Hey Guys!

I didn't get many reviews for the last chapter. :'( Did you all really hate it that much? I hope not! Cause this is where the story gets interesting!

Disclaimer: YAY! I OWN BRAD! (Steals Brad from Gabriella) But nothing else...(Cries)

Chapter 17:

((Gabriella's POV))

The next week seemed to go by so slowly. But not because I was thinking about Troy or even trying not to think about him. Troy Bolton was actually the farthest thing away from my mind that week.

The following things were on my mind:

Was Brad as nice as he seemed?

Was it dumb to say yes to a date when I'd known him for fifteen minutes?

What was I going to wear?

Despite all of these stressful thoughts, I felt amazing. I was actually singing again, and I wouldn't get that achey feeling in my heart whenever I would sing like I used to. I was grinning more than I used to, something Taylor and Chad were definitely noticing. Taylor couldn't stop grinning whenever I was around, like I was coming out of a nine-year trance, and Chad was back to teasing me mercilessly, telling me 'not to get carried away and do something I'll regret'. I didn't care though, I was actually happy I had someone he could tease me about.

I think the main reason I was so happy that week was that I finally figured out my feelings for Troy. They were…confusing. One day, I would love him, the next, I would hate him. One day I would blame myself for breaking up with him and the next day I would be blaming him. It almost felt like I was looking in on myself from someone else. Realizing how dumb it was to be freaking out about Troy for as long as I had been. Taylor had said it was fate that had brought him back to Albuquerque. I realized that yes, maybe it was, and that if it was fate, then it would happen sooner or later. But right now, there was this really cute, sweet, amazing guy at my door, and what would it hurt to let him in and try to remember what it was like to have someone who cared so much about me.

To be honest, I think the main reason I forgot about Troy so easily was that I had basically not only given it up to God, but also, I was so sick of myself. I was tired of the fact that I had let him control my life. Obviously I hadn't done the same to him, so why let him bother me? So, I decided to let myself go, and have some fun for the first time in nine years. And boy, was I excited.

((Friday: Date Day))

Taylor arrived at my door at 5:30 on Friday, a bag hanging on her arm that looked strangely ominous. It was big and bulky and clanked when she moved it. Whatever was in there wasn't a teddy bear, I could guarantee myself that.

"What is in that bag?" I asked, pointing to the bag.

Taylor went on to list every beauty item known to man. Now, let's get something straight. Taylor wasn't a girly girl. Never had been, never will be. The only time I had ever seen her freak out about how she looked was on her wedding day, and even then she didn't use half the things she was listing.

"Tay! Why are we using so many things!" I asked, interrupting her thorough list.

"Because this is your first date in nine years! I wanna make sure you look perfect!" she said enthusiastically.

"What happened to natural beauty!" I asked.

"That went out the window when you said yes to Brad," she said.

I sighed, "Is this going to hurt?" I asked.

"Probably," she said, dragging me upstairs into my bedroom, where she emptied the contents of the bag. Wow. I had no idea a bag that little could hold so much stuff! There were clothes and hair products and make up and lotions, and nail polishes and bath stuff and stuff I had NO idea how to use.

"Don't worry," she giggled. "Sharpay told me how to use all of these things. She wanted to be here but she had to do an unexpected rehearsal that she couldn't get out of."

I nodded hesitantly. "…You know this is only a date right?" I asked, confirming.

She gave me, 'the look'.

"Just checking," I said quickly.

Two hours later I had been plucked, moisturized, painted, glossed and just about anything else you could do to your body. My hair was straightened and re-curled at the bottom. I had more make-up on than I'd ever had on in my life, and I felt like my face was 10 pounds heavier thanks to everything I had on. I had on a low cut black long sleeved shirt and a blue denim pleated mini skirt with black 2 inch heels to, as Taylor said, 'complete the outfit'.

Even though I would never admit it, I looked amazing. Now, let's get something straight, I would never put this much work into my appearance everyday like some women, but for a one-night thing, I could live with it. Some of the blemishes on my face that always hated were now vanished and now I was actually comfortable in my own skin.

"Taylor…this is…" I ran out of time to compliment her magic, because my door rang and she and I looked at each other.

"Go get it!" she urged. "We can talk later! Go!" She shoved me down the stairs and then disappeared back into my room.

I sighed as I opened the door. There was Brad, wearing a white long sleeved button up shirt with the sleeves pushed up slightly and blue denim jeans. A simple outfit. He definitely didn't spend two hours getting ready, for which I was envious of.

"Wow…" was his first word when he saw me. I began to get self conscious. Did it really look as bad as I thought it was?

"You look amazing," he said. Guess not. Thank goodness.

"These are for you," he said, handing me a dozen roses, my favorite kind of flower.

"Wow…" I breathed, "They're beautiful." He grinned, seeming proud with himself.

"Why don't you come in for a minute while I put these in a vase?" I asked, stepping aside to give him room. He nodded, following me inside.

I walked into the kitchen, putting some water in the vase that was the only thing that was ever on my kitchen table. I put the flowers in the vase, and I wrote a quick note to Taylor.

Yes, these are from Brad. Don't scream too loud, the neighbors might freak. Aren't they beautiful! Gabi

"You ready?" he asked, holding out his hand.

I took his hand and he led me to his car, which, by the outside, looked pretty new. Once we got in, he started talking.

"Do you like Italian?" he asked, starting up the car.

"I love it!" I said enthusiastically.

"Great, because that's where we have reservations," he said, grinning.

I grinned, leaning back, watching him drive for a couple minutes. The conversation soon started flowing, replacing the silence. It wasn't awkward at all, which surprised me. I guess I had been watching too many teen movies. This was starting out to be an amazing night.

((After Dinner))

"C'mon!" he whined, grinning, "Why won't you tell me?" He and I were walking out of the restaurant. Half way through dinner he and I had started playing what is your favorite ? However, I refused to admit who my favorite actor was.

"No!" I said, slapping him playfully. "I said that I would tell you when I could trust you more."

"You're willing to tell me you're deepest fear on the first date, but you won't tell me your favorite actor?" he asked, raising one eyebrow.

I nodded. "Yep, that's right," I said, proudly.

"You're definitely one of a kind, Montez," he said, smirking.

"That better be a good thing," I giggled.

"It is," he said, grinning down at me. I returned the grin, looking up at him.

All of the sudden, he had his hand on my cheek and was leaning toward me, closing his eyes slowly. Here's the even more shocking part: I WAS DOING IT TOO! Me! I was about to kiss Brad!

As our lips connected, I felt wonderful. Actually, I felt better than wonderful, but my mind couldn't think of a better adjective at that time. I grinned against his the kiss and snaked my arms around his neck, feeling him do the same to my waist. It felt weird, though, kissing in front of a restaurant, but it felt so good that I didn't want to stop. And that was feeling I was willing to get used to. Little did I know, it was a feeling that wasn't going to last much longer.

R&R if you wanna know what happens!