Thank you everyone for your reviews and for reading! I love hearing from you - it helps feed my addiction and keeps my hope alive and the fictional 'juices' flowing!
I think I mentioned before the 1st chapter, this story is gonna jump around b/c I've had several thoughts and the chapters just aren't writing themselves in order. :) And I'll apologize again b/c I'm not going to be updating frequently...a slight lack of pictoral inspiration can be blamed on that, but we ninjas have to use our imaginations now don't we? :D
I still hope you'll enjoy, PLEASE let me know what you think, and by all means, help me KTZLF!
BTW...if the start of this chapter sounds familiar...yes, a portion of it is from the 'Conversations' chapter, 'Zanessa's Fabulous Adventure'. Thanks again for reading! KTZLF! -adc
"A t-shirt, really? Where's your pink tie." Vanessa commented on Zac's attire.
"I'm just here to show my support for my best friend." He commented as the two stepped toward each other leaving mere inches in between them.
"Uh!" Vanessa huffed. "Ashley is MY best friend."
Zac rolled his eyes. "I'm not fighting with you about that. There are far too many other things that I need to gripe at you about." He stared down into her brown eyes watching her place her hands on her hips.
"Such as?" Vanessa shook her head with a 'let's hear it' kind of look on her face.
"Let's start…with THAT tie." He pulled the previously mentioned pink tie from the pocket of his suit coat that slightly covered his blue tee and dark denim jeans. He wadded the silk up in his hand and pointed his index finger directly against the tip of Vanessa's nose.
As Zac held his position with a near scowl on his face, he saw Vanessa's lips begin to press together, then her nose twitched under his finger making that cute, scrunched up face that drove him absolutely crazy. Then, she giggled.
Zac dropped the tie over her shoulder and rolled his head backwards in exasperation.
"You told me to pick out a tie." Vanessa whispered with raised eyebrows as she looked up at him. "I was just doing what you asked, Sweetheart."
Zac shook his head. "Keep your distance from me tonight, Babe. Otherwise you just might find this tie wrapped around your neck."
Vanessa's lips pulled up to the right as she smirked at his threat, rising up on her tiptoes to try and gain at least a bit of leverage in the conversation. "Is that a threat, or a promise?"
Zac debated answering her before he opened the door to let Vanessa walk into the darkened theater-like area. "I'm sure you'd be happy with either." He spoke as she swept her body past him. He grabbed the tie off Vanessa's shoulder and stuffed it back into his pocket. He glared as she made her way into the darkness, with one more thought of the pink accessory that he could envision covering the colorful butterfly tattoo that was strategically placed on – where else – Vanessa's neck.
He waited several beats before following behind her and making his way to a seat on the opposite side of the room. He pursed his lips and let out a breath. Great. Now the thought of Vanessa wearing that pink tie – and little else - was going to overshadow much of Ashley's entire movie.
KTZLF*TLFIW
"Could we get just a couple of shots of the HSM group together? Sort of a Troy and Gabriella still supporting Sharpay and Ryan?" Zac looked at Ashley and shook his head at the paparazzi request. Ashley looked at Vanessa who just rolled her eyes and sighed. Lucas looked at all of them and then back at the photographers on hand.
"What the hey guys? How often do you get the four of us in one room these days?" He took Ashley by the arm and pulled her toward the cameramen. "Can you guys photoshop Corbin and Monique into these pictures?" The blonde man put on a cheese-filled smile as he rested his chin on Ashley's shoulder and then looked at their other former co-stars.
Lucas tucked Vanessa behind him and then motioned for Zac to join them. "Suck it up Efron, come on. It's a picture for God's sake."
Zac rolled his tongue around in his mouth, put his hands in his jean pockets and then made his way to stand behind Ashley. Lucas turned around to see the obvious space between his two good friends on the back row.
Zac and Vanessa put on unimpressed, nearly nervous faces as they each stepped closer to the other. Zac made a point of sliding his arm around Vanessa's shoulders and then looked down at her.
"Ooo that feels so comfy and loving." Vanessa commented sarcastically in a hushed voice.
