AN: Merry Christmas everyone!! I know this story is a bit late, but it's still Christmas for me, so it's not completely late haha! I have this song that's been stuck in my head forever that this story is sort of based off of called "His Favorite Christmas Story" by Capital Lights, and I've wanted to write a story like this for awhile. I definitely recommend checking it out, so go to youtube and type it in. I'll also post a link in my profile later tonight. Anyways, the story will probably be about 6-7 chapters and will hopefully be posted from now until December 31st. I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and the characters/places you don't recognize.

Chapter 1

In a town of less than a thousand people, it was rare to see someone who you didn't know while walking down the street. Everyone knew who you were which made it difficult to attain any kind of privacy. Gossip usually travels like wildfire, but in the town of Greensborough, Delaware, it rarely took more than a day for everyone in town to know the latest bit of news.

At the age of fifteen, Troy Bolton had never been the talk of the town. Sure everyone knew who he was, which is why he rarely got into any kind of trouble. He was a good kid. Straight A student. Star of the football, basketball, and baseball teams—not a rare feat for anyone with a decent amount of athletic talent in a school of less than 150 students. And a lot of his free time was spent at the local senior citizens residence community in town. After developing a friendship with Mr. and Mrs. Walters a few years earlier, he'd spent nearly every Saturday with them, watching basketball with Mr. Walters, and showing his latest pictures to Mrs. Walters. A year back when he began high school, he'd taken an interest in photography and Mrs. Walters had become his biggest fan. But even more than that, Troy would list decorating for Christmas as one of his favorite activities to do with Mr. and Mrs. Walters. Troy had never met anyone who was as into Christmas as the Walters, but shortly after developing a friendship with them, Troy had also taken a great interest in the red and green holiday filled with snowmen, reindeer, bells, and Santa. In fact, some would go as far to say that Troy was obsessed with the holiday. That year alone he'd started decorating for Christmas, midnight of the day after Thanksgiving per his parents' pleas for him to wait until then, although his room had been decorated a month before that.

This was Troy's life, one that rarely sparked any talk from the town unless it involved sports, which Troy was perfectly fine with. He enjoyed laying low and not having everyone talking about him. That's the way he preferred it, and that was the way it had always been. But on one snowy Christmas Eve in Greensborough, that all changed.

---

"Troy, tell me why again you are here with two old fogies at 7:30 on a Saturday night, Christmas Eve nonetheless, when you are a handsome, young, popular fifteen year old boy? Shouldn't you be out partying with some friends? Maybe even getting into a little trouble?"

"Are you kidding me Mrs. W.? My dad would be pissed if he found out I'd been out partying, not to mention he'd probably cut back some of my playing time. Besides, why would I want to go out and party when I can spend some quality time with the two of you?" Troy charmed.

"But you spend every Saturday night with us! Don't you have some girl you want to go conveniently end up under the mistletoe with?"

"No Mrs. W.," Troy blushed, feeling awkward at the direction the conversation was headed in.

"Now I find that hard to believe," she countered, looking at her husband for support who nodded back.

"Me too, Troy. I agree with Joanne here. You need to go out!" Mr. Walters said as he drew a card from the deck in the center of the table. "Got any fours?"

"Go fish, got any tens?" Troy asked Mrs. W., who begrudgingly handed two over. "You're just saying that so she doesn't make you sleep on the couch tonight."

Mr. Walters chuckled, "You got me there kid, but it's the truth. I know what's good for me. Which is why I picked up this lady sixty-five years ago. I asked her for a dance, and never looked back," he finished, his arm gently wrapping around his wife who snuggled a bit closer to him. "Now don't tell me there aren't any girls you are interested in Son. I may be old, but I'm not stupid."

"I'm not lying!" Troy laughed, amused at the recurring conversation they'd had a few times that year. "You both do know there aren't a whole lot of girls to choose from in this town. Any threes?"

"Go fish. And stop being so picky and making up excuses!" Mrs. Walters scolded him playfully. "Alright kiss up husband of mine, do you have any kings?"

Mr. Walters sighed, handing one over. "Beautiful, how about two's?" Mr. Walters rolled his eyes, handing her another card. "Jacks?"

"Go fish," Mr. Walters grinned, before looking back at Troy. "Alright kid, any aces?"

"Go fish. Mrs. W, do you have any sevens?"

