Chapter 13 – Second Chance

Tuesday, August 19th, 2014

I couldn't stop my laugh as Troy grinned at me before turning back to pay attention to the teacher in class. I glanced at my phone again to see his text.

Troy: You're beautiful.

I shook my head with a smile. Today it has been exactly one year since we met. One year ago, today, my world was flipped upside down by a boy with blue eyes and a grin that nobody could say the words no, too. I loved him so much that it physically hurt sometimes when I thought about it. Losing him hurt me. Just the thought of it and I knew that he was getting looks from many different schools and it was all depending on this football season.

My stomach twisted with worry but I let it pass because I told myself I was going to live in the moment with him. I was going to be happy. We were going to make the best memories this year. Our English teacher kept going on about the syllabus but I could only stay at him. He looked over his shoulder again and smiled at me. I smiled right back at him because he was my flirt. The bell rang overhead and we met in the hallway while our hands slipped together.

"God, I hate the first week of school." Troy said with a groan as we caught up with Liam and his new girl, Linny, as we smiled at each other as we went to our lockers. It was senior year and we were in the senior hallway. Troy and I begged to have lockers next door and the quarterback made it happen – not that I was complaining. Troy opened his locker and he pulled out a book for papers to come flying out. He cursed and I bent down to help him pick them up to see school names.

Louisiana State University

Missouri University

Texas University

Alabama University

Florida University

Tennessee University

I stopped reading them as I felt my throat close up and the fear struck deep, again. "Fuck, Gabi, I didn't…" I just shook my head as I stood up and turned to face my locker. I knew this. I knew we were going to have to go separate ways or I was going to have to leave North Carolina. My stomach twisted and I closed my eyes painfully as I pulled open my locker door and grabbed the book I needed for my next class. "Gabi, hey, please," I shook my head as I turned to face him.

"Why haven't you told me?" I asked my voice coming off with a bit of anger and Troy inhaled softly with those blue eyes piercing me to the spot. Tears welled in my eyes and I just took a deep breath before I started to walk away.

"Gabi, baby, please…I just…I don't know enough about anything yet and I don't want to keep yanking you around with the emotions of it all." His voice was desperate but I didn't turn around. Our relationship was better than that. We don't have secrets from each other.

"Brie," his voice cracked on my name and I let the tears fall down my face. I finally face him and he saw the tears on my cheeks. "You never keep things from me, Troy. Why are you starting now? I want to know. I want to know who's talking to you. I want to be there for you." Troy's face was painful and I was thankful we didn't have any more classes together today. I needed space. I took in a deep inhale and walked away from him.

Gabi's POV

Tuesday, May 25th, 2021

Claire giggled in my lap as I kissed her bald head while we played with her toys on the floor together. Bethany was coming over later today with Lucas so she was excited to play with cousin. Troy and Lucas were having a strategy meeting about how to tackle this summer and getting ready for next season. We flew back from Wilmington together and it was better than the ride there. We made a truce at the beach I think and it was nice to just…breathe around him again.

We shared smiles. I cooked us dinner while cooking Claire dinner. Her appetite was getting better but I knew this last chemo would be hard on her before we started the process for her BMT. Claire giggled again, "Gabi, will you live with us forever?" Claire asked. I shook my head, "No. I won't. Once you are all better, I am going to move back to my own apartment and go back to work." I told her even though my stomach twisted.

"But you make my daddy smile, I saw it. He looks at you and smiles." I gave a look towards Claire and she nodded her head, "You typically don't see it but he smiles at you." I bit down on my lip and just nodded my head. "Well…your daddy and I are friends. That's okay, right?" Claire nodded. "Yea, he never smiled at my mommy like he smiles at you. Can I tell you a secret?" I just nodded my head because she was four. What kind of secrets could she have?

"I am kinda glad mommy and daddy don't live together anymore. They fought all the time. They didn't think I could hear it but I could." Her lips turned upside down, "Now mommy is happier at her new apartment and daddy looks happier without mommy here." I blinked once, twice, three times before I cleared my throat. "I was sad at first but it got better."

"I'm glad you see it like that. Sometimes people just aren't meant to be together. As long as you are happy that's all that matters." Claire grinned, "I wish I didn't have to have medicine anymore but if that means that you get to be around then that's okay." I blinked my eyes a few times before the door to the apartment opened. Claire jumped up, "Daddy!" she screeched and went running down the hallway. I tried to digest all of the information that was just throw at me from a little girl who seemed wise beyond her damn four years.

They always were though.

Standing up from the floor I went into the living area to see Claire wrapped around Troy and a smile on Troy's face. He had a workout this morning and was still in his workout gear. A pair of Adidas leggings with a pair of Loyalist gym shorts over top. A loyalist grey t-shirt was gripping his biceps with a hat turned backwards. "Gabi and I played dolls and we had a tea party. She made us these little sandwiches and I ate THREE." She exclaimed holding her fingers up and I couldn't stop my own smile from watching her.

