A/N: Here's Chapter Seven. I'm not sure about this chapter. I'm not sure Claire's reaction is very realistic, but it's possible. I needed her to react this way for this story, so sorry if anyone thinks it isn't realistic. It's also relatively shorter than some of my others. But there is only one more chapter after this and an epilogue…then this story is finito! Done! I'm excited. This has been sitting for so long, that to get this much done in such a short amount of time is amazing even to me. Also, please vote in the poll on my profile…some of the choices are dead even right now. Enjoy! R&R! Thanks! –Mac
Disclaimer: I don't own HSM.
Chapter Seven
Troy sent Gabriella an apologetic look before he took off after Claire. He finally caught up to her on the sidewalk down at the corner from the bar. She didn't stop for him when he called out her name repeatedly. He was able to catch her arm bringing her to a stop, but she wouldn't face him. He took a moment to catch his breath before he started to talk.
"Claire, please, I can explain…" Troy began.
Claire whipped around, calling out, "I should have seen it!"
"It's not what you think, Claire."
"Tell me Troy, what do I think it is?" Claire raised an eyebrow.
"You think there's something going on between Gabriella and me," Troy answered.
"Isn't there?" Claire demanded. "You can't look at someone like you were looking at her and not feel something."
"Claire…I…" Troy stuttered, "I didn't…"
"I don't think you cheated on me," Claire murmured, "But the way you just were with her, I know there's something there. Something that was never there with us. It's like you've known each other far longer than a few weeks…like you've known each other for years…"
"Because we have…" Troy blurted out.
Claire's eyes widened, "What?"
"I met Gabriella on New Year's Eve ten years ago, back when I was still in high school. Long before I came here or met you," Troy explained. "I knew her for one night and never saw her again until you introduced her to me again—but she stuck with me. When you brought her to drinks that night, I panicked and pretended I had never seen her before."
"Why did you do that? You could have been honest with me. Instead of having me find out like this," Claire questioned.
"I don't know," Troy shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Because it was my first instinct and I didn't want you to think I had lied to you on purpose. Because I thought you would react the wrong way. Because…"
"Because…you knew," Claire had a sudden realization. "You knew there was something special about her. Something that was uniquely hers."
Troy sighed, but knew that it was the time to admit it, "I knew the night I first met her…ten years ago."
Claire nodded, beginning to reach into her purse, "It figures. You didn't start acting weird until I started bringing her around. I just have one question. When did you get this?"
Claire held out a ring box and Troy's eyes widened, "Where did you get that?"
"Your gym bag—honestly Troy, not very original. I know what that is. It's your mother's engagement ring. She showed it to me the last time I saw her," Claire said. "Which means at sometime between then and now you asked her for it, to give to me. But you never did."
"I couldn't," Troy choked out. "I couldn't do that to you."
"I understand now. I thought it was because you weren't ready for the commitment. But now I see, it wasn't because it was the wrong time, it was because I was the wrong person."
"I didn't want you to be the wrong person," Troy responded. "I was just conflicted. I had felt that way since I asked for the ring. You wanted me to propose, Chad wanted me to get it over with, my parents wanted me to settle down. The more everyone pushed, the more I pulled away. And when Gabriella turned up, all the doubts I had doubled."
"Maybe we're both better off this way," Claire said, trying to hold back the tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Troy had nothing else he could really say. "I'm so, so sorry."
"I'm sorry too," Claire agreed, "I know I pushed you, and I shouldn't have done that."
"It's not your fault. You knew what you wanted, I can't fault you for that," Troy shook his head, "I'm the one who was uncertain."
"The heart wants what it wants," Claire forced out a garbled laugh through her tears. "This is not how I pictured our night going."
"There would be a problem if it was," Troy tried to lighten the mood.
Claire nodded, "I would have been pretty demented if I had hoped for this."
"So this is it?" Troy said after they had bee standing there quietly for a long moment.
"It has to be," Claire responded, "I think I'm going to go home. I'm going to pack a bag and go stay at my brother's. I'll get the rest of my things another day."
"Claire, you don't have to do that. I can…"
"Yes, I do," Claire corrected, smiling weakly. "It's best if we don't see each other for awhile. I do love you Troy, but she is the one for you. I could see that, the whole bar could see that when you were singing with her."
"I love you too, Claire," Troy said, "You know that right?"
Claire nodded, "Just not in the way you love Gabriella."
"I don't—" Troy started.
Claire cut him off, "You do, even if you don't know it yet."
Troy hung his head, sighing, "I didn't want it to be like this."
"I know," Claire replied, "But I have faith that things will work out in the end…for both of us." She took a visible deep breath before saying, "You should be getting back inside. Tell Gabriella…"
"Yeah," Troy nodded. "Goodnight Claire."
"Goodbye Troy," Claire murmured smiling sadly.
Troy turned and head back toward the entrance of the bar. He didn't go inside right away. He waited for Claire to hail a cab and get inside. He watched the cab drive away until he couldn't see it anymore. And even then he stood staring out at the street. He felt as if a part of his life had just disappeared down the street with Claire. But inside the bar was another phase of his life waiting for him if he chose to take the chance. And for the first time, in a long time, he knew exactly what he wanted. A part of him told him that he had known all along, he had only just then allowed himself to want it. It was upon that realization that Troy turned on his heel and walked back into the bar.
