Author's Note: Just as I expected, the last chapter started getting really long, so I had to break it up into smaller chapters. This chapter is a summary of the first years of their relationship. The next chapter will be about the second half of their relationship. Read and review. And Merry Christmas! HM
The memories tumbled into his consciousness like millions of gallons of water bursting through a dam.
The normal laws of time and space were momentarily suspended as within the span of just a few minutes, he relived each and every single moment of the past twelve years of his life.
He was transported back to the night of July 31st, twelve years ago, and he began to see through young Gordo's eyes all the events that took place in the new timeline.
His life was literally flashing right before his eyes.
He wasn't fully immersed in the past, however. He was in two places and times at once, reliving the past while ever cognizant of his present, fully aware of being in Lizzie's lap, of being in her arms, and wondering with great fear and dread how his life had led up to this moment, when he was on the verge of separating from the girl he thought was the only love of his life . . . .
Twelve years agoHe finally saw everything that happened on this night twelve years ago. He saw his younger self talking to his older self on the ham radio, only this time, he was seeing it and feeling it all happen from the perspective of his younger self.
He saw himself and Lizzie on the porch, that magical moment on the backporch, when all of his dreams seemingly came true. He savored the first kiss with Lizzie as his girlfriend and quietly wished that the moment would never end.
He then watched their nascent relationship unfold and develop into everything he had dreamed about. The first several months of their relationship, he was virtually floating on air, lifted up by their love for each other.
It was such a magical time!
They did everything together – they walked to and from school together every morning. His favorite moments were memories of walking up to the McGuire residence, knocking on their door to be greeted by Lizzie's gorgeous eyes and her beckoning smile.
His heart would always skip a measurable beat upon his first morning glance of her beauty. As soon as she closed the door behind her, they would exchange a long, soft, slow, deep kiss, take hold of each other's hands, then saunter to school, hoping the walk would never end, marveling at the beauty of life's simple pleasures.
In school, they could hardly keep themselves from paying attention in class, as they constantly exchanged loving glances, winks, and smiles, all the while feigning interest in the dry subject matter being taught in class.
Their relationship caused some friction with Miranda, who sometimes felt like an invisible third-wheel with Lizzie and Gordo. But, eventually, the friends worked through their issues, and they made sure to never let their relationship get in the way of their friendship with Miranda.
David watched as they spent time together in his room or her room, cozing up together on the bed, talking to each other about everything and nothing, doing homework, watching movies, kissing, caressing, holding each other, revealing each others deeply-held truths.
Their friendship and relationship was deepening and growing with every moment they spent together.
Before they began their relationship, they were friends who knew each other's personalities, quirks, likes, and dislikes.
Now, they were lovers who knew the very depths of each other's hearts and souls . . . .
------------------------------------------------------------He saw the first time that they made love.
It was on their first anniversary, the following July 31st, when, as seventeen year olds, they found themselves alone, again, in the McGuire residence. They planned a special candlelight dinner to celebrate their relationship at a gourmet French restaurant, but their plans got sidetracked when the night sky opened itself up and hurledfierce raindropsonto the earth.
The visibility during the rain-soaked night was nonexistent, and since the restaurant was several miles away, they didn't want to risk getting into an accident, so they canceled their reservations, stayed in, and conjured up themselves a makeshift Italian dinner – lasagna with Caesar salad, with coconut ice cream for dessert.
She set candles all over the living room, casting the room with a cozy, romantic feel. The night reminded them so much of the night they first got together, that they almost felt compelled to turn on Gordo's ham radio to try and to contact David.
After dinner, they exchanged anniversary gifts. She gave him a vintage copy of Rainer Marie Rilke's Collection of Poems and Essays, while he gave her a heart-shaped pendant, with their initials engraved on them.
Then, they went upstairs to her room, embraced and started kissing passionately. He laid her on her bed, and he slowly, gently, cautiously, unbuttoned her blouse, constantly gazing into her eyes to make sure that this was what she wanted.
Her eyes said yes.
She had been longing for this moment to happen. The past year, they had grown so much closer, he was so much a part of her, that now, the only thing left was for them to connect in the most intimate, sensual, and loving way possible.
It was the most wonderful night of their lives, as they shared each other's bodies as only lovers could do. He shivered and shook as his hands glided and caressed her silky soft body.
On this night, he found ecstasy and bliss with the girl he loved, with the girl of his dreams . . . .
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Their senior year together was a bittersweet one – because, by February, it became clear they would soon have to separate after their graduation. Gordo was to go off to the Bay Area to attend U.C. Berkeley, while Lizzie was to stay in Los Angeles to attend UCLA.
