Author's Note- Hi everyone! I'm super excited and yet nervous about writing this story! I hope you guys like it! My goal for 2009 is to make my stories and chapters longer to please you guys, my fans. I hope these new stories will draw more people to my stories. I love all of you guys, you seriously make my day! Since I'm working longer and harder on these stories, I won't be updating every single day, but I also won't make you wait a month for an update. Well here's your first story of February. Keep checking my profile for the summaries of my upcoming stories and oneshots. Thanks everyone, Court.

Disclaimer- I do NOT own anything High School Musical- the characters at least. I just own the plot :D

Summary- When Gabriella Montez was five, her parents divorced. Her mom took full custody of her and ran off to a different state with the young girl. Now thirteen years later, Mr. Montez is asking to see his daughter, and the eighteen year old is put on a one-way flight to daddy. She has changed quite a bit, and not for the better. When she meets her dad's employee, Troy Bolton, can he change her back into the person she was long ago?

The Best Summer-

August 9, 1996-

Five year old Gabriella Montez was swinging on her swing set in her backyard in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her father had started a small business company a couple months back, and money was kind of tight for the Montez family lately. But financial problems were nothing to worry about for five year old little girl.

The majority of little Gabi's problems were what doll was she going to play with today. But things were about to change drastically…

"Richard! No matter how hard you try, this stupid business is never going to take off! Do you hear me? Never take off!" Selena Montez yelled. Selena was a teacher at East High School, and wasn't quite satisfied with her wages.

Selena had been the daughter of a famous business manager and a magazine editor. She had always lived in upper class Albuquerque, but that all changed when she went off to college, and met the sweet hometown boy, Richard Montez.

Of course, her parents disapproved seeing that Richard came from lower class then them. Her father stated that, "Richard was out of her league," But at the time, she didn't care for anything besides her strong love for Richard.

They got married, and a year later had a daughter, Gabriella, and couldn't have been happier.

Richard worked at a business corporation, but was laid off when Gabi was four. Selena, worried about how they were going to pay their bills went for an English teaching job to help the family out. It took Richard quite a while to get back on his feet, but he started his own business company about two months ago, which was still waiting to take off.

The Montez parents had been pushed into this financial mess, and it seemed all they did nowadays was fight. They sometimes kept Gabriella up all night due to their fighting.

"Selena, do you not have any faith in me as a provider for you and our daughter?" Richard questioned. Selena looked at Richard, and replied, "Richard, all I'm saying is that you're making the same amount of money you made when you were laid off. Zero dollars and zero cents, and Gabriella and I can't live off of that. I want my daughter to have the same lifestyle I did when I was a child."

"What the 'rich and famous' lifestyle? Maybe that's not what's in store for Gabriella. She's a smart girl, Sel. Full of potential, and I just don't see that snotty rich kid in her.. Ever."

"Well, I'm getting sick of it, and I'm going to go make something of mine and her life. I went by the court the other day, and I filed for divorce. I'm not going to sit around and wait for us to fall into poverty. I'm going back to New York to my mom and dad, and I'm taking Gabriella with me." Selena said. "Sel, please don't do this. Gabriella is my daughter too." Richard pleaded.

"Well I explained to the court that you are incapable of taking care of a child when you live off of below minimum wage. You just simply can't do it. They have already given me the legalized custody of her, and all you need to do is sign on the dotted line." she said. He gave her one more pleading look, but she just simply went to the door and called, "GABRIELLA!"

The little girl came running in, and gave her parents her adorable toothless grin. "What is it mommy?" she asked innocently. Selena put her hands on her hips, and said, "Say goodbye to your dad, you and I are going to go live with grandma and grandpa." Gabriella shot her head towards her dad.

"Daddy, what does she mean?" the little girl asked. Richard got down to his daughter's level, and looked into her eyes. "You and mommy are going to go away for a little while." he explained. "Why?" she inquired. "Mommy thinks it's best for you guys to go away for a while," he told her. "Now, why don't you go pack while mom and I talk," he said. "Okay daddy," she said, running off to her room.

"This won't be easy you know," he told Selena. "Yes, I understand that, but she's almost six, and as you said, she's smart, she'll catch on that there's no more daddy eventually." Selena responded. "This isn't fair! I will find a way to see my daughter again!" he argued. She just rolled her eyes and responded with, "Just sign the papers, Richard."

