Chapter 14 – Restaurant
AN: Hey guys… amazing feedback from all of you last chapter! Most of you said that you want the romance to go full speed ahead, and so i am really sorry to the people who didn't want that but i usually go with the majority on things like this. I try to make the story best for all of you. I will be coming to a compromise... romance may be really fast at first, but then it will slow down as the relationship grows stronger and stronger, okay?
I love all of you and all of the support that you guys have given me! I appreciate it a lot and can't wait to hear what you have to say again [from your reviews]!
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"You don't have to be nervous, you know." I said as we sat in my Audi. It was two days after Gabriella had finally settled in my house, and I was finally taking her to visit my restaurant. She had been excited all day, but as the time neared, she became more and more nervous.
The almost-kiss was not talked about the next morning. Gabriella never brought it up, so I didn't intend to. If she didn't want to talk about it, then I wouldn't say anything.
"These are your co-workers, they have to like me." She said, fiddling with her purse on her lap. Isabella giggled from the backseat for no apparent reason.
"If they don't, I'll threaten them to. I am their boss."
"Really comforting."
"I'm trying Brie. Look, Isabella's cool. She charmed her way into all of their hearts. You're her mother, and so you are bound to do the same." I looked in the rear view mirror to see Isabella's face plastered with a smile, before looking back on the road.
"I guess."
"Besides, April's meeting us there. Isn't it going to be more comforting with her there? Surprisingly, I have never taken April there either."
"Really? Why not?"
"She was too busy with Carl. But now, she can't seem to stop talking about you and what a perfect big sister you are to her. She'll he there with you, and so will I. It will be fine."
"If you're sure."
"I'm positive." Gabriella exhaled.
"Fine." She said, turning to face me. I smiled at her, and she cracked a tiny smile back.
"Ah, there's the smile I love to see." I said, resulting in her face turning scarlet.
Ten minutes later, I pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Gabriella looked around at the view, and froze when she saw the familiar highway where her accident happened. I got out of the car, grabbed Isabella from her car seat, and walked over to the passenger door. I opened it, and grabbed Gabriella's hand comfortingly.
"It's going to be okay." I said, as I pulled her into a hug.
"It's just weird. Looking at that highway, remembering coming up the drive and being so excited to come to the restaurant, but never making it." I kissed the top of her forehead.
"I know. It will be hard coming to the restaurant for a little while, but coming here will make you stronger. One day you will come here and not think about the accident at all. Or you will think of it and only remember how it brought us together." She pulled back from my embrace, took Isabella out of my arms, and looked me in the eyes, her eyes sparkling.
"That's the only good thing that came out from that day."
"And Isabella."
"Of course Isabella. Who could forget her?" Gabriella said as she poked her daughter's nose. She then looked back up at me.
"What?" I asked.
"That day was important. It was the day that fate led you into my life."
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Sure enough, Gabriella was a hit in the restaurant. Rogers sucked up to her, thinking this was another way to get a raise. James and her instantly clicked, and she started joking around that he would tell her all of my dirty secrets. April was also a huge help, starting up conversations when Gabriella got a bit nervous.
Soon after, Isabella was taken off our hands and taken to the back room, where James and April were occupying her. This left Gabriella and me on our own.
"How would you like to have a life-changing dining experience?" I asked her.
"Here?"
"Where else?" she giggled. I held out my arm, and she linked hers with mine.
"I would be honored to accompany you and try this life-changing dining experience." I smiled, and led her towards the back of the restaurant and seating ourselves in a small, private booth that was reserved for whenever I had meals in the restaurant. Soon enough, a young waitress came to get our orders.
"Well Mr. Bolton, I haven't seen you dining in for at least a year now. What changed your mind?"
"I'm with important company." I said, winking at Gabriella.
"I see. And what shall I get you both?" I looked at Gabriella who was just staring at me. There were no menus, since I knew everything that was offered at the restaurant.
"I would like two glasses of red wine please, and as an appetizer I would like the shrimp platter with a cocktail sauce. For dinner, this fine lady here will be having the Leg of Lamb with a side of vegetables and garlic roasted potatoes. I will have the same." I smiled up at the waitress.
"Anything else, Mr. Bolton?" I thought a bit.
"Yes. Could we please have a large slice of the chocolate caramel cheesecake with two forks please? For dessert, of course." The waitress nodded.
"Your appetizer will be out shortly." She walked off, and I turned to face Gabriella.
"You okay with me ordering for you?" she smiled, and grabbed my hand that was resting on the table, lacing her fingers with mine.
"Of course. You remembered all of my favorites. I told you how much I loved shrimp with a cocktail sauce. You also remembered my love for lamb and garlic potatoes. And how can I forget how you got the desert perfect!" she gushed.
"If it's your favourite, than we have to get it for you, right?" she blushed.
Soon the waitress came back with our shrimp. Gabriella took one, dipping it the sauce, and plopped it in her mouth, carefully biting off the tail and putting it on her plate.
"You're a pro when it comes to eating shrimp!"
"I've had a lot of practice." She replied, and grabbed another one. "You know, this is the first time in a year that I have gone out to dinner with a guy."
"Me too. I haven't been on a date in a year as well."
