(A/N): First and foremost, this story was CO-AUTHORED by me ((KelsiLovesLucas)) and MissZacEfron. The chapters are written by both of us. We each wrote half of every chapter so enjoy!
Dedications: We would both like to dedicate this story to Mrs. Radcliffe-Efron
Disclaimer: Still own nothing. Hmm, how about now? Nope, still nothing.
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Chapter Eleven: Perfection
Vanessa woke up early in the morning with Zac to pack to go to California ((A/N: I had a typo in the last chapter. Corbin said, "He went to Utah" when really it should have been "He went to California" Sorry about that!)) Vanessa was closing her suitcase when she heard Ashley shouting in her room down the hall. Nessa followed Zac out and saw Ashley yelling at Olesya and Monique who were attempting to shut Ashley's suitcase.
"Come on, guys! Put your backs into it!" Ashley ordered.
"I'm already sitting on it!" Olesya replied. Monique groaned in frustration as she threw herself down on the bed next to the overly-stuffed suitcase.
"Ash? You do know that if your suitcase weighs over 50 pounds then they won't let you on with it." Zac told her. She turned to him and smiled.
"I know that, silly! That's why I weighed this. It's exactly fifty pounds!" She said happily. "I just have big stuff, not heavy stuff." She explained. Zac nodded. "Olesya, maybe you don't weigh enough. Zac, get on my suitcase!" Zac obeyed and sat on her suitcase. Olesya had gotten off and was now chuckling.
"This is not going to work!" Monique moaned.
"You're right. Corbin! Lucas! Come here!" Ashley shouted into the hallway. Lucas and Corbin appeared moments later.
"What?" Corbin asked. Ashley pointed to her suitcase. "Oh, no!" Corbin groaned. Ashley raised her eyebrow and Corbin walked over to the suitcase.
"Good boy! Now, Lucas when Corbin sits on it next to Zac, you pull the zipper with all that muscley strength of yours, okay?" Ashley smiled. Lucas nodded and walked to the suitcase. Vanessa was laughing at the fact that Corbin and Zac were both sitting on the suitcase. She watched the three boys struggle with shutting it but they finally got it shut. "There! That wasn't so bad was it?" Ashley said with a smile. The boys all collapsed onto the floor and closed their eyes.
"I'm glad that I'm not going because that means I can sleep!" Corbin said. Lucas and Zac both smacked him. "What?" Corbin asked, sitting up. He then saw Vanessa's face and she was tearing up. "Oh, Ness! I didn't mean it like that." He said.
"It's okay, Corbin. It's not you. I guess I'm just nervous. I don't know what I'll do." She whispered. Zac got up and hugged her.
"C'mon, I'll help you finish packing." He said as he pulled her out of the room.
"Wait for me!" Ashley cried. She grabbed her suitcase and ran out of the room.
"How can you carry that?" Vanessa asked when Ashley caught up to them.
"Easy!" Ashley laughed. She ran ahead of them and went into the room.
"Scary..." Zac said slowly and quietly. Vanessa laughed and he wrapped his arm around her waist. The two walked into the room and finished packing Vanessa's suitcase. Then, they went to the airport.
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"Are you ready?" Zac asked Vanessa once the pilot had finished announcing that they would be landing soon. She nodded and closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling.
"We're here for you, Ness." Ashley said sweetly.
"I know. I'm fine." Vanessa smiled weakly at her friends and buckled her seat belt for the landing. They landed and the trio walked to the baggage check to get their luggage. After that, they headed out of the airport.
"Where are we going?" Zac asked in the darkness of California nighttime.
"Well, the funeral's tomorrow so let's go to the hotel now." Vanessa replied sadly. They got into a cab and headed to the hotel. Vanessa fell asleep in the car so Zac carried you into the hotel while Ashley carried everyone's suitcases.
"I'll share a room with Nessa." Zac informed Ashley. She nodded and got two rooms.
