But I can have all the toys in the world and
You see it still wouldn't mean a thing
Can you bring me bring me love?
Oh, Santa bring me bring me love
Bring Me Love – Marie Digby

December 23, 2009 ; 6:17 pm ; Rosie's Café

"Who is he?" I whispered turning from the guy embarrassed to have been staring at him so long.

"Oh just Troy Bolton," Taylor said with a smirk on her face, I snuck another glance at Troy as he walked over towards Chad and Jason.

"Really, what's he like?" I asked trying to pay attention to Taylor but it's kind of hard when you can't stop looking at someone.

"Well as I'm sure you've noticed already he's gorgeous. He's also captain of the basketball team, he's in all advance placement classes, I mean I would know." I glanced at Troy and then at Taylor that was a bit of a shock.

"I know I didn't believe it either but he is very smart but such a guy too." I nodded looking back at him before feeling creeper like and turned back towards my hot chocolate.

"Though the only thing you need to know is that he's never had a very serious relationship, meaning he's single. Have fun," She said before standing up and leaving not giving me a chance to reply.

I sighed looking down at my chocolate after glaring at the back of her head a bit. Great now I'm a loner at the bar, great. I sighed taking another sip of my drink. Where the hell are all of these people going to sleep? I mean it's getting late and there's no way anyone is making it back to that bus, if we'd ever find it. This place is cozy and all, I'm sure everyone has made friends with one another but this isn't going to work for sleep. I refuse to sleep with these people.

Speaking of sleeping arrangements where the hell is my father?!? Shouldn't he have called by now? I mean it's not like he didn't know I was coming right? I mean he had to, my mother wouldn't just send me somewhere without planning properly….well now that I think that is my mother, she's so in the moment with things it's amazing she's in politics.

This is just making my mood worst, I mean this is too much chaos for me there is no order anywhere and well…this just isn't working. I pulled my phone out and put it on the counter checking for anything from Ryan, there was nothing, this is bad. This is cocoa is good though, nice and warm, though the marshmallows are gone. Why can't they ever stay long enough for you to get all of them in your mouth?

"Hi," I jumped turning to the spot that Taylor previously occupied to see…him sitting there looking even more perfect than he had at the door.

"Hi," I said not knowing I had spoken at all. Who knew they made them like this in Wisconsin, in Winter, Wisconsin for that matter.

"I'm Troy," He gave me this smile that was lopsided and showed off his perfect teeth and made me thank god that I was in a seat already. He stuck out his hand for me to shake but all I could do was stare at it.

"You have to shake it," he said with a teasing voice, I mean I know you're supposed to shake it I was thinking.

"I'm Gabriella," I said grabbing his hand with my right but as soon as our hands connected I was shocked. We both looked down at our hands that weren't touching anymore but they were close. I looked up at him to find him looking back just as shocked by what happened.

"I think it's a sign," he said dropping his hand with a grin before leaning on the counter slightly facing me. I dropped my hand and sighed, he's one of those types. One's who think everything happens for a reason and there is fate and he probably read his horoscope this morning and it said you're going to go get a girl laid and he's trying for it.

"Why do you say that?" I asked trying to keep the irritation from my voice.

"Well, you shocked me,"

"So?" I asked looking at him really wanting to hear what he has to say about this one.

"So we're going to have a very interesting relationship." He ended with a shrug. I stared at him not believing he just said this to me.

"We aren't going to have a relationship I don't even know you," I said not liking this guy very much. He chuckled and shook his head. Like everything is just sun and roses.

"Listen I didn't mean anything by it. I was just saying it's not everyday you shake hands with someone and you shock each other. "He looked towards the door allowing me to sneak a peek at his profile. He had a slight shadow on his face, but it looked good on him, made him look older than he may really be.