Troy looked over her shoulder towards me as she was still in her princess dress with those bare little feet. "Three sandwiches huh?" Claire nodded her head wildly, "Yes, and they were so good. We should hire Gabi to cook. She does a better job than you." Troy barked a laugh as he pressed a kiss into her head. A smile on his lips with a twinkle in his eye, "Yea, Gabi is a pretty good cook. You should ask her to make her famous chocolate buttercream cake,"

Claire gasped, "Chocolate cake is my favorite!" she screeched before wiggling down from her dad's grasp and running towards me. She threw her arms around my leg, "Please Gabi, please," she echoed and I laughed as I looked down at her and then up towards her dad who was indeed watching me with a content smile on his face. I looked away immediately and back to Claire. "I will get the stuff from the grocery run this week and we can do it. Okay? But you have to promise to eat it and help me make it."

I stuck my pinky out and she wrapped hers around mine, "Deal!" Claire giggled as she turned towards her dad with a smile similar to his. "See daddy? I can get Gabi to do anything. Maybe she'll stay with us forever." Troy gave her a blank look before blinking, same man, similar reaction to that statement before he shook his head. "Sorry baby, Gabi has to get back to her life after she is all done helping us. She's been amazing, though, hasn't she?" Claire pouted and hugged her dad's legs. "C'mon Dad, I want her to stay longer." She whined and Troy just shook his head. "Go play in your room. Bethany will be here in a little bit." Claire sighed heavily and she skipped down the hallway towards her room as I shook my head with a smile on my face watching her.

Troy cleared his throat as I turned my attention to him, "I'm sorry. I don't know where she got that from. We, I, know that you have big things ahead of you." Emotions clogged in my throat as I nodded my head in understanding. "Yea," I choked out. I scratched my head as I walked over and leaned against the couch. "She's actually had a few interesting things to say in the past thirty minutes." Troy groaned and rubbed his face, "She's too smart. I am terrified." Troy grumbled through his fingers.

I grinned, "Well the big one was that she is happy that you and Eve are no longer a couple. She said she could hear you guys fighting and that you both seem happier apart." Troy let his jaw drop and the pressure of it caused his jaw to flinch before just nodding his head. "I hate that we did that to her." Troy said and I shrugged. "It happens. Kids are smart. Just be thankful that she is okay with this. She isn't upset about it. She likes seeing you happy and Eve happy in separate locations."

Troy exhaled and nodded as he scrubbed his face, "Anything else?" I shook my head no because I was not admitting that his child knows that he stares at me. Troy Bolton and I could not be together. Big things for me. Big things for him. "You really want that chocolate cake though?" Troy groaned with a nod. "I'll never forget when you made it for my 18th birthday. It was damn delicious." I smiled with a shake of my head. "You and your sweet tooth."

"Why do you think I have to work out for nearly three hours?" I laughed as I went into the kitchen to start doing dishes. "I will be sad when you leave though. I hope you do understand. I know that our lives intertwining again was some weird fucking fate shit but I am glad I got to see you now. I had so many questions and worries but I am happy for you. You are doing big things and I am so damn proud of you."

The emotion got really thick after that comment but thankfully the door to the apartment swung open again and Bethany came flying through. She greeted her Uncle Troy before running to Claire's room. I focused on dishes as I could still feel his stare but I didn't dare look up as tears were welled in my eyes. My defenses with him were dropping so damn hard and I couldn't let it. "Hey Troy," Lucas came to stand next to his brother. "Whoa, what is with all of the tension. You two, okay? Or do we need to have another babysitter?" Lucas questioned with a laugh at the end.

I lifted my eyes to meet Troy's for a blink before he turned to his brother. "No, we're okay. Just talking. Care if I jump in the shower really quick and then we can do this? I have three hours of sweat layering my body." Lucas scrunched his nose up nodded his head before Troy chuckled. He took off towards the bathroom and once the door shut Lucas shut the water off. "Okay, I don't buy it for a damn minute. What was that?"

"Nothing." I told him honestly. "He said something about being proud of me and then you walked in the door. I might have been a tad bit emotional about it." Lucas gave me a quick grin and a nod, "So he's been divorced for nearly a month from the wicked witch of the north and you still haven't fucked?" Lucas asked. I dropped my dish and I glared up at him. "No! Why would I?" I questioned towards him and Lucas chuckled before smoothing his fingers over his face.

"Because you both look like you need to fuck each other." He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Bethany nor Claire were lingering and I shook my head. "No. I am not going down that road. I am here until August and then I am done. I am walking away." I could barely push the words out and Lucas let out a rich laugh. "Sure,"

"Lucas, stop," I said as I finished washing the dishes and Lucas just sent me a smirk. "You know that he still has feelings for you." I shook my head as tears pulled in my eyes. "No. Lucas. Please, stop," I looked up at him and Lucas frowned as he saw my face. "Oh, fuck you do, too."

