Being back in Texas and not dating Smith is somewhat relieving.

Like, I don't have anyone to check in with, to put an effort in with, you know?

And I still like him. There are still feelings there, but it just didn't feel right me being here and him being over there in New York. Maybe it'll all be different when I move back. It'll be easier. Distance is a bitch. No wonder people in long distance relationships hardly ever work out. I get it now.

"So how'd you like it overall?" I ask Emily as the waitress drops a plate of fries in front of us to share.

She immediately grabs one and throws it in her mouth, "It's SO different. Fast paced, people everywhere, it's go go go all the time. But I like it. I think I'll be okay over there. We'll see. I need a change so I definitely want to go there."

I'm glad she liked it, despite Tara being a bitch.

And I'm also glad she still wants to go there for school. "Yeah, I obviously want to live there, and right now, my only choice is if I go to school out there so we'll see. I might join my brother at Columbia, but I'm also now just thinking about the West Coast for school. I think that'll be a big change for me."

"Your brother," she says and it catches me by surprise. Uhhh. "I mean, does your brother want you to go to Columbia?"

"I think so," I shrug as I grab the ketchup from the end of the table, "why wouldn't he? We're incredibly close so I'd assume yes."

"Oh, you guys are?"

Did she not get that vibe when we went? I didn't tell her that? "Yeah, yeah, he's my best friend."

Emily just smiled at me and looked around the place, grabbing some more fries to eat. I honestly don't know her well enough to know what she's thinking, but I know she's thinking something and I want to know what it is right now since she's all of a sudden being weird regarding this conversation.

"Okay, what's up?" I grab a couple fries and dip then in the ketchup, "why are you being weird all of a sudden?"

"I'm not being weird," she argues back, "I'm just interested in your life."

And that's when it hit me. She finds my brother attractive. Oh my gosh. Ha. Why didn't that come to me right away? I know she does. Everyone usually finds him attractive. And that's okay with me. It really is. "Ohh okay. I get it now. You find my brother attractive. I should have known right away. That's it, right?"

Emily started laughing and I'm not sure if it's a nervous laugh or a, oh shit I got caught, laugh. "That's, um, that's not an incorrect statement."

"Not that it matters since he's over there and you're here," I preface it, "but he doesn't have a girlfriend or anyone he's interested in so lust all you want. He is a pretty cool guy, if I do say so myself."

"I don't want to date him," she immediately tells me, "I just, I thought he was really cute. More than cute. And he was really nice."

It's easy to have a crush on my brother. I know that. He's really good looking, but he's not a typical New Yorker. Nah. He has more of a chill vibe like my dad. He's easy going, laid back and will give you the shirt on his back if you need it. I'm so jealous of him at times because it's all so genuine with him. He doesn't do anything for attention or to get girls or anything like that. He's just a good, solid guy and I wouldn't care if any of my friends dated him, to be honest.

But now that I think about it, the more I get to know Emily, the more she fits his type. "That's too bad because I'm pretty sure you're his type."

"Seriously?" she looks intrigued, almost shocked, "you think?"

"Yeah, light eyes, dark hair, not too tall, but not short. Good student, likes to have fun, but not too much fun," I start listing some things he likes and I know for sure it matches her, "do you want me to give him your number? Maybe when you get to New York, you can give him a call."

I think she thinks I'm mocking her, but I'm half serious, half just kidding around.

She chuckles and shakes her head, "whatever, I have enough to worry about with college and stuff. Also, the homecoming dance is this week and I have so much to do for it since I'm in ASB. Are you gonna go? I really think you should. It'll be fun, just hang out."

Yeah, no. I don't think so. I think I'll sit this one out. I've never been to a homecoming dance in my life and I'm not gonna start. "Nah, I think I'll pass."

"Gabs," she whines a bit as she grabs her lemonade, "please go. I have to be there a bit early, but go with Jackie and Leah!"

"I just don't want to go in general. It doesn't seem fun to me and going to a dance without a date has never been my thing. I know people do it here, but it feels weird. I think I'd much rather just stay home and read a good book or watch some trash reality show," I provide my argument, "honestly. I'm fine."

"Whatever," she looks away from me and you could tell she was a bit annoyed, but that went out the window fast, "oh my gosh. Your loveboy is here."

