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It was Christmas morning and Gabriella woke up fairly early on her own, finding herself full of energy each day she woke since a week and a half ago after Troy had proposed to her. After things had settled down and all of their best and close friends and their parents were able to share in the glow of their engagement, Troy had explained to her how he had managed to put it all together, confessing to having really been trailing her in one of the security team's cars with Curtis driving and Troy laying low whenever she had looked for him. Of course, this was smart on Troy's part because Gabriella had never thought to question why Curtis was following her. She even laughed when Tomas brought in the birthday cake, the smirk on his face conveying to Gabriella how proud he was that he was part of duping her into thinking Troy was still in Copanvy, knowing Tomas's presence was not expected. What meant more though was how Troy had taken the time to ask Stephen for her hand, doing it the proper way and showing his respect for the older man. Stephen had told Gabriella separately the day after the party how it all happened, how Troy had requested the meeting after meeting with the representative panel of the council, telling Stephen that Troy felt in his heart that this was the right decision and Stephen agreed.
"Are you sure about this Troy? You aren't proposing to the average woman here," stated Stephen, eyeing the younger man that sat opposite from him, on the other side of the desk.
Troy adamantly shook his head. "No sir, your daughter is definitely not average and it isn't because she wears a tiara on her head either. Gabriella is an amazing woman today, even more so than when she was the great girl who first caught my heart unexpectedly back in high school. I know that this is going to be tough. If the council interrogating me earlier is any clue, not many support me in this but I agree that if what's best for Gabriella, what's best for Copanvy, is for me to step out, engagement or not, I will let her go."
Stephen studied Troy, seeing the sincerity there. "You'd fight though, I can see it in your eyes Troy and I would expect nothing less. You're right, Luis and Peter are not going to make this easy for you, not to mention Raul. You've got real guts Troy and for that, you have my respect. You surprised me a few minutes ago when I decided it was best that you know about Gabriella's pending arranged marriage tradition by taking it so well but looking genuinely surprised. I wonder though if you knew beforehand since so many didn't want you to know. Either way, I'm glad that you know now, after my telling you which is the official story, no matter what the truth is as to how you learned of this. Gabriella is right, you really have done so much, sacrificed so much for her and I can't ignore that. Neither could my parents if they were really open to seeing everything that Annette and I both have in you and in you and our daughter being together."
"Does this mean I have your permission, even your blessing to propose to Gabriella? I know it's rushed, it may seem that way, but to me, it's been, well, close to eight years in the making sir," Troy said honestly, glancing up to see a twinkle appear in Stephen's eyes in that moment.
"Then I'd say you are doing the right thing, the right way. Can I ask though why you are choosing her birthday? That's literally days away. Will you have everything ready?" asked Stephen, a bit skeptical.
"Yes, I actually have plans laid out for how I'm going to propose and already ordered her ring. If you had said no today, I would have given it to her as a birthday present but I think it will mean much more this way," confessed Troy, seeing no reason to lie at this point. "I even have my friend Tomas coming out with me to throw her off some, knowing she would never expect Tomas to come to Albuquerque."
"Ah, well you have put quite a bit of thought into this then. I won't be the one to dampen the plans although I do have one question. Would it be all right if Annette and I attend our daughter's special night with the rest of your group of friends? We were planning on going for Christmas as was planned with Gabriella but I would like to be there on what I think is going to be a very special night," stated Stephen, watching as a grin spread across Troy's face.
Amazed that Stephen would want to be there when having any proof that Stephen and Annette knew about Troy's proposal plans should something go wrong and this tradition work against their favor would be hazardous to them both, Troy nodded his head, feeling that much more pressure to make everything right. "Sir, that would fantastic. I know that would mean a lot to Brie if you were there, showing her how much you care. I already know that it is going to take some convincing that I really want her to be my wife, on my own terms and for my own reasons, but having you there will help out I think, ease her mind."
Stephen knew Troy spoke the truth on this point. "Then consider it done. You do realize though that after she accepts, you two will have to keep it underground for now, not telling anyone beyond the people you trust with your lives and having her wear her engagement ring on her right hand. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that you are doing this and I give this my blessing, but I would be failing you both if I didn't warn you that there are dire consequences should your engagement get out too early."
"Of course, I completely understand," replied Troy, realizing then that Stephen was already talking as if Gabriella would definitely accept him. "Wait, do you really think she'll say yes?"