She groaned, handing one over and watching as Troy laid down his last pair of cards. "That's game."

"Maybe we should teach him some card game that he's not good at Henry," Joanne suggested, rolling her eyes as Troy smiled innocently. "Alright now look, we appreciate the gifts you've brought over and that you chose to spend Christmas Eve with us, but consider this a second part of our gift to you. Go out and be a kid for once! We'll still be here tomorrow."

"You sure?"

"Of course we are!" Mr. Walters spoke up, patting him on the back.

"Well, I did want to go downtown tonight and take part in some of the Christmas stuff going on."

"Oh, Henry and I used to love to do that each year. We'd sit by the fire and share a few dances out in the freezing cold, as we waited for Christmas Day."

"I wish you two could see it this year. You'd love the way they decorated the tree Mrs. W., and I hear the band this year is pretty good. Plus they are going to have a snowman making contest, Gingerbread man decorating, Gingerbread house decorating, and they are going to have Christmas movies showing throughout the night as always."

"That all sounds splendid Troy. Just find some kids your age please," Mrs. Walters added with a stern look.

Troy grinned cheekily, standing up from his seat and leaning over to kiss her cheek. "I promise Mrs. W. I'll swing by tomorrow to pick you guys up to come to our house for Christmas dinner around 5:00, alright?"

"Sounds great! Have a good night Troy, and Merry Christmas!" Mr. Walters said, shaking his hand.

"You too Mr. W.! Merry Christmas to you guys as well!"

--

Since the founding of the city of Greensborough, it had been all or nothing for Christmas. The snow dusted streets were lined with people, all bundled up in scarves and gloves. Not a single lamppost was forgotten as each had been decorated with bright red bows. Every store window was decorated and at each street corner stood a decorated tree.

Troy stuffed his hands in his pockets as he crossed the street to head over to the park in the center of town, where everyone had gathered, hot drinks in hand, listening to the band play Christmas carols while they sat next to the fire or gathered around the giant Christmas tree in the center of the park.

After picking up a cup of hot chocolate of his own, Troy made his way over towards some of the benches by the fire. Looking around for a place to sit, his eyes stopped on an unfamiliar face seated by the fire. She was beautiful to say the least. Dark brown wavy hair and chocolate brown eyes, bundled up in a black coat and a red Christmas scarf. Suddenly, Troy really wanted to talk with her. The words from Mrs. W., rang in his ears and he decided to be bold for once. Spinning around, Troy headed back to the table and paid for another cup first deciding it would provide him with a better opening line.

"Mind if I sit here?" Troy asked, interrupting her thoughts. Shyly the girl shook her head, wrapping her arms more tightly around herself while she smiled softly at him before gazing back at the fire in front of her.

"Thanks." The girl turned back to smile at Troy and when she did, her smile grew as she saw him holding out a cup of hot chocolate towards her. "I saw you sitting over here and I thought you looked like you could use something warm to drink."

"Thank you," the young girl said, taking the cup gratefully and bringing it up towards her face, letting the steam warm her up. "This was very sweet of you…," she paused, searching for his name.

"Troy," he supplied with a wide smile, reaching his hand out to shake hers.

The girl glanced down at his hand before looking back up at his smiling face, smiling herself and slipping her hand into his, "Gabriella."

"I haven't seen you around before."

"My parents are here on business."

"Business on Christmas?" Troy asked with his jaw slightly dropped, the idea almost foreign to him.

Gabriella nodded, rolling her eyes as she held the same opinion. "Seems wrong doesn't it? I mean, it's Christmas Eve! The night before the best day of the year, and yet they're off doing business stuff like they will be all day tomorrow. Some vacation this is."

"So they left you all alone in a town you've never been to before?"

"Pretty much."

"Wow," Troy muttered, his gaze leaving hers for a moment as he looked around the park at all the festivities before returning back to hers. "Well, I know we just met, but if you're sticking around for awhile, we can hang out together. They are going to be having a snowman making contest soon, and they'll be showing a movie also. I think it's Home Alone tonight. Wanna stick around?"

Troy's nerves grew as she hesitated for a moment, worried maybe he'd scared her off. "It's okay if you don't, I'd understand since you don't know me very well. But I promise I'm not some creep."

"I know you're not a creep," Gabriella giggled. "But are you sure you want to spend tonight with me? It's Christmas Eve, don't you have family to be with?"

