11 Year old Gabriella Montez sat on the couch playing with her dolls. Troy walked into the living room and plopped on the couch, "Hey gabs, I'm babysitting you again." she laughed, "Yay! I love having you around, you're like my big brother."

Troy laughed, pulling her in for a hug, "I love you little munchkin." she giggled, "Can we order pizza Troy? I'm really really hungry.."

Troy pretended to think, "I don't know, Munchkin..I heard there was a pizza shortage-" "TROY!" Gabriella yelled, He smirked, "I'm serious-hey!" he dodged the pillow that Gabriella threw at him.

"Liar!" She giggled, Troy wrapped his arms around her, tickling her sides wildly. "Tickly monster is here!"

Gabriella giggled out loud, "Troy! Stop it!" she laughed. He smiled, "Say That Troy Bolton Is The Best Babysitter Ever." Gabriella shook her head, "Nope." he chuckled, "Come on, say it."

She laughed, " . Troy is the best babysitter...ever.." Troy let go of her, "Why won't we just make cookies?" she giggled, "Okay."

Troy brought the cookies out of the oven, sitting the pan on the table. He smiled, "Be careful gabs, these cookies are hot." she giggled, taking the icing and putting a little bit on the cookies.

Troy began helping her, "Troy can I ask you something." Troy smiled, "Sure kiddo. what is it?" she sighed, "There's this boy in my class, and I like him a lot..how can I talk to him?" she asked.

Troy looked at her, "Uh...well, I'm not sure if I'm the right person to ask that question, Brie.." Gabriella smiled at the familiarity of the nickname. He gave it to her when she first moved to town. He was the first person she ran into - or rather, slid into.

Gabriella was roller skating and she was spinning in circles and not watching where she was going, so ..when she heard a grunt and then a slight wince, she looked up and then..bam, her new babysitter. "I just...I really like him-"

"Puppy love huh?" Troy said with a smirk, Gabriella looked at him. "Puppy love? No, I just like-" "Gabriella, no, puppy love means- it means you have a crush on the guy."

Gabriella blushed, "Shut up." he laughed, and got a little bit of icing on his thumb and his licked it off, "Okay. these cookies are good to eat." she giggled, "Wanna watch a christmas movie?" she asked smiling.

He laughed, "Sure Kiddo.. Rudolph?" she shook her head, "Jack Frost the movie." he smiled, "Okay. I'll make hot chocolate, and you get the blankets and movie."

Troy brought in the hot chocolate, and the cookies. Gabriella already put in the movie, and was snuggled in her blanket.

He smiled, and sat down beside her and they began talking and watching the movie, drinking hot cocoa and eating cookies. hours later, Gabriella had fallen asleep on Troy's shoulder.

Troy smiled, "Come buddy," he said, lifting Gabriella up and taking her to her room. She snuggled tighter against his chest as he walked her up the stairs. "Troy...?" She murmured sleepily, he smiled, "yeah, Brie?" "Will you always be my baby...sitter.." she yawned and fell back to sleep, but was determined to hear his answer.

He stiffened slightly, he hadn't told her that he was moving away to go to UCLA on a basketball scholarship; frankly, he didn't know how to tell her. She was like a little sister to him..he sighed, "I'll always be there for you, Gabriella." He whispered, setting on her mattress and tucking the blanket tight around her.

He cleaned up the mess downstairs and when Miss Montez came home- she never married, having Gabriella out of wedlock and her parents kicking her out of the house changed her life. But she'd never regret her daughter.

"Have fun, Troy?" Troy smiled, "Yeah..always, uhm...I'm really going to miss babysitting for you Miss Montez-" "Troy, what did I say about that? Call me Gina."

Troy smiled, "I just..I feel comfortable calling you.." she laughed, "I understand, she asleep?" Troy nodded, "Yeah, during Jack Frost."

Gina smiled, "awww she just loves that movie." Troy smiled, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "she's a great kid...I'm going to miss her very much." Gina smiled, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "she'll miss you too.. you're her best friend."

Troy sighed, "It's going to be hard to tell her." Gina smiled, "When do you leave?" he sighed, "Tomorrow Morning." She sighed, "When do you plan on telling her?"

"I was planning on telling her tonight...but we got caught up watching the movie." Gina sighed, "Well, you can see her before you leave-" he shook his head, "I have to catch an early flight..I'm sorry I can't tell her now."

Gina sighed, shaking her head. "You will be missed Troy, but you do have a future at UCLA right?" Troy smiled, "Yeah...my dad's not happy about it; but yes, I do." Gina laughed, "I know you'll be great."

Troy sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Well..I should go-" "Of course, good bye Troy..promise to call from the plane? For Gabriella?" Troy nodded, "Yeah, absolutely."

6 Years Later.

"Order!" Yelled Ryan, his pink, sparkling hat glimmering in the dim mood lighting of the coffee shop. He stood behind the coffee machine, mixing two caramel lattes and one strawberries and creme.

