First of all, thanks to everyone who reviewed my story so far! I love hearing what people think about it. :D

Well, to be honest I really don't have much to say about this chapter other than I hope you enjoy it!

*I do not own HSM or its characters (and obviously not the actors in the series) :p*

"Vanessa, I'm home!" Zac yelled as he walked through the door.

Just the sound of his voice caused Vanessa to appear out of nowhere. She then threw her arms around her boyfriend and embraced Zac in a hug that showed just how much she missed him.

Vanessa then followed up with a long, drawn out kiss on his lips, while slowing reaching her hands up to run her fingers through his tousled hair.

But something about the kiss felt...weird. The passion that she normally felt when the two reunited was absent. Not on her part though, but the man in front of her.

When their lips finally parted, Zac noticed an anxious look in the brown eyes before him. "What's wrong?"

She looked at the ground and shook her head. "Nothing, Zac. It's nothing."

Vanessa couldn't remember much else that happened that night other than the feeling that there was some sort of distance between them, even though she and Zac were sitting together on the couch.

When the movie they had playing finally finished, Vanessa once again initiated a display of affection. Her kiss was just as lustful before, as she hoped Zac would pick up on her intentions. She assumed he did, for their liplock continued.

In very little time, Vanessa's hands naturally started to wander, but Zac's reaction to this usually normal progression caught her off guard.

"Vanessa, what are you doing?"

It took her a minute to break the kiss and respond. "What do you mean?"

She had never been so confused in her life. Zac had never stopped her before, ever. It really didn't matter where they were; as soon as they got "involved" there was no turning back. Zac was always in the mood.

When he didn't answer her question, Vanessa took the opportunity to start her kiss again, as well as allow her hands to find their way under his shirt.

But Zac was quick to put a stop to it. "Vanessa, would you quit?"

"What?" she said with a heavy breath. "Why?"

"I just don't want to make love to you, okay?"

Zac's words caused Vanessa to jerk awake from her nightmare.

She had never heard those words escape his lips, not yet anyway. The thought of him turning her down in such a way created another knot in her stomach. When she rolled out of bed to get a glass of water and subdue her nausea, she happened to glance at the clock on the wall.

3 a.m.

I'm sure Zac's back in his hotel room by now.

Vanessa rolled her eyes, and fought to keep any mental picture's of Zac's night with Corbin out of her head.

It was too much to take.

And for that reason she was glad he would not be home for a couple of days.

Zac was exhausted from his flight back to LA, but his energy was revived when he knew he would be seeing his girl again. "Hey babe! You there?" he yelled as he walked in the house. "Van, I'm home!"

He tried to remember whether or not she was at Rent rehearsal again. Her busy schedule the past few days, combined with the time difference between their locations, kept them from being able to talk on the phone. They had exchanged many text messages during their time apart, but he hadn't heard the sound of her voice since his phone call after Corbin's show.

There was no response.

Figuring he was alone, he started to pick up his luggage and carry it into the bedroom.

However, Zac stopped in his tracks when he heard a soothing voice behind him, a voice that always immediately caught his attention.

"What, I don't get a hello?"

He let the suitcases fall out of his hands to turn around.

There, right in front of him, was his gorgeous girlfriend with her hands on her hips but a smile on her face.

Zac was ecstatic to see her again.

Before Vanessa knew it he was kissing her, nearly lifting her off of the ground as he did so.

"I missed you," he said with a grin when their smooch ended.

She couldn't help but melt when she saw his baby blues looking into her eyes again, almost like the first time they auditioned together. "I missed you too, Zac."

He took the moment to enjoy being in her presence again, unsure of what to say. He was just happy to be at home again with the woman he loved.

Zac had already forgotten about his visit to Flashdancers with Corbin; it was over and done with. It was like it never even happened.

Little did he know, that from the moment Zac set foot in the door, it was all Vanessa could think about.

Taking the time to enjoy Zac's return from NYC, the two opted for a movie that night, as well as cuddling on the couch.

Vanessa noticed how the events were playing out so similarly to the nightmare she had a few nights ago, but decided to not think much about it. She knew it would ruin the pleasant feeling she was experiencing from Zac's touch. His hand was currently interlocked with hers, and was resting on his lap. She had no intention of moving it elsewhere.