This brought out an amused chuckle from Stephen. "Troy, she'd be crazy not to, and I already know she's crazy about you. Gabriella has found her own two feet and has learned to use that intelligent mind her mother gave her along with the charm to start fighting for you and what you share. There's no doubt in my mind that you'll have an unofficial fiancé on your hands soon."
Gabriella smiled as she thought back to the many positive words Stephen had used to describe the experience, knowing that even though her engagement to Troy was underground per se, their love was far from it and for the next few weeks in New Mexico, they would be more free to just be before the reality of what waited in Copanvy resurfaced. Glancing down on her left hand, Gabriella saw the ring sparkle with the early morning rays that were slowly creeping over more of the bed, bathing her side in the sunlight.
"You know, you look like you have a halo around your head right now, the way the sun is playing off your hair and this glow you have about you," murmured Troy, his voice husky from having just woken up. "You've been glowing actually since you became my fiancé."
"No, I've been utterly ecstatic since you became my fiancé and you say it like glowing is a bad thing," pouted Gabriella, smiling back at him as she turned on her left side to look at him as she realized he was now awake.
His lips tugged upward as he reached out his left hand to brush back some of Gabriella's dark hair to behind her shoulder. "Absolutely not! It fits you so well is all and I enjoy seeing that ring on its rightful place, on your left hand. I somehow never feel right when it's on your right."
"Wildcat you know that I would never take it off its rightful place if I could but, as much as I hate to agree, my dad is right. Let's not be foolish and scream to the world we're engaged, at least not yet. I want to try to work this all out before they give me no choice but to step down," replied Gabriella, reaching her right hand over and threading her fingers through Troy's thoroughly tangled hair.
Troy sighed, understanding completely where she was coming from and not wanting anything else. "I follow, really. Come on, it's early. Let's cuddle for a few more hours."
Gabriella immediately fell into the open embrace Troy was offering, snuggling immediately into his side and his chest as Troy rolled onto his back, wrapping his arms around her waist. Soon though, Gabriella felt Troy's fingertips drawing random shapes on the naked skin that was exposed at her hip, causing her to look up at him. Immediately after their eye contact, their lips met and neither quite knew how they got there but within passion filled minutes, Troy's shirt was off and somewhere on the floor while Gabriella's flannel pajama pants were somewhere bunched up at the end of the bed. The unfamiliar sensations of Troy's hands running over Gabriella's now hot flesh had Gabriella so mesmerized that she didn't hear the light knock on the door just as Troy didn't, too busy with trying to get Gabriella to moan again for him while trying to unbutton her flannel pajama top.
"Troy, it's Christmas and your mom and I were…" started Jack, pausing as he opened his son's door and saw a flash of dark hair duck under Troy's comforter after hearing a tiny squeal he knew did not belong to his son. The furious blush that bathed Troy's cheeks, neck, and quite possibly his naked chest was enough confirmation that Jack had just walked in on something he'd like to soon forget. "Well, I can see why you aren't up and running like you always are on Christmas. I just hope that is your new fiancé under that comforter and not some other girl or you and I will have to have a serious talk Troy."
Jack chuckled moments later when Gabriella's hand popped out of the comforter, waving her left hand around to show the ring. "Dad, please, get out," begged Troy, feeling absolutely mortified by the amused look Jack had on his face.
"Trust me, I don't want to be here any longer. Word to the wise though. Gabriella's parents are coming over for Christmas brunch before the rest of our family comes for dinner so you better finish whatever you were doing or abandon it all together as I don't think you want her father catching you in the same state I just did," warned Jack, laughing whole heartedly as Troy picked up and threw the stuffed basketball that was sitting on his nightstand at him just before Jack closed his son's bedroom door, leaning on it to regain his composure before heading into the kitchen to help his wife prepare brunch and of course share in the new story he had.
"Is he gone?" whispered Gabriella, absolutely horrified at being caught in the Bolton family's home almost naked.
"Yeah," grumbled Troy, running his left hand through his hair while his right was still tightly clenched in Gabriella's hold under the comforter. "You know, any longer nails and I would have permanent scars and blood loss after the way you clenched my hand like that."
"Hey!" protested Gabriella, throwing the comforter off her head and smacking Troy with an open palm. "Not nice! We better get ready and get going. Did your parents not know I was staying the night last night? I knew I should have stayed at Sharpay's."
