2006

There was no question, Gabriella was lucky to have such an amazing family. Sometimes her life felt a little lonely – an only child, her father had passed, moving around so much meant she didn't have many friends. But during the holidays, it was always nice to get together with assorted family. Usually they spent the holidays with her mothers sister Gloria and her family. Maria and Gloria were extremely close, and since the death of their mother, Gabriella's grandmother, a few years earlier, they'd become even closer. They spoke on the telephone at least once a week, would sent photographs and little presents throughout the year.

And so on Christmas Eve they were sitting in Gabriella's brand new house in Albuquerque. Only the essentials were unpacked. The family had come to help them with the move to their brand new home, and were staying for a couple of days before Gabriella and Maria headed to Colorado for their New Years vacation.

"So, wonder if there will be any cute boys at your new school?" Gloria commented, raising her eyebrows at her beautiful niece.

Gabriella glanced up from her novel. "Hmm?"

Maria hushed her sister, but Gabriella had heard the comment.

"Boys aren't into the freaky math girl thing," Gabriella responded, before glancing back down into her book for a moment. She then placed the bookmark in. "Can I be excused?"

"Sure, honey," Maria Montez said softly, and Gabriella scampered away from the living room.

An hour later she'd yet to return, and Maria ascended up the stairs, arriving at the door to Gabriella's new room. She knocked, waited a moment, and then creaked the door open. Gabriella had made a good dent in her unpacking – it was what Gabriella was always like when they arrived in a new home. Maria could see a suitcase out on the bed.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Packing for Colorado," Gabriella answered.

Maria looked down in Gabriella's suitcase, seeing six books. She stepped into the room, perching on the edge of Gabriella's bed.

"You know I meant it when I told you that I have told my company that this will be my last transfer until you go to college? That we're really close to Gloria here, that if possible, this is somewhere I'd like to settle, long term?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yes." She had heard her mother say it, but she didn't quite believe it.

"I really hope that you'll be able to fit in here, become happier. The last year... you really haven't seemed at all happy. Which is really hard for me to see."

"I'm not unhappy. Really."

Maria trailed her finger over the lettering of one of the books in Gabriella's suitcase. "You spend so much of your time curled up with these books. Maybe if once in a while you came out and looked around you a little more, you'd see that the world can be a pretty amazing place." Maria leaned over, kissing Gabriella on the forehead. "Just some food for thought. Come down soon, we're going to bring out dessert."

...

A few days later, just a couple of miles away in a beautiful A Frame house, a shaggy brown haired boy with shining blue eyes was being visited by his best friend, before he went away with his parents for a vacation over new years. He was excited about the opportunity to snowboard, but his friend was pretty disappointed about him being away.

"I can't believe you're going away for New Years," Chad said, tossing the basketball back to Troy.

Troy dribbled the ball a few times, crouched down, aimed, and sunk a beautiful basket.

"It's not a big deal."

"This party that Marcus is having is gonna be the party of the year!"

Troy grinned. "I thought that party after the winter dance was pretty sweet, gonna be hard to top."

Chad shook his head, thinking back. "Only you would think a party where you turned down the head cheerleader was sweet."

Troy was friends with a lot of the girls, but they weren't really the kind of girls who he felt particularly attracted to. Every time he tried to have a serious conversation with one of them, he felt like all they did was giggle and tell him how great his jump shot was.

"I prefer brunettes," Troy said with a shrug.

"I'm starting to think you prefer your hand."

"You're such a douche. How did you get Kayla to hook up with you?"

Chad grinned with pride. "Kayla is pretty dirty herself."

Troy rolled his eyes. "Romantic."

"I guess it's a good thing you're d not getting distracted by girls. Remember when you had a thing for Izzy in freshman year? You were so distracted."

"Distracted? I aced English that year, because I actually read the books because I knew Izzy liked reading," Troy recalled and grinned. "I don't think there's anything wrong with being diverse."

"Sure. As long as your head is in the game."

…

Eight days later, a few miles apart, a girl who had been living in the fantasy world of her books; and a boy who had the pressure of the world on his shoulders, sat in their respective bedrooms, staring down at their cell phone screens, looking at the photo of someone they'd met on New Years eve who they just couldn't get out of their minds. The school year was just a few days away from starting – for the boy, championships around the corner, for the girl, a brand new school to fit into. And all they could think about was that song, that gaze, and a missed moment in time.