Disclaimer: I do not own any member of the High School Music Cast or crew. Any member of the cast/crews family, either mentioned or featured belongs to me. I own every original character and this plot.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - A Wild Goose Date!
Beth stepped out of the lift, her grey floaty top moved in the breeze which was circulating through the foyer area. She tugged lightly at her jeans, ensuring they were long enough to cover her matching court shoes, her high heel echoing through the area. As she approached the doors, she checked her reflection in the squeaky clean glass, ensuring her glossy red mahogany curls bounced the correct way and her lip gloss was on just enough to make it look like she had a light sheen. The doorman held the door open for her, as she bounced through it and said a quick thank you. Taking her time down the stairs to the pavement, she looked up to see what car Zac had chosen to take her to him. Her obvious excitement faded when she saw a coach parked across the road,
"Beth Green?" The driver yelled with a South London accent. Beth could only nod as she raised her hand to shield the blazing evening sunset. She waited for the big red number fifteen bus to pass, and crossed the road, with a considerably less bounce in her step, which didn't go unnoticed by the driver,
"Come on love, its not that bad is it?" Beth only plastered on a fake smile as she walked past his open window and onto the coach. She started to walk down the aisle, smiling politely at the people who said hello to her, but stopped when she saw a set with an envelope on it. The man sitting in the seat next to her, well to put it mildly looked a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket.
"Sorry, can I just get that envelope, thanks." Beth mumbled as she attempted to lean and squeeze herself past without getting too close. She snatched the envelope away and moved to the back to find a seat, where there wasn't any weirdo's or screaming kids to deafen her.
Finally finding a seat three rows from the back, the driver began to talk over the antannoy,
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is the coach to take you to the London Eye for your booked arrivals. If you aren't suppose to be on her please make yourself known or get off!" He explained, Beth shot her arm up and stood to make her point,
"I don't even know why I'm on here!" She had to yell down to the front of the man who even then had to walk down the coach to her,
"No, your definitely suppose to be here! Open your envelope, ok, so are you all looking forward to your trip?" By this point the was once again yelling down the microphone and walking to his drivers seat. Beth turned over the brown A4 envelope and felt for the contents before sticking her arm in to find out what's going on. She felt a A4 piece of paper and looked at the handwriting before reading;
"I told you there would be a car outside, I just didn't say how big or the fact it maybe coach size and full of people, but if your reading this them it means your either next to a weirdo or on your own! 9I'm guessing it the second one?!)
Anyway, as my good friend driver guy has told you, your off on a trip to the London eye, with me of course, so don't be in a bad mood, your looking too beautiful to be in a bad mood! Hell your spending the evening with me!
Be patient and it will be clear when you get here!
Love always,
Zac xxx"
Beth stuffed the letter back into the envelope as the black silky material fell out of it. She held it up and realised it was a blindfold, she scuffled for the letter, scanning the part she had already read before getting to the important part,
"P.S I've included a little something which might be of use later, wink wink."
Beth let out a flushed laugh and folded the letter away. The little red headed girl in front of her, turned in the chair and tilited her head to one side, as though she was reading something. She furiously began to tap her Mum on the shoulder,
"Mum! Mum! Mum! Why does that lady have that? It says, "Zac Efron is sex on legs!", What is sex on legs?" Beth awkwardly tried to shush the little girl whilst putting the blindfold away. The little girls mother turned in her heat to face Beth, clearly not happy,
"Abby, that lady has no such thing that says that, stop being rude! I can not take you anyway, can I?" The woman's voice questioned as they turned away, and Beths face only became a deeper shade of red as she could hear them arguing.
"Only five more minutes fellows and we'll be there!" The drivers cockney accent rang through the overhead speaker. Applying another light layer of her 'Quartz' No1 Estee Lauder lip gloss, she looked out her window to see if she could spot Zac anywhere.
"We need Beth Green to get off first." Beth's head poked above the top of the chairs and other peoples heads. She pointed to herself as though to say 'did you mean me?', and rose sharply when she realised that the other passengers were starting to stare at her. She checked the seat to make sure she hadn't left anything behind, she walked quickly past the driver and out into the warm summers night.
Beth looked around her, trying to see if she could see Zac, the dock area where the London Eye was situated was in full bloom, with freshly planted flowers and huge pots with mini trees in them. Beth could only appreciate them a little, she was not really one with nature, plants a bugs were a big no-no and a buzzing bee was more than enough to keep her away from them. She stood in the middle of the paved square outside the entrance, arms wrapped around herself, occasionally looking from left to right and up to the wheel itself. Feeling her phone buzz in her black leather clutch, she flicked her hair out her face, smearing a typical slick of lip gloss across her powdered cheek as she did so, checking the caller ID once she had finally found her phone in her tiny bag, it flashed Zac.