"Lucas," I hissed again as I turned off the water. "I do not have feelings for him. He shattered my heart, Luke. He ripped it out of my chest when I was least expecting it. He doesn't get a second chance with me." The words cracked and a sob echoed from my mouth as I covered it with my hand before turning to go down the hallway. Because half of that was a lie. I did have feelings for Troy Bolton and I half expected it to happen but he did rip my heart out and there was no way he deserved a second chance.

I disappeared to my room as I collapsed on the bed as I buried my face into my pillow as I let the tears flow. I fucking hated that I wanted him still.

Troy's POV

The door slammed shut as I walked out and I looked up to see Lucas taking a sip of his water that he made for himself. His laptop open and his phone sitting out while I looked over at the door, again. "Did Gabi leave?" I questioned and Lucas nodded his head. "I may or may not have pissed her off." Lucas said with a shrug of his shoulders and I shot him a look. "Are you going to take care of Claire?" I questioned with my rage going up a notch.

Lucas smirked at my reaction, "No. She'll be back. She just needs air."

"Fucking, hell, Lucas. What the hell did you say to piss her off?" I questioned and he looked at me. "That you have feelings for her and I learned she has feelings for you still." I felt my face blank and my jaw drop as my gut stirred. "She didn't like that very much when I said it and her words after that should have you a little bit more worried. She thinks you don't deserve a second chance." I palmed the back of my neck. "Yea, I don't. I ruined her. She literally can't go back to Wilmington because of me."

He turned his head to face me, "What the fuck did you say to her that day that pissed her off like that?" I shook my head. "It wasn't what I said. It was just…how it happened. I may have told her that I decided it and didn't want her to go and that I didn't do long distance. I never explained all of it."

"Maybe you should? Then you could get your second chance. I heard why you did it from you when you were mopping around and getting red-shirted for it. She would probably vaguely understand. She would probably still be pissed you just didn't talk to her. It doesn't matter. You should and try to get that second chance because she cried just thinking about how much she still feels."

"You fucking made her cry?" I tried to whisper but it came out a little louder than that. "Swear jar daddy!" Claire yelled from her room as I rolled my eyes and tossed a buck in the jar on the counter. Mostly fueled by my dollars. "Yea, I did. You look like you want to beat the hell out of me so it sounds like I am correct. You still have feelings for her. She still has feelings for you. You need to try or you will regret it."

"She is leaving in August," I corrected, "I don't want Claire to get attached any more than she already is." Lucas threw up one of his eyebrows and narrowed his gaze towards me. "Seriously? Claire is going to be in her life until at least August and guess what – Claire doesn't have to know that you actually love her." I threw a nasty glance his direction and he chuckled again. "She doesn't have to go to NP school." Lucas reminded me.

"But that's what she wants."

"Don't you think her wants could change?" Lucas argued and he rolled his eyes with a laugh. "Oh wait…her wants did change the first time but you never asked. Instead, you dumped her and went to Alabama even though she probably would have followed you. You didn't think she wanted that though." I opened my mouth to respond but I didn't. He was right. I never asked if that was what she wanted in high school.

"I don't want her to change her mind because of me though. If that was her choice prior…" I let my words drag out and I closed my eyes for a moment. "You should try." Lucas said gently. "Just…ask her out on a date or something like that. I don't know. I just…I think you two were thrown back into the same circle for a reason, Troy. I think that's the reason."

Lucas's phone rang and he answered it as I closed my eyes and scrubbed my face. I couldn't ask her out. She was my employee and she was taking care of Claire. That's what she was here to do.

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Gabi's POV

Troy was sitting and eating dinner across from me as Claire was chatting about her day. I took to get her counts ran and everything came back clean for this next go of chemo in about ten days. Everything looked better but the tension that was in this penthouse? Was too much. I felt like I was suffocating half the time because something had changed after Lucas's appearance. He was all smirks when I came back but I knew him and Troy had a conversation because Troy was apologetic and gave me the night off.

I went to Wren's and stayed the night because I needed a damn break but I was back this morning bright an early. I inhaled sharply as I pushed my food around my plate. "Gabi, daddy said that you slept over at a friend's house last night." I nodded my head slowly. "I did. She missed me and I missed her." I told her with a wink and Claire grinned. "I stay with Bethany sometimes but that hasn't happened in a long time." Claire's face faltered for a moment and she sighed as I felt Troy's eyes on me, again. Why were they on me?

I glanced up at him and meet his gaze straight on. He blinked once and swallowed down hard on the food in his mouth before letting his eyes drift to Claire. "How about this weekend Bethany comes over for a sleepover here? Maybe Gabi can invite her friend over and it can be a girl's sleepover." Claire gasped and I sent him another look but he just nudged my foot under the table. "Oh, my goodness, Gabi please," she begged like she did with the chocolate cake yesterday.

