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"Gabriella I'm so sorry for your loss. I only met him briefly once but he seemed like such a nice guy. He really didn't deserve what happened and I'm so sorry that it did"

"Thank you. That would have meant a lot to him. It does to me…. I'm sorry I don't mean to get upset like this but it's hard"

"Its fine honestly it's totally understandable" he smiles over at me. I don't know why but it makes me cry more. He hesitates slightly but opens his arms for a hug. I hug back and cry softly into his shoulder. He doesn't say anything but just hugs me back and lets me cry. I don't know why but it doesn't feel weird. It feels normal, like he's someone I've known all my life. And it was silent apart my faint sobs but it wasn't awkward like I would have thought it should have been. So there I was. Crying over josh in the arms of basically a total stranger.

"So then you ready for you first official day in Albuquerque?"

"Erm Tay?"

"Yeah. Get up and get ready breakfast is in 10 minutes then I'm taking you on a tour of the city" and with that she bounded out of the room. Rolling over I see my clock. 8:00Am. So much for a lie in. looking down I realize I'm still in my clothes from yesterday. Why didn't I get changed…? That's odd. I spot a note on the mirror. Getting up and going over I see who it's from.

Hey, you fell asleep last night so thought it would be best to just leave you to sleep. Hope you're feeling better this morning. Ring or text me if you need me, my cell number is 999-5748.

Troy x

Oh yeah. He was here last night and I was crying to him…I must have just cried myself to sleep. Again. I hope he doesn't think I'm weird for crying to him. No he wouldn't have left a note if he did. Anyway I better get ready.

(5 hours later)

"Gabriella can we please eat now. I'm starving!"

"Yeah of course. Where are we going?"

"Follow me" she links my arm and leads me along a few streets until we're outside this little diner place.

"This is where we hang out all the time. You'll love it I promise" dragging me inside we go over to an empty booth and sit down. Picking up the menu I see its all 1950s styled. The whole place is actually…I guess that's the theme.

"So what do you think?"

"I really like it. So is this your hang out spot?"

"Yeah if we're not at school or someone's house we'll be here….as you can see by who just walked in" I turn around to see Troy and Chad walking over to us. Troy smiles warmly at me before sitting down next to me. Chad sits next to Taylor.

"Afternoon ladies. What brings you here on this pleasant day?" Chad puts a fake, rather bad, English accent.

"Mate that accent is awful you do realize that don't you?"
"What? I thought it was pretty good myself" Taylor starts to giggle at the look on his face. He looks slightly offended that troy insulted his accent.

So we spent the rest of the afternoon in the diner with troy and Chad. We're we just about to order yet another ice cream sundae to share when the waitress came over and placed a milkshake in front of me.

"Oh I didn't order that, I think you've given it to the wrong person"

"I know but that guy at the counter sent it over to you" I looked over and saw a guy staring at me. When he saw me look he winked and then came over

"Hey gorgeous, wanna come sit with me in my booth instead?" I just sat there silently panicking

"There's no need to be shy, I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on I'll show what it's like to be with a real man" that's was it. I had to leave. I get up push past him and run out the door. I can her Taylor shout after me and troy saying something to the guy but I just leave and run down the street. I just had to get out of there. I just had too.

Who does that? Who goes up to random people and talks like that? What a creep. And what was all that stuff about being with a real man? He wouldn't know what a real man was if one came and punched him in the face. I wish Josh would have been there then. He would have told him where to shove it. I don't know what to do in this situation; I always had Josh to look out for me. I don't even know where I am. I didn't look where I was going now I'm lost. Great that's just what I need. I go sit on a bench next to a park and try to figure out where I am. I can't even ring Taylor cause I left my bag in the diner.

Ok this is starting to freak me out now. I seriously have no idea where I am, or how I'm gonna get back to Taylors. I don't have my phone so I can't ring her. I have some change and there's a payphone but dont know her new number. Oh hang on a second I have troy's number. Pulling his note out my pocket I remember that I grabbed this morning meaning to text him to say thank you but totally forgot and just shoved it in my pocket. But can I ring troy. I know I talked to him yesterday afternoon but he still doesn't really know me. Wouldn't that be weird?

