This story was created during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the hard work of SAG-AFTRA, as well as the work of the WGA who, as of September 27th, 2023 have reached a deal with the AMPTP, the world of High School Musical The Musical The Series wouldn't exist. For more information about how you can help with the SAG-AFTRA strike, please refer to the link you can find on my profile.

Pre-Interlude Authors Note: The following songs are used throughout the course of this interlude:

Born To Be Brave - High School Musical The Musical The Series Season 1

With that, please enjoy.

Gina here.

Emma's a brave soul for doing what she's doing. I never imagined having a compassionate and loyal girlfriend, who's willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that I'm happy at all times. That being said, however, I'm worried about her now. I fear that she's hurting herself mentally more than she realizes, and that's something that concerns me greatly. I just hope that I can catch it and help her before it's too late…

"Hey, is everything alright? You've just seemed really on edge lately. Is it the move, or is it something else entirely?" Gina asks.

Emma's crying. Oh god, that question didn't upset her, did it?

"I'm sorry bae. I wasn't trying to upset you." I revealed.

"You're fine bae. It's just… there's something I've never told you that I should've when we started dating that would probably explain… all of this." Emma confesses.

What on earth could she be talking about?

"Bae, what is it?" I asked, concerningly.

"There's a lot that you don't yet know about me, but if we're going to be living together for who knows how long, it's best for me to be open and honest about everything, including the fact that I have anxiety and… autism." Emma reveals.

Wow. I was not expecting that. That is something truly personal that Emma just shared with me. I'm grateful for that. She's been true and loyal to me, so I'll be true and loyal to her now, when she needs it the most.

"Were you worried that I was going to judge you differently if I found out?" I asked her.

She nods her head yes. Oh Emma…

"Never be afraid of who you are, Em. Never be embarrassed about who you are. You'll always have those who will do anything and everything to stand by you, no matter what." I reassured her.

"You're sure?" Emma asks.

"Absolutely! Take me for instance. We're best friends for life, so even if we were to, somehow, stop dating in the future, we'll always have our friendship, and you can be straight, real, and honest with me about everything." I reassured her.

"Wow. Thanks Gina." Emma says.

"Of course." I said in response.

"I can never lose sight of who I am…" Emma states.

Singing and music heals the saddest of souls, so anything I can do to help Em calm down and feel at least somewhat at peace with herself and her choices, will go a long way…

"Me (singing): Don't need a king, I got my crown / Don't need a hero to lift me off the ground"

"Emma (singing): I built this heart, it's beatin' loud / Won't let no bad blood ever bring us down"

"Me (singing): Keep flyin' higher / Fight like a fighter"

"Emma (singing): What if I'm everything that I will ever need?"

"Me (singing): A queen messiah / A strong survivor"

"Emma (singing): Even the worst days won't get the best of me"

"Me & Emma (singing): 'Cause I was born to be brave l I know who I am inside and I won't apologize / Made my mistakes / And they gave me wings to fly to my castle in the sky"

"Me (singing): Let my hair down and let it go"

"Emma (singing): No more runnin', I run this show"

"Me & Emma (singing): Way up here, yeah, the view is gold / Born to bе brave / Now I'm standin' miles high like castlеs in the sky"

"Me & Emma (singing): Bosses and queens, stand up on your throne (Hey) / Know who you are, this is your kingdom / Legends at heart, individuals / Go make your mark, be original"

"Me & Emma (singing): 'Cause I was born to be brave / I know who I am inside and I won't apologize / Made my mistakes / And they gave me wings to fly to my castle in the sky"

"Me & Emma (singing): Let my hair down and let it go (Oh) / No more runnin', I run this show (Yeah) / Way up here, yeah, the view is gold / 'Cause I was born to be brave / Now I'm standin' miles high like castles in the sky / Like castles in the sky"

"How'd you know I liked that song?" Emma asks.

"Lucky guess." I replied with a wink.

"Well regardless, I feel happy now." Emma says.

I don't think you're truly happy right now Emma, but it's nice that you're at peace, at least for now.

We make it to the restaurant, but I ask for a minute alone before going in, which my mother and Emma respect. They walk in, while I make a rather important phone call, or at least a phone call that is rather important to me, because I want to set up a surprise for Emma, and to pull it off, I need some help from the inside, and for that, I'm going to my fellow East High wonderstudy…

"Hey EJ." I said.

"Hey Gina. What's up?" EJ asks.

"There's something that I want to do for Emma, but I need your help if I'm going to pull it off." I revealed.

"Lay it on me." EJ requests.

"I want to bring her back to Salt Lake City for opening night of High School Musical The Musical." I revealed, confidently.

"Are you being serious?" EJ asks.

"Yes I'm being serious. She's been on edge since moving out with me, and I just found out why, and I think that her coming back, especially to be in the show to some degree, will be extremely beneficial to her." I replied.

"If what you're saying is right, then I agree, and I'll pay for both of you to come back." EJ reveals.

"For both of us? EJ, you don't have to do that." I stated.

"It's like I said Gina, if what you're saying is true, Emma needs this. We'll surprise her with what matters most to her, which I'm sure is her Wildcat family." EJ states, proudly.

"Damn right. Now I should probably get back to being with Emma so she doesn't miss me too much." I said.

"Sounds good. We're going to make this work." EJ reassures me.

"Damn right." I said in response.

There's… something else that I want to bring up with EJ, but I'm going to tell all of you about it first. I'm… genuinely starting to develop feelings again for Ricky, and me and Emma both swore that if we leave each other, it's going to be for something, or someone, better, and this might be the perfect opportunity for me to go pursue other opportunities in love, but also to do something crazy, and even radical…

"EJ, I'm considering breaking up with Emma given my shifting romantic preferences, but what do you think about the idea of immediately after breaking up with her, surprising her with an adoption by me and my mom?" I asked.

Yeah, I want to break up with Emma and then immediately adopt her, making her Emma Porter, and my step sister (though I would consider her as my sister, and nothing more than that). Seems like an incredibly odd situation, I get it, but I think a sister-to-sister relationship will be better for us long-term. I don't think we're going to work out romantically, especially with my shifting romantic preferences, and that's not fair to Emma. She deserves better, and I'm not that for her, so it's best if I walk away.

"Do you feel like the two of you aren't going to work out romantically?" EJ asks.

"Honestly, yes." I replied.

"Then I think this is perfect. Knowing what I know about Emma, she's going to hold zero resentment towards you, and everything will ultimately work out." EJ reassures me.

Well EJ, there's only one way to find out. I just need to find the right time to tell her about that, and the surprise about bringing her back to East High…