Author's Note: I know it's been awhile since I posted last, but life has been C-R-A-Z-Y lately. Also, I tried to post this story last night TWICE, but each time there were technical difficulties which is why you may or may not have received three emails telling you this new chapter is up. But here it is (for real this time)! Chapter 5! I admit this chapter is a bit shorter than I would have liked, but for some reason, it took a long time to write. The song in this chapter is Hero originally sung by Drew Ryan Scott, and I did not write it obviously. SPOILER ALERT FOR ANYONE READING MY SONNY WITH A CHANCE STORY: I am planning on using Hero in that story too at one point, so sorry for the double use of the song, but I just really thought it fit the moment in this story too! Anyway, thank you SO much to all the people who reviewed: HAWTSAUCE, Ashy143, GHJaSam4Ever, DeanFan92, sweethappylove07, Bluebell140, and Clembo29. You guys are awesome! Check out the bottom AN for a VERY important poll. Enjoy chapter five!

"I finished it." I smiled as I saw my dad and Gabriella exchange a look. "The song I mean. It's all done, I even wrote the music part of it last night."

"Well that was quick!" My dad leaned over to give me a hug. "What changed your mind?"

I shrugged. "Nothing changed it. I was just... inspired."

"I can't wait to hear it!" Gabriella smiled at me. "I'm sure it'll be my favorite wedding present."

I laughed. "Please don't say that till you hear it! You might hate it."

"Never. And even if I did... I'd lie!" Gabriella laughed as I jokingly cringed.

"Don't listen to this mischievous fiancee of mine!" My dad grabbed Gabriella from behind and began to tickle her. "She's just been full of it lately!"

Gabriella gasped, tears streaming down her face as her body shook with laughter. "Troy! Troy, stop! Please! I...can't...stop...laughing..!"

"Well, that's the point." My dad grinned, but finally stopped tickling her and turned her to face him. His eyes moved over her face, and his hands toyed with her long dark hair. "You're beautiful when you laugh Gabriella."

She smiled up at him sweetly. "Are you making a move on me Troy Bolton?"

"Definitely." He slid his arms around her waist and brought his lips to hers.

I backed up slowly, totally forgotten by them, and not really minding. I watched as Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. It's like they're still in highschool. Like even after all these years, even though they were apart, their love never even wavered. I wonder if that's what true love is supposed to look like? I turned to head into my bedroom, but then heard Gabriella calling me back.

"Ella! Sorry about that, we need to stop getting so...distracted. Troy, stop it, I'm sure we're creeping our daughter out."

I turned around, feeling suddenly as if I was about to cry. "Gabriella..."

"What, sweetie?" She gave me a worried look. "Is everything okay?"

My dad gently released Gabriella and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong Ella?"

"I-I, it's just..." I gulped hard, but I could still feel the stinging tears filling my eyes. "You said 'our daughter.'"

"Oh, Ella..." Gabriella put a hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't even realize it! If that makes you uncomfortable-"

"No! No..." I laughed, blinking back my tears. "I'm not mad. It's just... you've never called me that before. Do you really think of me like that? Like your daughter?"

Gabriella smiled, then walked over and pulled me into a hug. "Ella, ever since I first met you, you've proved to me over and over what a special person you are. You're talented, and funny, and sweet, and brave. In these two years your dad and I have been dating, I've grown to think of you exactly as if you were my own child. Alex and you are so close now, that's it like we're one big family already. But if you're not ready for me to be your mom... that's okay. I know I'll never really be able to fill your mom's place in your heart. And I'm never going to try, because that place should be left for her. But Ella," she looked me straight in the eye and smiled, "you are my daughter in my heart. And I'll always try to be there for you."

I blinked hard, then let the tears fall. "Thank you..." I hugged her. "I wish I knew what to say..."

Gabriella hugged me back, then smiled, tears shimmering in her own eyes. "It's alright. I understand."

I nodded and pulled away. "Well, I'll get back to what I was doing, and let you get back to what you were doing." I wiggled my eyebrows at them and my dad laughed.

"You're taking all this PDA way too well I think. Aren't you a little creeped out that your old dad and this hottie over here keep making out?"

I cringed. "Okay, when you put it like that, YES, it's a little weird, but I get it. You guys are engaged. It's natural... unfortunately."

Gabriella laughed. "Someday Ella, you'll be wrapped up in some handsome man's arms and we'll be able to get you back!"

