Author's note: I know it's been a long time again…things have been crazy. I will try to do better at posting more frequently. On with the story:

Lizzie pulled a single photograph and a handwritten card…

Their senior year was coming to a close. Gordo and Lizzie had made the most of everything, living the last several months in a carpe diem sort of attitude. Any opportunity they were presented with they took and enjoyed together. Until one day when things came crashing to a halt.

It was the night before the senior prom. Lizzie still wasn't sure if she was going. As she sat on her bed she read and re-read the two letters that had started the whole fight between herself and Gordo. Lizzie had applied to several colleges and had been accepted to both of her top two choices. She knew she wanted to study to become a nurse; now the only question was whether she would study at UCLA or Seattle University. Naturally Gordo wanted her to go to UCLA because that was where he was going. In fact, Gordo had earned early acceptance and was going to start taking classes in June as soon as high school was over.

Last night Lizzie had announced to Gordo and her family what her choice was. As soon as 'Seattle University' had left her lips, Gordo stormed out of the room. Lizzie thought that Gordo was being selfish and he wouldn't even hear her out to understand why she had picked the way she had.

Lizzie had chosen SU for a number of reasons. The most important of which was that she was more excited about SU than she was about UCLA and SU had a smaller student body than UCLA did. While it would be so tempting to go to UCLA with Gordo she felt that the time had come for them to experience life on their own for a little while. They had been together for almost three and a half years now; they were as close as two people could get. In her heart she was almost completely sure that she was ready to commit the rest of her life to Gordo, but she wanted to be completely sure. She wanted to know that each of them had time alone to be faced with new opportunities and challenges before they made the decision to be together forever. She worried that if they didn't give themselves this time they might one day regret it. She wanted to be sure that the all-consuming love that they had for one another was really the real thing and not just the best thing to come along so far. Perhaps they weren't really meant for one another and it would take them being apart to see that. These were all the things she wanted Gordo to understand, but first she needed to get him to talk to her.

Lizzie folded the letters and put both envelopes on her desk. The one question she kept asking herself was if she could handle losing Gordo over this decision. She didn't really think it would come to that but she had to consider all possibilities. She was sure about SU, but was she still sure if it meant losing Gordo?

Lizzie's phone rang and her heart soared with hopes that it would be Gordo calling her. "Hello?" she answered breathlessly.

"Hey chica, how are you doing?" Miranda asked softly, aware of the whole situation.

"I don't know," Lizzie said. "Gordo won't take any of my calls and I don't know what to do. I was really set on SU, but I'm not sure I'm willing to lose Gordo over my choice. Have you talked to him?"

"I did. He told me all his concerns and frustrations and I told him he needed to be having this conversation with you. He asked me why you were picking SU and I told him he needed to give you the chance to explain that to him," Miranda said.

"Thank you. What did he say?" Lizzie asked.

"He kind of grunted stubbornly and told me that he had to go," Miranda said, "Then he hung up. I'm sorry."

"Can you do me a favor?" Lizzie asked.

"Anything," Miranda replied.

"Call Gordo back. Tell him that I love him and I need him to give me a chance to explain my choice to him. Tell him if he is willing to give me that opportunity to meet me at the Prom tomorrow night," Lizzie said.

"Okay," Miranda agreed.

The next night Lizzie got ready for the prom alone in her room. She had been invited to get ready with Kate and Miranda like they had done last year, but she wanted this time to herself to get ready to either face Gordo with her choice if he showed or to face the fact that things might be over between them if he didn't show. Deep in her heart she knew that everything would work out as it was meant to, but it didn't stop her from worrying about what might happen. She wished that they could have saved their first big fight until after the prom. She had been so looking forward to this night after the fun they had last year and now she just couldn't get excited over it at all. Lizzie showered then took a nap on her bed, there was no need rush since she wasn't going to the dinner they had planned over a month ago. An hour before the dance was to begin her mother woke her up and told her she probably needed to get ready. Jo helped roll Lizzie's hair into hot rollers then did her make-up for her. Lizzie slid into the red, satin halter dress that she had picked for this year. She fastened her strappy black sandals and put on her fancy rhinestone jewelry. Her mother pulled out the rollers and tamed the curls into a simple, but flattering up-do. Lizzie applied her favorite perfume and a coat of red lipstick that matched her dress. She was ready and she had 10 minutes to spare.

"Honey, you look amazing," Jo said.

Lizzie's composure crumbled as a tear slid down her cheek and she choked back a sob.

