Around lunchtime Jo brought up chicken salad sandwiches, chips, grapes and soda and together they ate sitting on Lizzie's bed. "So, how is it going?" Jo asked tentatively.
"As well as can be expected I guess," Lizzie said.
"Do you want help with the rest?" Jo asked already knowing what her daughter's answer would be.
"No, but thanks for the offer. I'd rather do it alone, just because it's so hard, you know? Everything is happy memories, but because of the circumstances they become a little bittersweet and make me sad," Lizzie confided.
"I understand, but I would love to help if you change your mind," Jo said.
When they had finished their lunch and Jo headed back down to the kitchen with the lunch dishes Lizzie settled herself again with the Gordo box. She was nearly done with all the rest, just a few odds and ends and this one box. Closing her eyes she reached into the box and drew out a small photo album. She smiled as she opened her eyes and recognized it. As she ran her fingers down the glossy cover she smiled remembering their first high school prom.
By the time they were attending their junior prom together Gordo and Lizzie had been together for about two and a half years, which was a long time for a couple of seventeen year olds. While their relationship had grown very familiar, each was still happy in it. Lizzie had been looking forward to the prom for a while now. Maybe, she thought, it would shake things up a little bit; not that she was exactly bored, she was just ready for things to move to the next step. She and Gordo had discussed getting more physical in their relationship, but so far neither felt ready for that level of commitment.
Lizzie, Miranda and Kate spent all afternoon the day of the prom getting ready in Kate's room. Lizzie was happily realizing how surprised she was to find the three of them there together; a year ago this possibility would not have even crossed her mind. When Gordo and Lizzie started dating it lead to the end of the three amigos. While the three amigos were never quite the same again, Lizzie had been right. When Miranda started dating and then became serious about Michael Kingston (who was relatively new to Hillridge) she realized that she'd done a stupid thing in ending her friendship with Lizzie and Gordo. Meanwhile Lizzie and Kate had renewed their friendship for good when they started to find themselves on double dates together with Gordo and Ethan. They resisted a little at first despite the connection they had forged on the Rome trip, but the deal was sealed when Clarie was sent away to a private high school by her parents so that she'd get better grades. The cheerleading clique kind of fell apart when Kate decided that she wasn't sure that was what she wanted anymore. Kate and Miranda resisted being friends at first too, but worked out their difference when Lizzie explained to them that she didn't think she could stand it if her two best friends couldn't be friends with each other too. And that was how they became the Three Amigas!
"Miranda, how long have you and Michael been together now?" Kate asked as she carefully painted her toenails a vibrant pink.
"Um, let's see...he started school here in September, I started dating him in October and now it's May...about 8 months," Miranda said, "Why?"
"Just curious," Kate said. "What about you and Gordo, Lizzie? How long have you been together?"
"Gordo and I have been together our whole lives. But, if you mean how long have we been a dating couple, it's been a little over two and a half years," Lizzie said.
"Well, how long have you and Ethan been together?" Miranda asked.
"Just over two years. It was on the trip to Rome that I decided that I might be interested in him again. We flirted for a few months before we went on an actual date, and we've been together ever since," Kate said proudly.
"Why are we talking about how long we've been with our boyfriends?" Lizzie asked, "Did I miss something?"
"She started it," Miranda said pointing at Kate.
Kate blushed a little and said, "Well, I have a follow up question. Have either of you had sex with your boyfriends yet?" Miranda and Lizzie both shook their heads no. They waited, knowing that Kate would explain her question in a moment.
"I haven't either, but Ethan has been talking about going all the way tonight. It's our first prom and he thinks it would be special, but I'm not totally convinced. Sometimes I feel ready and want to do it too, but not always. I think I'd rather wait until the time feels right and it just happens naturally. I think if I feel pressured to do it on a big event like prom, we might just be setting ourselves up for disappointment," Kate said.
"Is he pressuring you to do it?" Lizzie asked.
"No, he's being really good about it. He keeps saying that it's up to me, but just by continuing to talk about it I feel a little pressured, whether he means for me to feel that way or not," Kate said.
"So, why not explain to him that you don't feel ready yet," Miranda asked.
"I probably will but I'm scared," Kate said, "What if he dumps me because I'm not ready? I mean, just because I'm not ready, that doesn't mean that there aren't other girls who wouldn't be."
"Well, if he dumps you because of that, then he doesn't deserve you," Lizzie said.
"Yeah," Miranda added, "Just enjoy tonight and don't worry about that. Maybe he won't even bring it up."
"Thanks you guys." Kate said.
