Chapter 2

The tears had stopped, and Gordo was trying to get himself together before he went home. He hadn't seen his parents in almost a year, and he didn't want them to see him like that. He decided not to come home for Thanksgiving, which caused them to get in a huge fight, and helped Gordo make the decision not to come home for Christmas. The past 4 years, the Gordon's had come to see Gordo for Thanksgiving and Christmas; this past year they wanted him to come to see them. He had told them no, and they hadn't talked until he called them a few weeks ago to tell them he was coming in. He could hear his father's voice when he called.

"Dad, hey it's me."

"Hello son. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Just wanted to call to tell you I am coming in, and to see if it was cool to crash at your place."
"I don't see why that would be a problem."

"Ok. Thanks. I'll be there in two weeks."
"OK"
"OK. Bye."
"Bye."

Gordo shuttered as he remembered how cold the conversation had been. There was no emotion from his dad when he told him he was coming home. He couldn't tell if that was all an act or, if his dad really didn't want him to come, not that Gordo really wanted to be there either.

His stomach was knotted up again as he passed his house. He didn't want to stop just yet. He was too nervous to. He went around the block and passed another familiar house. He slowed his car way down until it eventually came to a stop. It looked exactly the same. Two big oak trees in the front yard, the porch swing were he had spent so many lazy days with her. "Does she still live there? Did she go to college? Do her parents still live there?" He had so many questions about her that he wanted so bad to find out. It had been to long since she had even talked to her. "She probably won't even remember my name." He thought about all the times he had passed by her house, wanting to stop, to say something to her. He could feel in his heart how he had felt 5 years ago. He hurt her, and he didn't care back then. At least he didn't let her know that he cared. If only she knew how many nights he laid awake crying, wishing he could have her back…wishing he could change the past.

"Why are you doing this Gordo?" She said sobbing.

"Why do you even care? I stopped caring along time ago. Get over it, just like I'm over you." With that he walk to his car and left her crying on the porch swing. He never looked back, because he knew if he would have, he would have broken down. His mind told him he was doing the right thing, but in his heart he knew he was making a big mistake, yet he never looked back.

The door of the house opened, which startled Gordo from his deep thought.

She looked out at the street and she thought she recognized that car.

He felt his heart skip a beat and then realized he couldn't be seen by her. "Oh my God. She looks amazing." He thought as he pushed the gas peddle as hard as he could. His tires squealed as he took off in a hurry. "Huh! You're always 17 in your hometown." He knew what Officer Johnson meant now. No matter how long he had been gone, or how far away he had gotten from her, she was a part of him. But this is not what he wanted. He didn't come back here to see her, or to re-live the past. He had moved on, right? He thought about his new life, or so he called it. He was happier away from Hillridge…right?

He still had so many questions in his head, and he just didn't feel like going to his house to face his parents, but he knew he would have to eventually. He drove around his old neighborhood a while longer, going by her house a few more times in hopes he would be able to see her, but the house was dark and quite every time he drove by. He wanted so bad to pull in and say hello to her, but he didn't think she would care to see him, even if she remembered who he was. Even though he thought leaving Hillridge was the best choice he made, he still couldn't get over the fact that he had broken her heart. But he knew he had to. He was going to break her heart no matter what he did, and he wanted it to be on his terms, and his way. He never meant to be that harsh to her, but it was the only way he knew how to be to her. If was nice to her and let her down easy he would have given in to easy. "No, it was the best that way." He said out loud.

He was still thinking how he left her so long ago as he pulled into his driveway. All of a sudden he felt nauseas and had butterflies in his stomach. He almost forgot that he had to see his parents. He sat in his car feeling like he was going to be sick and wondering what he was going to say to them. The house was dark, except for the porch light, which Gordo knew his mom had turned on for him. She once told him that she turned on the porch light every night for him, just incase he ever came home late at night. Gordo wanted to tell her that he seriously doubted that he was going to drive 8 hours to come home without her knowing, but he didn't because he didn't want to hurt her. He just told her that was very nice and he appreciated it. "Maybe they're sleeping." Gordo thought. He slowly opened the car door and stepped out. His legs where shaking. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this nervous to see his parents. He grabbed his bag from the back seat and walked up the walk to the front door. He took a deep breath and rang the door bell. He didn't know whether to just go in or ring the door bell for permission, so he thought the safest thing would be to ring the bell. He heard footsteps coming to the door and unlocking it. The door opened and there stood his mother. She had the biggest smile he had ever seen her have.

"David!" She screamed and pulled him into a huge hug.

"Hey mom." Gordo said, a little less enthusiastic. He hugged her back, but with only one arm as he was holding bag in the other.

"Howard! David's home!" His mom yelled. Gordo could hear his heavy footsteps coming around the corner. Gordo didn't make a move, not with his body or his facial expressions; he just kept his blank look.

"Hello son." His dad said as he came up to him.

"Hi." Gordo's voice was as cold as his dad's was.

"How was the drive? No problems with the car?"
"No sir, no problems at all. The drive was fine."
"Good." The two just stood there looking at each other. An awkward silence fell upon the three of them, until his mother couldn't stand it anymore.

"Well, hon, why don't you go ahead and get settled in. Your father and I are watching the news if you'd like to join us." Gordo was really too tired to watch TV, and he didn't want to face his dad.

"Umm…no mom. I'm really tired. I had a long day of driving you know. I think I'll just go to bed."

"Oh ok. I'll be in to check on you in a minute." His mom said, still trying to be cheerful. Gordo's dad just shook his head walked away. Gordo watched as his dad walked away then looked at his mom, who had a big smile on her face.

"Goodnight, mom."
"Goodnight David. I'm glad you're home."

"Thank you." Gordo said, not wanting to tell his mom the truth that he wasn't glad he was home. He picked up his bag and walked to his room.