"My room's right next door if you need me. Night, Zac." Ashley whispered so as not to wake Vanessa. Zac nodded and went into his and Vanessa's room.
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Zac lay Vanessa down on the bed and then he lay down next to her. She suddenly woke up. "Zac?" She said as she sat up.
"Hey, babe. It's okay. Go to sleep. It's late." He whispered sleepily. Vanessa nodded and lay back down. Zac put his arm around her and closed his eyes. "You're safe, Ness. I've got you." He whispered in her ear. She smiled.
"Thank you, Zac. For everything. I love you." Vanessa told her boyfriend.
"I love you, too. I'm always here for you." He replied. It was quiet and they both fell asleep.
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"Ness?" a soft voice whispered. "Nessa?" The voice said again. "Vanessa, you have to wake up." Vanessa finally opened her eyes and saw that the voice had been coming from Zac.
"What's up?" She asked while standing up and rubbing her eyes.
"You need to get ready, sweetie. The funeral's in just two hours. You've been asleep for a long time." Zac explained. Vanessa frowned. She had forgotten about the funeral in her sleep. She had been dreaming about Zac again and all her worries about the funeral had floated away. "Ness?" Zac's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'll go get ready." She nodded. Zac smiled. He was wearing a black tux and Vanessa couldn't help but think he looked really good. Zac kissed her tenderly on the lips. Just then, Ashley cleared her throat.
"I would say get a room but you've already got one! Just don't suck each other's faces off in front of me or without closing your door, okay?" Ashley teased. Vanessa stuck her tongue out at Vanessa. Ashley returned the gesture and started laughing. "We're mature aren't we?" She laughed. Vanessa nodded. Ashley was wearing a long black dress.
"I'm going to go get ready." Vanessa said sadly.
"Poor thing." Ashley whispered once Vanessa had gone into the bathroom. Zac nodded and sat down on the bed. Ashley looked at him for a moment before laughing and sitting next to him. "What's with the geeky smile?" She joked, nudging him in the side with her elbow.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Zac replied innocently. He stood and walked over to the mirror to check his outfit once more.
"Don't give me that, Zac! You are such a bad liar! C'mon, what's with this goofy grin that's currently taking up half your face?" Ashley asked again.
"It's a secret." Zac whispered. "All I can tell you is that it is going to make everyone very happy." His smiled widened. Ashley looked at him, trying to figure out what he was planning. She finally gave up and walked back to her room to apply her makeup. "Very happy, indeed." Zac whispered to himself once Ashley had left the room.
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"What do I say? What if I screw up?" Vanessa asked worriedly. Zac and her were standing in the Church's bathroom talking about the funeral.
"Say what you feel. I know you can do it." Zac said pulling her closer.
"I'm so scared Zac. What will my Mom and Stella look like?" Vanessa said in tears.
"Hey look at me." Zac said lifting her chin. "Everything is going to work out okay, I promise." Zac said kissing her passionately and wiping her tears away with his thumbs.
"I love you" Vanessa whispered
"I love you more than you'll ever know." Zac said
"We better get going." she said grabbing Zac's hand and entwining his fingers with his.
Zac and Vanessa walked out of the bathroom to see the hole gang sitting in the front row pew with Ashley. Tears started coming to her eyes seeing what her best friends did for her. Vanessa jumped onto Zac and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Zac." Vanessa whispered into his ear.
"Anything for you." he whispered back. Vanessa walked over to where Corbin, Monique, Olesya, and Lucas sat.
"You guys didn't have to do this!" Vanessa exclaimed. Corbin stood up and hugged Vanessa.
"We would do anything for you." Corbin said to Vanessa. Corbin and Vanessa pulled away and Corbin kissed her forehead. Then the Priest got up at the podium and cleared his throat. Vanessa, Zac and Corbin sat down quickly.
