Author's Note: Soooo I may have lied a little bit. This chapter is also a little short. But it covers a lot. It was one of my favorite chapters to write so far, so I hope you like it! This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reviewed on the LAST chapter, you motivated me to sit down and write out another chapter for you guys. Also, I would like to put out there that of the four reviews on the past chapter, three were from people who have never reviewed this story before! Which is amazing! Thanks for taking time to do that! Every single one of you guys who reviews, whether for the first time or the fifth, are so freaking awesome! :D Anyway, enjoy chapter nine!

"Thanks for giving me a ride home." I sat back in my seat and sighed with relief before turning to smile at my rescuer.

Miss Montez smiled back. "I'm glad I came by." She paused then said, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but why were you out alone so late?"

I sighed. "I just... needed to get out of the house for awhile I guess."

"I see." Miss Montez said quietly.

I stared down at my hands in my lap, feeling awkward.

Miss Montez said, "You know Ella, my mother and I weren't very close growing up."

I started. "What?"

Miss Montez pulled over to one side of the road and switched off the engine. "I said, my mother and I weren't very close growing up."

"Oh." I wasn't sure how to respond. "I'm sorry."

"I always felt like she had an agenda where I was concerned, like I could never do enough to truly make her happy. We moved around a lot all through my childhood, and even into my teen years. I was constantly uprooted and transplanted, just so she could keep her job. She was so busy, all the time. It almost seemed like she was too busy even for me." Miss Montez sighed. "I guess eventually I grew to resent her."

"What happened?" I said, not knowing what else to say.

Miss Montez turned to look at me. She studied me sadly for a moment then said, "She died Ella. She died when I was just twenty years old."

I gasped. "I'm so sorry!"

"It was alright. I got to see her one last time. We talked all day, me sitting beside her hospital bed holding her hand. We talked about everything, all the things we'd never had time to say to eachother. That night when I went home she squeezed my hand, told me she loved me and that I was the best daughter she could have asked for. That was the last time I ever saw her."

I didn't say a word. I couldn't. My eyes were filled with unshed tears and my throat felt raw. Miss Montez continued, not seeing my tears. "Ever since that day at a million different times throughout my life I've wished I had my mother to talk to. To confide in. To pour my heart out to." She looked at me and said gently, "Ella, I don't know what it is, but I can tell something's wrong. Don't shut out the people who love you most like I did. Let people in, let them help you."

I let the tears fall. "My mother died when I was just one and a half."

Miss Montez's face was filled with sympathy. "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry." She pulled me into a hug as I cried, harder than I had in a long time.

"I never knew her, I never even knew what she was like!" My voice broke, but for once I didn't care. "People don't realize, they don't understand. I'll never come home and see her standing at the door waiting for me. I'll never get to hug her or bake cookies with her or laugh with her. She's just... gone. And I never even got to know for sure if...if..." I stumbled over my words, my breathing ragged and my voice hoarse.

Miss Montez said gently, "What sweetie?"

"If she loved me." I said simply.

"Ella, she did love you." Miss Montez nodded, her voice sure.

"How do you know?" I said, wiping my eyes.

"Because you were a part of her. You were her own flesh and blood. You were every single one of her hopes and dreams in human form. You were her child." Miss Montez smiled at me. "And you were her everything."

My sobs had quieted now, I sat back in my seat, tears still slipping down my cheeks, but slowly now. "But she's gone. And if she can love me that much and then leave..." I sighed, thinking of Nate, "anyone can."

"Oh Ella." Miss Montez sighed. "I know how it is to feel alone. But your mother did not choose to leave you. Now, I can't pretend that people won't ever let you down. There will be people in your life who do choose to leave you. And it will hurt. It will hurt a lot. But if you spend your life pushing away everyone who could get close enough to hurt you, you'll never know what it's like to really be loved by someone who could leave but chooses not to because you mean more to them than you can ever truly understand."

I stared at her, thinking of the letter she had written to my dad all those years ago. "Didn't you ever leave someone you loved Miss Montez?"

She looked down suddenly. "Yes," she said quietly, "I had to once. But it was for their own good."

I sighed, letting it go. "Miss Montez-"

She stopped me. "Ella, I'd love it if you'd called me Gabriella. If you'd like to."

