GORDO

I walked into the gym after school. I had to tell Kelsey about the date change. Lucky for me, volleyball practice was just ending.

The team was gathered together sitting on the floor getting a talk from their coach. He finished talking and they all stood, and the minute Kelsey saw me she ran up to me.

"Gordo!" she said smiling. "Hi!"

"Hi, Kelsey," I replied. "How was practice?"

"It was OK. I'm glad you're here. Wanna go out and get something to eat?"

I was just about to say yes when I decided it may not be best. I'd been hanging out with her a lot, and a break wouldn't be a bad thing. Besides… I had to study. I was barely holding on to my A average.

"I have to get home," I replied. "Sorry."

"That's OK. That's not such a bad idea, anyway. I don't think my parents would mind seeing me every now and then."

I smiled. "But, uh… is it OK if we change the date to Wednesday?"

"Sure. Why, what's up?"

"Well, I was thinking of meeting Lizzie and Miranda there if that's all right with you."

Kelsey didn't look thrilled, but her smile was still there. "Oh – sure."

"Great. I'll see you then."

"OK!" Kelsey gave me a peck on the cheek and went to the locker room.

I blinked. That was the first kiss that was ever exchanged. It felt good. Well, Gordo my man, I thought. It looks like you have an official girlfriend. I smiled as I left.

~*~

Wednesday after school I walked out with Lizzie and Miranda. I figured I owed them some of my time before we ate, so I'd told them we could study together at my house until it was time to go. Miranda seemed surprised, but happy. I was glad that she accepted right away. It looked like she was willing to forgive me for blowing her off.

Studying went well. We got stuff done, yet had time to joke around and be friends again.

"What time do we have to leave?" Lizzie asked.

"Um… maybe now," I answered, looking at my watch. It was 4:50. It would take us about 5, 10 minutes to walk there.

"OK."

We got up and Miranda and Lizzie put their books in their bags and we headed out the door. I was excited to see Kelsey again, but I didn't dare mention her. I'd worked hard trying to get Miranda to forgive me, and I wasn't about to blow it.

Fortunately, I didn't have to mention her. Miranda did that much, which surprised me. "Was Kelsey OK with the switch?"

"Yeah," I replied. "She was fine. And I told her that we'd be eating with you and Lizzie and she didn't mind that either."

"Thanks, Gordo. I'm sorry I blew up before."

"That's OK. You had a right to."

We walked the rest of the way in silence, but it wasn't awkward silence. It was comfortable. Everything seemed perfect. I had a nice girlfriend, my friends back, and had a fun, productive time. Nothing could ever be better.

Well, until I found out about Kelsey.

We got there at 5 on the dot. She wasn't there, but I didn't mind. "I guess she's running a little late," I said.

We sat down and talked for a little while. We ordered, and at 5:15 she still wasn't there.

"She'll be here," Lizzie told me. She knew that I thought something was wrong. "She probably just forgot the time. Maybe she thinks it's 5:30."

"Yeah," I said. But I didn't agree. Somehow, I knew she wasn't coming.

At 5:45 Miranda was ready to leave.

"I hate to say this, Gordo, but I don't think she's coming," she said. "Let's go."

"Wait till 6," I replied, still hoping that she just got the time wrong or something.

"Gordo! I'm not going to wait till she's an hour late. If she's that late, she doesn't deserve you, anyway."

"Please," I begged. "Fifteen more minutes."

By 6:30 Miranda had left, and Lizzie was sitting with me. Both of us were bored out of our minds.

"Gordo, she isn't coming."

I sighed. "Are you sure?"

"Am I sure? We've been sitting here since the beginning of time."

"Are you going to leave like Miranda?" I asked, dreading the answer.

Now she sighed. "I don't want to leave you here alone, but I don't want to sit here till midnight, either. Come with me, we can hang out."

"I'm staying here until at least 7," I replied.

"You're kidding, right?"

I shook my head.

"Well… are you sure you told her Wednesday?"

"Yep."

"Clearly?"

"Yep."

"Well, I hope she comes yet tonight. But I can't stay anymore. This is driving me insane. Sorry." She got up and left.

I stared at the glass in front of me, feeling low. I was really starting to like Kelsey. A lot. Heck, I was ready to kiss her myself. But… she wasn't here.

"So this is what being stood up feels like," I muttered. Then I groaned. "Great. Now I'm talking to myself."

I stayed at that table until 8. Finally I left. Part of me still hoped that maybe she didn't understand that it was changed somehow, or maybe got the time wrong and was waiting for me at 4 or something, but deep down I knew she'd meant not to be there. Now I had no girlfriend, and it sure felt like I had no friends. They didn't wait for me.

But then, could I blame them? I was amazed that Lizzie waited with me as long as she even did in the first place. Still, I felt awfully lonely.