"Today we are not here to grieve, but to reflect on the lives of Gina Maria Hudgens and Stella Teodora Hudgens. We have her daughter, Vanessa to speak for us," the Priest said stepping down for the podium. Vanessa got up and Zac grabbed her hand.
"Do you want to me to come with you?" Zac asked
"No, I think I need to do this." Vanessa said. Vanessa walked up to the podium, her eyes avoiding the caskets beside her.
"I have to be honest with all of you. I'm not quiet sure what to say. I guess I never expected to be speaking at my sister's funeral and my mother's. I never imagined it. They were both wonderful people and everyone they knew loved them. My Mother was kind and generous. She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. She was the best friend anyone could ever have. My sister, Stella, was loving and pretty much exactly like my mom. Her energy will be greatly missed as well as her kindness." Vanessa said. She felt tears welling up in her eyes but continued speaking. "No one could ever replace them and I know that they will be greatly missed." she said weakly. "Thank you." She finished as she hurried back to her seat. Zac hugged her as she sobbed into his shoulder.
"It's okay. You did it. It's all right." Zac whispered. Vanessa just continued to cry into his shoulder.
After the ceremony, the gang went out of the church and to the gardens outside. They ate some food and had some drinks.
"Zac, I can't do this." Vanessa whispered to Zac
"What do you mean?" Zac asked
"I can't be here when they bury them. I can't watch that." Vanessa whined
"We can leave if you want." Zac told her, looking deep in to her eyes. She smiled but shook her head.
"No, I need to do this, even if I don't want to." Vanessa sighed. She walked to the cemetery with the rest of the people there. They watched as the two caskets were lowered into the ground. Vanessa leaned her head on Zac's shoulder.
"Ready to go?" Zac asked her
"Can I have a minute?" She asked Zac. He smiled and kissed her. He walked to the car with the rest of the group. Vanessa sat down on the ground next to the two graves. "Hi Mom, Hi Stella." she whispered. "I don't know if you can hear me. I've heard that people who are... dead... can still hear people. I don't know if you guys can hear me but if you can, I just wanna say that I love you and I'm sorry that I wasn't there. I'm sorry that I couldn't stop him. I never wanted this to happen." Vanessa whispered. Tears were streaming down her face. "I love you so much! I'm sorry that this happened. It's my entire fault...it's all my fault" Vanessa felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw blue eyes. It wasn't Zac, it was Lucas.
"It's not your fault, Ness. If you had been there, you'd be dead too." Lucas told her. She continued sobbing. He knelt down next to her and held her close to him.
"It's my fault Lucas. I know it's my fault. If I hadn't told any of you then this wouldn't have happened." Vanessa whispered.
"Stop it Vanessa." He said firmly. She looked at him for a minute. "If you hadn't told anyone then he would have continued beating you and you would be dead for sure. Don't blame yourself, Vanessa." Lucas said. Vanessa stared at him. She hugged him tightly and laid her head on his chest.
"I just can't believe they're gone!" Vanessa cried. Lucas helped her stand up and walked with her to the car. Zac walked up and hugged her and they climbed into the van together and headed back to the hotel. "It's all my fault." Vanessa said once more as she looked back at the cemetery one final time.
Back at the hotel, everyone was silent. They didn't quite know what to talk about or say. Vanessa finally spoke.
"Thanks for coming here, you guys." She said
"Anything for you" Corbin said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We should probably get ready to go because our flight leave in the morning." Ashley said
"I'm gonna miss you guys." Vanessa told her friends
"We'll miss you too. You're moving back into your Mom's house then?" Monique asked. Vanessa nodded. The rest of the gang said goodbye to her and left to pack for the flight the next morning. Vanessa walked into her room and layed down onto the bed. Before she knew it she was dreaming about her wedding with Zac.
Vanessa woke up the next morning to Ashley laughing. Vanessa slowly opened her eyes to see Ashley sitting on the bed drinking a cup of coffee.
"Hey what are you guys doing?" Vanessa asked
"We were seeing if you would wake up, we have a flight to catch" Ashley said.
