A/N: Hello again everyone…… I'm so sorry it's been so long since the last update! I was on tour and while we were away, my computer blew up, but it's fixed and now I'm back! However, this is actually the last chapter. There is also an epilogue, but this is the last actual chapter. Sad, I know, I'm a little devastated; I've been writing this for nearly a year and a half now!
Vanessa was released from hospital that night, with some new medication to help her sleep, and a few stitches in her head. Zac took her back to the hotel and she immediately crawled into bed and closed her eyes.
'Tired, baby?' Zac asked, lying down next to her on his side. She nodded.
'Mm hm.' She mumbled. He kissed her forehead.
'Go to sleep. I'm not going anywhere, I'll be here when you wake up, I promise.' He said softly. She nodded and he could tell she was almost asleep already. He lay back against his pillows, suddenly feeling tired. He had been awake since 3am…
The next few days were spent resting and talking, with regular visits from their friends.
'I don't want to back to work tomorrow!' Ashley wailed on Thursday night.
'Believe me, Ash, none of us do.' Corbin agreed.
'I do.' Vanessa piped up. Everyone looked at her. 'What? I do want to. I want to be able to do the show and enjoy it finally.'
'Well fair enough.' Lucas commented. Vanessa grinned, her smile growing wider as Zac's hand found hers and their fingers curled together. She looked up at him and smiled.
'Oh, looks like time for us to go. They're making puppy dog eyes at each other again.' Corbin said with a roll of his eyes. Everyone else agreed, getting up and leaving. Vanessa laughed, laying back against her pillows.
'I'm going to remember that for future reference, in case we ever need to get rid of them again.' Zac said.
Vanessa woke early on Friday morning and smiled gently at Zac sleeping beside her. He was sprawled out on his back, one leg hanging off the edge of the bed and one hand behind his head. She ran her hand through his messy hair, kissing his cheek to wake him up. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled at her.
'Hi.' He whispered.
'Hi.' She replied.
'How do you feel?' he asked.
'I feel perfect.'
'Good. You're going to have fun tonight.'
'Yeah I am. I can't wait.'
That night they arrived at the theatre and Vanessa was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. The show went perfectly and everyone was ecstatic.
'That was one of the best shows we've ever done.' Lucas commented as they all got off the bus at the hotel.
'So much fun.' Vanessa kept muttering, a huge smile spread across her face. Zac was grinning too, his eyes never leaving Vanessa's face. He sidled up to her and took her hand.
'Let's go upstairs.' he whispered. She looked up at him and grinned, a cheeky look on her face.
'Hey, Ash! Let's have a sleepover in your room tonight!' she called to Ashley, her eyes never leaving Zac's. He rolled his eyes.
'I know exactly what you're doing.' He said, his face an inch away from hers.
'I know you do.' she replied, before brushing her lips against his so lightly that he wasn't even sure if they'd touched. She grinned at him, walking away and towards Ashley, swinging her hips in a way that she knew would drive his mind wild. A wicked look crossed his face. Two could play at this game.
20 minutes later, they were all assembled in Ashley's room, watching Charlie and the chocolate factory. Vanessa was seated on Zac's lap, wiggling purposefully every few seconds, knowing how much it was driving him crazy. While everyone's attention was on the movie, he ran his hand up her top, cupping her breast and squeezing it lightly. She bit her lip, and then leaned back so her mouth was next to his ear.
'You're going to pay for that.' She whispered seductively.
'Promises, promises.' Zac responded cheekily. Vanessa suddenly turned herself so she was facing him, one leg on either side of him. She fixed her eyes on his and they began a staring competition so intense that he didn't notice her moving her hand downwards until she touched him. He gasped and jumped. She grinned wickedly.
'I did warn you…' she whispered, nipping at his earlobe.
'That's it.' He said, pulling her up and out the door. They quickly made it into their own room and before they knew it, they were kissing, their hands and mouths all over each other.
'God, I've missed your body.' Zac groaned.
'Shut up.' Vanessa replied, pulling him back to her and closing her mouth over his again.
The next few weeks were so uneventful that Ashley began to miss the days when Vanessa had been sick.
'At least we had something to talk about then.' She complained during interval when they were all sitting in silence in the green room. No one responded.
