Lauren woke up in a sweat. She looked around her and saw her hotel bedroom as it was before she fell asleep, she could hear the lull of the TV in the lounge. She looked at her alarm clock and it read 9:30. She sighed. She was having such a great dream. Zac Efron, her TV crush, kissed her! Ever since Lauren had starred in 'The Girl Next Door' for Disney Channel, she had become something of a celebrity. She'd seen High School Musical and liked the look of him. She could remember one part of the dream vividly, she let it come back to her for a few moments….

Zac smiled and sat down on the couch.

'Zac, can I ask you something?' Lauren began.

'Sure, go ahead.'

'Is something the matter, 'cause you're not talking a lot. Do you want me to leave?'

An image went through Zac's mind of him and Lauren only speaking when on set and never talking. He couldn't let that happen.

'God no. I guess I'm a little shocked by how beautiful my new co-star is.' He said.

Wow, he thought, were did that come from?

He looked up to see Lauren blushing slightly. She didn't do that when Corbin said she was fit. Did that mean she sort of liked him?

'How come you're so different when no one else is around?' she asked after they'd talked for ten minutes.

Zac shrugged and said 'I guess I like to talk to people first so they don't judge me on first impressions. Like when I first saw you, I could have been really outgoing and linked arms but that wouldn't have been me and you'd have expected that from then on. Then every time I saw you I'd have to be someone I'm not. I'd be afraid you'd like me for someone I'm not. You see what I'm saying?'

'Oh my gosh, that is the most honest thing I've ever heard anyone say before. You know I feel the same way. That whole, hi I'm Lauren I like your shirt isn't really me. I just want people to like me. I only really let people I really trust see who I really am. If you asked anyone what I'm like they'd nearly all say oh she's bubbly and very chatty and nice but really I'm quite shy. People see me as the girl that loves to party when really I prefer staying in. It's hard to know who to be your real self to.'

Zac agreed with every single word she said. He'd never heard anyone be so truthful.

'I guess that you and I are alike.' He smiled at her.

'Yeah, we'll have fun. At least I know who to come to when I need to get away from it all.'

Zac grinned. 'Likewise'.

Lauren was pulled from her reverie sharply. Someone was knocking on her door, she went to answer it and saw her manager, Kyle, stood looking wide awake in his crisp starched suit.

'You've got the day to do as you please but you need to be ready for the awards ceremony by 6:00, got it? You're up for several awards, as is Jacob, and you'll need to look appropriate, it's a dressy occasion.'

Lauren smiled, Kyle always got straight to the point. Some people thought it rude but she thought it was perfectly reasonable, no point in wasting time. She nodded and said goodbye and called room service for some breakfast.

As Lauren sat down on the couch in her dressing gown, another flashback of the dream came to her…

As she turned to leave Zac said 'where are you gonna sleep?'

'The couch'.

'Why don't you sleep here, I won't bite.'

Lauren hesitated and then said 'no, I think it would be better if I went on the couch, I might hit one of your bruises and do more damage.'

They said their goodnights and Lauren shut the door.

Zac hit his head in frustration. Why did he say that? She obviously doesn't like him. A few tears escaped from the sides of his eyes, he brushed them away angrily. What he didn't know was that Lauren had leant against the door when she'd shut it and slid to the floor, silently crying her heart out. She tried to fight her feelings but she didn't know how long she could carry on.

She could tell he didn't really like her. She knew he was awake when she was running her hand across his face. She saw his eyelids flicker. If he liked her he'd have 'woken up'. She decided that she would carry on pretending she didn't like him. It was for the best. After a while, she moved over to couch. She tried to cheer herself up by telling herself that she could still flirt with him, but only the same amount as the other guys. It didn't work, she shut her eyes and wept her heart out.

She said into the darkness, 'Why Zac, why?'

Eventually she cried herself to sleep. On the other side of the door, oblivious to Lauren, Zac was doing the same. They were both tearing their hearts up over one another.

Lauren shook her head; trust her to be all soppy. She knew how to play the love game. You had to treat them mean and keep them keen. She'd had a couple of relationships; both were in magazines, on Disney News etc. The break-ups were also blown out of proportion; they made it look as if she was helpless. They'd got it wrong, she was clever and calm. She could keep her cool. If she ever met anyone else, she'd know how to operate. You have to make mistakes to learn from them.

A knock at the door brought Lauren back down to earth and as she opened the door, the guy's eyes widened in disbelief. This was Lauren Hadley, that girl from the Disney movie! And he was serving her like she was a normal person!

Lauren smiled at him but it was a false smile. She knew what he was thinking, sometimes, she wished she'd never done that stupid movie, then she could be normal.

Lauren couldn't face lunch and had got changed at around 1:00 and was just lulling about when her 'Girl Next Door' co-star walked in. Jacob Watson was seen as one of the hottest teen actors on earth right now, some said he was equal to Zac Efron. Problem was, he knew it, and Lauren thought he was the most stuck up, self obsessed pratt known. She'd been told by her manager to be civil though, if she told him what she thought of him, it could be the end of her career. The public loved him and would turn against anyone who slated him.

'Please, feel free to just walk in'. Lauren said sarcastically.

