In all honesty, I never thought I'd come to this decision. I mean, yeah, of course I considered it. I just didn't think I would actually choose it. I'd tossed and turned over the dilemma at hand for nearly two weeks. And then...it just hit me like a ton of bricks. The choice was so obvious but I was too stubborn to acknowledge it. My parents could see my frustrations whenever we interacted. I wasn't mad at them.

How could I be?

They had mad me an offer that I had only dreamed of ever since we had first moved out here. But surely enough as time passed I adjusted to the environment and its people. I had made friends. And what was even more surprising was that I had made good friends. Yet none could hold a candle to what I had in my hometown. My roots were there. I had spent my childhood there. My most beloved memories were there. I couldn't ignore that fact.

Yet here, I loved it. I really did. After getting used to the city life I couldn't help but let it grow on me. I liked living in a city where people were always on the go. Like life would pass them by if they didn't move fast enough. I'll admit, the spry pace threw me a bit at first but it grew on me. This place had become a part of me, and I a part of it. I liked that. A lot.

So how did I choose between a place where my roots and most cherished moments had taken place, and another where I fit in so perfectly where I felt I had been there my entire life? The answer was simpler than I had first imagined. As Lizzie had said, ultimately, I knew deep down what was right for me.

"Dad? Mom?"

"In here, David." Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Gordon were discussing his most recent patient who had only a single, yet complex mental disorder. His history was quite fascinating, yet it didn't explain how he had come to be in his present mental state. Mrs. Gordon was adding her two cents to the issue when their son walked in looking disheveled, yet oddly relieved. Her husband had obviously picked up on the latter.

"Have you reached a decision, son?"

Gordo gripped one of the kitchen's chairs with both hands and took a steady breath. "Yeah."

"So," Mrs. Gordo said. "Which is it going to be?"

He looked up and met his Mother's eyes which only confirmed what she already knew.

"Dave!" Danielle greeted him with a bear hug. "Where have you been? Vicki said you dropped like last week. What's up?"

Gordo pulled back with a small smile. "I think I should be the one asking questions."

She looked puzzled.

"How was your date?"

"Oh." she blushed. "Well let's see, it could have gone better..."

They both sat on the beat-up couch that was parked just inside her garage. It was too hot to be standing around in the hot sun. The shade provided by the inside of the small structure was more than welcomed.

"So what happened?" he asked curiously.

"Well I tripped twice while we were out, I--"

"You feel or you just stumbled?"

"Okay I didn't fall but--"

"Then that's no biggie."

"The point is I almost feel. I was a total klutz the whole night!"

"Oh c'mon, it couldn't have been that bad."

"Well it wasn't the worst. But it certainly wouldn't be noted as one of the world's greatest dates, either."

Gordo laughed and let her continue. Turns out there was a few misfortunes during the evening; most committed on her part. But as she said, it could have been worse. If anything, it just sounded like her nerves got the better of her. From the sounds of it, her date, 'Mr. Clean' was just as nervous as she was. She said he had asked her out the following weekend and she accepted.

"Maybe things will run more smoothly," Gordo said hopefully.

Danielle rolled her eyes. "They'd better."

They shared a short laugh. A screen door slam provoked them both to look up.

"Don't worry, Davey." Vicki said as she joined the pair. " I already got the details out of her. This boy sounds good enough to me."

"That's a relief. But hey I'm glad I've got you both here 'cause I've got some news."

"Everything okay?" Vicki asked. Gordo looked intently into both their faces and was hit with the images of Lizzie and Miranda.

"Um yeah. Well I...um. I mean things haven't really been normal lately."

Danielle laughed. "No shit. You've been like a friggin' phantom lately. Where've you been?"

When Gordo didn't even offer a small smile, Vicki knew something was up. He was a serious cat, but she'd never before seen him this serious. "Are you sure everything's okay?" she asked.

Vicki genuinely seemed concerned. He felt bad having kept her in suspense these past couple weeks. Concern and worry were written all over her face. Danielle sensed the tension between the two and she grew worried as well.

"Guys? Is there something goin' on that I should know about?"

Well, Gordo thought, here goes...