Lizzie and Gordo sat on Lizzie's bed with their Pepperdine letters. Lizzie clutched the manila envelope tightly, listening to the sound of her own heart beating.
"Okay. We'll open them on three," she said shakily. 1..2..3!" On the count of three, Lizzie and Gordo tore open their letters. Gordo's face broke into a wide smile as he read the first sentence. Dear Mister David Gordon,
After careful consideration, we are pleased to accept you to Pepperdine University.
He looked over at Lizzie, who was holding her letter facedown.
"Well," he prompted. "What does it say?" Lizzie looked up at him.
"Um, I still haven't looked at it," she admitted. "I'm too scared. What if I don't get in?" Gordo took the letter out of her hand.
"Lizzie, don't worry about it. They would have to be idiots not to accept you," he said. "Do you want me to read it for you?" Lizzie nodded, looking up at Gordo nervously as he turned her letter over and started to read.
"Dear Miss Elizabeth McGuire," he recited, trying to keep a straight face. He put the letter down and looked at Lizzie. Tears were forming in her eyes and her bottom lip was already trembling. "You got in!" Gordo announced. "Congratulations, McGuire!" Lizzie let out a squeal of excitement and threw her arms around Gordo.
"We're going to Pepperdine!" she screamed. She grabbed the letter and read over it once, then raced down the stairs. "Mom!" she called, running into the living room. Jo jumped up from the couch, turning off the Lifetime Television for Women movie that she was watching.
"What? Is something wrong?" Jo asked. Lizzie thrust the letter into Jo's hand.
"I got in! I'm going to Pepperdine!" she yelled, jumping into the air. Jo's face changed from a panicked expression to a wide, stunned smile.
"Oh! Congratulations honey!" she cried, embracing Lizzie in a hug. "I knew you could do it. Let's go out to dinner tonight to celebrate," she suggested. "Gordo, you're more than welcome to join us, of course," she added.
"Can we go to Outback Steakhouse?" Lizzie asked. She knew it was Gordo's favorite. Jo picked up the cordless phone on the coffee table.
"Whatever you want," she reminded Lizzie. "I'll call and make a reservation right now!" Lizzie smiled and grabbed Gordo's hand.
"Come on," she demanded. "I need to go add this to my scrapbook!" Gordo chuckled to himself. It was cute the way that Lizzie was so excited. He felt really relieved knowing that they had both gotten into Pepperdine. As he looked down at Lizzie's French manicured hand clutching his own, he smiled. I could definitely get used to this, Gordo silently decided.
Meanwhile, Miranda Sanchez was sitting at her kitchen table, alone, reading over her Pepperdine acceptance letter. She remembered when she, Gordo, and Lizzie had applied together at the end of last year. Lizzie had told them that they had a better chance of being accepted if they applied early admission. Miranda sighed as she looked at the letter again. She wondered if Lizzie and Gordo had gotten in. She picked up her phone and started to call them, but then decided against it. She hadn't talked to Lizzie since their fight. She decided she'd just tell Lizzie at school tomorrow. It would be a good excuse to talk to her, anyway.