Gabriella climbed into the front seat after Mr. Montez told her she should, while he climbed into one of the back passenger seats.
"So,where we heading?" Gabriella asked.
"Hm, well, I'm pretty sure you figured out most of the town just from driving around in a taxi..." Troy stated.
"Yep. I think my taxi driver took the 'long' way to get more money." Mr. Montez laughed.
"Hah, so anyways, I thought we could just roam around downtown. It's more exciting and interesting, or at least I think."
"Yes! I love downtown." Gabriella smiled. "I love the little boutiques."
"Uh, Gabby." Troy said.
"Oh, right. We're not going there to shop." Gabriella reminded herself.
"It's alright Gabby, if you want to do a little shopping, I don't mind." Mr. Montez smiled.
"Uhm, I'm not so sure Mr, Montez." Troy laughed, which earned him a playful hit on the shoulder from Gabriella.
"Anyways." She said.
"So, coming up, here's the hospital. I think that's something important you should know about this town."
"Yep. That is something important." Mr. Montez laughed as they passed by it.
"Hmm, that reminds me, I have to go back in on Sunday." Gabriella reminded herself.
"What for?" Mr. Montez asked.
"Oh, I kinda got hit in the head by this guy, and my head fell hard on the ground. It was an accident though."
"Oh my gosh." Mr. Montez gasped. "When was this?"
"Uhhm, this last weekend."
"You must be kidding right?"
"No." She shook her head. "But I'm all right. No worries."
The three finally reached downtown. Troy parked on the side of a street, and then they walked around. Gabriella naturally flowed into the small boutiques. Mr. Montez and Troy just laughed and followed her inside them. Her father bought her anything she wanted, always saying it was the least he could do for missing out on her life.
"Oh, look! Charactachers!" Gabriella exclaimed as they were walking around. "We should get ours done! I've always wanted to!" Gabriella turned to Troy and Mr. Montez.
"Sure. I've never done it before... there's nothing like a new experience." Mr. Montez shrugged.
"Yeah, me too." Troy said. The three sat down in front of the artist, and waited for him to finish. The artist was drawing Troy first, and asked what he liked to do.
"Uh, basket ball... and singing with her, my girlfriend." Troy said pointing to Gabriella. The artist nodded, and drew Troy. Then he asked Gabriella the same question.
"Hmm, singing with him.. and doing the academic decathalon." She answered, then the artist drew her, and asked what Mr. Montez the same question.
"I'm in the Military, but I think my new favorite thing is spending time with my daughter." Mr. Montez answered, smiling at Gabriella.
"Alrighty then." The artist said, as he continued to draw.
After about 20 minutes, the artist finished and handed Gabriella the large piece of paper, while Mr. Montez paid him.
"Oh my goodness. This is so cute!" She exclaimed.
"Hah, that looks just like me." Troy laughed.
"That guy is good." Mr. Montez said as they were walking. The artist had drawn Troy kneeling down in a wildcat's uniform with Troy's number after he had asked what number he was, holding a basketball under one arm, and singing into a microphone to Gabriella who was drawn right in front of him.
Gabriella had on the outfit that she was currently wearing in the drawing, but she was hugging a math book against her body, with a microphone in one hand looking down at Troy, singing as well.
Mr. Montez was drawn in his military suit, with a hand on Gabriella's shoulder as he stood behind her in the drawing, his eyes looking down at his daughter, smiling.
"I think this is one of my favorite drawings now." Gabriella smiled.
"Why is that?" Troy asked.
"It's of me, and two of the most important people in my life who I care about deeply." She giggled. Troy held her hand tighter while Mr. Montez smiled.
They went to dinner, and walked around more enjoying the lights and excitement that filled downtown. Mr. Montez finally looked at his watch and noticed the time.
"Hey you two, as much as I'm enjoying this, I think we should be heading back. You two still have school tomorrow." He reminded Troy and Gabriella.
"What time is it Dad?" Gabriella asked.
"Almost 11." Mr. Montez answered.
"Shoot. You're right, we should be heading back." Troy said putting his hand over his forehead, then the three walked back to the car.
"Thank you for today Troy." Mr. Montez said on their way home. "And you too Gabby."
"No problem Mr. Montez. Anytime." Troy smiled into the rear view mirror."
"Yeah Dad. Today was fun.. and thanks for buying me all this cute stuff." She giggled.