"I will have to see when Wren could do it so maybe. I am not positive." I told her. "If Wren doesn't come, would you join us? Maybe mommy can join us and daddy can go stay with Hanson or Reni?" Troy clenched his jaw and took in a harsh breath. He looked at Claire for a beat before nodding his head. "I can ask her." He grounded his teeth together and Claire's face grew with excitement. "Could we do manicures and pedicures? Oh, and what are those green things?" Claire questioned and I couldn't stop my smile at her excitement.

"Gabi will you check with Wren and then maybe we can set up a night with mom?" Troy questioned and I just nodded as I stood up and took my dish to the sink. I rinsed it off and put it in the dishwasher when Troy followed in. "If you don't want to do any of that I will redirect her attention." I shook my head. "No, it'll be good for her. She is going to start a harsh chemo and then start the process for a BMT? She needs time with her people. I know you probably aren't thrilled with Eve but…"

"No, no, it's for her. It's all for her." Troy muttered and his eyes glanced up. "Look, I know Lucas said some shit yesterday but I just…" he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "I wish I knew the best thing to say to you. I just want to be thankful that you are here now and that…"

I shook my head, "No, Troy, really. Lucas said some shit. Lucas is always saying some shit. He doesn't know me anymore and probably isn't right anyways." I let my eyes drift away from Troy but I felt my body cringe in the response. God, I was a terrible liar.

"I still care about you," Troy interjected into the conversation and I painfully closed my eyes. "No, stop, this is breaking my only rules with you. We don't do this. I can't do this again." Troy just nodded as I turned the water back on. Troy reached over and shut it off. His fingers slid onto mine and I felt my breath fault in my chest and I forced out air. I couldn't breathe. His warm fingers grasped mine and I felt my vision black. "Gabi," his voice was low and my entire body vibrated and I tried to pull my hand away but he only squeezed my fingers.

"I know you have your rules for a reason but Gabi…I can't ignore our past and it can stay just that but…I miss laughing with you and making you smile. I damn know that you have this brick wall because I hurt you and I do apologize for that but…" he cleared his throat as I felt the tears welling in my throat. "Troy, no, please," I shook my head and he turned me as he made our eyes connect. "Just listen for a minute, please,"

I hesitated but I just nodded my head as he exhaled, his warm breath hitting my face and I wanted nothing more than to loop my arms around him and hug him – like really hug him. "I still care about and that will absolutely never change. From the moment I met you to those eight years apart to right now – I always cared about you." I swallowed thickly and I blinked my eyes once and then twice before he finished his little speech.

"That smile you put on Claire's face? I love that you can do that with her. The fact that you included Eve? I might not like her but I love that you remember her mom. The fact that you are able to get her to eat? God damn Gabi, I need you to write a book. I just…I care about you. I am proud of you. I miss just talking to you and I know that the past is off limits and the future will be you going off to do more big things and me playing football but I don't know why we can't just…talk." He was breathless at the end of the sentence and I thought about it but the only thing I can truly think about is his hand on mine. The warmth of his big hand. How much I wanted to squeeze it.

I exhaled as I focused on those blue eyes and I just nodded, "Okay, but no past and no future." I declared and Troy gave a slight smile, "Yea?" I nodded my head again and Troy let a full-blown grin cross his face. "How was Claire today?" he bounced back from the conversation as he let my body go. The heat that evaporated as if he was never there made my body shiver. His eyes shifted as if saw it but I chose to ignore it. His eyes lingered for a beat and I just gave him a smile.

"She was really good, today. Per normal. She's a sweet girl," Troy smiled, "She's my favorite girl. She is the cutest cheerleader. Let me find a picture from one of my games," Troy reached over for his phone and his shirt crept up. A peek of a tattoo was visible on his hip and I blinked, "You have a tattoo?" his eyes swung to me in alarm and he shook his head as if he wanted to dismiss the idea, "What?" I pointed to his hip and he blinked once and then twice before nodding. That was weird.

"Oh uh, yea, I do. This is her footprints." He lifted his shirt up an inch with tiny baby footprints on his lower abdomen. Claire's name scripted just below it with her birthday in roman numerals. I refrained from reaching out to touch it and I couldn't stop my smile. "It's beautiful. What a unique idea," Troy smiled softly, "I was going to do the same thing with our next one but…" he cleared his throat. "That didn't happen." I felt my cheeks heat and I shook my head, "I'm sorry."

"No, no, it is what it is."

"Do you have others?" I questioned and his eyes flickered to mine, his drug his lower lip into his mouth and he nodded, "Yea, but we'll keep those for another day." I squinted my eyebrows as he did never walk around shirtless. "alrighty…" Troy focused his attention back on his phone and flickered through the pictures before he smiled. He twisted the phone around as a younger Claire with a big smile on her face was sitting on Troy's shoulder in a cheerleader uniform for the Loyalist.

