Ok, so I've decided to start this story up again. I kinda forgot about it, but now that I found it I'll be writing more.
Holding On
Chapter 18- The School Reunion
The night of the school reunion, Lizzie was very anxious. She knew she shouldn't be because she had gone out with Gordo so many times before, but this time was different. She spent a long time in front of he mirror perfecting her look. Of course Gordo wouldn't have cared what she looked like. Looks were only good for first impressions. She and Gordo had known each other since they were born and he longer even noticed if she looked less than perfect. To him, she would always be Lizzie.
Downstairs Sam was eating making himself dinner. When Lizzie walked in he took a moment to stare at his daughter. Every time she came home to visit she looked less and less like his little girl. It made him sad, yet he also felt proud of everything she had done. "Where's Maggie?" she asked.
"Upstairs getting ready for bed." He answered. It was almost 8. Lizzie was supposed to meet Gordo at 8, and it was also the time Maggie went to bed. She decided she could be five minutes late in meeting Gordo so she could tuck Maggie in herself. She climbed to stairs and found Maggie in her room.
"Ready for bed, sweetie?" she asked her. She nodded. "OK, let's get you tucked in."
"Will you come in and see me when you get home?" Maggie asked.
"I think you might be asleep." Lizzie replied. She knew her daughter was tired and would most likely fall asleep soon after she left.
"What if I'm still awake? Will you check on me?" Maggie got nervous if Lizzie wasn't there when she went to sleep.
"I'll check on you. I promise." Lizzie said. "But try and sleep."
As soon as Maggie was in bed Lizzie hurried downstairs and out the door. Matt was waiting for her at the car. They were meeting Miranda and Gordo at the school. "Oh, good. You're here." Matt began. "Because I'd thought that when you didn't come out of the house that you forgot." Lizzie glared at him.
"I was putting Maggie down." She said. She was slightly annoyed with Matt. She wasn't running that late, so why did he have to make jokes.
Gordo and Miranda were waiting outside the school for their dates. Once Lizzie's car pulled up, Matt jumped out and went inside with Miranda after she said hello to Lizzie. Gordo and Lizzie lingered behind and stood outside the doors. "Don't you want to go in?" she asked.
"Not really." He replied, starring at the ground. He never got along with a lot of the people in their class so it was understandable that he wouldn't want to see them, but he was always talking about how he was going to be the successful one at their reunions.
"What? And miss a perfect opportunity to brag about what a great director you've become? No way, I can't let you do that." She stared at him. Obviously she wasn't the only one who was nervous about how this night turned out.
"I don't want to make things worse between us. It seems like every time I see you, that's just what I do." Tonight needed to be perfect if he wanted to get back together with Lizzie.
"Gordo, I want this to work, too. I've done a lot of thinking, especially after you came over the other day, and I realized that I missed you. I've been missed you since we broke up years ago." It felt good to finally say what she was thinking. "So come on. Let's go in."
They walked in to see their old gym decorated with streamers and lights. Familiar faces were everywhere and for a moment it seemed as though they were truly back in High School, where their only problems were finals and college applications. As Lizzie glanced around, she spotted Ethan Craft. She walked over to him. "Hey, Ethan." She hugged him.
"Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. It's good to see you again. I heard you moved to Boston."
"Yeah, I'm visiting my parents now, but I really like Boston."
"Do you ever think about moving back?" Ethan loved Hillridge, and she knew he couldn't understand why anyone would want to leave.
"I used to, but my job is there and Maggie loves it."
"Maggie? Is this your…" He trailed off, not knowing who she was.
"…daughter. She's my daughter." She was suddenly aware of Gordo standing next to her. She saw Ethan's eyes flick over to Gordo. Should she say he was Maggie's father? After all, she didn't actually know, but she certainly wasn't going to say that. Luckily, she was saved by the presence of a woman appearing at Ethan's side.
"Oh, Lizzie, Gordon, this is my wife, Stefanie." She was tall, But not as tall as Ethan. She was thin, had long dirty blond hair that fell past her shoulders, and was wearing a silver strapless dress. Her beauty was slightly intimidating to Lizzie. They talked with the couple for a while. Ethan and Stefanie had met in Alaska on trip Ethan's family had taken when he was 21. She lived had there, but was anxious to leave. He had actually stayed in Alaska for a short period before they were married. After the wedding, they had moved to Hillridge together. She was lovely woman and was perfect for Ethan: they both shared the same IQ.
After speaking with them for a long time, they spotted Kate Sanders. She was with a man they did not recognize. "Quick, we can duck away before she sees us." Lizzie proposed.
