Hey everyone! So… I haven't updated Changes in Paradise in forever, and I know I promised you guys I'd try to get it out as soon as possible, and I've been trying to write it… But I really have no more inspiration for that story. I'm not stopping it, I hate it when authors don't continue their work, but I've decided to come out with a new fic. It's HSM, of course, and Troyella based, even if it takes a while for them to stop being stubborn and actually admit their true feelings, hehe… And this is based in the holiday's! So a lot of fun to write, so far. I think it's easier to write Troyella when they already know each other, rather than starting their relationship from scratch. And my goal for this story is for it to be at least twenty chapters, if not more. Anyways, enough rambling… I hope you like this story! I'm going to try to finish this fic this month, but if I don't, it will definitely be done by January. I hope. No promises. But yeah! ENJOY!

Getting into the Holiday Spirit


December 2.

"Good morning, everybody! Well, time to get your shovels out, because it's the time of year again. That's right, it's snowing! Christmas is just right around the corner, and everyone is decorating their houses, stressing over what to buy for gifts, and people are even beginning to fly out to spend time with loved ones. Twenty-two more days until Christmas Eve... Not that I'm counting or anything."

Troy Bolton sat on his couch with his Frosted Flakes as he watched the News. He looked in the corner of his living room in his small apartment, hopelessly staring at the countless boxes of Christmas decorations that he still needed to put up. It was his turn to have the annual Christmas party with his group of co-workers and friends. Troy had never had the party at his place, considering he lived in a very small apartment, but his friend, Sharpay Evans, the diva in the group, waved it off as an excuse and practically ordered him to have the party at his place this year. Last year it was at Sean Lance's house, a friend of his that he worked with, and let's just say, it was going to be hard to compare. Not only did he live in a mansion, he completely went all-out. You could barely see his front yard since it was covered in inflatable snowmen, Santa Claus's, and reindeer. To say that Troy was stressed was an understatement.

"Twelve more days until the Christmas party... Not that I'm counting or anything," he mocked the weather woman bitterly before standing up to put his bowl in the sink. He caught sight of the time and rushed to take a shower. He was a manager for a Sports Agency and
being late, especially in the Holidays, was never a smart idea.

As Troy walked out of his apartment complex, his briefcase in one hand and his cell phone in the other, he approached the car he had called to take him to work that day. Usually he car-pooled with his best friend and another manager, Chad Danforth, but since Troy was running late that morning and he was too lazy to take his car, he decided to phone a ride. The glory of having money.

Troy sighed as he stared at his snow covered dress shoes and the bottom of his slacks that were now wet from the snow. He bent down and took his shoes off, placing his feet on the banister near the welcoming heater. He opened his briefcase, and neatly set on top of his disorganized papers, was a small slip of paper with neat cursive that belonged to the one girl that could easily make him smile. Gabriella Montez.

It was November 28, and Gabriella was having a small staff party. "Game Night" she had said, so Troy came in a blue sweater and dark blue jeans. He had remembered that Gabriella had casually once mentioned how great he looked in blue since it really brought out his eyes. On the car ride to her house, Chad was giving Troy another one of his lectures about... love.

"I know that I'm not the first person you'd come to for advice about relationships..." Chad began self-consciously.

Troy rolled his eyes. "Like I would ever go to you for advice," he muttered.

Chad didn't hear, or if he did, he pretended not to.

"But look at me and Taylor. We've been happily together for one year now. And it's obvious that you have the hots for Gabi, and she has the hots for you, so I say go for it, man."

Troy stared at his friend dumbfounded. "Chad, it took you about five years to even get the guts to talk to Tay. At least Gabi is my best friend... And she has been since high school. And we went to the same college... and now we were at the same agency. I think... I think we're meant to just be friends."

Chad parked his car and sighed. "I'm just trying to help you out. She's not going to wait around for you to ask her out for long, Troy. Soon enough, she's going to think that you don't like her like that, and move onto some other guy. And they will get married. And she will have his babies. And they will grow old together. While you mope at your apartment, with no girlfriend or friends, and you live alone with your ten cats."

Troy quirked an eyebrow. "Seems to me that you've been thinking of my future rather than yours. And Chad...I'm allergic to cats."

Chad held his hands up in surrender. "Hey, I'm just saying!"

Troy sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "I'll think about it."

