Hello, everyone! I should have posted this a week ago. I'm sorry for making you wait. I've been extremely busy at home and work.

With that being said, I'm going to be honest about something that's been on my mind: home and work are more important to me. Writing is just a "for fun" something that I do. In saying that, I have a simple request. DO NOT SEND ME A REVIEW/ PM ASKING ME TO PLEASE "UPDATE SOON" AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THIS STORY IS GOING. 1) Asking me to "update soon" will not make me go faster and 2) I will not give spoilers about my story. The purpose of reading is to wait and see what's going to happen next.

On that note, sit back, relax, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 13: Comfort

Half an hour later, Troy had exhausted the punching bag and was feeling a fraction better. Picturing Davis' face and punching the bejeezus out of it helped tremendously. He and Andy went through the motions of their cool down exercises and mixed up their post workout shakes, drinking on them as they made their way to the locker room to gather their belongings. Troy reached into his bag and pulled out his Android phone and saw it blinking with an incoming text. He punched in the code to unlock it and groaned when he saw who the sender of the text was.

"Damnit," he said as he banged his head against the wall behind him. "Oh, geez. Man! I don't need this today!"

"What?" Andy questioned him as Troy turned the phone so Andy could read the text. "Wow! Who's that from?"

"Gabriella's mom," Troy told him with dread evident in his voice.

Andy let out a low whistle through his teeth and gave Troy a manly pat on the back. "Sucks to be you, Man!"

"She's never really intimidated me before, but for some reason- right now- I'm terrified! I can only imagine what she has to say," he said as he read through the text once more.

I need to talk to you. Meet me at Starbucks, Market St, 2:00. Troy, I need to know your side of things. No questions, no judgment. I just need to know.

"So much for lunch, I guess," Troy said as he glanced at the time on his phone and did the mental calculations of travel time to the apartment for the purpose of showering and changing and getting back to downtown San Francisco.

"I don't envy you right now," Andy told him with a shake of his head as he picked up his bag. "Facing the ex's parents... never fun."

"Can we not call her that, please?" Troy begged of his friend.

"Why? Be honest with yourself, Troy. That's what she is."

"I realize that, but I'm just not ready to call her my ex, okay?" he said with a pointed look in Andy's direction as he shouldered his own bag.

"Fair enough," Andy told him with a slow, understanding shake of his head. "I'll talk to you later?" he verified.

"Of course," Troy told him, exchanging a fist pound with his team mate. The two walked to the door of the gym, walked to their cars, and left the parking lot, each driving in their own directions.

TGFTGFTGFTGFTGFTGFTGFTGF

Maria entered the Starbucks uncertain if her date for the afternoon would join her. She never received a response- which she let slide, knowing it was more than likely just out of nerves- so the outcome of the afternoon was unknown. Although if she was honest with herself- knowing the gentleman that this particular young man was- she just knew deep down that he would show. She approached the counter and ordered a Mocha Java Latte for herself and a Salty Caramel Latte for Troy- which she knew from Gabriella was his favorite drink. Once the drinks were ready, she found a corner table- figuring it would give them some privacy for this particular conversation-, took the seat facing the door, and stared out the window as she waited, troubled by the conversation she shared with her daughter that very morning.

Saturday mornings were Maria's cleaning time, leaving the afternoon open for any errands she needed to run. The radio was on as she ran the duster over the shelves in her curio cabinet in the living room. Her mind, however, was replaying the conversation with her daughter from the previous day as she made her way through the various rooms of the downstairs portion of the house. She knew that Gabriella was struggling. This was her first love and Maria knew that she was looking to the future. The only thing wrong with Gabriella looking to the future was that she had a tendency to over think. Maria was worried that this was one of those times. Her thoughts were interrupted when her Samsung Galaxy III rang. She put the duster down and moved to pick her cell up from its resting spot on the kitchen counter.

"Hello?" she said distractedly into the phone as she flipped through the pile of mail that was sitting in the basket- sorting the junk from the bills-, knowing from the caller id that her daughter was on the other end.

"Mom?" The tearful voice of her daughter immediately caught Maria's attention and without hesitation she dropped the small pile back in the basket.

"Gabriella? Honey, what's wrong?"

"I did it, Mami."

Something in Gabriella's voice caused Maria's breath to catch in her throat. She instantly knew to what Gabriella was referring, but was afraid to ask the question that came to mind.

