Best of Both Worlds
By: lol925
Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical, Virgin Records, or AIM
Dedicated: To my readers, reviewers, friends, family, and Rachael for her continued support for my writing.
A/n: Here is Chapter 6! Thanks a ton everyone! When I checked my email it was flooded with reviews, people adding to alerts, and people adding to favorites! Another special thank you to future.mrs.zac.efron! She reviewed to all 6 of the chapters even though she was reading them on the same day. Most people would only review the last one. Well on with the chapter!
December 25, Gabi's Bedroom, 8:30 A.M.
It was Christmas morning! I found myself scrambling to my mom's room. "Mommy it's Christmas. Come on, let's open up the presents," I exclaimed.
"Gabi aren't you a little to old to wake up so early for presents? Can't you go to sleep for another hour?" she pleaded.
"This is coming from the lady who wakes up at 7:00 in the morning on weekends. Mom it's 8:30. Go downstairs and make yourself coffee while I wake up dad. He is going to be much more stubborn," I told her. I walked to the guest room where my dad was staying.
Before I could get a work in he said, "Five more minutes mom."
"No dad, it's Christmas. You are getting up now," I commanded. It took 10 more minutes to pry him out of the bed. By then my mom was sipping her coffee and she had another cup in hand for my dad.
I looked at the tree. It seemed to have 5 times as many as last year. Probably because there were gifts for 3 people and a lot of people gave Melody presents.
We started opening our presents and I got some great ones. My parents had got me a guitar, because I told them I wanted to take lessons.Robyn got me an iTunes giftcard. Melissa got me some cute tops from Express. Laura gave me some Bath and Body Works products. I had got them some nice things as well.
Mr. Forden, Mr. Bortega, Ms. Roberts, and Meredith got me gifts too. Mr. Forden got me a music box. Mr. Bortega got me a mall giftcard. Ms. Roberts bought me a book I had been wanting to read. Meredith even gave me a Sephora make-up kit. She included a note with the present.
Dear Gabriella,
Melody isn't the only one who gets to use some make-up! As fun as being a popstar is, being a teenage girl is pretty cool too. I hope you have happy holidays!
Sincerely,
Meredith Callow
I thought that was pretty sweet. What was even sweeter was a fan managed to give me a gift. Shannon Darly got the Virgin Records address and asked them to deliver it to me. They were cute little microphone earrings. She too enclosed a note.
Dear Melody,
I hope you're having a great Christmas! I want to let you know that you're my idol! Before winter break started a group of popular girls asked me if I wanted to smoke with them. I knew it wasn't good for my health, but I really wanted to fit in. I thought of you. Melody, you are super cool and you don't smoke. This gift is to thank you for helping me make the right decision in a difficult situation. Merry Christmas!
Yours Truly,
Shannon Darly
That really touched my heart. I now realized how much my actions weighed. All these stars drinking under the influence. What were kids supposed to think? Normally, when I get fanmail we send out a prewritten letter. This deserved a personal letter. "Looks like someone got a lot of presents," my dad commented bringing me back to reality.
"Yeah, I guess I did. Are you jealous?" I teased.
"It seems weird to have a Christmas without snow. Minnesota had a lot of snow last Christmas," my mom remarked.
"So what are our Christmas plans?" I questioned.
"We can do whatever you want,but Aunt Susan, Uncle Dave, Alice, Jocelyn, and Travis are coming over," my mom stated.
"Ok, mom some kids in my school and their families are going to sing Christmas carols at the senior citizen home. Can we go?" I said.
"I think that's a lovely way to spend Christmas! Christmas is supposed to be a time to think of others. It probably won't last too long and we can return home in time," my exclaimed. Together we cleared up all the wrapping paper and got dressed.
We arrived at the senior citizen home shortly after. The songs we sang were traditinal Christmas songs. All the elderly seemed delighted and I saw a smile upon their aged faces. None of my close friends came, but some friends from my volleyball team did, so it was just as enjoyable. My parents seemed to be happy too. I had lost hope of them remarrying, but the way they were acting around each other resembled a couple. I decided not to get my hopes up though.
We left with enough time to whip up something good for Christmas dinner. Surprisingly my dad didn't evade helping us and made some delcious dishes. I gave my mom and hand as well, because she needed all the help she could get. "Mom did you tell Aunt Susan about Melody?" I inquired.
"Yes, I did. I don't know if she told your cousins though. If she didn't you can tell them. I heard Jocelyn and Alice are big fans," she answered.
"I might tell them, but I don't know yet," I stated undecidedly.
