Lizzie reached into the box again and pulled out an envelope. Not remembering at first what the envelope was from Lizzie carefully dumped the contents onto the floor beside her. There was a folded note, a dried wild rose, a photograph and two newspaper clippings of horoscopes. Lizzie smiled remembering …

It was July 10th. Lizzie had been invited up to the Gordon's cabin for the weekend of the 4th of July and the whole week following. The holiday weekend had been busy and wonderfully fun. The Gordon's always loved the 4th of July and made a big production of their celebration. The week had been relaxing. They slept in, swam, stayed up late and watched movies and generally just relaxed. It was their last full day at the cabin, the next morning they would be waking up early for the drive back to Hillridge.

Gordo and Lizzie had been together for three whole years! Both would be 18 soon and they were starting their senior year of high school in the fall. They had been trying to make the most of the summer because it could be their last together before they both went away to college. Gordo was applying for early admission to UCLA and if he got it he wanted to take some summer classes. Lizzie wasn't sure yet where she wanted to go, but UCLA was on her list of possibilities.

It was early afternoon, they had just finished lunch and Lizzie was scanning the variety section of the newspaper. She liked to read the comics and her horoscope everyday.

"Come, let's go swimming," Gordo urged trying to pull the newspaper away from her.

"Hold on a minute, I want to read my horoscope," Lizzie said.

"You can read it later," Gordo said impatiently giving her an irresistible pleading look.

"Fine," Lizzie said as she rolled her eyes at him, "I'll just read it later."

The two swam and played in the lake all afternoon. Around four o'clock Mrs. Gordon emerged from the cabin to tell them it was time to come in. "We made dinner reservations at the resort down the road. You have an hour until we have to leave."

Lizzie showered first and was in her room trying to decide what to wear to dinner when Gordo let himself into her room in just his bath towel. "Gordo, what are you doing in here?" Lizzie demanded in a harsh whisper, "What if your parents catch us?"

"Relax, they never come up here, they have no reason to. Besides, they trust us," Gordo said.

"So, you're going to betray their trust by coming into my room like that and when I'm like this?" Lizzie asked gesturing at her body, which was clad only in a bra and panties.

Gordo grinned at her bewilderment and said, "You didn't protest at all when I came in here last night to make out with you."

"Well, it was night time then, they were sleeping," Lizzie explained.

"Okay, well, what if I come back later tonight to visit you?" Gordo asked as he kissed down her neck to her collarbone.

Distractedly Lizzie said, "Or maybe, I'll come visit you this time."

"It's a deal McGuire," Gordo said as he kissed her quickly on the lips then returned to his own room.

The Gordon's had been planning to eat dinner in the more casual of the resort's two dining rooms. Just as they were going to be seated Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were approached by a couple they knew from when they were in college who invited all of them to join them in the more formal dining room. Gordo and Lizzie had been looking forward to a quick dinner so they could get back to the cabin and enjoy their last evening there. Eating dinner in the formal dining room was a long drawn out process with 5 courses. By the time they returned to the cabin it was nearly eleven o'clock. The Gordon's went straight to bed and Gordo and Lizzie went upstairs.

"So, what are we going to do with the little bit of time we have left?" Gordo asked.

"I really wanted to go swimming one last time," Lizzie said.

"So, let's go," Gordo said.

"Are you serious? It's dark out, we can't go swimming," Lizzie said.

"Sure we can, haven't you ever gone night swimming?" Gordo asked.

"I guess not," Lizzie said curiously.

"It's fun, go put on your suit and grab a towel. I'll meet you out by the dock. Just remember to be quiet, we don't want to wake my parents up," Gordo said.

Quietly they met out on the dock. They left their towels on the dock and carefully lowered themselves into the water. Once in the water Lizzie hopped around frantically trying to keep her body out of the cold water. "Burrr!" she hissed at Gordo.

"I'll warm you up," Gordo said as he stilled her and wrapped his arms tightly around her body. He lowered his lips to hers and for a few minutes they just stood kissing in the water.

"Mmmmm, much better," Lizzie said when they pulled away from one another. Feeling playful and brave she asked, "So, have you ever gone skinny dipping?"

Gordo looked surprised and said, "No, have you?"

"No. Want to try it?" Lizzie asked.

Gordo shrugged and said, "Sure." Swiftly he stepped out of his trunks and threw them up onto the dock. Lizzie giggled and blushed as Gordo vigilantly watched her do the same. She knew he couldn't really see much under the dark water, but it was still a new feeling being with him completely naked. He had seen and touched her naked breasts before and gotten close to touching more southern regions as well, but that was all the further they had gone in the three years they'd been together. She had neither seen nor touched his equipment, but was feeling more and more ready to all the time.

They slowly circled each other in the cool water, commenting on how strange it felt to be naked. Slowly Gordo moved closer and Lizzie did not shy away.

