Hello! I'm sorry this is a little late but last week was crazy with tests and Red cross before fall break! I have used fall break to type up a couple of chapters so hopefully it will be better. Huge shout-out to Pumkingking5 for reviewing you are amazing for your continues support! Hope you all like this chapter:

"What are we going to do when we go back to America?" I questioned Troy looking at the cats. "I have no clue."

Saturday December 22nd

It was currently six in the evening and the two teens had just finished eating dinner and cleaned up. Both Troy and Gabriella were sitting on the floor beside the box looking at the cats.

"It's a shame they are only a week old. Otherwise maybe I could have taken one with me," Gabriella said petting one that was curled up in her lap.

"And what would your mother have said?" he questioned with a smile looking at the cat in her lap. "Oh mom I spent Christmas in a country across the world and I brought a cat with me home," he said and Gabriella burst out laughing at his imitation.

"Ok, ok I see your point," she laughed and Misty crawled into her lap to retrieve her kitten.

"We do have one problem though," Troy said out loud and Gabriella shifted her gaze from the cats towards her boyfriend. "Misty needs to eat as well and I have no clue what," he told her and they heard a door open and close with a soft thud.

Footsteps was approaching the two teens and Troy shifted so he was sitting in front of the box. A woman stepped into the secluded kitchen area. Her brown hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and she was wearing a black dress with a white apron that had frills along the edges along with black shoes. "Good afternoon," she said with a sweet smile.

"Hello Maggie," Troy replied with a smile "I don't believe you have meet my girlfriend Gabriella," Troy introduced and Maggie gave the young girl a smile.

"So what are the two of you doing down here? On the floor?" she questioned suspiciously and before Troy had the chance to answer Misty jumped out of the box and stretched out on the tiled floor.

"Well well, who do we have here. Is it little miss Misty," Maggie said and Misty walked over to Maggie to get petted. Troy moved to the side and Maggie spotted the box with kittens. "Oh how precious," Maggie said looking at them. "I was wondering where Misty went here the other day," she said out loud. "What are you going to do with them?" she questioned looking back at Troy.

"That is what we are struggling to figure out," Troy told Maggie with a little sigh. "Does anyone else know about them?" she continued to question.

"Only the three of us," Troy said with a nod. "Ok so what if I later today get some food for Misty and you should think about what to do later on?" she asked and Troy nodded.

"Sounds great," Troy agreed and Maggie rose up. "See you later," she said with a smile walking away.

Gabriella was laying in her large bed reading when there was a soft knock on the door. A little puzzled about who it could be, she called them in. "Come in," she said and the door opened revealing her boyfriend. "Oh its only you. I thought it would be someone else," she said with a small smile and Troy had to smile as well.

"I was just wondering how it's been so far," he told her closing the door behind him, walking over to her bed.

"Different, that's for sure," she said closing her book. Troy sat down beside her on the bed and she scooted closer towards him. "But a good kind of different," she told him. "I like seeing how you live. To be honest I have a hard time seeing who you really are." Gabriella said and Troy frowned

"What do you mean?" he questioned and Gabriella saw that he had misunderstood what she meant.

"No not like that, but the fact that you are royal. This is your everyday life, and not the one you have in Albuquerque where everything is so much simpler," she told him and he smiled.

"I know it is different." Troy started taking her hand. "But to me you are one of the few who see me as normal and not someone you have to be super polite to or anything like that," he told her and she gave him a shy smile. "You know you can wake me during the night if there should be anything right?" he asked and she nodded.

"I do, but can't you stay a little longer?" she questioned him and he smiled. "Of course," Troy told her and she leaned her head on his chest.

"I love you Wildcat." Gabriella said staring into his blue eyes. "I love you too," he answered and they shared a kiss before they both drifted off.

Troy opened his eyes blinking a couple of times before he remembered where he was. Looking outside of the windows, it was still pitch black. Turning to look at the clock, the numbers 05:36 flashed at him. He felt Gabriella shift beside him and she opened her brown eyes looking at him.

