A/N: Happy Monday. Wow. I got it done. Who knew that would happen? There's no preview, sadly. I only have 327 words for Chapter 22 (so next week's update may not happen. Who knows?)

Anyway, I have some REALLY (as in really, really, REALLY) exciting news. A few months ago, my mum suggested that I enter this poetry competition. So I submitted three different poems, not sure if it had worked as I hadn't received a confirmation letter or anything. Anyway, last week, I received a letter from the company to say that a poem of mine was shortlisted and, although it didn't win, they wanted to put it in another book they're working on. My poem's getting published. Sure, it's not a novel but if people buy this book, they're reading my name.

My name.

Anyway, enjoy :)

Chapter 21

As soon as Steph was awake, she knew she was alone. After the night that she and Andy had spent together, she'd known this would be the outcome. That's just how things worked for her. She didn't know what had possessed Andy to sleep with her, all she'd known is that it had been the best night of her life.

She opened her eyes and could help the tears that spilled onto her cheeks when she touched the pillow where he had rested his head. Maybe they weren't ever supposed to be together. Whenever they tried, someone always ran away. She didn't know why. She saw people do it all the time: go from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. For some reason, she and Andy just couldn't do it. It was perhaps an automatic reaction to compare this to their first time.

Their first time had been rushed and awkward and she had woken up the following morning with numerous bruises on her arms and legs. Then again, what can you expect from losing your virginity in the back of a pickup truck?

But this time hadn't been much different, although she hopefully didn't have many bruises as a result. They'd still rushed and there had been fumbling and awkwardness. What can you expect from sleeping with your best friend?

Steph groaned when she heard her phone ring. She reached for the handset and flipped it open, holding it to her ear. "Hello?" she whispered.

"Steph!" The voice of Steph's girl best friend, Terri, rang in her ear. "A bunch of us are going out for a dive. You're coming with us, right?"

"I don't know," Steph muttered. She kept staring at his pillow, where he'd rested his head. Although starfish were her world and she loved going diving to see them, she wasn't sure even they could make her feel better. There's only so many times you can watch someone walk away.

"What's wrong?" Terri asked quietly. They'd met in fresher's week. And during those past three years, Steph had never declined an opportunity to watch the starfish she loved so dearly.

Steph couldn't help the tears that fell at her friend's caring tone. "I'm becoming a nun. Or a lesbian. Or a hermit. Anything so I don't have to deal with shithead guys all the time."

Despite Steph's obviously devastating situation, Terri let out a ring of laughter. "Now, let's not do anything drastic. I'm the one who bats for the other side. You stay straight, just the way you are."

Steph managed to crack a small smile but it disappeared just as quickly as it had come. "But guys are such dicks!" she exclaimed angrily.

Terri laughed at that comment. "Why do you think God gave them that particular appendage?"

Steph shook her head to herself at her friend's devil-may-care attitude. "Terri, I'm serious. I can't do it anymore."

Terri sighed softly. "I know it doesn't make it any easier but maybe this is what you need. Steph, I love you like a sister and I'd do anything for you. You've been pining away for that guy for like four years. If you go to Edinburgh and study those starfish, you're thinking about yourself. It's what you need to do."

Steph rubbed her eyes. "I know," she muttered. "So diving. What time are we all meeting?"

Upon waking up, Gabriella was welcomed by the tempting scents of bacon, sausages and eggs. She felt the warm sheets sooth her tired body and the slight breeze from the open window gave her a whiff of the ocean air. She opened her eyes and looked across at the side of the bed where Troy had slept. He was gone.

Assuming that it was him cooking that produced the tempting smells, she slid out of bed and pulled Troy's discarded shirt over her head. Padding out of the bedroom, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Once her vision cleared, she saw Troy pottering around the kitchen, creating a terribly unhealthy, but undoubtedly delicious breakfast. He was in just a pair of boxers and she couldn't help the flashbacks of the night before. They'd been like a couple of teenagers, with awkward fumbling and giggles through the night.

She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his back. "Morning," she murmured.

Troy smiled to himself and turned the oven down a little before he turned in her arms and welcomed her with a kiss. He moaned against her as he wrapped her in his arms and pulled back to look in her eyes. "Good morning, Miss Montez."

Gabriella blushed and hid her face in his chest. "Morning," she muttered.

"What are you doing awake?" he asked softly, stroking her hair. "I was going to make you breakfast in bed."

She lifted her head and sent him a warm smile. "Well, I woke up and missed you."