Troy knocked on the door of the small house. He smiled when he saw that she had already hung up her Christmas tree, which you can easily see through the open window. Her lights were hanging outside her house already, blinking from red to green to yellow. Gabriella answered the door and her face brightened when she laid eyes on him. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug. Troy closed his eyes tightly, savoring the moment of having her in his arms. He heard a throat clearing. He glanced behind him seeing Chad trying to get past the door without ruining the 'moment.' He wasn't having much luck. Gabriella giggled and pulled away, allowing Chad entry into her cozy house. Her soft, mocha eyes twinkled in delight when she stared at Troy. She wore a loose red sweater that exposed one shoulder and leggings with long black socks. She didn't even try to look gorgeous; it just came natural to her.

She grabbed his hand and dragged him into her house. "Come on, Bolton, you're late."

Troy let himself be dragged into the living room, where he smiled and waved at each one of his friends and co-workers. Gabriella plopped down onto the couch, forcing Troy to sit next to her, to which he obliged happily. Chad nudged him and pointed his head toward the brunette that was shaking the bowl with the slips of papers for the Secret Santa's.

"Ask," Chad mouthed.

Troy sighed and hesitantly scooted closer to her. This was it. He was going to ask his best friend, Gabriella Montez, on a date. He turned in his seat a little bit so he could face her properly. "Gabi..." he placed a trembling hand on her arm, making her stop what she was doing to look at him worriedly. "Troy… Is everything okay? You look... um..."

"Ella Bella Nutella!"

That was when Logan Reese decided to make an entrance. It was obvious how much Logan despised Troy and how much he adored Gabriella. He asked her out but Gabriella would just laugh and shake her pretty little head. She thought it was a joke. She also thought it was hilarious when Troy claimed that he was going to re-arrange Logan's face if he tried another move on her.

Troy hadn't been joking.

He glared at the twenty-three year old with the blond hair and hazel eyes. Gabriella looked at Troy for a few more seconds, a look of concern etched on her face. Troy sighed and looked away, taking his hand off her arm. He stood up and walked away, not bothering to turn around to see Logan and Gabriella locked in a tight embrace.

An hour later, everyone sat around the living room, Troy avoiding Logan's smirks that were sent his way since he was sitting next to Gabriella on the love seat, while Troy was on the left of Chad. He felt like the third wheel sitting there with Chad and Taylor. He and Gabriella would always joke about how awkward it was being around the two love birds and how sickening it was. But in reality, Troy wanted that. But only with Gabriella

"Hey everyone, thanks for coming tonight. I hope you're all having fun."

Gabriella sent Troy a pointed glance, but immediately went back to looking at everyone around her. "Every year we always do the Secret Santa's, so this year is no different. It can be White Elephant if you'd like... Pretty much anything. So, yes Chad, if you want to get your Secret Santa a cheese-head like you gave me last year, you can do that."

Chad grinned, "You know you loved it."

Everyone laughed when Gabriella shrugged innocently. "So I'm going to walk around and everyone must take a slip of paper out of the bowl. We will hand each other our presents at this year's annual Christmas party, which is going to be at Troy's apartment this year."

She began walking around, and Troy stared intently at Logan's reaction. He was hoping he did not get Gabriella. A look of disappointment flashed across his face and he glanced at the perky blond, Sharpay, who was seated next to her boyfriend, Zeke. Troy sighed in relief. At least he didn't have to worry about Logan getting her… Troy would be fine with anyone else getting the beautiful brunette as their Secret Santa, but Logan Reese getting her?

Troy would not be pleased.

"Troy..."

He looked up, seeing Gabriella looking at him with a small, worried smile."You okay?"

Troy nodded, "Never better, Brie." He reached into the bowl and Gabriella moved onto Chad and Taylor. Troy unfolded his slip of paper. He never cared for these types of things, but Gabriella always did them. She loved the holidays. She was like a little kid especially when it came to Christmas, and Troy loved her for it. They had a sleep over in college once on Christmas since Gabriella's parents hadn't been able to make it out to Duke, so they spent it together. She woke him up at the crack of dawn to open presents. He thought it was the cutest thing in the world.

He blinked a couple of times when he read the name on his paper.

Chad leaned over and whistled when he read the name, "It's your lucky night, man."

Gabriella glared at Chad and Troy, "Hey, you two, no peeking at each other's slips of papers!"

Troy didn't hear Chad's smart-ass reply. He re-read the name over and over again. He couldn't believe it. For written on his small little sheet of paper, was his favorite name in the world.

Gabriella Montez.

