That Tuesday, Troy woke up with a feeling of someone resting on his bare chest. He smiled to himself thinking it was his wife as he opened his eyes, but instead was greeted with the sight of Mugsy. 'I forgot he slept with us…where's Pam?'

As Troy began to move out of the bed, Mugsy sprang up and jumped off along with him. Troy groggily walked out of the bedroom, stopping in the hallways to see if he heard any sounds that clued him to where Pam could be. He didn't hear any peculiar sounds, noting that he was alone. Troy made his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth and shower, leaving Mugsy alone to wander around. Moments later, he left the bathroom with a pair of shorts on and a t-shirt.

"Mugsy! Where are you boy?" Troy called out in search of the pup. As he walked into the kitchen, he found Mugsy sitting next to his bowl. "Hungry, aren't you? So am I." And with that, the young man grabbed a can of puppy chow and dispensed it into the bowl. Afterwards, he started to prepare himself a bowl of cereal. When Troy reached the handle of the refrigerator to retrieve the milk, he noticed a note from Pamela on it.

Hey babe!

Good morning, sorry I couldn't be there when you woke up with Mugsy, I had to get to the office ASAP. I don't think I'm going to be able to make it to lunch today honey. I'm sorry for that too…hopefully I'll see you for dinner. I love you! Take care of our little boy before going to the theater. XOXO

-Pam

"Well that explains where she is…" Troy said to himself, releasing a sigh. He began to think to himself as he sat at the dining room table and ate his cereal. 'Pam was amazing for even considering buying us a dog just 'cause she knows how important it is to make a family for me. It's a small step but I'm glad that she's starting to slowly come around. I remember back after graduation when Gabriella and I used to talk about our future. We wanted three kids, a beige two-story home with red shudders and a red door, a white picket fence, and a Golden Retriever. Seems like I got the Golden Retriever down, I'm just missing the house, the kids, and the girl. Wait…where did the last part come from? I already got the girl…just not the girl I had previously thought of spending my future with. I wonder what she's doing now. Does she still think of me? I shouldn't even be questioning that; I'm a married man for crying out loud! Ugh, how does she manage to still creep up into your thoughts Bolton? After all these years, for some reason I just can't seem to fully let go. I got to learn how to get a grip sometimes. You'd think that I'd be completely happy with the life I live right now. I mean, I have great friends, I love my job, an amazing wife, and I'm living well…but it just doesn't seem like enough or like it matters much. Speaking of friends, I wonder what's become of Chad. Oh gosh, I'm like the worst friend ever…how did I just abandon him like that? We grew up together and then I leave and don't even keep in contact with him or my family? Not only am I the worst friend, but I'm the worst son!' Troy's thoughts rambled inside his head when the feeling of Mugsy licking his ankle suddenly shook him out of them.

"Hey Mugster, you finished? Good boy!" he playfully said to his dog, watching the dog excitedly wag his tail. "How about we go for a walk?" With that, Troy put his bowl inside the sink and grabbed the leash that was in the box that Mugsy was wrapped in and attached it to his collar. They walked out the apartment and towards Central Park.

Upon their arrival, Troy couldn't help but to smile and reflect on how beautiful the day was. Once again, old memories back from his days in East High flooded back.

It was a warm day during the summer before college in Albuquerque. Troy and Gabriella spent every single day together for they knew it wouldn't be long before it was time for them to try to handle a long distance relationship. They decided to take a private walk together at the park nearby their former high school, embracing their last few weeks.

"So, summer's almost over Gabs…" Troy said, playing with her fingers that were intertwined with his own.

"I know, I can't believe how fast it's going by. It's like time is trying to work against us instead of helping us out…like it doesn't want us to be happy. What are we going to do Troy?" Gabriella asked, insecurities getting the best of her.

"Gabriella, I love you…just know that. No matter how far apart we are, nothing is going to change that, I promise. We've been through a lot together and I'm not giving you up that easily, not now. We just got to work at it like we do on other things. Think of it as an extra credit homework assignment for our relationship, we're already happy and strong but this will only make us stronger. We'll be ok…we'll survive it, and if we don't then I'm at least glad that you're apart of my life." He said with all sincerity, his eyes gleaming with nothing but passionate love for the young lady he was gazing down on. His eyes lingered on the way her wavy hair shined in the sunlight, her bright brown eyes reflecting the love that he had in his own. He admired the way the right corner of her mouth suddenly turned upwards and he knew that she was satisfied.

"Troy, you mean the world to me. I'm glad you have faith in what we have, what we are, and who we will become. I want to cherish every moment of my life with you and even though you won't physically be there during college, you will still and always be right here…" Gabriella motioned towards her heart with her free hand, "And I don't ever want to let you go Troy. My heart wouldn't be able to stand it if we couldn't make it through and I appreciate that you want to give this whole distance thing a try just as much as I do. I love you Wildcat." Her eyes becoming wet for she had tears that she wouldn't allow to fall.

Troy pulled Gabriella into a tight embrace as he whispered in her ear, "It doesn't have to end…not unless we let it and neither of us are willing to. We're going to be fine Gabbi, don't you worry about a thing." He slightly pulled back to stare into her eyes, seeing that she felt secure by his words. Gabriella's eyes traveled from the blue orbs staring at her down to the lips that possessed the guy that she loved. She stepped up onto the very tips of her toes and captured his lips with her own. Troy allowed her tongue to slip in between as she glided it along his bottom lip, urging for entrance as they were caught up in a heatedly passionate kiss. Moments later, Gabriella stepped down from her toes breaking their slight make out as Troy leaned his forehead against hers. She giggled as he whimpered from her stopping their tongue action but not minding much since he didn't want anything more but to just be within her company.