"Did what, Dear?"

"I broke up with him," Gabriella sobbed into the phone.

"Oh, Honey..." Maria didn't know what to say. She dropped into the nearby stool at the bar as she listened to Gabriella's sniffles on the other end as she instantly shifted into Caring Mom mode. "Sweetheart, how? Are you sure… Wh- what happened?" she asked, stumbling with her own nerves at the situation.

Gabriella proceeded to rehash the story of her lunch with Davis that previous day, followed by her conversation with Troy from the night before, and moved into that morning and what was said between them in the kitchen as Maria listened intently. When Gabriella finally stopped talking, Maria's thoughts were running wild. Of course, her heart broke for her daughter: a woman's first experience in love was a hard class to take, but the lesson of life and answering important questions for herself and her future was even harder. Maria's heart also broke for the young man that she had come to view as a son: all of this was confusing for her daughter; she could only imagine what Troy must be feeling as well. It was at that moment that she decided she needed to see him.

After a few minutes of consoling her daughter, Maria made sure Gabriella was calmed down and finished crying before wrapping up their conversation. She made Gabriella promise that the two would get together for lunch after church the next day and hung up the phone. Maria sat at the bar stool for a moment, lost in her thoughts. Finally, a caring smile made its way to her lips as an idea began to form in her mind. She quickly pulled up the text menu on her phone, typed out a text and hit send, and set to work putting her plan into motion.

Two minutes later, she was brought back to reality as she watched the recipient of that text walk through the door and watched as he searched the small coffee house for her. She noticed that he drew in a deep breath and cleared his throat when he spotted her and made his way to the table. She offered the same caring small smile, hoping to make him feel more comfortable.

"Hey, Maria," he greeted her as he leaned down and placed a kiss to her cheek. Maria couldn't help but notice that his lips felt hesitant against her cheek, as if he was unsure about the status of their relationship after the most recent events

"Hello, Troy," she said as she puckered her lips and gave him an air kiss as his lips touched her cheek in hopes to make him feel more comfortable. She motioned to the chair across from her. "Please sit."

He pulled out the chair and sat, took off his aviator sunglasses, and looked at her. She was taken aback by what she saw. Bloodshot eyes, dark circles, the brilliant blueness that even melted her own heart gone, only to be replaced by a dull gray.

"So not only have you not been sleeping, but you've also been crying? And be honest with me," she rushed on as she pointed a finger in his direction. "Don't try to be macho & tell me you're fine. I'm a mom, remember? I'll know."

Troy lifted his left shoulder as he rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink. The two sat in silence for a long moment, each studying the other. It was Maria who broke the silence first.

"I'm not here to lecture you, Troy," she explained encouragingly. "I'm worried about this situation, about you. Talk to me, Gato Montés**. How are you?" she gently asked.

"Really?" he retorted with a scoff. Maria raised her eyebrows and was impressed that he at least had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry," with a shake of his head. "I didn't mean it that way."

"I know you didn't," she said, giving him a sympathetic look. "So are you going to answer my question?" she asked pointedly.

"I uh..." he paused to clear his throat. "I'm not good, Mo- Maria. If I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not good at all. I didn't sleep last night. I was distracted during my workout this morning. Hell, I'm distracted right now. I can't help but wonder what's going on during her study group right now."

"This Davis is in her study group, isn't he?" Maria asked, receiving a nod from Troy in response. At that moment, her phone rang. Maria reached into her purse and pulled it out, taking a second to glance at the caller id. "Excuse me for a moment," she said as she turned the phone around so Troy could see Gabriella's name on the screen. "Hi, Sweetheart."

"Hi, Mom!"

"You sound a lot better than you did this morning," Maria pointed out.

"As well I should. I've actually had a pretty good day!"

"Well, good! So your studying is productive today?" Maria asked cautiously as she took a sip of her drink.

"Oh, yeah. It definitely is. We're taking a break for a few minutes. What are you up to?"

"Oh, I'm just meeting Tr- uh, a friend, for some drinks at Starbucks," Maria told her, hoping Gabriella didn't pick up on her verbal slip up as Troy's eyes widened.

"Wait, Mom... did you say that you're meeting Troy?"

Maria held her breath as she debated her answer. Finally, the "truth over lies" motto that she had raised Gabriella to live by won. "Yeah, Sweetheart. I did."

