Chapter 2:

The Montez Girls likes to Stick Things Out

For upcoming chapters: I own NO SONGS!

One week later…

"I can't believe this," Selena said, hauling her suitcases out of the house. Henry was quick to grab those. "Henry, stop being so nice. We can carry our own stuff into the car."

"Actually," Reva said, coming out of the house with two suitcases, four carry-on-bags and her dog Loco's dog carrier. "I do need someone to be nice. I have way more stuff than this."

"Rev, mom is sending the rest of our stuff in a few weeks. You don't need all of that stuff."

Reva rolled her eyes and handed her stuff to Henry. "I object, sister," she said and Gabriella rolled her eyes. "I do need all of this stuff, as you call it."

Selena huffed as she finished throwing her five bags into the trunk. "How many bags do you have anyway, sis?"

Reva looked thoughtful for a moment before answering, "Maybe ten…eleven…sixteen even."

Gabriella sighed. "All those bags won't even fit in there," she said, stating the obvious. "That's why mom will be flying our stuff over to us when we run out of stuff."

"There you go again with the stuff," Reva said. "These." She gestured to her hands still full of stuff. "are expensive name brand clothes that are much too valuable to be flown on a plane by themselves and be called…stuff." She pulled a face.

"You are a drama queen," Selena said.

"Girls, I'm going to miss you so much," Rayline gushed, rushing out of the house. "Remember, after six months, I'll let you all come home, okay?"

"Okay, mom."

Rayline wiped her eyes. "You are all so grown up. I wish your father could be here with us."

"Mom…" Gabriella stepped forward and enveloped her mother in a hug. Alejandro Montez had died in 9/11. He was a firefighter and was searching for survivors in the World Trade Center, but died when it collapsed. Gabriella was only seven then and Selena was six and Reva was four. After that they all packed their stuff and moved to California to start their careers properly.

Selena and Reva stepped into the hug as well. When they pulled away, Rayline was crying. "I don't know when you three got so old," she gushed, looking over all of them. "It's incredible."

Gabriella smiled and looked passed Rayline to see Rosie coming. She was just hanging up her phone. She looked a little worried.

"Rosie, you okay?" Reva asked. "You look worried."

"Oh, it's nothing…just an important call from my sister."

"Miss Reva, I do say this with all respect, but you…have…way…too many…bags!" Henry said as he tried with all his might to push the bags into the trunk. Everyone laughed and Reva went over to bring out some of the stuff. "I guess I'll take, you know, most of them out."

Henry wiped his brow with his white handkerchief. "Yes, that would be the best."

"I'll take them for you, honey," Rayline said. "Now, before you all go, I have a few words to say." She turned to Rosie and grinned. "You are wonderful with my babies. You've been tutoring them since Gabriella was ten and I appreciate that you're willing enough to take care of them for a while."

Rosie shook her head and smiled. "I love these girls, Rayline. I would be stupid not to."

Rayline nodded and turned to Gabriella. "Gabriella, I want you to look after your sisters during school hours, you hear me? Especially Reva since she'll be a freshman instead of a junior."

Gabriella nodded. "I will, mami."

"Great. And Sel, you watch out for Reva, as well. You're almost seventeen, too. And I'll try and make it for your birthday, okay? If I don't, I'll send out presents and see you on Skype, okay?"

Selena nodded and grinned. "Yes, mom. Thanks."

Rayline turned to Reva and sighed. "I am so reluctant to send you more than a thousand miles away from me, Rev, but you are grown-up now, I supposed."

"I am, mami," Reva said eagerly, nodding her head.

"Okay, I am trusting you to be true to your word."

"I will, mami."

Rayline smiled sadly. "Well, I guess I have to give you guys up now, huh?" She sighed. "If you guys ever want to leave, call me and I'll get right on it to send you on tour with me, okay?"

"We'll be fine, Mami, really," Gabriella said.

Rayline sniffled. "Te amo, chicas," she said and engulfed all three in them in another hug. The Montez Trio hugged their mother back for a moment or so before they all pulled away. "I'll be in New Mexico in about four months or so. So, I'll see you guys then."