She was smiling and being all weird, giddy, and I had no idea what she was talking about.

I turned to my right and saw Troy Bolton saying hi to someone, a smile on his face and his hair messy as can be. He looked fucking hot. SO HOT. It was my first time seeing him since coming back form New York since he wasn't at school today. I wonder why he wasn't.

"Shut up," I tell Emily as I grab some more fries. These things are addicting. "He is not my loverboy. And I... just shut up."

"Look, Troy Bolton is a ladies man. All the girls like him, but he doesn't like any of them back," she whispers to me so he doesn't hear, "and I honestly think you're changing that. Give it a chance. Go out with him. Nothing you can lose from it, you know."

Does she really think he likes me? Does he? Gah, I don't have the courage to find out. I really don't. "I'm not interested in a boyfriend."

Emily rolls her eyes and sits back, "fine, whatever you say."

I looked at him for another moment and then turned away. I didn't want him to catch me staring at him. I grabbed my phone and checked my texts. One was from my brother, another was from Kelly, and the last one was from Caroline. And since Emily was on her phone, I decided to text all of them back now.

But then I heard my name being called. And it wasn't Emily. It was a guy's voice.

I looked up and there was Troy Bolton.

"Oh, um, hi," I struggled to find my words. I looked at Emily and she was just smiling. "what's up?"

"Nothing," he shrugs as he puts his hands in his pockets, "just thought I'd say hi since I wasn't at school today. How was New York?"

He directed the question at both of us and since I wasn't answered, Emily took over. I don't know why all of a sudden I got so nervous and froze up. Maybe because of what Emily just told me. Could he really be interested? Am I really the first girl he's been interested in, in a while? She's gotta be exaggerating, right? Like, how would that even be possible? There are a ton of pretty girls here. A ton. And I'm sure they're nicer than me.

When Emily was done telling him how she liked it, he turned to me, I think now wanting me to say something. "Oh, fun. It was fun. I miss it already."

Dumb, Gabriella. That was so dumb. But I can't think straight right now.

He flashed me a smile, took one hand out of his pocket and ran it through his hair. His hair's short. Not buzzcut or anything like that, but no hair is falling over his eyes. He can definitely run a hand through it and it sort of just sticks up and gah, he looks so hot when he does that. SO freaking hot.

"That's good, I'm glad you had fun," is all he really says.

Some more words are exchanged, but I forgot what they were.

And then he turns around and goes back to his friends who were grabbing a booth for them.

Emily laughed the minute he left the table and shook her head at me, probably in disappointment, "he took the time to come over here and say hi to you and ask you how New York was and you give him five words? What the heck is the matter with you? He's obviously so into you, Gabs!"

"I'm such an idiot," I laughed it off, "he just.. he makes me so nervous and it's weird. It's so weird. I've never been that nervous around a guy before."

"You like him," she concludes, "go for it."

Maybe I should. I want to. I kind of really want to. But I'm not making the first move.

So, what? I'm just gonna sit here and wait if he does?

I guess so.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" my mother asks me as she's putting on her jacket by the door, "it's gonna be fun."

My aunt's birthday dinner with a whole bunch of adults? No, thank you.

Plus, I could really catch up on my shows on the DVR without any interruptions whatsoever. "Nah, I'm good. I just don't feel all that well so I think I'm gonna take a bath. Maybe watch a movie or do some homework, but you guys have fun. And don't worry about me. I'll be fine, but I'll call if I do need anything."

"I still think you should've gone to homecoming," she grabs her purse off the table and opens the door, "but I get it. Please lock the door. I love you."

"Love you, too," I tell her from across the room before going over and locking the door.

Her and my dad drive off and it's just me. Me and my dog, Sadie.

Emily, once again, tried to convince me to go to homecoming with the help of Val but I just didn't want to. I didn't want to look for a casual dress, I didn't want to be at a dance where dancing was taking place and without a date. It just felt weird to me. So I'm staying home.

I'm staying home and watching a movie and eating cookies and popcorn and whatever other junk because why not? You only live once.

I grabbed some popcorn and took off the plastic and then popped it in the microwave and hit the popcorn button. As I was waiting for it to pop, my phone started lighting up and I realized that I should probably put it on loud when I'm not at school because there's a good chance I'll miss phone calls if I'm not looking at my phone in that very moment.