During the summer, they vowed that they wouldn't let the distance break up their relationship, and they promised each other that they would visit each other frequently, and phone and email each other daily.
The first several weeks of being apart were the most miserable of days for Gordo. He felt like a part of his soul had been ripped from his body and transplanted very far away and beyond his reach.
The first time he visited Lizzie at UCLA, she greeted him at the airport, threw herself into his arms, and they spent an eternity hugging and kissing each other while his baggage went round and round the carousel.
One year of living apart was too much. Lizzie, who did extremely well in her first year of college as a creative writing major, did well enough to be able to transfer to Berkeley, and they spent the next three years having the time of their lives in college, together.
The summer after their graduation, they moved back to Los Angeles and they decided to live togetherin a small studio apartment. Lizzie had gotten a job working for a public relations firm in Los Angeles, while Gordo had been accepted to USC Film School.
As soon as they had unpacked their belongings and settled in, Gordo set forward on his plans to ask Lizzie to be his wife.
He made the decision to propose on the night that they had decided to live together. He had always believed that they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together, and now finally, he was ready to make that commitment.
He planned for weeks to prepare the perfect wedding proposal – he was going to propose at their favorite French restaurant, with musicians playing a string version of "Jealous Guy," while on his knees and while reciting their favorite poem by Rilke.
And naturally, he planned to propose on the night of their anniversary, July 31st.
The problem is, things didn't quite turn out the way he envisioned.
Just before they were about to drive onto the freeway and head towards the restaurant, the front right tire blew out.
He cursed silently, then steered the wounded car towards the shoulder, parked it, got out of the car, rolled up his sleeves, and began to change the tire.
Dressed in his best suit, he was just about to remove the flat tire when a thunderstorm came out of nowhere and began pouring sheets and sheets of rain. Lizzie was outside the car, standing next to him, holding a flashlight on the wheel as he desperately tried to get the tire off. Unfortunately, the wheel seemed glued onto the car,and he couldn't pry the tire off, as hard as he tried.
The only thing he succeeded in doing was getting thoroughly wet.
This night is ruined, he thought.
Then, as he looked up into Lizzie's warm, caring eyes, his frustrations disappeared, and he thought, no, this night isn't ruined, not yet . . . .
He picked himself up, looked up into the rain, and reminded himself of that fateful rainy night when his life changed, and he thought, it's now, the perfect moment is now.
"Lizzie, I – need to ask you something."
"Oh? What is it, Gordo?" She replied. As she gazed up at the hard rain falling on her face, she remarked, "Don't you think we should get back in the car and call for some help?"
She wiped away the rain from her face, then said with a wry smile, "You notice how it always seems to be raining on this night, on our night?"
He smiled. "Yeah, it rains just for us."
He then took her hands, put his rain soaked left knee down on the ground, gazed firmly into her eyes.
"Gordo, wh - what are you doing?" She asked, startled, confused.
"I have a question I need to ask you, remember?"
She smiled and nodded. Her heart skipped a beat as she slowly began to realize what was about to happen.
"Lizzie, I'd plan on asking you this at the restaurant, where it would been a lot drier, but, you know, I think it's fitting that I ask you this while we're here, together, in the rain."
Her heart was in her throat.
She nodded, and waited.
He bowed his head, gathered his composure, then looked back up and gazed deeply into her eyes. "You're the love of my life, Lizzie McGuire, you mean more to me than anything, anyone in the world."
Tears started to mingle with the raindrops on her face.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small container, opened it, and took out a diamond engagement ring.
Her eyes widened when she saw the ring. She knew what was happening, yet seeing the ring was making it all feel real.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, you're my heart and soul. Lizzie McGuire, will you marry me?"
Her lips quivered, her hands shook.
A nervous, joyous smile formed on her lips. "Y—yes," she whispered softly. "Yes, Gordo."
Upon hearing those magical words, his heart soared up into the night sky.
He got up off his knees, placed the ring on her finger, and then kissed her body with his passionate embrace. "I love you so much," he whispered into her ear.
And they remained there, in the rain, blissfully unaware of their wet surroundings, thoroughly enraptured by the moment.
----------------------------------They were married the same night next year. They were both twenty-three years old, she was stunningly beautiful in her snow white wedding gown, and he was handsome in his custom made tuxedo. Miranda was Lizzie's maid of honor, while Ethan Craft was Gordo's best man, and their first slow dance was to their song, John Lennon's Jealous Guy.
And of course, on that night, in honor of their marital union, it rained.
TO BE CONTINUED --