Homeless On Christmas

Chapter One

A Five-Shot Story that I am Co-Writing With MissElenaSalvatoreEfron18(:

Snow fell softly, the clouds were a thick and swirling gray, Troy sighed; staring out the window through the thick white beard and bushy white fuzz of the hat he was wearing. He was used to the buzzing loud noise of the New York streets, but this...this quiet of this evening that was lingering overhead was eerie and abnormal. He sighed, pulling his tattered red coat over his shoulders and the hat he was wearing further over his eyes. Oh the joys of being homeless on Christmas Eve. But if this story is to be told, it'll be told right, from the very beginning and in this case, that would be a week before Christmas in the alley on the corner of Brooklyn and 39th, where the most oddest couple sit on a tattered black trench coat with a McDonalds picnic between them. They looked happy to anyone who passed them by and to them, they were happy...they only thing that dampened their spirits was...Christmas. Well, more so, Troy's spirits were the ones being dampened. But, as said before, this tale needs to be told from the beginning and even this isn't it…no, we have to go back just about the Saturday before the week started.

Gabriella sat in her room reading the book The Lucky One Christmas was just around the corner and she couldn't help but feel depressed... she had no family around for Christmas this year. Her Mom and Dad were going to be away on a Business Trip till January, so she was going to be alone on Christmas. She wanted to have a special guy in her life to share Christmas with, but there was nobody in her life yet, so she would be celebrating Christmas alone. Maybe she should invite sharpay over for Christmas. Oh wait, she's going to be in the Bahamas. Taylor? Nope,she's going to be with Chad. She sighed, maybe she wasn't just the only one who was having a depressing Christmas...maybe someone...out there...somewhere.. Was just feeling the same way as she was.

It was cold, freezing and to make matters worse; it was wet. Troy shivered as he hunched in a huddled ball just underneath a overturned dumpster. His teeth chattered as the biting wind nipped at his nose and cheeks and the rain came at him head on. It was freezing in December, and it wasn't even Christmas yet. He sighed, feeling the numbing effect that the cold was having on his limbs as his mind drifted to …what it was like when he was younger. And by younger, it's when he was 5 years old. His house was big and decorated with bright red and green garlands, his father hung mistletoe every place he could just to catch his mom under it with him. Troy laughed every time his father attempted. He helped his mother bake Christmas cookies and the house was filled with the delicious smell, that was the best Christmas Troy remembers. The year after, it wasn't as great because two months before the next Christmas his house had caught fire and his parents had been inside. Troy ran away from the social worker and he'd been on the streets ever since, the only thing he had left of his parents was his mother's north star necklace-made of pure sterling silver, attached to his father's white gold chain; they hang around his neck, coincidentally over his heart. But now he was 17, and …he was alone this year. As he was for many of the previous years. He shrugged as sleep overcame him, wishing and hoping that maybe there was someone out there…somewhere…who was just as alone as he was.

But probably not as cold.

Gabriella sat in the kitchen drinking some hot chocolate. She looked outside her window and sighed as she watched families decorate their houses for Christmas. She sighed, why is she the only one that's unhappy on Christmas? Christmas is supposed to be the time of Happiness and spending time with loved ones? She wasn't happy, nor with her loved ones. she sighed as she looked at the clock that said 7:05am. She had just enough time to go to McDonalds and get some breakfast. She got her coat and went out the door.

The clouds were like a gray blanket, thick and swollen, covering the city. Troy sighed, stretching his sore and cramped muscles, the clouds hid the sun on this winter day that no one could tell what time of the day it was-un less they actually had a phone or a watch, Troy had none. "Good Morning...to me." He mumbled, standing up and grimacing when his stomach growled; he put his hand-smudgy and grimy with dirt from the alley- to his stomach. Food,he thought as he yanked his hood on to his head and started off walking. He ignored people as they walked toward and around him, he liked being invisible to the world...that way he couldn't get into any trouble-unless he needed to. And food? Yeah, that eventually cause him to get into trouble...occasionally. His stomach growled again and he picked up his pace, turning the corner and his eyes- blue and cold like ice- landed on a small brownstone bakery; his mouth watered at the smell of fresh snickerdoodles wafting through the smoggy New York air.

Troy walks sneaks in through the back of the bakery; he sees the cook's back turned to the snickerdoodles, making a big delicious cake. Troy then quickly started to the snickerdoodles into his pockets; he quickly rushed out of the bakery. he was far away from the bakery in the alley, and began eating the snickerdoodles. he then heard a young girl scream, and he looked over, he saw two guys throwing a beautiful girl onto the ground, getting on top of her and trying to rape her... she began screaming and whimpering, "somebody! Please help me!" they slapped her and began kissing her.

He didn't know what possessed him to get up, drop his snickerdoodles to the ground and actually go to where the young girl was. But, he did it. His veins felt some one had filled them with five kinds of energy drinks, his fingers twitched as he curled them in towards his fists, he didn't hesitate when he swiftly kicked one of the men to the ground and then punched the other one in the jaw. The girl, who was whimpering on the ground, shakily stood up, Troy reached down a hand to help her up, but before she could reach it, it was grabbed by one of the bulky men. His muscles felt like they were full to bursting and the other one was just the opposite and he looked like he hadn't shaved in days. "You're going to pay for that!" the bulky one screamed, Troy smirked and swung his fist, and jumping on his back. wrapping both his arms around the guys neck, his lips so close to his ear when he whispered dangerously, "pay with what money?" he asked, as he was shaken off, but he landed on his feet (coincidentally in front of the girl). "Now leave her alone..."

