Disclaimer: I only own the characters not in the movie!

January 7, 2008 8:00 am

I sat in my Anatomy class which Coach Bolton taught. I was tapping my pencil against my notebook waiting for the announcements to be done.

"Miss Montez, please? We're trying to watch this." Coach Bolton told me as I stopped my tapping.

"Sorry Coach Bolton." I told him as I laid my head on top of my hand and sighed.

"And over the weekend the following people had birthday's, Gabriella Montez, turned 18; Cole Daniels, turned 16; and Brittany Walkers, turned 15. Happy late Birthday to all." The secretary's voice said as the announcements went off.

"Happy late Birthday, Gabi." I heard my fellow classmates around me say as I started tapping my pencil again.

"Now that we've seen announcements, we can get on with Anatomy." Coach Bolton told us as he started a power point presentation.

I settled in for 60 minutes of boring material. I sat there wondering what Troy was doing at the same time in gym. Knowing him, he would be shooting baskets.

"Gabi can you tell the class what the answer is?" Coach Bolton asked as I was pulled out of my day dream.

"I'm sorry what was the question?" I asked him as he shook his head at me.

"What are the two names of the chambers of the heart?" Coach Bolton asked me as I smiled.

"The Atrium and the Ventricles." I told him as he nodded his head at me.

"Correct. I would appreciate you paying attention, Miss Montez." Coach Bolton told me as I stared up at the TV screens on the wall of the room.

The class seemed to pass by very slowly. Finally the bed rung and I rushed out of the classroom. I saw Troy standing there waiting for me.

"Wait, Miss Montez. I would like a word with you." Coach Bolton told me as I heard my classmates tell me 'busted' and 'that's gotta suck'.

I caught Troy's eye and told him to wait. I walked up to Coach Bolton's desk and stood there.

"Yes, Coach Bolton?" I asked him as he looked up from grading papers to look at me.

"You seem distracted, Gabi. Is there anything going on that I or my son should know about?" Coach Bolton asked me as I looked at him.

"Lucas and Tina were up all night crying due to them both being sick. I didn't get much sleep last night." I told him as he nodded his head.

"I'll buy it for now. But can you please try to pay attention in my class from now on." Coach Bolton told me as I smiled.

"I'll try. But can you try teaching something more exciting?" I asked him as he shook his head.

"Gabi it's the human body and it's all exciting." Coach Bolton told me as Troy stuck his head in the room.

"Is it all right to come in here?" Troy asked me as I shot him a look of thanks.

"Yeah I just had to talk to Gabi about her time in class." Coach Bolton told me as I shook my head.

"Gabi was acting up in class? That's got to be a first." Troy told me as I smiled.

"Let's get out of here before we're both late for English." I told them as I pulled Troy out of the classroom and down the hall.

9:20 am

"Gabi, what happened in my dad's room this morning?" Troy whispered to me as I tried to pay attention in English.

"Your dad caught me daydreaming and called me out on it. It's nothing." I told him as I shot him a smiled.

"Meet me in our secret spot during lunch." Troy told me as I shot him a look before turning back to the teacher.

12:00 pm

I ran up the stairs that led to Troy and mine secret spot. I smiled as I sat down on the bench and waited for Troy to come. I saw him jog up the stairs and then look at me.

"If you are lying to me, I don't know if we can continue this." Troy told me flat out.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him as he looked at me and I shook my head.

"You were staying up all night with your siblings. Is it true?" Troy asked me as I looked at him.

"Yeah Tina and Lucas have cold and they were fussy last night. Mom asked me to stay up with them." I told him as he grabbed my hand.

"What about the last few days? The gang and I've noticed you've been off a little bit. What's going on, Gabi?" Troy asked me as I took a deep breath, preparing myself to tell him.

"My mom got a phone call the other day that took both her and me by surprise." I told him as he squeezed my hand.

"What was the phone call about?" Troy asked as I looked at him and smiled.

"The phone call was from my grandmother." I told him and as he interrupted.

"I thought you talked to your grandmother all the time." Troy told me as I shook my head.