"What time is it?" she questioned him almost in a whisper. "Half past five," he told her looking down at her almost falling back asleep.

"I guess we both feel asleep," she said opening her eyes more to look at him. "Mhm… I guess I should go back to my own room," Troy told Gabriella who nodded sleepily. Before he walked out the door he turned around and saw that she was already fast asleep.

"Good morning," Troy heard the unmistakable sound of Maggie as he closed the door to Gabriella's room. Turning towards right he saw Maggie come out of the small library/study. It was obvious that she had started work since she was dressed in the black dress and apron with a duster in hand.

"Good morning Maggie," Troy greeted with a little nervous smile looking at the elderly woman in front of him. "What are you doing up and about at these hours?" she asked him, her voice light and a little teasing.

"Oh, you know… Couldn't sleep?" he said not even convincing himself. Maggie smiled to herself and laughed a little.

"Oh don't you worry Troy. I won't tell anyone. Goodnight," Maggie smiled and continued down the staircase.

"Goodnight," Troy said mostly to himself and walked inside his own room. Getting in his own bed he fell asleep.

Sunday December 23rd
Gabriella's POV

"I don't know If you remember but I have to join my family to church today," Troy told me after breakfast. "I do remember you telling me about it," I nodded as we walked out of the dining room. "When do you leave?" I questioned looking up at him.

"Church starts at one so around twelve-thirty," he told me taking my hand. "Will you manage here? I don't know when the rest of my family arrives," he told me apologizing.

"Don't worry," I reassured him. "I understand you have to do this," I told him and he gave me a grateful smile followed by a kiss on top of my head.

"Maybe we should do some of the homework now while we have time?" I questioned and Troy nodded agreeing.

Sitting down somewhere quiet we tackled the homework we all had been assigned over the holidays.

"What are you going to do next year?" I questioned Troy putting my book down. "What do you mean?" he questioned looking at me. "I mean about college. What are you thinking about majoring, are you going to a local college here, another country or even staying in America?" I questioned him and he looked at me surprised.

"I don't know," he confessed. "I sort of have to go to college here but the thought of staying in America sounds wonderful. I have been conflicted about what I want to major in. It stands between what I should do and what I want to do…" he said trailing off and I was genuinely confused.

"But, can you choose what you want to?" I frowned and he smiled.

"If it was just that easy," he said almost with a laugh in his voice. "Everyone is waiting on what I am going to do. They are analysing the choices and decisions I make now, and try to get an idea on how I am going to rule the country eventually. I'm conflicted about something related to sport and theatre versus politics as most people expect me to choose," he told me ruefully. "On the brighter side, I have been accepted at Royal College of Etrea, also known as RCE, where most royal and influential people get their education," he told me and I was confused by the whole idea.

"Take Marcus for example," he said breaking it down for me. "He is going to RCE next year because his dad is working in the technology group that is under the official government," he explained. "So it is mostly for the elite in the country?" I questioned, a little harsher than intended, while frowning.

"Not exactly," he said trying to explain. "The school have around 700 students each year. Most of them are from Etrea, both the 'upper class' and the regular people, but they are trying to get international students from all over the world and no matter their background," he told me.

"So everyone can apply?" I questioned thinking. "Well yes. There are certain requirements for being accepted but they are open to everyone," Troy told me and typed something on his computer.

"Here," he said showing me a webpage for the school. It was a beautiful old building that was mixed with modern architecture in the front. To me it looked like a modern Hogwarts, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and four other tall buildings scattered around the campus in various styles.

"Wow. It is so unlike anything I have seen," I told him amazed, giving him back his laptop. "Have you written any applications yet?" he questioned me closing the computer.

"I have. I have applied for Yale in New York, Stanford in California and University of Albuquerque," I told him and he gave me a curiously glance. "Why University of Albuquerque?" he asked me and I shrugged a little.

"Hoping to get into Yale or Stanford is kind of optimistic. They hand select top students from all over the country, and the level is so high," I said noticing how stressed I was about the whole situation.

"Hey, if there is anyone that can make it, it is you," Troy reassured me taking my hand squeezing it. "I know you will," he finished and I smiled.

