Gabriella opened her eyes that morning to the smell of bacon. For a moment she almost forgotten where she was, the bed was clean, she was warm. Safe to say not in her old apartment anymore, stretching she moaned and let out a sigh. Her eyes focused on the blue dress hanging on the dresser, she had a day ahead of her alright.

"So this is what's it's like waking up when you're rich?" Gabriella said as she walked into the kitchen where Troy was already seated and eating.

"I'm not rich," he said lifting another piece of bacon.

"Right and I'm Madonna." Gabriella stole a piece of bacon from the pot. "When do we have to get going?"

"Wedding starts at 10, it's only 8," He said looking down at his morning paper.

"Whatcha reading?"

"Nothing you'd care about," he said turning a page.

"Try me," Gabriella sat down on the table and stole a piece of bacon from his plate.

"For the record there are two open chairs behind you, and I'm reading the paper for any good law issues that could bring in business." Troy did look up at her and Gabriella frowned, he instantly regretted his attitude.

"Well I guess I'll just go get ready than?" she said pushing herself off the table. "You're not in the mood for socializing. Not like I care I'm just part of the job, I should be happy you're not trying to stick a dick up my ass."

Troy let the newspaper fall and he turned his attention to her as she made her way out the kitchen. "Why do you do what you do?" Troy said before she was completely out of sight.

Gabriella turned around and cocked her hip to the side. "Do what?"

He was quite as if he was trying to formulate his question. After a long pause he let out a breath and looked up at her. "Sell yourself."

Gabriella shrugged her shoulders and bit the bottom of her lip. "At the time it didn't seem like a bad idea, I was new around and Victoria offered me a job and some help." Gabriella shrugged and turned to kept walking.

"Why not get a job, you know a regular one?"

"No one was going to hire a street rat with no references, or experience." Gabriella turned to face him. "You paid me four grand to pretend to be your girlfriend. Why didn't you just put in the social effort and find some secretary?"

"I didn't want some girl I'd have to impress; it's just easier this way."

Gabriella nodded her head. "As long as there are people like you in this world it's just easier my way."

Troy watched as she left the kitchen, his shoulders felt heavier his guilt weighed more on his couscous. He was about to lie to a lot of people just for the sake of seeming somewhat put together. Troy got up and placed his dishes in the sink as Rosa walked in with a rag. "Do you know she has trash bags in her room?"

"Yeah," Troy said turning to face Rosa a dedicated worker of his for seven years. "Do I have a duffel bag she can use?"

"You should, but I always assumed clothing would go in a drawer?"

"She's not that kind of guest Rosa,"

She huffed and picked up the plate on the counter. "I've noticed."

"It's just temporary," Troy walked past her and she began to utter words in Spanish. "Thank you Rosa," he called over his shoulder.

Once Troy was dress in his suit and tie he adjusted his baby blue tie in the mirror. The soft sound of a Christmas song fluttered in the distance and he paused to listen carefully. It was almost an echo as if it wasn't really there but he could hear it. He followed the sound, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light…."

He came closer to her bedroom door where the noise was coming from. Placing a hand on the door he gently pushed and a smile came to his lips, she twirling in the dress her hair floating in waves and curls. "Here we are as in olden days, Happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us Gather near to us once more."

Her voice was soft and inviting and he felt warm all over, his smile was wide and he blue eyes glaze at her in wonder and amazement. It wasn't possible for someone to be that beautiful, but there she was the girl from the subway. She didn't care about anyone seeing her as she was, she had a song in her heart and sweet vision of heaven in her eyes.

Gabriella stopped mid turn her dress completing the turn without her as it shuffled back into place. "What?"

"Nothing, you look amazing."

Gabriella bit her bottom lip. "Thanks, you clean up pretty well too."

Troy walked future into the room and removed something from his pocket. Gabriella turned to face the mirror. "I almost look like I belong here."

"Do you?"

Gabriella smirked and rolled her eyes. "I'm not making loads of cash like you, I hardly make anything." She said fluffing her hair a bit. "I'm using all the money I make to pay off my debt to Victoria, once I'm out of the biz I plan to make my degree in theater and music work for me."

Troy held up a closed hand and positioned himself behind her. With one movement he unleashed the sliver chain from his palm and down came a sliver heart a diamond in the center, and it shined.

"Oh wow," Gabriella brought her hands up to cover her mouth. "Holy crap, is that real?"

"100 percent," He said looping his hands around her neck to clasp the necklace. Gabriella lifted her hair to make it easier and she admired the stone in the mirror.

"I promise I'll give this back unharmed." She said lightly placing a finger on it.

"It's yours Gabriella," he said with a smile.

Gabriella froze as her eyes dilated in the mirror and stared back at him. "How did you know my name?"

"I wasn't going to let a stranger stay in my home" he said brushing some of hair back, "Besides if it's alright with you I'd like to tell one less lie tonight about you."