"Yeah, maybe a handsome man named... Warren, perhaps?" My dad grinned at me, and I blushed in spite of myself.

"Dad! That is not what's going on! We're just friends." I cringed a little bit as I said the words, realizing how much that sounded like denial. But it's true isn't it? We're just friends. Anyway, with the whole Nate and I situation right now, I wouldn't want to get involved with anybody else. It's just too... complicated. I remembered Nate and I's kiss from the night before and smiled self-consciously.

My dad raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, right, just friends."

"What? Oh! Warren. Yeah, we are." I sighed. See? Too complicated.

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. "Gabriella are you expecting something?" My dad asked. '

"No... not that I kind remember." Gabriella glanced at me. "Ella, can you go get that, while your dad and I check the Wedding List? It might be something I ordered that I forgot was coming today. If it is a delivery man, just tell him I'll be right there."

"Okay." I walked to the door as she and my dad headed to the kitchen. "Can I help yo- oh!" I jumped back. A large bouquet of roses and lilies in a crystal vase sat on the porch. I picked them up and noticed a card, with my name written on the front. As I opened it, I could help but wonder if this was Nate's way of saying that he wanted us to officially get back together again. But the writing didn't look like his. I opened the envelope to find a smiley face card. I opened it and read:

Go up to your room and go out on your balcony for a (hopefully welcome) surprise.

Love,

Warren

P.S. Hope you liked the flowers!

A surprise? Quickly, I walked upstairs to my room, set the flowers down, and walked out onto the balcony. "Hello? Warren?"

"Now!" Suddenly I saw Warren walk into view, carrying his guitar, followed by Derek, carrying a keyboard. Derek sat down in the grass as Warren smiled up at me. "Hey Ella! Well, I have to tell you, ever since I met you... well, you've inspired me. And I used some of that inspiration to write a song. I wrote it with you in mind. I hope you like it and I really, really, really hope this doesn't creep you out!" I laughed as he started to play and sing.

I'm no superman,

I can't take your hand,

And fly you anywhere you want to go,

I can't read your mind,

Like a billboard sign,

Or tell you everything,
You want to hear but,

I'll be your hero.

I, I can be everything you need,

If you're the one for me,
Like gravity,

I'll be unstoppable,

I, yeah, I believe in destiny,
I may be an ordinary guy with heart and soul,

But if you're the one for me,

I'll be your hero.

Searching high and low,

Trying every road,

If I see your face,
I'll barely know, yeah,

I put my trust in fate,

If you will come in my way,
And if it's bright,
It's undeniable,

I'll be your hero.

I gasped as he kept singing, a smile on his face.

So incredible,

Some kind of miracle,

And when it's meant to be,
I'll be come a hero,

So I'll wait, wait,

Wait, wait for you,

I smiled even as I felt my stomach knot. What am I going to say to him? 'You see Warren, Nate and I kissed last night, but then we agreed to be just friends, but then we kissed again, so right now I'm really not sure where our relationship is going, which makes me very, very, very nervous about you standing outside of my window and singing me a beautiful wonderful song you say I inspired. Even if its one of the most romantic things anyone's ever done for me.' Yeah, I'm sure that will go over well.

Warren strummed the last few notes on his guitar and grinned up at me. "Well?"

"Wow." I said, clapping before I knew what I was doing. "That was... fantastic. Beautiful."

"Great." He looked relieved, then set down his guitar, walked over to the tree nearest my balcony and climbed it easily, finally arriving in front of me. "I was a little worried you'd think I was some kind of stalker."

"Oh, no!" I said quickly. "The song was... gorgeous."

He studied my face. "But?"

"No buts. It was great." I bit my lip, flustered. "I'm sorry, I'm not reacting to this right, am I? Um, it was wonderful. I can't believe you went to that much trouble for me! And the flowers are beautiful! And did I mention the song was great? I think I did, but, well, it was! And you're great at playing the guitar and you're a really good... tree climber. Feel free to shut me up at anytime, because I get the feeling I'm babbling." I laughed awkwardly and bent my head, my cheeks flushing.

He leaned back against the balcony railing. "Ella, do you want to go for a walk?"

"What?" I raised my head.

"A walk. You know, just around town. I haven't done that yet, and I leave pretty soon, right after Christmas. I've been meaning to do that, and I'd love for you to be my tour guide."

"Sure." I smiled, relieved he had had the grace to change the subject. "But, really, thanks for the song. It was unforgettable." I leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek, then turned to go.

