Yay! It's chapter 2! I'm glad everyone's liking this story so far. (I don't know if Scott has a brother or what his name is if he does. In this story, he does, so just go with it.) I'm going to give a great big shout out to Anna: THANK YOU for being my sounding board! You're awesome! Once again, I don't own anything. I wish I did... but oh, well. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

In the days that followed, Vanessa found herself getting thrown into wedding plans, just not in the way she had hoped. Ashley had asked her to be a bridesmaid, along with another of their High School Musical co-stars, Vanessa's on screen best friend Monique, and was having her older sister Jennifer as maid-of-honor. Scott had asked his brother Bradley to be his best man and had asked Zac and Corbin to be his groomsmen.

Vanessa showed up for lunch a month later with Ashley and her sister Jennifer and was pleasantly surprised to find Monique joining them. When she walked in and noticed Monique, her face suddenly lit up. She hadn't seen her friend since her birthday party, or any of their former co-stars for that matter, and was definitely missing her.

"MoMo!" she called out, affectionately using the nickname that the cast had given the older female.

"Nessa! Oh, my word, girl, look at you! You look amazing!" Monique told her giving her a tight hug and then holding her at arms length to take in Vanessa's appearance.

"Hey, Nessa," Jennifer greeted her, standing up to give her a hug as well. When the two pulled apart, Jennifer eyed her carefully.

"Jennifer, why are you giving me that look?" Vanessa questioned her.

"You've got sex eyes!" Jennifer practically yelled out, only to immediately cover her mouth when she realized how loud she said her previous statement. Ashley and Monique started to laugh at the look of embarrassment on Vanessa's face.

"Hey, Nessa, didn't you say that Zac had an 'early meeting' today?" she asked, using air quotes and elbowing Monique in the ribs. "He had to 'get up early', didn't he? Is that why you're late?"

"Yall, stop," Monique gently chastised the other two. "I think it's cute- the way the two of them are so in love and for so long. No offense, Ash, but it's hard to believe that you're engaged first and not her," she went on, not realizing that she'd hit a nerve with Vanessa.

"Me, too! I was so surprised! I mean, Scott and I had talked about marriage, but I didn't have a clue he was planning on asking me so soon!"

"Yeah. Hey, I'll be right back," Vanessa said, as she stood and walked toward the bathroom. Jennifer and Monique watched with concern, as Ashley just shook her head.

"Did I say something?" Monique asked Ashley and Jennifer when the fourth member of the group was out of earshot, and Ashley quickly caught Monique up on what was going on through the mind of Vanessa.

"Oh, my word. Bless her heart, the poor thing. But he is planning on proposing, though, right?" Monique asked, waiting on confirmation. When she got it from Ashley, she kept going. "And he has a plan of when and where?"

Ashley opened her mouth to let Monique and Jennifer know that she knew the plan, but quickly shut it and took a sip of her drink when she heard Vanessa's voice behind her.

"Yes, he does, but don't ask what it is because I don't have a clue what or when or where, or anything else having to do with this!" The three girls all looked up to see Vanessa standing next to the table. She gave all three of them a look and sat back down, and Monique leaned over to gave her a hug.

"Sweetie, I'm just impressed you're holding it in as well as you are. If it were me, I'd be ready to kill."

"Oh, she's tried!" Ashley joked and the group broke into giggles with Vanessa shooting exaggerated daggers at the other girls at the table.

While the girls enjoyed mimosas, all except Jennifer, of course, as she was almost six months pregnant and was just having a Diet Coke with lemon, and waited on their lunch, Jennifer immediately jumped into the reason for the lunch outing.

"Okay, girls, as Maid of Honor, I can now tell you two why you're here. It is to plan Ashley's bridal shower. I know that usually isn't done until after the couple has already registered, but I want to make sure all the preliminary decisions, date, place, and so forth, are made before Little One makes her appearance," she told Vanessa and Monique while Ashley leaned over to pat her sister's stomach lovingly. "That way I won't have to worry about it later. Also, Ashley wanted to go to the bridal shop so the three of us can try on some dresses and maybe help her decide what we're going to wear."

