Chapter 7

Gordo followed Miranda out of the kitchen to the deck outside. He didn't notice the harsh look Miranda had given her mother as they were leaving the room.

"What is it Miranda?" Gordo asked as they sat down on the deck chairs.

"Well, I know my mom asked you to dinner but there is a bit of a problem." She said pausing.

"Well…" Gordo said a little confused.

Miranda looked straight into his eyes. "Lizzie." Gordo took a deep breath. "She's comin over to eat dinner. She stopped by earlier and my mom asked her to come to dinner as well."

"Oh." Gordo looked out at the Sanchez's back yard. "So you don't want me to stay?"
"It's not that…it's just…I don't want it to be awkward that's all."

"I know." Gordo looked down at floor. He knew exactly what Miranda was saying to him. She reached out and grabbed his hand. Gordo looked up at her and wanted to break down, but he did all he could to hold it in.

"I miss you Gordo. I'm really glad you are here." Gordo again lowered his head as the tears started fill up in his eyes. "Gordo?" She didn't understand why he was starting to cry.

"Miranda, I'm sorry."
"For what Gordo?"
"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye to you. I'm sorry for when I screwed up, you were the only one that stood by my side. I never said thank you. I messed a lot of things up Miranda, and I don't know how to fix them." Gordo started to cry a little harder as Miranda put her arms around him. "Just…thank you…for everything." He managed to sob out.

"Listen, you were my best friend, it's what I was suppose to do. You don't need to say anything." Gordo tried to stop crying. He looked up at Miranda, and whipped the tears from his face.

"Yes I do need to say thank you."

"Well, you're welcome. Now stop crying, or going to make me cry."

"Ok." Gordo laughed. The two sat there a little longer in silence thinking about what just happened.

"Why didn't you say goodbye?" Miranda finally asked. Gordo just looked away.

"You know when you called me, the first thing I thought about was how much I didn't want to come face everyone again. I didn't want to rehash the past. I'm happy in Denver, I really am. When you called me, the first thing I thought about was how I was feeling. I didn't think about how you felt calling me. I have been really, really selfish. I was just as selfish as the day I left here. I didn't say goodbye because…I didn't want to hurt myself. I knew it would. I even knew it would hurt you, whether or not I said goodbye. I just didn't want to face you, because I knew I would be hurt." Miranda sat there soaking up all that Gordo had just said. "But, I am sorry I didn't say goodbye. And I really still don't want to rehash everything, but it seems everyone is forcing me to."

"That's because we had so many questions for you. You changed so much our senior year Gordo. We didn't know why. We didn't know what happened, or if we did something. We didn't know why you left. We just didn't know ANYTHING!" Miranda started to get upset.

"Calm down. I know."

"I don't think you do Gordo. You cheated on the ACT and everything went down hill. WHY?"

"Because I couldn't take the pressure. I needed the scholarship to get in school. I lost that chance, and then it seemed my life just fell apart."

"I know it did. I watched as you started drinking almost every night. I stood by your side when you cheated on Lizzie. I was at the game that you showed up drunk to. I WAS THERE GORDO!" He just looked down at the floor. He had no idea what to say. "You do have a lot of questions to answer, but I think you need to figure out the answers for yourself first. Because it seems like no matter how much you think you have everything figured out, you don't, do you?" Gordo just shook his head 'no'. "Not to be mean Gordo, but I don't think you need to stay here for dinner. Not if you're going to blame everyone else for your problems. Because if you ever think your going to get over what happened in the past you need to face it first. Face the fact that you screwed up and you hurt a lot of people. You know I didn't want you to come here so I could lecture you, but don't sit here and tell me people are forcing you to do what you don't want to do. You always did what you wanted to do Gordo."

"Miranda, stop. I got your point. I haven't moved on anymore than you or my parents have. I just thought I did."

"You're right. I never forgot about you not say goodbye to me. Not even one call from you. But I am your friend, and I will always be here for you, but you need to figure out for yourself that there are consequences for every action you take. Even if it was 5 years ago. No, Gordo, you're right, I haven't moved on."

"Has Lizzie?" Gordo asked softly. Miranda looked at him with questioning eyes.

"Do you think she has Gordo?" He just shook his head. "How could she? She was so in love with you. When you changed, she could take it. She couldn't take seeing the man that she loved, the man that she was going to go to college with and hoped to get married to, go down like you went down. So you tell me, do think she got over it?"

"No, because I never got over her either." Gordo said looking up at Miranda.

"I know you haven't."

"Miranda, honey, Ethan is here." Miranda's mom called out the door.

"Ok, mom, send him out here." She said to her mom, and then turned to Gordo. "Ethan and Larry have been roommates since freshman year of college, and is Larry's best man."

"Hey Miranda." Ethan said, and then stopped as he saw him.

"Hey Ethan." Gordo said with a smile, standing up to greet him.

"Yo, GOR-DON!" Ethan said giving Gordo a man hug (A half hug, half hand shake). "You made it, great!" They made small talk about what Gordo had been doing, and what Ethan had been up to.

"What are you doin here Ethan?" Miranda asked him.

"Well my dear, my roomie is about to have his last few days of freedom, and well as you know it is a guys tradition to have a little get together."

"Yes, I know Ethan. So why are you here again?"

"Well, I came to ask the permission of the bride to be if it would be fine if we took the man of the hour to a gentleman's club?"

"You know my rule on the bachelor party. No strippers, but a strip club is fine."

"Sweet. Yo Gor-don, you want to come to the party?"

"Sure when is it?"

"Tonight. Meet us at my old house at 10 o'clock."

"Awesome, I'll be there man."

"Sweet, we'll see you then." Ethan gave Miranda and Gordo a hug and left. Gordo and Miranda sat back down, and were silent for a minute.

"Gordo, I'm sorry I got upset, it's just that…"

"It's fine. No need to apologize. I need to hear that from a close friend. I need to hear that I was being stupid. Thank you for lecuting me." They both smiled and hugged each other.

"So are you going to stay for dinner?" Gordo laughed nervously.

"I don't know. I don't know if Lizzie would really want to see me right now."

"I think this would be a great time to see her. It won't be too awkward. I'm here you know."

"Yeah, I think you're right. I'll stay if you'll have me?"

"Of course. You are one of my best friends and one of my bridesmaids." They both laughed and walked into the house to get ready for dinner. Gordo was more nervous than ever. He was about to see Lizzie for the first time in 5 years, but he knew he had Miranda there to help him.