Knock Knock

"Sweetie can I come in," Gabriella's mom said poking her head through the crack of her daughter's bedroom.

"Sure, mom" Gabi said looking up and slightly closing her laptop. Temporarily stopping the IM conversation she had going with her best friend Troy Bolton.

"Well, umm Mr. Barnes just called and told me about an other trip I have to go on." Ms. Montez said as she sat at the edge of Gabriella's queen bed.

"Oh, when are you leaving?" Gabriella said still holding onto that thread of hope that her mother would be there with her for the first Christmas in about 3 years.

"Well I leave this Friday and it goes for about a week, a week and a half depending on how well this conference goes with the company that's merging with us." Ms. Montez said dancing around the direct answer to the question.

"Oh okay, well Christmas is next Tuesday. So either way you wouldn't be here, right?" Gabriella said trying to stay strong and not let her mom hear the disappointment in her eyes.

"Yeah, but I will really try and wrap things up fast so I can come home early and we can have a late Christmas, just you and me!" Gabriella said trying to restor her daughters disappointed heart again.

"Okay yeah I understand mom! I will see if I can hang with Troy or Taylor!" Gabriella said with a fake up-beat tone.

"Okay Gabi, but if at any time you just want me to come home, just call me and I will get on the fastest plane back here you know that right." Ms. Montez said reassuringly.

"Yeah mom I'll be okay. I will talk to you in the morning. I am going to get ready for bed. I still have school tomorrow." Gabriella said getting up from her bed to go to her bathroom connected to her room.

"Okay sweetie, do you need a ride tomorrow or is Troy picking you up?" Ms. Montez said about half way out the door.

"Oh thanks for reminding me, Troy is in like some basketball tournament in Alameda so could you give me a ride?" Gabriella explained to her mom.

"Sure I would love to honey" Ms. Montez said as she closed the door to Gabriella's room.

When her mom left Gabriella opened her laptop too continue the conversation with Troy.

Wildcatb-ball14: hey you still there Gabi?

Wildcatb-ball14: Gabs???? :?

Freakymathgurl: Calm down Troy im right here. Jeez. hahaha yeah my mom just had to talk to me about Christmas this year.

Wildcatb-ball14: so what are you doing this x-mas?

Freakymathgurl: Uh.... You know the usual.

Gabriella didn't want to burden Troy with her annual Christmas disappointment.

Wildcatb-ball14: What does that entail? Grandparents, Travel, what?

Freakymathgurl: uhhh, you know well.... uh....

Wildcatb-ball14: Gabi are you okay. is something wrong.

Freakymathgurl: yeah I'm fine. Its just that i don't wanna make you listen to all my holiday drama

Wildcatb-ball14: Gabi, we have been best friends, you can tell me anything... well except maybe girl stuff... i wouldn't mind if you saved that part of the "Best Friends" thing we have going on for Taylor.

Freakymathgurl: hahaha :D no don't worry you won't be knowing about that stuff for a while Troy. hahahaha

Wildcatb-ball14: Okay phew. But that doesn't answer my question. Are you okay????

Freakymathgurl: Well i will be okay

Wildcatb-ball14: What's wrong Gabi you can't hide this from me.

Freakymathgurl: Well my mom travels a lot so she is away...a lot. So i just found out that she is going to be gone for like a week or a week and a half so that means she will miss Christmas with me this year.....Again.

Wildcatb-ball14: Oh Gabi. I'm sorry. You are welcome at my house anytime. Even when im not there. Like now for instance.

Freakymathgurl: Thanks Troy. That means a lot

Wildcatb-ball14: Okay and ill always be here for you. I'm just a phone call away

Freakymathgurl: :/ thanks Troy

Wildcatb-ball14: If you don't mind me asking though what do you mean by again?

Freakymathgurl: Well this will be her third time missing Christmas.

Wildcatb-ball14: She missed last year. and the year before that?

Freakymathgurl: Yeah. stupid huh.

Wildcatb-ball14:Well you have been here for what like 2 years now.

Freakymathgurl: yeah why?

Wildcatb-ball14: Why did you tell me this before. You would have been welcome at my house. You had to spend Christmas alone for 2 years Gabi that's not right. especially when you have a bunch of people that would love to have you for the holidays.

Freakymathgurl: Thanks Troy i really can't say enough. I really appreciate that.

Wildcatb-ball14: Here how about this. When i come home tomorrow you can stay with my family for Christmas and while your mom is gone.

Freakymathgurl: Do you really mean it?

Wildcatb-ball14: Every word. I'll swing by your house when we are on the way back home from the tournament

Freakymathgurl: Thanks so much Troy i owe you forever. :D this really means a lot.

Wildcatb-ball14: Anything for you Gabs.

Freakymathgurl: So. on a not so depressing note. How is the tournament going?

Wildcatb-ball14: OH its great we just beat the Alameda High Cougars so we are 6-0

Freakymathgurl: thats great Troy!!!!

Wildcatb-ball14: Thanks yeah we are all exhausted. hahaha so our last team is the Sandia Park Pirates and we play them tomorrow at like 9am so we will probably be home around 5 or 6 is that okay.

Freakymathgurl: Like a said before, im forever in you debt Troy :D

Wildcatb-ball14: Okay cool. I will see you then im going to call it a night im tired. i will see you tomorrow :D

Freakymathgurl: You gotta deal :D I will see you tomorrow and give everyone a hug for me. and GOOD LUCK GO WILDCATS! :D

Wildcatb-ball14: Okay will do. Night Gabi sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite. and im really glad that your going to spend this Christmas with me. Its one ill never forget.

Freakymathgurl: Okay night Troy i will see you tomorrow. and good luck beat some priate butt!

Wildcatb-ball14 signed off

Gabriella closed her laptop and put it on her desk across her room. She climbed under her freashly washed covers and fell asleep to the caring words of Troy "I'm glad your spending Christmas with me." and the sweet smell of lavender from her sheets.