The Holidays Can Change Everything

by: LunarEclipse360

Disclaimer: it's still on my Christmas list

A/N: please don't kill me after this chapter but it is necessary. Lots of relationships are like this...well not like this persay, but something like it. I noticed that a lot of you are hostile towards Troy but technically it's not his fault. I'm sorry if Gabriella comes off as a bitch in this chapter.

Christmas, Don't Be Late

December 14; 11 more days until Christmas

The sound of a faint ringing woke Gabriella out of her sleep. She tiredly opened her eyes and reached over to her night stand to pick up her phone.

"Hello?" she said groggily.

"Morning sleepyhead." she smiled and leaned back against her pillow.

"Morning. Why are you calling me so early?"

"Well because I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"Go downstairs."

"Why?"

"Just go downstairs." she sighed and got out of bed. She left her room and went down to the living room.

"Okay. I'm downstairs now what?" the doorbell rung and confusion flashed across her face. She went to the door to answer and dropped her phone when she saw who stood on the other side. "Will" she squealed and launched herself into his arms.

"Good to see you too." he said with a chuckle. The doorbell, however, didn't go unheard by the rest of the house. Everyone went downstairs to see who was at the door and was shocked to see Gabriella hugging someone they didn't know.

"Um Gabriella...shouldn't you introduce us?" Kelsi asked.

"Oh right." she said finally realizing her friends were behind her. "Will these are my friends. This is Kelsi, Jason, Ryan, Destiny, Chad, Zeke, Sharpay and you know Taylor."

"Hey Taylor. Long time no see."

"Hey Will." she responded with a half smile.

Chad and Sharpay looked upstairs to see Troy standing at the railing, looking down at them. They knew what was going through his mind. They knew that he was feeling sad and angry at the same time. Chad knew, for Troy, that wasn't a good thing. Troy went back into his room and Chad chased after his best friend. Everyone watched as Chad disappeared upstairs and Will looked at Gabriella with confusion.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing." as soon as she uttered the word, loud yelling was heard upstairs and Gabriella frowned, her good mood disappearing.

"Is there someone else in the house?"

"Yeah one. You remember how I told you about one of my friends that for some reason never came home for the holidays?"

"Yeah."

"Well he's here and he's kind of been in an up, down mood." Will nodded in understanding and Gabriella's mind floated up to Troy's room, wondering what he and Chad were talking about.

"Dude just go down there and pretend like nothing's wrong." Chad said as Troy paced the room.

"I can't do that Chad."

"And why not?"

"Because I just can't."

"I'm not taking that as an answer so you better just spill."

"Fine you want the truth? I slept with her. There. Now you have the truth. You happy?"

"Are you serious?" Chad asked, surprise taking over him.

"As serious as cancer."

"But...when?"

"Early Tuesday morning."

"Then why have you been acting so cold to her?" Troy sighed and sat on his bed, his eyes fixed on the floor.

"Because she...she left as if nothing had happened."

"What do you mean?" Chad asked, taking a seat beside him.

"She just upped and left before I woke." he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I told her I loved her." he whispered. "I told her I loved her and she told me she loved me too."

"Then why are you going all crazy. You both know how you feel about each other."

"You don't get it Chad." he stood up and began pacing again. "You know how there's those guys out there who tell a girl that they love them before having sex with them?"

"Yeah. They leave them like right after."

"Yeah well I feel like one of those girls."

"I'm not understanding."

"She told me that she loved me and then she just gets up and leave and pretends like none of it happened."

"Well she does have a boyfriend."

"I know that but...we still could have worked something out. She didn't have to leave me to wake up alone. Do you know how that feels? To know that the most wonderful thing just happened to you and then you wake up hours later, feeling like it was all just a dream because the person you shared that happy moment with left without saying anything to you. It's the worst feeling in the world."

"That is harsh what she did. She could have at least left you a note or woken you up or something."

"But she didn't. She just left like it was nothing more than a one-night stand."

"Is that why you said those things to Sharpay?"

"She told you huh?"

"Yeah. You didn't really mean it did you? You know about not caring about Gabriella's feelings?"

"Of course I didn't but what else could I have said. Gabriella apparently doesn't care enough about me to consider my feelings."

"You...you didn't force her to sleep with you, did you?"

"No. I would never do that. I would have stopped if she told me to but she never did."

"Maybe you should talk to her."

"It doesn't matter anymore. She has Will now. All I am is a memory left to fade to the background."

"Boys." Sharpay said opening the doors slightly. "We're about to head into the city. You guys coming?"

"Go on without me." Troy said and went to lie face up on his bed.

"Oh come on Troy. It's no fun without you."

"Thanks for the confidence boost Shar but I don't wanna feel like the eleventh wheel." Sharpay sighed and looked over at Chad.

"Don't worry I'm coming." she smiled and went back downstairs. "You sure you'll be okay here by yourself?"

"Yes, I'm positive."

"Okay but remember stay away from sharp edges and don't set the place on fire, I don't wanna have to hear Sharpay's cries when she comes home to a burned down beach house."

"Okay dad." Chad rolled his eyes but smiled at his best friend.

"I'll see you when we get back."

"Later." Chad left the room and Troy sighed, staring up at the ceiling. The sound of the door opening, reached his ears but he didn't break out of his staring contest with the ceiling. "I told you I'll be fine Chad."

"Sorry to get your hopes up." Troy instantly propped himself up at Gabriella's voice.

"What do you want?" he asked with venom seeping through every word.

"To see why you don't wanna come with" she walked towards him but stopped when she saw the look in his eyes.

"I'd stay here than be the only one without a date."

"Please come with."

"No. Now go away." he laid back on his pillow and she sighed, turning to leave when something caught her eye. She walked over to the dresser and bent down, picking up a small prescription bottle. She gasped and turned to him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" she walked over to his bed and threw the bottle at him.

"About this." he sat up and looked at the bottle, all color fading from his face. "Depression? You're suffering from depression?"

"So what?"

"When did this happen?"

"Sophomore year of college. Look it really isn't none of your business."

"It is my business Troy. You could've told me about this. You could have warned me before I..."

"Before you what? Fucked me then left?" he was now sitting up fully, staring at her with hateful eyes.

"Believe me I wouldn't have left."

"Then what would you have done? Tell me Gabriella cause I would really like to know."

"I wouldn't have slept with you in the first place." she yelled and he stared at her, hurt, broken and lost. "T-Troy I-I'm sorry."

"Just get out." he said lowly.

"Troy..."

"I said get the fuck out." he yelled and she ran out the room. He laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Gabriella leaned against the railing, holding back her tears, her friends and boyfriend looking at her with concern.

"You guys go on without me. I don't feel like going anymore." she went into her room and slammed the door. Taylor immediately ran upstairs and into the room she shared with Gabriella. Everyone looked at each other, no one felt like going anymore. Something had happened between their two friends and they knew it was no time to go anywhere.