"Oh, Jen, I didn't tell you! Mom and I went to David's Bridal when I was visiting a few weeks ago and I found a few gowns. It just so happens that I looked online and the store we're going to today has a few of the same one's that she and I looked at. I want to try those on to show you girls to get opinions on those, too," Ashley excitedly told the group.

The four girls finished their lunch, Vanessa feeling like she was having to put on a front the whole time, and then left the restaurant. They all piled into Monique's car and she drove to the bridal shop that Ashley directed her to. As Monique's ring tone of "Carolina Girls" by General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board sounded out through out the car, the other three girls laughed.

"You don't stop with the southern-ness stuff, do you?" Vanessa asked.

"Hey, once a Carolina Girl, always a Carolina Girl!" Monique responded, using the popular line from their third movie and causing the other girls to laugh, before answering her call. "Hey, Mom. How're yall doing in Columbia?" As Monique continued her conversation with her mom, Ashley and Jennifer started their own conversation.

"Hey, Ash, did Mom happen to mention when she's coming out here?"

"Yeah, she said something about not coming until you have the baby. She doesn't want to pay for two plane tickets so close together or something."

"But they baby won't be here for three and a half more months!"

"I know, and I told her I'd pay for her ticket for one of those visits, but she wouldn't hear of it. You know how stubborn she is. That's why I want you three to help me decide on a dress."

As Ashley and Jennifer continued their conversation about their mom, Vanessa's phone sounded with her text message tone. She reached into her purse to pull it out and noticed that it was from Zac. She opened it to read what he had to say.

Hey, Baby. I wish u'd woken me this am to tell me u were leaving. I missed u when I woke up alone.

She gave a slight smile as she responded to his message.

I'm sorry. ): Something came up and I had to leave earlier than I'd planned and thought u'd rather have ur sleep after last pm. Or was that this am? They all run 2gether after awhile… ;)

U're right, the sleep was needed. Thank u for that. When do u think u'll be back? I miss u… she read his response after a moment and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from "aww"-ing out loud.

I miss u, 2. I don't know how long this will take. I'll let u know when I leave so u'll know about when 2 expect me.

Sounds good. Talk to u soon. I love you!

Love you, too! She put herphone back in her purse and noticed the silence in the car. As she looked around, she saw three pairs of eyes staring at her.

"What?" she asked.

"He's so whipped," Jennifer said while the other two burst into giggles.

"Shut up," Vanessa told them, smiling, as she reached forward to turn up the radio. The rest of the ride existed with the four girls singing along to the radio, gossiping about their Hollywood counterparts, and even placed a call to Corbin, who was happy to hear from his three former co-stars and Jennifer.

Once the girls got to the bridal shop, Ashley immediately went to the counter to let the sales associate know they were there for their appointment. Within ten minutes, Jennifer, Monique, and Vanessa were in the fitting rooms trying on their bride's maids gowns. Shortly after settling into her fitting room, Vanessa found herself standing with her back to the mirror, stepping into the soft baby blue dress. She stopped breathing as she turned around and caught sight of herself in the mirror.

The same blue as his eyes, she thought to herself, only to be brought back to her senses as she heard the shrieks of the other three girls outside the fitting rooms. What am I doing here?

"Nessa, are you ready? Come out, let's see it!" she heard Ashley call out to her.

I'm here for Ash. She deserves this. Take a deep breath, Hudgens. You're okay. Don't let her see you sweat. "I'm coming!" she called out after finally finding her voice. As she stepped out, she took in the sight of Monique and Jennifer in dresses different than the one she currently had on, but in the same color.

"Typical Ashley, she can't decide which one she likes," Jennifer explained, seeing the look in Vanessa's eyes.

"These were my top three picks, so I had each of you try all three of them on so I can see them all side by side, at the same time," Ashley said, taking a step back to look at all of her three attendants. Suddenly, Ashley let out a gasp.

"What's wrong?" Monique asked, concerned.

"Seeing all three of you in those dresses just gave me an idea! Who says that the attendants have to all be wearing the same dress? Why can't they all be wearing different dresses, but in the same color?"

"It certainly makes your decision easier," Jennifer pointed out.

"Yeah, I like that idea! Now, which dress do you want us each in? Are you going to change it, or just have us wear the one we're trying on?" Monique asked.