"We'll buy tickets closet to the stage," Gabriella promised. "Love you, mom."

"Yeah, we love you," Reva and Selena said together then gave each other looks of amusement. Rayline grinned. "Okay, I won't hold you back anymore. Bye, girls. Have fun. And call me every single day."

"You got it, mom," Selena said, climbing into the car. Reva agreed and slipped in as well. Gabriella gave her mother one last hug. "Here, I have to give you something, bebe." Rayline told her softly and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a gold locket shaped as a heart. She popped it open and Gabriella gasped. In it was a picture of her dad, her, her mom, Selena and Reva when they were younger and a little saying that read: DREAM AND REACH. Gabriella took it and cradled it carefully in her hands. She didn't know she was crying until she saw the wet blotches of her tears on the gold and glass. She looked up at Rayline before throwing her arms around her and pulling her in a tight embrace. "Thank you, mami. I love it."

"I found it while rummaging through some old stuff. I guess I never saw that when I put your dad's stuff in that capsule."

Gabriella pulled back from the hug and slipped the locket in her pocket. She looked back up at her mom and grinned. "I love you, mom. Always."

Then she turned and entered the awaiting limo. Rayline sighed and waved as the limo pulled off. "Love you, too, my babies."

"What did mom give you?" Reva asked.

"A locket of a picture of the whole family. Including dad."

"Can I see?"

Gabriella pulled out the locket and handed it to them. Reva and Selena peered down at it, smiling softly. "He looks more like you, Ella," Selena said, tracing over heir dad's photo with her finger. "And a bit like Reva. You have his nose."

"Well, Gabriella has his hair and his eyes."

"I came from mom," Selena said. "I am a younger version of her."

"Well, let me see," Rosie said, looking at the picture. "Hm, he does look like you, Gabi. And a lot like Reva, too. Rev, you have his dimples and nose. Gabriella, you have his hair, eyes, face structure, mouth, and birthmark under your chin. Sel, well, I think you have his hair, too. Pure black."

"Dad is a lot like all of us," Gabriella said.

"You know, I knew your dad quite well in high school and college," Henry spoke and they all looked at him. "He was quite a friend. Friendly and always thinking of others. That's how I got my job."

"You knew dad?" Reva questioned, stunned.

"Yeah…we were firefighters together, but I quit when I heard that he…" Henry didn't finish.

Gabriella sighed and leaned back in her seat. She looked in the back window of the limo and groaned. "The stupid paps are following us."

"They'll know we're in New Mexico?" Selena asked.

Gabriella shook her head.. "We're taking a private jet. All they know is that we're going somewhere."

The rest of the ride consisted of snacks being passed along and talking. About twenty minutes later, they were at LAX airport.

The paparazzi bombarded them with questions. "Where are you going?" "Reva, look here, precious!" "Gabriella, give me that smile!" "Selena, how are you feeling about your break-up with Cody?" "Girls, this way!" "Where are you going?" "Is it true you're going to move back to New York?" "Who's your friend?" "Hi, girls."

"Hey," they said, still pushing through.

The trio walked quickly. Gabriella grabbed onto Reva and Selena, careful not to loose them. It happened before…

"Ow," Rea whined, covering her eyes with her hand.

"Oh my God, I'm blind."

"Keep your head down," Gabriella ordered. "Excuse us," she said politely.

"Gabriella, where'd you get that necklace from?" a pap asked, flashing the camera at the necklace. Gabriella face doubled over in anger. She flashed him the middle finger before hurrying along into the airport. Usually, she was nice about the paps, but when they asked her about the necklace when they knew damn sure who it's from…she'd loose her temper.

"I love you air port," Reva breathed. She turned to the paps and stuck her tongue out at them because they weren't allowed to enter the air port. "Rev," Gabriella said fiercely and pulled her along. "Stop being childish."

"If you get to flip them off, I get to stick my tongue out at them."

"You flipped them off?" Selena wondered.

"I hate when they ask about the necklace. They already know," Gabriella seethed.