Troy frowned as he thought of what to get her. He knew her; she was after all one of his best friends. He knew how she had to have whipped cream on every single dessert. He knew how she was terrified of thunder because of the sound it made. He knew how she loved wearing footie pajamas even though she was twenty-four years old. He knew her favorite movie was The Notebook and her favorite book was Pride and Prejudice. Her favorite food was anything with chocolate, and she loved it when she didn't have to wear her contact lenses and she could just be her old, nerdy self and wear her glasses. He knew all this, and much more. But he couldn't figure out what to get her. He couldn't help but think about what Chad had told him. She won't be there for long. She's single, but she won't be forever. The time to make his move was now. Somehow, he wanted his gift to express his feelings for her, even though he was planning to tell her how he felt before the party...

If you get the courage, you wimp.

"Mr. Bolton, we're here," the driver said. Troy got out of the car and stared at the agency his father started twenty years ago: Bolton Sports and Management. Gabriella was the sports columnist in the newspaper, since she absolutely loved writing, and Troy had managed to actually get her into sports, especially basketball. She went to every single basketball game, and always wore Troy's jersey in high school and college when Troy was on the varsity basketball team. Troy had even given her his letterman jacket, and took her as his date to the banquet their Senior Year of East High. Chad had joked and said they were already acting like an old couple.

Troy was so used to seeing the same people every day. Most of the people he worked with he went to high school with. Taylor, Zeke, Sharpay, Jason, Ryan, Martha, and Kelsi didn't work at Bolton Sports and Management, but they worked nearby, so sometimes they all met up for lunch. Ryan and Kelsi both ran a music store, where Kelsi gave piano lessons to young children and Ryan gave dance lessons. They had been married for one year now. Martha sometimes helped Ryan out with the dance classes, but she was currently in law school. Sharpay worked for a fashion industry and Zeke had his own bakery called Baylor's. Taylor was an intern at the nearby hospital as she was still finishing medical school.

Troy smiled when he walked into his building, saying hi to people he passed by. He felt so comfortable, so at home, even at work. He walked up the stairs, avoiding the chaos of the crowded elevators, and immediately went to the office next door to his. He knocked a tune, his signature knock to this particular person. He heard shuffling then he was met with a beaming face. Gabriella smiled up at Troy, grabbing his hand and dragging him into her office. She hugged him, their arms lingering for a moment longer around each other before they pulled away, almost reluctantly. Troy loved Gabriella's office. She made it cozy with the many bulletin boards that had pictures of her families and friends. There was a board dedicated to work, another dedicated to high school, then college, and some of her and Troy in the mix.

"Hey, you," Gabriella finally said.

Troy grinned, "Hey, Ella Bella Nutella."

Gabriella groaned, "Don't call me that, you know I hate that nickname! I hate Nutella!"

Troy chuckled. "Tell that to Mr. Logan Reese."

Gabriella sat down on her desk chair, giving troy a warning glance. "Be nice. Why do you hate him so much anyway?"

Troy shrugged, "I… just don't get a good feeling from the guy."

Gabriella grinned, "Aw is someone jealous?"

If someone told Troy that he would blush, he would have laughed and said 'yeah, right.' But yet there he was, feeling his face heat up in embarrassment.

"Sue me if I'm still overprotective of you."

In high school, and even in college, Troy was always on edge when Gabriella met a new guy that showed an immediate interest in her. Gabriella thought he was just being overprotective, and that was true, but it was mainly because Troy never wanted to let Gabriella go.

Gabriella smiled genuinely, "Don't worry, I think it's cute."

Troy smiled warmly back at her. The office became quiet, and the two friends sat in a comfortable silence before Gabriella finally broke it.

"So, you gonna tell me who your Secret Santa is?"

Troy lazily sat in one of the other chairs on the other side of her desk, with his signature crooked smile. "Isn't the whole point of this is that it's supposed to be a secret? And weren't you the one that got angry with Chad for looking at my paper to see who I got? And weren't you the one that gave me this long lecture last year when I asked you the same exact question?"

Gabriella glared playfully. "Oh, come now, you were staring at that slip of paper all night! It has to be a girl... Unless it's Chad's."

"Hey!" Troy exclaimed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Gabriella shrugged, "Oh, just the fact that everyone knows about yours and Chad's bro-mance."

Troy, not denying it, rolled his eyes. "People are just noticing?" he joked.

Gabriella shook her head. "Oh, no. We've all noticed since high school," she played along.