But it was just my brother so if I had missed it, it would have been whatever. "Hey, Joey, what's up?"

"Nothing, just about to go to Caroline's," he answered through some very loud chewing. Gross. "But um, I'm heading out there in a couple weeks for a weekend. I'm gonna skip class on Thursday and I don't have class Friday, so why not? I should get to know Texas if I'm gonna spend winter break there."

"You're gonna spend winter break here?" I ask him, shocked a bit. He wants to spend winter break over here? "seriously"?

"Where else am I gonna spend it?" he chuckles a bit, throwing whatever food he was eating in his mouth, "my family is now there. But yeah, it'd the perfect weekend to go so I'm just calling you to tell you. I'm gonna ask Caroline if she wants to come too if that's okay with you. I'm going to her house right now. Everyone's going over to hang out and stuff. Thought I'd run it by you first."

Oh umm. Okay, this took me kind of by surprise. I seriously only thought he'd come for Thanksgiving since my dad already said we're spending it here.

But yeah, okay, I can get on board with him and Caroline coming. That'll be so much fun, actually. "No, yeah, of course I want you to come. And Caroline. That'll be so much fun. It just kind of took me by surprise. I never knew you actually wanted to spend any time in Texas. Thought you got off easy."

He laughed and I could hear him put down the phone for a second. Rude. "I love seeing new places. And it's not new. We've lived there before."

"Yeah, I guess so," I shrug it off, but he can't see, "so everyone's going to Caroline's tonight?"

"Mhm," he says with a mouth full of food and swallows before saying anything else, "yeah, we're just hanging out. We all miss you, but you'll be back soon enough right? What are you doing tonight?"

Should I be honest and tell him exactly what I'm doing? Ha. Never in my life have I sat home on a Friday night and eaten junk food alone. With other people, yes. But alone? No. It's kind of pathetic. But whatever. Everyone else is busy. It's not like they purposely left me out or anything so I guess that's fine.

Whatever. It's just my brother. "I'm sitting at home eating popcorn and baking cookies because everyone else is at homecoming."

"Homecoming?" Yep. There's no homecoming dances in New York. "is that like... formal? Or prom or whatever?"

"I guess. I don't know. All I know is that I didn't want to go. Emily tried dragging me, but seriously, I'm not gonna go to one of these dances without a date because not only have I never been to a dance without a date, but I've never been to a homecoming. Everyone says it's casual, but eh, not my cup of tea."

"Emily?" is all my brother asks/says back to what I just said, "um, why, why didn't you go with her? Make it a girls night?"

The microwave beeped so I walked over and took the popcorn out and just placed the bag on the counter to let it cool for a minute before putting it in a bowl. Did my brother not hear me? I don't want to go without a date.

I knew he thought Emily was attractive so I change the subject so take the heat off me. "She thinks you're pretty attractive too, ya know..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. Emily. You couldn't take your eyes off of her when I brought her over."

Silence. It was silent on the other line and I knew my brother was not only a bit embarrassed by it, but also bummed since she lived over here and he lives there. "She's an attractive girl but I mean, shut up. There are probably a hundred guys who look at her on the daily. Why are you signaling me out?"

Geez. "I'm just saying. You're attractive, she's attractive..." my thoughts were cut off by the doorbell ringing. What the heck. "Hey, Joey, I'll talk to you later, someone's here. Yeah, yeah, okay. Bye."

I didn't order a pizza. No. I only thought about ordering it. Right? Oh my gosh, did I order a pizza? Haa. That would be really funny if I did end up ordering it.

But when I got to the door and looked through the peephole, I realized that I did not, in fact, order a pizza.

Troy Bolton was on the other side of my door. Looking hot.

Fuuuck. I turned around, looking in the mirror that was right above the table in the foyer and fixed my hair a bit. I had on a bit of makeup that was remaining from school earlier so I looked a bit presentable. I took a deep breath, one last look in the mirror and turned around and opened the door.

"Hey," he smiled at me as soon as he saw me, "mind if I come in?"

"Umm, no, yeah, come in."

