Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical

Chapter Twenty-Five: Vienna

Slow down you crazy child

Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while

It's alright you can afford to lose a day or two

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through

Why don't you realize, Vienna waits for you?

- "Vienna" Billy Joel

"I still think we should've bailed." Kelsi mumbled as she stretched.

Rolling her eyes, Gabriella made sure the blanket was tucked securely around Allie's tiny body, the temperature had dropped unexpectedly overnight, before she replied, "Kels, you and Troy need to get it together. Jase really cares for Emma and it's killing him to be a part from her. We need to give her a chance. I had to keep reminding Troy that it's what Dylan would've wanted. I feel like such a horrible person bringing him up, but it's true. I didn't know him well, but I know he'd want us all to get alone. And God willing, Troy and I have a long and happy future ahead of us and I want all of his family to be a part of it."

Kelsi made a snorting noise, but nodded, "I know, she's just so vile."

"I agree, but I don't want to be like her. I don't want to be like Sharpay. I don't want to be like Taylor. I want to give everyone I can a second chance, if I hadn't done that with Troy," she shook her head, "if I hadn't trusted him when he asked look at what all I wouldn't have."

"What we wouldn't have." Kelsi corrected. "You're right, I know, conceptually, that you're right, it's just hard. Damn, you're a really good person, Gabs."

Gabriella chuckled and pulled her best friend into a hug, "So are you, Kels."

"Hey, sorry I'm late." Emma came jogging up, "Troy stopped me to lecture me on how to treat you both."

Gabriella smiled and nodded, "Well if you're stretched maybe we could get on the trails." She looked down, "This is Allie, by the way."

Allie cooed up at her and Emma got down on her knees in front of the stroller, "Hi Allie, I guess I'm pretty much your Aunt Emma now."

"I guess you may be one day." Gabriella agreed as she unlocked the wheels on the jogging stroller.

Forty-five minutes later the girls moved from a quiet run to walking silently besides each other, "So," Gabriella looked up at Emma, "what would you like to know?"

"He's happy, right?" Emma asked quietly.

"I think so. If he wasn't I would send him packing. He's such a good guy and I only want him to be happy." Gabriella answered honestly.

"And Ryan?"

Kelsi blushed and looked away, so Gabriella answered, "That boy is more than happy. He's totally fallen for Kels. And it's mutual, right Kelsi." Gabriella taunted. Emma couldn't help but laugh at the blush that deepened on Kelsi's face.

"Well that's good then," she cleared her throat, "and Jason?"

"He's miserable." Gabriella answered quietly. "He misses you like crazy, Emma." She looked over at Troy's twin sister, "But he's standing on his principals."

"I know, I know, I just, it's so hard." Emma whined.

"Why?" Kelsi suddenly demanded, "Why is so hard to be nice to us? Why is it so hard to believe that Troy and Ryan may be happy with us? Why is it so hard not to be a bitch?"

"Kelsi." Gabriella warned.

"No," Emma held up her hands, "she's right. I have been a bitch. We've been awful to you guys and there's just no real reason than it's what was expected."

"You could try doing the unexpected." Kelsi suggested, her voice a little softer this time. "You may be as surprised as Ryan, Jason and Troy were. As surprised as we were." She motioned between Gabriella and herself.

Emma bit her lip and looked around the wooded area of the trail they were in. "It's just, Shar and Nicole and Chad and Zeke,"

"Are wrong." Gabriella replied coolly, "Do you really want to just follow the herd? I mean what is so enticing about Nicole?"

"What is so great about Taylor?" Emma shot back.

"Nothing." Gabriella replied, "It was so disappointing how she reacted to everything." Sighing she continued, "She was my first friend here, I thought we were closer than that. I thought she'd be happy when she found out. She wasn't even mad that I hadn't told her. She was mad that I chose to be with Troy." Shrugging, Gabriella continued, "So until she can find it in herself to be happy for me and for us," she motioned between Kelsi and herself, "then our friendship is kind of on hold. If she ever needs anything, I'll be there in a heartbeat, but I know not to expect the same thing from her."

Emma sucked her bottom lip into her mouth again, a bad habit when she was vexed, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Gabriella asked.

"Just be so nice?"

Gabriella shrugged, "I've lost enough to be very grateful for what I do have." She answered honestly, "And I know that people aren't always what they seem and sometimes they just need time and a second chance."

"I'm just," Emma sighed as they reached the end of the trail, spitting them out near where they started, "I'm gonna need time." She finally whispered, "To just, process."

"Time is fine." Gabriella gently patted her arm, "Take all the time you need, just don't think about the fact that it's me. Think about Troy. If he's happy, shouldn't you be happy?" She paused, "We'll see you at school tomorrow. I want to get Allie out of this cold and I'm sure Troy is pacing the apartment already."

"He was afraid I was going to kill you and dump your body in the woods or something." Emma admitted with a laugh. Waving she said, "I'll see you in school tomorrow."

"The body dumping thing may not be too much of a stretch." Kelsi muttered.

"Give her a little credit, Kels. She showed up and she's going to try. I can see it on her face."

"I don't know why it's so hard to begin with." Kelsi muttered.

"We weren't exactly open-minded to begin with either, Kels." Gabriella reminded her.

Sighing, Kelsi nodded, "Come on, let's get home. Ryan said he was picking up subs and soup for lunch."

XOXO

MAS