GABRIELLA

"Thanks for the ride," I reach over to Morgan's back seat and grab my stuff.

"Looks like you have company."

"What?"

I look where she's pointing and see Troy's car parked in front of my house. I forgot all about that. Shit.

My mom texted me earlier today, during 3rd period, and told me she's inviting the Bolton's for dinner. I told her cool, but I won't be home until later because Morgan and I have a bunch of posters to make for Friday's game. Being in ASB and everything, along with the cheerleaders, we go all out for the game. She told me to just get home as soon as I can and this whole time, I forgot they were coming. They've got to be almost finished by now. It's close to 8.

"Oh, yeah, I guess. I forgot all about it, to be honest."

"Shit, I'd never forget."

Morgan has one of those fake crushes on Troy. She fawns all over him, but the guy she wants is Ryan Moore. It's just impossible not to have a crush on Troy.

I laugh, opening the door, "see you tomorrow. Oh, and don't forget to bring my charger."

"Got it."

I make my way inside, dropping my things off in the living room.

And then I go to the back where I assume they're all having dinner in the dining room. But nope. They're not there.

They're all outside.

I open the door and there they all are.

My mom, my dad,

Troy, his mom, his dad and his sister all gathered around the table. It looks like they're done, though, as my dad's leaning back in his chair, plates are stacks and little Olivia Bolton is concentrated way too hard on her phone.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to finally join us," my dad says, earning a laugh from the table. Well, most of them anyway, "no more food for you."

"Yes, there is," my mom laughs, turning to me.

I smile at them.

And then walk over to them, telling them I'm sorry for being late and explaining my absence.

"Do you want me to fix you a plate?"

I shake my head, "no, thanks, I ate at Morgan's already."

There's an empty seat next to Troy that I walk around to vacate, but stop at Olivia first to give her a hug. She's gotten a little taller and a bit more gorgeous.

"What were you doing?"

"Making posters for Friday's game," I tell my dad as I reach for some bread.

"Should be a good game," my dad nods and then looks over at the Boltons, "you guys going right?"

Jack leans back in his seat, nodding, before reaching for his beer, "planning on it. You never know what will come up, but yes, wouldn't miss it. I know it might not end well for us, but we're hopeful. Coach Daniels told me Moore is making strides, is sure he's gonna lead the team this year."

Ryan Moore.

I immediately think about Morgan.

There's obligatory school talk, with Elaine asking me how I'm liking my classes and how soon college is going to come so enjoy all of this while I can.

My dad gets up to grab the control to turn on the outside TV.

There's a game on.

So of course, they're going to be here a little bit longer. But I have no desire to be outside anymore.

I get up and walk in, with Troy following.

"Did you do the math homework?" I ask Troy as we make our way to my living room.

"Yeah, I did," he nods, taking a seat right next to me, "I can't believe she's already assigning homework. I mean, I know it's senior year and everything, but none of my other teachers haven't really gotten there yet. But it was pretty easy."

I laugh, "definitely."

This isn't really uncommon. Troy and his family have been coming over for dinner for the past year and a half since we've known them.

But usually, Chris is here, too.

"How'd your posters turn out?" Troy asks me.

"Good," I reach for the control, "Morgan's really creative and a great artist so I kind of left it up to her."

"I know McEntyre is hurt and Branson's easing into things still, but like your dad said, Moore's making strides so I think it'll be a good game," he leans back on the couch, "and it's on our turf so I think that'll help us going into it."

"Definitely," I agree turning on the TV, but not bringing myself to change the channel yet, "hey, thanks again for this morning."

He shrugs, "anytime."

That's true. I know it would be anytime.

But it shouldn't have to be. He shouldn't be put in between his best friend and me.

"He's your best friend and we're friends and I know..."

"Right from wrong, Gabriella," he says so casually, as if it was the easiest thing in the world getting between his best friend and I. "If it was the other way around and you were yelling at him, I'd be right there telling you to back up, but it wasn't. So, don't worry about it."

He would.

No doubt about that.

But the truth is, this isn't the first time Troy has come to my defense.