"I'm going to miss you guys so much." Vanessa said with tears flowing down her face. Monique, Corbin, Ashley, Olesya, Lucas and Vanessa all shared a hug.
"Wait, where is Zac?" Vanessa asked
"Right here." Zac said walking out of the bathroom
"Well we have to go. We will see you soon." Corbin said kissing Vanessa on the forehead.
"Bye" Vanessa said shutting her hotel door. Vanessa turned around and gave Zac a weird look.
"Aren't you supposed to be going with them?" Vanessa asked confused.
"I'm staying here with you!" Zac said excitedly
"But, you have to finish HSM3, right?" Vanessa said
"Not anymore!" Zac said smiling. Zac got down on one knee and grabbed Vanessa's hands." Vanessa, I love you more than anything in the world, more than life itself. Will you honor me by accepting to be my wife?" Zac asked, his palms sweating.
"Oh My God Zac. I can't believe this! Of course I will be your wife. I love you!" Vanessa said hugging Zac.
"I love you and I want you to know that I am here for you." Zac cooed into Vanessa's ear.
"Does the gang know about this?" Vanessa asked
"Unfortunately, yes..." Zac said
Then Vanessa started to think about it. Who is going to walk me down the aisle? At least I have Zac and all of our friends! I really do love him; I love him more than life itself.
"Vanessa...Nessa babe." Zac was gently shaking her.
"Oh, I'm sorry Zac." Vanessa said
"Are you okay?" Zac asked
"I...I...I...I won't have anyone to walk me down the aisle." Vanessa says in tears
"Hey, my Dad said he will walk you down the aisle." Zac says cradling her head in his hands.
"Oh...Okay..."Vanessa said with a fake smile.
"Hey, don't worry about it. We'll figure everything out." Zac said. "Lets go out to lunch, what do you say?" Zac asks.
"Yeah, lets go." Vanessa said putting her ballet flats on. Vanessa walked over to the hotel door with Zac behind her and opened the door.
"CONGRATULATIONS!" the whole gang yelled
"I thought you guys went back to Utah?" Vanessa said confused.
"And leave our best friends that are newly-engaged? Hell No!" Ashley said
"Now lets go out to lunch." Corbin said grabbing Zac and Vanessa's hands.
Vanessa saw that everything was turning out right now. She couldn't wait for the wedding. Kenny told them they didn't have to do HSM3, but because of everything that had happened, Kenny paid them for the filming they had already completed. It was turning out to be 'The Perfect Life' for Vanessa!
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KelsiLovesLucas: Well, it's over! Don't worry, the story shall continue! The sequel is coming soon! The sequel shall have fluff, drama and tears! Romance and some humor. Whatever is in it… it will be great! Thanks for all the reviews. Special thanks to Christine Glen Haven for reading and reviewing from the very beginning! We hope to have all of our same readers back for the sequel and many more. We love you guys so much and now we see that you love us! 93 reviews as of now and that's not counting this chapter! I hope that we can make it to 100 reviews! Your reviews mean so much to us and they help us grow as writers so keep those reviews coming! The sequel is on its way! See ya in the sequel, peeps! God bless all of you, KelsiLovesLucas
MissZacEfron- Oh my gosh...This was the last chapter...I'm crying but don't you worry because we are going to do a sequel! Hopefully the sequel will be up shortly. We are currently working on the sequel...Okay thank you thank you thank you SO much to all of our Readers and Reviewers for 'The Perfect Life Gone Wrong'! Thank you all so much! Be sure to come back and review for our sequel! I can't wait! We hit 93 reviews for 'The Perfect Life Gone Wrong' not including reviews for Chapter Eleven! So keep up the good work! Sequel will be up shortly! Thank you to Christine Glen Haven for reading and reviewing from the very beginning! Thank you! Much Love to all of Our Readers and Reviewers, God Bless You, MissZacEfron