Chapter 7

I haven't disappeared completely! My summer job is a bit hectic and an on-call one at that, so I've barely had time to sleep, let alone update my lovely readers. But I am here (: also, thank you for all of the reviews. I read them with an obsession! Every time I have a new one I think my heart stops for a second before I realize that, YES people are reading my story. So thank you for making me so happy. As always, there will be unforeseen typos.

Gabriella had never particularly enjoyed shopping. The walking hurt her knees and the crowds made her nervous, but as she stood in her bedroom, examining herself in her full-length mirror, she had to admit it. Her previous shopping trip had turned out well. She didn't really own any clothes that were "date worthy." Most of her attire consisted of modest dresses and skirts, a single pair of skinny jeans hanging in the back of her closet, and shirts that her Catholic grandparents approved of.

Thinking about it, she was rather surprised that Troy could find her attractive at all. Her fashion sense certainly did nothing to enhance her looks. She had aimed to change that. She wanted to feel pretty tonight. She wanted Troy to think that she was pretty. She wore a high-waisted, navy blue skirt that reached her mid-thigh. Five shiny buttons on each side added a pretty vertical accent down the front, and she had fallen in love with it. Her top was a soft gray number with a V-neck that almost gave a peek of the swell of her breasts. She blushed thinking about it. She wasn't quite daring enough to expose more skin than her skirt already allowed.

Her favorite piece of her outfit, however, was the red peek-toe pumps that she had practiced walking in all day. In all truth, she realized, her new clothes showed a bit more skin, but they were still very much down played and very much Gabriella. The shoes, though, made her feel exciting. They were bold and vibrant and beautiful and everything she hoped Troy would find her to be. She had not even planned on buying shoes during her rare shopping excursion, but they had caught her eye. They looked great on the mannequin, so she hoped they'd look great on her too. So far she wasn't disappointed.

Recognizing that she had been stood in front of her mirror for well over fifteen minutes scrutinizing every bit of her appearance, Gabriella stepped away. She was fully put together. Her curls were shiny and pinned to perfection; her lipstick were moisturized and painted a red that matched her shoes; and her outfit was new. She was ready! She grabbed her clutch and made her way downstairs. In exactly fifteen minutes it would be six-thirty, and Troy Bolton would be taking her to dinner. In exactly fifteen minutes she would be on her first date.

At hearing her heels on the hardwood floor, Elena Montez was greeted by the sight of her frankly breathtaking daughter.

"Oh, mi hija," her voice was an astonished whisper as she laid her book down, "you look beautiful." Her eyes filled with tears, and it was all Gabriella could do not to roll her eyes at her sappy mother.

"Mom," Gabriella offered a placating smile, "water works aren't necessary. I'm just going on a date."

"But you just look so lovely. You're my little girl, and you're all grown up." She turned her attention away from her daughter for a brief minute as she walked into another room, "I'm just going to go get your father," she threw over her shoulder.

Both of her parents returned a few seconds later, Antonio Montez's eyes nearly popping out of his head, "Gabi," he breathed, "you look…you don't look like my little girl."

Gabriella bit her inferior lip, wondering exactly what her father was saying to her. He cupped a hand over his mouth before sliding it down his chin, a hint of stress in his demeanor.

"Daddy?" Gabriella asked nervously.

"Gabi, you aren't dressed for a night with your friend." He tried to explain.

At this, Elena Montez interjected. She could no longer bear the hurt look on her daughter's face. She'd looked so sweet and excited just a few minutes ago, she wasn't going to let her overprotective husband ruin their only daughter's first date, "Antonio," her voice scolded, "Gabriella looks beautiful. Her outfit is perfectly appropriate for dinner with Troy."

"Look at her legs, Elena!" Mr. Montez was exasperated. "It is not respectable."

Gabriella's lip trembled. She had thought she looked pretty. She had tried so hard. Mrs. Montez recognized the look on Gabriella's face as a prerequisite to tears. She sent her husband a death glare before approaching Gabriella.

With assuring whispers she talked only to Gabriella, ignoring her husband, "Honey, don't let Daddy make you cry. He's a father. He's just being overprotective. You're growing up. He isn't used to it. It's going to take him some time," she stroked Gabriella's curls promisingly, "You look absolutely breathtaking. Troy's draw will drop when he sees you." Elena couldn't help but continue to coo over her daughter. In reality, there was a bit of herself that was afraid of seeing Gabriella grow up, but a bigger part wanted her daughter to experience the sweetness of first love. "My beautiful girl," she smiled at Gabriella.

Turning back to Antonio Montez, both Gabriella and Elena sent him identical glares. Glares he was not used to, that said I'm disappointed in your behavior.