'We are so boring.' She muttered. Luckily for her, that night, Kenny made an announcement.
'I have a gift for you all. We have been given free tickets for you all to go see Avenue Q the musical. The tickets are valid for anytime within the next 3 weeks, so I'd recommend that you use them on your next night off, which happens to be in 2 days. Now remember people, this is the theatre, not the cinemas, so dress nice. That is all. Goodnight.' He dismissed them with a clap of his hands and they all made their way back to their dressing rooms, talking excitedly.
'Zac and I were just talking about that show last week!' Vanessa exclaimed to Ashley.
'This is going to be so cool. I can't wait. We've been performing for so long and finally we get to watch someone else perform instead!'
'Its going to be so nice to do something exciting. The last few weeks have been so boring!'
'I know. I was considering breaking my own leg just for something to do, but I thought Kenny might kill me.' Lucas piped up. Vanessa and Ashley burst out laughing and Lucas shrugged.
'It wasn't that funny.' He remarked.
2 days later, they all assembled in the lobby of their hotel, waiting to get on the bus to take them to the theatre.
'It'll be so weird to get on the bus but not go to our theatre.' Monique commented.
'I know! The only place we ever go on that bus is to the theatre. And we're still going to the theatre, just not our theatre.' Emily agreed.
'Hey, is that dress new?' Ashley asked Vanessa.
'No, this is old! I wore this to the wrap party for high school musical.'
'Really? I so don't remember that at all.'
'I do.' Zac said softly from behind her. Vanessa turned around, grinning at him.
'Why aren't you sweet like that all the time?' she asked.
'Cause then it wouldn't mean as much.' He replied seriously. She leaned into him, kissing him gently.
'You two disgust me.' Corbin said as he walked past them. Zac pulled away and rolled his eyes.
'Wow, Corbin, you sure do have a talent for ruining the moment.'
'Yeah, I know. It's cause of my wicked sweet moment-ruining skills.' Corbin quipped, walking onto the bus. Zac and Vanessa gave identical eye rolls and followed him onto the bus, taking their usual seats.
Everyone piled out of the bus and into the theatre, chattering a mile a minute as they took their seats, so excited about seeing the show.
Several hours later, they all filed out of the theatre, still talking a mile a minute.
'That was so funny! I knew it was supposed to be funny, but that was freaking hilarious!' Ashley exclaimed.
'I know! I loved the monsters. Kate Monster was awesome.' Lucas agreed.
'My stomach hurts from laughing.' Vanessa complained, yet still grinning widely.
'I reckon that would be so awesome to actually be in.' Corbin said with a huge grin.
'Thinking of trying out, Corbs?' Zac asked with a laugh. Corbin folded his arms in mock anger.
'I might!' he said, but ruined the effect by laughing. 'Nah, but it just looked like it'd be so much fun.'
'Yeah, it'd be great to be one of the monsters, I reckon.' Monique piped up.
'I just loved the songs! They were so funny, but they were melodically awesome too.' Lucas added.
'You're such a musical nerd, Lucas.' Vanessa said, shoving him playfully. He shoved her back and she toppled, falling into Zac. He caught her.
'Geez, Luke, try and beat up my girlfriend, why don't you!' he said with a laugh. Lucas shrugged.
'Well, she's annoying, what do you expect me to do?' suddenly, he fell sideways, turning to see Ashley and Vanessa talking all too innocently beside him. He grinned wickedly.
'You are so going to pay for that.' He said in a low voice. Both girls squealed and ran away, Vanessa hiding behind Zac as Ashley ran in circles around them with Lucas chasing her.
'God, anyone would think you lot were 15 years old.' Corbin said, trying to be mature. They all simply laughed at him.
'Sure, Corbin, whatever.'
'You know what? In all seriousness, I'm so glad I got involved in this show. I'm finally working in real theatre, and with people who I absolutely love to death.' Emily said after a few moments.
'It has been a pretty great experience.' Vanessa said with a small.
'Not just a great experience, the best experience.' Zac said finally, his arm wrapped around Vanessa, grinning at his friends. 'Yeah, definitely the best.'
Well, what did you think? Please review….. And remember, the epilogue is still to come.