Troy brushed her tousled hair from her face. "I must have made a lasting impression from last night," he murmured.

Gabriella giggled and patted his chest. "Let's not ruin the whole thing by getting an ego." She moved away from him to the cupboard and fridge to pour herself some orange juice. She glanced over at Troy and watched his movements. "How did you guess that I don't like cornflakes?"

She could tell he was smiling as he dished up a large plate of sausages, bacon and eggs. "Lucky guess?" he offered as he turned around to place the mountain of fatty and greasy food on the island counter. He took a seat and reached for Gabriella, pulling her onto his lap. He looked into her eyes and brushed her hair from her face. He'd spent the entire night studying her body, tracing her skin, memorising her curves. And still, he couldn't quite believe that she was so beautiful and that she was all his.

He chuckled and shook his head. "Brie, I've witnessed you eat a BLT sandwich, a large bag of Doritos and a jam doughnut for lunch. I didn't think your weight was one of your priorities."

She blushed and jokingly hit the back of his head. "Give me a break. I grew up with an older brother and a best friend who always volunteered me as the taste tester."

Troy brought her in for a kiss and grinned against her lips. He moaned lowly, feeling her fingertips trace his chest, his shoulders, his arms. When the separated and Gabriella rested her chin on his shoulder, he held her tightly in his arms. He remembered holding Andy for that first time, feeling that indescribable peace with the world. He'd thought that that feeling would only reappear if he ever had more children. And that had always been a big 'if' considering his rocky relationship. But as he kissed Gabriella, feeling her fingers tracing his muscles, he felt, he knew, that everything was okay.

Troy broke the kiss at the sound of a key in the lock. He pushed Gabriella away so that she was hidden behind him, trying to save her dignity. He turned to the door just as Andy strolled in. He smiled widely at his son. "Hey, Andy."

Andy quirked an eyebrow as he kicked the door shut. "Hi." He frowned at Gabriella and the way that Troy was trying to hide her. "Don't look at me like that, Dad."

Troy frowned. "Look at you like what?"

Andy rolled his eyes as he sauntered into the kitchen to pour himself some coffee. "You're looking at me as if you're praying that I haven't figured out what happened last night." He turned to face Troy and Gabriella and gave a rueful smile. "In what universe did I not know that Gabriella would be here this morning?"

Troy glanced back at Gabriella. "So you knew?"

"I knew this would happen about a day after you met," he muttered.

Gabriella rested her hand on Troy's arm. "How's Steph?" she asked politely.

Andy's eyes darkened. "Never, and I mean never, say that name to me ever again," he hissed. He threw the rest of his coffee down the sink and left his mug on the counter. With a final dark look at Troy and Gabriella, he stalked over towards his bedroom.

Troy instantly got to his feet and followed his son. "Andrew Bolton, you come back here and apologise to Gabriella," he yelled. He watched as Andy turned to him. "Apologise. Now. I don't care how old you are, you're my son and I'm not going to just sit back and watch you talk to Gabriella or anybody else that way. Now, apologise!"

Andy reluctantly looked at Gabriella and shrugged. "Sorry," he muttered before stepping into his room and slamming the door.

Troy hammered on the door. "Andrew, come out and apologise properly!"

Gabriella padded over and placed her hand on his chest. "Don't. It's okay."

Troy sighed as he wrapped an arm around her. "I don't want him speaking to you like that."

"I don't want you ruining this by yelling. Can't we just be with each other?" she murmured.

Troy smiled and nodded. "Of course."

While Troy was putting the dried crockery away, Andy trudged out of his bedroom and headed towards the fridge. "And the caveman emerges to scrounge for food," Troy joked, attempting to make his son smile.

Andy took the milk out of the fridge and took a swig from the bottle. Troy couldn't be sure but he suspected that Andy only did it to hide a brief smile. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sighed. "Dad?"

Troy quirked an eyebrow. "He speaks in a civil tone?"

Andy shrugged. "I guess I deserve that. Where's Gabriella?"

"Shower. Any reason?" Troy asked.

Andy busied himself with putting the milk away and getting an apple that was breakfast, for him. "I want to apologise," he whispered. "I want to talk to her. With how I've been acting, I haven't had chance to talk to her, you know?"

Troy gave his son a small smile. "You don't have to."

Andy frowned. "Hey! My dad's finally found a woman he may settle down with, no matter what I've screwed up, no matter what crap I'm going through, it's not a valid excuse for how I spoke to you both earlier." He paused. "Besides, I know that if I don't rattle this speech off, I won't live to see graduation."

