They drove over to Troy's house so that he could change out of his sweaty clothes. While Gabriella and Martin were waiting downstairs, she introduced Martin to Brad, who was talking to them. Martin was being quiet like he was with Troy at first, so it was just Brad and Gabriella talking for a while
"So... what do you like to do?" He asked, noticing Martin wasn't talking much.
"Wow, you think like Troy." Martin said.
"Martin!" Gabriella said.
"What? I didn't meant that in a bad way. Troy asked me the same question when I met him today, that's all."
"It's okay, Gabby." Brad laughed.
"Anyways. I like to play sports, draw, play with my toys, hang out with my friends..." Martin started listing.
"Sports? What kinds?" Brad asked.
"Basketball! Me and Troy just finished playing! That's why we're here, so he could change, then come back to Gabby's house for dinner." Martin said excitedly.
"Oh," Brad chuckled. "Now you sound like Troy." He joked.
"You know, you're more than welcome to join us too, Brad." Gabriella added.
"Nah, it's cool. I still have some homework to finish. But thanks for the invite. Maybe some other time though."
"You're welcome. Another time would be good." She smiled.
"So what other kinds of sports do you like, Martin?" Brad asked.
"I don't know. I've only played basketball." He said.
"You should try tennis." He laughed.
"Oh! I played that before! I think..."
"Haha, well, if you ever get bored of basketball, I'll teach you tennis."
"Cool! Are you on the tennis team?"
"Well, not at East High since I just transferred there, but I was captain, at West High."
"Whoa! Captain! Wow!"
"He kinda idolizes the team captains in sports... you should've seen him when he found out Troy was captain of the basketball team." Gabriella whispered, then looked up and smiled to see Troy walking into the room.
"Hey, sorry I took so long. I took a quick shower..." He smiled.
"It's okay, but we should get going. See you tomorrow Brad."
"Bye! It was nice meeting you!" Martin said as he and Brad pounded each other's fists.
"Hey, tell my parents I went over to Gabby's for dinner and I'll be back before 10."
"No problemo cuz. I'm gonna go get some Mexican food or something in a bit."
"Alright, see you later."
"Bye."
The quick drive to Gabriella's house was quite. They eventually reached the house, and walked inside. Martin ran upstairs to put his jacket in his room, and Troy followed Gabriella into the kitchen to look for her mom, and James.
"Mom?" She called out, as they were making their way towards the kitchen.
"In the kitchen!" Her mom called back, then she saw Gabriella standing at the kitchen entrance again, like she did before.
"Uhm, Martin and I went to the park. We bumped into Troy, so I invited him over for dinner since you wanted to invite him earlier." She informed her mother, James wasn't in sight, and Troy walked up standing next to Gabriella.
"Hey again, Mrs. Montez."
"Oh, hello Troy. I didn't see you there." Mrs. Montez smiled. "Dinner will be ready soon, I'll call you guys when it's done."
"Alright, we'll be in my room then I guess."
"Uhm, Gabby, your--" Gabriella quickly turned and led Troy to her room before her mother finished. Gabriella saw Martin walking downstairs as they were heading up.
"We're gonna be in my room. Dinner isn't ready yet, you can come hang out with us if you like."
"Okie dokes." Martin said, turning around to go back upstairs. Gabriella reached her door, and opened it. They found James sitting on the edge of her bed, looking at some old books. Gabriella gasped.
"Oh, I'm sorry." James said, closing the book as he heard Gabriella, Troy, and Martin enter the room. "Your mom let me in here... She wanted to show me the pictures you had up." He said pointing to the pictures Gabriella had hanging in her room of her and her friends. Gabriella just nodded. "You're not mad are you?"
"Uhm, no. It's fine. You kinda should be allowed to see these things since you haven't been here..." She said, keeping in mind what Troy had told her, yet slight anger showed through her voice.
"Thanks." He simply said. "Well, I guess I should let you guys hang out or whatever. I'll be downstairs." He said walking out of the room.
"Okay." Gabriella said softly.
"He seems nice." Troy said after he left.
"I guess."
"Keep staying open-minded, Gabby." Troy said, Gabriella nodded.
"He is a nice guy." Martin said. "He was pretty cool when I met him earlier."
"We'll see I guess." Gabriella replied. They talked about school, and other things for about 10 minutes until they heard Mrs. Montez call them down for dinner. They filed down the stairs and took a seat at the table where Mrs. Montez and James were already seated.