"How'd you get here dressed like that?" he asked looking at me suddenly, I didn't even get the chance to make it seem like I hadn't been staring at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked looking down at my clothes

"Well that scarf doesn't even look like it could keep an egg warm so it can't be helping you. The coat doesn't seem to be warm on the inside and those shoes aren't going to do any good in the snow. I don't even want to know what you have on under there." He said laughing at me. I frowned not believing that this…this guy was making fun of how I was dressed. I mean sure I could have planned better but damn it this is my mothers fault.

"I am fine thanks for asking." I grumbled looking forward again. I snuck a glance at my phone sighing again when I didn't see the flashing red light saying I had a message or anything.

"So where are you staying?" he asked as Kelsi put a hot chocolate in front of him giving a wink that I didn't miss.

"With my dad hopefully, I for sure won't sleep here." I said with disgust as I looked around my eyes laying on the rugrats a moment too long.

"It's pretty bad out there, I doubt Coach is coming. He has the worst phone too so I doubt his line is working." Troy replied taking a sip of his drink casually.

"How did you know who my father was?"

"There are pictures of you all over the house," He said before looking over at me sharply. "I could never miss you in a crowd." We held contact for a moment before he looked forward again.

I don't know what it is…he is different, I trust him for some reason.

"Well I don't think that means we know each other." I said with a sniff, fixing my coat on myself.

"My favorite color is Blue," he offered.

"Mine is green." I said simply, what is this 20 answers?

"I like to read." That I didn't expect he seems like a player.

"Me too," I said looking at him with a new found interest. Who is Troy Bolton? Why did our hands shock when we met? Why am I having this conversation with him? Why do I have this weird feeling in my stomach that I've never had with…Ryan?

"I'm single." I blushed slightly hearing this news, is he trying to say something. When I looked up again his ocean blues were looking at me with interest.

"Well?"

"Oh, I uh…I'm taken." For a second there was disappointment in his eyes, but the look was gone as fast as it had come.

"Who's the lucky guy?" he asked with a smile that I believe was forced.

"Uh…"I paused to think, "Ryan!" I yelled suddenly getting the attention of everyone in the café. I blushed and looked down at my cocoa wishing the snow would swallow me up right at this moment.

"Some boyfriend," Troy said with a chuckle.

"What's that supposed to mean?: I asked getting a little defensive.

"Calm down I'm only saying you can't even remember his name, he must not be that important anymore."

"You have a lot of opinions you know," I said starting to not like this character.

"I know, I get that a lot from girls. I just know things, I can read people and you are open like the pages of a book."

"Oh really?" I asked glaring at him.

"Yea you are,"

"Well then, what's your opinion of me?" I asked waiting to hear what he has to say, though a part of me was scared to hear it since it may be the truth.

"My thought is that you have to be one of the most boring girls I've ever talked to-" I opened my mouth to object but Troy stood and leaned down on me putting one hand on the counter the other on the back of my chair making me breathing stop.

"You have been playing this stuck up brat for so long you don't know how to be yourself and have fun anymore. You've looked at your phone while we've been sitting here; maybe your boyfriend knows you aren't happy and that you aren't happy because of him. Sometimes happiness is right in front of you, it's up to you to take it." He looked at me moving in closer, close enough for me to feel his breath on my cheeks. I shivered as he pulled away, before walking back over to the table of guys taking his mug with him.

Turned straight in the stool not wanting to look anywhere but forward, I picked up my phone and pondered things that he had said not even paying attention to my wallpaper. He was right, I'm not happy and I know I'm not happy and that I haven't been for a while. Ryan and I are really nothing alike; he was a part of the 5 year plan not a part of my heart. I pushed a button on my phone but the screen remained black. What the hell? I pushed the end button but nothing happened still.

My phone is dead, and I just thought about my charger that is still plugged into the plug by my nightstand back home. FML.

