Author's Note: To everyone who reviewed, favorited, or took any notice of my story whatsoever, thanks so much! You guys are awesome. Sorry it's been a few days since I updated, I've been busy, and had to rewrite most of this chapter. I have so many ideas for this story, so please continue to review! :)

"Congratulations Ella!" I smiled weakly at Miss Montez who chuckled. "I know that was scary, but you did an amazing job and I know you're going to make an excellent Cinderella!"

"I couldn't believe how nervous I was." I shook my head. "Are you sure I'll be able to do a whole performance?"

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have cast you. And like you said, it's easier when you're working with your best friend." Nate, who was standing next to me, grinned.

I rolled my eyes a little. "I'll have to get used to Nate being my Prince Charming. It'll be kind of weird." I laughed and then regretted it as I saw Nate's grin begin to fade. "Uh, well I mean, because we've been friends for so long and stuff. Not because he couldn't be Prince Charming. He's very charming. I mean, not in a creepy way. Just in a normal friend way. But I mean, he's not a prince, so he really couldn't be if you think about it. Ha. Ha." I finished lamely, trying to hide the fact that I was blushing beet red. I glanced at Nate but he was looking hard in another direction. Miss Montez smiled, a little unsure.

"Uh, yeah, right. Anyway, rehearsal begins next week, so start memorizing your lines as soon as possible. Don't stress too much over it though, I won't expect you to know all your lines for weeks yet."

"Thanks, we'll do that." I breathed a sigh of relief that the attention was no longer on me.

Miss Montez hesitated for a moment. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but where did you hear that song you performed today?"

"My dad showed it to us when he heard we had to sing a duet. Why, had you heard it before?"

"Well, yes, I had. I sang it once at a party." She laughed quietly, but her eyes looked sad. "That was the first time I really sang with anybody else. I'll never forget it." She paused a moment then said, "Did your dad say where he first heard it? It's a pretty obscure song, and it's also pretty old."

"Well," I looked at Nate, who shook his head, "actually I don't think he did. Maybe he sang it during one of his highschool's musicals."

Miss Montez stared at me. "Your father sings?"

"I guess. I just found out a couple days ago actually."

Nate added, "I heard him the other day. He's pretty good!"

"I see." Miss Montez bit her lip, for a minute she looked almost scared. "Ella, your father's first name wouldn't happen to be-"

"Ella? Your dad was busy with something at home so he told me I should pick you up. Are you ready to g-" I turned to see my Aunt Taylor stop abruptly. Her eyes were fixed on Miss Montez. "Gabby? Is that you?"
I glanced back at Miss Montez. Her face was very pale, but she had a small smile on her lips.

"Hey, Taylor. It's been a long time."

Aunt Taylor walked slowly toward us, her eyes shining with what looked like tears. "Oh my gosh, this is crazy! I had no idea you were in town! Why didn't you write?"

"I wasn't sure if you'd even care. After... what happened."

I looked over at Nate who was staring first at my Aunt and then at Miss Montez. He cleared his throat. "You two know eachother?"

Aunt Taylor shook her head, as if coming out of a fog, and focused on Nate and I. "Uh, yes. We knew eachother. A long time ago. We were close friends."She shook her head again then bit her lip. "I'm sorry, I still can't believe this. It's so great to see you." Impulsively she hugged Miss Montez, who looked startled, and then grateful. When Aunt Taylor pulled away she said, "Does anybody else know you're in town? Anyone at all?"

Miss Montez studied her face as if hearing more in the question than we were. Then she ducked her head. "No, no one else knows."

"I see." For a moment Aunt Taylor's face looked sad, then she brightened. "Here, here's my phone number. Call me and we'll have lunch sometime. Catch up, reminisce. You know."

Miss Montez's smile faded. "It's alright. You don't have to pretend Tay. Believe me, I stopped pretending years ago. Things are different now." With that, she turned and walked away.

Aunt Taylor looked after her, her face full of regret. She sighed, then turned back to us. "I'm sorry Ella, Nate. Let's go home."

"Aunt Taylor, is something wrong?" I tried to keep the worry out of my voice. I had never seen my aunt look so upset.
For a moment she just looked at Nate and I. Then she smiled quietly and said, "No, nothing's wrong." I smiled in relief but then stiffened as I heard her mutter something under her breath as she turned to leave. It sounded like, "Nothing yet."

"It was just so weird. Like, if they were such close friends then, why aren't they now, and why have I never heard of "Gabby" before?" I leaned back against the pillows on my bed as I cradled my cellphone against my ear.

Nate answered, "Yeah, it was weird. I know she said nothing was wrong, but looked like she was going to throw up or something. I've never seen her so freaked out."

