THE ONLY WAY

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair when he heard a door slam. He walked upstairs and went to the guest room. He tried opening the door but it was locked, which led him to roll his eyes.

"Open the door, Gabriella," he said knocking on it.

"No!" she said frustrated.

"We need to talk Gabriella," he replied.

"I think you have said enough," she shot back.

"Just open the door, we need to have a rational conversation. I'm not leaving until you open this door," he said. She rolled her eyes and opened the door. Before he could say anything she began to speak.

"Seriously Troy. Who the f-- do you think you are trying to control my life?" He didn't respond and walked into the room and sat down on the bed with his head down. "Troy…"

He took a deep breath and looked up.

"You know you once told a magazine that one of your biggest fears was disappointing me. Well your biggest fear has just become a reality, because I have never been so disappointed in my entire life. You know where to find me when you come to your senses," he said seriously and got up. He walked to the door and turned around. "And if you don't want to go to rehab, I suggest you do it fast." She stood there frozen as he walked out.

30 Minutes Later

Troy looked up from his computer when he heard the door open.

"Can I come in?" Gabriella asked shyly.

"Of course," he replied taking the computer off his lap and putting it on the bedside table. She sighed and got up and walked over to the dresser, brushing her fingers across it.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Being back in the place I used to call home, my old bedroom," she said turning towards him. "It's weird. The last time I was here was the day we broke up…"

"I know. I'll never forget coming home and seeing Chad packing up all your stuff. It didn't really hit me until then." Gabriella just nodded.

"You really think we weren't meant to be?" he asked and she shrugged.

"We're so young. Just like everyone else. You fall in love, think you're gonna spend the rest of your life together, but then you grow up, change, and then end up breaking up," she replied. "I mean look at us now…we were never like this with each other."

"We didn't break up because we changed," Troy reminded her.

"I know, but we were bound to sometime," she replied. "If last night or today isn't proof of that, I don't know what is."

"Do you like this person you've become?"

"Yeah, I'm stronger…independent…I can go to sleep without someone next to me, I needed to know what it was like to not have someone to lean on 24/7."

"You think we could ever be friends?" he asked and she shook her head.

"We both know we could never be just friends," she replied and he nodded, know she was right.

"So say we don't get back together. That would be it? We would be out of each other's lives for…forever," he asked sadly.

"I don't know," she replied, tears welling up in her eyes.

"You know Chad always gave me like reports on you. What was going on, how you were doing, cause I couldn't stand the thought of not knowing. Even though we aren't together, you've still been a huge part of my life," he replied. "I need you in my life. And I think you need me in yours." He got up from the bed and walked up to her. He tucked a stand of hair behind her ear. "We need each other." She looked into his eyes, tears streaming down her face and he wiped one away with his thumb. "You might have needed to know what it's like not to have someone taking care of you all the time, and I get that, but we all need somebody to lean on. I just want you to be happy."

"How…how do we know that we will be happy together this time around?" she asked.

"We don't, but I think it's worth a try," he replied.

"I…I don't want to get heartbroken again," she told him sadly.

"Why are you being like this," he asked, clearly upset.

"I…I'm seeing someone," she replied nervously. He stepped back and looked at her in shock. "I'm sorry Troy, I didn't know how to tell you."

"Is…is it serious?" he asked in shock and she shrugged.

"I dunno, it's pretty new," she mumbled.

"Oh…ummm…okay then. I guess this was just a waste of time then," he mumbled, more pissed at himself. "I'm really losing you. Aren't I?"

"I don't want to lose you either Troy. But it's like we have no other choice."

"Why?" he asked, tears now coming to his eyes as well. It was as if all of his dreams were being shattered once again.

"Because that's just how life is," she replied and he shook his head, tears now streaming down his face. "You…you never cry."

"I…I got my hopes up, that the dreams I had given up on could actually come true. But…but they are shattering right in front of my eyes."

"Dreams of what?"

"You standing next to me in a white dress in front of a judge with our family and friends around us. Placing my hand on your stomach, to protect the baby that is inside of it. I can't imagine doing any of that with any other woman," he replied and more tears flowed down her face. "When you had the pregnancy scare…years ago, you said you began to like the idea of having kids with me. Why don't you feel that way anymore?"

"I dreamed of it too Troy. But now look at us. Things aren't the way they used to be," she replied through her tears. He took a deep breath and wiped the tears off his face.

"Well then I guess this is goodbye?" Gabriella took in his words and replayed them over and over in her head. By the 10th time she had come to a realization and ended up on the floor convulsing in sobs. He immediately bent down behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Shhh…it's okay. I'm right here," he said in a soothing tone holding her tight, and she began to calm down slightly. "Talk to me baby. Tell me why you're doing this," he said in her ear.

"I'm…I'm scared," she cried.

"Of what?"

"Of commitment. Of love. I mean look what happened to my parents, they were together for 22 years then all of a sudden it was over. Everything was perfect between us and then all of a sudden it was just…over. I cant go through that again," she replied. "I'm scared of the way you make me feel." He sighed and held her tighter.

"Is it a good or bad feeling?"

"Good. So good it scares me."

"I cant tell you there aren't going to be bumps in the road and that it wont be hard sometimes, but I can promise you that I will never let you go again," he replied.

"Troy how do I…" she started but stopped when he got up and walked to his drawer. He quickly grabbed something and walked back to her and bent down in front of her.

"Here's my promise," he said, holding out a jewelry box and she looked at him confused.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Open it." She slowly took it out of his hand before opening it. She gasped as soon as she saw what was inside. A diamond ring.

"Troy…" she said in shock.

"I bought it about a month before we broke up," he said.

"You…you were going to…propose?" she asked in shock.

"On our 4 and a half year anniversary, at our spot, at midnight," he replied.

"I…I don't know what to say."

"I want to marry you Gabi. Spend the rest of my life with you." She looked down at the ring then back up at him. Tears streaming down her face, her heart pounding through her chest, she nodded.

"Ok."

The End! Please Review!!