The room was filled with people as the music started slowly and Gabriella stood there in green dress with her hair up in a fancy style.

I'll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

Please have snow

And mistletoe

And presents by the tree

Her voice filled the room as she smiled into the crowd and people sighed and listened with delight. Everyone was in suits and formal wear. Everyone was amazed with the 17 year olds voice.

Christmas eve will find you

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

I'll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

Please have some snow

And mistletoe

And presents by the tree

In the mist of the crowd stood Troy and Chad standing off to the side of the bar. They stood there looking around in boredom, for all of those under the age of 45.

Christmas eve will find me

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

If only in my dreams

"God this shit is awful." Tipping his glass he looked at the drink with a sour face. There was no beer or alcohol at the party, his mother was going for a friendly environment and thought it would be better if everyone here was sober. The juice however was to bitter or too sweet and he rather have a bourbon on the rocks then this.

"Your mom say how long we had to stay here for?" Chad said looking at his watch and then back up at Gabriella, who was now leaving the stage.

"3 hours."

Chad looked at his watch again and sighed. "It feels like we've been here forever." He said pulling at the collar of his suit. Both boys had their suits fitted to their bodies at the expense of Troy's mother who want them to look their best.

"2 hours, 28 minutes." He said, lifting his glass to his lips again he takes a drink.

"Why is she here anyway?" Chad said motioning over to Gabriella.

"Because my mother is a romantic." He said, placing his empty glass onto the counter top. He had no interest in going back to the past. Not after the things he did to her, to them, to his father. The youngest Montez was a elegant piece of candy he would not be going back to no matter how much unwrapping the treat would delight him.

"Yeah, because that's going to happen again," Chad said rolling his eyes.

"Tell me about it." His shoulders relaxed a bit as he heard the commotion going on behind him and everyone congratulating little miss ray of fucking sunshine. He had been watching her all night since she got there. He knew she was uncomfortable, she always was when he stared at her and lately he was staring a lot.

Gabriella smiled and shook the hands of her mother's co-workers.

"Mother, please don't make me sing again." She whispered as she grabbed a glass of juice from the tray.

"Your voice is a splendid gift darling, you should be happy so many people want to hear it." Her mother said as she smiled and shook some one else's hand.

Gabriella took a deep looked around to room and spotted him. The one person she wished she never had anything to do with. "I hate fundraisers." She mumbled under her breath quickly looking away before he noticed she was there.

"Just be polite and say your hello's and thank you." Her mother said leaning down a bit. "Lucile invited us because your father as some things to settle the board. So be on your best behavior."

"Yes mother," Gabriella sighed and then smiled an old man came up to her to shake her hand.

"That is some voice you got there it almost brought me to tears." Said the man, as he let her hand go, Gabriella smiled and responded as her mother told her so.

"Hello, thank you." She said in a sweet voice that made her skin want to peal.

It seemed like they had been there for hours on end, the only plus was that she had managed to stay far away from a blue eyed snake that was lurking in the crowd. The holidays this year seem to be coming at her on steroids and Gabriella just felt her stomach turn rather than bubble for joy. Deciding she needed hair she made her way to the back yard and to the garden walk were she was alone. Her life was so messed up. How on earth did she get here?

"Someone shoot me." she said throwing head back and feeling the night wind wrap around her body.

"And here I was thinking we could reminisce about the old times."

Snapping to attention she sprung around to see Chad and Troy standing in the doorway.

"What do you want?" she said looking into the eyes of the snake that had been looking at her from a far all night.

"Relax, I was just on my way out." Troy said tucking both his hands into his pockets.

"What's stopping you?" she said standing her ground and looking at him with a straight face.

"The scent of stale air and bitter musk coming from your direction." He responded with a smirk.

"Aw Chad, you should do something about that smell it's making your lover sick." Gabriella said crossing her arms.

Chad took a step forward. "Shut up Little miss-"

"Not worth it." Troy said holding Chad back and looking Gabriella up and down with disgust.

"whatever." Chad lurched forward past her to the parking lot and Troy followed behind him.

"By the way." he said turning around and nodding his head. "Cute song."

"Go to hell Bolton." She said uncrossing her arms.

"Already there baby." He said turning on his heal and making his way out.

Chad huffed and puffed as he made his way to the car. "What the hell did you see in her anyway?"

"She had tits" Troy said hitting the car remote and opening his door.

Chad rolled his eyes and got into the car as well.