"It's. Safe." Zac answered in a stressed tone.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Fine." Zac moved his arm lower, letting it rest around her waist.
"Will you two give it a rest?" Ashley glared back at them and then noticed where Zac's hand was inching.
Before the next wave of clicks began his fingers had hold of a very familiar spot on Vanessa's body, her butt, cleverly hidden behind Ashley and Lucas. The thing was, Ashley noticed quickly, Vanessa wasn't arguing.
Instead the 22 year old had looked back up into the blue of Zac's eyes that were watching for her reaction.
"Better" she mouthed with devoted eyes in his direction.
Ashley read Vanessa's lips when she spoke to Zac. She could also read the looks that were being passed between the supposedly, somewhat estranged couple.
'If this is them broken up, then them together would be X-rated right now.' Ashley thought. Her out-loud comment to her friends was a quiet, "Geez…now you need to get a room. Make up your minds!"
Once the cameras stopped flashing Vanessa grabbed Ashley and Lucas and pulled them backwards to form the four of them into a straight line with arms intertwined. Zac noticed, but didn't protest, when Ashley was pulled between him and Vanessa, dislodging his hold on the younger actress.
Ashley went along with the rearrangement knowing there was something more going on between two of her best friends…and whatever it was it didn't involve a break or a break-up.
KTZLF*TLFIW
The evening had been more bearable than Vanessa had imagined. For at least 45 minutes it had been actually enjoyable…although watching a man and texting with him across the room wasn't exactly what she had pictured herself doing at Ashley's movie premiere.
But the past five minutes had turned into a near nightmare as her best friend stood in front of her with a nearly angry face and a voice to match. This was not a side of Ashley that she liked to see…and Vanessa had hoped to never be on the receiving end. Yet, here she was, now.
Ashley pulled Vanessa toward the elevators and then stood with arms folded across her chest. "We are getting on that elevator Hudgens and you are going to push a number. Do I make myself clear? And it won't just be a random number. It will be THE number. The number that will take us to the floor where your hunky b-f is in a room, right now, waiting for you."
"Ash…" Vanessa began to regain her sense of composure.
Ashley looked back at her friend with that hurt expression and arms still folded in defense. "I don't like being used, or played, or whatever you want to call it Vanessa. You of all people should know and understand that."
The brunette dipped her head to avoid looking into her friend's eyes. Ashley took the move as step one of Vanessa's concession.
The elevator door opened and a couple stepped off. After the man and woman walked past them Vanessa and Ashley stepped onto the transport. Ashley quickly hit the button to close the door, leaving them on the stationery elevator alone.
The two friends looked at each other without saying another word. Ashley waited for Vanessa to hit a button and Vanessa matched Ashley's stance, crossing her arms in resistance.
"I can stay here all night V." Ashley spoke stubbornly after a couple of minutes.
"As can I." Vanessa shot back. "They'll miss you before they miss me. It's your premiere night, not mine." She reminded.
They stared at each other for another moment each daring the other to make a move. As the look on Ashley's face wavered from hurt, to angry, to misunderstanding, Vanessa had to look away.
She hated not being able to share with Ashley. That's why she couldn't look her friend in the eye. The big problem was, Ashley knew that. She could read the younger actress like a book, especially when it came to Vanessa's love-life.
Vanessa looked at each of the ads posted on the elevator walls. She looked up at the escape hatch door that was installed in the roof of the tiny room. Then she chanced looking back at an upset Ashley. When their brown eyes met Ashley shook her head and opened her lips to speak.
At the same time Vanessa's phone buzzed in her purse. Both women reacted with a start before Vanessa reached down quickly and hid the incoming message so only she could see who it was from.
Although the ring tone wasn't familiar Ashley could tell by the simple slumping shoulders that Vanessa's not-so-secret messenger was the one making the phone vibrate. "He's telling you he's busted. He's with Lucas. Go ahead, read the message or accept the call. That's what it's about." Ashley attempted to act nonchalant about her knowledge.
Vanessa returned the attitude, looked away from Ashley and shrugged her shoulders. "It's not who you think." She lied.
