Chapter 12

"Gabi wake up" Maria said as she shook her daughter.

"Whaat?" Gabriella moaned as she opened her eyes.

"Mark and I have to go to work, sorry sweetie"

"But its boxing day and there's loads of snow outside" Gabriella pouted.

"Roads have been cleared, I'm really sorry but I have to go" Maria kissed Gabriella on the forehead before she turned to leave.

A few minutes later Gabriella finally made it out of her bed and found her phone.

To Shar: What are you doing today, empty house x x

Shar: Sorry gotta go to the club to see the staff and then to grandparents see you tomorrow tho x x

Gabi: Totally fine have fun x x

To Ellie: What you up to today, got an empty house x x

Ellie: With family sorry xxx

Gabi: Oh totally fine, have fun x x

Gabriella sighed, all her friends seemed to be busy and having fun with their families, except her. Finally giving up on all her friends she fell back asleep on her sofa.

An hour later she was woken up by a loud knock on the door, she quickly shot up and ran to her door. Opening it to find a very covered in snow Troy and a bag of gifts.

"Troy?" She asked in shock.

"I owe you an explanation and an apology" He said walking into her house and making his way to her living room.

"Come in then" She called sarcastically as she shut her door and made her way to her living room where Troy had already taken a seat.

"How did you know my Mum wouldn't be here?" Gabriella asked as she sat next to him.

"Ellie texted, I've really needed to talk to you"

"Why?"

"About the whole Vanessa situation" Troy said holding Gabriella's hands in his lap, Gabriella felt herself getting angrier as she heard that bitches name.

Troy continued "Just listen please, when you turned up at my door the first time she'd literally arrived 5 minutes before and woken me up, that explains the whole reason I was in my boxers, but uh the whole reason I had to get back with her because I owed her money".

"That still doesn't explain why you had to get back with her" Gabriella snapped a little too harshly than she meant to.

"I'm getting to that, when I got out of Uni I had no where to live and at the time she was my girlfriend, she lent me £5000 so I could sort my life out, find somewhere to live, get a good job, I didn't wanna go back home to my mum I'd seem like a failure and then she turned up at my house last month asking for her money back, I didn't have it so she told me if I couldn't get it in 24 hours I'd have to go back out with her".

"What kind've twisted bitch does that?"

"That's what she does, but I sold some of my stuff, had some money saved up already and paid her, she's gone for good I promise" Troy kissed her hands.

"How do I know your not lying?"

"Because I love you" Troy could barely finish before Gabriella's lips were on his.

"So whats in the bag?" Gabriella giggled softly.

"Just a few presents, I don't know if you're ready for them yet" Troy winked.

"Stay right there" Gabriella yelled as she rushed upstairs, grabbed a bag and ran back down the stairs.

"Whats that?"

"Before we uh broke up I bought you your presents but I just couldn't seem to return them" Gabriella said feeling shy.

For the rest of the morning they sat opening presents, making out, opening presents and well more making out. But the present that stood out the most to Gabriella was a sweet pandora charm bracelet he'd bought her, picking out all the charms himself.

"I better get back to my family" Troy sighed getting up and heading to her front door.

"See you soon?" Gabriella asked kissing him softly.

"What are you doing New years eve?"

"Going up to Essex with all my friends"

"Shame, I'll see you after?"

"Definitely" Gabriella said feeling her heart sink a little bit.

The rest of the day Gabriella spent alone, but it didn't really bother her now she'd seen Troy.

Gabriella was excited, her first drive in her new car had been successful and she'd picked up all the girls to head to Sharpay's to give each other their christmas gifts.

From Kelsi Gabriella had received a nice bath and makeup set, from Martha she'd got a cute bag and makeup, from Taylor she got a framed picture of the both of them with her favourite chocolates and from Sharpay she got perfumes, chocolates and a huge photo album of all the photos from London, she'd given one to each girl.

The rest of the day went pretty quickly, they all planned what they were going to wear on New years eve and then got themselves all over excited.

Finally Gabriella, Sharpay, Kelsi, Martha and Taylor were all piled into Gabriella's little Fiat 500, ready to party Essex style. In Ryan's car were Ryan (obviously), Chad, Zeke, Kyle (Martha's boyfriend) and Aaron who'd become a very good friend to the group, they'd all grown very fond of him. But there was still another car that Gabriella had no clue about, she knew Jason and Ellie would be coming up to but not by a car and not with an extremely special person inside that car.

Once the girls had arrived at around 7pm, they immediately checked into their rooms, there was one for each couple. Now it was time to get ready, all the girls brought their makeup and outfits to Sharpays room to get ready. A good 2 hours later they were finally ready; Gabriella in her short red dress she wore on her first date with Troy, Sharpay wearing a short, bright pink dress, Kelsi wearing a cute navy blue dress and Martha and Taylor were wearing similar black dresses. The girls left first and met the guys at the club.

Now everyone was in their couples, Gabriella was left all on her own, not noticing Troy behind her she went to sit at the bar and ordered a Smirnoff Ice, downing it quickly.

"Should you be drinking it that quickly?" Troy asked laughing.

Gabriella turned to see Troy right in front of her before practically pouncing on him.

"Its nice to see you too" Troy said still chuckling.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here to spend New years eve with you, a fresh new start" He replied before kissing her again.

"You know, I think I love you too" Gabriella giggled against his lips.

"Just an I think?" Troy muttered winking.

"I definitely love you?" Gabriella asked laughing as his face lit up.

"You don't" kiss "even know" kiss "how much" kiss "I've missed you" Troy said in between each kiss.

"I saw you the other day Troy" Gabriella smiled.

"We should never be apart that long" He winked going up to the bar to buy them more drinks.

It was now approaching midnight and the countdown had begun "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Happy new years!" Everyone in the club cheered as they all kissed their partners.

"This year is for us" Troy whispered softly into Gabriella's ear after they pulled away from each other's lips.

"Take me back to the hotel?" She asked, wanting to spend time alone with Troy. They all said goodbye to their friends and called a taxi back to the hotel, finally they were in their room alone.

They both stripped down to their underwear before climbing onto the bed.

Gabriella whispered softly into his ear "I I'm ready"

"Are you sure?" Troy asked gently, wrapping an arm around her.

"Definitely, I love you and I completely trust you" She smiled.

Troy quickly got out of bed and pulled a condom out of his bag.

"Knew you were gonna get lucky?" Gabriella asked raising an eyebrow.

"No, just wanted to be ready for whenever you were ready" Troy smiled and got back into bed, laying on top of Gabriella but not putting his whole weight on top of her, slowly leaning down to kiss her softly.

"Do you know how beautiful you are" Troy muttered peppering kisses all over her body.

"I'm not" Gabriella blushed, Troy stopped kissing her and looked straight up at her.

"You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and ever will see" Troy said kissing her again.

That night Gabriella truly felt beautiful.