"In another daydream I see?" huh I spin around to see troy walking up to me.

"Oh erm no I was actually just thinking about how to get to Taylors. I have no idea where I am and don't even have my phone so ..."

"Yeah well you left that when you ran out….are you ok?" he comes and sits next to me

"Yeah I'm fine"

"Are you sure cause you seemed really upset after that jerk talked to you" he seem to get angry mentioning the guy from the diner. Seriously his eyes go a slightly darker color and I can see him tense up a little bit.

"Yeah I'm fine. Honestly just couldn't deal with some creep hitting on me…."

"Well if it's any constellation I don't think he'll be going back to the diner anytime soon"

"Why what do you mean?"

"Well let's just say me and Chad talked to him and I think he got the message"
"ohh…thank you" wow had they really said something to him about it.

"No problem"

"Its strange…before I would have easily told that guy where to shove it …but I just didn't know what to say or how to react.."

"Well just so you know….you've always got me to stick up for you" he looks at me with a warm caring smile. Josh used to say that to me.

"Thanks" I say it so quietly I don't even think he hears, but he doesn't say anything. Just sits there in silence with me.

"So do you want to get going then?" he stands up and offers me his hand. I hesitate before taking it; I let it go as soon as I'm stood up though. Is that rude. It doesn't seem to bother him as he smiles at me as we start walking.

"So my house is only a few minutes away from here if you wanna go there so I can get my car and drive you home. It only takes about 20minutes to walk to Taylors but wasn't sure what you wanted to do so…" he rambles off and goes quite looking a bit nervous. That's weird, why would he be nervous?

"Oh well I don't mind…I don't want to be any bother. I don't mind walking…just as long as you point me in the wrong direction"

"Gabriella you seriously think I would let you walk home alone? If its ok though I'll get my car cause I'm going out later and may as well just go straight there"

"Oh well thank you...whatever's easiest for you I don't want to be a pain..."

"Honestly I'm happy to do it"

"Thank you then" he starts to lead my up a driveway so this must be his house. He opens the front door and lets me in first. Ah I didn't realize we would be going into his house just thought we would be getting his car.

"Have a seat. I'm just gonna go get the keys and ring Tay to let her know your ok and she can stop looking. Be back down in 2minutes. Ok?"

"Oh yeah ok thanks" he smiles and turns to go upstairs. A second later he comes back down...

"And by the way... you could never be a pain" and with another grin he bounds upstairs to get his stuff. True to his word a few minutes later he's back downstairs, keys in hand with a bag slung over his shoulder.

"So you ready to go then?" I was busy looking at the family pictures up in the hallway so he slightly startled me.

"Yeah of course...sorry I was..."

"Daydreaming?" he finishes with a cheeky grin. I look down with a sort of half smile on my lips.

10 minutes later we were pulling up outside Taylor's house. I expect to just thank troy and get out, but before I've even taken my seatbelt off he's getting out the car and walking round to my door. He opens it for me and smiles when he catches my eye. I immediately say thanks and look down. We say nothing mire as he walks me to the door.

"Well thank you for saving me tonight and bringing me home"

"It was my pleasure just in future take your phone" he grins at me again. He quickly hugs me. I wasn't expecting it so don't really know if I responded or not.

"Well I'll probably see you around soon then"

"Yeah and you know where to find me if you ever need to talk" and with one last smile he left.

A few hours later I'm lying in bed thinking about today. I came to Albuquerque to help me accept Josh's death. And although I wanted a fresh start somewhere new I honestly didn't know if it was going to do anything for me. I am totally heartbroken that I've lost him forever. I don't know what to do with myself. But I actually feel that maybe this was the right place to come. I don't know how and I don't know when but I think that at some point I will start to accept this whole situation. I thinks it's troy that's made me realize that. He has been so kind and so understanding to me and he hardly even knows me. Just yesterday has shown me that I will have moments when I feel normal again. The fact that I was able to spend the majority of an afternoon talking normally without crying or getting upset proves that with help, someday, I will accept it.

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