Gabriella stood in front of her mirror and glanced at the image reflected. "why do you even care about what you look like." she said to herself. Turning away from the mirror she looked back at her bed and the pile of clothes that now took up most of the full size mattress. "because the last two times troy has laid eyes on you, you looked like crap." letting out a huff she walked across the room and into the closet once more. "this is sign that I've become boring" she said shifting through all of her t-shirts and sweaters. "god I swear off men and apparently I stopped being sexy." letting out a gasp she ran back in front of the mirror. "did I get fatter?" she shrieked looking in front of the mirror and trying to see all of her body at once. "oh no." she whispered as she stared at a little tiny start of a belly forming. Suddenly she felt extremely self conscious. Collapsing on to the chair in her room she let out a sigh. "what am I doing its just a dinner at Taylor's house." She told herself. Gabriella looked at the pile on her bed. She looked down at her cream skirt and v-neck tan blouse. "ew" pulling off the blouse she tossed it on to the pile and slipped out of her skirt.

Standing in her room in nothing but her under wear she glanced in the mirror with a grimace wearing white granny panties and a plain bra was just the start of her problems. Walking over to her dresser she pulled out a green silky set panties and matching bra pulling her hair from the up do it tumbled down past her shoulders. Walking over to the bed she started picking up clothes and placing them back on the hanger. As she put the clothes away she decided black v-neck shirt with a blue vest over it and a pair of hip hugging jeans. Leaving her hair down, she slip on some simple black flats and applied the basic make up and perfume. When she sat down in front of her jewelry box she took note that it was a quarter till six. When she opened it the first thing that came into attention was her ring section. Seven engagement rings looked back at her as she sighed and ran her finger over all of them. She reached for her butterfly necklace and a few bangle bracelets. I don't look like I'm trying. It's just a fun night out and I want to feel like a girl. Nothing to do with Troy.

Gabriella sat in her living room reading from her economics book when the buzzed sounded.

"Coming" she said getting up from the couch. When she opened the door she came face to face with Troy. "Hey let me get my purse and then we can go." she said. Leaving him in the door way Troy glanced in looking around the small cozy apartment. Taking in the essence that was Gabriella. Lots of books pictures and natural colors. Looking over at a particular chair he caught a breath as he looked at the chair that use to be in his own living room years back. Suddenly his mind wondered to the act that took place in that chair so many years back when she was more innocent and he was boy living alone with a girl. That can't be the same chair. Troy heard her mumble something as she walked into the room taking his mind of the chair and made him snap out of his memory.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"I said I should have cleaned had I known you'd be examining my apartment." She said swinging her purse over her shoulder.

Troy looked around the rest of the room and took in the piles of papers and open books that seem to erupt all over the apartment.

"I'm not here to judge." He said shrugging and holding his hands up.

The car ride was quite but it was comfortable. Troy eyes would linger from the road to the bombshell of woman sitting in the passenger seat staring out the window. He hair was longer then he remembered and as far as he was concerned he never wanted her to cut it. Looking out into to traffic he smiled to himself as he took in her smell. It was everything he had not to kick himself, if only he could go back in time, or just make her forget. He never wanted something he couldn't have so badly. Never wanted to kiss someone with so much passion. He had to win her back. Had to convince her that they could not be friends. But right now being her friend was better then being hated and treaded as an outcaste.

"so Taylor said something about helping you out until your settled, she also said that your working with Chad?" she said cutting into his thoughts.

Troy shook his head clear and looked into the rear view mirror then at her. "I'm a basketball coach now." Troy smiled and Gabriella sighed.

"like farther like son." she said. "I actually love it, I can't believe how much kids open up if you give them the chance." he said.

At first he really wasn't all that into the idea of coaching he thought that he was meant for more but as be spent time with the kids and enjoyed teaching Troy soon learned that he loved it. "I'm currently living in the guest bed room. He said but its only until I can talk down the price of this one place I fell in love with." he said coolly.

"You sound on top of your game, I must say it's very responsible of you." she said playfully as she leaned back into the seat. For a moment she was settled then she looked puzzled and turn to face Troy. "wait you were a basketball champion and one of the top players in the league. Your salary must have been my college tuition. What happened." she said leaning forward.

"wow someone was keeping up." he stated looking at her with a sideways glance.

"it's a fact Troy, you might not have been my favorite person on the team but you lead them to three state champions." she looked at the car and then back at him. "some one like you just doesn't drive a ford." she stated.

"well I'm sorry my BMW is in the shop. This was the best rental my good looks could buy." he teased.

"funny."

"don't worry I am as you say loaded. I guess." he shrugging and making a face.

"right." she grunted and leaned back in the seat.

Pulling in front of the house Troy sighed and cut the engine. "look, you're not the only one who got mature and more level headed." taking the keys out of the ignition he leaned towards her. "we all grow up."

she was close and he was aware of how tense they both were. he took his chance to enjoy looking at her from this close. She was quite and she was still almost as if she expected him to do something. "I'm not as dumb as I once was." he said a little raspier then he intended. Sensing control losing its grip he pulled away and push his door open.