"Oh, uhm.. Da-- I mean, James. This is my, uhm, boyfriend, Troy Bolton." Gabriella introduced. "Troy, this is my dad James."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Troy." James stood up and held out his hand.
"Pleasure is all mine Mr. Montez." Troy shook his hand before taking a seat.
"I didn't know Troy was your boyfriend." Mrs. Montez said surprised.
"Me either." Martin said, less shocked, but more amused.
"Oh, uh, well, it kinda just happened today." Gabriella blushed.
"Today is just full of events, now isn't it." Mrs. Montez said. As they were passing around the food to each other, Troy whispered to Gabriella as he passed her the dish of food.
"Talk to him." He whispered. He really wanted to see Gabriella try to accept her father.
"About what?" She asked back.
"Anything." Troy shrugged, and Gabriella nodded.
"So, uhm, what were you reading in my room?" She asked.
"Oh, well I wasn't reading. After you left, your mom showed me the pictures of you and your friends that you had on your wall. Then she pulled out some albums with pictures of you growing up."
"Oh my gosh." She blushed, recalling many embarrassing photos. "Mom!"
"What! He is your father Gabby. And besides, I showed him the other ones too."
"Other ones? I thought I only had one huge one?" Gabriella said with a confused look on her face. Her mother just shook her head.
"Nope. I had other ones. You had too many to fit into that big one. So I made a few more. The one you've always seen was just the main one." Mrs. Montez informed her.
"Really? Wow, and I haven't known this for almost 17 years." Gabriella said dumbfounded.
"Yeah, your mom's got loads of pictures of you." James laughed.
"Well, I guess I'll have to look over them, while you finish." Gabriella said.
"You mean like, spend time together?" James asked, hope in his eyes. Troy looked at Gabriella as well, and smiled.
"Yeah, you are my father... and we'll I haven't really had the chance to get to know you... I'm sorry for the way I reacted earlier; just walking out like that. I guess I-"
"It's fine. I understand completely, and I hope we do get to know each other." He smiled, which Gabriella returned her own. "So, um, Troy, right?" Her dad asked.
"Yes sir." Troy said, looking over to Mr. Montez.
"So, I guess I should be getting to know you as well? Since you are my daughter's boyfriend." He chuckled.
"Uhm, well, yeah, if you'd like." Troy shrugged laughing.
"So, what is it you like to do?"
"Uhm, well, I like to play basketball, I'm on the team at school, but ever since I met Gabby at the lodge, I found a new love for singing, and acting as well since we starred together in the school's winter musical this year." Troy explained.
"Interesting. I saw the pictures of the musical in your room, Gabby. You know, I played basketball with the guys in Europe on the base when we had free time. We should play sometime." Mr. Montez suggested.
"Wow, really? Sure, I'd enjoy that. We could even take Martin here with us." Troy laughed.
"Yes!" Martin said. The five continued talking throughout dinner, discussing random subjects. After they finished, Troy left.
"Well, I'm gonna head up to bed. School tomorrow. I'll see you guys in the morning." Gabriella said goodnight, and went up to her room.
"See, I told you she'd come around." Mrs. Montez smiled.
"Yeah." Mr. Montez sighed. "I'm sorry Jen..I really am. I mean, for not being here to help raise our daughter, not trying to find a way to contact you guys harder, everything..." He said. Gabriella was standing at the top of the stairs, out of sight. She was going to get a glass of water, but heard her parents talking.
"It's okay James. It is partially my fault. I should have tried harder too. If it wasn't for me and my job, you would've known where and how to contact us."
"You don't have to be sorry, that job was a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"I guess" She shrugged. "So are you staying here tonight?"
"Uhm, they got me a free hotel not too far from here. I took a taxi here since I didn't know how to get here."
"Why don't you stay here?" Mrs. Montez suggested.
"I can't" he sighed. I have to get back to the base tomorrow morning."
"But what about Gabby? You're just gonna get up and leave again?" Gabriella gasped, and just ran to her room in tears.
So, what do you guys think? Mmmkay, well, since I have two stories out, I'm gonna be switching between the two when I update. Soo, basically after i post up a chapter for this story, i work on the next one for "My heart's debut" then vise versa. Well, keep the reviews coming! &&& thanks to those of you who've been reading my stories since my very first chapter of "Denial & admitting" lol. You guys are cool.