He was so straight forward, I didn't know what he wanted. He was dress nicely. Like he was on his way to homecoming or something, but why was he here? It was a casual outfit so he wasn't lying when he said it was casual, but still. It didn't look like he was coming over just to hang out or anything. He would have been wearing something else. Right? So, what exactly is he doing here at 7:30 pm on a Friday night? I don't get it.

I closed the door behind him and then turned around to face him. He was looking at me, a small smile on his face and it was giving me butterflies.

"I'm here to drag you to homecoming," he tells me straight away, "so why don't you go get dressed."

Fuuuck no. I really, really don't want to go. Not because I don't have a date, I'm just really not in the mood. I'm not in the mood to be in a crowd. To dance or anything like that. I seriously just want to plop on my couch and watch a movie or something. "I'm not gonna go so you're wasting your time here."

He followed me to the kitchen where I was heading to and I can hear him chuckle, "come on. It's not bad. The whole school goes, you'll be missing out."

"I don't think I will be," I open the popcorn and then grab a bowl from the bottom cabinet and toss it in there, "honestly, you're not going to change my mind so you might as well just leave now so you make it on time."

He stayed quiet. He didn't say anything while I grabbed the seasoning and sprinkled it on top of the popcorn. I went over to the fridge and grabbed a Snapple and then realize how pathetic I look. I'm eating popcorn while he's on his way to a social event. A social event I've never heard of, but one nonetheless. And I'm not sure if he feels sorry for me or what, but I do not want to go. I just don't want to and I'm tired of people telling me to go.

Troy then got up, went over to the fridge, grabbed himself a Snapple and then turned to me. "Fine, if you're not going, I'm not going. What're we watching?"

What? He's um... he's gonna stay with me and watch a movie? Uhhhh. What the fuck.

"No, you should go. You want to go."

"I don't want to go," he laughs, "I just go because everyone goes. It's actually considered cool so the fact that you're not going is pretty lame so I'll save you the embarrassment on Monday and stay with you so everyone can laugh at us together for not going to the coolest even of the whole year."

He's being sarcastic, I know it. Well, about the last part since I did hear everyone goes so it must be considered cool or whatever. I don't really know.

So what? He wants to hang out with me? "You look awfully nice to be sitting inside and watching a movie."

Troy chuckled and looked down at his outfit, "Nah, just something I threw on."

"Well, okay," I give in. Not only because I know he's not gonna take no for an answer, but because I do want to hang out with him. Why not? What's the worst thing that could happen? "I haven't deicded on a movie, but um, you can pick whatever you want. I'll be right back."

Maybe the worst that could happen would be that I fall for him. Or that I grow more attracted to him.

But it's too late now. He's heading to the living room to take a seat on the couch and I'm going upstairs to catch my breath. I needed a breather.

My God. Why does Troy Bolton have to be SO HOT?

"That's just so crazy to me. How in the world have you not had in n out?" Troy exclaims an hour later, "you've been to California before, right?"

"Yeah," I shrug, "but I've just never had it. Is it that good or something?"

He almost looked offended that I asked. But honestly, I'm a New Yorker. I don't know about In-N-Out. It's a west coast thing and yeah, I've heard of it, but I've just never had it. It's not that weird. I don't live on the West Coast. I'm hardly ever on the West coast. So I don't really get his reaction, to be honest.

And I don't even think Texas is considered West Coast, no it's definitely not, but they have In-N-Out so whatever, I'm looping them together.

Troy shook his head and grabbed his water bottle and took a sip, "I just thought a well traveled girl like you would have had it."

"Well, I haven't," I sat back on the couch.

He suddenly stood up, grabbed his keys from the table and looked back at me, "let's go."

What? Go where? No, I'm comfortable. "What are you talking about?"

"Come on, let's go get you In-N-Out, it's still open and it's not that late so why not?" he suggests, "I just can't believe you haven't had one and you've been here a month. It's never even crossed my mind until now. So let's go. Please. I'm craving a burger and fries from there so badly right now."

"Umm okay. Yeah, sure." I mean, what else am I gonna do?

Sure, I've been snacking all night, but a meal sounds good right now and so why not?

I head upstairs really quick to grab my wallet and a jacket and when I come down, Troy has the door opened and is basically already halfway out. It's cute how excited he is for me to try it. Or maybe he's just really excited to eat it himself. Don't know. I just hope it's good.

