A/N: I don't own anything from the HSM franchise nor the music that I have used in this story...just had to run that by everyone. By the way, thanks for all of the positively awesome reviews for the last chapter! It made my day for sure!

On with the story...

It had been exactly one week since the incident between Troy and Gabriella occurred. For obvious reasons, neither has spoken to each other nor did Gabriella want to. For her, Troy messed up big time and she wasn't going to forgive him easily nor was she sure if she would. He betrayed her trust and managed to embarrass her on their actions – but mostly of her own. She felt ashamed to be outsmarted by her brain from following her heart.

And it all happened because of a guy…

Or…

She could always blame it on Chad and Taylor for convincing her to go in the first place.

"Alright, I want to thank you all for working so hard and doing your absolute best for changing this month's theme for our issue so quickly. I hope you guys didn't mind that I really wanted it to be 'Chasing After Your Dreams'…I was inspired by a certain event for this one. As for the stuff that we were supposed to use for our now replaced issue, it's not going to go to waste; I've decided that we're going to use that for next month's issue so that means you all get to relax on doing your research and what not for the next one. But it doesn't mean full and complete relaxation…it means that we get to have a little more focus on planning the big upcoming event that we're throwing for the huge success of the magazine, thanks to all of you. I still haven't picked a date but I would like for it to be within the next two months or so." Gabriella was sitting at the end of the long table of the conference room, her employers sitting on both sides. Each one listened intently as their boss discussed the important topics. Ever since returning to her job, Gabriella had been burying herself with work. She kept herself extra busy as an attempt to forget about what happened but it would always come creeping up into her conscience once she reached her house.

"Um…as for job assignments for planning this, I already decided who would be doing what. Cassidy and Rachel, I want you both to be in charge of the decorations and what the place should look like inside and out. I trust you both with styling models so I'm assuming you guys could get it done since its sort of similar. Heather, you are to find the location for the event…it needs to be spacious and I would preferably like the place to have high ceilings if you find an indoor place; outdoor is also fine. Once you find the perfect place, inform me, Cassidy and Rachel since they have to see it to get their visual of how it's going to look. Melinda, I would like for you to be in charge of catering; appetizers and a three-course meal. Diana and Mallory, you guys have entertainment meaning music; try to see if you can get some of the big modern performers and DJ's of right now. Lastly, I want Kenneth, Tracey, and Iris to take charge of getting the security team, publicists, photographers not paparazzi, and…that's it for now.' Gabriella said as she looked up from her notepad after reading their assigned duties. She turned to her assistant that sat beside her, "Valerie, come by my office to discuss the guest list. Conference is over everyone. Thanks for all the hard work you guys did…you didn't let me down at all. You are all dismissed."

Everyone got up to continue what he or she was to work on or to get a head start on their planning. Gabriella stood seated in her seat and covered her face with her hands, letting the stress boil underneath her skin. It was a tough job that could fun yet a handful…somebody had to do it. She uncovered her face to see that Valerie was still sitting beside her. "Are we missing anything for this month's issue, Val?"

Valerie looked through her notes and nodded her head after a minute or so, "All we're missing is you editor in chief letter. Everything else is already covered."

"How could I forget that? My goodness! I swear I'm a mess…" Gabriella threw her head back and rested it against the top of the chair, closing her eyes momentarily.

"Don't be so hard on yourself boss. Whatever's stressing you out will blow over in time. Just have faith." Valerie rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Easy for you to say. A lot has happened since I left for my vacation, Val. I need a coffee…"

"Right on it, Gabriella. I'll be right back." She rustled all of her paperwork into her bag.

"Thanks."

Both ladies stood up and headed off into different directions. Gabriella went straight to her office to begin writing her letter. She sat at her desk and began thinking about what exactly she would say. That month's issue was changed to being about chasing after your dreams, what you really wanted. She had did just that but it wasn't how she expected it to be. She was so deep in thought for such a long while that she became startled when Valerie stepped into her office.

"Here's your coffee, Gabriella." Valerie handed her the container of Starbucks that she gladly accepted. "Anything else I could do for you?"