He signed the papers, and handed them to her and said, "I signed that as the symbol for my divorce from you, not my daughter." She rolled the papers up, and put them in her purse. "Whatever Richard," she said.

Gabriella came down about an half an hour later with two suitcases, Selena following behind her. "I will send a U-Haul out in a week or so to get her bed and other things. I've got her clothes so those aren't things to worry about. Don't bother calling, we won't answer. Goodbye Richard." she said, walking towards the door. "Come on, Gabriella." she added.

The little girl walked up to her dad, and he crouched down to her level. "Goodbye princess," he said. She threw her arms around his neck, and cried into his chest, "Bye daddy!" she sobbed. "I'll see you soon princess, be good for mommy. I love you." he said, kissing her forehead. "I love you too daddy," she sniffed. "Bye." he said. She turned around as they headed out the door, "Bye." she replied.

On the way to New York, Selena and Gabriella stopped at a hotel and stayed the night. "Mom, why did we leave daddy?" she asked innocently. Selena looked at her daughter and lied, "He didn't want you anymore," she said. Tears filled the little girl's eyes, "Yes he did! Daddy loves me!" she defended. Selena pushed her daughter's curls out of her face, "No he didn't Gabriella, he told me he doesn't love you anymore and he never wanted to see you again. Don't worry princess, I'm going to make sure you have the best and happiest life ever!" Selena assured her.

The little girl sniffed a few times, and nodded. "Get some rest dear, we have a big day tomorrow. We moving to a new state!" Selena exclaimed, excited. Gabriella put on a fake smile, and climbed into the bed parallel to her mom's.

She got into her suitcase and pulled out a picture she had taken with her. It was of her and her dad when she was little. The picture was of her dad holding a newborn Gabriella. The back of the picture read:

Gabi,

The day you were born was

The best day of my life. I love

You with all my heart, princess.

Love,

Daddy

oxox

She flipped the photo back over and stared at the sight in the picture. Her dad looked so happy, he must've just been pretending the whole time.

"I thought you loved me daddy, I guess not." and she took the picture, and ripped it in half, and threw it back in her suitcase.

The next morning the mom and daughter got back into the car, and drove straight to New York. Gabriella was quiet most of the way there. "Gabi, what's wrong sweetie? You should be happy. You're moving to the coolest city ever. There's pretty lights everywhere, and it's a lot better than Albuquerque. You'll love New York City, I promise." Selena said. Gabriella looked over at her mom, "Daddy promised he would love me forever too," she murmured. "Oh Gabriella, get over it! Daddy doesn't love you. You don't need him, you've got a wonderful mother like me." Selena explained. Again, Gabriella just fake smiled and believed her mom.

They had been staying at Selena's parents house, the Gomez family. (ha ha ironic huh?)

"Selena, is their something wrong with Gabriella? She seems sort of depressed." Mrs. Gomez said. "She's fine, just a little homesick I suppose, she'll just have to get over it. " Selena responded.

Mrs. Gomez walked up the stairs to Gabriella's bedroom where the little girl was still lying in bed. She turned over, and smiled sheepishly at her grandmother. "Hi Grandma Rosalina." she said. "Hello nieta," (means "granddaughter")

Gabriella smiled at her grandma's natural Spanish accent. "What's wrong sweetheart?" Rosalina asked and took a seat at the foot of the bed. Gabriella just shrugged, and said, "I just miss my house, and my daddy." Gabi mumbled the last part. "Gabriella, you will see you father someday." Rosalina said. "I hope I see him soon," Gabriella wished. Rosalina smiled, and stood up. "Well get some rest baby girl, I love you." she said. Gabriella laid back on her pillow, and replied, "I love you too, Grandma."

Richard woke up in the middle of the night, he couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he was haunted by the last look he got of his daughter. Her tear stained face, her trembling hands. And the last goodbye he got from her he just didn't know how to say goodbye. She was his life, and he had to see her again if it was the last thing he did.

And how do we say our goodbyes?

Do we laugh or cry?

And why does this have to be so hard?

And how do you say goodbye?

Should I laugh or cry?…

How was the first chapter? The last lines are from Savannah Outen's song "Goodbyes". And just to let everyone know I'm now signed up to become a beta-reader. Just send a request if you would like me to beta read for you. Well I worked hard on this chapter, tell me what you think. Review please! Thanks! - Courtney