Yes yes, well this is my first attempt at writing, so don't expect pure amazing-ness. Hopefully you enjoy it and hopefully you can review. Anyway, merry Christmas and happy New year.

Peace,

Kat

When you're like a single flower,

whose colors have turned to shades of gray

Well hang on, and be strong

Troy Bolton was one of those people who needed their sleep.

He could not function properly and his moods were always crabby and irritated the day after a night of tossing and turning. Unfortunately for Troy this happened frequently.

He couldn't sleep. He counted sheep, looked at the walls, and listened to his Ipod. He just could not sleep. Not even the incessant staring at his photograph propped up on his bedside table of his girlfriend lulled him to sleep. Frustrated and tired from the minimal hours of sleep, Troy rose from his bed and made his way slowly down the stairs of his house, careful not to trip and fall on his face due to the dim early morning light carefully igniting each step. He glanced at the wooden clock mounted on the pale yellow walls, squinting his eyes in order to make vision of the time. The clock read three thirty AM and he sighed, irritated in response. The moon was still high in the sky and the driveway was the furthest his eyes would allow him to see. The fridge was basically empty so Troy settled for leaning against the marble bench top drinking the orange juice. If his mother was awake, he would have been in trouble for this act. Luckily she wasn't. Moments passed before he came back to his senses and realized he should attempt the inevitable again, in hope that his brain could function properly in the morning.

Something was making an annoying sound. He couldn't quite figure out what just yet, but something was disturbing Troy's much needed slumber. He reached his hand out and felt around his bed table for the alarm, but at that same moment he realized it wasn't the alarm. "Shit!" He thought as he snatched his cell and fumbled to open it and accept the call.

"Hello?" His voice was hoarse and sleepy.

"Good morning!" It was her. Her voice bubbly and bright, enough to make anyone want to leap out of bed and smile. His mood certainly brightened.

"Oh hey Gabbie," he still struggled, trying to shake the rest of the sleepiness from his voice.

"Your still meeting me at 5?" She smiled on the other line, remembering the promise Troy had made to take her to a movie and then for dinner, just the two of them.

"Uh." That wouldn't be the answer she would be hoping for. He thought quickly and changed his tone, "Of course, I am picking you up at 4.45 so you don't have to drive."

"Just checking." She chuckled and he smiled faintly.

"Hey look, I have to go but I will see you then okay?" He hoped she wasn't worried, "I love you."

"Sure, I will see you then Bolton. Love you more." Gabriella placed the phone down and shook off his mood to being caused by lack of sleep, knowing just what he was like without it. Turning her attention to her bed that was crowed with assorted dresses and skirts she smiled at her self.

DARKEST HOUR DARKEST HOUR DARKEST HOUR

Gabriella wasn't one of those girls who liked to get dressed up. She was not over the top like her friend Sharpay who could easily spend a light year in front of a mirror trying different hairstyles or hours huffing and puffing over which outfit to wear. Of course, she put effort in to what she wore, and her appearance but unlike Sharpay she didn't cry over no mascara or think an outfit worn twice was a disaster. However, tonight she wanted to make sure she looked pretty, tonight she wanted to be sure her boyfriend would think she looked gorgeous. It had been a while since her and Troy had gone out together. With the senior year filled with endless occasions and finals to study for, it was getting harder and harder to find time for each other. Therefore, Gabriella promised she would make this date the best it could be, starting with choosing an outfit and fixing the pile of straw that was supposed to be called her 'hair.'

"Mom!" She called from her bedroom, "mom can I use your curling iron?"

There was silence for a moment, her mother obviously deciding whether she would allow her daughter to use the expensive iron.

"Sure honey, just make sure you put it back." She soft voice spoke, drifting as she walked further down the hallway. "And don't forget, I'm heading out tonight for that dinner, so you need to take a key with you and lock up before you go."

"You're leaving now?" Gabriella wondered as she looked down at her cell phone that read three PM, then continued to brush through her hair.

Her mom popped her head through the door, "pre drinks." She smiled, "I'm meeting Cassie." Her voice sounded rushed, as if she was already late. It sounded like her mom.

Gabriella turned her head to talk to her, but she was already gone.

"Have fun with Troy, Love you." She was definitely already heading for the front door, her voice fading into the empty house.

"I will - " She began before laughing at the the realization that she was already gone. Her attention turned back to her mirror, as she picked the mascara as she began to apply it to her long dark eyelashes, remembering Sharpay's world famous tip she had given her to help her achieve longer lashes.

Her body jumped a little when she heard a knock at the door, and she ran quickly down the stairs and hall to reach the door, focusing on not tripping and falling flat on her face and confused as it wasn't time for Troy to be picking her up yet. She reached the door and opened it was great force, worried that she may have scared whoever was waiting on the other side. When it did open a huge grin appeared on her face.

"Daniel!" She cried, hugging him tightly and then taking a step back, to look him up and down. Daniel had been her neighbor since she had moved and they had become close friends, spending afternoons chatting and laughing at jokes only the two of them understood.

"You have grown, Dan." She breathed, still excited. "Whe-when did you get back!" Her eyes trailed down his chest which was covered in a neatly fitting white shirt, then back up to his eyes – a deep brown color with dark eye lashes just like her own. His hair had definitely grown to, the once short spikey dark hair was now longer and more full.

"A couple of minutes ago -actually- mom told me to go say hey before bringing in the luggage." He replied, his voice just as she had remembered it.

"Wow! So how was Europe, then?" She now leaned against the door, and the two chatted for a while before Gabriella remembered the time.

"Dan, it's so good to see you again! But I have to go – get ready, uh date with Troy tonight." She smiled as she spoke his name, butterflies looming the walls of her stomach.

"Yeah sure!" He beamed, "you do look great by the way."

She blushed, and then tried to hide her growing redness of her face.

"Thanks D."

"Have fun tonight G."

They both laughed an awkward chuckle before she shut the door and headed back up the stairs and down the hallway to continue getting ready. It was four thirty before she knew it, and her excitement grew with each tick of the second hand.

At five thirty PM, however, her excitement began to fade. Troy was never late, and now he was over 45 minutes late. It wasn't like him at all. She waited, seated on her couch that overlooked her driveway. "Any minute," she told her self, "any minute now his car will drive up and he will have a great excuse." Six o'clock came and she couldn't wait any longer. Frustrated and annoyed she reached for her cell and decided to phone him. He didn't answer. Worry replaced her frustration and she began pacing. She called again, and again, and again.

The house felt so empty, the sun began to set and she patted her dress and her hair, trying to stay sane. She attempted to keep breathing at a normal pace but her breaths became shaky and short. She called once more, hoping for an answer, hoping for anything. Just as a single tear threatened to fall in anger and anxiety, a knock at the large front door broke the silence.