"Ella?" I felt his hand on my arm and turned. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine.

I felt him pull back almost as quickly. I opened my eyes to see his face, nervous and scared, inches from my own. "I'm sorry. That was too fast wasn't it? I've been spending too much time in L.A. I just thought... well, honestly I don't think I was thinking. I've been known to do that before. Not think, I mean. You're really too pretty for your own good you know. Or maybe it's for my own good. But anyway... can we just forget the past minute ever happened? Or not. I mean, whatever. If you'd rather hold this against me for the rest of my life that's okay too. But I'd rather you didn't." He stopped as I laughed, then clapped my hand over my mouth. He stared at me for a second, then he started to laugh too. "Feel free to shut me up at any time, cause I feel like I'm babbling!"

I smiled. "Warren, let's go for a walk."

"So, what's it like? Being a celebrity I mean. And don't give me the tabloid version, I want to know what you really think about it." I laughed and took a sip of my caramel mocha, then leaned back in my chair.

Warren sighed then smiled. "Uhhh, well, honestly, it's pretty much just like being a normal person. More people following you with cameras. More people laughing if you screw up or trip over your own feet. But basically, it's the same."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right. Come on, everyone loves you! You get to meet important people, and travel to awesome places, and get the the most expensive stuff out there, and you get to record in those incredibly awesome studios! That is not what regular people's lives are like!"

Warren laughed. "Yeah, that's true. But what I meant is that deep down underneath, celebrities are just people. And when you're one of them, you start to realize it more and more. Cause even in the big world of fame, you'll meet other celebrities you get along with and eventually become friends with, and then there's others that you won't, and it's not because their this kind of celebrity or that kind of celebrity, it's just really all about personality. Just like with normal people. And we all have regular emotions, and regular embarrassing moments, and regular bad days. And then we use up our fifteen minutes of fame, and come full circle, and we're right back where we started. Normal people, living on memories of that one awesome thing we did that one time until the next awesome thing comes around."

"Well," I smiled, "you make fame sound very depressing. And to think that all this time I thought it was glamorous."

"Alright you got me. Some parts of fame are glamorous. But the glamorous stuff never really feels like you. It's just something you do. It's part of your job. Family, and friends who don't you sell you out, and people you love in general, that's what really counts."

"Right. Just like in real life." I sipped my drink again and glanced around the coffee shop we were in. "Isn't it kind of amazing to think about? I mean, each one of these people here has people who think the world of them somewhere. Someone who runs to hug them when they see them or kisses them goodbye in the morning. It's like that old saying, 'Love makes the world go round.'" I looked back at Warren to find him staring at me intently. "What?"

"Nothing. It's just... you remind me of someone I used to know." He looked down at the table suddenly.

"Oh... I hope that's a compliment." I smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

His eyes met mine, completely serious. "It is. She was amazing."

She was? I nodded. "Thanks."

Just then someone sitting in the corner of the cafe caught my eye. I turned, then froze. "What?" Warren looked confused. "What is it?"

The girl I was looking at noticed me and a smile lit her face. "Ella!"

Warren whipped around at the sound of her voice, and I saw his jaw drop. "Who is that?" He sounded as shocked as I felt.

I shook my head, totally stunned. "It's Lizzie.." And she's coming over here.

AN: Okay, yes, I know you're probably confused, but the character of Lizzie will be explained more in the coming chapters. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, short as it was, and I'm so excited about the coming chapters! I finally know exactly where this story is going and I think it's going to work out well! Oh, and you also may be confused as to who I'M shipping in this story, Nate and Ella or Warren and Ella. Well to be 100% honest... I don't know! So I need your help!

Important Poll!:

Would you enjoy or be okay with me writing TWO endings to this story? One in which Nate and Ella get together, and one in which Warren and Ella get together?

A.) No. I'm a Natella shipper, and I want only them to get together.

B.) Yes, I'd like that!

Notice there's NOT a choice for only Warren to get the girl. That's because I wrote Warren into this story mostly because I wanted another rival character, but felt like if he was a jerk it would just be a replay of the Stephen drama that happened in Happily Ever After. I wouldn't feel like I was being one hundred percent true to the vision I have for this story if I ended up pairing Ella and Warren together. But, since I like Warren too (honestly, I based him off of MY "perfect guy" ideal) I'd be willing to write an ending where he gets the girl as well. Please vote so I know what the general opinion is! It would really help me out! Thanks! And thanks for reading!