Groaning I threw my phone in my purse and sighed. This isn't going good at all. I want to cry but then everyone would think I'm such a weirdo for crying in the café while I'm sitting alone. I have a lot of things going on though I don't want to be here, I am on the verge of wanting to break up with my boyfriend and I have this strangely amazing feeling about this guy I met two seconds ago and I am in the middle of no where with no charger or aspirin. I don't have Sharpay to call and I have no where to sleep and I don't even have my own pillow! This has to be one of the worst things my mother has ever done to me in my life. I swear it is and even if it's not then it's a close second.

I stood quickly and rushed to back of the café where I knew the bathroom was from Chad earlier.

December 23, 2009 ; 8:12 pm ; Rosie's Café

I stood in the mirror of the bathroom and looked at my tearstained face wiping away my concealer and eyeliner making my face bare. (My damn make up pouch is in my suitcase which is in the bus, ugh.) I looked at myself and frowned, I've never liked how I looked without make up on even though I never put on much it still makes a difference from the pale girl I normally am. I ran a hand through my light curls and stuck my tongue out at myself before putting my coat back on myself buttoning up and wrapping my scarf around my neck before putting my bag on my shoulder walking out.

When coming out Troy was walking out the door and I noticed Chad and Taylor were gone also. Sighing I walked over to the counter where Jason and Kelsi were flirting, they were so cute I didn't want to interrupt I wanted to observe.

"Where did everyone go?" I asked walking up.

"Oh they went home; I don't know what to do with all of you guys here. We're supposed to be closed tomorrow and Rosie and her husband went down to Milwaukee to visit relatives so I don't know what to do." Jason reached over and grabbed her hand rubbing his thumb of the back of her hand soothingly. I wonder how a gesture like that feels.

"Well I'm sure everyone would stay at a hotel,"

"We don't have any of those." Kelsi said seeming to get sadder with everything I said. I looked back towards the door and then at Kelsi.

"Well I do wish you luck with everyone, maybe they can sleep on the bus. I have somewhere to be though so wish me luck." I said leaning over and giving Kelsi a hug which shocked me but felt right, she returned it without hesitation and smiled at me as if knowing what I was going to do.

"He really is a great guy; he's just a jerk when he's nervous. Go get him." she said giving me a shove.

"Okay," I walked towards the door before turning back and looking at Jason.

"Hi I'm Gabriella,"

"Jason," he said shaking my hand with a grin on his face.

"Nice to meet you but I have to go."

"She has a Wildcat to catch." Kelsi added under her breath, Wildcat…I like that. I thought to my self as I ran outside and looked around.

Shit its freezing. I ran in the direction Troy had gone, thank god the snow had stopped falling for now.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Troy!!!" I yelled moving over the snow pile to see that Troy had stopped and turned around.

"Are you crazy?!" he asked as I came up to him panting

"You know I haven't been asked that in a real long time."

"Yea well you are," he continued to walk and I just followed him.

"Aren't you cold?" he continued looking down at me as tears rolled down my cheeks, it's really cold in Wisconsin for if I haven't emphasized this before.

"Well no shit Sherlock," I grumbled suddenly realizing just how cold I was. He laughed shaking his head,

"What's so funny?!" I asked wrapping my arms around my tighter, seriously why did I let Shar dress me like this?

"You're cute without all that gunk on your face," he said never looking down at me. I frowned slightly with a blush, that was sweet in a way.

"Thanks," I said lightly not able to look at him either,

Normally this is the point where things between me and Ryan would become overly awkward, but right now I feel…safe and okay. Something about Troy is mysterious and just makes me want to know more about him. Like where did he get that scar that's under his left eyebrow? What is he afraid of? What is his favorite movie that he could watch anytime?

As much as I'd hate to say it, I wouldn't mind staying in Wisconsin for the rest of Senior year just to get to know him.

"Gabriella the ice!" I snapped out of my thoughts to be startled by Troy who was moving over to me but it was too late, I was slipping backwards looking up at the sun peeking through the clouds.

One more chapter everyone xD

xoxo Zoe