"Thank you. It means a lot. The only downside will be the long-distance relationship to you," I told him and he scooted closer to me. "Don't think about that already. It is months away and we will make it work if we want to. It will just be some odd hours Skype calls," he told me with a smile kissing my cheek.

Troy looked at the clock before his eyes widened. "Oh no. I have to go change," he said and we both collected our books.

Sitting down in one of the couches along the hallway I was partially reading the book and partially waiting for Troy. I heard him walk down the staircase and I looked towards him. He was dressed in a dark grey suit, with a matching waistcoat, white shirt and a dark blue tie in his hand.

"You look good," I said giving him a smile. "You don't happen to know how to tie a tie? It doesn't work that well with only one hand," he questioned but I shook my head and rose from the sofa.

"I'm sorry I can't help you. But I do find it quit amusing really," I told him and he frowned. "Oh?" "Your seventeen and need help to tie your tie," I said with a smug voice and even Troy laughed.

"Are you mocking me?" he questioned laughing while wrapping his hands around my waist from behind, picking me up and spinning me around. "No Troy!" I exclaimed while laughing as he spun me around. As he sat me down on the ground he kept a hand around my waist to steady me.

"Troy," his mother's voice was sounded followed by the soft click of her heels on the floor. "Oh great you are ready," she said with a smile

"Almost mom. Could you help me with my tie? I couldn't manage it with my cast," he explained and Lucille smiled. "Just stand still," she said and within a minute she had tied the tie. "Thank you mom," he said tightening it before tucking it inside his waistcoat.

"Your dad and grandparents were going to meet us outside, so we should go now," Lucille told her son. "All right. I will be back in a couple of hours," Troy told me looking at me. "Don't worry I will manage. Besides your family is coming soon." "Bye," Troy said and followed his mom outside.

It was only half an hour later when I heard two voices almost yelling. "Calvin wait up!" a female voice was heard and she soon appeared by the boy who was looking at me. They had to be the twins because they looked really alike.

"I don't believe we have met," Makayla said exchanging her hand. "I'm Makayla," she introduced herself. "and that is my brother Calvin," she said nudging him.

"Hi," he greeted and I smiled. "Nice to meet you both, I'm Gabriella," I told them both shaking Makayla's hand.

"You're from America," Calvin said as it suddenly dawned on him and I nodded. "Yes." "Calvin!" Makayla hissed giving her brother a look.

"What do you normally do when you are here?" I wondered looking at the two of them as Makayla thought for a minute. "Well, we always have one snowball fight. Do you want to join us now since Troy can't?" Makayla asked and I nodded. "I would love to…" "Yes! Finally, I don't have to be on a team alone!" Makayla cheered.

An hour later we found ourselves outside playing in the snow, just as I had done little over a week ago in Albuquerque. "Hey Araya," Makayla said and I spotted a small child a few feet away from us. It was good to get a break because Calvin had just hit me in the back of my neck with a snowball that was melting.

"Can I join?" she questioned in her adorable voice. "Yes, what do you want to play?" Makayla questioned and Araya walked over to us.

"Tag your it!" she yelled and started running towards the castle. "What?" I questioned and Makayla looked at me. "Please tell me they have tag in America," she said and I nodded.

"Of course, I played it a lot when I was younger," I said to her. "Now we have given her a sufficient head start," Makayla said and we all ran after her. Running inside the castle, still dressed in our outdoor clothes, we saw Araya disappear around a corner. Following her we were back in the foyer where I said goodbye to Troy a little earlier.

It all happened so fast. As we were almost going to catch Araya my feet slipped from underneath of me and I tried to hold my balance. "Ahh!" Makayla exclaimed beside me as the two of us went crashing to the floor. Makayla, Calving and myself all lay somewhat on top of each other on the floor. Hearing footsteps I looked towards the sound and saw Troy along with the rest of his family returning from church.

That was it! How do you think Troy will react and how will the Christmas celebration continue? Please leave a review telling me what you think.

-FreeFlyingWriter.