"You'd better have a good explanation as to why I'm here and on my own!" she didn't even give him a hello, trying to sound as annoyed as possible.
"Well, I'm here where are you?" He told her with a hint of a laugh,
"Zac, this isn't funny. I got on the smelly coach, and now I'm standing outside the entrance to the London eye." She turned her back towards the entrance as Zac replied, his voice seemed to be getting closer and closer to her. It was like she could hear the same traffic noise, the same bus honking…it was the same bus honking.
"Well, that's good, because I'm here too!" Beth slid the phone shit as she felt Zacs breath on the back of her exposed neck, well she hoped it was anyway.
"About freaking time! So what did you have planned for us?" She asked gingerly as Zac leant in for a hello peck on the lips, which Beth gladly returned of course. Taking her hand and leading Beth through the main entrance to the attraction, Zacs free arm rose in the air, emphasising the word,
"This!". Beth looked around sceptically at where she was. There were few people around in the navy building, exhibits were placed on both sides of her, with different views of the London Eye and different features on offer. The Security Guard, who was sitting at the end of the room, strolled tot hem, shook Zacs hand and smiled a warm smile at Beth. His hat brimmed over his eyes, the dark shadow obscuring them from view and his florescent yellow jacket appeared to be flashing wildly as the different lights hit it. As he began to speak a tap was felt on Beth's free arm. She looked down, obviously startled by the whole situation, the girl backed away a little, before waving a sticky hand, asking Beth to lean down a little so she could talk into her ear. Brushing her hair away to listen to the blond haired girl talk;
"Is that Troy?" The girls voice was barely a whisper, but Beth heard her just fine, a smile spread across Beths face as she glanced at Zac who was watching with a wonder. Beth nodded before moving the girl so she was standing in front of her,
"Do you want to talk to him? What is your name?" Beth leaned in closer s the girl cupped her hands around her mouth so no-one else could hear her, her eyes were firmly fixed on Zac as she spoke into Beths ear. Beth spoke in her usual tone as she rose from her place on the floor, "Zac this is Lauren - she's your number one fan. Lauren meet Zac.". The little girl went all red and shy as Zac waved a little and began talking to her, she was that far behind Beth's leg, it looked like Zac was talking to Beth's thigh rather than a little girl. Beth could tell he was really trying to get the girl to talk to him, he must have tried everything, from telling her how cute she was, 'Well if that makes me blush, I can only imagine what its going to do to her!' Beth thought as he said it, to practically bribing her to come out.
The Security Guard had watched the scene unfold over five minutes, checking his watch he tapped Zacs shoulder, and making a sign that they had to move on. Standing from his position, Zac looked at Beth with a disappointed glance before returning his attention to the little girl,
"Well, I've got to go now, its been nice talking to you- shame I couldn't hear you talk just once, especially considering you're my number one fan and all." As he backed away from Lauren, and she realised he was going, she appeared from behind Beth's leg and outstretched her hand grabbing his wrist.
"Wait! Can you sing me a little bit maybe, of Breaking Free?" Laurens voice was loud and booming as she made her request to Zac, using her cuteness as some form of ploy to get him to do it. Beth could tell he felt awkward, he kept glancing from side to side at all the people who ha seen the commotion unfolding,
"Only for my number one fan ok?" Laurens head flew backwards and forwards as he beant down to her level, and sang Breaking Free quietly to her. All the women in the crowd awed as Lauren gave Zac a brief kiss on the cheek and a hug and waved Beth over,
"Are you guys married? Coz you really should be! My Mummy says if you love someone you marry them! Why aren't you married yet? Are you a cheap skate?" She finished her rant and final question really made Beth laugh out loud.
"Lauren Megan Hipperson!" Laurens head shot through the crowd, in the direction the voice came from,
"I've gotta go! Nic to meet you Zac!" And with that she was gone.
Zac took Beth's hand again with a smile. As they followed the now huffing security guard to their 'date pod'. Smiling to the Security guard as they entered the glass cocoon for the evening. Beth had been in one of these before, expecting the see about fifteen other people also in the pod for the ride, she saw a small table, laid for dinner for two in the middle of the glass room. The harsh strip lights had been turned off to make way for the dimmed romantic lighting, which enhanced the mood and the tiny lights of the buildings and boats along the river Thames. Zac had remained at the pod door whilst Beth stepped further in. her hand gingerly touched the silk table cloth, running her hand along the back of the covered chair, completely in shock and awe at what Zac had done for her.