"I'm going to go get dressed. You should too. They'll be here any moment," she said. We both walked upstairs. I decided to wear a cute red and green skirt combo. For a touch a added a cute holly pin and earrings. A bit of make up and I was done. When I finished the doorbell rang. I ran down to open it.
"Hi Gabriella! How are you? You've grown so much in the last couple of months," Aunt Susan exclaimed and engulfed me in a bone crushing hug. Uncle Dave simply smiled. He wasn't one to throw himself on someone or get very emotional.
"I'm good Aunt Susan," I replied, but she'd moved on to my parents.
"Anna how have you been? Oh hi Mike, what brings you here?" she asked in a bit of a cold voice. It's not that she doesn't like him, but she always thought he was a bit immature. She was saddened by the divorce, but mostly disappointed that her sister now didn't have a husband and me without a father around all the time.
"I invited Mike so that Gabriella could have Christmas with both her parents," she responded quietly, but firmly.
"Want to excape these boring adults?" Jocelyn whispered.
"With pleasure, come on Alice. What about Travis?" I asked as we went upstairs.
"He got a new video game and he's been playing it all day. He's barely talked to us at all. He didn't even say thank you to mom and dad for getting it for him. Anyway us three girls have a Travis-gree evening," Alice remarked. We got to my room and sprawled out.
"So Alice how is being a senior treating you?" I inquired.
"It's great! I feel at 17 I can do anything. Seniors rule the school. The only thing I don't like is applying for colleges," she answered.
"You can do anything? Last week you came home an hour late from Brenna's party and you got grounded. That's definitely not free reign," Jocelyn retorted.
"Whatever, so Gabi how is high school going for you?" she questioned.
"It's good, I've made new friends since I've moved her too. You guys are lucky though. You have never moved in your entire lives. How about you Jocelyn?" I stated.
"It's ok now, but the beginning was horrible. Alice is really popular, so they thought I'd be the same. They tried recruiting me for the cheerleading squad and that was what I'd like to call a disaster! Now I've made friends who are more like me," she explained.
"So anything else exciting going on in your lives?" I said.
"Not much, but Jocelyn got a boyfriend," Alice declared. She laughed as she saw the expression on Jocelyn's face.
"Why did you have to tell her? I could have told her myself. I know you're going to have to ask for the details, so here they are. We started dating last month. He tall, handsome, sweet, funny, adorable, and I could go on about him for hours. Next time you visit I have to introduce you two. His name is Andrew. Have you had any luck in the love department Gabs?" she told me.
"Nope, I would say that the love department is going really bad," I mumbled sadly. I then went on to tell them about the whole Ben Dalton fiasco. Both of them were really sympathetic which cheered me up.
"What a jerk. Don't worry there will be other guys. You'll find the one that is right for you," Alice said when I finished.
"Can you give me his address, so I can beat him up. I'll show him what happens when he messes with Gabriella Montez and Jocelyn Henderson!" she declared. Then we all started cracking up.
"Girls, come downstairs. Dinner is ready!" shouted my mom from downstairs.
We all went down and sat at the table. Uncle Dave managed to pry Travis away from his game. We were all catching up with each other and making pleasant conversation. When it came around to dessert I figured I should tell them. I was stabbing my pie with my fork when I figured it was the right time. "Aunt Susan, did you tell them about you know what?" I said making sure. All the kids gave me funny looks. Aunt Susan shook her head no.
"Well Alice, Jocelyn, Travis I have an announcement. I'm Melody Brooks!" I announced.
"Oh my god. Am I being punk'd?" screamed Alice.
"Seriously, Gabi you rock my world," Jocelyn yelled.
"Woah, I'm related to someone famous. Do you know how much I could make off of selling your used tissues!" Travis shouted.
"Alice you are not being punk'd. Jocelyn I appreciate that. Travis you are not selling my used tissues or anything I own!" I said. That had gone relatively well. I told them how I had been discovered and all the details and they were in shock. All though my aunt and uncle knew, they didn't know all the details and were very intrigued.
"Kids, we're trusting you. As cool as it is you can't say anything to your friends or anyone. We wouldn't want to blow Gabi's cover ok," my mom instructed.
"Aunt Anna, we wouldn't think of it. We want Gabi to have her privacy, but it is really cool though!" Alice said. We all smiled. An hour after dinner they all left. It was a sad goodbye, since we wouldn't see them for a few months. After we had shut the door we all collapsed on the furniture. "Mom, dad this sure was an eventful Christmas," I said smiling.
I hope you liked it. To future.mrs.zac.efron I do not have a picture of what she relatively looks like so use your imagination! If feels strange to be writing about Christmas in the middle of the summer, but hopefully I can get to spring by the time summer vacation is over. Please leave a review with comments, questions, or suggestions.