"Lupe, this all smells SO good," I take in a big whiff and smile at her.

Pozole is one of my favorite things in the world and Lupe has spend the majority of the day preparing it for us and I'm so excited to dig in. Except we have to wait for my mom who went on a little shopping spree with her sister for an event coming up.

Josh came strolling in with Molly, hand in hand. They said hi to everyone and then each found a place around the table.

Lupe brought out some lemons for us and placed them in the middle of the table, "Is Troy joining for dinner, should I bring extra bowl?"

I shake my head, "No, not tonight, Lupe. Thank you."

It's Thursday and he's had dinner with us the past two days and it's been the best. My dad and him get along, my mom seems to adore him, Lupe loves him and my brother and him get along as well. I couldn't ask for it to go any better, really. And I'm so happy because I'm crazy about Troy Bolton.

He was having dinner with some friends, though, tonight so that was fine. He couldn't have dinner here every night, I mean, we do need a break from each other. Right? Yeah.

Except, I don't think I'd mind. I have not gotten tired of him, bored, found something worth cutting it off with him for. And this is all so new to me.

"Lupe, just sit down already," my dad tells her as he pours himself some wine, "Diana told me she's stepping out of the car so let's get started."

Lupe nodded and listened to my dad, took off her apron and took a seat next to me at the table so we could start eating. We got everything ready, lemons were cut, cabbage was out, salsa was poured. We just needed my mom.

And a few minutes later, she came strolling in with a few shopping bags on each arm.

She put them down, went to wash her hands, put her hair up in a pony tail and sat down at the end of the table.

"I'm sorry, I got caught up. Chanel's winter collection is just to die for," she laughs as she rolls up her sleeves and takes a look around the table, "Hi, Molly, love your headband."

"Thank you," Molly replied, sweetly.

My mom's eyes landed on me and gave me a small head tilt, "No Troy today?"

I shake my head as I pour some pozole in my bowl, I couldn't even wait. "No, he was busy."

"Well, good,'" my mom says which earns a sharp head turn from me, "no, I mean, I'd love to have him here. You know I like him. I just have something to tell you and I'm not sure I'd want him to hear this." Okay, what is she talking about? She's acting weird.

"What is it?"

She sighs before moving her bowl back a little and then looks up at me, "I ran into Ryan a little while ago and he told me how he just saw you on Saturday."

Ugh, of course she ran into Ryan. "Yeah, at my party."

"Yeah," my mom nods, "anyway, he was just telling me how he misses you and he wish he could have done things different but he stills loves you and he misses seeing you every day and his life is just better with you by his side."

Ohhhhh God. I'm not sure if I can call bullshit on it, because we really do have a connection that I can't really explain to anyone, but at the same time, he broke up with me. He left me so he could have freedom at NYU even though it's fucking 10 minutes away. So annoying. So I don't know what to think.

I honestly didn't. "Yeah, um, he told me that at my party, too." Well, some of it.

"And yet, you're still hanging out with Troy."

"Yeah, I am," I shrug as I put some cabbage into my posole along with some salsa before squirting a few lemons in there.

My mom looked over at my dad and then at Lupe. They knew how our relationship worked. They all did. Every person in my life. And it would get exhausting for them, but I think they kind of understood. Or they jut didn't ever tell me anything about it because they didn't want to make me upset.

I don't know.

Lupe reached over for a few lemons and passed them to my mom and then looked at me, "Troy is nice boy."

Oh Lupe. I couldn't help, but laugh. "He is and I'm happy."

"So, that's it? No more going back to Ryan like you always do?" my dad asked me.

"That's what I was going to ask or say," my mom squirts a lemon into her posole, "because that's what you do and yeah, I thought it might actually be the end of you guys because he was off to college. It wasn't like before where you'd see each other all the time, but he's still in New York so I don't know."

What is she saying? Does she want me back with Ryan or what? "I don't get it, do you want me to get back with Ryan or something?"