"So what do you think?" Zacs voice filled the glass pod, worried that he had over stepped the mark and the place that they were in in their relationship. Beths head turned quickly towards him, she was so stuck in the moment that she forgot he was there.
"I think its gorgeous, I don't know how you managed it but your really spoiling me know, really spoiling." Beth answered as she left her place by the table, leaving her purse behind on the table top, and moved to hug Zac, which was something she was yet to do. Whilst in their embrace, neither said anything, neither moved, knowing that if they did then it would be for the least few times they could.
A tap at the closed door behind them brought them out of their moment. As they were parting, ad British female voice entered their tension filled space, "Oh sorry to interrupt, Mr Efron, as prearranged each course of your meal will be served as you get to the bottom of the wheel, drinks are available in the fridge and Champaign is on ice in the bucket, hope you enjoy your evening." nodding slightly as she left. Zac turned back to Beth, who was still holding his waist,
"Drinks?" He asked as she released her grip and moved back to the table.
"No thanks, not a huge drinker, plus, I think tonight is too good to miss by being drunk." She smiled at Zac as she took her seat at the table, sitting up slightly so she could see what drinks he was pouring, 'Fresh juice and water'. She quickly changed her gaze to something else when he caught her looking at him. Talking his seat across from her, he raised his glass as though he was making a toast, causing Beth's eyes to wide and quickly swallow the sip she had already taken from her own. Making a little apology to Zac who only smirked at her actions,
"I though the British had really good table etiquette?" Zac teased as he put his glass down to the table, Beth blushed as she took another sip of her juice,
"We do, but I guess I wasn't at school that day or something." She shrugged her shoulder and waved off the moment, quickly changing the subject, "So what exactly is tonight for Zac?". The question came out a little harsher than Beth meant it too. She knew it came out like that too when Zac almost chocked on the mouthful of water he had taken.
"I guess its for us to be together and decide what we are doing tomorrow." Beth didn't understand what had to be decided about tomorrow,
"I don't understand Zac? What's tomorrow?" Zac took in a deep breath before answering her,
"I fly home tomorrow, Beth, well tomorrow morning really." Beth only nodded, she knew that it was only a weekend they were spending together, but she didn't realise that he would be leaving so soon.
"Ok, well, can't we talk about that later? I mean its not a great topic to discuss over dinner, right?" Beth had a bit of an attitude as she replied, not because of the fact that he was leabing, of course it hurt her that he was leaving, bur because she was stupid not to have realised that he would be leaving her eventually. Zac noticed the tone, and agreed to her request. The awkward silence that followed lasted the whole twenty-five minutes that it took the wheel to get round once and to eat their starters.
Zac opened the pod door to allow the servers in. Beth was taken aback by his dress which she recognised immediately, a Pizza Hut delivery uniform.
"Zac, what's going on?" She questioned as the large deep panned meat feast pizza was off loaded on the table, Beth laughed ironically. "You think that a large meat feast pizza is going to make the fact that your leaving ok?" Beth could not believe the situation she had been put in. She hadn't moved from her seat at the table, she looked down as she waited for an answer, she straightened out her top which was being creased from her sloughed position and removed the napkin from her lap, and placed in down on the clean plate in front of her as she leaned back with her arms crossed.
"Well not really but I know how much you love it and I thought that we should spend tonight with the people we love, the food we love and doing the things we love." Beth was now finding it very difficult not to smile at his charm, he was trying to be cheesy and corny and doing a really great job of it.
Fifty minutes later, and two and a half trips round the wheel, Beth and Zac were by the far end of the pod, looking out at the dark London streets, things had certainly been lighter, but then the topic of tomorrow hadn't been discussed yet. Beth fiddled with her fingers, whilst holding her glass of orange juice, she glanced downwards and laughed slightly. Zac let out a sigh as he rolled his eyes, he took the glass from Beths hand as he moved to put them down,
"What's going on? Beth, we really need to talk about his. I didn't want to do this now, and I thought you didn't either, so I don't understand why you've gone so quiet.". He took Beth's head in his hands as he asked. Beth knew what was wrong, she knew she was about to destroy their time together. He was leaving tomorrow, but she was staying, there was no way around it. Long distance doesn't work, it never would be able to work, they were seas apart.