"Lizzie, you guys hated each other years ago. Don't you think it's time you both grew up and were civil to each other?" Gordo was sick of all the feuding. It had gone on too long.
Kate saw Lizzie and Gordo as she crossed the gym. Her smile faltered when she saw Lizzie. "Lizzie." She said curtly.
"Kate." Lizzie replied coldly. Kate walked past her and a stunned Gordo.
"Lizzie. You are 28 years old. You've raised a daughter by yourself, moved across the continent to start a brand new career and yet you still can't make peace with Kate even though your fight was 10 years ago?" He tried to understand this, but to no avail.
Lizzie stared at Gordo trying to make sense of her actions. "Some things never change she told him. Just live with it." She stood next to Gordo, shaking his head, when she heard an old favorite song of hers being played. "Come on" She grabbed his hands and dragged him to the dance floor. "We're dancing." He was reluctant, but finally gave in. As they danced, he whispered "Lizzie, I love you." His tone was so faint that he didn't think she heard him. When the song was over, she kissed him and said "I love you, too."
When it was time to leave, they sat in her car, waiting for Matt so Lizzie could go home. Gordo was trying his best to get back into Lizzie's life. "I mean it, I really want to try."
"I know, and I want it too, but I can't just leave Boston."
"You're not listening to me, Lizzie. I said that I want to try and that means I would be the one moving. To Boston." He was serious and she was shocked.
"But if you move, you won't be able to direct anymore. I can't ask you to give that up, you love it." She knew he had dreamed of it since he was a kid.
"There will be opportunities for me in Boston, I could teach a film course. And that's just one example. I just want to be near you and Maggie." Lizzie's heart sank at the mention of Maggie. She still didn't know if Gordo was here father.
"Gordo, that sounds wonderful, but…Maggie may not be-" She didn't know how to say this.
"I know that. You've told me before, but tell me this: Who else could it be? Were you with someone else when we were together? I love you, Lizzie, and I swear I won't judge or get mad."
Lizzie was silent, but she decided to tell him. "It's nothing like that, Gordo." She could feel tears well up in her eyes, but she blinked them back. "When you were in LA for an interview, I was walking home from work and there was this guy and he attacked me…" She could no longer keep to tears away; they came streaming down her face as she remembered all the painful memories that stemmed from that one night. Gordo was in a state of shock. He pulled her in as he tried to grasp what had just been revealed.
"Lizzie, I am so sorry you had to go through that." He just hugged her. When her tears finally slowed he asked "But now, I mean, you're so independent. How did you just get over it?"
"I did not just get over it." She said bitterly. "I couldn't be alone for months afterward. When I went to Boston for my friend Ang's wedding, right after that night, I was so scared I slept with a knife under my pillow. She was worried about me and so I started sleeping in her bed, I was so scared. I got a license to carry mace." She grabbed her purse and pulled out a small bottle. She handed it to him. "See. I couldn't even be in a relationship for almost 5 years. Jake was the first person I let into my life afterward. It was hell, Gordo. It still is, but, I don't know, when I'm with you I feel a little bit safer."
There was a tap on the window and she let out a small scream. Turning, she saw it was only her brother. "Hey, Miranda and I are gonna go out and get some dinner. You wanna come?"
"It's one in the morning and plus you already ate at the party. There was a buffet." She said.
"Drinks then?" Matt tried.
"Whatever." Lizzie said. She was tired. "I'm going home so get your own ride." She started to engine and drove off leaving a confused Matt behind.
They rode in silence for a while until Lizzie spoke. "I'll drive you home." Gordo had already realized that his car was parked back at the school, but he would take the bus and pick it up in the morning. He wanted a little more time alone with Lizzie.
"So what do you say, Lizzie? About me moving to Boston? I wouldn't have to live with you, at least not at first." He was determined.
"What about Maggie?" She asked.
"She likes me." He said. "And I wouldn't live with you, so it won't be too jarring for her."
"No, that's not what I mean." She said. "Would it bother you? And how would we-"
"Lizzie. There's a chance she could be mine, and that's good enough for me. I'm prepared to love her…as a father." They pulled into Gordo's parent's driveway. "Just think about it Lizzie." He kissed her. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." He started to get out of the car, but she pulled him back.
"I want you to come." She decided. "I love you. And I want to be back in my life."
He kissed her fiercely, and she could feel it in his kiss. He wanted it, and she did too, but not now. Not yet. She pushed him away. "Not tonight." She whispered. He nodded and walked into the house, looking slightly ashamed.
She drove home thinking about her decision to welcome him back into her life. When she arrived home she went upstairs to check on Maggie. In her own bed that night, she knew she had done the best thing. And she was excited about it.