"Not this grandmother. The grandmother that called was my father's mother. Mom or I haven't talked to her since the funeral. So it came as a shock to hear from her." I told him as his face shown shock.

"Oh wow Gabi. I can't understand why you haven't been yourself lately." Troy told me as I looked at him.

"That's not the only part. My grandmother wants to see me after all these years. I haven't seen here in like 12 years." I told him as he shook his head.

"Are you going to see her?" Troy asked as a flower by us, caught my eye.

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea. I'm curious on why she didn't keep in touch with us but at the same time I'm mad at her." I told him as he squeezed my hand.

"Is she coming out here or are you going by here?" Troy asked me as I looked at him.

"She lives in New York so I told her that if I agree to see her, then she would have to come out here because I have school and I can't miss any days." I told him as he nodded his head.

"Of course. I hope you agree to see her." Troy told me as I nodded my head.

"I'm leaning towards agreeing to see her but I have a favor to ask of you." I told him as he looked at me.

"And what kind of favor would that be?" Troy asked me as I squeezed his hand.

"I want you there when I see her again. I know my mom will be there but I want you there also." I told him as he looked at me.

"If you want me there, then I will be there." Troy told me as I gave him a hug.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I made you worry so much." I told him as he shook his head.

"I did worry, yes but I was more concerned about you and what was going on that you weren't the normal Gabi that I fell in love with. Promise me that next time something comes up, you'll tell me?" Troy asked me as I nodded my head.

"I will I promise." I told him as I leaned over and gave him a simple kiss. We had a mini-make out session until the bell interrupted us.

"Come on. Let's not be late for class." I told him as I grabbed his hand and we ran back downstairs to our classes.

January 19th, 2008 1:00 pm

"Gabi chill out. You're making me sick by pacing the floor." Troy told me as I paced back and forth in the entry way of the house.

I had agreed to see my father's mother. Today was the day that I would see her again after 12 long years of no correspondence. My grandmother had flown in from New York and was staying a short 4 days before flying back.

"Gabriella sit down and calm yourself." Mom told me as I shot her a look.

"Wow! That's got to be a first." Troy told me as I shot him a look which he grinned at.

"A first for what?" Mom asked him as she sat down in her favorite easy chair.

"The first time I've ever heard you call her by her whole name." Troy told my mom as she smiled.

"I don't do it often but when the time calls for it, it has to be done." Mom told Troy as the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it. You try to calm her down, Troy." Mom told us as she stood up and answered the door.

"Isabelle it's so good too see you again." I heard mom say as she opened the door.

"Anna it's been way too long. You have a beautiful house." My grandmother answered as mom led her into the living room.

"Isabelle this is your granddaughter, Gabriella and her boyfriend, Troy." My mom introduced us as I got up and shook her hand.

"It's nice to meet you Troy. Gabriella it's been too long and I'm partly to blame for that." My grandmother told me as I smiled.

"Please call me Gabi. Gabriella is only when I'm in trouble." I told her as she smiled.

"I know the feeling. Isabelle is only when I'm in trouble. Please call me Belle." My grandmother told me as I smiled.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Mom asked as we sat down. Troy and I sat on one couch; Belle and mom on another.

"No thank you. I'm quite all right." Belle told me as I looked at her. I could see similarities between me and her.

"So how have you been, Gabi?" Belle asked me as I linked my fingers with Troy's and smiled at her.

"I've been good. We moved here about 4 years ago. I'm a senior in high school and I'm just hanging out with friends and Troy." I told her as she smiled.

"And how long have you two been dating, if you don't mind me asking?" Belle asked me as I looked at Troy.

"3 years 5 months." I told her as she nodded her head at me. I shot a smiled in Troy's direction.

"Wow that's a long time. Congratulations. You are probably wondering why I suddenly called you. Am I right?" Belle asked me as I shook my head.

"I've been trying to figure it out. The call being so out of the blue." I told her as Troy squeezed my hand.