"Brie, she and Tessa both weren't home, remember? I was not about to leave you there with no one else around, even Paul and Emma, who are back in Copanvy to celebrate with their families and despite your security team that still roams outside wherever you are," explained Troy, raising their intertwined hands to kiss the back of her hand. "But I think you are right and we should get dressed. I do not like the idea of getting slaughtered by your father on Christmas for having his daughter naked in my bed nor do I want to lose his trust right now. I still can't believe he told me about the tradition without knowing I knew."
Gabriella nodded her head as she fished for her pajama bottoms from the bottom of the bed. "That is a very good sign, let me tell you. I'm just glad he did and he isn't upset with me because I think he could tell you knew, despite your best efforts."
Troy gave her a sheepish grin before he got out of bed and went over to his closet to find the pair of slacks and collared shirt he planned on wearing. "I'm no Ryan Evans, that's for sure. Brie, what color are you wearing today? I know with the gang you wore jeans and that red long sleeve top with the Christmas tree on it yesterday for the gathering at Chad and Taylor's. Are you wearing that again?"
"I'm impressed you remember that but no, I won't be. Since it's family, especially some of your family I've never met before, I was thinking I'd dress up some more, maybe a black knee length skirt with a green sweater," replied Gabriella, catching a glimpse of herself now in a mirror she had just passed as she moved around to also get ready, grimacing as she saw a distinct dark mark on the lower part of her neck. "Make that my red turtleneck sweater thanks to someone branding me last night!"
Troy looked over and tried to give Gabriella his best innocent look while he tried to suppress the prideful grin that was begging to be let out. "Sorry?"
"Ugh, typical," stated Gabriella, grabbing the items she had named to him, grateful her indecision had caused her to bring more clothes than was necessary before walking past him and closing the bathroom door, locking it for safe measures.
Chuckling, Troy just shook his head, letting the grin that he had hidden before slip out as he pulled on a clean undershirt and slid on his slacks, choosing a shirt that would match Gabriella. 'I remember the day when I thought matching couples was so cheesy yet here I am seeking to do just that because it makes me feel good to compliment her in any way that I can. God I have it bad.'
After begging entrance into his bathroom and being allowed in once Gabriella was fully dressed, both surfaced from Troy's room just as the doorbell rang. They walked together to the front door, pausing to allow Gabriella to switch her ring over to her right hand, before throwing open the door to warmly greet both Annette and Stephen. Immediately following the warm greetings between both sets of parents, the six sat down to feast on Lucille's freshly made brunch consisting of omelets of green pepper, bacon, and cheddar cheese, blueberry muffins, sausages, and a mixed assortment of fruit.
The atmosphere was light and to any casual observer, one would never know that half of the table was royalty by how easy going the conversation was with no pretentiousness whatsoever. In fact, what impressed Lucille the most was seeing her son and his fiancé stand up and start clearing the table with full intentions of cleaning up, reminding her of a time when she used to have to threaten no basketball as a punishment to get a pre-teen Troy to just put his own dishes away in the kitchen. As soon as Troy and Gabriella left the room for the last time, leaving the table clear of all dishes and food platters, Lucille turned her gaze to Annette, who seemed just as enchanted with watching their two children interact together as Lucille was herself. "They are the perfect match aren't they?"
"In so many ways," agreed Annette, turning her attention to Troy's mother. "Lucille, you and Jack did such a fantastic job in raising Troy. He's both a gentleman and a fierce protector all in one, which is exactly what Gabriella needed back in high school and now. I don't think they'd be here together now if it wasn't for his determination to keep them together."
Lucille smiled at the compliment, knowing she was about to say a similar thing to Gabriella's mother. "Actually, I was going to thank you for raising such a beautiful daughter inside and out, especially mostly on your own as I understand it. I still remember the days back when those two were trying to hide away what they shared from the world because of that stupid school rivalry, how excited Troy got at the idea of seeing Gabriella. Even from the first time I met her, I knew that Gabriella was special and she's brought out this side in Troy that I didn't even know existed to be honest."
"And what dear wife is that? A clean side?" joked Jack, he and Stephen now finished with their own side discussion related to cars.
"No, a mature yet sophisticated side. Clean, well, I always figured he'd get there eventually," laughed Lucille, thinking back to how messy Troy's room often got when he was little. "Honestly, I think back then the only thing that kept that room clean was the promise that one day he wouldn't find his lucky basketball if he allowed things to lay everywhere."
Stephen chuckled at this, shaking his head. "Apparently, his love for basketball stems from a long time ago. I always knew he had a passion for the sport but I guess I didn't realize how long ago it started. Thanks mostly to Jack I am guessing?"