Vanessa barely had time to notice the fire in Ashley's eyes before her older friend grabbed the phone from her hands and looked at the incoming number. She turned the device around and pointed it into Vanessa's face. "We are not teenagers here Vanessa! What is going on?"
"Ashley! Give me my phone!" Vanessa insisted, moving her head away from the screen that was staring back at her with the oh-so-familiar number.
"I don't like being lied to Vanessa. And I certainly don't expect that from YOU!"
With another thought Ashley grasped the iPhone in one hand and placed her index finger over the emergency call button on the elevator controls. She then looked back at Vanessa.
"Pick your floor Vanessa or I'll have the paps swarming us in a heartbeat!" Ashley threatened.
Vanessa sighed heavily indicating that Ashley may just have won this round. The muscles in her face relaxed as she looked with reassurance at her best friend.
"Ash, I can't tell you anything yet, ok?" Vanessa began with a hopeful heart. "Believe me, please believe me, I want to. I want to tell you everything…but I just can't. There's too much at stake. I want to tell a lot of people, but I just…can't."
Ashley looked at Vanessa with a hint of understanding and yet the curiosity and hurt still ran through her blood. "So there is something going on…there's still something between you and Zac, I mean." She nodded as she questioned.
Vanessa let out a long breath. "Ash, please? Please don't push. Just let it go for now, ok? You will know everything, just as soon as possible. But now…" Vanessa breathed in and out slowly. "Now just isn't the right time."
Vanessa's phone buzzed again with a reminder that she had a message waiting.
"Go ahead…" Ashley handed the phone back to Vanessa and pointed more calmly at the electronic. She smiled through pursed lips as their fingers brushed against each other in the exchange.
Vanessa nodded her head and quickly looked down at the phone, reading Zac's words, confirming what Ashley had told her. "How did Lucas know we have a room here? He conned me V. And I fell for it. Sorry! Still haven't told him anything else, but he knows WE have a room. Where are you? I'm at…the office."
Vanessa put a hand on her forehead and read the message again. They had come this far, she was not going to let their work be in vain, and she knew Zac felt the same way.
She shook her head as she looked once more at Ashley who was reading the confusion, the struggle, and the love that was written all over her face. Their friend would accept whatever Vanessa chose to tell her. One night stand, standing date night, friends with benefits…for now Ashley would accept whatever Vanessa told her. All she had to do was concede this one fact, as Zac had done for Lucas, albeit unwillingly.
So, when the question came again, Vanessa decided to answer.
"What floor?" Ashley asked calmly, watching Vanessa's features intently. When her younger friend bit her bottom lip in nervousness Ashley stood up a bit straighter, preparing herself for whatever Vanessa would tell her.
"Just between us? No one else can know, just…us." Vanessa shook her head, begging her friend and watched as Ashley nodded her agreement.
"Just between us…and Zac." Ashley added with a smirk forming.
Vanessa reached forward sucking in a breath and pushing the floor number. "Seven."
Ashley smiled at her friend and opened her arms to receive a hug. When Vanessa leaned into her Ashley thought a bit deeper. "But V, this is an office building for the most part, except for the Soho and the other restaurants. It's not a hotel." She pondered aloud.
"Just don't read too much into this, ok?" Vanessa suggested as the two embraced. "I can't tell you anything else. You'll see me get off the elevator and meet…who you expect me to meet. But I won't invite you to come with me. And if you come back up here thinking you can get in … well … just don't come knocking, we won't answer." She added.
The two friends pulled apart and Ashley noted the serious expression on Vanessa's face. "I don't want you hurt." Ash allowed her initially giddy feeling to subside. "I don't want either of you hurt. Whatever is going on please, be honest with each other and be careful. You both know you can trust me. You can come to me with anything. But be honest with each other first. Please?"
Ashley stepped back hearing the small chime ring as they passed each floor. She let her smile return as she saw Vanessa nod and a relaxed look of relief take over her silent face.
With a slight chuckle Ashley spoke again. "If you guys plan to continue whatever you started from across the room up there, don't worry…I won't even get off the elevator." Then her face twisted in thought, "But V? In an office building? Really?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes. They waited until the elevator came to a standstill before looking back at each other.