"Um, Mom... why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you talking to him? Why did he call you? What does he want?" Gabriella rushed her words together in a panic.

"Gabriella, Mija, he's hurting, too," Maria told her, her voice soft.

"I know, but... Mom, that's... that's just.."

"What, Honey? It's what? Just say it," Maria coaxed her.

"It's awkward, Mom. Okay? I just... I don't want to tell you that you can't see him or can't talk to him, but it's just awkward that you are. I've told you both, this is something I need to do. There's no reason for him to come running to you."

"Well, Sweetheart, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to stop-"

"I know you're not, Mom, and I can't stop you. This is just confusing enough without wondering what he's telling you versus what I'm telling you. You're my mother. I'm just sayin' that I'm not even sure how this is all working out in my own head. Who am I supposed to turn to if HE is running to you?," Gabriella pouted. "Especially now that I have a date tonight..." she muttered under her breath as a second thought.

Maria paused with her cup halfway to her mouth, and lowered it to set it back down on the table. Did I just hear her right? She cleared her throat before speaking again. "I'm sorry, you have a what later?"

Throughout the conversation, Troy had been looking down at the table, studying it intently. However, when he heard Maria's question, he jerked his head up to look at the older Montez and his eyes narrowed. Even though he obviously couldn't hear what Gabriella said she had that night, he knew it could only be one thing: the reason why she broke up with him to begin with, to date other people and to "find herself", as she had put it. He rolled his eyes in frustration as he thought about her argument once again.

"I have a date, Mom. Please don't tell Troy. He doesn't know yet. I kinda want to tell him myself."

"He's not going to be happy, Mija." Maria saw the look on Troy's face and in his eyes and was going to do all she could to plead his case.

"I know, Mom," Gabriella told her, rolling her eyes in frustration.

"And with good reason."

"Mother! I'm not doing this to intentionally hurt Troy. That's not what this is about. Don't let him make you think that." Gabriella verbally let her frustration out and then actually thought about the man she still cared so much for. "That's why I need to be the one to tell him," she softly admitted.

"I'm not sure I'm too happy, either," Maria continued, taking another sip of her drink as she raised her eyebrows in Troy's direction.

"Mom, it's just a friendly date. It's not like I'm making out with another man." Gabriella's frustrated huff that Maria heard was all it took to know that this conversation was going nowhere.

"You know what, let's discuss this later, okay? I need to talk with Troy right now. You do what you need to do and we'll catch up after your study group... or tomorrow afternoon... or whenever you can." Maria ended the call without waiting on a response from her daughter- a sure sign to Gabriella that her mother was not too happy with her at that moment. Maria released a deep sigh as she looked at Troy, her frustration at her daughter radiating in her brown eyes.

"She has a date later, doesn't she?" Troy asked, keeping his eyes on the table top in front of him as he worked hard to keep the hurt from his voice.

"Yeah. She asked me to not to tell you. She said she wanted to be the one to do so. I feel like I need to apologize for that," Maria told him.

Troy shook his head and scoffed. "I don't know what I did wrong, Maria. I don't understand it. I've always supported her and what she wants to do. I don't want to hold her back at all. I - I love her."

Maria felt sympathy for Troy when she noticed the sadness and tears in his eyes. She knew he was genuine in his feelings for her daughter. "I know that. She knows that. Anyone who knows you knows that you love her. There is no question about that at all, Troy. None. Please don't think that."

"Then what am I supposed to think? I'm scared to see her go on a date with anyone else. I can just feel it, Mom... I can feel her being drawn to someone who's smarter than me and has more in common with her and can offer her more of what she wants from life. And I can't fight that." Troy shook his head and raised his hands in the air as his speech picked up intensity. "I can't match the high IQ. I can't talk science and mathematics and law. I can't... I just can't."

"And that's why she loves you! Gato, she is in love with you. Please believe me, that hasn't changed. She loves you, Troy, for who you are. You know Gabriella. She loves everything about you, just the way you are. The sports enthusiast, the tender hearted, soon-to-be child psychologist, the caring and nurturing man..." Maria paused in her speech and smiled softly as she recalled a conversation with Gabriella from the previous spring semester the year before. "Did I ever tell you about the love and admiration in her expression when she told me you were planning on getting your master's and wanted to work with children? You're in her heart, Troy. She loves you because of who you are. Just give her a little time to remind herself of that."