"It was my husband's dying wish for me to contact you guys and catch up on what's been going on for the past 12 years. I regret it now that I didn't stay in contact with you guys, after the funeral. Gabi, your mom has been sending me pictures of you through out the years and I can see your father in you. Especially your smile and your eyes." Belle told me as I smiled at her.

"By why didn't you keep in touch after the funeral? Mom and I needed family around after he died." I told her as tears came to my eyes.

"I tried to call you guys but I would dial three digits and then hang up the phone. I couldn't look at those photos of you for a while because you reminded me so much of your father. It hurt too much." Belle told me as I looked at her.

"There is so much I don't know about my father and I was hoping that during this visit, you could share some stuff about him that I don't know. What did he like to do? What was his favorite color? All these questions I don't know and I want to know." I told her as she took out an envelope and handed it to me.

"Your father requested this me to give this to you on your 18th birthday. Its 11 days late but I thought you should have this." Belle told me as I looked at it.

I flipped it over and saw the familiar scrawl I was used to. 'To my dearest Gabi on your 18th birthday.' I smiled as I read the writing. I looked up at my grandmother and went and hugged her.

"Thank you for bringing this by. I'll read it later." I told her as we continued to talk.

9:00 pm

I sat in my room on my bed, staring at that letter. My mom, Belle, and Troy were all sitting downstairs talking. I heard a knock on my door. I yelled come in and saw the door slowly start to open.

"Hey you. Are you all right?" Troy asked me as he came and sat down beside me on the bed.

"I'm fine. I'm just trying to cough of the courage to open the letter." I told him as he nodded.

"When you decide to open the letter, I'll be here for you, if you want me to." Troy told me as I nodded.

"Will you sit with me as I open it?" I asked him as he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

I gently opened the envelope and took out the crisp white pieces of paper. I felt tears come to my eyes as I unfolded the letter that seemed unforgotten.

Dearest Gabi,

You're finally 18 and I wish I could see how much you've grown. You're my sweet girl and I love you. Always remember that. As I'm writing this, I'm staring at your sweet face and your laughter keeps ringing in my ears. You are the most important thing to me besides your mother.

I'm sorry I could not be there for this big milestone in your life. Remember that I am with you in spirit. I am your biggest fan whether you know it or not. I'm cheering for you kiddo.

I remember the day I told you we were going to see Michael Jordan and Bulls play. You were so excited. Your mother and I couldn't get you out of your Bulls' uniform. You slept in that thing every night until the game. It breaks my heart to know that I let you down. I'm so sorry that I couldn't take you to that game. All I wanted was to get home and get you and your mother and take my girls out to the game.

I wish I could have seen you all grown up. But remember there is going to be a guy in your life, sometime, that is going to care for you the way I did. Let him in and tell him everything about you. Hold nothing back and you will have the greatest relationship possible. You might have someone special sitting with you while you read this, but remember that I love you always and I am watching over you.

When you met the guy you want to marry, just remember all the things I would have done to him. I'm going to miss torturing the guy that you're going to marry. You are my princess and someday, maybe sooner than you think, you will marry your prince charming. Remember me, by putting a different color flower in your bouquet on your wedding day. I will be watching from up above and smiling over you all the days of your life!

I love you my sweet girl.

Daddy

While I was reading that, Troy had wrapped his arms around me and tears were freely flowing down my face. I cried into Troy's chest as his hand was rubbing up and down my back.

We just sat there, both of us crying, for about 20 minutes. I picked my head up from Troy's shoulder and looked at him.

"Are you all right?" Troy asked me as he wiped the tears away from my cheeks.

"Yeah I am. Thank you for sitting with me while I read the letter." I told him as he smiled.

"It was no problem. I want to have my old Gabi back." Troy told me as he kissed my temple.

"You will but it's going to take a little longer." I told him as he rubbed my back.

"You ready to go back downstairs?" Troy asked me as I leaned into his warm embrace.

"Yeah let's get this over with." I told him as we walked downstairs and sat down on the couch.

We talked with Belle and mom as Troy held my hand the entire time. Mom and Belle talked about how my dad was as a person and all of his favorites. We spent the rest of the afternoon and into the night.

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