She shook her head, "No, I just, I don't know. Ryan's Ryan and it's Ryan and Gabriella. You two are like a dynamic duo no one understands. I just thought you guys will get back together sooner or later."

"But then she met Troy and Troy is great, mom," my brother chimes in, "if her and Ryan are meant to be, they'll find their way back to each other."

I look over at my brother and give him a smile and mouth a "thank you" for having my back.

My mom doesn't mean harm. But I also know that Ryan's the safe choice because we just can't seem to quit each other. I think she knows just as much as me that Ryan can't quit me. I could probably quit him if I really try and here I am, trying my best, but he can't quit me so she knows he'll always be there. And yeah, okay, that's a nice feeling, but I need more. I don't want to break up with someone every other week. I don't want to fight all the time. I want stability. I want a real, true and happy relationship that at the end of the day, I'm going to sleep happy instead of yelling at him on the phone.

"Ryan and I are done," I tell everyone.

My dad smiles at me, Lupe smiles at me, and so does my mom. It's a huge step for me to say that. I've never said that before.

But Troy's definitely worth it. I like him and only him.

School sucks. Like, really sucks.

And the only thing getting me through these last five minutes is knowing that Troy and I will be hanging out in approximately two hours.

He's taking me to an early dinner and then we're going to go watch Of Mice and Men on Broadway and I could not be anymore excited for it. It's one of my favorite books and he surprised me with tickets this morning. Ahhhh, what a wonderful boyfriend.

Okay, he's not my boyfriend yet, but it's easier to just call him that.

The bell rang and I was out that door, dashing down the hallway to meet up with Savannah and Morgan who were coming to my house for a small group project we have to do for Spanish. Ugh.

"Hey, this is like the boyfriend car," Morgan says as Savannah slips in and closes the door behind her, "like, we all have boyfriends and Cassie and Char are riding together in Char's car and they don't have boyfriends. That's kind of a funny coincidence, huh?"

"I mean, it would be if I had a boyfriend," I put my purse on the ground, "who said I had a boyfriend? Because last I checked, Troy hasn't asked me."

"No way," Morgan turns to me, "you guys aren't official? I just assumed because well, you've been spending so much time together and at the party, he came as Prince Eric. I didn't know he formally had to ask you."

He doesn't. No, he does. Ugh, I don't know. "Well, I don't want to assume so until he does..."

Savannah coughed and then we turned to her. She had something to say. "Why don't you ask him about it? It's been close to a month now."

"I don't know, guys, I don't want to be that girl."

"What girl?" Morgan asks, "the girl that wants to know where she stands with someone? Who wants to be secure so she could take the next step and let her heart fall in love?"

Savannah and I looked at each other and let out a laugh at the same time.

Morgan even laughed at herself. "Okay, that was cheesy, but no, for real, Gabriella. Don't be afraid. This is the first guy who has not made you go back to Ryan. That has got to count for something. And you know you want more. You want that title, I know you do."

"No, yeah, you're right."

She is right. I want to be his girlfriend more than anything.

I know I want that. I just don't know if he wants that. Yes, he makes plans for us and is sweet and kind and makes me laugh, but he hasn't asked me yet. And I don't want to assume even though I feel like he wants to keep this going. I feel that. But I just want more of a reassurance from him.

But there's no way I'm going to bring it up. "I think I just have to let it play out. See where it goes."

"He's going to ask you sooner or later," Savannah assures me, "I know he will."

"I feel like he's still into me so that's a good thing,"I shrug, "but yeah, I wish he would ask me so I feel more secure in this."

"Or what if he just assumes you guys are boyfriend and girlfriend?" Morgan points out, "I mean, Patrick thought he didn't have to ask me. He thought it was implied that our relationship had gone the next step without us talking about it. Maybe that's happening with you guys, so you have to ask."

Fuck. All good advice. But I don't know.

I didn't have time to feel down about it, though. "Maybe I'll bring it up tonight... if I don't chicken out last minute."