"Certainly wasn't me," replied Lucille with a large smile on her face. "I think Jack bought Troy his first basketball before he was even born. It's probably still somewhere in that room of Troy's."
"Perhaps, but I suspect that Troy was lucky to have both parents in his life at all times, a coach and a cheerleader for all those games he played too I'm sure," stated Annette, somehow feeling guilty just then at the thought that Gabriella was robbed of that full support system.
Stephen looked over and saw that expression on his wife's face, practically able to read her thoughts as was customary. "Annette, you were terrific with Gabriella on your own. If anyone should feel guilty, it's me. I should have stood up to my parents just as Gabriella is doing now. If I had had that fire, that spirit, we could have been all together and never separated."
"True, but then Gabriella's life would have been so different, growing up royal, living in Copanvy her entire life, and not having that normal childhood we were able to give her for the most part. As hard as it was for Gabriella to leave all she knew behind, I think she's truly grateful for having had the time to see what else was out here beyond Copanvy and being a princess full time," commented Annette, knowing for certain she was speaking the truth. "Gabriella for sure would never have met Troy or Tessa or Taylor or even the Evans twins if we hadn't done what we did."
"Things happen for a reason, don't they?" asked Lucille, giving Annette a warm smile as she watched Stephen wrap a loving arm around his wife's shoulders as Jack squeezed her hand that was resting in his.
"That they certainly do. I think we all have raised a child who has bloomed into an amazing person. We all wouldn't be here today if not," replied Stephen, chuckling as he heard Gabriella's squeal coming from the kitchen followed by Troy's hearty laughter. "Clearly they still have their mischievous sides."
Jack laughed. "I think we all do. Perhaps I should rescue Gabriella from Troy for a little after we exchange gifts. That in itself is a testament to how old we're all getting."
Annette looked curiously at Jack before it dawned on her what he had meant. "Oh yes, the Christmas morning excitement. I think it's safe to say that Gabriella hasn't bounced out of bed at 5 AM to open presents since she was eleven I think. Even though she knew logically there was no real Santa, I think she held onto that Santa spirit for a while longer, letting Stephen and myself play to it as she recognized how much fun we had."
"Ah yes, the Santa belief. Poor Troy had it ruined for him because of Chad and his big mouth," remembered Lucille, recalling the Christmas Eve a seven year old Troy had come home crying from the Danforth's home because Chad told Troy he was stupid for believing in Santa, that it was only for babies. "I think that was when Chucky became like this official older brother figure to Troy because he came over after I had gotten Troy to calm down to talk to Troy, letting him know that Chad was just being Chad and that it was all right for Troy to still believe in Santa. Of course, Troy never believed again but I think that was a great example of Christmas spirit right there."
"Sounds like it," remarked Stephen.
Once the dishes and pots and pans were all cleaned and dried, Gabriella and Troy came out of the kitchen to see both pairs of parents laughing hysterically, the words "little Troy" and "peanut butter" being the only understandable things being said. Gabriella curiously looked at Troy, who was now furiously rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "What exactly are they talking about Wildcat?"
"Nothing," got out Troy, feeling embarrassed enough that both of her parents already knew one of the more embarrassing moments Troy could remember from his childhood.
Jack was the first to calm down seeing both Troy and Gabriella back in the room, smirking a little at his son for thinking he could really stop Gabriella from knowing about this, plus many other stories that Jack was dying to share with Gabriella. "Don't let him brush you off that easy Gabriella. We were just talking about how Troy had watched his mother and her girlfriends do facials on each other in the living room one day when he was four, liking the way the product looked as it was green and sticky looking. Well, Troy didn't know that the mask was of course a true beauty product and saw the peanut butter from some snack Lucille had prepared for her and her friends to eat. He lifted it and snuck into to his room to grab a green marker. That's all I was able to put together to this day. As you can imagine, Troy doesn't like talking about it, but to make a long story short, I walked into the hallway bathroom to see Troy covered in splotches of peanut butter with green markings, admiring himself in the mirror. When I asked him what he was doing, all little Troy said was that he was becoming Hulk and that I had better watch it or he'd crush me with his pinkie."
"Not funny Brie," bit out Troy as he heard her giggle accompany all the other laughter in the room. "How was I supposed to know that? I was four?"
"You weren't supposed to but it's just cute thinking of you thinking that way. I didn't even realize you liked the Hulk that much," returned Gabriella, forcing herself not to laugh anymore but was unable to keep the smile off of her face. "I'm surprised actually that after that, you still love your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."
