A/N: Hey! There are a couple quotes from "Someone Like You" in this chapter, so I just wanted to acknowledge that. If you have time, please review. I'd appreciate it mucho. Hope you enjoy! ~tawny
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When I've almost had enough
Something about you draws me back again
When I've almost given up
Something about you pulls me in
And we're falling
~Mindy Smith, "Falling"
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A few moments later, Gordo joins Miranda and I in the living room. Gordo and Miranda are sitting on the couch, and I stand in front of them, as if making a speech. "Here's the thing. Before I found out Ronnie was cheating on me, the second time, I was engaged to him." I view my friends faces. Miranda has a look of total surprise, while Gordo's expression just darkens. "He proposed, and I accepted. A couple days later, I found him with that girl. I broke off the engagement. When Ronnie called yesterday, I thought he wanted to apologize, and wanted to marry me again. Really, he just wanted the ring back so he could give it to Ashley." I collapse in the recliner, staring blankly at both of them, trying not to cry.
"So, you were engaged to Ronnie?" Miranda asks. I nod. "And why didn't you tell me this in the first place?"
"You were on that business trip, Miranda. And after that, I just couldn't stand the embarrassment of it."
Gordo sits up, leaning over his legs. "And why didn't you tell me? I was home, wasn't I?"
I look across the room at him. "Yes, you were, and I don't know," I answer plainly. "I really thought he was the one, Gordo. I thought we'd be together forever." I almost cry, but regain my composure. "But no. That part of life is all over with now. I'm through with love. No more relationships, period. Guys are just not worth it. They're nothing but jerks," I state, as if it is a well known fact.
Gordo stands up from his seat, and walks toward me. He stands directly over me, and tries hard to keep his voice under control. "You know, while you were out there buying these theories about the horrors of men, and why guys like Ronnie won't ever come back, deep down inside you're hoping he would." His voice grows louder, and mockingly, he continues, "Men are evil. Men are scum. But please, Ronnie, won't you make a liar out of me. Well, you got what you asked for. He did go back. He just did it with the wrong girl. It's over. Over. Why can't you just let it go?"
I sob out, "Because!"
"Because why?" He persists.
"Because I can't!" I shout back at him, running a hand through my windblown hair.
"Why?"
"Because….I was happy. Because, if my research is wrong, and if men really aren't as bad as they seem, men don't hurt all women, Gordo. They just hurt me! They just leave me!" I crumple into my chair, bringing my knees to my chest and sobbing.
Gordo's expression softens, and his eyebrows crease in concern. He takes a seat on the coffee table in front of me. "I know what it does to you. I know. Maybe that's why we hold on as hard as we do. We just can't believe that such a miracle could happen to us twice," He smiles at me, running a hand through his curly wet locks. "It can. Someday you'll find that out."
Our eyes met for a few seconds; a few seconds longer than they should have. "I need a drink." I quickly move out of the recliner, past Gordo, and into the kitchen for a glass of water. I glance in the mirror, taking a sip of the water, and say more or less to myself, "Look at me. I'm a mess."
Gordo comes up behind me. "I'm looking at you, and you're beautiful. Beautiful, intelligent and real. And Ronnie's not the last man you're ever gonna love." He wraps his arms around my shoulders and hugs me. Then, he sends shivers down my spine as he whispers in my ear, "I promise you he's not."
"I, I, um, I need to go work on another article. It's due next week," I explain. I quickly wriggle free of his grasp and scurry to my room, shutting the door behind me, blocking out everything he had said.
Miranda enters a few moments later. "Lizzie," she says, walking over to me.
From my bed, I choke out, "I'm fine, Miranda."
"You're not. And you shouldn't have to be." Miranda walks over to me, and sits on the bed beside me, wrapping me in a huge hug. I cry on her shoulder, and she demands no other information from me.
A little later, I walk into the kitchen where Gordo is eating a sandwich. "You okay?" he asks, then smiles slightly. "Of course you're not okay." He puts his sandwich down and stands up. "Here, sit down. I'll make you a sandwich or something."
I start to protest, but he sits me down before I can object. "Thanks," I choke out, my voice sounding more like Cher's. A few moments later, he sits down to finish his sandwich and hands me mine. "Peanut butter and pickles," I smile at him.
"I could never forget your favorite sandwich. Of course, it was me who got you started on those."
"I remember. It was sophomore year, and Matt had eaten all of the jelly, so you found some pickles hidden in our fridge and dared me to try it. And it's been my favorite since."
"Yeah, but I ended up liking it, too," he says, smiling.
I smile, wiping a few tears from my face. "Thanks, Gordo."
"Lizzie, will you be okay if I go out with Michael tonight? He'll be getting back from his trip tonight," Miranda informs me, crinkling her nose at our sandwiches as she walks into the kitchen.
"Go ahead. Gordo can take care of me, if he's up for the job," I say, sticking my lip out at him.
"I'll watch a chick flick with you, if you promise to not beat me up for being a guy," he says, knowing what I had planned.
I laugh. "Deal."