To be honest, I kind of feel like his girlfriend. We've started this new thing where we talk on the phone at night for about 30 minutes and we just talk about our day, or anything we feel like and it's honestly the best. I feel like I can talk to him about anything and everything and I've never had that before.

"So what'd you think of it?"

I intertwined our fingers as we walked out of this coffee shop to walk back to my place, "Interesting cast, but I loved it. I thought it was great."

Of Mice and Men is one of my favorite books so the fact that he got me tickets to see the Broadway play on it's opening night is everything. Seriously. It was so sweet and yeah, I would have gone sometime during its run, but I'm glad he got me tickets. It showed me he really cares. He wants to make me happy. He wants to do things I like, you know? Gah, he's the sweetest guy.

"Good," he grabs my hand a little tighter as we cross the street, "I liked it, too. I'd go again if you want to."

UMM I want to. And the fact that he's offering. Ugh. He's trying to kill me with his sweetness, I'm sure of it. "Yeah, I wanna go again."

He looks over at me and smiles and then for the rest of the way, we walk in silence. It's about a block and we're just taking in this night. It's cold outside, but strangely, I feel warm. Maybe because I'm holding onto his arm. And I don't really want this night to end. I don't want to say goodnight to him just yet.

So when we get to my place, I invite him up and ask if he wants to watch a movie or something. It's a bit late, but I don't know. It's Friday. Does he really have to get home right away? No, right?

"What are you in the mood for?" I ask, looking through all my DVDs, "or we could watch something on Apple TV. There are a ton of movies on there."

"I'm down for whatever," he gets himself comfortable on my bed, "are you sure?"

I turn around, look at him for a moment and nod before pushing some hair behind my ear. I know what he means. Am I sure he should be here when my parents are on a business trip and Lupe or my grandma isn't staying with us. My brother's out, I don't know where he is, but when he comes back and sees him here, he won't care. My parents trust me. We can stay alone together. There's security 24/7 at this place. It's not about that. We're the ones that don't really care to stay by ourselves, but this weekend, we just did. And I want to keep hanging out with Troy. I don't want this night to be over just yet.

So why not? Why not cuddle and watch a movie? It's harmless.

While he lies there, I sneak off to my closet and change out of my clothes. There's nothing more I love than coming home from a party or some event and changing into some sweats and a tee shirt. Maybe cheesecake. I love cheesecake. But seriously, it's so relaxing.

I grab a pair of Chanel sweats that are the most comfortable things on this planet and slipped them on along with a plain black tee shirt.

And then I raced across my room and went to my bathroom so I could take off my makeup. I didn't have a lot on, but knowing me, I'll get way too lazy later on, especially after watching a movie, to take it off so I should do it right now. Troy's seen me without makeup. Twice. And it's not like I have a lot to begin with but it definitely livens me up. And right now, I don't think I care. I don't need makeup to get through my day, I really don't.

So I take it off, brush my teeth while I'm in there and use the restroom before going back out.

And all he was doing was looking up at my ceiling.

Which made me smile. He could have been on his phone. He could be texting someone. Checking his instagram or twitter or whatever else. But no. He never does that around me, I've noticed. He'll take it out to send a text here and there but he doesn't constantly have it out and that makes me so happy.

"Did you decide on a movie?" I ask him which immediately makes him look over.

"No," he says, giving me sort of a blank stare which kind of threw me off, "um, I was going to let you pick one."

Oh. Okay. I walked over to the DVDs but I couldn't find a movie I wanted to watch. I didn't know what I was in the mood for. I could seriously just lay there and talk to him. But watching a movie would be a better excuse to have him laying there in bed with me, you know? I gave up looking at the DVDs and went over to my bed, hopping in and grabbed the remote from my nightstand so I could search for something on the TV. There has to be a good one on there.

I searched through all of them and there were a couple, but again, I didn't know if I actually wanted to watch one now that I think about it.

