A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait between updates, the past few months have been kinda crazy with college and stuff, but now its SUMMER, so yay! Thanks so much for your patience, and hopefully the updates will be much more common now. I wanna take a second to pimp a story that I am co-writing with the fantabulous Unproper Grammar with fire and ice and SUPERHEROES! its called "The Tragic Result of a Double Life" and its under our penname LadyDandSuperK!

Thanks for being the most amazing readers a person could ask for!

The first time you realize you're no longer primping for him:

Whoops! You're sitting on the couch in your baggiest sweats and rattiest T-shirt. Yet he's looking at you more lovingly than when you're all gussied up. Clearly, my dear, this is the real deal.

He should've seen this coming. He dated the damn girl for over a year, he knew what she was capable of. The second she recognized him in that grocery store, he should've turned and ran the other direction. She had been this way during their relationship, why would he assume that afterwards she'd be any different?

Tapping his foot impatiently on the carpet Troy attempted to focus on the young and eager decorator that was showing him different templates for a hotel they were having remodeled. He was trying to pay attention, he really was, but not only had the girl already shown him six swatches of the same color, swearing they were different, but his phone kept buzzing from text messages. So far that day, Troy had received a total of fourteen text messages. Four had been the back and forth between himself and Gabriella this morning, exchanging the usual 'good morning' and 'I love you' since they hadn't been able to spend the night together due to Gabriella working late. The other ten were from Jackie.

He should've seen this coming.

Hi Troy.

Call me, Troy.

Why won't you answer my text, Troy?

I WILL NOT BE IGNORED, DAN!

Okay, perhaps that last one was from Fatal Attraction, but that was totally where this thing was heading. For as long as he had known Jackie, she had always been a girl who got what she wanted, and while Troy could at times be rather full of himself, he was pretty sure he was in no way exaggerating when he stated that she wanted him back.

The red-headed decorator paused in her spiel, staring at Troy expectantly. Troy lifted his eyebrows, sending the girl an encouraging smile, "Looks wonderful." He told her, his eyes glancing over the plans to ensure there were no antlers or crocheted duvets.

She smiled, "Really? I wasn't so sure about…"

"It looks wonderful." Troy affirmed, cutting her off and standing up, "Send all approvals to my assistant, but as far as I'm concerned, those designs are perfect."

Troy's phone buzzed once again in his pocket and he pulled it out as the girl stuck out her hand to shake his. "So nice to meet you, Mr. Bolton."

Troy nodded as he saw another text message from Jackie, "Yes, wonderful." He said curtly, briefly shaking her hand before turning and making his way from the conference room to his office. He shut the text, not even bothering to read the message, and shoved the slim device back into his pocket. He didn't know what to do about this. He couldn't ignore the calls and texts forever, he didn't want to have to change his number, so what could he do?

Rounding the corner, he suddenly found his assistant, Claire, at his side, "Terry Koenig called," she started without prompt, matching his pace as they neared his office, "he took issue with one of the phrases in the contract…"

Troy rolled his eyes, "Of course he did."

Claire smiled, "…and he wanted you to call him back immediately." Troy checked his watch, it was 5:26 in the evening, that wasn't happening. "Your father called, said you were supposed to call him and update him on the Koenig account." Shit, he was supposed to do that. "I filled him in," Claire continued, "and he told me to tell you, quote, your parents, not just your girlfriend, like to spend time with you, unquote." Another eye roll. The pair reached his office, and Troy slowed, facing Claire, "Gabriella called to see if you wanted to have dinner…"

Troy's brow furrowed, "She called the office? Why wouldn't she call my phone?"

Claire smiled, "She said she didn't want to bug you, knowing you'd be busy. I told her you had those meetings tonight," Troy pursed his lips, he did have two completely pointless meetings tonight with possible clients that Troy was fairly certain would lead nowhere, "so she and I are going to Riley's!" Troy smiled softly, ever since the pair had started dating and she had started frequenting the office, Claire and she had become fast friends. It was good for Gabriella because, though she'd never admit it, it meant she could spy on Troy. It was good for Claire because she was a twenty two year old University of Ohio graduate who moved to Boston for a change of pace, leaving behind all her family and friends. "There's this bartender there that I have a huge crush on, and Ella said she has the perfect…"

Troy held up his hand to stop her, "Do not rub your freedom in my face, just go out with my girlfriend and leave me in peace."

Troy turned towards his office, prepared to enter when Claire cleared her throat, "Um…" Troy turned his head back towards her, his eyes narrowing at her guilty look, "You also had four other calls…" his stomach dropped, "…from a Jackie Gray?"

Troy turned back towards his office, trying not to let Jackie see his reaction, "Okay, thank you." He mumbled before entering his office and closing the door behind him.

Shit. Now she was calling his work.