"God she's adorable,"

Troy chuckled, "I know. I'm in trouble in the future. That's for sure." I looked at Troy's face as he stared at his phone. His hair was in need of a cut but the smile on his face and the youthfulness that etched around his cheeks. He wasn't 18 years old anymore. He wasn't that boy who gave me that grin anymore but he was a man now. A man with cheekbones and had lived a life in the eight years we haven't been together. There were more worry lines in his face and I couldn't wonder why they were there in the first place.

Troy let his ocean blue eyes flicker up to my face and a tiny smile played on his lips, "What are you looking at, Montez?" he whispered and I blinked and shook my head. "Nothing,"

Thursday, August 21st, 2014

Troy's POV

"Please, please Gabi," I banged on her door as I knew her parents weren't home yet and I knew she was home. I squeezed my eyes shut as I came here right after school. Football practice was pushed back an hour because the coaches were having a meeting. I only had thirty minutes left.

"Gabs! I will explain but you have to open the door!" I banged on it again and I rang the doorbell. I groaned with frustration as I wanted to rip my hair out of my head. I didn't want this. I never wanted this. I didn't tell her because I didn't know how to tell her. I didn't know what to tell her. I never wanted to continue to yank her around because I didn't know what I was doing, yet. I blinked and took in a deep breath of air as I went to the door again and knocked.

"Gabi, I have to go soon. I have to go and practice but I need to talk to you. I practiced like shit yesterday and that's my fault. I know it is. I just…I miss you, El." I felt my words fade when the bolt clicked and I felt the air leave my lungs as she swung the door open. She was in a pair of shorts with one of my t-shirts. Tears were in her eyes, "Why didn't you tell me?" she accused and I swallowed on the lump in my throat. "I didn't know how to tell you,"

"That's a lame excuse," she threw back and I nodded, "I know but that was the truth. I didn't know how to tell you. I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what I am doing and jerking you around the entire process as I try to figure out what I am going to do didn't seem right. I was lost and I know I made a mistake. I know. I just…" I exhaled and I watched her face. "I just love you and I don't know what the hell I'm doing."

She swallowed hard and she rubbed her face, "I'm sorry, El. I am so sorry. You deserve better than that but I'm scared. I know you're scared and what we have going on is too much sometimes. It's so much between the two of us so young and I only want to do right by you. I just don't know the best way to do this yet." Gabi wiped at her eyes and I refrained from touching her until those deep brown eyes looked at me.

"I'm sorry," I pressed and Gabi walked over and wrapped her arms around my middle. "I just want to know who is talking to you." She whispered. "I'm scared and I don't know what I'm doing either but not knowing anything? It makes me feel like that I'm not enough for you." She whispered and I buried my lips into the top of her head. "You're too much for me. You're too good for me." I whispered into her ear and she exhaled as I squeezed her tight to my body.

"I love you," I whispered into her ear and she just squeezed me tightly back. "I love you, too." She finally whispered, "You need to go to practice though. How about we get coffee before school tomorrow since we start late," she suggested and I gazed into her brown eyes as I let my fingers brush her cheeks. "Are you sure? I'll come over after practice and…"

"You have to watch film tonight; I'm just going to do homework and go to bed tonight." Gabi lifted her eyes to look at me and I shook my head, "We aren't okay," I whispered back to her and she gave me her best smile and reached up to brush her lips against mine. "We're fine just…I want to know. Okay?" I kissed her forehead and then kissed her lips. "Promise?" she nodded her head and I kissed her again. "I love you; I'll see you tomorrow morning. Coffee. I'm going to make you laugh."

That got a smile on her lips and I brushed my thumb over that. "I'll be wearing my shirt." She whispered and I squeezed her, "You're my good luck charm, you know, that right?" she smiled and I tipped her chin backwards as I captured her lips. "Just promise that you'll take to me," she whispered pulling back and I nodded my head, "I will." I whispered and she smiled as she kissed me again. She gave me a tight hug and then shoved me gently. "Go to practice or else you won't win tomorrow." I rolled my eyes.

"Please, with you there it doesn't matter." She laughed and I felt my chest thaw and warm. Yea, we're going to be okay.

Friday, May 28th, 2021

Troy's POV

I lifted the bar and did chest presses while lying on the bench as Hanson was lingering nearby during my morning work-out. After this, I was going to run for a few miles before going back to the house to pack a bag before I went to stay with Lucas for the night. Gabi, her best friend Wren, and Eve were all going to have a slumber party with Claire and Bethany. Claire was buzzing with excitement this morning.

Gabi gave me a soft look over breakfast and dear god I was having trouble behaving myself and my thoughts. I wanted to do more than just talk but I almost assumed this was my first baby step. I couldn't scare her away or I would never get another chance. I racked my weight when I sat up and wiped my sweat from my face. "You are deep in thought," Hanson told me and shrugged, "Eve is staying at the apartment tonight because there is a girl sleepover taking place."