I smiled at her. "Thanks Gabriella." I paused for a moment. "I really messed up with Nate."

She raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

"We kissed." I said slowly, surprised the words came more easily this time. "And later he told me he loved me. But... I don't know what to think."

"Oh, I see. Is that the reason he dropped out of the play?"

My heart sank. "Did he already call you about that? Yes, that's the reason." I sighed again. "I don't know what to do. I feel like I can never be the same around him. Ever since we kissed it's like... I feel weird about it all."

She nodded. "Do you like him?"

"I don't know." I said honestly. "I thought I didn't but when I saw him with another girl, something just... snapped."

"Can I ask you something?" Gabriella said. I nodded. "What's your favorite thing about Nate?"

I smiled. "His voice. Every time I hear it, it's like... I'm not alone anymore, you know? I'm safe." I paused, then continued. "On second thought, maybe it's his eyes. When he looks at me and smiles, I feel like he can see straight through me. But I don't mind."

"What color are his eyes?"

"Brown."

"What's his favorite color?"

"Green."

"Does he have a favorite color on you?"

"Blue. He says it goes with my eyes."

"What's the nicest thing he's ever said to you ?"

I smiled again. "I think it was one time when we were at my birthday party. I was turning thirteen ad he took me aside and gave me an envelope and told me to open it. There was just a piece of paper inside, and I was kind of disappointed. But then I realized it was a certificate for a star named after me. He said he got it because it reminded him of me. He said no matter where I went I was always shining and beautiful." I paused, surprised at how much the memory meant to me. "It was the best present I've ever gotten."

"Why was it the best?" Gabriella said.

"Because, it was from him." I said, then gasped. "I can't believe I just said that."

Gabriella started the car back up. "Ella, I can't tell you how you feel. Only you really know that. But I've heard the way you talk about him, and that's not something to be taken lightly. And really, the truth is, that if this guy really cares for you as much as he apparently does, I think it's something special. But whatever you decide to do about it, just remember, always follow your heart."

"I will." I smiled at her, somehow feeling calmer and happier than I had since Nate and I had kissed. "Thanks."

She smiled at me. "You're welcome. And I'm always here if you need to talk."

"Thanks again." I looked around. "Turn here, this is my street."

We pulled up to my house. I was unbuckling my seatbelt when suddenly, my front door swung open, and Nate stormed down the walkway. He opened my car door and grabbed my hand, pulling me from my seat. "Where were you?"

"I was out." I said, a little surprised at his tone.

"Out?" Nate let go of my hand and rolled his eyes. "I've been worried sick!"

I smiled suddenly, a little amused. "You were?"

"Yes! Of course I was!" Nate noticed me laughing and scowled. "What's so freaking funny?"

"You!" I said, still laughing.

"I've been out searching for you for the past hour and all you can do is laugh?"

I stopped and smiled. "I'm sorry Nate."

He sighed. "Yeah I can tell you're weeping on the inside."

I heard Miss Montez get out of the car. Nate looked over my shoulder and saw her. "What's she doing here?"

I laughed again. "She picked me up."

"Oh..." Nate looked confused, and, I realized, completely adorable.

"Nate," I said slowly, "I want to give you something, but I'm not sure if it will, or even can, mean anything okay?"

He looked more confused. "What? Give me something? For what?"

"For being sweet. And for being... you." I put my hand up to his cheek, leaned forward, and kissed him.

Zing! I let myself enjoy it, let myself forget that there was anything outside of that moment, that kiss. For one moment I let myself believe that everything would be alright, that everything would work out.

I pulled away, looked straight into his eyes and whispered, "That one's all for you."

He stared at me, confusion in his eyes, a happy smile on his lips. "Thanks, Ella. I-I won't forget that. Ever."

Just then I heard the front door open and shut as my dad walked down the walkway to the sidewalk. "Ella?" I pulled away from Nate quickly, but it didn't matter. He had stopped cold and was staring at Miss Montez.

"Gabriella?"

AN: Lot's of emotional stuff in this chapter. I thought it was about time I partially explained why Ella was so closed to the idea of Nate loving her, besides the whole "they're best friends" thing. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please review! New chapter should be coming soon. Anyway, keep reading! Thanks!