I know I said that I wanted to finish Obstacles before I published this story, but I couldn't wait any longer! So I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter One

Gabby POV

I parked my car in front of the building I know so well. As I pull the keys from the ignition and open the door my breath manages to get caught in my throat. A stillness takes over my body and I begin to think this was a bad idea.

"You need to do this," I tell myself over and over again as I close my car door and begin to walk closer to his apartment. I play the conversation in my mind a hundred times and a hundred different ways, what I'm going to say to him, his reaction when I finally tell him how I feel. I continue to climb the steps to his front door that is when I notice all the newspapers piled on his stoup. Worry courses through my blood now as I reach for the door.

I quietly knock and call out Matt's name, but the door slowly falls open to my movements. I timidly cross the threshold and call for Matt again. Uncertainty plagues my voice. As I step further in, Matt's back is to me and he is seated at the table. The house is quite, but Matt jumps out of his seat and focuses on me. By the look on his face and the condition of his messy living room, he is broken.

"Nothing makes sense," he replies lost in his own words and a distant look on his face.

I slowly move to his direction. Once I reach him, I pull him into me trying my best to comfort him. Our bodies connect and I feel him begin to shake and I feel wetness on my shoulder. Tears begin to form in my own eyes as I hold the strongest person I know. We don't say anything, just stand in his apartment, each one of us grieving for different reasons. Matt grieving for the lost of Hallie and I am grieving for the man in front of me.

Matt POV

I have tried to keep my pain to myself, I have tried to put on this brave face and not show how I'm dying inside. Seeing Gabby standing here in my hell, made me realize I'm not doing well on my own. I'm not living anymore, just going through the motions of each day. As I shift, I fell her arms around me tighten, causing me to break. I can't hold it inside anymore, I can't hide anymore. For the first time since the hospital, I cry for her and everything Hallie and I once shared.

Gabby POV

I don't know how long we stood in silence, but Matt was the first one to pierce the air.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled pulling himself back.

"For what?" I ask unsure of why he would apologize.

"I'm a mess," he stated as he pointed around the room. "You shouldn't have to see me like this."

"Matt, we are friends, really great friends and I don't care what type of mess you are. I'm going to be here for you," I said as I looked directly into his blue eyes. I wanted to make sure he knew I was here for him, no matter what, no matter what he needed.

He didn't say anything; he just nodded his head and looked around the room. I could tell having me here with the condition of the apartment embarrassed him. I didn't want to leave him alone, but I wanted to give him dignity and pride.

"When was the last time you had a home cooked meal?"

Matt tilted his head toward the empty pizza boxes on the couch, "not in a while," he replied.

"Well if you would like, I can run to the store and grab something to make dinner," I suggest in hopes that I can help him.

"Gabby, I don't need a babysitter," he spoke softly somewhat turning away from me.

"I know, but I'm going to be fixing dinner for myself anyways."

"I'll get cleaned up," Matt simply stated.

"Is there anything special you want me to pick up?"

"Whatever you want is fine," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

I nodded my head, "I should be back in an hour or so." I waited a moment but Matt did not reply. I turn around and walked back to my car. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I feel the tears run down my face, the tears I had been holding back since the moment I saw Matt. I cried for him and Hallie, I cried for the pain he is feeling over her death, but I also cry for knowing the feelings I have for Matt will never be returned.

Matt POV

I didn't mean to let myself go but like I told Gabby, nothing makes sense. When I'm at work, I'm able to only think about the job, but when I'm alone everything just stops and my mind goes straight to the fact that Hallie is dead and I couldn't save her. My chest tightens as I think about the fact she will no longer walk through the door or laugh at one my stupid jokes.

I look around my apartment and take a deep breath, I really have done a number, I tell myself as I begin to collect empty beer bottles.

About a half hour later, my living room and dinning room are clean, back to their normal state. I run my hands over my face and decide to jump in the shower before Gabby gets back.

Gabby POV

I grab the brown bags out of the backseat of my car and move up the steps to Matt's apartment. I slowly open the door not wanting to startle Matt. I step into the living room quietly calling out his name, but I hear nothing in response, my heart begins to race as I look around the open room and move further in. As I walk past the closed bathroom door, I notice that the running is running. I let out the breath I didn't even realize I had been holding.

I decide not to interrupt him, so I headed straight into the kitchen with the bag of food and began to stack the fridge with the extra things I bought for him. I knew if I would have asked Matt if he wanted me to grab him anything else, he would have just said no, but after seeing the condition of his apartment I figured that there wouldn't be much food in his fridge and my assumptions were correct.

I heard the bathroom door open as I poured the cooked pasta into the strainer and heard him his steps moving closer to the kitchen.

"What are you making?" He asked standing from the doorway.

I looked over at him, he was wearing a CFD t-shirt and pair of jeans, "Chicken mac and cheese," I say as I turn my attention back to the food.

"Is this the famous Grandma Dawson's recipe I hear so much about?"

I smile as I pour the cooled pasta back into a pot, "Yeah, she taught me how to make it when I was twelve and somehow it always makes me feel better." I bit my lip as soon as the words left my mouth, I could feel my cheeks begin to redden from my embarrassment.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked looking around.

"Sure, those peppers need to be cut up," I said as I nodded my head in the direction of the cutting board on the counter.

Matt didn't say anything as he walked over and grabbed the knife. I watched a moment as he held the pepper on its side and began to cut into it. I turned my attention back to flipping the chicken in the pan, but my mind never left Matt. I couldn't stop thinking about what I had seen early today, it sprang tears to my eyes.

Matt POV

The meal Gabby cooked smelled amazing and from the few bites I did eat it tasted amazing. My appetite hasn't been real present that last few days. I look over at Gabby as she begins to clear the table.

"Thank you," I say as she reaches for the dish in the middle of the table.

"Oh you're welcome," she replies moving into the kitchen.

I grab my own plate and follow her; she is standing at the sink washing off her used dish.

"I can clean this up, you don't have to," I tell her as I stand next to her at the sink. I know she is trying to be a good friend, but these are things that I can do myself.

"It's a habit," she smiles as she sets on the dish off to the side of the sink. Gabby then glances over at the clock on the wall, "I should probably get going," she says as she dries her hands.

"Or you could stay," I say surprising myself and her. In all honestly it was nice not being alone with my thoughts and guilt. It was nice just being here with someone even if we didn't really talk. "We could watch a movie," I suggest.

"Okay," Gabby says with a nod of her head.

I pick a movie out from a stack and place it into the DVD player, and then I take the empty seat on the couch next to Gabby. We both sit in silence as the movie starts, I try to concentrate on the plot and the characters, but my eyes are growing heavy. Before I could realize what was happening my body went slack and my breathing slowed.

Gabby POV

As the plot of the story was gaining more intensity, I looked over at Matt to find him a sleep on the couch. I quickly looked around the living room in search of something to place over him and find a small blanket draped over the back of the chair in the corner of the living room. I quietly get up and grab the blanket and then place it over Matt's sleeping form. I then move to the TV to turn it off, so that Matt can sleep with out interruption. I then grab my jacket and purse, trying my best to make a graceful exist, but as I make my way to the door, Matt starts screaming "Hallie," he calls her name over and over again. I rush to him and begin to shake his tense body; tears are streaming down his face.

"Matt," I cry out trying to bring him back to me.

Author's Note: So this is my new story, what do you guys think? I feel that it is important to start from this point, because it really shows how great their friendship really is, but after this chapter and the next you will see how this story will be stand out on its own feet. Thanks!