Hey everyone! I'm so so sorry that this is almost two weeks late! I was mean to update on the 17th but I haven't had the time to write before now. School was out on 21st and I was at a friend's house for a sleepover, where I ended up getting a bad sunburn and then I had to take care of a couple of personal things so I haven't had the time to write before now. I hope you all like it and before we start the chapter I want to give a huge shout-out to pumkingking5 for constantly reviewing my chapters! Thank you so much, you are the best! Also, I don't know what was up with the 'review' from Messenger777. Let's just ignore it? Anyways on with the story!

Wednesday, November 7th

As their day passed with lessons in science, English, PE and social study, it was finally time for theatre practice. The couple walked down the quiet hallways of East high making their way to the auditorium where it was bussing inside. "Ah, there you are!" Ms Darbus rich voice carried out as they walked inside, the door closing with a little thud. "Right everyone! Today we're going through the first act of Twinkle Town. Miss. Evans will assist me in watching and giving comments on improvement." "I just have to say I'm so happy to see all of you and I simply cannot wait to see this fabulous show that Darbus wrote for us," Sharpay exclaimed and as usual wearing her pink outfit that could make anyone go blind if they stared too long. "Kissing up to the teacher much?" Troy whispered so quietly that only Gabriella could hear him. Gabriella's head turned and glared at him, even though a smile was playing in the corners of her lips. "Quite right Miss Evans. Places everyone!" she called and the curtains dropped.

A gruelling forty-five minutes later the curtains closed for the final time and Darbus and Sharpay's applause could be heard. "Splendid! Brava!" the duo praised the cast members. "I thought it was bravo?" Troy questioned and Gabriella hit his shoulder playfully. "Ouch." "Oh get over it," she said to him and shoved him slightly from their sitting position.

"Let's take act one scene six one more time. There are a couple of things that need to be adjusted." Darbus could be heard saying and cast members made their way onto the stage.

"Great for us, because we can start studying for the science test," she said taking out her thick book from her backpack.

"You really hoped to get some down time during practice didn't you?" Troy asked looking amused at his girlfriend. "Not for my part." Troy gave her a look raising his eyebrow and she shook her head. "Didn't you say how behind you were just last night?" she asked flipping to the start of the chapter they were going to be questioned in. "Let's take it from the top," Gabriella told him as she started asking questions.

The couple didn't get much time to read science in between the scene rehearsals, but little was better than nothing. As Darbus called it to an end it was six in the evening and the cast felt like they could the first act forward and backwards in their sleep.

"So when do you have to be home?" Troy questioned as they walked towards his house. The air around them was surprisingly warm in the early November month, and the sun didn't look like it was going to set for several hours. "Ten," Gabriella answered moving her hand closer to Troy's, who accepted it and their fingers were laced together. "Great. Then we'll have plenty of time to eat before we start on our homework," Troy said as they walked onto their street. The couple made small talk as they got closer and closer towards Troy's house. When they stood at the front door, Troy rummaged into his backpack and pulled out his keys unlocking the door. Opening it for Gabriella they both stepped inside and Troy turned on the lights. As Gabriella looked around while walking inside she was amazed. Stepping into the living room she stopped and looked at a picture in his bookshelf that she hadn't noticed before. Carefully she picked it up studying the small picture in the wooden frame.

"Is there anything special you want for dinner?" he questioned but she didn't hear it. "Brie?" Troy asked looking into the living room. He stopped in the doorframe for a second seeing she had found the picture on his bookshelf. "Is there anything special you want for dinner?" Troy questioned again and her head snapped up as he let out a small chuckle.

"I don't care." Was her response. "I didn't notice this picture before," she commented and he sighed walking closer. "That's because it wasn't there last time you were here." Gabriella frowned a little before he continued to explain. "Whenever anyone of you have been over I have hidden the different pictures," Troy admitted with a sigh looking at Gabriella, to the picture in her hands, and back up at her. "I really didn't want anyone of you to know. To be honest I didn't plan on telling anyone until after graduation but I've learned that I shouldn't wait that long. Then again how do you tell anyone something like this?" "I'm sure they'll understand. If not, you still have me." Gabriella assured him, giving him a little smile.

"Is this your family?" she asked looking down at the picture. "Mhm," Troy said walking over to stand slightly behind her. "It was taken May this year for the annual flower blossoming festival." Looking down at the picture he saw himself standing in between his parents and grandparents, all five of them smiling.

"That is my mother and father, Lucille and Jack. My grandmother and grandfather are Amelia and Alexander," he explained to her as she looked at the five people in the photograph.

"You really look like your father and grandfather," she said with a smile. "It's the eyes," he explained to her. "At least that's what mom says," he said with a little laugh. "Hey, it's true." Gabriella defended looking at the picture once more before placing it back into the bookshelf. "You mentioned food?" she said hopefully. "Talking about changing subjects," he laughed and they walked into the kitchen.

"and that's how it ends up as a nucleus," Troy finished explaining looking at Gabriella for approval. "Great! I would say you have it covered now." "You sure?" Troy questioned and Gabriella nodded approvingly closing the book. "Yes, I'm sure. What time is it?" "Nine," he said after looking down at his watch. "Not much time to start on the Spanish then," Gabriella said with a sigh. "It is ok. I will manage," he told her with a smile.

