know… doing more…stuff…"

Nicole was a good girl, a respectable girl, and Gordo had always respected that. Hearing her restrained response , Gordo did not pursue the issue. He knew the time would come for them, if only he was patient. After all, they were only in tenth grade. He was aware that some guys that were already "doing it" or at least claiming to, but the voice of reason told him in many ways fifteen was way too young for all that emotional commitment and responsibility.

However, he reasoned, looking down the street, searching for the arrival of Nicole's family van, if there were any two fifteen year olds more emotionally committed to each other, those two were Nicole and himself. And as for being responsible…well, he pulled out his wallet one more time, checking the folds of his tattered tenth grade reading list.

He was in fact looking directly at the condom when from the corner of his eye he saw the silver minivan pull up in front of the restaurant. Quickly, sheepishly, he returned his wallet to his pocket, and stood up to greet Nicole as she disembarked. He waved to Nicole's father, receiving a wave in return, but tonight there was no conversation between them, though Gordo had come to feel quite sure that Mr. Hesselman thought him a suitable boyfriend for his only daughter.

Mr. Hesselman drove away and Nicole came directly into Gordo's arms, hugging him fiercely.

"Hey, hey!" he laughed, running his hands over her long silky hair. "Calm down there, girl!"

"David…oh, Davey, " Nicole said. "You know how much I love you, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. Of course I do, Nikki. What's wrong? What's going on?"

He pulled her back and looked at her. She had been crying, that much he could tell. "Nikki," he repeated softly. "What is it?"

"Family issues. I'll tell you all about it. Inside. Let's go in and we'll sit and we'll talk. Did you get us a table?"

"We're on the list," Gordo said. "It shouldn't be too long now."

As they went in the hostess said, "Gordon? Your table is ready," and they were led to a quiet booth in the back. Nicole slid in on one side, Gordo on the other. The waitress approached and began to recite the daily specials. Gordo held up a hand and asked, "Nikki, do you want to try something new, or just the usual?"

"The usual," Nicole said quietly, and David ordered for both of them.

Alone at last, Gordo looked across the table at his girlfriend who appeared about ready to cry again. He took her hands in his and said, "Okay now. Tell me what's going on."

"Oh, Davey…it's terrible!" Nicole exclaimed in distress. "It's the absolute worst thing I could imagine. I don't know how I'm going to be able to get through this. I don't want to do this. You have to understand this is not my idea, not at all, my parents are forcing me to do this."

"To do what? Nikki, look at me. To do what?"

Nicole lifted her head. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Well," she began quietly. "You remember how last summer my family made me go with them to Minnesota to visit my aunt and uncle? You remember how awful that was, being apart for so long?"

"I remember," Gordo said. "But we made it through. We're still together, Nikki. What is it now? Winter break? Do you have to go away for the holidays?"

"Worse!" Nicole bawled. "We're leaving over winter break. But we're not coming back. We're going to Minnesota to live there! My uncle has a job for my dad. They're going into business together. It's supposed to be really good for us as a family, we're going to make so much more money and be able to go to the very best schools, and everything is going to be just peachy, yeah, just peachy, but…but… Davey, I have to leave! And I'm not going to see you any more, except maybe once in a while if we come back down for a vacation, but who knows when that might be…"

Gordo sat for a moment, stunned, feeling like his guts were somewhere outside his body, on the floor, and his brain was spinning out of control about to crash through the ceiling. He couldn't move. He couldn't do anything but sit there and listen to Nicole weeping, her hands held over her face.

David and Nicole. Nicole and David. Only not any more. David Gordon felt his world turning inside out. Everything had been going so well, and now…and now…

The only thing Gordo could think at the moment was, Oh, crap! Life, as I know it, is over.