After being on maternity leave, I was able to go back to work. "It's good to see you." Luke Mathews was one of my co-workers and good friend. He was one of the first people to greet me when I arrived. He hugged me and I returned the hug. I remember when I first worked at the company, I had developed a small crush on him. "You too!" He was so sweet; and we got along instantly. He mentioned that he had heard I had a kid. Luke and I were in the lounge having lunch. I nodded and told him the rumor was true. He congratulated me and I thanked him. I showed the picture of my daughter, Isabelle. "She's just as beautiful as her mother." smiled he. I was certain that at some point Luke had a crush on me as well, or still does.

"I can't wait for you to meet her." I told him.

"I'd love to meet her." he said. After work, I drove home and entered. Taylor and Chad were over at the house babysitting. The two of them had started dating. It was a surprise to me that they'd end up being a couple. "You should pay us to babysit your daughter." Taylor smirked. I rolled my eyes and set my stuff down. I walked into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. The week wasn't over yet, and I was already tired. Though I guess that's the life of motherhood. I was so relieved that our friends were able to watch our daughter while Troy and I were at work. As much as I had wished for Luke to see Isabelle, my friends didn't know him that well. One weekend, Troy was enjoying his day off by helping with Isabelle. My phone rang and I picked up. "Hello?"

"Gabs, it's Brandon. I was wondering if you'd like to meet for dinner tonight. Say around 7?" he asked. Troy was oblivious to the conversation I was having on the phone. I nodded and told him that I'll see him then. He told me where to meet him and hung up the phone afterwards. Troy asked who had called when entering the kitchen, holding Isabelle. I told him that it was Brandon who wants me to meet him for dinner. I couldn't lie to him. It was hard enough as it is for him to lie to Sharpay about our daughter. He didn't look happy at the mention of Brandon's name. "Isabelle seems fond of him." I said.

"He doesn't come over and visit." Yeah, when you're not around. I thought sourly. Though, I haven't seen Brandon at all since Isabelle's birth. We were close, but now it seems as though we hardly speak to each other these days. I wasn't sure what the occasion was. Brandon never really went into specifics about the dinner. Guess what I was already wearing seemed appropriate. I mean after all, we were two old friends having dinner together. There was no harm in that. I drove out to the restaurant and parked in the lot. Brandon texted me that he was waiting for me inside when I had arrived. "Hey Brandon." I smiled when I entered the restaurant.

Brandon looked different. He had grown out his facial hair. Though his hair was still the same, but a few inches longer. He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep lately, which led me to assume that something was going on. A waiter approached our table and asked what I would like to drink. I told him that a glass of water would be fine for now. I was handed a menu before he walked away. "How are you?" asked Brandon.

"Good, just tired." The waiter came back with my glass. I told him my order and handed the menu back to him. I took a drink from the glass. "Troy's been such a great help. We both work, so we ask Tay to babysit. Chad comes over as well sometimes. Clearly, Troy's starting to become father material. It's hard for me to imagine doing all of this by myself, having a job and a baby." Brandon nodded and looked down. Something was definitely on his mind. He had been silent for sometime. I knew he wouldn't tell me a thing, unless I coaxed it out of him. He's almost never quiet. I mean he's always telling me stories about what is going on in his life. The silences was all new to me. "Is everything okay?" He muttered that things were fine and continued eating.

"I'm concerned Brandon."

"I know that Brie." This time he sounded a bit harsh, as if he was on edge. What did I do? I was trying to reach out to him as a friend, except sometimes my maternal instincts would kick in. Maybe I should just let him breathe for a minute. I reached out and touched his hand to reassure him that it was okay for him to open up to me. Brandon looked at my hand placement before his eyes met mine. I had almost forgotten how blue they were, especially when he looked sad. "Talk to me, please?" Despite him acting out this way, I could see the truth in his eyes. He pulled his hand away and took another bite of his meal. He was acting like a child, stubborn. "I have to know what's going on with you."

"Why? So you can give me advice like always? I don't want your advice Gabriella. I don't need it. I don't think you will understand what I'm going through. So, stop asking." Brandon got up from his seat and exited the restaurant. There were people in the restaurant who glanced over at the table. I paid our bill and followed him outside. I called out his name many times. He still didn't answer me. He didn't turn to look at me at all. Why was he so upset? "Brandon, talk to me. As your friend, I need you to tell me what's going on." Brandon was walking in the direction of his car when he stopped. He didn't move from his spot for a few seconds. He turned around and walked up to me. He pressed his lips to mine. I resisted the kiss at first. His hands were on my cheeks to stop me from moving.

Finally I was able to push him away. My heart was being so loud in my chest. I could barely hear myself think. "I love you Brie. I don't think I could love anyone else more than I love you. The day your daughter was born. You asked me to hold her, and she looked up at me with those eyes. Those big brown eyes and... and I was jealous. No, more than jealous. I hate him. I hate Troy for having you, being with you. I thought that once he was married that when I came back, we could start over. No, you told me you had feelings for him and my heart sank. You always had feelings for him and never for me. You saw me as a friend and nothing more Gabriella. You chose someone else when I chose you.

"What he did to you is something I would've never done. From the second you told me you told me that you had feelings for him, I knew that I would never be able to be with a girl like you. I couldn't have you. It hurt. It hurt you didn't love me the way that you loved him. When we broke up, you enjoyed your life; and I was left miserable. Excuse me for saying this, I wanted you to be mine. I wanted to marry you, have kids with you, and grow old with you. Yet, you didn't see that future with me."

I stood before him, listening to him. Brandon was hurting, and he didn't want me to know about it. He kept it from me. "I did see that in you when we were together at some point. I thought I'd end up marrying, but people cha-"

"Gabriella, you know I don't give a crap about that. I was there for you throughout your entire pregnancy. I was by your side to make sure that you were okay. I was looking out for you when you needed someone. Just like you had done for me in the past. I wanted to make up for the lost time we had spent apart." he interrupted. I reached out and puled him into a hug. I felt his arms wrap around me and tears on my shoulder.

"My love for you will never die Brandon." I pulled away and looked into his eyes. "You and I will always be together, but as friends. You are the one person I cannot replace, not even Troy can replace you. So don't you ever think for one second that I don't need you or that I'm better off without you. We both know that I'm not as strong. You are my closest guy friend, and I need you. I want you to be there for Isabelle. Promise me that." Brandon nodded, and the two of us hugged again.