Troy remained silent, occasionally sipping on his caramel latte, as he listened to Maria. "She says she needs to remember who Gabriella is. Once she realizes that she's not herself without you, she'll be back."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.

"Because I know my daughter," she told him pointedly.

The two were silent for a long moment, allowing Troy the opportunity to process what Maria had told him. Finally, Troy spoke up.

"She told me last night that she's staying in the apartment. Did she tell you about that?" Maria nodded and there was another thoughtful silence.

"Maria, can I ask you something?" Troy asked her, as he looked into the dark liquid in his cup.

"Honey, of course you can. I had hoped you would know that by now."

Troy swallowed thickly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box whose content – to him and Maria – had become a symbol of his future with her daughter. He cautiously brought his eyes up to meet hers. The now wide, brown eyes painfully reminded him of Gabriella's and his heart broke all over again. He took a deep breath, rolled the box in his fingers, then held it out toward Gabriella's mother, and asked the one question that he almost didn't want to ask, fearing what the answer may be. "Do you want me to give you back the ring?"

"No," Maria answered without hesitation, forcefully shaking her head and narrowing her eyes to focus on him, not the item in question. "I gave it to you to give to Gabriella. I want you to keep it and make sure you give it to my daughter." She placed her hand over his and pushed the box deeper into his grasp until he moved to put it back into his pocket.

Troy nodded as he took another sip, polishing off the last few drops of his caramel latte. Maria's voice caught his attention once more.

"Hey?" she said, watching as he looked at her again. "Just hang in there, okay? Everything will work out. You two will be okay."

"I'll try," he offered sadly with a shrug of his shoulders. "Thank you," he said.

Before he could stand to leave the table, Maria reached out and took his hand in hers again, encouraging him to remain seated for a few more minutes. "Now, with all that being said, I have something," she told him, as she reached down to the seat of the chair next to her and revealed a shoe box that she had lovingly wrapped in blue tissue paper with a gold ribbon tied around it- her own shout out to the Berkeley Bears. "Here… for my Gato Montes," she said with a smile.

"What's that?" Troy asked, intrigued.

"Something to help you feel better," she told him with a mischievous sparkle in her brown eyes that reminded him so much of Gabriella's.

"Maria, you know that there's only one thing- one person- who can do that."

"I know. But I had to do something to let you know that I still believe in you."

"So what is it?" he asked her, as she watched the excitement grow on his face. He reminded her of a five year old on Christmas morning and she couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"Open it," Maria told him with a small smirk on her face.

Troy lifted the lid off the box, peered inside, and his grin widened, the biggest it had been in almost a week.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air in triumph. "Brownies! Thanks, Mom!"

Maria laughed at his reaction, and reached across to take his hand in hers once more. "You're welcome, Sweetheart. I though you would appreciate it."

"I do!" he said, as he stood and made his way to her side of the table, giving her a hug. When he pulled back, he sat back in his seat and put the lid back on the box.

"Take care of yourself, Troy. I know it's hard right now, but your focus needs to be on school and the exams you have coming up. Graduation, graduate schools, all of it. If you focus on other important areas of your future, the waiting will be easier." Troy nodded, as he considered her words of wisdom.

"Thanks for the talk, Maria," he told her. "Thanks for listening."

"You're welcome. Don't be afraid to call me if you need to. Lucille's not here, so someone has to look out for you."

"Mom!" Troy said suddenly, his eyes growing wide.

"What?" Maria asked, startled.

"My mom! I haven't talked to her and Dad yet. Maria, if you talk to her, please don't mention any of this to her. I kinda want to figure it all out myself before I say anything to them."

"I get it. Don't worry. My lips are sealed. This is your news to share, not mine. But, Troy, don't wait too long. Let them know that something's going on. They'll be here before you know it for graduation," she reminded him.

The two said their goodbyes and departed, Maria feeling just a little better about Troy and his state of mind and Troy stuffing his face with a brownie. Maria smiled as she watched him get in his truck, looked to the sky, and only one thought ran through her mind:

Okay, Gabriel... You see them. I know you like him. I know you think he's perfect for her, as much as you wouldn't want to admit it. Be with them. Help Gabriella realize her mistake. And soon, please!

**= Spanish for "Wildcat"... Maria's own special nickname for Troy