The Road Back to Your Heart

To say that Tanya was surprised to see Gabi was an understatement. She had hoped to try and figure out why Eric broke up with her. Gabi was a hitch in her plan, as always.

"Hi, Gabrielle," Tanya said eyeing Gabi up and down. She hadn't changed much in the three years she was gone. Still the same blonde hair, blue eyed girl that had gone away to college to never be heard from again, or at least that's what Tanya had hoped. When Eric had broken up with Gabi, Tanya felt that it was finally her chance but it took awhile for Eric to give her a chance, only to have him end it before he went back to North Carolina. He said something about her deserving someone better. Someone who could give her his whole heart but she didn't want someone else, she wanted Eric and Gabi wasn't going to get in her way this time.

Gabi forced a smile onto her face, "Tanya, so nice to see you again. I didn't know you still worked for Mr. Staal."

"I do," Tanya responded. "He needed someone after you just left him high and dry for so long."

Gabi shook her head, "Tanya, I don't want to start this bull crap again. We are both adults, its time to let go of the past and move on. I'm home trying to figure out my next step after college, if I am going to go to graduate school, or whatever other options I have. I am not here to start crap."

"I was just stating a fact," Tanya retorted. "You left for college then don't come for three years? What are you expecting? Everyone to be fawning over you? Not happening, sweetie."

Gabi took a deep breath, "No, Tanya I don't expect jack. Look, a lot of stuff has happened over the years. It is stupid to not like someone just because the guy you like likes them. Maybe when you are kids but we are adults now and quite frankly who Eric likes is not up to you or me. It's up to him and if you truly had feelings for him like you say you do, you'd just want him to be happy. I know that's how I felt when he was telling me about the girl he had feelings for. To be honest, I thought it was you. I always thought he liked you, not me. I'm sorry if you got hurt, but I don't regret a moment that I spent with Eric, not even him breaking up with me because it has helped shape me into the woman I am today. At the time, I didn't see that he was right about me needing to go to Yale like I dreamed but now that I actually think about it, I don't think I would have been happy going anywhere else. Sometimes, breaking up is what is best for everyone involved even if you both believe in the long run you are meant to be together. So grow up."

Before Tanya could respond, Gabi went into the office building. She was close to tears after getting that all out. Everything she said was the truth, or at least in her mind. While at first, she thought the break up between Eric and herself was the worst thing ever, as she thought back on it now, it was the best thing at that time. Gabi went into the first bathroom she found to collect herself. She took a deep breath and looked into the mirror above the sink. Her blue eyes glistened with tears and her blonde hair that she had put up in a pony tail was starting to fall out. She quickly fixed her hair and splashed her face with water as a knock came to the bathroom door.

"Elle?" Eric's soft voice called out from the other side of the door. "Can you let me in please?"

Gabi stared at the door, unsure of what to do. She slowly opened the door to let him, knowing that if she didn't , he'd stand there until she left the bathroom anyways, "What?"

"We should talk," He said closing the door and locking it behind him. "No, we need to talk. Clear the air."

Gabi nodded, "Alright."

"First off," Eric started. "I only dated Tanya for two weeks. I was hurt after seeing you with Nathan and part of me was trying to move on but no one could ever hold a candle to you. From the moment you walked into my life, Elle, you were the center of it. You stole my heart at a young age with your sweet smile. You say you don't regret our break up but I do. I regret breaking up with you so much. I messed up, Elle. I broke your heart, something I promised never to do. I'm sorry."

Gabi smiled, "Eric, I don't regret it because it made us both stronger. I learned so much about myself after our break up. For the longest time, it was Elle and Eric and for once it was just me. I learned I don't need you to open a jar of pickles for me. I don't need you to kill the spider in the corner for me anymore, either. I learned how to be happy on my own. Something that I needed to learn. Do I wish that day never happened? At time yes but I think we needed it. We had been in this bubble where nothing could go wrong, even when you were in Peterborough playing with the Petes and I was home. We were the 'perfect' couple but we hadn't any real fights, or anything that caused tension between us. We wouldn't have lasted long in the real world. It would have been a disaster, Eric. I just know it."

"So," He started his intense caramel eyes boring into hers. "What you are saying is I was right about everything that I said that day?"

She laughed, "Of course you'd ask me that. Yes, Eric, in the long run, you were right that day. Though, you probably could have said it in a better way or we could have tried a long distance relationship but I truly believe it was for the best the way things happened."

"Now what?" Eric asked.

Gabi smiled, "Now, we move forward as friends, clean the slate and see where it leads us. Its the only way. A fresh start."

"Alright, a fresh start it is," He said holding out his hand. "Hi, I'm Eric Staal, my dad owns this sod farm. I am a hockey player on the Carolina Hurricanes and we just won the Stanley Cup. I hope you'll come to my parade later this summer."

She smiled and shook his hand, "Nice to meet you Eric, I'm Gabrielle Moore. Most people call me Gabi. I just graduated from Yale with a bachelor's in Psychology. I was hoping to work in the office at this sod farm for the summer, if your dad is hiring that is."

"I'm sure he could find you a place," Eric said with a smile. "Do you mind if I call you Elle?"

Gabi shrugged, "I guess not, it has a nice ring to it."

"Let's go see about that job, eh?" He said unlocking the door and holding it open for her.

Gabi headed out the door with a smile, ready for the fresh start between her and Eric and hoping for one between Tanya and her. She really wanted a drama free summer but with Jordan and Whit's situation and having to work with Tanya, she didn't know if she could get that but one thing was for sure, everything will work out for the best.

Notes