Troy smiled. "Can I give you some advice about women?"

Andy shrugged. "The way it's going, I'm all ears."

Troy looked into his son's eyes. "I don't know what happened last night and I don't really want to know, if I'm honest. But, you and Steph? Come on. I know you. Whatever's happened will be okay. Do you remember those lame ass Disney fairytales you used to watch?"

Andy laughed and nodded. "Oh yeah. Cheesiest things in the world."

"But didn't they teach you anything? I'll be first to admit that love sucks. I ran away from it for the most of your life. I didn't think it was worth it. But, Andy, don't you see? Of course it's worth it. I mean, me and Brie can't agree on what car is the best or what flavour of crisps is perfect for a crisp sandwich. But we know each other and we love each other." Troy paused, tapping his fingers against the counter. "You and Steph have known each other a really long time and I wouldn't throw it away, no matter what you've done."

"She'll never forgive me," Andy muttered.

Troy laughed. "Of course not! She's a woman. She'll forgive you. Maybe when you guys are eighty and living in an old retirement home."

Andy gave a small smile. "Probably." He paused. "Do you think we can still be together?"

Troy nodded. "Oh yeah. You'll both figure it out and she'll be mad and she'll yell but you'll both be fine, I promise."

Before Andy could respond, Gabriella emerged from the bathroom in a t-shirt and some shorts, towel drying her hair. She paused, mid-step and frowned. "What are you staring at?"

Troy smiled and shook his head. "Nothing. It's fine. I'm going to go for a shower. The wet towels can just go in the washing machine." He walked over to press a kiss to her lips. "I won't be too long."

Gabriella got rid of her wet towels and proceeded to make herself a cup of coffee. She was quiet, not saying a word for her fear of Andy's reaction.

"Gabriella?" Andy murmured.

Gabriella slowly turned to him and sighed. "What?"

He shifted his eyes. "I guess I deserve that. I just want to apologise for how I spoke to you earlier. And, no, I'm not saying this because Dad forced me to. I mean it. I just...I've been so angry and frustrated recently, I kind of forgot myself."

Gabriella smiled kindly as she sipped her coffee. "Happens to the best of us. Why do you think I have my addiction?"

Andy seemed to contemplate that as he turned an apple over in his hands. "Can I talk to you?"

Gabriella hesitated for a moment before she sat opposite him. "What about?"

Andy frowned. "I don't know. Are you and Dad serious about each other?"

Gabriella smiled and nodded. "Yeah. We are. We love each other."

"But how do you know?" Andy asked.

Gabriella paused. "How do we know that we love each other?"

The younger man sighed. "No. How do you know it'll work out?"

"We don't," she whispered. "Andy, no one knows what'll happen ten years down the line. I mean, your father and I both have reasons to run away but you can't think like that. You just can't."

Andy rubbed his eyes. "I thought you just know that someone's the one for you."

Gabriella sipped her coffee. "People change, Andy. What you think now isn't necessarily what you'll think in five years time. But you just go with it." She paused. "I was married. We were young and in love and I thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. Then our lives changed, we became different people, we never talked, we only fought. And it wasn't meant to be." She shrugged. "It happens."

Andy frowned. "I messed up. I've hurt her and we don't have a chance anymore."

"From a woman's point of view, you need to talk to her," Gabriella murmured. "If there's one thing I've learnt from my marriage, it's that not talking can be just as destructive as fighting. Capiche?"

Andy nodded. "I get it. I'll talk to her. Later. But I will."

Troy emerged from the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist. "Hey. Is everything okay?"

Andy slid off the island stool and nodded. "Everything's fine. I'm just going to take a shower."

Once Andy had disappeared into the bathroom, Troy approached Gabriella, resting a hand on her shoulder. "So, once I'm dressed, I have a surprise for you?"

Gabriella quirked an eyebrow. "What kind of surprise?"

He shrugged. "Just a surprise."

"What about work?" she exclaimed.

He laughed. "We're not going to work today."

She looked over her shoulder at him. "Who are you and what have you done with my boss?"

He gave her a sarcastic smile as he leaned in and kissed her. "What would you rather? Working all day after the amazing night we shared together? Or you can enjoy my surprise which will make you fall even more in love with me?"

"What about the third option?" she murmured, sipping her coffee.

"What third option?" Troy muttered.

"Listen to you get an ego," she exclaimed.

Troy laughed and kissed her cheek. "You'll love me for this. I promise."