Troy sighed, a million thoughts running through his head, the most prominent of which was Gabriella. With Claire knowing, it was only a matter of time before she told Gabriella, and though he wasn't hiding this, he didn't want his current girlfriend to have to deal with his crazy ex-girlfriend's antics.

Pulling out his phone, he made a split second decision, calling the last number that had called him, not at all weighing the pros and cons attached to this action. "Hello?"

"What the fuck is your problem?" Troy sneered into the phone, attempting to keep his voice low but still coat each word with venom.

He could practically see her smile, "Hi, Troy. I knew you'd eventually call me back." Jackie retorted calmly.

"Did all your boy toys dry up?" Troy asked harshly, "Did you suddenly realize that none of them are going to be able to support your spending habit?"

"I can support my own spending habit." She replied simply, "Though, it is nice to have a boyfriend of my own that buys me pretty things."

"Except you can't have just one boyfriend, Jackie, remember?"

Jackie scoffed, "Please, Troy, that was a one time thing."

"A one time thing that lasted for months." Troy pointed out, "Look, I didn't call to discuss your relationship status, it does not at all interest me. Stop. Fucking. Calling. Me."

"Your girlfriend's sweet. Has she let you get to second base yet?"

"My sex life is none of your business." Troy shot back, a tad too defensively. He didn't like hearing her taunt Gabriella, even if she'd never hear it, "Stop calling me."

"Should I start calling Gabriella, instead?" she asked sweetly, "Tell her about the Troy I dated. The real Troy."

"She is dating the real Troy."

"Sure she is."

"Stop calling Jackie. Don't make me have to make this into a big deal." Troy gave her no chance to respond, ending the call abruptly. Falling into his chair, Troy released a sigh. He needed to see Gabriella. Quickly dialing a number he had long since memorized, Troy lifted the phone to his ear, listening to the monotone rings. Once. Three times. Five times.

"Hi, you've reached Gabriella Montez and I am away from my phone right now. Please leave me a message…"

Cutting off her voicemail, Troy leaned back in his chair, staring out of the window and onto the ever darkening Boston streets. Fuck this.

His computer and work belongings were packed in five minutes, his coat back on his shoulder as he made his way out of the office door. Claire looked up as he exited, confusion covering her face, "Mr. Bolton?"

"Cancel my meetings," he told her simply, continuing to walk past her desk, "you're not seeing Gabriella tonight, I am." Claire's face fell into a frown just as Troy turned to face the elevator. Maybe it was unprofessional, but right now, he didn't care.

It always seemed to baffle Gabriella how one could feel both disgusting and amazing at the same time. Swaying her hips to the beat that she had stuck into her head, Gabriella practically danced into the kitchen. She was gross, covered in sweat from the run she had just taken, but she felt amazing. That was what running had always done for her.

Grabbing a glass from the cupboard, Gabriella began whistling to herself as she filled her glass with water. She was actually excited to go out with Claire tonight and had been planning in her head what she would wear. She had that teal dress that was one shouldered, but her red dress definitely flattered her figure more. She could wear her black heels with either, so it was really…

Gabriella spun around as she heard her door fly open, breathing a sigh of relief when she found herself faced with her boyfriend. "Troy!" Gabriella began, greeting him with a smile, only to feel her face drop when she remembered her appearance. "Troy!"

Troy dropped his briefcase and jacket on the ground, not even momentarily pausing before sliding his arms around her waist and greeting her with a kiss, "Hi, baby."

Despite her worries, Gabriella responded to his kiss, having missed him. "I thought you had work."

"I don't." Troy told her, occupying her lips once more before moving his lips to the base of jaw and descending southward.

Gabriella smiled, "Troy, please, I'm gross."

"Liar."

Rolling her eyes, Gabriella pushed on his chest, moving him back, "Troy, stop, I'm gross. I didn't know you were coming home tonight. I already made plans with Claire."

Troy shook his head, "I told her we're spending time together, and no, you're not gross," he glanced down, surveying the tank top and shorts she was wearing, "trust me, there's nothing gross about what I'm seeing."

Looking up, Gabriella pursed her lips, "Troy, I just went running. I smell like a dirty locker room and am caked in my own sweat."

"Well, I think you're beautiful." Troy said honestly, making a small smile form on Gabriella's face as she felt her heart melt at his words, "But, if you insist on stating that you're gross, I'm going to have to insist that you shower."

Gabriella smirked, "Oh really? What happened to 'I'm beautiful'?"

"You're the one insisting." Troy pointed out, "Don't worry, I'll supervise."

Gabriella nodded as Troy moved in on her, "I bet you…will!" Gabriella's last word came out as a scream as Troy gripped onto her waist and lifted her over his shoulder, "Troy! Put me down!" Gabriella half screamed, half giggled as Troy carried her into her master bathroom.