Chuckling a little, Lucille said, "It took him years to even be able to look at a jar of peanut butter again after Jack scolded him for making a mess and also explained that Troy really wasn't going to be the Hulk after all. Troy always had a great imagination. Eventually though, Troy got over his embarrassment and has been eating that favorite sandwich of his since high school."
"Aww, babe, that's so adorable, really," said Gabriella, running her fingers through his chestnut hair while Troy pouted. "You do sound like the imaginative little kid but so was I. Guess only children kinda have to be at times huh?"
"I bet you never did anything stupid like that," commented Troy, slowly getting over his embarrassment as he saw true amusement and sincerity in Gabriella's eyes as he gazed down at her. "I think it took my parents days to get that green marker off my skin where I missed the peanut butter. Didn't even color the peanut butter all that well."
Annette watched as her daughter just laughed a little and paused before she shared a secret of her own childhood. "Actually, it may not be mischief like you but I did have an imaginary best friend when I was little. Her name was Madeline and she kept me very amused while the other kids in kindergarten didn't want to play with me."
Troy's blue eyes softened at her words, picturing a small Gabriella with a head of curls sitting by herself on the playground while all her classmates around her were having the time of their lives without her. "Aww, Brie. Those other kids had no idea what they were missing. Guess I was lucky to have found Chad as early as I did."
"Saved you from imaginary friends huh?" asked Gabriella, smiling up at her fiancé. "I'll remind you of that the next time you get mad at Chad calling at not the best of times."
Sensing the shift in mood, Jack coughed a bit loudly before grinning as all the attention turned to him, including Gabriella's and Troy's. "Well, I think we should go open presents so that we can play some ball before the rest of the Bolton clan come over and the cooking can be done too."
"Notice how Jack does not include himself or Troy in the cooking?" Lucille commented, shaking her head in an exaggerated manner. "Bet he drags Stephen along with him."
"Of course Stephen is coming with me and Troy and we'll only be in the backyard," stated Jack.
"Don't worry Mrs. Bolton, I'll help out and I don't think you could stop my mom from helping either. She loves the kitchen," volunteered Gabriella, feeling Troy squeeze her hand in appreciation.
"Thank you Gabriella. I think I'll enjoy all the girl talk the three of us can have while they are out there playing in the cold. In fact, I have more stories to tell you about Troy when he was little I think you'll love. Oh, and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Lucille?" replied Lucille, smiling at the brunette.
Gabriella shrugged, knowing she was guilty of not respecting this one wish of Lucille's, as well as Jack's. "Sorry, I just can't get myself to do it. It's been engrained in my head too long to call my elders that way out of respect."
Annette laughed as they all got up and went to the Bolton's family room where the Christmas tree was set up and fully decorated with presents awaiting them all. "That is true. Gabriella has always been good at respecting her elders. Sometimes, these days, too much."
Lucille decided to let it slide, understanding now that it was something that was just different in Gabriella's culture and how she was raised, having respect for the fact that Gabriella still held onto it after all this time.
When everyone was seated around the room, Gabriella and Troy got to work in distributing the presents. They decided to just open their presents at the same time instead of taking turns like both families usually did, knowing that there were still things to be done in preparation for the rest of the family on their way, at least from Lucille's perspective.
Lucille smiled as she opened her present from Jack and saw a sparkling diamond bracelet laying on the beige lining of the rectangular velvet box she had unwrapped. Her attention though was drawn as she saw Gabriella unwrap the present from herself and Jack, smiling more as she watched tears shimmer in Gabriella's eyes as she looked down at the heart shaped locket now in the palm of her hand. Troy's head was peeking over her shoulder, his arms wrapped around her waist, his blue eyes lifting from the locket with two pictures of them together to meet his mother's, gratitude and love in his eyes for his mother and father for such a dear gift he knew Gabriella would treasure forever, looking back down to see the elegant T & G etched on the back. Without any further words, Gabriella escaped Troy's hold to give both Lucille and Jack a big hug each, expressing her deep gratitude for such a heartwarming gift.
With tears in her own eyes, Annette watched the heartwarming scene, knowing that if the situation didn't have a touch of royal blood to it, Annette would be sitting there feeling completely satisfied that the future her daughter would for sure be marrying into was the right one for her.
