The weekend flew by, and now, on Monday morning, Troy found himself in Gabriella's office patiently awaiting for her to get to work. He thought about what she had said to him, and he realized she was right. It's not like she was asking for specifics, she just wanted to make sure he was ok and offering an ear. He should have at least told her that he was really ok, and give her the gist of it, but he messed up and he feels awful for ever making her doubt their friendship. Because he thought it was headed in a really good direction. They finally were in a place where they could joke and mess around with each other, poke fun at one another. He didn't want to go back to how they were the first month, he really didn't.

His thoughts were soon interrupted by Cat, the secretary, "Troy?"

Troy immediately lifted his head his head, thinking Gabriella just walked in, but was a little disappointed to just see Cat and a girl with blond hair standing in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"Um, Tiffany's here for you. You weren't in your office, so I figured you might be in here," Cat explained, not knowing who the hell the girl behind her was, and thankful that Gabriella wasn't in yet because surely she'd be annoyed. She had informed Cat about what happened over the weekend, and Cat wasn't Troy's number 1 fan at the moment.

Troy was so lost. Who the hell is this, he thought. But then quickly remembered that Tiffany was the girl his mom set him up with. She had called him over the weekend to apologize, and of course he accepted, and she didn't let him get off the phone until he agreed to go on a date with her friends daughter. She thought it'd be good to at least start hanging out with girls again.

"Oh right," Troy smiled at both of them, trying to hide his disappointment. He didn't want to go on this date, but he promised his mom. "Thanks Cat"

Cat turned around to walk out, but Troy interrupted her, "Where's Gabriella?"

She turned around and gave him a 'why do you care look', but felt the need to answer him anyway, "she had a doctor's appointment, she should be in around 12"

Troy nodded as Cat turned back around and then walked up to Tiffany and introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Troy"

She smiled, and grabbed his hand into hers, "Tiffany"

"So how are you? Want to get going?"

Tiffany nodded, "Yeah, I'm ready whenever you are. I know I'm a bit early, but I was already in the neighborhood and didn't want to drive back"

Troy understood. Driving in LA was horrible. That's the only reason he misses New York sometimes. "No, that's fine. Let me just go get my keys and wallet"

"Troy!" He turned his head towards the doorway to see Mr. Zaragoza standing there, much to his surprise. He thought he was out of town. Shit. He thought. "My office please. I have a few things to discuss"

He looked over at Tiffany, and then back at Jose not knowing what the hell he should do.

"Um I was actually on my way out, I'm taking my lunch break"

Jose was probably the best boss out there. He was not only their boss, he was their friend. He was always really understanding, he joked around with them, and treated them as an equal. He knew this girl was probably here for a lunch date with Troy. And he really didn't want to ruin that, but he really needed to discuss a few things before he left the office in an hour.

"It'll take less than 5 minutes, I'm sorry, but I'm out of here by 1 and I really need to run these things by you"

Troy looked over at Tiffany who smiled, and said, "It's ok, I'll wait here"

He smiled and followed Jose out the door.

"Cat, any mail?" Gabriella asked as she approached her desk upon arriving, "I'm expecting that cute top from topshop!"

Cat laughed. She was always ordering clothes and having them shipped to the office, because according to her, it "made her work day a little better" by receiving clothes. "No, nothing yet"

Gabriella groaned. It had been a week since she ordered it. "Ok, thanks. Let me know if it does, I'll be in my office"

She turned the corner and entered her office and was a little startled to see a stranger in there. Before even confronting her, she backed up and went back to Cat's desk, "Um who's the blond in my office?"

Cat looked up from her computer, "Blond?" but then remembered about Tiffany, "oh, I don't know. One of Troy's friends, why?"

"Because she was just sitting in my office, what the fuck. Where's Troy?"

Cat shrugged. She had no idea. She thought him and Tiffany had left. Annoyed, Gabriella walked away and went to Troy's office, but after not finding him there, she went to Zaragoza's. He had to be in there, they're always in there talking. She didn't even bother to knock, she just barged right in, and sure enough there he was talking to Jose.

"Who the fuck is in my office?"

Jose stopped talking, and chuckled a bit. He couldn't help but to. Anyone who's been in the office for the last month or so could tell Troy and Gabriella were attracted to each other, but are too afraid to admit it or don't even know it yet. And apparently, Gabriella was figuring out that she was indeed attracted to him. He knew Tiffany would cause something. And he was also laughing because he felt like it was his fault, after all, he did drag Troy out of there, leaving her no choice but to wait in there.

Troy quickly got up off the chair, "Jeez, chill. It's a friend."