"I'm curious," she started, "Obviously you speak English but not Spanish. Do you know any other languages?" Gabriella asked curiously. "All?" "All? How many?" she asked astonished. "Only six," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Arabic and French." "How many of them do you speak fluently?" she asked raising an eyebrow. "All six of them," he told her with a little smile. "What? How?" "I attended first grade at a public school, which by the way was when I meet my best friend. But after that year mom and dad decided to hire a tutor for me that I had for five years before I started public school again in sixth grade."

"So in those five years, you learned all of the six languages?" "Not exactly. I learned Arabic, French and Thai from the tutor but Japanese and English I learned at school," Troy explained to his curious girlfriend. "What about Chinese?" "Japanese and Chinese isn't that different, so if you speak one of the languages it isn't hard to learn the other." "Does everyone in Etrea speak English and Japanese?" Gabriella questioned curling her legs under herself. "Most of them yes. Japanese and English are the two official languages in Etrea, even though English is spoken by the majority of the people." Troy explained looking at her.

There was a silence between the two teens and Gabriella's gaze landed on another picture of Troy, his mother and another boy who had black hair and appeared to be the same age as Troy. "Do you miss your family?" she asked bluntly looking into his light blue orbs. "I have to admit that I have been a little homesick at times during the past three months, but you and everyone have helped me." "How?" questioned Gabriella interested in knowing what they had done. "The camping trip, theatre practice, basketball practice, being with all of you, and the basketball matches," Troy explained before continuing; "even though, at some of those times, I have missed my family more because the things they have missed. Royal or not, they try their hardest to be normal parents attending the things I have been active with." Troy said with a little smile as different memories crossed his mind.

"I know it's still weeks away but are you staying her in Albuquerque for the holidays?" "No, I'm going back to Etrea to celebrate with my family. We have a family tradition to celebrate with the whole family and it will be great to see everyone again. What about you? What are your plans?" "Just the usual with me and my mom," she said looking down, becoming quiet. "Hey is everything ok?" Troy asked a little concerned about her sudden quietness. "Yeah, I'm ok it's just that two weeks ago it was seven years since my father passed. I know it has been so many years but I love him," Gabriella said sadly and wiped away a single tear that rolled down her cheek. Troy put a comforting arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him kissing her temple. "I'm sorry to hear that," Troy told her and Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "It's ok Troy you didn't know that…" Gabriella said but was interrupted when she sneezed. "Bless you," Troy said and Gabriella blinked looking at him. "Thank you. Hey what is the time?" she questioned a little panicked for not knowing. "It's nine forty," he said looking at his watch. "I better get going," Gabriella announced getting up from the sofa. Troy helped her gather the books and notes they had been using before placing it in her bag. "Thanks," Gabriella smiled as she closed it, hanging it on her shoulder. "See you tomorrow?" Troy asked as they stood in the hallway. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow Brie," Troy said and they shared a soft kiss before Gabriella opened the door heading home.

Thursday, November 8th

Troy stood waiting for Gabriella by her locked the next morning. As the clock was creeping closer and closer towards 8:20 and still no sign of her, he was starting to grow anxious. "Why you just standing around here hoops?" Troy heard Chad say and he turned around facing his friend. "I'm waiting on Gabriella but she hasn't showed up yet," Troy told Chad as Chad was standing there with his basketball as usual. "I'm sure she just slept in. It happens to everyone," Chad assured him. "Honey that's just you," Taylor said as she passed them in the hallway to reach her own locker. "Ouch," Troy laughed with a little smile. "But seriously Troy, you don't need to worry. She'll be here, just wait and see," Taylor assured him as the warning bell was sounded. The three teens made their way towards geography with Mr Howe, which had to be their least favourite teacher.

As the double lesson dragged on there was still no sign of Gabriella, and even Taylor was worried by this. Free period on Thursday meant basketball for the Wildcats, but not before Troy had checked his phone. Troy felt relieved when he saw the text from Gabriella telling him that she had gotten sick and stayed home for the day.

At six that evening Troy sat on his computer doing some homework when a Skype call from Gabriella came through. "Hey, Brie how are you feeling?" Troy asked as the call connected. "Not too great. I have a fever and my voice is hoarse." "I can hear that," Troy said to her with a little smile. "I hope I haven't infected you," she told him couching a little. "If you have it is no big deal. By the sound of it you are not coming to school tomorrow either?" he asked her and she nodded. "No, I won't. Do you by chance have a copy of the homework?" Gabriella questioned hopefully. "I certainly do. I collected extra copies for you since you were a no show. Do you want me to bring you anything from your locker tomorrow?" "Yes, please. I need to read myself up to the scholastic decathlon competition," she said with a sigh. "Don't overdo it ok? Just text me the combination and what you need and I'll stop by tomorrow." "Thank you, Troy," Gabriella smiled gratefully at him. "I have to do some homework so I'll see you tomorrow," Troy said to her. "Ok. See you tomorrow." Gabriella said and ended the call.

Hope you all liked it! I decided against jumping straight to Christmas because it was too much of a gap, but I promise you, within the next two chapters Christmas will be here. Also, I tried out a new writing style. What do you think about that? Reviews are greatly welcomed (but only if they are about the story /writing ;) )