Hanson raised an eyebrow, "Yea? I'm assuming Gabi will be there." I nodded as I stood up, "She is going to be there. It was actually her idea. She tells me that Claire is going to need lots of social time prior to her bone marrow transplant as she will be cooped up in the hospital. I don't know. I just…I want her to be better. I want Eve out of my life and trust me…I know that will never happen but it would be nice for like nine months and fuck Gabi is driving me up a wall."

Hanson couldn't stop his chuckle, "When is the last time you got laid man?" I shot him a look and Hanson couldn't stop laughing after that. "Go find a girl," I shook my head. "No. I don't want a random girl." I threw a glare right back at Hanson which he understood. "Maybe grow some balls and tell her then?" I breathed out, "That's what I was thinking about while I was lifting. I just got her to let me just…talk to her without it being about Claire. I can't scare her yet or I will never get another chance."

I stood up as Hanson went to lift as he thought on what I had just said. "I understand that, I mean, yea, if you fuck this up there isn't another chance." I sighed as I helped him get started as I observed everybody in the weight room. One of my jobs was to make sure that everybody was working hard and from the looks of it – they were. We were hungry this year for that championship trophy. I wasn't going to let my team down. I was putting in twice the effort – well – as much as Claire was allowing me.

Scrubbing my face, I breathed in and knew that I had more time to concentrate. "Do you want to go throw?" Hanson asked as he finished and I shook my head. "I'm going to go run and then I am going to head home to grab my stuff before going to drink a few beers with Lucas." Hanson nodded, "How about early tomorrow morning before I go back home? I'll meet you at the practice field at 8am for an hour or so." Hanson nodded his head, "I'll see who else I can round up,"

I went outside after I gathered my things and found a handful of guys running routes. I smiled watching as I starting laps around the field for conditioning. I tried to not let my thoughts drift too far away from football. Players. Film. I needed to have a meeting with Coach Davis about working on new plays for this year. I finished my five miles of running before I hit the showers. I changed into a pair of Adidas shorts followed by a Loyalist t-shirt with a pair of Adidas Tennis shoes.

"Troy, heard we are throwing tomorrow," I nodded towards one of my wide receivers, Reggie, as he smiled wide. "Hell yea, dude. Let's get that practice in. I need your speed to test my arm." I slid my backpack over my shoulders and dug out my phone to see a missed call from Gabi. I quickly called her back as I walked to my car, "Troy," Gabi greeted and her voice made my heart sing. "Hey is everything okay?" I questioned as I climbed into my car.

"Claire is just having a rough day. I'm thinking we need to push her sleepover. She's not feeling well and she needs rest. Can you call Lucas and tell him? I already told Wren and Eve." I felt my chest ache with those words. "Is she okay? What's wrong?"

"I don't know. I drew her labs and dropped them off. Eve wanted to come be with her since she wasn't feeling well. Her vitals have been stable but she's just…not Claire. You'll understand when you see her. I've given her a bag of fluids – or I guess I am saying is that she is getting a bag of fluids but she's just lying in Eve's lap watching a movie but mostly in and out of sleep." I just nodded as I pressed my foot on the gas a little bit harder.

"I'll call Luke,"

"Okay, thanks Troy," she hung up and I called Lucas immediately afterwards. He picked up on the first ring, "Hey, man, bad news. Claire Bear isn't feeling so hot today. Gabi recommended that we postpone the sleepover." Lucas groaned, "Damn, I had plans tonight." I raised an eyebrow, "With what girl?" Lucas grunted, "Just this new girl I've been talking to and we had a date but Beth comes first so…I'll be rescheduling that. Tell Claire Uncle Luke he wishes she felt better."

"I will, sorry man, I didn't mean to ruin your plans but wait a damn minute I was supposed to hang out with you tonight." Lucas laughed, "Sorry dude, I take all opportunities. I had bought you beer though." I couldn't stop my laugh and shook my head. "Tell Bethany I am sorry,"

"No, no, Claire needs rest. Especially if Gabi says so," I agreed as I hung up the phone as I swung into the apartment complex. I quickly grabbed my backpack and jogged inside, I waved to the doorman before pressing on the elevator button a hundred times. Once the doors finally opened, I pressed the top button as the elevator closed. I tapped my foot in annoyance as I hated that Claire wasn't feeling well.

Once I got to our apartment, I swung open the door as it was too quiet. My eyes glanced in the living room to see Eve sitting on the couch with her eyes casted down over her lap. I breathed out deeply as I dropped my bag on the counter and Eve looked up. Her face fell and she looked back down at Claire, "I'm sorry, I just…" she started to talk but her words were cut off by the emotions. "No, it's fine, she needs her mom, too."

