This idea popped in my head a few days ago and I couldn't stop thinking about it, so ultimately I had to share it! Ashley said in an interview somewhere that the cast wanted to get together and have a HSM reunion and watch all the movies, so in a perfect world, this is what I imagined would happen. A girl can dream right?! Anyways, this story is set around the end of 2013. Hope you guys enjoy it. It is only a 2-shot now, but let me know if you think I should make it a full story. Don't worry, I'm still working on the other story!
Forever In Love
"Are you ready for this, bro?" Dylan Efron asked his older brother.
Zac started his Audi sedan and pulled out of his driveway, driving along a path that three years ago was almost a daily routine for him. "I don't know, Dyl. I haven't seen Ashley is over a year because I've been so busy with filming and when she called like a month ago to set up this reunion, I figured it would be at her house, not Vanessa's. I haven't seen Corbin since I saw him in NYC and we went to the strip club! I haven't seen Olesya or Lucas since the Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure premiere like two years ago and I haven't seen Mo since the 17 again premiere!"
"Dude, they are all your best friends and still love you. Why else would they have invited you to come hang out and watch all the HSM movies?"
"I know, I know. I just…..I haven't been to Vanessa's house since I came to get my stuff right after we broke up. It's going to be weird to see her, and to see her with him in the house we said would be ours one day."
Dylan could tell his brother was still hurting. He knew that Zac put on a brave face for everyone besides him and his hurt was the reason Zac was constantly working.
"Zac, I know that when you guys decided to break up that it was because of your work and neither one of you wanted the other to hurt because you couldn't see each other for long periods of time."
"Yeah, Dylan, but I thought we would get back together after that wave of craziness. I didn't expect her to go and find someone else. Plus, Ashley kind of set them up. I think deep down that's why I haven't really talked to Ash. I didn't want to make it awkward and make her choose between Nessa and me so I kind of stepped out of the picture, plus I wasn't here because of work. And, Austin was her friend and even though Ashley knew how much Vanessa meant to me, she set them up together."
"Have you talked to Vanessa?"
Zac shook his head. "No, not really. Just on our birthdays and Christmas when we text each other."
Zac pulled his Audi to the security gate to gain entrance to the neighborhood. A guy in his thirties stepped out to come to Zac's car.
"Well, well, I never thought I would see you again! What's up man?!" the guard said excitedly as Zac rolled down his window.
"Will! What's up, bro?!" Zac said as they shook hands. "We are having a HSM reunion. Am I late?!"
"Nah man, right on time. But you are the last of the cast to arrive," he laughed as Zac laughed.
"Of course I am. Nothing new. I'll talk to you later, man. Good to see you!"
"You too, Zac!" Will walked back to the guard stand and opened the gates for Zac.
Zac waved and rolled up his window as he passed through the gates. He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hand.
"You'll be fine, dude. I promise. I know it may feel a little awkward, but I'll be there and so will the rest of the cast. It will be fun."
"I hope so, Dyl. I really hope so." Zac turned off his car after he pulled into Vanessa's drive way. The Efron brothers got out of the car and made their way up the steps leading to the front door. Zac raised his fist to knock on the door, but instead Dylan opened it and walked in.
"Dylan! You can't just walk in here anymore!" Zac said as he closed the front door back.
"Calm down, bro. Nessa doesn't care and she loves me." Zac rolled his eyes as they walked through the foyer to the spacious living room.
Everyone minus Vanessa and Austin were in the living room sitting and chatting.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Ashley squealed loudly as she jumped up from the couch next to her boyfriend, Chris and ran straight towards Zac.
Zac laughed as he caught her mid-jump and hugged her tightly while swinging her around. She wrapped her arms around his neck excitedly. "I'm so happy to see you, little brother! It's been far too long and we have TONS of catching up to do!" Zac laughed again as he sat her back on the ground and kissed her cheek. "I can't wait, Ash."
Ashley laughed as she hugged Dylan. "Hey, Dyl. How are you?"
"I'm good, Ash!"
Everyone stood up to great their leading cast mate and friend. Dylan said his "hellos" to everyone in a polite manner since he didn't know many of them well. Zac hugged Corbin. "Hey, man. What's going on?"
"Not much, bro. How have you been?"
"Busy. But I've been pretty good."
"We'll catch up later?" Corbin half asked- half stated.