And each time, it's made my heart skip a beat.

A couple of months ago, a bunch of our friends headed to Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver and we spent the day there just hanging out and stuff. At one point, some of us ventured off to one side of the park and while I didn't want to go on one ride, Troy stayed back with me. And some asshole who was drunk with his friends was trying to talk to me, but I wanted no part of it. One, I had a boyfriend and he was clearly trying to hit on me and second, he was drunk and so probably over the age of 21 since he had a beer in hand. He just wouldn't let it go, saying dumb things left and right and Troy told him to back up, settle down, everything that would get a drunk person riled up. Eventually, it got to a point where he was just straight up disrespecting me and getting way too close for my comfort and Troy definitely didn't start it, but he ended up punching the guy after he grabbed me by the arm. We got kicked out and nothing really came out of it, trouble wise, for Troy. It was lame that we got kicked out and couldn't finish off the day, but I wasn't mad at Troy by any means. He one hundred percent protected me.

The worst part of that whole thing was that Chris was mad about the whole thing.

His exact words?

"If you just went on the roller coaster with us, none of that would have happened. Troy wouldn't have had to punch a stupid, drunk guy and..."

I tuned out the rest because I walked away.

Sure, he apologized, but his initial reaction was to be mad that we were kicked out, not ask how I was doing and be mad at the guy who was saying disrespectful things to me and trying to make advances. I mean, my God, he should have been grateful Troy was there.

"You're a really good friend," I tell him, "I'm not sure I tell you that enough. To him, to me, to everyone around you. People are really lucky to have you."

"Thanks," he says, barely making any eye contact with me whatsoever.

He hates compliments.

But it's true. He really, truly is one of the best friends.

And one of the best guys, in general.

It's weird thinking that some other guy is a better guy than your boyfriend. It's absolutely crazy. But I do. I think Troy is all around just so great.

So great.

And sometimes I feel guilty for thinking that.

Troy was actually the first person I met the day I transferred to Cherry Creek High. I was the most nervous I've ever been. I went from going to school everyday with people I grew up with to being thrown in a school where I knew absolutely no one. And for some reason, I started school on a Friday so it was just a nerve wracking experience and the first person I saw when I walked into the office was him. He was sitting there, looking unbelievably attractive. I was nervous I wasn't going to make any friends, at any given moment, I'd cry about missing my friends and my life back home. But he made me so comfortable. He sat there for like ten minutes and talked to me and he made me feel welcomed. And when I walked out of that office, I felt this weird sense of relief and confidence. It was why I accepted an invitation from Morgan to some party that night. I thought, maybe the nice guy from earlier would be there. The super hot, nice guy. And he was. He smiled that killer smile, offered me a drink and then kind of just... disappeared. I've never admitted this to anyone before, but that bummed me out. It bummed me out that he didn't keep talking to me, that his friend came and talked to me instead all while I was looking over my shoulder, wondering what he was doing, if he was talking to any other girls. He wasn't. Chris was charming and a smooth talker, all while mentioning that his friends think he's crazy for wanting to find that special someone, that none of them are interested in girlfriends at the moment. I mean, what was I going to do? Throw myself at Troy when I knew where his head was at? So, I kind of stuck to Chris.

It worked out, though.

I mean, Chris and I have been together for a little over a year and most of that time, it's been great.

Right now, we're just hitting a rocky patch.

Sure, three months of a rocky patch, starting with the incident at the amusement park, but other than that, it has been great and there are no regrets.

It does feel weird to admit that, though, that I wanted to know his best friend first.

More than anything because that first meeting in the office, that short conversation at that party, I've never felt more drawn to a person than I had to him. And it was overwhelming and kind of scary. But I'm taking that to the grave. No one knows. Okay, maybe my best friend back in Boulder, but other than that, no one. Because how fucked up is that? Chris would go wild. Troy would feel SO awkward. And all of our friends probably would, too.

So, I've kept quiet. Not that it really matters anymore.

Whatever small crush I had developed that day... well, whatever, I try not to really think about it.

Even though, I do.

More often that I probably should.