"Ok, look, your leaving tomorrow, and we are getting attached and there is no way this thing we have going on is ever going to work. Life isn't that easy, its not perfect." Zac went steadily red, "And now I'm babbling, you wanted this to be a weekend thing, and now you definitely don't want to see me anymore." Beth broke away from him and stalked away with her hands covering her face. She felt tears stinging her eyes as she listened to the silence of the room. She expected some kind of response from him. He leaned against the metal rail and pressed his forehead against the glass. He knew he had to say something, just what to say was eluding him, his mouth opened and amazingly the right words seemed to flow.
"This is not a weekend thing, I think we both know that, I don't honestly know what we are going to do, we're young and the commitment of long distance, with our situations, just wouldn't work. Maybe we can see how it goes, you've got that job offer right?" It was Beths turn to cut in,
"I'm not even sure that I'm taking it, I haven't really though about any of it! God, if I hadn't of left in the first place, we wouldn't even be having this conversation." Beth wiped the stray tears from her face as she noticed that the wheel was coming to a stand still and there was a knock at the door,
"Reality always knocks right?" The security guard from earlier in the evening poked his head in and asked if they were ready. Beth only nodded as she glanced at Zac who too nodded silently.
The coach ride back to Beth's hotel consisted of Beth resting her head on Zacs shoulder, a few tears dripped gently down her face, the entire coach was silent and dark, the spotlights above their head shone down, illuminating their faces slightly and casting romantic shadows on the two lovers. Street lights past through the windows, flickering orange flashes on Beth's hair.
"Can you stay tonight? Or do you need to leave extra early?" Her voice whispered in the darkness, her throat scratchy with tiredness, her eyes heavy with sleep.
"I think I can stay, I want to stay." Zac replied softly as Beth yawned silently, and he smoothed her hair before gently kissing her head goodnight. The rest of the ride was silent, Beth's light breathing was souring in the stuffy night air. Zac was getting comfortable too, the chair seemed to be moulding around them, cocooning them in their own world. Eyes closed and their bodies entwined, until the coach came to a screeching halt, causing both Beth and Zac to jolt forward and awaken with shock. Looking at each other, to check they were both still ok and actually alive, they listened over the antenna at the drivers voice which sound like he had a bucket over his head,
"Sorry folks for that harsh stop, all who require the LA Suite hotel please leave the coach now." Eyes began to scan the coach, and fixed as Zac and Beth stretched from their positions and gathered their minimal belongings. Zac lead down the aisle of people, smiling and nodding when they realised it was actually Zac Efron on their coach. Beth loosely gripped Zacs hand, allowing herself to be led with him. The little girl Lauren waved a gentle waved to Beth as she passed, which she lightly returned.
Beths hotel was silent, which was perfect for a sleepy Beth who was practically begin dragged through the foyer and was waiting for the lift. Beth felt Zac sigh rather deeply before awkwardly changing his position to hold her weight better,
"You know, you could at least be awake, you did invite me here!" He muttered slightly to himself, as the lift bell dinged and run through Beths ears. All of a sudden her head was removed from Zacs shoulder, her body came to life again.
"I'm awake!" She yelled loudly in the lift, which caused a hearty laugh to escape from Zacs mouth. Beths eyes darted from left to right as she attempted to adjust to her surroundings, "Oh I'm sorry I fell asleep, its me not you, promise!" She reassured him as she pulled her door key out and placed it into the lock. Zac watched, the last time they were in a hotel together, Beth had the drama of not being able to open her door - one which she regularly seemed to be having. Leaning with his shoulder against the door frame, he saw her steadily redden in embarrassment that she couldn't do it, well as he thought it was about. As she stood at the door attempting to open it, frustration and embarrassment at the action was making her go red. But also the fact that Zac was staying the night too. They had never actually just slept next to each other, she wasn't naïve enough to suspect that was all that was going to be happening but memories kept flashing in her mind, it was those that made her turn a tomato colour.
"Ok, time to let me do it." Zac took the key card, and slipped his body between Beth and the door. She shut her eyes tightly as she caught the smell of his aftershave and he brushed against her, it lingered in her nose, eyes still closed until she heard the click of the door lock and felt Zacs body turn to her.
"So, you sure you want me to stay?" Zac stuffed his hands in his pockets as she gingerly asked the question he had been dreading to ask. Beth looked at him, studying his face, and reached up to hug him whilst making her mind up. One side screamed that she was setting herself up to be hurt again - after all he did leave the last time, but just by looking at him she could tell he wouldn't do that again. She was trusting him,
"Of course I do."
Please READ AND REVIEW! i really do love reading your thoughts! Sorry for the delay in updating, been a bit busy lately, but expect the next chapter a little sooner than this one!!
Amy xox