Zac nodded as he moved to Monique. "MO!" he hugged her tightly. "I'm so so so sorry I couldn't make it to your reception for the wedding. I tried to get out of filming for the weekend, but the director wouldn't let me. But, I brought you guys your wedding presents." He handed her a big bag and shook her new husband's hand and handed him a envelope. "Hey man, nice to see you again." He said to Monique's new husband.
"Zac, this is amazing!" Monique cried as she pulled a scrapbook out of the bag. It was a scrapbook Zac had put together with photos of the cast from the three movies and the tour. "Thank you so much, I love it!" she said as she hugged him tightly.
"Floor seats to the Lakers?! Man, you are awesome!" Monique's husband cried as he hugged Zac in a manly way. "Thanks bro!"
"No problem, man." Zac hugged Olesya. "Hey Miss Playmaker, how ya been?"
"Hey Hoops Man!" she laughed as they used the nicknames they always have. "I've been great! What about you mister movie man?"
He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm good. I'm glad to have a break from filming."
Zac hugged Lucas next. "Hey dude! What's up?!"
"Nothing much! Just finished filming for this season's Switched at Birth. Glad to be home!"
"I completely understand. Great show, by the way!"
"Thanks man, that means a lot!"
Zac shook Ashley's boyfriend's hand next. "Chris! How are ya, man? I hope you're treating my big sister well!" he half joked.
Chris laughed. "Hey Zac. You know I am!" Zac laughed. As they all went to move back to sit down, a loud squeal was heard running to the living room.
"DYL!" Vanessa screamed as she ran to him and hugged him tightly, making him nearly lose his balance.
"Nessa! What's up Sister-in-Law?" he said excitedly as he hugged her back.
Zac shot him daggers as Dylan realized what he said. "Um…I mean…" he stuttered.
Vanessa pulled back, giggling. "It's fine, Dyl. Don't worry about it."
Everyone watched in silence as Zac and Vanessa's eyes locked on each other. Zac and Vanessa opened their mouths to say something at the same time, but neither made a sound. Zac rubbed the back of his neck, a sign he was extremely nervous. Vanessa made the three steps to him and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm glad you could make it," she said quietly.
"Me too." he replied as he pulled back when Austin walked in the room. Austin didn't make a move to say anything to Zac or Dylan, instead he just sat down on the couch. Vanessa rolled her eyes and looked back at Zac and Dylan. "Do you guys want anything to drink?"
"Sure, thanks." They both replied.
Vanessa smiled and walked back towards the kitchen to grab them a drink. Vanessa's large "L-shaped" couch was nearly full. A spot was left for Vanessa on the end, next to her was Ashley, Olesya, and then Monique. Monique's husband sat in the curve of the couch. Next to him was Lucas, Corbin, an empty spot, and then finally Austin on the end. Zac looked at Dylan, contemplating the seating arrangements. The girl's were all facing the tv head on, while the boys had to look slightly to the right to see the tv.
The coffee table was moved out of the way, leaving an open space on the floor.
"I'll just sit down here," Zac said as he plopped down right in the middle of the floor.
They all laughed at him, minus Austin who just ignored him. Dylan sat next to Austin, and hit Corbin playfully on the arm. "Congrats to you, Corbin. You get to sit next to the better Efron brother!" Corbin laughed and rolled his eyes as he high fived Dylan.
"That hurt, man." Zac said as he faked someone stabbing him in the chest. They all laughed.
"Zac, you can lean back on my legs so your back doesn't hurt you." Ashley said as she touched his back with her feet.
Zac nodded and scooted back, resting his back against the front of her calves. He leaned his head back to look at her and smiled. "Thanks Tizzy."
Vanessa walked into the living room with a can of Coors light and a bottle of specialty beer. She handed the can to Dylan.
"Sorry Dyl, this is the last bottle I had and your brother would kill me if I gave you his favorite."
"It's all good. Thanks Nessa." He smiled as he opened the can.
Vanessa walked over and handed Zac the bottle before turning down the lights slightly and sitting beside Ashley.
"Thanks Ness. I haven't had one of these in forever!"
"I figured," she giggled. "You're welcome."
Ashley turned on the tv and dyd player. "The Lucky One" started playing from where the girls had been watching it earlier.
Zac's eyes went wide as Dylan busted out laughing. "PLEASE tell me you guys weren't watching that!" Zac said as he titled his head back to look at Ashley.