"Okay, girls, you ready to fly off to New Mexico?" Rosie asked. They all nodded and Rosie smiled. "Good, because I have something to tell you when we get there."

They were escorted to the back of the airport to get into the jet. When Reva saw it, she exploded. "This is awesome! I never rode in a private jet before!"

"I did when I was eleven," Gabriella bragged, flipping her hair over her shoulder and grinning.

"Lucky," Selena said and climbed into the jet. It was a spacious twenty passenger jet with fridges full of expensive champagne. Lights danced all across the wall and TV's were set out, too. The four girls plopped down into the seats.

"This is ah-mazing," Selena sung, taking out two bottles of champagne. Both Gabriella and Rosie snagged one. "You aren't old enough for this," Gabriella said, stuffing the bottle into the fridge.

Rosie nodded and placed the bottle next to her. "Yup, but I am."

"Oh, no fair," Selena mumbled, crossing her arms. "I want some. Just a sip? Please?"

"No, I can go to jail for giving you alcohol," Rosie said, crossing her legs. "How about we watch Jersey Shore."

"Yes!" Reva said, peering at the flat screen.

"Oh, yippee, we're watching the Smurfs: Orange Edition," Gabriella muttered, crossing her legs and leaning back in the seat.

Reva threw a plush pillow at her. "Shut it, I am trying to watch The Situation and his hot situation right in his torso." Reva fluttered her eyes at his abs. "Dreamy…so dreamy."

"Stupid… so stupid." Gabriella took out her iPod touch and scrolled through the songs. She landed on Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart by Alicia Keys and snuggled into her chair. Her eyes closed as the song drifted around her head.

"Gabriella…Gabriella…wake up."

Gabriella eyes opened groggily as she sat up straight. Reva and Selena weren't in their seats and Rosie was shaking her. "Huh?"

"Wanna go to the bed in the back? That's where Rev and Sel are."

"Mhmm." Gabriella covered her mouth when she yawned. "What time is it?"

"Almost nine. You slept for three hours. We'll be there in at least one hour."

Gabriella nodded and stretched. She didn't feel stiff or sore. Jeez, these seats are comfortable.

Gabriella stood and walked slowly to the back. Reva and Selena were snuggled in a big bed. Gabriella sighed and put herself at the end of it. Then she drifted off to sleep again.

"Wakey wakey, we wish we had eggs and bakey!"

Gabriella opened her eyes. Reva and Selena were standing over her. "What the hell are you guys saying?"

"You know how people say, 'wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey'? Well, we have no eggs and bakey, so we say 'we wish we had eggs and bakey'," Selena explained, pulling Gabriella up. "Now, wakey, wakey. We'll be there soon. We're about to land."

"Oh, and we saw you on the internet," Reva said, scrolling down on her lap top. "You stuck the middle finger up and I stuck my tongue out. The title reads: Montez Girls Likes to Stick Things Out. Which I don't get when you stuck the middle finger up, not out."

Gabriella ran her hands down her face. "Mom's gonna be pissed. She always says to be nice to the paps."

"C'mon, girls, get ready," Rosie said. "Rev, Sel, clean up this bed."

"Do we have to?" they whined. Rosie gave them looks then they went right on it. Gabriella slipped her flats back on before looking out the window. They weren't that high up. You could see the pretty lights of the buildings and other places. It was completely dark so that made it even better.

"You guys will need jackets. It's thirty-three degrees out," Rosie said, rummaging through her carry-on. She pulled out Reva's hoodie, Selena's jacket and Gabriella's hoodie.

"Why do I get a jacket?"

"Because you gave it to me. Plus, your mom says you've been down in the weather a bit and you need to bundle up. Albuquerque is cold at night."

"Why? It's the desert."

"It's not that warm out."

"Please, everyone sit, we're about to land. Make sure your seat belts are fastened, please," the pilot directed. The four fell into seats and strapped their seat belts.

"I'm glad my ears didn't pop," Reva announced, squirming in her seat. "Yay, we're almost there! How long is the ride to your house, Rosie?"