"Can I touch you?" Gordo asked huskily.

"S-sure," Lizzie answered a little hesitantly.

He reached out a hand toward her and she took it with her own. He grasped it firmly and used it to pull her to him. Lizzie giggled nervously as Gordo closed the remaining few inches between them. He leaned in and kissed her gently at first. As their kisses grew more passionate Gordo placed his hands on her back, then her hips and finally they moved up to her breasts. Bravely Lizzie moved one of her hands between their bodies and let it creep downward until it encountered what she was looking for. Gordo's eyes flew open and stared into hers as she wrapped her hand around it.

Their kisses grew more frantic until Gordo pulled away and asked, "Do you want to go inside?"

Understanding exactly what he was asking her, she both nodded her head in agreement and answered, "Yes, I do."

Hastily they retrieved their bathing suits and struggled to pull them back on under the water. Quietly they wrapped themselves in towels and crept back into the house. Upstairs Gordo pulled her into his room and quietly shut and locked the door. He lit a single candle on his desk and together they crawled into his bed. They had onto each other until their goose bumps were gone.

"We should probably take off these wet suits," Lizzie whispered huskily.

Gordo nodded and they helped each other to undress. They began slowly just kissing and gently caressing one another. Gordo's hands moved up to touch and manipulate her breasts; kissing her all the while. When Lizzie felt Gordo's hardness against her thigh she reached down and took it in her hands. As she explored and caressed with one hand her other hand guided one of Gordo's hands between her legs. Each was experiencing things they'd never felt before and later they would be amazed that they were able to remain so quiet.

"I can't wait anymore, are you ready?" Gordo asked softly.

Lizzie's breath caught in her throat and she simply nodded her approval. He put on protection and moved so he was above her. Slowly she guided him into her. He paused when she gasped a little then continued when she nodded again. It didn't last very long, but both were amazed by what they had felt and would always cherish that they lost their virginity to one another.

They lay in each other's arms and talked for hours. Nearing sunrise Gordo suggested that Lizzie go back and get some sleep in her own bed so that they wouldn't get caught together by his parents. Gordo tucked her in and she fell asleep almost instantly. Not being able to sleep himself Gordo sat at his desk and wrote a letter to Lizzie, which she found with a wild pink rose on her nightstand when she woke. It read:

Dear Lizzie,

Maybe this is corny but I want to say thank you for last night. It was the most wonderful and magical night of my life. I didn't think this was possible, but I may love you more after last night than I did before. I feel so honored and loved that you would share such a special gift with me. I want you to know that I don't take what happened between us last night lightly. I expect for us to be together forever and I can't wait until someday when we're older, to be able to call you my wife. I should try to get some sleep, but I am still too thrilled about last night.

I love you!

Gordo.

Lizzie smiled through her tears as she read the letter. She still couldn't believe that it had happened either. She showered, packed and went downstairs for breakfast. Gordo was already sitting at the table munching his cereal. They smiled knowingly at one another as she took her seat beside him at the table and she thanked him for the note and the rose. Once she had poured herself some cereal and taken a couple of bites Gordo handed her some newspapers and said, "I never let you ready your horoscope yesterday. And here is today's variety section too."

"Did you read them already?" Lizzie asked.

"No, I don't believe in that stuff," Gordo said.

Lizzie took that papers and turned to the horoscopes in yesterday's paper. Her horoscope for July 10th read: Something you have been working up to and anticipating will happen today. Opening your heart and mind to it will only make it more magical. Lizzie gasped a little and reread it. When Lizzie had set that paper down and moved onto today's horoscope Gordo picked it up to see what it said. Her horoscope for July 11th read: Today is the first day of the rest of your life; don't waste a second of it. She smiled over that one and passed that paper over for Gordo to read.

"Now do you believe it?" Lizzie asked.

"Maybe a little bit," Gordo said and grinned at her.

After breakfast she cut out both horoscopes and packed them into her bag with the note Gordo had left her. They didn't get more than a few miles down the road toward home before Gordo and Lizzie were both sleeping, she leaning against his shoulder. Mrs. Gordon thought it was the sweetest thing and took a picture that she later made a copy of to give to Lizzie.

Lizzie smiled as she remembered their first time and returned the mementos of it to their envelope and then placed it in the hatbox. To this day Gordo was the only man she had every slept with and she genuinely hoped it would always be the case.

Author's Note: I think this is my favorite chapter so far, so I hope you enjoy it too. If people haven't caught on yet each chapter has been about a first in their relationship: 1st time they said I love you, 1st date, 1st of Lizzie's birthdays while they were together, 1st prom and 1st time together. Can anyone suggest any more 1st's I can incorporate as a chapter? I am starting to run low on ideas. People keep asking why she is so sad…all I can say is that everyone will just have to enjoy reading about the 1st's. When I get to the last chapter all will be revealed. Thanks again for all the support!