Gabriella watched him in the mirror as he watched her. "You're really creepy, and nice, but creepy," She said running her finger along the gem around her neck.

"You're welcome." He chuckled a bit and took a step back to admire her, "We should get going."

Gabriella stood quite for the ride to the church. Thoughts running through her head, she couldn't help herself around him she felt like telling him everything and most times she did. She opening herself to him in ways she wouldn't even to a cage bird. There was something about him that scared her that made her want to lean into him, to laugh at his jokes, flirt a little by running her fingers along his skin. She wanted him, she couldn't have him and today she had to pretend that she belong to him.

Sharpay paced her dressing room, jitters filled her insides and she took deep breaths.

"Do you want me to go get your mom?" Taylor asked as she sat there on the bench provided in the bride's chambers.

"I need Troy,"

Taylor rolled her eyes. "I already told you he's coming."

Sharpay fluttered her fingers. "God he must think the worst of me," her insides were twisted not that getting married wasn't what she wanted; she loved Zeke, with all her heart. She'd been looking forward to this day for months. She wanted a Christmas wedding something memorable, something she could love about the holidays even more. Her hair was up and curled around her face her dress shuffled and shifted with each step. "He has the prenuptials, I haven't signed yet."

"He'll be here, calm down,"

"It my wedding day and I'm nervous about a prenup!" Sharpay shook her head. "I shouldn't even have one, I trust Zeke, I should have never listened to daddy."

"Sharpay if I had the kind of money you did, I'd have a prenup and a postnup," Taylor said crossing her legs.

"What's a postnup?"

"Damn if I know, look when Troy gets here you can put all the legal crap to bed and walk down the aisle towards that fine looking man who wants to marry you and then fuck each other's brains out all honeymoon long." Taylor stood up at the sound of a knock at the door and she rolled her eyes. "It's about time."

"Hey," Troy voice sounded and Sharpay sigh in relief. She smiled and then paused as a brunette followed him in.

"Wow," Sharpay looked at Troy then at the girl. "You look amazing in that dress."

The girls eyes went wide and she took a deep breath. "Miss Evans, oh my god, I've heard so much about you studio and theater, it's always been a dream of mine to meet you."

Troy looked over at the girl and pointed to Sharpay. "You know her?"

"No, but that's Sharpay Evans she like the Steven Spielberg of theater," she said in a low voice.

"I like her," Sharpay said holding out a hand. "Please tell me this is your date."

"Oh my god this is so weird," The girl blushed. "I am so sorry I didn't mean to come off,"

Sharpay chuckled, "its fine really, I don't get recognized that much, I kind of like it," she said tilting her head to the side.

Taylor gave Troy a shove, "How about an introduction?"

Troy shook his head. "Right, where are my manners." Troy said turning towards Gabriella "Sharpay this is my date Gabriella Montez."Her hand was getting clammy and he smiled, Gabriella might put up a front but inside she was just a normal woman. "This is Taylor McKessie, Taylor meet Gabriella."

"Nice to meet you," Taylor said with a smile. "I love your necklace."

"Thank you, it was a gift," Gabriella said with a small smile.

"Alright, here are the papers you need to sign," Troy said handing them to Sharpay. "And you look beautiful by the way."

"Thank you," Sharpay sat down in her chair. "Do you really think this is a good idea?"

"It's a great idea as your lawyer I think this is a step in the right direction."

"At least she's in the dress this time," Taylor mumbled. "We better be headed off in the right direction these shoes hurt."

Gabriella stood there watching the scene unfold. Why had she not been told she was going to meet Sharpay Evans herself and could she have come off anymore retarded? Gabriella let out a long breath and she smiled as Taylor sat down on the bench. "Maid of honor?" Gabriella suspected.

"Yup, always a maid never a bride," She let out a deep sigh. "One of these days I'm going to be a bride."

"Well at least when your single you can have angry great sex and not married for seven years to one guy sex."

"I like you."

"Thank you." Gabriella said with a smile.

After some counsel and a hug Troy and Gabriella made it to their seats. As soon as they sat down Gabriella punched Troy.

"Ouch." He jerked and looked at her in shock. "What the hell?"

"How come you didn't tell me your ex-girlfriend was hopefully my future employer?" she whispered in an angry voice.

Troy placed a hand on hers. "She likes you so I'd say that's a good sign." Troy smirked. "Besides I told you my ex was into theater and music."

"She's also gorgeous," Gabriella said placing her hands in her lap and beginning to fidget.

"Are you jealous?" he raised a brow, suddenly all too curious about what was going on in that head of hers.

Gabriella opened her mouth and then shut it, before speaking. "No, this is just a job remember?"

"I remember." Troy said as the music started. Troy grabbed her hand interlacing their fingers, at first he assumed he did it because it was what couples were suppose to do at weddings but he actually enjoyed the feel of her small hand in his. The ceremony began and he watched, as the woman he once loved and still did marry another man.