"So, lucky seven?" Ashley asked raising a single brow to confront her friend just one more time.
Vanessa sent back a soothing smile, with a tilt of her shaking head. "You won't quit will you?"
Ashley shrugged as the doors opened. "What can I say?" she pushed the 'door open' button and held it while Vanessa stepped out into the hallway. "I'm persistent, and stubborn, and I love you both."
Vanessa sighed. "We love you too." She stepped back and shared a kiss on the cheek with her friend. "Congratulations on the movie Ash, it was a Sharpay dream!"
"Thanks." Ashley called as Vanessa turned and walked down the hall. Ashley caught the various 'we' references and thought about those as she stood with her finger on the 'open' button watching Vanessa find the correct door. Both women smiled when a body on the other side pulled it open.
Vanessa whispered to the person on the other side and then dropped her gaze down to the floor as she pointed back toward the elevator. The door opened a bit wider and Zac stepped out into the hall beside Vanessa. Ashley noted his bare feet against the carpet and felt her heart skip a beat as he ever-so-naturally wrapped an arm around Vanessa. Vanessa raised her head and offered Ashley a heartfelt smile.
Zac's eyes were dark, Ashley noticed. He wasn't happy that she had discovered this part of their current life, she realized. Still, he gave his signature 'hang loose' hand motion while Vanessa blew another kiss in their friend's direction. Ashley blew a kiss back at both of them and then mouthed "I love you" at them before placing her hand warmly over her heart. Zac and Vanessa watched as their friend stepped backwards and let the door of the elevator close.
The last thing Ashley saw was Zac placing a kiss on Vanessa's cheek as he ushered her into their room.
KTZLF*TLFIW
"Did you see her face? Zac, she is hurt and mad and I don't know how we're doing this. How are we supposed to keep this up?" Vanessa walked into the makeshift apartment in the office building with shoulders slouching.
Zac removed his hand from the small of her back and stepped forward with a long stride to reach for her hand. He tugged gently on her arm until she stopped and turned toward him.
"What?" Vanessa looked at him and then looked down at their hands when Zac laced their fingers together and raised the back of her hand to place a small kiss there.
She smiled at him softly. "I miss that. It felt nice." She pressed her lips together and lifted her eyes to look into his face. "Can I have another please?"
This time she pulled her hand higher and offered it to Zac's lips where he touched her skin and lingered long enough to nuzzle his nose and even sucked slightly on one of her knuckles.
Vanessa giggled softly and then pulled her hand away from him. She quickly stepped closer to him and tiptoed in her flat sandals to stretch toward his lips. Zac lowered his head to meet her half way. Both enjoyed the soft hum that escaped her mouth when their lips finally pushed together for the first time in weeks.
With eyes closed, she wrapped her arms around his neck and weaved her fingers into his shortened hair just to hold him against her for a few seconds more. Zac smiled against her lips, letting his hands wrap around her waist and dip down onto her buttocks. He playfully tapped on the rounded softness making Vanessa laugh and dislodge their puckering pose.
"That would be why I pulled Ashley between us when the photographers were doing the group shots." This time, however, she pushed her backside into his hands instead of trying to pull away from him.
"Ash and Lucas were in front of us. No one would have known." Zac protested.
"Wrong!" Vanessa answered and pulled her head back a little more to see into his eyes. "Ashley saw. You know she picks up on that stuff with us. She's worse than Mom and Dad." Vanessa shivered slightly thinking about the looks that her father had given them several times when Zac's hand wound up in an inappropriate place on her body.
Zac gave one more squeeze and then removed his hands and lead Vanessa to the two-seated chair stationed near the receptionist desk in this would-be office area.
Zac placed his arm around her shoulder for a moment and Vanessa leaned her head against his shoulder. "Ok, this is just weird." She placed a hand against his thigh and sat up straighter in the cushioned seat.
"Well pardon me for not fixing up this part of the place." Zac pretended to pout. He then took his hand from behind her shoulders and began to scratch his neck. "I just didn't think we'd be spending a lot of time out here."