"Yeah." I sighed. "So... what do you think I should do?"

"You could ask your dad if he knows anything about it."

"I don't know. I kind of doubt he'd tell me. It's weird, he's been so secretive lately. All this stuff about singing in highschool and that mysterious girl who's name is obviously forever banned in our house." Suddenly I sat bolt upright. "Nate! I just thought of something!"

"What?" I could tell I'd startled him.

"What if Miss Montez is the mystery girl?"

"I guess it's possible. But it's kind of a long shot don't you think? I mean just because your Aunt Taylor knew her doesn't make her your dad's girl."

"No, no, it's not a long shot! Think about it! When Aunt Taylor talked to Miss Montez she called her 'Gabby', right? Well when Uncle Chad was about to say that one girl's name he only got as far as 'Gabri-'."
"Yeah..." Nate sounded skeptical. "So? I don't get why that's important."

"So! Gabby is short for Gabriella. And the first part of 'Gabriella' sounds like what Uncle Chad said at the dinner table."

"Okay..." Nate said slowly, "I'll give you that. But it's still a long shot."

"No, no." I said impatiently. "Wait, it will all make sense in a minute." I heard Nate chuckle at my eagerness, but I ignored it. "See, the first time I formally introduced myself to Miss Montez I used my last name. And she reacted weirdly to it. When I asked if something was wrong she said she had had an old boyfriend with that same last name!"

"Ella, I'm sure there are other men in the world with the last name Bolton."

"I'm not done yet, quit interrupting! In that same conversation, Miss Montez mentioned she had starred in two of her school musicals. And she also knew the song Start of Something New and asked where I had heard it. And when I told her it was my dad, she was about to ask what my dad's name was when Aunt Taylor interrupted." I sat back, pleased with my detective skills. "There. What do you think of all that?"

"Okay, I'll admit it sounds suspicious, but we can't jump to conclusions. Even if the mystery girl's name was Gabriella, and even if Miss Montez's name is Gabriella, it doesn't neccesarily mean it's the same Gabriella."

I huffed. "Nate, don't be so boring. It's so obvious!"

Nate laughed. "Hey, I said it sounded suspicious."

"Well it doesn't matter, because no matter who that girl is, something is definitely going on with my dad. And with my Aunt Taylor. And with Miss Montez. And I want to get to the bottom of it."

"Ella," Nate suddenly sounded tired, "it might just be none of our business."

"I'm his daughter Nate. Of course it's my business!"

Nate laughed again. "You're insane."

"Yes," I agreed, grinning, "and worse, I'm stubborn. So you've got to help me with this."

Nate groaned, but I could tell he was smiling. "Fine! But someday I'm going to refuse to be part of one of your little schemes."

"Why?" I teased. "Just so you can prove how much I desperately need you?"

"Duh. And then of course you'll have to come crawling back on your knees, crying and promising to do almost anything to get me to be your friend again."

I laughed. "In your dreams Nathaniel." I knew he hated it when I used his whole first name. To my surprise however, there was a sudden silence on the other end of the line. For a second I thought I had lost the connection, but then I heard his voice.

"Maybe it is." I felt my heart rate pick up. Oh Nate, why did you have to say that.

The silence stretched so long that I began to wonder if I had hung up on him without even realizing it. Then, "Are you still there Ella?"
"Uhh, yeah. I'm sorry, uh, I accidentally hit the mute button there for a minute, what did you say?" I instantly hated myself for lying to him, but I didn't know what else to do.

Nate's nervous laughter filled my ear. "It was nothing."

"Oh, okay." I said softly.

"So," he cleared his throat awkwardly, "how are we going to figure out the mystery?"
I laughed, trying to dispel some of the tension. "Uh, well I guess for right now we should just keep our eyes and ears open. And text eachother if we learn anything."

"Alrighty then." Nate cleared his throat again.

Nate, why did you have to make things go all weird. "Listen, I'm sorry Nate, but I got to go."

"Oh okay. Well, I'll talk to you later. Night."

"Night." I hit end and sighed. I didn't know what to do about Nate. I loved being his friend, but if I was sending him the wrong messages...

I shook my head, got up, and turned off my bedroom light. Whatever I should do could wait till morning.
As I lay in bed, my thougths turned again to our little mystery. I wondered if I would ever really know the truth. I wondered if my dad was hiding something from me. But my last conscious thought was Miss Montez as she said, "Who knows, maybe this could be the start of something new for you..."

What do you think will happen? Are Nate and Ella right for eachother? Or not so much? A couple of interesting coming attractions, pretty soon lot's of new characters will be entering our story, some old friends and some old enemies. Also, Nate just might have a rival in the future. You never know. Anyway, thanks for reading! Again, please review!