"Hello! Earth to Troy!!!" Kelsi yelled trying to catch her friend's attention. At that moment, Troy blinked his eyes several times as he suddenly realized that he was so caught up in his daydream that he didn't notice Kelsi in front of him.

"Sorry Kels. Fancy running into you here. I see you're walking Hannah and by the way, speaking of walking, I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of the Bolton clan. This is Mugsy." Troy said playfully trying to avoid the gaze she was giving him, knowing that she might've had a clue as to what he was thinking about just because she knew him that well.

"Nice to meet you Mugsy. Troy, he's absolutely gorgeous. When did you get him?" Kelsi asked, deciding to dismiss her thoughts and figuring that she'll interrogate Troy later.

"Last night actually, Pam bought him for us as her way of avoiding kids…again. You already know the story…" Troy drifted his words off since Kelsi understood their situation.

"Oh, well at least she's putting some kind of effort into raising something. That's got to mean a lot to you, doesn't it?" she asked.

"Yeah, it does mean a lot to me. It was actually pretty thoughtful of her to do so you know?" Troy replied. He and Kelsi started to walk along the endless path that circled different parts of the park and connected to other paths to take. They stopped every once in awhile to allow their dogs to do their business and continued on their walk, conversing different topics.

"Nah, I think the Yankees will totally beat the Red Sox next season. You just wait and see Mr. Bolton, you just wait!" Kelsi said as she poked his chest with her index finger.

"Whatever you say Kels, whatever you say…" Troy simply replied while chuckling at her statement. "So how are you and Patrick?"

"We're good actually. He's working right now and we have plans to spend the night in with some popcorn and a movie after the last show of tonight." Kelsi answered, a small smile gracing her face at the thought of it.

"That's awesome. I'm happy for you Kelsi, I really am. I'm glad you found someone who makes you happy and I hope he continues to because you're a great girl and he seems like a great guy." The former basketball player said to his old friend.

"Thank Troy, that was really sweet of you. Hey, you should be happy too. I mean, you must be if you are married to the woman…" Kelsi said studying Troy's face to see a reaction.

"I suppose I am…Kelsi, can I be honest with you?" Troy stopped walking and faced her, not speaking until she nodded her head for him to go on. "For some reason, today I've been thinking about Gabriella a lot more than normal. I mean the day did just start a few hours ago and it's not even noon yet, but she's crept into my mind quite a few times already."

"Look Troy, that's understandable…you never really get over or forget your first love, which is what she is. It's like what my grandma used to tell me, 'The first person to possess your heart is the one to truly possess it for all eternity'. In your case, it seems true." Kelsi replied, letting her words process into Troy's mind as he looked away. He thought about the quote Kelsi just told him and couldn't help but to feel slight regret as he thought about its truth.

"Yeah but she's not supposed to anymore, Pam has to. I mean I guess I never truly got over Gabbi considering that we didn't leave with any closure of the situation, but I just thought that after all these years that the feelings would've drifted away." Troy admitted, feeling guilty that he felt this way while he was with another.

"Sometimes the true feelings and the memories that you have aren't meant to drift away. I know it's not easy to accept because you're married and you don't want to hurt Pam in any kind of way. But you can't help but to feel the way that you feel and you have to accept that. Perhaps the closure would've helped but there isn't much you can do now. Just don't pay much mind to what your heart tells you and follow your head this time. Following your heart in this situation isn't going to get you anywhere." She wisely advised.

"Thanks Kelsi. I appreciate the words of wisdom and the advice. I guess you're right this time and I'm just going to have to really listen to my head because like you said, my heart isn't going to get me anywhere right now." Troy said thinking everything through.

"We better get going, first show of the day starts in about two and a half hours. See you there?" Kelsi asked.

"Bet on it."

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pamela's Office

Pam walked into her office exhaustedly and sat in her chair releasing a sigh. She sprawled her papers out across her desk and absent-mindedly looked at them. Seeing that her work didn't catch her interest at the moment, she looked at the wedding band on her ring finger and began to hum. Seconds later, a knock was at the door.

"Come in!" She called out.

"Pam baby, there seems to be a client that has to see you. He say's its urgent…" said her assistant, Lance, a smirk forming on his lips as stared at her with desire.

"Oh really? Is their name Lance?" she replied with a smirk of her own, deciding to play along with his game.

"Perhaps, he says he's been dying to see you all morning since you've been occupied." Lance said while walking towards her to front of her desk, leaning his hands on either side as he stood above her.

"Yeah well I'm glad that he was at least patient enough to wait 'til we could be alone before interrupting me in one of my meetings. So, now that he seems to have me all to himself for the next hour, what shall we do?" Pam stood up from her chair behind the desk to meet his stature from the other side, leaning in dangerously close to his face.

"Well, I had some of this in mind…" Lance launched forward and caught Pamela's lips in a rough kiss. She decided to take his challenge and force her lips harder onto his until he broke it to move around the desk and stand directly in front of her, placing his lips over hers once again.

Throughout the kiss, Pamela moved her fingers towards her wedding ring and removed it from her hand and throwing it behind her shoulder. She stifled a moan as Lance's hands roamed her body, causing pleasure to accelerate.

This was one lunch break that she wasn't sharing with her husband.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*Gasp* So, Pam is having an affair with her assistant at her office and Troy has no clue…drama? I think so.

This chapter was just a filler and just to prepare future drama to happen later on. Liked it? Thoughts and opinions are appreciated! Thanks!