"Oh come on! It's a great movie, Zac!" Monique said as she squeezed his shoulder. "We didn't get to finish! Can we please finish it?!"
Zac looked at the screen to see what scene it was paused on. Beth was just telling Logan that Keith didn't want her to see him after Ben's birthday party. Dylan busted out laughing because he knew what scene was coming up since he had been at the premiere of the movie.
"Ashley, you've already seen it! You were at the premiere!" Zac said as he looked at her.
"Yeah, but that was last year! I want to see it again!"
"Please Hoops Man! It is really good so far!" Olesya pleaded. Zac looked at Vanessa and when she was giving him the puppy dog eyes he groaned.
Zac looked at the guys and all of them besides Dylan and Austin shrugged their shoulders.
"Fiiiineeee!" Zac groaned as the girls all squealed and the movie started playing again.
"That kissing scene in the barn! Hellloooo! You guys might have well just kept going!" Monique teased him.
Zac groaned and crossed his arms, watching the movie, but he smiled to let her know he was just joking.
Shadow, Vanessa's toy poodle came from behind the couch when she heard Zac's voice on the tv. She started barking at the tv excitedly and she sat up on her back legs.
"Awww," Ashley said as they all watched Shadow.
"Shadow, sit down." Austin said.
She sat down and growled at him.
"Shadow, no!" Vanessa scolded her. Shadow spun around and darted for Zac when she sat him sitting on the floor. She jumped into his lap and started licking him all over the face.
"Hey girl!" he said quietly as he rubbed her. "I've missed you!" When she settled down, she curled up in his lap and went back to sleep. Vanessa giggled softly at her and Zac smiled at her before returning his eyes to the screen.
Zac looked up the see "Beth'' telling Keith off. Zac looked at Dylan to see him with wide eyes, trying to hold in his laughter. Zac groaned and closed his eyes, letting his head rest on Ashley's lap as the shower scene came on.
"Daaaamnnn son!" Corbin said as he watched the scene. This caused Dylan to burst out laughing.
Vanessa felt a pang of jealously run through her as she watched the scene. She looked over at Austin to see him playing on his phone. Then she looked down to see Zac looking at her, almost apologetically, with Shadow cuddled up in his lap. She smiled and winked at him, letting him know she was okay and went back to watching the movie.
The movie finished and as the credits started to roll, Dylan spoke up. "When we were at the premiere of that movie, I was sitting beside Zac and mom and dad were on the other side of him…."
Ashley busted out laughing as she remembered the memory Dylan was about to share. "I remember this! It was so funny!"
Dylan laughed and continued. "So during the first scene, Zac was like scooting down in his seat, trying to be invisible and I'm, of course, over here like poking him in the side with my elbow and it gets dead silent and mom goes, "That's my boy!""
Everyone busted out laughing as Zac blushed. Vanessa was almost in hysterics at the story. "I can so see Starla saying that! What did David do?!"
"He just started laughing! It was so funny!" Zac said as he got up to put the HSM1 movie in the dvd player and sat back down.
They all began to watch the first movie that changed all of their lives.
"Look at my fro! That is embarrassing!" Chad said as they all laughed.
"Dude! I look like I was 12!" Troy said as he looked at the shaggy-haired boy of his teenage years.
"Well if you look 12 then I look 6!" Chad retorted.
They all continued to watch the movie. The little looks between Zac and Vanessa didn't go unnoticed by Ashley who elbowed Vanessa and winked.
"Lunkhead basketball man? Really Mo? You think that badly of me?" Troy joked as he looked at Monique.
"Oh shush, you know I love you." She said as she stuck her tongue out at him.
The movie starts coming to an end when Gabriella runs into the gym and hugs Troy saying, "Congratulations, Wildcat!"
"Remember when Corbin forgot to interrupt you guys and you were just kissing….and kissing…..and kissing?" Lucas asked as they all remembered.
"Zac called me that day so excited!" Dylan said as Zac's eyes went wide. "THANKS DYLAN!" Zac said at him through gritted teeth. Vanessa tried to hold back her giggles as she looked at Dylan with raised eye brows.
When "We're All In This Together" started playing, Troy stood up and took Ashley's hand before motioning for the others to get up too and before they knew it, Zac, Vanessa, Ashley, Lucas, Corbin, Monique, and Olesya were all dancing along to the movie. When it finally ended, they all busted out laughing.