Troy licked his lips suggestively. "Well, what can I say? Can't get enough of the poofy haired freak, let me tell ya."

Gabriella laughed and slapped Troy on the arm. "You're too much of a distraction."

Troy stood up when Gabriella pulled on his arm for him to stand up. "I know… My good looks distract everybody, Montez."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, shoving him to the door. "Not like that!"

Troy grinned at her, "But you didn't deny it!"

Gabriella's face turned into a deep crimson and Troy laughed to himself as he opened the door. "I'm just messing with you, Brie. So, tonight's a new episode of Modern Family… Want to come over and we can order some Chinese takeout and just have a night in?"

Gabriella was obsessed with Modern Family, and ever since the premiere of the show, she had come over to Troy's apartment and they watched it together. So, ever since then, every Thursday night, the pair found themselves at Troy's apartment, ordering takeout and staying in their pajamas. Gabriella smiled and nodded.

"Definitely. Usual time?"

Troy walked out of her office, walking backwards as he stared at Gabriella. He nodded and winked at her.

"See you then, Brie."

That night

"So, Troy…. How's the party planning coming along? I can see you're going all out for the party… I like what you've done with the place. Looks very Christmas-y."

Troy threw a fortune cookie at Gabriella and stuck his tongue out at her. He had completely forgotten about the boxes of decorations in his living room, but he instantly remembered when Gabriella came in and began pestering him. Gabriella scoffed as a commercial came on. She looked too cute in her purple footie pajamas Troy had gotten her when their little tradition began. Her hair was up in a messy ponytail, and she wore her favorite long, fuzzy socks.

"I can help out, you know. It's okay to ask me for help."

Troy shook his head, lowering the volume of the television. "I've got it under control," he said stubbornly. Gabriella laughed, "I can see that, Troy." She pointed to the boxes for about the twentieth time that night.

"Quit pointing to the damn boxes!"

"Quit being stubborn!"

"You're one too talk."

"Real mature, Troy. I'll help you."

"I don't need your help."

"Too bad. I'm coming over tomorrow and we're going to start decorating. And this weekend we'll go buy a tree for you."

"I don't need-"

"Troy Alexander Bolton, my decision is final."

"…"

Gabriella smiled triumphantly, snatching the remote when Modern Family came back on. Troy wasn't mad at her, he just like playing with her. The way her nose would scrunch up when she didn't get her way. The way her forehead would crease when she was frustrated. Her cute little pout…

Okay… He really needed to stop. Chad had mentioned to him before that he was whipped over a girl he couldn't even get the balls to ask out. Troy was beginning to think he was right. But he would never tell him that.

Troy stood up, grabbing the Chinese boxes and walking to the kitchen quietly. He threw out the containers and leaned over the kitchen sink to get a cup. He walked over to the fridge and began pouring water into the glass. He took a sip of the water, and finding that it wasn't helping his situation, he threw it back into the sink. He leaned on the counter, his face in his hands as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. He couldn't just randomly ask her out… They had been best friends since they were fifteen. What if she didn't feel that way and things got awkward? What if she was lying and she really did like Logan? Maybe he was over-analyzing this…

"Get it together, Bolton… You need to stop thinking about this."

"Stop thinking about what?"

Troy looked up as Gabriella appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. She leaned against the doorframe, blowing a small piece of her bangs out of her face as she stared quizzically at the distressed-looking Troy.

"Um… You know… I guess you're right; I'm a little stressed about the party. I mean, it's so small in here and I haven't started decorating… and…"

Gabriella smiled and walked up to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him into a comforting hug. "That's why you have such an awesome best friend to help you."

"Nah, Chad really is no help at all," Troy teased.

Gabriella smacked him on the chest, glaring at him playfully. "Shut up, or else I won't help you."

Troy whined, "Gaaabbbiiii! Why are you so mean to me?"

Gabriella shrugged, "Hey, you asked for it!"

Troy went back up to Gabriella, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and leading her back into the living room where Modern Family was paused. "I'm just kidding, Brie, you know I love you."

You just don't know how much I actually do…

Gabriella grinned up at him, pecking him on the cheek. "I love ya, too, Troy!"

Troy smirked, pointing at himself, "What's not to love about me?"

The rest of the night was spent watching movies, eating popcorn, and drinking hot chocolate. Laughter was shared between the pair. Playful remarks were said. But Troy just couldn't do it. He couldn't ask his best friend since high school on a little date because he didn't want what they shared right then to end when it felt like it was just barely beginning.