Gabriella realized she probably came off a little bit too strong, so she took a step back and composed herself. "Look, just because I have a sofa in my office, it does not mean it's a waiting room for your guests, ok? Get her out. I have things to do," she let him know before storming off and slamming the door behind her.

Troy stood there, a little shocked at how annoyed she was. He figured it only added fuel to the fire that occurred on Friday. He didn't even think it would be a big deal. She wasn't even supposed to be here for another 10 minutes.

He sat back down on the chair, and looked at Zaragoza, "Well, I guess we're back to where we started"

Jose just laughed, "Why don't you man up and ask her out instead of bringing these girls to get her jealous?"

Wait. What. Was Troy hearing him correctly? He thought Tiffany was someone he was going on a date with so he could make Gabriella jealous? Yeah, right. He was going against his own will.

"Man, seriously, I didn't know Gabriella was going to be here. We were seriously leaving, and you interrupted! This is your fault," he teased, "and I am not trying to make her jealous. Gabriella hates me"

Jose just gave him a whatever look, not really wanting to get into it right now, since Tiffany was waiting.

"Ok, we're done here. You can go to lunch now," he got up and started walking towards his door, "and whatever you did to Gabriella to make her upset, fix it. I need you guys to be on good terms."

Troy nodded, and rushed out of the office to get back to his lunch date. Man, can this day be over with already.

"Hey can I talk to you?"

Gabriella didn't even lift her head up, already knowing exactly who it was, and to be honest, she did not want to talk to him at all. She just wanted to be left alone so she could finish her work and go home and snuggle on this cold December day.

"I'm busy"

Troy couldn't help but chuckle a bit. He knew it was bullshit. But he also knew she was probably still upset about Friday, which was understandable. So instead of begging her to talk, he was just going to say what he wanted/needed to say, "Look, I'm sorry about Friday. I was just really frustrated and annoyed that my mom was pushing it because she knows the whole situation. And then when you asked if I was ok, I wasn't thinking clearly, and I got upset because I thought you were asking what my mom was asking, but you weren't. You were just checking to see if I was ok. I was upset, and I should have just said I was, and told you I was ok though. Instead, I blew up and I'm sorry about that."

Gabriella did understand where he was coming from because she did hear their whole conversation in the kitchen, but she was still a little hurt. She figured she should say something now, but he kept going...

"You don't know the situation, so to justify my behavior, but not excuse it, I'll give you a little run down. I was with Hannah for about 3 years, we started living together, and then I figured marriage came next so evidently, I brought it up, but she said marriage wasn't for her. So what was the point? I broke it off. She didn't take it so well, but it's what was right. I moved here. She's trying to get in contact now, and my mother thought I should hear her out for some reason I can't even begin to think why. I hate talking about it. It's behind me. I moved back here to get away from her not so I can talk about her some more. It's not important anymore and I just want to move on from it. And I'm sorry"

Gabriella didn't even know how to respond to what he had just told her. She could either go the sympathy route, and say, she doesn't deserve you, you're better off and I'm sorry that happened. Or she could take the no pride route and apologize as well. She kept pushing it when it was really none of her business. She sat there quietly, debating what she should say.

Feeling like forever has passed by, she decided she should probably say something to him now, but the only words that could come out of her mouth were, "I'm sorry, too"

Troy smiled a little bit, who was now sitting on the couch, and ran his hand through his hair before getting up and walking towards her desk.

"Can we just put this behind us and go back to how we were? I liked that place"

Gabriella nodded. She liked that place too. Maybe a little bit too much. But God, she'd never tell him that.

"Yes, we can. And let's not talk about this, your situation, whatever, ever again"

"I like that plan," Troy, of course, flashed her one of his most signature smiles, "Are you going to the Christmas party tomorrow night?"

The Christmas Party. Gabriella forget all about that. It was the 14th already? She thought. Although the Christmas parties were always fun... lots of booze, a good crowd, fun music... she didn't feel like going this year and she had no idea why.

"I'm not sure, I'm not really feeling it this year"

Troy was a little sad. He wanted to her go. He was actually going to ask if she wanted to go with him. Well, carpool. He heard the parties were always a good time so he was looking forward to it and to getting to know everyone at work out of the work environment. Gabriella had to go.

"C'mon, we can carpool. I heard they're a lot of fun"

Carpool? Like a date or is this just so he doesn't show up alone? Gabriella was a little set on not going, so she didn't know why she was changing her mind right now. If Cat asked her, she'd probably say no, but it's Troy asking her and she can't seem to bring herself to say no. What is going on.

"Well, ok. We can go straight from here tomorrow if you'd like?"

"Sounds good," Troy said, "I gotta go, need to make a few calls. I'll see you later"

Gabriella nodded and waved goodbye. Oh man.