Gabriella grabbed the tray, and took it to the table of the awaiting woman with the thick rimmed glasses and over friendly smile. "Here you go," she said, "enjoy it. And Merry Christmas." She loved December.

Troy sighed, walking out of the airport and to his car. He had finally returned from LA after 6 years. He missed alberquerque so much. he put his bags in the trunk, and got up front and pulled out of the airport parking lot.

As soon as he got in the highway, he was close to him until he saw starbucks. he sighed, pulling into the starbucks parking lot and getting out.

Gabriella was cleaning tables, and picking up dishes. the door dinged open, and Gabriella turned around and saw a customer going upfront. she sighed going to the next table.

Gabriella went towards the back putting the dishes in the sink. "Gabs girl! you need to take this coffee to that guy over there." Gabriella smiled, "Of course." Gabriella grabbed the coffee from Ryan and walk towards the guy sitting at a table.

She was about to speak until she tripped over her shoe lace and the coffee spilling on his croutch. Gabriella's eyes went wide, "Oh my gosh! I am so so so sorry!" she grabbed napkins. The guy chuckled, "It's cool..it's fine-" "I..I am so so sorry.. I tripped, I am sorry."

"No worries...no harm done.." the guy said, Gabriella grabbed napkins, well..more napkins from her apron pockets and began to - albeit hesitantly - dab, but the guy caught her. "You don't have to do that.." she gulped, looking up at him.

His blue eyes..that seemed...oddly familiar. He sucked in a breath, "Gabriella? Brie?" She shook her head to clear it, "Uh..Troy?" A smiled played at both their lips.

He lifted her up and spun her, "Look at you!" He cheered, "You cannot possibly be..Gabriella Montez, clumsy little girl who rammed into me when I was fourteen?" She giggled, "I rammed into then and I rammed into you now-" "Where's my coffee?!" yelled the grouchy customer.

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Exscuse me." she spun around, "You come here everyday and wait for you're coffee, you can wait a few more minutes." she turned back around, "So how was college?" she asked.

He smiled, "It went great. how is high school?" she rolled her eyes, "Exhausting." she giggled. he laughed, "Any thoughts on college?" she smiled, "I actually got an acceptance letter from stanford and Yale.. but not sure where I want to go."

Troy let out a low whistle, about to open his mouth to speak when his iPhone rang. "Uh..'scuse me, Yello?" Gabriella smirked, he still answered the phone like that?! Oh my- she giggled lightly, Troy looked at her and then concentrated on the phone call.

"Mom, chill..I'm at starbucks-no, I'm not in an accident..would I be on the phone-mom...mom...mom-hello? Mom...hellloooo..." he sighed, stuffing the phone in his pocket and looking at her smirking at him.

"What? She hung up on-" she put her fingers to her ear in a mock phone and mocked his voice, "'Yello?'" She giggled, "I can't believe you still answer a phone like that!"

Troy chuckled, "Yeah, haven't changed that much." she giggled, "Me neither-" "Yeah right. you grew up." she laughed, "Yeah, it happens." he smiled, "It was great seeing you again." he gave her a hug, "Thanks." she smiled, "I've really missed you." she whispered.

He sighed, "I've missed you too." she smiled, "why didn't you say goodbye?" he sighed, "I'm sorry.. I wanted to tell you, but it was hard." she smiled but nodded, "I guess you were in a tuff spot."

He nodded, "Yeah, but it was great seeing you gabs, You got so beautiful." she smiled softly, "Thanks. and you've become very handsome.. maybe you can babysit me sometime.." she laughed.

Troy laughed, "Nah..I think you're to old to be babysat now." she smiled, "Yeah." Ryan came over, "Gabs. no time for flirting-" Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Ryan, I'm not flirting-" "Then get back to work girl.." Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Okay Ryan." he walked away.

Troy looked at her smirking, "Boyfriend?" she shook her head, "No. he's gay." Troy nodded, "Ahh nice to know." she laughed, and began cleaning the spilled coffee.

He cleared his throat, "So love life? boyfriend?" she sighed, "Complicated Relationship.. Me and this guy fight a lot.. and I don't know...we just constantly hurt each other.."

Troy looked at her, "How-" She shook her head, "It's a long story..and I...have to work...so uh, maybe some other time?" Troy shook his head, it was tactless of him to ask anyway. It wasn't his business.

None what so ever. "Oh..uh, sure..I'm in town for Christmas and New Year." Gabriella bit her lip, "Your parents having their Christmas party?" Troy chuckled, "Yeah...they wanted me there." She giggled, "Well, I'm glad you came home."

He smiled, "I am too." she smiled, and hugged him, "I'll umm see you at the christmas party tomorrow." he smiled, "Tomorrow." and she walked over to the counter.