They guys ran off ran off quickly scared that Troy would murder them. Gabriella stood up slowly and was thankful that this strange man showed up at a good time. She walked over to him and spoke, "Th-Thank you...I really appreciate that.." she smiled warmly.

Troy cleared his throat, stuffing his hands in his pockets; but first to make sure his hood was still up, it was but only just- only his mouth was showing and part of is nose and the lower lids of his eyes. He's not very social. "You're we-welcome," he said, Gabriella stuck out her hand and smiled. "I'm Gabriella..." Troy only looked at it, and it was 3 seconds later that she awkwardly pulled it back and cleared her throat to divert some of the tension. No such luck. "Troy." he said simply, and then he turned around to go back to his alley, Gabriella followed him-barely keeping up with his long strides.

Would you like to go to dinner with me... tonight? for helping me...?" she asked him hoping he would agree but maybe she was afraid he would say no, maybe he had other plans, after all it was close to Christmas. "Unless you have other plans i mean..." she cleared her throat

Troy, when he arrived at the alley, stopped in his tracks and smirked before turning back around to Gabriella. When he did, his eyes were alight with amusement. "Doll face," he said, crossing his arms over his chest, "look at me...do I seem like the type of guy to have plans?" he scratched behind his left ear nervously, the small motion causing his hood to fall to his shoulders. His eyes, clear as crystal made Gabriella's breath hitch. "uh, well...it-it's Christmas...or almost...I just thought...that you would like to...uh..." normally she didn't stuttered around guys, but, his eyes! They were practically melting her from the inside out; reducing her to a puddle of slush to freeze over during the night.

Gabriella couldn't speak; she just stood there like an idiot... "I Just thought you would like to spend Christmas...with... your family.." she gulped nervously.

Troy felt his eyes narrow and his whole body tense, his jaw ticked. "Ain't got a family...anymore." he said, it was a mumble but Gabriella still heard it and her heart lurched in her chest when she heard his words, immediately going up to him and grasping his hand firmly in his own, ignoring the shot of sparks that tingled up her arm; Troy jumped a bit from the contact, and stared down at her. "So...does dinner sound good..." it must have been her imagination or something, but Troy smiled the faintest of a smile, but it only lasted four seconds, before it vanished again and he nodded. Gabriella felt her own lips curl into a smile and tug him along to the corner and hailed a taxi-five stopped and she pulled Troy to the closest one. He rolled his eyes as he was practically shoved into the backseat before her. "Pioneer Square please" she said, the driver nodded and off they drove.

When they got to the Restaurant... People began staring At Troy and how his appearance was, Gabriella noticed this and she whispered to Troy, "Don't let the stares bother you... They don't know what you did for me.." he smiled at her sadly and nodded, and they took a sit. they began talking about their childhood, their families and their interest.. it seemed they had alot in common. When they were done eating they began walking to her the streets of New York. "...just so you know...I'm alone for Christmas too.."

"Is that so, Doll face?" Troy asked, chuckling when Gabriella blushed and tipped her head down, making a curtain around her face with her long, midnight coloured locks. "Well no need to blush about it." she looked up, seeing his stony gaze stare straight ahead. She gulped and walked a little closer to him, he looked at her. "I hate being alone for Christmas." she said, Troy sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You get used to it..." he breathed out, Gabriella looked at him and stopped in her tracks, an idea forming in her head and her lips curling in a smirk. "I got an idea!" Troy eyed her curiously, saying 'what' with his eyes. Gabriella grabbed his hand out of his pocket and pulled him to the the next corner and once again hailed the next taxi, this time telling the driver to get them both to her address. She looked over at Troy, "How about you joining me for Christmas?"

He blinked at first then smiled, "you wouldn't mind... especially me looking like this..." he asked her, and she nodded, "No one deserves to be alone on Christmas...especially you Troy...your the sweetest guy, and I would love it if you join me for Christmas..." she smiled, and he smiled, "alright...well thank you." then they arrived to her home, and they walked into the home, "is this ok for you?" she asked him.

Troy looked around, his eyes nearly bulging from his head. "Okay?" his voice was barely there, "Gabriella...this...this is your house?" Gabriella giggled and nodded, stripping off her coat, to reveal a long sleeved pullover Christmas sweater that had a cat wearing a Santa hat, y'know the kind where squeezed the nose and it meowed 'jingle bells', the sweater itself was pink and the cat was an unrealistic green. It looked sea sick. Troy chuckled, "What?" Gabriella asked, looking down at her sweater, "oh...yeah, my grandma got it for me...uhm, long story" Troy nodded, and said the disbelieving 'uh huh'. "Well, come on I'll show you around, and ...if you want, get you some clean clothes." Troy looked at her with raised brows. She laughed, "My dad's clothes Troy! Come on!"

Gabriella showed him around the home, and then he got him a shower, and got cleaned up, and got some of her dad's clothes on... when he came out, Gabriella smiled, "aww you look so handsome in my daddy's clothes.." she giggled, "haha very funny.." he smirked and walked over to her, "Thank you for letting me stay here...and share Christmas with you...I owe you.." she blushed and smiled, "you already owe me troy...If it wasn't for you...I could of been dead...you saved me Troy Bolton...and I couldn't of thanked you enough..." they smiled at each other...then leaned closer to each other... then their lips connected instantly. they felt sparks and love and lust flying through them. the warmness of the kiss felt so great and passionate. Troy gently pushed her against the wall.