I walked over and I bent down until my knees hit the floor in front of her. Claire's face was pale and her eyes had black bags underneath as if she was a teenager instead of four. I breathed out as I let my fingers brush over her bald little head as her port had been connected and she was receiving her fluids. Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to smile but she could barely muster it. "Hi daddy," she whispered and I felt my own tears clog up, "Hi Claire bear,"

"I don't feel good daddy but I want to sleepover," she cried at the end and I felt my heart crack, "We will have a sleepover, soon, okay? I want you to feel better though, baby. Okay?" Claire just nodded her head before she was drifting off to sleep again, I shook my head as I pressed my lips to her head. "I can go," Eve whispered and I shook my head. "No, if you want to stay with her that's fine. I know he is going to need you soon but…" she just nodded, "Thanks, Troy," I just nodded my head as I stood up and went in search of Gabi.

I knocked on her bedroom door and it swung open as she was in a pair of leggings with a t-shirt but her hair was tied up in a pony tail. "Hey," she said with a tiny smile and I swallowed hard, "Can we talk in your room?" she blinked once and then twice before nodding. She took a step backwards and I followed her in the room. I shut the door as I leaned back against it, "I need an honest answer, Gabs, she's okay right? She isn't dying or she isn't developing more cancer or…" I felt my words starting to spin out and the emotion clog my throat. "She can't be dying, Gabi, I just I can't," I felt my hands shaking and my jaw clenching.

My eyes focused on Gabi as her lips were turned down into a frown and she took an even breath, "Gabi, I can't do this if something is wrong with her. I can't lose her." My voice cracked in half and I covered my mouth with my free hand. Gabi walked over and she stood in front of me. Her tiny frame underneath of mine and she reached up to touch my chest that was inhaling air rapidly. "Troy, listen, I just think that she is having a bad day. Her body is fighting, she's on steroids, and she might be a little fluid depleted. I'm not worried, yet, okay? I will tell you the moment I am worried."

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly and Gabi inhaled softly, "I will promise you that I will tell you if I have any concerns. I just think she is tired and needs extra fluids. I might think about getting her some sort of oral feeding, or something," she said softly and I nodded as I brushed my tears away. The next thing I knew – her soft body pressed against mine. Her arms slipping around my waist, her head resting on my chest, and after that my entire body flamed to life with her wrapped around me. The heat that overwhelmed me caused my chest to constrict and my heart to pound in my chest. God, it felt like home.

My arms circled around her and I squeezed her gently to my chest as it felt like my body was burning with her body pressed to my body. "I wish I could make all of the uncertainty better but I cannot. I will let you know when I am concerned and I typically know. Okay? I am going to protect her with everything that I have." I only squeezed her harder and I refrained from dropping my lips into her hair. I refrained from breathing her entire scent into my nose. God, it was hard. It was so fucking hard. I wanted her in the worst of ways. I couldn't though. She wasn't ready.

Gabi relaxed her grip first and I shook my head, "No, wait, just…one more minute." I whispered, I couldn't let this go yet, and Gabi stiffened for a brief moment before she just nodded her head. I settled into the hold and just finally breathed in a big breath of air and with it came her perfume. The same one from high school. I had to pull back this time before I got yelled at by her because I felt like I was 17 and had zero control of my dick. "Thank you for that," I whispered and her brown eyes flickered up to greet mine. The honey that circled the iris made me long for her.

"You were spinning out, I had to do something," I gave a tiny smile and just nodded my head, "I do appreciate you, Gabi. You'll never know." She swallowed hard and looked down at her feet for a few seconds. "Sorry, I probably took this too far but I just…I needed it. It's hard." Gabi gave a soft smile. "It is hard to do this alone. You don't have anybody to vent too so I understand. I do. I don't blame you." I blinked a few times before just nodding my head. "I told Eve she could stay. Claire probably needs her mom."

"That was nice of you, I know, that it's hard to be around her but the better you make it for Claire in front of Eve then the better it will be in the long run. Meeting parents who are able to co-parent together in front of their kids seem to just do a little bit better." I gave her a faint smile, "I'll try to keep that in mind."

"Just know that you knew deep in your heart that you weren't meant for Eve," I thought about her words for a brief moment and I just nodded my head, I knew Eve wasn't meant for me because only one girl was meant for me and she was standing two feet in front of me. My eyes flickered up to meet hers and she pulled that bottom lip in-between her teeth. I swallowed as I stared at her for a moment and then walked out of the room because I had zero self-control at the moment.

Gabi's POV

I sipped on my wine as Troy and Claire were both laying on the couch watching a movie together. Claire perked up a tiny bit from the fluids but still was pretty tired. She rested on her dad's big chest and was half watching the movie and half watching the back of her eye lids. Troy let Eve stay as long as she wanted today and I knew it was for the best for the both of them. Once she left to go tend to Jackson Troy took over and hadn't moved.