When the credits signaled the film's end, Zac did not hesitate to make a move. His lips quickly found their way to hers and did not want to to let go. Vanessa certainly wasn't fighting him off; she was enjoying it as much as he was. They continued the simple, yet powerful display of affection in a way that definitely wouldn't have been described as "Disney friendly."

As their kissing continued, Vanessa felt Zac's hands start to wander and she eagerly welcomed that as well.

But suddenly, a crystal clear image popped up in her mind. Zac was on a couch surrounded by three gorgeous women. Two were slowly starting to undress in front of him, the other was already completely naked. Zac had a smile on his face, as the nude woman moved closer to him...

Vanesa immediately broke the kiss.

Zac's eyes quickly met hers, and she saw a look of undeniable desire in them.

Zac did not notice the same look in hers.

"What's wrong?" he asked with obvious concern in his voice.

Vanessa did not know how to respond.

And Zac did not wait for her answer. Instead, she felt him working his way to getting her shirt off.

When he finally accomplished his task, Vanessa's head conjured up another image. All three women surrounding her boyfriend were now topless, and Zac's smile got even wider.

She stopped his hands from making any other movement.

For the first time ever, Vanessa felt...self-conscious. There was no way she could let him see her naked now, and compare her body to those other women. She just...couldn't.

"Van, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

She wouldn't look him in the eyes.

Zac knew this was not like her at all.

Vanessa quickly searched for some sort of explanation for her behavior...or a cover-up.

"I'm sorry, Zac. I'm just not feeling that well, that's all. My stomach's been acting up today. Can we just go to bed instead?"

He thought she did look quite ill and pale.

"Sure, babe," he said with sympathy. "I had no idea you were sick. Why didn't you tell me?"

Vanessa still wouldn't look at him directly. "Didn't want you to worry."

Zac took her petite hand in his and squeezed it. "Vanessa, you know you have to be honest with me. Are you sure it's nothing serious?"

"Yeah. Just a bit of an upset stomach. I'm sure after some rest I'll feel better."

He kissed her forehead. "Want me to carry you to bed?"

"That's okay," she said shyly. "I'll be fine."

But Vanessa was not thinking about her fake sickness when she said those last three words. She was thinking about the images of Zac with the strippers.

And she hoped that by saying those three words enough, she'd be able to convince herself that it was the truth.

The sun was just starting to creep in through the window when Zac took an admiring look at the woman lying next to him in bed.

God, she's beautiful.

He absolutely loved watching her sleep; there was something so peaceful and innocent about her when she was dreaming.

Zac gently caressed her arm, trying his best not to wake her up.

"I love you, Vanessa," he whispered into her hair, taking the time to smell the scent of her shampoo, as well.

"And I missed you," he added quietly.

Later that day...

"Vanessa, Zac went to a strip club?" Ashley shouted through the phone. "Or is that just another stupid rumor someone made up to start drama?"

"Wait, how do you know about that?"

Ashley gasped. "It's true?"

"Yeah," Vanessa answered with a sigh.

"I can't believe he would do that to you!"

Vanessa was once again glad that Zac was out of the house. She hated thinking about the topic when he was anywhere around.

"Well, I said it was okay."

Ashley's voice got louder than before. "You did? Why?"

Vanessa almost rolled her eyes at her friend's comment. "What was I supposed to say, Ash? That he wasn't allowed?"

"Yes! If you're not okay with it, that is." Ashley paused for a moment. "You were really okay with him doing that?"

Vanessa struggled for the right way to answer, but her true feelings ended up coming out.

"No. No, I was not okay with it...I'm still not okay with it." She swallowed hard. "Ashley, I'm really pissed about this. Even now."

"Well, did you talk to him about it?"

There was a moment of silence.

"No. Because I have absolutely no idea how to start that conversation."

But Vanessa knew that if she didn't say something about it to Zac soon, and kept her feelings all bottled up inside, that their relationship just wouldn't be the same anymore.

She had to tell him how she felt.

But how?