Jacob just grinned and flopped down on the couch, next to Lauren. He saw her as a boost to his career. If they dated, imagine the publicity. She was fit as well, not that there weren't others. He'd just have to hide them from her.

'So, you're coming to this awards thing aren't you?' he asked her.

'Do I have a choice?'

'I guess not, I'll meet you downstairs at 6:00'

'Why, we going together?'

'You bet baby, it's your lucky night'

Lauren rolled her eyes in disgust and watched him leave. He was so up himself it was untrue. She groaned and got up to call her stylist. She really didn't want to go tonight. She'd been told Zac Efron was going, as well as the rest of the HSM cast, and if she met him, she was prepared. If he spoke to her, she'd pretend not to know him. Play it cool and you'll get what you want in the end. Not that it was likely that she'd meet him. He could be up himself as well for all she knew; on screen characters can be very different from the real thing.

5 hours later

Lauren was very frustrated. She'd spent 5 hours being put in dress after dress, and her hair had been straightened then curled then straightened then flicked at the sides and her make up had been done countless times. It was very tiring and the evening hadn't even started yet!

She waited in the foyer until Jacob showed up10 minutes late. When she asked his assistant why she whispered 'doing his hair'. Lauren grimaced and followed him into the limousine; it was going to be a long night.

Jacob got out of the car first, he smiled at the cameras flashing and the fans screaming, he held out a hand for Lauren and as she stepped out, people were in awe. She looked fabulous! She was wearing a long purple low cut dress with sequins around the neck to the waist. (pictures in profile) She looked gorgeous.

She smiled at the cameras and posed with Jacob, people were shouting at her, fans were screaming, she signed autographs and took photos with them before finally walking in. She sighed, thankful it was over. She still had to spend the rest of the evening with Jacob though.

At the drinks reception before the awards actually started, she spotted Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel so she figured Kyle must have been right, Zac probably was here, not that she was going to pay him any attention. She'd let him come to her. That was the way you play it. Her previous thoughts went through her head and she snorted, as if it would happen!

Jacob looked at her weirdly. Lauren smiled to herself, she was embarrassing him, lovely. She noticed other girls giving her evil glares. She smiled at them, nothing hurts more than someone you hate being utterly lovely to you.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats, the 28th Annual Teen Public Choice Awards will commence in 15 minutes. Thank you.'

Lauren waited while Jacob finished chatting up one of the staff, in the end, she had to drag him away, they were one of the last ones in and rushed to find their seats. It turned out they were sat in the middle of the middle row. Perfect, Lauren thought, I have to squish past all these people. Jacob went first, checking out all the females while Lauren followed, trying not to look at anyone. What she didn't know was she was walking past the HSM cast. She felt people staring at her and Jacob who was holding her hand. She quickly pulled away and waited for him to sit down, before sitting down herself.

Looking round she saw people chatting for the final five minutes before it started and turned to Jacob but he was talking to an eager girl. She gagged and turned back round. She glanced to her other side and found herself looking at the back of someone's head. Hang on, Lauren thought, that hair looks like...OMG, I'm sat next to Zac Efron!

Lauren's heart was beating fast and she remembered her tactics. Pretend she didn't recognise him, he's bound to turn round and say hello. Play it cool, Lauren, play it cool.

Lauren crossed her legs as Zac turned round. He looked at her and thought, wow, he did a double take when he saw it was Lauren Hadley, the Disney star. He tapped her on the shoulder and said hello.

Lauren turned to face him and smiled and said hello back, before facing the front again, all the time, her heart was beating mega fast. She only hoped she hadn't played it too cool.

Zac was confused, did she not know who he was? He said,

'You're Lauren Hadley aren't you, I'm Zac'

'Oh, err hi' Lauren said, acting confused.

Zac was very confused. 'Zac Efron, from High School Musical?'

'Ohh yeah, sorry. You look different, I didn't recognise you'. Lauren said.

Zac smiled at her, 'yeah, people say I was stupid to change my hair like this'

'No' Lauren smiled 'I like it, it suits you, makes you look older'.

Zac grinned at her and said 'so, how old are you?'.

As he said it, the lights dimmed and the ceremony began.

He sighed and turned back round; he'd find her at the halfway break.

Lauren leaned over and whispered in his ear, so close her breath tingled his ear, 'seventeen in September'.

Zac stared, she looked at least 18. He leaned over and said 'you don't look it'.

Lauren smiled and faced back round. Play it cool, play it cool, Lauren thought.

Zac sat back in his seat not really paying attention to the opening speeches. His mind was on the girl sat next to him. He smiled at the little joke in his head. 'She really is the girl next door'. He was surprised at how she hadn't recognised him. Usually girls are fawning all over him. She was probably dating that guy next to her. He seems a bit full of himself, Zac wondered. Just then, proper awards began and he began to pay attention. He'd try and get her number later.

Lauren smiled to herself, she acted very well. Leave him wanting more, she thought.

A/N

Oooh, bet you didn't see that one coming!!!! Lol sorry everyone, that was one hell of a twist. I didn't even know it was gonna happen! Hope none of you have had heart attacks at the sudden change!! Review!!! xxxxx