"Nope…that will be all for now. Thanks. You're the best!" Gabriella smiled with appreciation at her assistant, watching as her retreating back leave her office.

Taking a sip of her personal energy provider, she began to think aloud. "What the heck am I going to write for this month? I know what I want to write but I can't just put it all out there. Or should I?", she paused for a brief moment, considering her thought but then thought otherwise, "Don't be foolish, Gabriella…you can't just let the whole world know your personal issues...yet they should know the reason and inspiration behind this month's theme like they do for every other theme. I'm so confused! Am I seriously talking to myself...again? I need a new hobby..."

She smacked an aggravated hand to her forehead as she spun around in her seat, facing the large windows behind her. She peered out at the world below, ten stories high. Gabriella wandered just how many people had ever been let down; about how many people ended up being disappointed after they chased what they wanted most. About how many people really gave up from being upset. Is it really worth chasing a dream at all?

Then it hit her.

She knew what she would write.

"Kelsi, I don't have any idea what I'm going to do…" Troy paced around the backstage of the theater during the intermission.

"Troy, just calm down-" Kelsi tried to reason but failed completely.

"I can't! I can't sleep…I can't eat…I can barely look at my own reflection without hating who I see staring back at me. I'm such a screw up." He retorted. Troy was frustrated beyond his limit and he had no one to blame but himself.

"You're not a screw up…you're human. We all make mistakes; some mistakes worse than others but nonetheless, it was an accident. You're not a bad person for what happened. So you messed up, who hasn't? I mean, what you did wasn't smart but at least you did the right thing by telling her." She was one of those people who knew just what to say to chill him out and make him feel better.

"I guess but what am I supposed to do now? How do I fix things?" he gently asked. His usually bright eyes appeared dull and lost. He didn't know what to do with himself anymore and all that was obvious by the look in his eyes.

"By giving Gabriella some time."

"What if she never forgives me after I give her space?" He didn't what to do with himself when that thought flashed through his mind.

"Then it wasn't meant to be."

Troy contemplated those last words spoken from Kelsi's mouth. It kind of hurt him at the thought of fate possibly working against them. Could fate be that cruel to fool him into believing that they weren't meant for each other after all they've been through?

"I don't know what I'm going to do about Pam though."

"Honestly, how much do you really love her? Do you still love her at all?" Kelsi quirked a brow at him.

Troy was lost when she asked him that question. He didn't even quite understand just how he felt anymore. He was down a path and finally reached the crossroads between his first true love and the current woman that wore a ring.

"I-I don't even know anymore. Like I love her, very much…but I'm not sure if I'm in love with her…or at least not like before. It's not the same anymore. Things are changing between us and I'm scared. I'm scared to lose my marriage and end up alone without anyone wanting me back. What if I leave Pam and try to go after Gabriella and she doesn't want me? That thought scares the shit out of me and I don't want to think back on what I threw away with Pam and regret it, you know? But then if I stay with Pam, I'm going to be left thinking 'what if?' Either way it seems like I'm going to regret something." Troy poured his heart out to his friend. His fear of being lonely was something that affected him greatly and Kelsi noticed this.

"You wont regret it if you're wrong about Gabriella. She cares about you, Troy. She cares a lot…more than you think. She left here pissed off with you but that doesn't mean that she hates you. Gabriella is a smart woman and very understanding too…you should know that better than anyone else. Just give her some time before you decide on what you really want in life, okay?" Kelsi asked, looking into his eyes for a confirmation.

"Alright…thanks. I needed that." Troy pulled her into an embrace and let her go when the stagehand appeared and told them that they would be back on in five.

"You're welcome. Now go perform your heart out because your sucky mood is killing the show!"

This is the shortest chapter that I've written and I'm not satisfied with the length at all but I needed it to be just a filler to prepare my future chapters. This weekend I will be attending The Jonas Brothers concert here in Puerto Rico (so excited!) so I'm basically going to spend my entire weekend in San Juan until Monday so I might be awhile when it comes to updating the next chapter BUT I can assure you that it will be up ASAP.

Hope you guys enjoyed this short one...review por favor aka please!