"Are you calling this a date?" she asked.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Depends on you, Miss Montez."
"What do you mean?" She grabbed another shrimp, a confused look on her face.
"Well, I know this may sound creeperish, but I like you Gabriella. I have grown quite fond of you, even though I have only actually know you for the last little while." I squeezed her hand gently, and was relieved when she squeezed it back.
"I like you too, Troy. You're so kind to me, and I guess it's hard not to fall for such a handsome, suave man." She looked up at me, her chocolate-brown eyes sparkling.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"I'm saying that I feel the same way as you do. I don't know how, but somehow it just feels right with you. So natural and easy."
"I know. It really does." We stared into each other's eyes silently. The waitress bringing our food interrupted our moment.
As we continued on with our meal, we didn't talk again on the subject of liking one another. Instead, we had a comfortable conversation on everything that was going on in our lives, from Isabella to the restaurant to even my retired basketball career.
When the cake came, we shared it, and even playfully fed each other pieces of the cake. To any outsider, we looked like a couple enjoying a dinner date.
After we finished and checked up on Isabella, I took Gabriella outside into the night. We laced our hands together and walked down the path of the restaurant. When she asked where we were going, I told Gabriella it was a surprise.
When we finally got there, she looked astounded.
"Troy, it's beautiful." I took her to the side cliff where the restaurant was. You could see all of the city lights of Albuquerque, with the serene mountainous landscape behind it.
"Yes you are." I replied. It was corny, but I couldn't help when it slipped out of my mouth. Gabriella blushed at my comment.
We sat down on the bench that was there, looking out at the view. We were silent for a moment.
"Brie?" It turned to look at her, and she did the same.
"Yes?"
"Did you really mean what you said earlier? About how it just feel natural when you're with me?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Okay." Again, silence surrounded us.
"Troy?" It was her turn to ask the question now.
"Yeah?"
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" a small smile graced my face.
"Absolutely. When I was little my mom used to always tell me about how she and dad met. It was in a grocery store, and she wasn't tall enough to reach the milk." Gabriella giggled. "He helped her, and my mom told me that the second she looked into his eyes, she knew he was the one." I looked down, and then looked out at the view. "I used to ask my mom to tell me that story every night before bed. She would then tell me that one day, I would find the right person."
"That's sweet."
"Yeah. I just wish I hadn't let my mother down." Gabriella gently turned my chin to face her.
"What do you mean? You're successful, are able to support yourself on your own, have an amazing restaurant, and are a good man. What more could your mother ask for?"
"My mom is the old fashioned type, believing that you should marry young to have a full life. She also has always wanted grandchildren. She hoped that I would find love like she did in high school, and that by the age of 21 she would already have a grandchild. I know that its only two years past, but I guess that I wish I could have done that one thing for her."
"You're perfect Troy. And your mother is proud of you. Beside's, isn't Isabella kind of her granddaughter now?"
"Maybe. I guess my mom wanted me happily married with a family. She always said that yes my restaurant may make me happy, but some day I am going to regret not finding somebody for myself." Gabriella looked me straight in the eyes.
"Believe me Troy, you're anything but a disappointment. If you think you're a disappointment, then I must be a failure to my parents. My mom always wanted me to be a doctor and help cure people all over the world. When I met Derek, she tried to break us up. I told her that I never wanted to see her again. Then, she was in a car accident. I saw her before she died, and told her I forgave her and loved her. The last thing my mom told me was to be happy and start a family, because it was too late for my career to take off." Gabriella looked down and began playing with her fingers. "She never even knew about Isabella." A tear tolled down her face. I quickly wiped it away from her cheek, and tilted Gabriella's face towards mine as she had done earlier.
"Gabriella, she knows about Isabella. She's watching you from heaven right now, so proud of what you've become. I'm sure of it."
"Really?"
"I'm positive." Gabriella smiled at me, and rested her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to me.
After staring out in the quiet for a little while, Gabriella shifted and looked me in the eyes. I watched her intently, and found myself gradually leaning in towards her for the second time. She closed her eyes and leaned in as well.
This time, there was nothing to interrupt us.
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AN: Ohh! Gabby and Troy are leaning in towards each other for a kiss. But will it happen? I may just want to continue the High School Musical Tradition of Gabriella and Troy always having their kiss prolonged. You never know.
I guess it depends on how many reviews I get.
Love you all!
Xoxo,
Lar
p.s. - I don't know if you guys have heard, but there is a RUMOR that Vanessa Hudgens is being considered for playing the role of Leah Clearwater in the Twilight Sequel "New Moon". Message me if you have no clue who Leah is, or google the character for a good summary. Personally, i think that she would be a good choice for the role. She is part native american, so she had the look, and it would give people a chance to see that she is a great actress and can go farther than the 'sweet, innocent' character that was Gabriella Montez. If anybody has seen Thunderbirds, she already did a great job of playing a character that was always hating this other guy.
Guys, just remember this is just a RUMOR, and not one hundred percent true. We're not sure what is going on, and won't know until the official cast list has been released.
So guys, what do you guys think? Do you think it would be a good idea to Cast Vanessa as Leah Clearwater?