Vanessa smirked as her eyes narrowed slightly with the humor and honesty in what Zac had said.
This was only the second time the two of them had been at this office together. And…the first time she was pretty sure she didn't see this part of their secret hideout.
That was because she had barely set both feet inside the door before Zac attacked her lips, ripped her top off of her, picked her up and carried her through the secondary door, down the hall and into a room where the bed looked, and felt, remarkably like the ones at their homes that they had been sharing for five years.
She looked around the room that was lacking decoration and squeezed her eyebrows together in thought.
"What's wrong?" Zac sat up beside her and watched her facial expressions.
"Well, I know why I don't remember seeing this area the last time I came into the room…but why didn't I see it on my way out?"
Zac sighed. "Because you were on the verge of crying cause we weren't sure when or where we'd get together again…and you insisted on kissing me senseless on your way out the door." He explained.
Vanessa turned and looked back at him with her top lip sucking downward over her bottom one in an attempt to give him a shy, innocent expression. "Oh."
Zac smiled. "So in all truth, you haven't had the grand tour of our office have you?"
Vanessa shook her head and looked around again. "This would be the reception area?"
Zac nodded, stood up and took her hands to pull her off the chair. There was another line of chairs sitting a little farther back in the room, an oak coffee table and two matching end tables. Two taller tables were placed in the corner and held lamps.
The reception desk itself was a half moon shape. Empty bookshelves and horizontal file cabinets were attached to the wall behind the desk. Vanessa walked around behind the desk and looked at the empty space. There was a multi-line office phone sitting on the desk, cables to hook up a computer, a tv and a box that appeared to be some kind of intercom system.
She nodded her head slowly then cocked it to the side as she looked back toward Zac.
"Don't get any ideas about redecorating, Sweetheart." Zac raised his eyebrows. He stepped closer to another door and turned the handle that would lead them into the back hallway of the space where a bathroom and three actual office spaces were located.
Vanessa stepped through in front of him. Zac placed his hands on her shoulders as they began to walk toward what appeared to be the executive office at the end of the hallway. He squeezed her before pointing to office number one which held only a desk, three chairs and a filing cabinet. "That can be your office if you really want it. I've kinda claimed the other two." He smiled as he bent down and breathed next to her ear.
Vanessa's mouth dropped open. "I thought I would get first dibs on the office space."
Zac laughed as they moved toward office number two. He pointed out the bathroom that was stationed between the two office doors.
"You did. I saved the text that you sent me. Would you like to see it?" Zac offered.
Vanessa stopped abruptly and twisted her neck to look up at him. "If I've never had the grand tour then how did I get first dibs?"
Zac opened the door to the second room where a tv was set up with a video gaming system, a recliner, an entertainment center with numerous movies and a couch. "Living room." He commented before opening the door to the bigger office which looked amazingly like a hotel room.
Vanessa stepped inside and moved straight to the bed where she immediately sat down and smiled at Zac. "I just wanted a place where we could be together, hold each other and maybe have breakfast in bed."
Zac stepped toward the far corner of the room where a small refrigerator stood. It was stationed not far from the bathroom where he had had a shower installed. Vanessa looked around. The nook that should've held a desk and file cabinets had been cleared out and instead a small table had been set up along with an area for a toaster and a microwave.
She placed her hands together and squeezed them between her knees as she took it all in. The bed had been here for her first visit a few weeks ago but that was about the extent of it at that time. Now, she realized, Zac had put a lot of thought and effort into this entire situation.
He stood at the end of the bed watching her. When she appeared to be lost in her thoughts he placed his hands on the foot of the bed and bounced it gently. "Hey Beautiful, so what do you think?"
Vanessa blinked her eyes a couple of times and then opened her arms quietly requesting a hug. When Zac stepped to her and she wrapped her arms around him, he felt his muscles relax. She placed her cheek against his belly and linked her hands behind his back while he looked down at her and ran his fingers through her hair.
"I think…" she began as she swayed their bodies slightly, "that you have created a perfect ninja hideout for us."