I took another tentative sip as my eyes focused on the man who only loved hard. There was no in-between for Troy Bolton. It was love hard or no love at all. The love he had for his daughter reminded me of how he loved me back in the day. All the attention, never liked seeing her sick or hurt, and took care of everything for her. Troy loved her so fiercely and I knew if something happened and he lost her he would never be the same man again.

It was shocking to me that he would be in a relationship with Eve for that long and not love her like he had loved and Claire. I knew that he was doing what was best for Claire at the time but I think they both learned quickly that it was just better apart. Troy reached up and ran his fingers through his hair and then rubbed his forehead. His hand landing back on Claire's back and his eyes shut for a moment. The way he looked at me earlier today – I knew what he was thinking. His only thought had been how much he wanted to kiss me. It was a face I had seen many times before and it was a face I never thought I would see again.

I hated that I wanted it.

I hated that I didn't want it.

He was slowly breaking me back down but I couldn't. My heart…I can't do that again. I was so broken last time. I still feel that heartache deep in my soul but God…he's such a man now. His shoulders are broad and defined, his arms are a nurse dream with the veins that pop out on them, and those blue eyes…those are still my weak point. That smile that spreads across his lips when he looks at Claire causes my tummy to flip upside down.

I still loved him.

I still wanted to hate him.

My eyes lingered on him some more before he finally tipped his head backwards to catch my eyes. "What are you looking at, Montez?" I smirked as I tipped my wine glass back. "Nothing, Bolton." He chuckled as his eyes glanced down towards Claire as she was fast asleep. He sat up and gently laid her on the couch before he got up and walked over to where I was sitting. "What are you drinking?" he questioned and he picked up the bottle and inspected it.

"A three-dollar bottle of wine from Aldi's," I said with a wink and his eyebrows frowned, "Can't find some better wine?" I gasped as I took the bottle of merlot back from him. "That is so rude. I love my cheap wine. Some of us do not make buckets and buckets of money." He snorted, "I am pretty sure I am sharing that bucket of money with you." He teased causing me to laugh. "Yea, you are but I can't change my ways. That's all going to pay off student loans and maybe get a house or something. I don't know."

Troy just slowly nodded his head, "I keep trying to find new things to do with all of this money. Fun fact, I actually have a beach house in North Carolina but I rent it out to people." I raised my eyebrows towards him as I took another drink of my wine. "You never use it?" Troy just shrugged his shoulders, "Never had a reason, too. I just needed to put my money somewhere but now I'm just making more money off of it so I have to figure out another way…" he stopped and laughed as he brushed his fingers through his hair. "Claire's college fund, wedding fund, and car fund are already maxed out."

"Must be hard to be a rich son of a bitch," Troy chuckled at my words and he just nodded, "I never really thought it would happen." He admitted, "Not after I went to Alabama. I just…wasn't the same." I finished off my drink and put the cork back into the bottle. Since Claire wasn't feeling well, I didn't want to have too much. "What is the one fun thing you are going to do with that money?" Troy asked me and I turned to face him for a beat as I shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe a vacation? I've wanted to go to Italy and maybe now is the time." Troy nodded his head as he gave me a smile, that smile, the one that made my knees weak. "This is going to be a weird question," I admitted, "But I've wondered mostly because you told me Jackson wasn't the name you both chose – what was the name you both chose?" Troy hesitated for a beat and he sighed, "Kace," Troy said and I smiled, "I like it. I wish things would have played out a little different."

"I don't," Troy admitted easily. "I am much happier now. Yes, I wish, that she wouldn't have cheated on me and I wish it was my son after bonding with him but…it was finally something to push me over the edge and get that divorce that I wanted. I finally…" he paused and shook his head. "I'm getting a second chance," he said softly.

My eyebrows pulled together at those words and I felt my eyes narrow, "With what?" I questioned and he smiled, "With everything." Our eyes connected and the stare between the two of us was electrical. My entire body hummed with just a glance from him and he reached over and let his hand touch the top of mine. "I'm not going to push you but you can't tell me that you don't feel this." He whispered and I twisted and turned my head away.

"You're beautiful, Gabi. I know that I hurt you and I can't fix that but I want to fix that now. I want to fix us and you tell me, okay? That's my second chance, Gabi. You are my second chance." I closed my eyes and I took a deep breath as his fingers grazed mine. "There isn't a day that I don't regret that night but we are exactly where we are supposed to be. My wife cheating on me, my daughter getting cancer, the loyalist drafting me…it was all leading up to this. To you."

I pulled my hand away and I swallowed on the lump growing in my throat, "I'm going to bed," I whispered. "Please let me know if Claire needs anything okay," Troy dropped his head and I just walked to my bedroom, shut the door, and covered my mouth as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

Happy Sunday! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! This is one of my favorites and you can really start to feel the shift

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Next Update: September 5th