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Are you listening?
Am I getting through at all?
I'm trying to save you from breaking your heart.
But I know you'll take the fall.

~~Home Grown, "I'll Never Fall in Love"
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I wake up the next morning at about ten. It's a nice Saturday morning with the sun shining brightly through the window. Miranda planned on inviting Michael to dinner this afternoon. She must have left early to go tell him about it. Gordo most likely had to work today, since he fell behind in his work yesterday.

I decide to take a shower, so I gather my bath robe and undergarments and head to the bathroom.

"Oh my gosh! I am SO sorry!" I scream, as I slam the door back shut.

The door opens again and I open my eyes to see Gordo leaning against the door frame. "Calm down, McGuire. It's called a towel."

"Right," I say, still embarrassed. I shouldn't have been, though. I mean, we've both walked in on each other in the bathroom before. I guess that's always an embarrassing event.

"Whatcha need?"

I then realize how cheerful he seems, and give him an odd look. "Gordo, why are you so, happy?"

"Other fish in the sea. I'll be out of here in just a minute. You can brush your teeth or whatever."

I step inside the bathroom and set my bathrobe and underwear on the back of the toliet. I brush my teeth as Gordo tries to fix his hair, looking in the mirror over my shoulder. I rinse and say, "Gordo, I think you're old enough now to realize that your hair has a mind of its own. Give it up." I turn around and once again, I find myself standing inescapably close to Gordo. "Sorry," I say, before quickly pushing past him and out of the bathroom.

"Lizzie!" Gordo runs after me and grabs my arm. I look up at him, waiting for a response. "I have something I need to tell you," he starts, but pauses, noticing that he's still only wearing a towel. "Give me time to change. I'll be right back!" He says, flashing me a large smile.

Just then, the phone rings. I answer it, expecting Miranda to be on the other line. "Hey, sweetheart. I really miss you."

I gasp, and can't say anything for a moment. Finally, a raspy voice coughs out, "Ronnie?"

"Yeah, it's me. I'm so sorry about everything that,"

I find my voice and respond, "I don't ever want to talk to you again! You cheated on me! You, you hurt me."

"I hurt myself too, Lizzie. Please, just give me five minutes. Meet me at the French restaurant two blocks from your apartment. Just give me five minutes. I have something I have to talk to you about."

I listen a few more minutes to him, his voice once again filling my head with so many memories. I then guess at what he wants to talk to me about. Had he made a mistake? Maybe he wanted to get back together with me! I can't believe it! Ronnie wants me back! I tell him I'll be there in about twenty minutes.

Gordo comes back in the room, dressed in his usual baggy fit pants and layered shirts.

"Gordo, do you think our talk can wait an hour or so?" He looks at me, puzzled. I explain, "Gordo, Ronnie just called me. He came to New York to make things up to me. I have to go meet him at Étoiles."

His mouth drops open, and I bite my lip. "Lizzie, you shouldn't go. You shouldn't do that to yourself again."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, ya know."

Gordo stuffs his hands in his pocket and looks away from me. "This is his third chance. A man makes the same mistake twice. A fool makes it a third time."

"Oh my gosh! I'm not dressed!" I look down at my pjs, in horror. "I have to get dressed. Please, understand, Gordo! We can talk later, right?" I ask, giving him my puppy dog eyes.

"Sure. Later," he replies. "I'll be here," I hear him sigh deeply as he retreats to his room.

I know I should stay and check on him, and be a good friend to him. But right now, my future happiness is waiting for me! I know, I promised myself no more romance. But, really, I just meant no more guys who aren't Ronnie. Right? It's worth a shot at least!

I arrive at the restaurant, and there he is, sitting there as cute as ever. He waves to me, shyly. He stands up and hugs me when I get to the table. "Lizzie, you look even more beautiful."

"Thanks! You look great, too."

"There's something I have to tell you, but first I have to ask you a question."

"Yes?" I ask, smiling bigger than I have in a long time.

"Will you," he pauses, and I could just explode. "Wow, this is hard." I take his hands in mine. He looks down at them, and nods toward my right hand. "Will you possibly give that ring back to me?"

My smile collapses, as I look down at the engagement ring that I had just put on five minutes ago, thinking he wanted to renew his proposals. "Yes, of course. There's no use of me keeping it. I was actually just going to pawn it off."

He smiles and leans back in his chair. "Alright, good. Thank you so much! I put most of my savings into that ring, and now that I'm marrying,"

"You're WHAT?" I scream, jumping from my seat.

Ronnie looks around uncomfortably. "I'm marrying Ashley."

"Ashley? Is she the red head?" I ask, leaning over the table.

"Um, yeah. Actually, she use to be a blonde back in school."

I sit down, realization dawning on me. "You've known her since high school?"

Ronnie, glad about my state of forced composure, leans on his elbow on the table. "Yeah. Actually, junior high. She was the new girl."

"Ronnie, is this the same girl you dumped me for the first time?"

Silence.

"It is, isn't it."

"Look, Liz, don't blow this out of proportion."

"Oh, no. Why would I do that? You've just left me twice for the same girl, without so much as an explanation, and now you want to give her the ring you meant for me! I was suppose to be your wife! I was suppose to live happily ever after with you! ME! Not her! Don't you see?"

"Lizzie, can I just have the ring. You're causing a scene," he glances around the room, and notices everyone watching us.

"Why did you date me? Why? Why did you propose to me when you knew full well you didn't love me?"

"Lizzie, please! Don't do this to me!"

"Oh, no! Of course not! Poor Ronnie! Poor, poor baby! It's always about you, isn't it. It always has been. I was just an opportunity!" I throw the ring at him, and as if to make me even more angry, he catches it in his hand.

He stands up and walks over to my side of the table. He kisses me on the top of the head and leaves.

I watch him walk out the doors, out of my life, for the third time. I wipe my eyes. There are few things sadder in this life than watching someone walk away after they've left you, watching the distance between your bodies expand until there's nothing but empty space,

and silence.

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