As the others continued talking, Vanessa found herself zoning out again. She jumped when she saw Ashley waving a hand inches in front of her face. "Are you still with us? You seem to be a million miles away."

"No, I'm fine," Vanessa lied, forcing a smile in her best attempt to convince Ashley.

"Ashley, why don't you try on the dresses you found and let us see them?" Jennifer asked. As Ashley walked into her own fitting room, followed by her sister to help her, Monique turned to Vanessa and gave her a knowing look.

"I know that you're not okay," the older Southerner told the younger girl. Vanessa just looked at her.

"What are you talking about, Mo? I'm fine," Vanessa told her while trying to walk back into her fitting room.

"Nessa, you can't lie to me. I know you too well," Monique said as she followed Vanessa into the fitting room. She reached up to help her unzip the dress that she had on. "I know that you're upset, but I also think it's amazing that you're trying to put on a brave front for Ashley."

"Well, she deserves it. It would be selfish of me to make this about me and my boyfriend," she said, bitterly emphasizing the last word as the blue dress fell to the floor and pooled around her feet and she pulled her shirt over her head Monique stood and put a hand on her shoulder as she looked Vanessa in the eye in the mirror.

"Sweetheart, he loves you. You love him. I've been one of the very few who was lucky enough to see yall's love grow from the very beginning and I can't tell you how much of a beautiful thing that has been. Don't let what you refer to as 'selfishness' get in the way of that. Ashley's happy and your time, from what I hear, is coming. Granted I don't know when, but if I know Zac like I think I know Zac, it will be soon."

"What if it's not, Mo? He says he has a plan and I trust him, but I can't help but play 'What if?' with myself."

"Honey, bless your heart, that's you're favorite game. If 'What if' was an Olympic sport, you'd be a gold medalist! You've got to stop!"

"But-" Vanessa started, but was interrupted by a knocking at the door.

"Girls, she's ready! Come out and see!" Jennifer said to them through the door.

"We're coming. Yall be patient!" Monique responded. She turned back to look at Vanessa, who was in the process of buttoning her jeans back up. "Honey, are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Tell them I'll be right out."

Monique turned back to the door and, before letting herself out of her friend's fitting room, took one more glance over her shoulder, only to see Vanessa wipe a tear off her cheek and take a deep breath. She opened the door and walked out, spotting Ashley standing on the platform in a stunning wedding gown.

"Girl! Wow! I really don't know what to say! You are absolutely-" Monique stopped when she saw Ashley and Jennifer's eyes look past her and turned to see what they were looking at and saw Vanessa coming out of the fitting room.

Ashley's smile faltered as she looked at Vanessa's face and saw the internal battle with her emotions. She could tell that she was trying to hold it together, and was thankful for her friend's concern for her happiness, but also saw the hurt and, was it jealousy? She couldn't quite put her finger on the other emotion, and it was almost bothering her.

"It's beautiful," she said quietly. "It's exactly what I would have pictured you in."

"I have two more I want to show you guys," Ashley said.

"I'd like to see them. Why don't I help you and let MoMo and Jen get changed?" she offered, and Ashley nodded. The two walked into the spacious fitting room where Ashley's clothes were with the other two gowns and Ashley immediately turned so Vanessa could unbutton the elegant gown that she currently was wearing. The two were silent, until Vanessa broke the silence.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"For what?" Ashley asked her best friend, as she looked up at the ceiling.

"I really am happy for you. I know I'm not showing it very well, and I'm sorry. I'm trying very hard to put my personal issues aside, especially during all the wedding talk, but it's hard. I just want you to know that I am trying. I know this is about you and Scott and the special day that the two of you deserve, not me and Zac."

"Oh, Nessa, I know it's hard. I wish I could help you by kicking his ass into motion, because you deserve to have your fun planning your wedding, too, but I learned long ago that Zac has a mind of his own. You can't tell him anything. I really don't know what to tell you, other than just to trust him," she told Vanessa as she stepped out of her dress. Vanessa carefully hung the dress back up on the hanger.

"Which one next?" she asked looking at Ashley over her shoulder. She took the dress that Ashley pointed at off the hanger and held it down so Ashley could step into it before she continued.

"I love him, Ash. With all my heart, I love him. I want nothing more than to have my forever with him. I can't wait until we can plan my wedding, too, but I just can't help but wonder, you know?"