"I honestly don't have a clue so please don't ask me," Troy laughs as he sits up a little bit.

"Ugh, me neither, I wanted to watch one, but now I don't since I seriously don't know which one to pick," I scroll down once more to see if I missed any but no, I didn't. There's nothing that's catching my eye at all. "Well, I guess I made you come up here for no reason then."

"I wouldn't say that's true," he smiles at me and leans over and gives me a quick peck, "I'm gonna use the bathroom real quick. Also, mind if I get a water?"

Oh man. I'm a bad host. "No, yeah, yeah, go ahead."

He laughed and made his way out of my room and in getting off my bed, he dropped a pillow and didn't even notice it so I leaned over and picked it up, but it wasn't the only thing he dropped.

Nope. He dropped his phone and it didn't crack or anything. Lucky him.

I picked it up and was gonna just put it on the nightstand, but I realized he had a text message. From some girl named Angela.

He had his text messages set up to where it pops up on your screen and you could see the text, which I guess is good when you're dating a girl because it seems like you're not hiding anything. But I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted me to see this text. At all. And I feel awful about reading it, to be honest.

I just wish things were different and you didn't move. I know things happen for a reason, but that doesn't mean I don't miss you like crazy.

Fuuuuck. I wish I didn't read this at all.

I don't know who this Angela girl is, but I'm assuming it's his ex girlfriend. It sounds like an ex girlfriend.

And I honestly don't know what they're talking about. I'm not gonna snoop. And I'm not gonna read any more texts. I just don't understand how it seems like they're having a conversation. A serious conversation. This couldn't be the start of a conversation. When did he find time to text her tonight? I never saw his phone out. I never see his phone out, like I said, so it's weird.

Ohhh. Probably when I ran into my friend at the coffee shop we went to and I talked to her for a little bit. And also, maybe when I was in my closet changing. Just because he didn't have his phone when I came out of the bathroom a couple minutes after that didn't mean he didn't send a quick text before. Ugh.

Now I'm going crazy thinking about it. So crazy.

I immediately put his phone on the ground along with the pillow to make it seem like he dropped it and I didn't pick it up. The text was still there on the front of his screen so he won't suspect anything, I don't think. Unless I start acting weird.

Which I'm probably going to do if I'm being honest, but what am I supposed to think right now? Does he miss her, too? Who is she exactly?

But then he came back, which snapped me out of my thoughts. "You didn't want one, right?"

I shake my head and glance over at my nightstand on my side of the bed and realized I have one there from earlier today, "no, I have one. Thanks."

He then realized he had dropped his phone and the pillow on the ground so he picked it up. He tossed the pillow on the bed and then just stood there looking at his phone, very intensely. I didn't see him type anything, he was just staring down at it. And it sucks that I know exactly what he's reading. Ugh. I didn't want to know. I wish I didn't. But at the same time, it makes me think about his past. What he left behind in Chicago and maybe that's why he's not making me his girlfriend or whatever.

"Did you decide on a movie?" he shoves his phone in his pocket and takes a seat on the bed next to me.

"No," I shake my head putting the control down, "I'm not really in the mood anymore."

"Oh," is all he says.

I look away for a second and close my eyes, take a silent deep breath and then turn to him. But he's already looking at me. His blue eyes looking into mine and it just makes me forget everything. It makes me forget that I'm not technically his girlfriend, that his girl who is probably an ex is texting him...

All I think about is the way he's looking at me. That intense look in his eyes.

And then he reaches for my face, gently cups it with his right hand and kisses me. Hard. With so much passion.

One, long, hard, sweet kiss.

Then, he smiled and went back to laying down, staring at the ceiling.

And in this moment, that kiss was everything. I didn't care about that text anymore or the fact that I wasn't his official girlfriend. That kiss in that moment in time meant that he didn't care about the text message. That he was proving it to himself that what we have is great. Proving to me that he's crazy about me.

I'm crazy about him, too, and that's more than enough right now. More than enough.