"Gabi," he tried to justify, but he was cut short.

"Just smile and tell her how beautiful she is, Antonio," Elena instructed.

He sighed and walked over to his daughter, "You are beautiful, princess. That's why I'm worried. This boy would be crazy not to see how lovely you are. Boys are stupid, baby. What if he tries to take advantage of how beautiful you are?"

Easily, Gabriella and Elena forgave him. Gabriella hugged her father, "He won't," she assured.

"And besides," Elena's teasing voice interjected, "with the way Troy already looks at Gabriella, I think he'd fall all over himself if she were wearing a cardboard box."

Xxx

Gabriella took the remainder of her fifteen minutes to freshen her make-up and chew on four mints and a piece of gum. At the sound of the doorbell she tripped over herself trying to beat her mother to the door.

"Don't answer it! Don't answer it! I'll get it!" She rushed down the stairs but stopped dead in her tracks as she looked into the living room her mother was occupying.

"What are those?" She practically screeched.

"What's what, honey?" For the life of her, Elena Montez was clueless.

"Those!" Gabriella panicked. "Those pictures on our mantle!" The doorbell rang again, and Gabriella looked frantically between it and her mother. "You took those yesterday," she motioned to the several different angles of herself sleeping cozily with Troy, "How on Earth did you have time to process them and decorate our living room with them?"

"Aren't the cute," Elena beamed. "I couldn't resist." She clapped her hands together and stared fondly at the photos of her daughter and Troy.

"Take them down. I have to answer the door. I don't want Troy thinking you're a complete creeper…which you kind of are."

Elena folded her arms in a definitive manner, "I have no idea what a creeper is, young lady, but I'd thank you to lose that tone of voice. Answer the door, Gabriella. Troy is waiting."

Begrudgingly, Gabriella did as told. As she opened the door she saw Troy standing nervously with a bouquet of daisies.

"Hey," he blushed, "I thought you'd changed your mind."

She offered a smiling apology, "Of course not," she stepped up to him, tenderly stroking the flowers he had yet to offer her, "I've dreamed about a date with Troy Bolton for years."

"These are for you," once he had handed Gabriella the flowers his now free arms went around her waist, "and I've been waiting for a date with Gabriella Montez for years."

Her face flushed with the adoration she noted in Troy's blue eyes. It still surprised her that Troy could actually have an interest in her.

"Come inside," she spoke softly, sweetly, "I'll just put these in water and grab my purse."

Affectionately, Troy followed her into her house. His eyes traveled the length of her backside, taking in how stunning she looked. A silly smile played on his lips, but it quickly disappeared as he bumped into the cause of his happiness.

"Brie?" he asked.

"Oh my god," she looked up at him, embarrassment written on her face and leaking from her eyes, "I'm so sorry, Troy." He had not time to ask what her apology was for as she turned her attention to the woman in the living room, "Mom, I asked you to take those down," her voice was one of hurt.

It wasn't until Troy looked into the living room as well that he saw what was causing Gabriella such great distress. On the mantle of her fireplace were several photos of himself and Gabriella. He wished he had been awake for those pictures, because all he could think about was how incredibly adorable the shy girl in his arms looked when she was sleeping. He wished he had been awake to admire her innocence.

Mrs. Montez's words brought him from his own thoughts, "Oh, Gabriella, don't sound so sad. They're cute. You don't mind, do you, Troy?"

"No, of course not," he admitted. It was a little strange that her mother had snapped these just yesterday and today they were special enough to adorn the living room, but he didn't mind. His mother did the same thing. It must be a mom thing. He looked at a still disheartened Gabriella, "Really," his tone soothed, "I don't mind. I like them."

Gabriella looked up at him skeptically, but he chose to ignore that, "Why don't you grab your purse? I can put the flowers in water for you if that's okay."

With the tentativeness of a child handing over his favorite markers, Gabriella handed Troy her daisies, "I'll be right back."

"C'mon, Troy, I'll find you a vase."

"Thanks for letting me take Gabriella out tonight, Mrs. Montez," Troy said as he filled a vase with tap water. He looked over at Mrs. Montez who was smiling as she cut the stems of Gabriella's flowers.

"Oh, Troy, there's no need to thank me. You didn't even have to ask, though Mr. Montez and I both appreciate that you did. Gabriella likes you. We would have been okay with the two of you going to dinner regardless of your formal approach." She patted his hand.

"I like Gabriella too," he said the only thing he could think of at the moment.

"I know."

"Okay," the click of Gabriella's heels announced her presence. Troy turned around to see her, and the sight took his breath away once more, "I'm ready whenever you are."