"About ten minutes."

Gabriella popped a mint into her mouth and stuffed her iPod back into her purse. They landed and it was finally time to get off. "What's the time difference?" Selena asked, shrugging her jacket on and hoping out the jet.

"One hour faster," Gabriella answered. "It would usually be eight thirty-nine in Los Angeles."

"Now it is nine thirty-nine. Set your clocks, girls," Rosie said.

Henry pulled the bags out of the jet with the girls' help.

"See, aren't you glad you didn't bring a lot of stuff, Reva?" Selena questioned, sitting on her suitcase.

Reva nodded and put her headphones around her neck and her iPod in her hoodie pocket. An Escalade pulled up in front of them. A man stepped out of it and handed the keys to Henry. "Thank you, Philip. Have a safe trip back."

"Thanks, Henry. Good night, girls."

"Good night," The girls said together. The man named Phillip climbed onto the jet and they all started pilling the suitcases into the trunk of the Escalade. When they were done, they all collapsed into the seats and Henry drove off. "It feels weird without a limo," Reva announced.

"Well, girls, you are officially normal," Rosie said. "So you have a normal car just like any other person here."

"What school are we going to?" Gabriella asked.

"East High. Home of the Wildcats. My niece, Maxine, goes there. She's seventeen, too, Gabriella. Maybe you and she can talk."

"Maybe," Gabriella said and looked out the window. No one right now knew that the Montez Trio was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Of course they would find out tomorrow when they got to the school for orientation, but that's tomorrow.

"How will people at school react?"

"Some will be mean and angry that you're there, others will be kind and happy," Rosie said.

"Why would they be mean?" Reva asked.

"Not everyone likes us, Rev," Gabriella said. "People have opinions. And just ignore the ignorant people."

"Okay, that'll be easy."

The rest of the ride was quiet. Mostly because everyone was tired and just wanted to get settled into the house.

"Here we are," Rosie announced. Henry pulled up into the small driveway and parked the car. The girls tiredly trudged out of the car and helped with the bags. The cold air pushed on them. They weren't accustomed to the coldness. It's usually hot at night in LA.

"Okay, Gabriella, your room is at the end of the hall, the right side. Selena, your room is right across from Gabriella's and Rev, your room is right next to Gabriella's, okay?"

"This place is really cool, Rosie," Selena commented, looking around the room. Different fabrics of cloth stained with different colors were hanging from the ceiling, diming the lights. The walls were plastered with many decorations. The most common were butterflies and sketches. Gabriella observed a picture of a lotus flower in someone's cupped hands. It looked magical, glowing a pretty purple and white color. "Who made this?"

"Me," Rosie said. "I actually made all of them."

"Seriously?" Selena said. "Damn, these pictures are off the hook."

"They are great," Gabriella said. "Really great."

"Your house is so awesome," Reva said, picking up a sculpture shaped weird, but cool. It was like a squiggly line with holes seeping through it. Reva put it down. "Well, I'm going to go to bed. I think my hands hurt from carrying so much stuff. Thanks, Rosie."

"Your welcome, sweetie."

"Yeah, thanks," Gabriella and Selena said together before hauling their suitcases up the steps. Rosie sighed and plopped onto the couch. She rubbed her temple and yawned. "Henry, your room will be down here," she said. "Just around the corner."

"Thank you, m'lady," he said before walking to his room.

Rosie picked up her phone when it started to ring. She pressed it to her ear. "Talk to me."

"Rose! How's my favorite sister?"

"Julie…I'm your only sister."

"Oh, well, anyway, I was calling to see if the big celebs are there yet."

"Well, it's either that or some kids dressed up as them."

"Ooh, that's so exciting! Maxine and Sammy are so excited to see them. How are their reactions?"

"I didn't tell them yet," Rosie admitted. "First, I'm tired, and second, so are they. I'll tell them after the orientation."

"Okay, well, I'll see you in a few days, sis. Love you."

"Love you, too. Say hi to the kids for me and that I love them." Rosie closed her phone before getting up and walking to her room.

Review please!