Gathering her up into her embrace Jo said, "Lizzie honey, I'm sure everything is going to be fine. The way that boy loves you I don't think a little thing like this is going to change anything."

"But what if it does?" Lizzie cried.

"Well then that was what was meant to be. You are a strong person, you will make it through and move on with your life," Jo said comfortingly.

Lizzie held onto her mother for a moment longer. When she pulled away she went to the mirror. She wiped her tears and fixed her smudged eye make-up. With a tissue she wiped off the red lipstick and instead applied a coat of lip-gloss. She took off her fancy jewelry and instead fastened the necklace Gordo had given her for her fifteenth birthday around her neck. Feeling braver she picked up her purse and went out to her car.

The theme of this year's senior prom had something to do with astronomy or celestial bodies; Lizzie was too preoccupied to notice much less care. She walked into the hotel banquet room where the prom was being held, alone. She spotted Miranda and Kate at one of the tables and headed toward them.

"Have you seen Gordo?" Lizzie asked when she approached them.

Both shook their heads no, then quickly told her how beautiful she looked. Lizzie sat down at the table and carefully monitored everyone coming and going from the dance. Several of her guy friends asked her if she would like to dance but each time she turned them away. The dance was only scheduled in the banquet room from seven until eleven. It was quarter after ten when Lizzie finally gave up hope of him coming to the dance. She'd been waiting for him for over three hours. In defeat she picked up her purse off the table and headed to the door. Knowing that everyone who knew what was going on between the two of them was sadly watching her leave, she flashed a brave smile before lowering her head to hide the tears burning in her eyes.

With her head lowered and eyes streaming tears Lizzie did not see Gordo walking toward her. Carefully she lowered herself into a chair that was outside the door to the banquet room. She put her face into her hands and cried. He stopped in front of her and gently said, "We need to talk."

She was so surprised to see him that she could only nod. He took her hand and led her outside to his car where they both climbed in and for a moment sat in silence.

"I'm so sorry Lizzie. I have acted completely immature and selfish since you told me your choice. I had no right to treat you that way," Gordo said, "I would like to hear your reasons for choosing Seattle if you will still tell them to me."

"Okay. I would also like you to tell me your reasons why I should go to UCLA with you," Lizzie said.

"My reasons do not matter," Gordo said, "If you want to go to SU, than you should."

"What made you change your mind?" Lizzie asked.

"Well, I was sitting at home determined not to come to the dance, so sure that I was right. I started packing the things I am going to bring with me when I move to LA in June when I came across some pictures of us from the last few years. As I looked at those pictures and let myself remember how much I love you and I realized that the real reason that I was being so insistent that you go to UCLA is that I am scared of losing you. I'm afraid that you will go to SU and forget all about me; your dorky boyfriend who has always wondered how I got so lucky to have you as my girlfriend in the first place. I realized that if I was so worried about losing you I'd better get to this dance before it's too late. I'm sorry it took me so long to get here." Gordo said.

"Gordo you are not dorky," Lizzie said, "Thank you for coming and I hope you never give up on us. Let me explain my reasons for picking SU, okay?"

Gordo nodded and Lizzie continued, "I am much more interested in going to SU than I am to UCLA, that is my most important reason. But there are more. I don't want to be one of those girls who give up her own identity and freedom of choice just to do what her boyfriend is doing. I am almost 100 sure that I am ready to commit the rest of my life to you, but before I make that commitment I want to be completely sure. I want to have some time to myself to be on my own and know for absolutely certain that I am making the right decision. I want the same thing for you. A little independence before we get any closer to forever. We have been together for almost three and a half years. We've grown a lot in that time but never had time apart. I want us to have the opportunity to miss each other so much that it hurts and in that feeling know that we were right. Does that make sense?" Lizzie asked.

"Yes." Gordo said. Moved by her words and astonished by her admission that she was nearly prepared to commit forever to him, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her passionately. "I had no idea that you felt that way. Thank you for making me understand."

"We have 20 minutes left until the prom is over. Care to spin me around the floor a few times?" Lizzie asked.

"Absolutely," Gordo said.

As they danced to a slow song, wrapped up in each other's arms Lizzie whispered, "So, our first big fight…"

"Yeah, and we survived," Gordo said.

Before they left they had the prom photographer take their picture. Despite her smudgy make-up and red-rimmed eyes, they looked more in love than ever. The next morning Gordo delivered a vase of red roses and a hand written apology.

Lizzie put the card and the photo into the hatbox and remembered how agonizing that first fight had been for her. But at the same time it had strengthened the bond between them even more. Their fights since then had been much easier to handle because they both remembered to listen to each other.