Vanessa looked up, resting her chin against the bottom of his sternum. Zac ran the tip of his index finger over her sweeping bangs to move them away from her eyes. "This is just for us. Just me and you in here, Baby, right? That's what we agreed on. Ashley may know and Lucas may know and some total strangers may see us come and go every now and then over the next few months, but this space is just for us."
She nodded and then stopped to place a kiss on his ribs that she could feel through his t-shirt. She loosened her hands and put them back on the mattress on either side of her hips.
"Go ahead, I know you want to." Zac smiled down at her.
Vanessa slid her shoes off and stood from the bed moving down to the corner and pulling up on the sheets and comforter until she could see the actual mattress. Her smile widened all the way across her face as she glanced over her shoulder at the man she adored.
"Vera Wang, Sweetheart mattress." Zac nodded at her description.
"It's the one we had at the townhouse in Vancouver while we were up there." He informed her.
Vanessa tried to contain her excitement with little success. She put the bed coverings back in place, then turned around and practically jumped into Zac's arms, wrapping her own around him and hugging tightly. "I love you." She kissed against his neck and let the few unbelieving teardrops leave her eyes.
"Did I do good?" he just had to ask. He began to rub his hands up and down her back as he felt her nod.
Vanessa pulled back, tiptoed again to kiss his lips and then laughed as she wiped a hint of lipstick from the corner of his mouth. "Best fiancé ever!" she exclaimed.
Zac smiled as the words left her lips. "Oh, wait a minute, that reminds me!" he put his right hand in his pocket to retrieve an object that he carried with him almost constantly.
"Time for you to take this back." He looked at her seriously as he slid the diamond encrusted band onto her finger.
Vanessa admired the glittering piece of jewelry and couldn't help but let her smile grow. Her engagement ring. The one that Zac had picked out…actually the one he had had made for her.
She pulled the hair-band from her up-do and moved her head to let her hair fall free. Then she climbed back up on the bed and scooted to her side. She patted the space next to her and waited for Zac to join her.
"Yes?" he crawled up beside her and grabbed her hand to twist the ring and remind himself that the two of them were, in fact, engaged.
"How do ninjas make wedding plans?" Vanessa asked with a curious grin on her face.
"Hmmm…" Zac thought for a minute. "Well, first…I think the ninjas who are in love have to engage…" he placed a finger under her chin and raised her face until he could kiss her cheek easily.
"We've covered that part, haven't we?" she let her eyes close as his lips wandered over her cheek bones, her eyelids and her forehead. Vanessa smiled as she reminded him, "I asked, you said 'yes', and voila! We're engaged."
"Hey, now…" he began softly as he nuzzled his nose against her ear. "Don't forget that I proposed after that, with ring in hand, to officially make it official."
She grinned at his expected response, then sucked in quickly as he continued to breathe kisses all over her face and then moved down slightly onto her neck before voicing his protest. "But that's not the meaning of engage that I'm talking about at the moment." He found her pulse and ran his finger over it as he spoke to her. Zac had to grin as he felt the pounding under his fingertip speed up at the sound of his voice.
"Really?" she struggled to breathe and ask her question while he gently attacked her throat. "And which meaning are you referring to?"
Zac let out a small groan as Vanessa pulled his head into closer contact with her skin, begging him to continue his actions. "The one that says interlocking…" he bit gently on her delicate skin, "The act of coming together." He completed his thought.
Vanessa pushed his head away from her neck so they could look at each other. They both began laughing at the various meanings that one word held. After a few seconds of sharing the laughter in their kisses, they fell back on the bed and began their familiar act of engaging all over again.
Keep The Zanessa Love Flowing * True Love Finds Its Way!
KTZLF
It's the start of something new,
This breaking free that we must do.
Though you are the music in me,
I gotta go my own way, that's the way it must be.
But right here, right now, my promise is true,
No matter where we go, I just wanna be with you.
So while we're apart just know you can't walk away
From what faith has provided us... everyday.
We can work this out; we will have our chance.
We're in this together - we CAN have this dance.
-adg