"I forgot how hard that was!" Olesya said as she sat back down. They all laughed and sat back down.
Zac walked out of the room, to go use the bathroom. Vanessa walked into the kitchen as Ashley got the second movie ready and Austin followed her.
"Can you make it more obvious that you still love him?" he asked angrily as he hit the counter with his fist.
"What are you talking about?" Vanessa asked, feigning innocence.
"You know what I'm talking about. The looks you two keep giving each other, it's like you are undressing each other with your eyes! This is ridiculous, Vanessa!"
"What do you want me to say?! He was and always will be my best friend, Austin! He was my first everything! It's not like I can just forget all of that and frankly I don't want to! If you can't accept our friendship, then we don't need to be together, Austin. You haven't even said one word to him or Dylan! You've been a complete ass!"
"Well how am I supposed to feel? You still have pictures of you and him around your house? I've never once slept in your bed! And when he comes back for the first time in years, you two can't stop looking at each other! You told me that you love me, how am I supposed to believe that?"
"Because I do. Well, I did. At least I thought I did. But, after tonight and seeing him and I don't know! I don't think I will ever love someone the way I love Zac. I'm sorry, Austin, but you should go. You can come get your stuff later."
"I don't have anything here. There is no need for me to come back." He grabbed his jacket and left the house.
Vanessa took a deep breath and walked back into the living room.
"Where is Austin?" Lucas asked.
"He left. Well, I made him. I broke up with him."
"Nessa, I don't mean to sound rude, but the guy was a complete Dickhead!" Dylan said.
Zac punched him in his arm. "Shut up, Dylan!"
Vanessa giggled at their brotherly fight. "No, you're right, Dyl. He is. That's why I did it."
They all dropped the subject as the second movie started. Dylan opened his phone and read a message. "Zac, I hate to ask, but I need a favor. I need to go home. Mom just texted me and it's kind of an emergency. Can I borrow the Audi?"
Zac looked at him like he was crazy. "Emergency? Dylan, what's going on?"
Ashley paused the movie so they could talk without the noise.
"Nothing, I can't tell you. I promised mom. Just please trust me."
Zac looked at his brother and noticed the scared yet determined look on his face. "Don't get a scratch on it, or else I will kill you. You know I don't let anyone drive my car."
"You've let Nessa drive it before and she is a worse driver than me!"
"Hey!" Vanessa argued.
Dylan laughed then looked back at his brother. "Please, Zac. I need to go."
Zac sighed and handed him his keys. "Be careful and let me know when you get to SLO."
"I will! Thanks bro," he said as he hugged him tightly.
Dylan made his way around the living room, saying goodbye to everyone before hugging Vanessa. He whispered into her ear, "Nessa, put your phone on silent and check your messages in a minute."
She nodded and played along. "Love ya too, brother-in-law" she joked.
Dylan quickly left the house and Vanessa noticed the worried look on Zac's face. The second movie in the HSM trilogy started playing and everyone started watching.
"Thank God, we all look way older in this movie!" Chad said with a laugh as they watched "What Time Is It?"
"I'm so glad you actually sang in this one, Zac. You sound way better than Drew!" Olesya said.
Zac chuckled. "Me too. It was more fun."
"I want fabulous, that is my simple request!" Vanessa sang mockingly to Ashley.
"You know you love that song, Nessa!" Ashley said as she laughed.
"Fine, I do!" They both laughed.
Vanessa looked down at her phone to see that Dylan had sent her a text message like he said.
"Nessa, I need you to stay calm , but mom called and told me that Grandpa had a heart attack. They are taking him to the hospital now, but mom knew Zac was with you guys tonight and she didn't want to worry him. When I get to SLO, I will let you know what is going on, but Zac might have to come up here if he is in bad shape. I know you may not want to, and I will understand, but Zac doesn't need to drive when he finds out, that's another reason I took his car. Can you or Ashley or someone please come up here with him if he needs to come?"
"I'll be there, Dyl. No worries."
"Thanks, Nessa. I will let you know for sure."
"Okay, be careful Dyl."
Vanessa noticed that Zac still had a worried look on his face and she got up and made her way to sit in the spot beside him that Dylan had previously been sitting in. She rubbed his back to relax him, but continued to watch the movie, unaware of the smiling faces on the rest of their cast as they watched the interaction.
Shadow jumped up in Zac's lap and for the first time in three years, Zac felt happy.