"Yeah, and dinner too!" Troy added. "I'll have to pay you back some time."
"Just treat Gabriella right. That's all I ask of you." Mr. Montez smiled.
"I can guarantee that." Troy flashed a smile at Gabriella. Troy dropped off the two and said good night before he drove home.
"Well, I think I should just say goodnight out here... you know, since your mom probably thinks I'm still a fragile topic." Mr. Montez suggested.
"Yeah, I think you're right." Gabriella nodded. "So, where are you staying then?"
"They got me a temporary apartment not too far from here so I could be closer to you. I haven't moved in yet though. I'm still waiting for my things to be shipped from Europe, but I'm staying at a hotel."
"Oh." Gabriella nodded. "So then when do I get to see you again?" She asked curious. She had a great time today, and wanted to get to know her father more.
"Uhm, anytime you want. You just can't skip school or anything young lady." He laughed. "I think my shift ends a little before you get out of school, so you and or Troy can come over or we can go out. You two are a blast." He laughed.
"Really? Cool. Here.." She said handing him her cell phone. "put your number in."
"Alright, here. You do the same. I'll give you the apartment number once I move in." He said handing her his cell phone while typing in his own number into hers.
"Okay. You know I really wish mom would forgive you... I thought it would take me a while.. but now it's her." She giggled, taking her phone back from her dad.
"Yeah, well, I guess we have to be patient." He shrugged.
"Yeah. So when do I tell her that I've been hanging out with you?"
"Anytime I guess. But if she tries to forbid you from me, then don't listen to her." He grinned. "Unless you don't want to see me anymore."
"Not gonna happen.. I think you've been absent in my life for too long. And besides, we just started to get to know each other." She smiled.
"Yeah. Well, you should go get some sleep. Tell your mom I said 'Hi' if you talk to her about me."
"I will. I'll call you tomorrow dad."
"I'll be waiting then." He hugged her, kissed her on the forehead, then walked over to his car.
"Night!" She called.
"Night sweetie." He said before getting into his car. Gabriella watched him drive off, then walked inside.
"Gabriella Montez! Where have you been? I came home to an empty house, no note, no nothing. You didn't even answer your phone!" Mrs. Montez practically cried.
"What? You called?" Gabriella said looking at her phone. "I didn't receive or miss any calls from you or the house phone... I must've been in a dead zone. Sorry mom."
"Where were you!"
"Out." Gabriella simply replied, knowing her mother was over reacting.
"Why didn't you call? I was worried sick, Gabby." Her mother said, calming down, realizing that she was over reacting herself.
"I forgot. I'm sorry mom." She apologized.
"Just remember next time okay?" Mrs. Montez sighed.
"Yep. No problem. Sorry again mom."
"It's fine. Sorry for yelling at you."
"It's okay. It's my fault anyways. Oh, and dad and Troy said 'Hi'" Gabriella said, before quickly running upstairs to her room to change.
"What?" Mrs. Montez stood at the bottom of the stairs, trying to comprehend what Gabriella had just said.
After Gabriella finished changing, Mrs. Montez entered her room.
"What do you mean your father and Troy said 'Hi'?"
"Well mom, you know, you do remember Troy Bolton... who used to be just my friend but now we're going out." Gabriella stated with a sarcastic tone.
"No, no. I understand that. What I meant was your father."
"Oh, well, Dad said 'Hi' too." Gabriella shrugged.
"But he left."
"No... he didn't." Gabriella said sitting on her bed next to her mom.
"Yes, he said he was leaving last night."
"Yeah, I heard that." Gabriella said softly.
"You did?"
"Yep. But no big deal. I'm fine with everything for now."
"Anyways. We're getting off the subject. You saw your father today?"
"Yep. I was out with him and Troy."
"What?"
"Mhmm." Gabriella yawned. "I'm sorry mom. Can we talk about this in the morning before school? I'm kinda tired mom."
"Yeah, sure. It's getting late. Night Gabby." Her mom said kissing her forehead, before exiting the room.
She was out with James? Mrs. Montez thought to herself as she walked to her room.
Soo.. how does Mrs. Montez really feel about Gabriella hanging out with Mr. Montez without her knowing.. dun dun dun. HAHA. REVIEW PLEASE! Don't forget to check out My Heart's Debut... a lot of you seem to enjoy that story. YAY!. LOL. aiight peace.