It was clear to Stephen too that Lucille and Jack both approved of Gabriella and even held her dear to them without knowing her as well as Annette and Stephen knew Troy. This made Stephen wish that his own parents would be as welcoming to Troy into their family just because Troy was the man that made Gabriella happy as his parents have her because their son loved Gabriella. 'If only everything was that easy…'
The next gasp that filled the room belonged to Lucille herself as she and Jack opened first Troy's present to them, a pair of courtside tickets in a month's time and first class tickets to Copanvy to see the Louvis Knights play a home game. What brought tears to Lucille's eyes though was the second present for her and Jack, the one that Gabriella had given them, a digital picture frame filled with pictures of Troy and his basketball life that were currently being displayed after Jack took out the frame upon instruction from Gabriella and plugged it in. Pictures of Troy when he was much younger with a basketball were shown, including shots of him playing with Jack and Chad separately, team pictures, and later pictures from his career in New York and in Copanvy.
"Gabriella, this is precious. How did you get all this?" asked Lucille, knowing she herself hadn't seen some of the pictures that were looping around.
"I have friends in high places who have access to those amazing pictures. That and the internet," explained Gabriella, relieved that Lucille and Jack both were grinning down at the picture frame, knowing she had chosen wisely. She turned her attention to her own parents, who were now opening the book that Gabriella had spent time on, filling in some of the preprinted book with her own memories of growing up as their daughter, inserting pictures that fit. Seeing the same expressions on their faces as they flipped through it as Jack and Lucille had while they looked at the frame warmed Gabriella, satisfied that all her hard work in secret paid off in the end like she had hoped.
"You did really good. I have no idea how you are going to top this one Brie," murmured Troy, chuckling as Gabriella blushed at his compliment. "I think I'll wait to look at my digital frame later, when no one else is looking otherwise I'm sure they'll see me cry."
Gabriella rolled her eyes, hearing the teasing tone in his words. "Oh stop Troy! Although, some of those pictures are rather intimate. Probably should wait until later."
Troy raised an eyebrow at this. "Intimate huh? Best keep that thing turned off for sure until all the family is cleared out. I know I'll love it for sure though just because I can see how much thought you put into everything else."
"Why thank you Wildcat. I do think that we have different definitions of intimate though. There's no self portraits in there if that's what you are expecting but definitely some chemistry filled ones," replied Gabriella, kissing Troy softly before she felt a light weight drop onto her lap. She pulled away and examined the envelope and small box on her lap. "What is this?"
"Open it and you'll find out," encouraged Troy with a smirk, his cerulean eyes dancing with excitement.
Without further persuasion, Gabriella opened the box and smiled as she saw another charm, this time being a Christmas tree. "This is perfect, it'll go next to the 25 you gave me for my birthday."
"My thoughts exactly. There's more, trust me," pushed Troy, taking the charm from Gabriella to work on adding it to her growing bracelet.
With Troy occupied with the bracelet and both sets of parents still looking through her gifts to them, Gabriella opened the envelope to read a nice card but it was the piece of paper inside the card that caused Gabriella's jaw to drop. "Colorado for four nights and five days? In a cabin? Troy, that sounds amazing!"
His eyes lifted from the bracelet to meet her dancing brown eyes. "I'm glad you like it! I just wish Chad hadn't stolen my idea or Chris too. Our romantic extended weekend has gotten invaded by those two, their girlfriends, Chucky, Sharpay, Ryan, and my cousin Amy. Thank God there was a cabin we found to house all of us. Don't worry, we got dibs on the master bedroom. My idea and all."
Gabriella giggled at this, excited at the idea of having this opportunity to hang out more with not only her friends, who she missed dearly in New Mexico but also Troy, more time away from a fate she knew would be waiting when they went back to Copanvy. "I absolutely love the idea, friends and all. It'll do us both good. Thank you so much Wildcat, this is amazing."
"Glad you like it so much. I know it doesn't top the new Prius waiting for you back in Louvis that your parents just gave you for Christmas, just like how the engagement ring I gave you isn't fitting for a princess…" stated Troy, stopping as Gabriella laid a single finger over his lips.
"Not another word Troy Bolton," she said sternly, hating when Troy said things like this. "I love how much thought you put into the trip to Colorado with our friends and I adore this ring that should definitely be on my left finger right now. Why? Because you thought about it, you put your heart into both, and that's more than I can ever ask for. You are more than I could ever ask for. Merry Christmas Wildcat, I love you."
"I love you too Brie. Merry Christmas," returned Troy, ignoring the fact that both of their parents were currently watching them as he leaned in and kissed Gabriella tenderly, deepening it for a few moments as the electric charge between them instantly ignited and began to run on high voltage, neither able to imagine a Christmas in the future without the other being there with them.