What should I say, what should I say? Ashley searched her brain, trying to make herself sound like she didn't know anything.

"I know! I mean, it's been four years! Come on, man! Does he not realize that there are guys practically pounding down your door?" Well played, Tizzy. Way to turn on those wonderful acting skills of your's!

"Ashley-" Vanessa started, as she began to zip up dress number two.

"I'm sorry. I know you don't want to think about that, but it's true! What if he hasn't proposed by the end of year like he promised? Have you thought about that?" Ashley inwardly gasped, not quite ready for the possible reaction to that question.

"No," Vanessa admitted somberly. "I haven't."

"Valentine's Day!" Ashley suddenly exclaimed, reaching for something that could possibly give her best friend some hope, even though she knew he wasn't proposing on Valentine's Day.

I'll handle the upset later. She needs something to hold onto right now, Ashley thought to herself.

"What?" Vanessa asked, thoroughly confused, sitting down on the bench in the fitting room.

"He'll do it on Valentine's Day! He's got to!"

"I don't know, Ashley. That's kind of cliché, don't you think? I mean, Zac's a far cry from cliché!"

Thank you! Ashley exclaimed to herself. She doesn't seem to believe that idea! Maybe she won't be so upset come Valentine's Day after all…

"I know but-"

"I appreciate the concern, but I don't know. We'll see." Vanessa took in the sight before her of Ashley in the beautiful gown and let out a sigh. "Oh, Ash, it's stunning," she breathed. "I love it," she said.

"You do?"

"I do!"

"Which do you like better between the two I tried so far?"

"I really don't know. I think number two so far. Let's see what the others think," she said as she opened the door. "Get ready, ladies! Here she comes with number two!"

Later that night, after she and Zac had finished the baked spaghetti dinner with garlic bread he'd cooked for her, the two of them were sitting snuggled on the couch watching TV. As hard as she was trying to focus on the program, her mind kept wandering and the "What if's" started again. All she could think about was something Ashley said to her earlier that day.

"He'll do it on Valentine's Day! He's got to!" she heard Ashley's voice echo in her head.

Just as quickly as that thought came to her, another made its way to the forefront of her mind. "…there are guys practically pounding down your door." Vanessa had not had any other prospects, but What If?

I don't know. Zac isn't the Valentine's type as it is. Would he really propose on Valentine's Day?

As a commercial came on, she felt Zac move his arms from around her legs, which were resting in his lap, and watched as he stood and walked into the other room. Once she was alone, Vanessa allowed her imagination to run even further than it had already gone.

Valentine's Day, she thought as she held her left hand out in front of her, looking at the ring Zac had given her on her birthday. Hmmm…

"I'm back," Zac announced a few moments later, startling Vanessa. He picked her legs up and set them back in his lap as she jerked her hand back into her lap, looking back up at him with a forced smile. "You look awfully thoughtful there. What's up?"

"Oh, it's nothing," she quickly recovered. "I was just thinking about Valentine's Day," she told him as she turned so that she was sitting with her back to his front.

"What about it?" he asked.

"Do you have anything planned for us?" she asked as she took his hands in her smaller ones and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He let his arms rest across her front and leaned down to place a kiss on her temple as he thought about her question.

"No, not really," he answered as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I was thinking maybe a quiet evening at home," another kiss to her temple. "Just you," a kiss to her cheek, "and me." This time the kiss he gave her was to her neck. "At home," this kiss was placed lower on her neck. "No one around…" he let his voice trail off as he leaned down and kissed her shoulder that had been exposed a little bit when his too big on her t-shirt slipped down.

OH MY GOD! Ashley was right! Why else would he want to be alone?!

"I think I like the sound of that," she told him seductively as she turned in his arms and leaned in to kiss him. He responded to the kiss and it didn't take long before she felt him leaning her back down into the couch cushions, his hand slipping under her shirt. She returned the favor by slipping her hands under his shirt running them up his muscular back and over his biceps. Before long, the two were naked, and their heavy breathing and moans echoed throughout the house.

I suddenly can't wait for Valentine's Day… was the last coherent thought that Vanessa remembered before Zac entered her and, within moments, had pushed her over the edge of ecstasy.