Check Please
Gabriella rested against the back of the booth and smiled serenely. She plopped another éclair into her mouth and took in the decor. With it's French cuisine, drinks, and style, Minnie's sort of stood out in Albuquerque. It was also extremely expensive and therefore the meeting place for the town's elite. And for the last few months, it'd been Ryan and Gabriella's Sunday brunch spot. Taking a bite out of a chocolate covered strawberry, Gabriella laid her head on Ryan's shoulder and listened to him talk excitedly about his troupe's next project.
"We're working on a way to have fireworks, mini ones at least, exploding throughout the theatre. We have to work with the fire chief and get a ton of permits and posters warning the public about the fire hazards, but it's going to be amazing!!! The sets are being shipped in from South America and will just need a few touch-ups when they arrive but other than that.... Oh and the costumes. Oh the costumes!!!! They are just AMAZING!!! Christo has just totally outdone himself this time. He showed me this sketch he's done for this one dress for Monica... wow! It has feathers, sequins, and a TON of silk. It's going to be tricky but when it's done... Wow. You're going to be in awe Ella. Really!"
"Can't wait," she said sweetly.
Ryan beamed back at her before launching into another description of the play. "The plot...." he began.
Gabriella traced the lines on his palm as she half-listened to his ramblings. It wasn't that she didn't like listening to him talk about his work, but work was all he talked about. She loved all the stories about star-crossed lovers who defy all odds and live happily ever after as much as the next person, but seriously.... listening to it all the time took away some of the attraction and romanticism. She wished she could just ask him to change the subject, but she couldn't. What if it made him upset? She couldn't afford to lose him now. He was her last chance.
So instead, Gabriella focused on the cute little pastries, the array of candles, and intricacy of the wall hangings, at least until a voice pulled her back to reality.
"Gabriella, did you hear me?"
"What?" she asked innocently as she finished off the strawberry in her hand.
"Um... Did you hear what I asked you?" Ryan said nervously. Gabriella shook her head guiltily. He waited until she swallowed and cleared his throat, "I said... I was wondering.... I mean... It's just that... We're happy together right?" She nodded and gazed at him curiously. "Yea, well... that's good. Um... and we're comfortable together right? Like, you like being with me and everything?"
Gabriella smiled. "Ryan," she said wrapping her arm around his and cuddling up to him, "of course we're happy and comfortable together. How could we not be? We're good together. I think we're going to stay that way for a while." Ryan seemed to relax at the last comment but kept fidgeting. Gabriella took his hand and immediately pulled back. "Are you sweating?" she giggled as she wiped her hands on his sleeves. Ryan didn't laugh and Gabriella's head shot up. "You are! Ryan what's wrong?" she panicked.
"Nnnothing," he stuttered as he wrung his hands. "It's just that..."
"Yes?" she pushed.
"I wanted to ask if you..."
"Uh-huh..."
"We'vebeendatingforawhileandIknowithasn'treallybeenallthatlongofatimebutIknowthatIloveyouanddon'twanttospendmylifewithanyoneelsesowillyoumarrymeGabriellaMontez?"
Gabriella's jaw dropped to the floor. "Did you just ask me to marry you?" she said.
Ryan breathed and calmly responded with, "Well... I want to know if you'll eventually marry me. Like I said, I know we haven't really known each other very long but... I love you Gabriella Montez and I..." He stopped when Gabriella, who'd been whispering OH MY GOD for the entire speech, finally pulled him into a kiss.
Tears rolled down her eyes as she said....
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"You said WHAT?" Taylor screeched.
"Yes! I said YES!! Oh Tay, isn't if fabulous?" Gabriella gushed.
"So not the word I would use at this point," Taylor retorted.
"I know right," Gabriella said, obviously oblivious to her friend's response. "I mean, when he first asked I was totally in shock. We brunch at Minnie's every Sunday, see each other almost every night, and have dinner together two or three times a week, and the conversation of marriage has never come up. But today he just went into this whole thing about never wanting to be with anyone else and how we're happy together and it was so sweet and romantic. It was like something from a movie. Then he asked me to marry him and I SAID YES!!! It's so perfect," she said dreamily.
"No it's not!" Taylor snapped.
This time Taylor's words registered and Gabriella's face dropped. "What do you mean. I'm getting married! How isn't this the most perfect day of my life?" she asked injured.
"Because you don't love Ryan," Taylor stated. "You can't love anyone...."
"What's that suppose to mean? You think I'm heartless?" Gabriella snapped angrily.
"You didn't let me finish," Taylor said calmly. Gabriella sat back hesitantly and Taylor continued. "As I was saying, you can't love anyone until you talk to Troy."
"WHAT?" Gabriella cried out. A few diners around them turned to look but Taylor shooed them away. "What does he have to do with anything?"
"You two never had any closure. You never had a chance to talk about why you broke-up." Gabriella turned away, obviously pained by the reminder. "You see," Taylor added. "Just my mentioning it makes you cringe. You're always going to wonder about Troy and what happened between you two until you guys talk it through."
"Not all of us need to talk with someone to figure out how to be in love," Gabriella said coldly. Taylor looked as though she'd just been slapped across the face. Upon seeing this, Gabriella lowered her eyes guiltily. "Taylor I didn't mean that. I know you and Chad had to work things out and the counseling..."
"No Gabriella. Don't bother apologizing for that. I forgive you. I know how to take the truth. It's time you learn too," Taylor insisted.
"What do you mean? I'm not talking to Troy," she argued.
"Gabriella..."
"No Taylor. I won't do it!"
"Why not?" Taylor pushed.
"Because I have nothing to say to him!"
"I think it's because you're afraid," Taylor pressed
"Check!" Gabriella ordered.
"I think you won't talk to Troy because you still have feelings for him."
"Check!"
"Ryan was suppose to replace Troy, but he can't can he?" Taylor continued.
"Waiter?" Gabriella said on the verge of tears.
"You like Ryan but he's just reminds you of Troy," Taylor whispered. Gabriella rested he elbows on the table and placed her head in her hands. "The only reason you dated Ryan to begin with was to get back at Troy. And now you're staying with Ryan with the same reason. You figure that if you don't have Troy, at least you can have a reminder of him. At least you'll have Ryan. And you know it'll eat Troy up inside to see that. He'll feel the same pain you feel everyday because he lost you and it was all his fault."
"Stop," she begged.
"Then tell me I'm wrong Taylor challenged.
"I can't," Gabriella choked. "Just stop. Alright? You're right. I admit it," she sniffled taking the check from the waiter. "I still have feelings for Troy, and this was all a ploy to get him back. It was stupid... oh was it stupid... but it's done now. Troy's gone now and there's nothing I can do about it. I'll never get him back. So you know what? I'm going to be with RYAN. RYAN and I are very happy together."
"Oh please," Taylor scoffed. "You don't seriously believe that Ryan doesn't know exactly what's going on? You don't think he has his own agenda? You don't think he's lied to you? Don't be stupid Gabriella!"
"NO!!" she yelled. She snatched her credit card back from the waiter and gathered up her things. "Ryan love's me and I'm going to marry him and have a fairy tale ending. I'm not going to see, speak, or so much as think of... him.... again. And if you can't be happy and supportive of my decision," Gabriella stated as she stood to leave, "then I don't want or need you in my life. Goodbye Taylor," she said.
As Gabriella walked out of the restaurant, all eyes were on her. A few people turned their questioning gazes towards Taylor, wondering what she'd said to make her friend snap like that. But Taylor just turned to the waiter and said, "Did you record our conversation like I asked?" The man reached under the table and handed her a tiny device with a built-in mic. "Perfect!" Taylor smiled. "Check please."