Troy leaned on the door way staring out into the gym as the boys ran drills. Focused he took notes on the players marking down who needed what coaching and who was already a good shot. Chad came up from behind and nudge Troy with his elbow.

"dude Taylor wants dibs on decorating your place man" he said spinning the basket ball on his finger. "she said she need to get in there and check out the vibes."

Troy chuckled and shrugged his shoulders "I don't know, I've been cleaning out the place and scrubbing it down." He said looking back out at the boys.

"well I know she really wants to work on it she said it might a good thing for her business because your well known." Chad balanced the ball on his finger as he looked over at Troy. "phone has been ringing off the hook since you started working here."

"I'm just laying low for a while, tell you what you bring Taylor over and let her decorate then when I'm more settled in I'll host and interview in home and make sure there are pictures" he said "it will be my first new York interview."

"dude." Chad let the ball drop as he looked at Troy with both eyes wide. "she is going to flip."

"it's the least I can do she gave me room and bored when I didn't have it." Troy pushed himself off the door frame and walked into the office placing his clipboard and pen on his desk. Chad followed and put his ball down on top of his own desk and leaned on the side.

"so dare I ask about you and Gabriella?" Chad said with a smile.

"yeah if you want to talk about disaster." Troy said flopping down into his chair.

Chad's shoulders dropped as he furrowed his brow. "what happen I thought things were going fine, you were talking about marriage and everything?"

Just then a boy walked into the office and stood in the door way looking at both Chad and Troy. "coach can I get the pass to the bathroom I got to go real bad man."

"sure thing teddy" Chad smiled and leaned across his desk for the hall pass nerf ball. "catch" he said passing it to the boy.

When the boy caught he thanked Chad and hustled his way out the gym.

"so what happened?" Chad said looking back at Troy who had gone back to looking at his notes.

"we slept together and now she regrets it." He said turning in his seat to looked at Chad, whose jaw dropped as his eyes widen.

"wow."

"I haven't heard from her in two days she keeps avoiding me and the one time I did get through she was on her way to class and couldn't talk." Troy sighed and looked at the desk "hell I think she even picked up by accident."

"really" Chad folded his arms over his chest and leaned back more. "so now what?"

"well for a start I'm going to go get a coffee after work. I know just the place." Troy said leaning back in his chair. "she can't avoid me forever and I'm not about to let her either."

"dude what is it about her that has you so …so … hooked?" he said lifting one arm up to indicate a hook.

"she is the one, I was stupid before but I learn my lesson and I'm ready." Troy said confidently.

"Dude" Chad let both his arms drop. "it doesn't matter if you're ready. She was ready 12 years ago and it didn't matter to you." Chad said. "Troy, the girl has been in one horrible relationship after the other nonstop. Did it ever occur to you that maybe she doesn't want the same things you do."

Troy was silent for a moment "we meant to be together I feel it whenever I'm near her, the urge to protect her, please her, make her smile." Troy slid a hand through his hair. "she makes my stomach flip and my palm sweaty, and I know I have that affect on her as well."

"well then you have to understand that she may not be on this full speed ahead plan that you're so fixated on, we don't live in caves anymore and you whole approach screams cave man with a club." Chad said looking down at him.

"well I don't know what to do" Troy leaned forward on his desk. "I can't stop thinking about her she was just more than a memory to me I came here because I wanted her back." Troy said picking up his pen and twirling it in his fingers.

"I understand that man." Chad said looking down at him.

" You don't understand" Troy responded in a low voice. "not only was I thinking of her day in and day out but she was in my dreams and do you have any idea how it feels to dread going to sleep at night because I knew she was waiting for me the moment I shut my eyes and then I'd wake up alone."

"hey I know, I'm in love too you know." Chad said with a smile. "there was a time Taylor wouldn't even look at me" he said.

Both men chuckled and paused when ted came back into the room and gave Chad the pass back. For a moment Chad stared out into the gym full of teenage boys listening to the sounds of baskets and snickers on the gym floor with the mumbles of playful teasing or jokes made in passing.

"I not saying you're wrong or that you should let it go I'm just saying slow down and give her time." Chad said turning back around to face Troy.

"how did you ever get so wise." Troy chuckled as he looked over at Chad.

"work here long enough you learn how to give advice and I guess it comes with the realization that I'm going to be a dad." He said laughing to himself a bit.