At five o'clock a black limo pulled into the Saunder's driveway. Gordo, Ethan and Michael had gone in together for the limo. Gordo and Ethan had become really good pals since they roomed together in Rome. And when Miranda came around again, they got to be really good friends with Michael as well. They stood by the limo and watched as the girls filed out of the house. Kate was wearing a strapless, pastel pink satin dress. Miranda was wearing a halter style, bronze colored, silk dress. And Lizzie was wearing a beaded, black, Audrey Hepburn, a la Breakfast at Tiffany's, type of gown. Each looked radiant.
Behind the limo arrived several sets of parents, who had been promised the opportunity to take pictures if they could all agree to congregate at one household. So, several hundred photos later the couples climbed into the limo and began their magical night.
As Lizzie settled into her seat next to Gordo he leaned toward her and whispered, "You look so beautiful!"
She smiled and said, "And you look so handsome. Thank you for doing the whole prom thing with me, I know it's not really your thing."
Gordo grinned at her and said, "Had I known you'd clean up this well, I wouldn't have resisted at all." She acted offended, but laughed and punched him playfully in the arm. He laughed too and kissed her gently on the lips.
Remembering the corsage Gordo had slid onto her wrist just before the pictures, Lizzie looked down to admire it. It was a simple yet stunning arrangement of mini calla lilies and mini pink rose. "The corsage is beautiful! Thank you," she said.
"I had it made special," he told her quietly, "It's just like..."
"The flowers you always get me for my birthday, I know!" Lizzie said and smiled at his thoughtfulness.
It might have been more romantic to have dinner somewhere expensive with candlelight and violins, but the girls suggested dinner at the pizza parlor. After the limo, corsages and tuxes the girls agreed that the guys didn't need to buy them a pricey dinner as well. Dinner was affordable and a lot of fun.
Finally they arrived at the school. Normally the prom was held in the banquet room at a local hotel, but this year's prom committee had a different idea. The theme was 'Midnight at the Beach.' Out on the school's lawn tarps had been laid and on top of the tarps were tons of white beach sand. There was a large canopy that spread over most of the sand and hung from the center of it was a disco ball. There were elaborate, freestanding glass and metal candle holders, holding glowing candles, circling the canopy. It was beautiful and perfect for the warm spring evening.
The night went by so quickly. They danced barefoot in the sand, visited with their friends, enjoyed the appetizers and punch, and took lots of pictures. When the band took a short break before the last few songs of the night, the head of the prom committee took a moment to say a few words. She announced that there were a few gifts for all the attendees on behalf of the prom committee. They needed a way to dispose of the sand, so everyone was receiving a corked glass bottle etched with the word 'prom' and the year. Everyone should fill their bottle with sand and take it home to remember the night forever. Also, they couldn't store all the glass candleholders, so each young lady was asked to please take one home with her.
Before they know it they were dancing to the last song. Gordo and Lizzie were so wrapped up in one another they barely noticed when the song ended. It had been a romantic night for them, and just what they had needed to spic things up a little. They were feeling more connected than ever. They continued to hold onto one another and sway. Only when they noticed the commotion around them did they realize that they were the only ones left under the disco ball. Slowly they disengaged and walked back to their table to retrieve their things.
"So," Lizzie said softly, "You didn't think tonight was too horrible did you?"
"Not at all. I really thought that prom would just be this big cheesy dance, but it was special and kind of magical. I guess I got sucked in" Gordo said.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Lizzie said.
"Do you want to go again next year?" Gordo asked.
"I'd love to!" Lizzie said happily.
As they made their way back to the limo Lizzie started to think about the conversation she, Miranda and Kate had earlier. "Gordo, does it bother you that even though we have been together for two and a half years that we've never gone all the way?"
"No. What made you ask me that?" Gordo asked.
"Kate said that Ethan has been talking about going all the way tonight, because it's prom. It turned into this whole conversation and since we hadn't talked about it for a while I wondered where you stood on the issue," Lizzie said.
"I fanaticize about eventually go all the way with you, I would be lying if I told you any differently. But, I'm not in any hurry. The way I see it, we are going to be together forever and we can take our time getting there so it can be something to look forward to," Gordo said.
Lizzie wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "I love you David Gordon. That was the perfect answer. Thank you."
As Lizzie placed the prom photo album, the sand bottle, her dried corsage and the bowtie Gordo had worn that night into the hat box she fondly remembered how she and Gordo had opted to skip the after prom party and just do their regular. In their prom attire they watched movies in the McGuire's den until sunrise when Jo found them slumped together sleeping on the couch. She took a picture of the couple and gently covered them with a blanket. Their first prom had been a lot of fun and it had reminded the couple that a little bit of romance can go a long way in helping a flame to burn a little hotter.
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so long in coming. I had a little trouble deciding the direction I wanted this one to take. Hope everyone enjoys it. I hope to do a few more chapters in this story before I wrap it up. Thanks for all the support!