And less than ten minutes later, we were both in line ready to order our food.

Troy ordered for me since I didn't know what to get. I told him what I like so he just ordered a number two, a cheeseburger I guess.

And he told me I had to try the animal fries here. Whatever that meant. I think it's like fries with cheese on top and some sort of sauce. Whatever it is, it's supposed to be really good and I won't regret it, which I hope not. Because all of a sudden, I'm hungry which is weird since I've been snacking all night.

We grab a booth in the back of the restaurant and wait for our food to be ready, which shouldn't take long.

"Trust me, you're going to love it."

"I better, because I had no plans to leave my house tonight."

Troy laughed and moved the ketchup so he could rest his arm on the table, "so how was New York, was it everything you wanted and more?"

Aw fuck. New York. I wanna go back, I do, but Smith wasn't exactly happy with the way I left things. He said he likes me a lot so yeah, he's all for the break and what makes me happy, but I don't know. I fear it's going to be different when I go back. But that's the thing, I think I want them to be different which is so weird because he's everything I've wanted and more. He's going places in life, he's nice, he's funny, he's sweet. And ugh. Am I blowing this? Was it a huge mistake to break it off for the time being? Only time will tell... and right now, I'm focused on my life in Texas and what's going to make me happy here.

"Um, yeah, it was fun," I think I took way too long to answer. "Got to see all my friends and my brother so that was cool."

"I'm sure they all really missed you," he looks deep into my eyes and gah, why is he so beautiful?

"Yeah," I could barely get out.

I had to look away from him or else I was going to explode.

Explode of what? I'm not sure, I just knew I was. So I glanced around and room and casually looked at everyone that was here. And then I spotted someone who was taking a seat with her friend and she was just staring over at us. She looked awfully familiar, but I couldn't place her. Maybe she goes to our school? That's probably it. And then I realized she was probably looking over at us because of Troy, the most popular guy at school. Duh. Of course.

Troy excused himself to go to the bathroom so while he was gone, I took out my phone and started checking instagram and twitter.

But once I was done with that, I looked to my right and was about to look around the place, but the girl who was just looking over at us was still looking over at us except this time Troy wasn't there so what could she possibly want? It wasn't just an off to the air stare. No. She was staring and she looked mad or sad or some type of grey emotion. She just didn't look thrilled and I have no idea what I could have done to this girl. Or who this girl was for that matter.

As soon as Troy came and sat down, though, I realized that she probably hated me because I was with the school's golden boy. And she wasn't or something.

I had to ask him what was up. It was freaking me out. "Hey, don't look now, but do you know that girl to the right?"

Troy waited a couple of seconds and then discreetly looked over to where I was talking about but immediately turned back and his face was now emotionless. Not as excited as he looked when we first got here. "Yeah, I know her."

Umm okay. Is that all he's going to give me? "Oh um, okay, she was staring over here so I didn't know because I don't know her."

"She's my ex girlfriend," is all he said.

Oh fuck. This is the ex girlfriend? Valerie's neighbor? Now I know why she looks familiar. She's Troy's ex. His ex girlfriend. The thought of that actually makes my stomach turn a bit and I have no idea why. Like, why should I care? Why do I ever care about Troy's ex girlfriend? But for some annoying reason, I do and I wanna know everything that happened... why they broke up.

I grabbed my soda and took a sip and tried to come up with a discreet question. Ugh. "Oh, does she hate you or something? She doesn't look happy."

"She doesn't hate me," he says casually, "I hate her."

And then the worker brought over our food and that was the end of that conversation.

It took him a few minutes to smile again. But once I told him that the cheeseburger was really good and that the fries were even better, his face lit up. And it wasn't on purpose. I honest to God loved the fries and loved the cheeseburger and I'm so glad he brought me here.

"I hope you're not just humoring me," he tells me as he takes a bite of his double double, which is like my cheeseburger but double patty.

"No, no, for real. It's SO good. I don't know if it's the best hamburger I've ever had, but like I'm pretty sure I'll be addicted and will want to come tomorrow."

Troy smiled and reached over for his drink, "I'm glad. Now you have one more reason to love Texas, right?"

Yes. In-N-Out and Troy Bolton. But I am never telling him that. EVER.

"Yes," I smile at him.