"My family is all around here somewhere, but my parents like to hang out with their friends who are all way to boring if you ask me," Troy added in a soft whisper as if someone would overhear, "and my little sisters are off playing with their friends."

"Well, if you're sure…"

"Of course I am!" Troy answered confidently, hoping she'd agree.

"Okay then," Gabriella agreed, a smile tugging at her lips as Troy grinned widely at her, before ducking her face towards her cup of hot chocolate.

Troy took a sip of his own drink, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't believe how his heart sped up each time her eyes connected with his. Sure, he'd talked with girls before at school, but none of them ever had this type of an effect on him. Realizing he'd probably been quiet for too long, Troy decided to strike up a conversation again. "So where are you from?"

"Philadelphia."

"And how long are you guys here for?"

"I was told just for a couple of days, then off to New York, but with my parents' jobs, that could change any minute."

"Wow, you guys travel a lot huh?" Troy asked, feeling sad for her as he noted the disappointed tone of her voice.

"Yeah, well my parents do, and when I'm on breaks from school, they drag me along."

"They leave you at home by yourself while they're gone?"

Gabriella nodded, this subject usually upset her but she found it comforting at that moment as for the first time someone seemed to actually understand her feelings. "Yeah, they do. But I would rather have them do that then be taken all over the country and not have a normal high school experience."

"Good point, so you like school then?"

"I guess," Gabriella smiled while fibbing a bit, not wanting the cute guy she just met to think she was a geek.

"You play any sports or anything?"

"I play basketball, and then I'm on our school's decathlon team."

"Hey, me too! Well, not the decathlon team, but I play basketball. Our school is too small for a decathlon team."

"What position do you play?"

"Point guard usually. It's the place I'm most comfortable on the court. What about you?"

"Shooting guard or point guard. Since I'm way too short for any other position." Troy chuckled as she laughed at herself, his interest in the girl next to him growing rapidly. "You play any other sports?"

"Football and baseball."

"Wow, three sports, huh? You must be really talented."

Troy blushed, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck, his signature nervous habit. "Well don't forget this is a small town. There isn't a whole lot of competition."

"Still," Gabriella persisted, bumping his arm with her elbow causing them both to blush, "Three sports is impressive."

"Thanks," Troy said before finishing off his hot chocolate, trying to hide his reddened cheeks before glancing over at the area where the Christmas movies and Gingerbread man decorating were taking place. "I think the movie is starting soon. You want to go check it out?"

"Sure," Gabriella happily agreed, taking the last sip of her hot chocolate and grinning shyly when she saw Troy's hand outstretched towards her as he stood in front of her. After gently placing her hand in his, she allowed him to help her up. Both of them had gloves covering their hands, yet still they felt butterflies as their hands locked together.

"Come on, I'll get you another cup of hot chocolate too before we head over there."

"No Troy, you don't have to-," Gabriella protested, stopping as Troy tugged her over to the table, blushing as the women at the table smiled knowingly at the two who still had their hands together.

"Hi again Mrs. Anderson," Troy greeted the red-haired woman at the table kindly. "Can I get two more cups of hot chocolate please?"

"Troy at least let me pay-,"

Before Gabriella could reach into her jacket pocket, Troy took her other hand in his. "No way Gabriella! You are a guest here, and I'm treating you."

"Where are you from sweetie?" Mrs. Anderson asked as she took the money from Troy and handed them each their cup of hot chocolate.

"Philadelphia, my parents are here on business."

"Well welcome to Greensborough! Troy here is one of the nicest boys in town, so you are definitely in good hands. You two enjoy the evening. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas," Gabriella responded, looking up at Troy whose cheeks were tinted pink once more.

"Thank you Mrs. Anderson, we better get over there to the movie before it starts. Merry Christmas!"

"Come on," Troy told her, gripping her hand a little more tightly in his as he led her away. "It's warmer in the room where they are showing the movie. You're still sure about this right? Cause if you want to do something else or go find your parents, I understand."

"Troy," Gabriella stopped him as she squeezed his hand, "I'm sure. It's either hang out with you, the first person I've had a decent conversation with for days, or go back to the hotel and sit by myself bored out of my mind."

"Alright then Miss Ella, care to join me for some movies and for the creation a killer Gingerbread house?"

If her heart wasn't fluttering before, it for sure began to the second she heard her nickname roll of his lips. "Definitely."