"I'm ready," Troy assured, brushing his hands onto his jeans.

Xxx

"Bye Mom. Bye Daddy." Gabriella called as Troy escorted her to his truck.

Mr. and Mrs. Montez stood on the porch watching the two. Mrs. Montez was speaking giddily in another language.

"Don't worry," Gabriella's gentle hand stopped him as he went to open the door, "they aren't discussing anything bad. Mom's just saying how cute we are."

Xxx

"You look beautiful," Troy breathed out nervously as they parked in front of the Thai restaurant he had chosen for their first date, "I should have told you earlier. I should have said it when I first saw you. God, when I first saw you, Gabriella, you took my breath away."

Gabriella was silent for a second, running his words through her head over and over, each time her heart swelling a bit more. She took his breath away? She had hoped he'd think she looked pretty, but this was more than she could have hoped for.

However, Troy determined her silence to be a bad sign, "I…I mean, you always look beautiful. I always think you look beautiful, it's just that tonight you look different, but good different. But you always look good, and –" his ramblings were silenced by a pair of gentle lips.

Gabriella framed his face with her small hands, indulging them both in a languorous kiss. "Thank you," she was breathless as they pulled apart from one another. "You look handsome too." She ran her hand down his chest, admiring his baby blue V-neck that was accompanied by a smart navy blue blazer. "I like the restaurant you picked too," she encouraged.

"You've been here before,"

"Well, no," she admitted, "but it looks nice, and I like Thai food. I like any food actually."

Troy attacked her with a sloppy, happy kiss, "Do you know how perfect you are? I like a girl who can eat," he waggled his eyebrows, causing an eruption of giggles.

"Let's go then."

Xxx

"Troy?" Gabriella asked as she munched on her Khao soi.

"Yeah?"

"Yesterday you told my dad that you were majoring in sports medicine. I didn't know that." She was just trying to stir up conversation, not hard feelings, but she had done just that.

"Yeah, my parents think it's a good idea." Troy didn't want to broach the subject.

Tentatively, Gabriella urged the conversation on a bit further, "You don't seem very happy about that. Do you want to major in sports medicine, Troy?"

Troy contemplated whether or not to talk to Gabriella about this. He didn't really have anyone else to confide into, and she seemed the perfect person.

He shrugged, "It won't be all that bad. The pay is good, and I like science-y classes."

Gabriella abandoned the rest of her dinner in favor of reaching for Troy's hand, "But do you want to major in sports medicine?"

No one had ever been interested in his answer before, and now here she was. She was holding his hand, her kind brown eyes staring at him imploringly, "I'd rather study sociology and psychology."

"Then do it."

He chuckled, "It's not so simple, Gabriella." He didn't see how she could possibly understand. Her parents seemed wholeheartedly supportive of their daughter and her right to choose her life path. "My parents would never go for it."

Her warm fingers stroked his hand, "My mother and father cried when I told them I wanted to major in child and family studies and be an educational missionary," Troy's eyes widened at her admittance, "But they got over it. It's my life, and I have to do what makes me happy. Could you see me as a lawyer or doctor? I would have hated it." She had the same melt your heart look on her face that he loved, "I'm too timid to argue, and I get queasy just looking at medical books."

She was quiet for a moment before her eyes began to twinkle and she kept talking, "If you major in sociology and psychology we could travel the world together," she was beaming so much that it was contagious as he too grinned, "I could teach little kids to read, and teach their parents about the joys of different stages of life. You could study the culture and offer a gentle, listening spirit." The way her words suddenly became shy told him that she wasn't entirely joking; and the idea of traveling the world with Gabriella made his heart race.

"Life's about being happy, Troy. At the end of the day that's all that really matters. If you can find happiness you can spread happiness."

"Are you happy, Gabriella?" he kissed her knuckles. He wanted to know. He needed to know. He wanted her to be happy.

"I'm not always happy," she admitted, "but I'm happy now. I've been happy lately."

Xxx

"Goodnight, Brie," they sat in his truck saying their goodbyes. Gabriella had explained that she'd rather he didn't walk her to the front door because her parents would most certainly ruin any attempts at a goodnight kiss.

"Goodnight," she loved the feeling of being wrapped up in his arms.

Troy grazed her lips lightly with his own, breathing in her scent of jasmine. The kiss deepened when Gabriella's arms found their way around his neck, but it ended all too soon for the both of them.

"I better go," she whispered, forehead against Troy's. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"I can't wait," he assured.

She placed her hand gently on his arm, "Try talking to your parents?"

"Yeah, I'll try."

"Good to hear."