Being Who You Really Are Chapter 22: Gingerbread women and pink icing, a high school musical fanfic

Lauren and Zac had been together 3 months now and Zac was having doubts. It was becoming clearer and clearer that there was nearly a four year age gap between them.

She was hyper all the time and he couldn't handle it. His friends were all mature and so was he; Lauren was just high all the time. He needed a break. He rang Ashley for advice.

(Zac, Ashley)

'Hello?'

'Hey ash'

'Hey stranger, what's up?'

'I need help'

'With what?'

'Lauren'

'Oh'

Ashley had met Lauren as had the rest of the HSM cast, and her Suite Life co-stars. She liked her, even though she was nearly 6 years younger.

'Yeah, do you think she's too young for me?'

'Zac, you're really putting me in the spotlight here. What do you think?'

'I dunno Ash, I thought we were great but sometimes I just wish she'd be a bit quieter, no, that's not the word'

'Mature?'

'Yeah, older. Maybe I'm just asking for too much'

'No, I noticed at the Over The Hedge premier that she was more suited to being with Miley and Dyl and Cole.'

'Yeah, I noticed that, I guess age gaps just don't work.'

'Not necessarily, Ashton and Demi have like a way bigger one'

'And?'

'And there married!'

'Yeah well, you're not much help Ash'

'Hey, trying my best here'

'I know, sorry. We used to have fun and I used to love it, I just don't get butterflies anymore, I'm getting a bit tired of it all'

'Well I think you just answered your own question Z'

'Yeah, so should I end it?'

'Well from what you just said, it's not fair on either of you, you're probably better off'

'Ugh, why is life so complicated?'

'Tell me about it, life sucks, deal with it'

'Cheers Ash'

'No problemo Zaco'

'I'll ring you when I've thought about it'

'Sure, see ya'

'Later'

Zac ended the call and put his head in his hands. He got up eventually and left to Lauren's flat. He was going to have to tell her.

When he got there, he let himself in; they'd swapped keys a month ago. He walked through and saw her in the kitchen. He called out her name and she turned around, grinning and ran to him and kissed him on the mouth.

When she'd pulled away, she said excitedly,

'I'm making Gingerbread women! They're little fairies! Pink icing!'

'That's great Lo' Zac said with no emotion.

Lauren sensed something was up and asked what was up.

'Lauren, we really need to talk'

Lauren's heart sank, that line was probably the worst one known to girls, and the worst feared.

'Sure, go ahead' she said, trying to sound upbeat.

'Lo, Lauren, I don't think this is working. There's just too bigger an age gap'

'What? But other people manage, look at Demi and Ashton' Lauren said desperately.

How did all girls know this? Zac thought.

'I know but I think we fit into the category where you're better off as friends. I just don't get the butterflies anymore Lo, I don't get a shiver when we touch'

Something inside Lauren snapped.

'I hope we can still be friends' Zac told her.

Lauren lifted her head up to him, her face expressionless.

'I bet you do'

'Don't be like that Lo'

'Don't call me that'

'What? No Lo, Lauren, I still want to be friends'

'Do you have any idea how that feels? To be told that the person you thought loved you said they're leaving you because, because-' she tried to find the words.

'Lo' Zac tried.

'Because they don't feel 'butterflies' anymore' she spat.

'No, Lo-'

'Because they don't feel a shiver when you touch?'

'Lo please'

'I SAID, DON'T CALL ME THAT!'

'Lauren, come on'

'No, you come on! Where did you get that butterfly and shiver crap from anyway?'

'I-'

'Its like you guys have a microchip inserted in you when you're born that give you special powers that make you brilliant at breaking hearts' she shouted.

'I never wanted this'

'Well it's too late to go back now! Don't you think?'

'I just need someone older, more mature'

'Oh, so now you want to take my life away from me! I have a right to act my age, just like you did when you were 16!' she screamed.

'Lauren, come on, I thought I loved you'

'You thought! YOU THOUGHT! What use is that now?'

'I honestly thought-'

'No, you're not honest Zac! If you were honest you wouldn't have done this!'

'Well maybe I didn't know what I wanted!' he shouted back at her. As soon as he'd done it he regretted it.

'That's right Zac! Shout back, scream, let me know the real you!'

'I'm really, really sorry Lauren' he said quietly.

'So am I Zac'

With that she pushed past him, grabbed a coat and stormed out, ignoring his calls. Zac punched the wall in frustration and made a dent. He turned the oven off and walked out, locking it behind him.

3 weeks later

Ever since the split, Lauren had been seen around, smoking, drinking, partying, and kissing random guys she didn't know. Worst of all, she been caught taking drugs. She'd got a new set of friends, ones that parents told you to steer clear of.

Zac was fed up, every night he'd come home and put the news on and there'd be a new story on Lauren.

The public was shocked. They had all loved Lauren for being the girl next door, for her shoulder length blonde hair and light, girly make-up. Now she had black hair, with lots of dark make-up. She stuck fingers up at the cameras and generally destroyed her public image.

Zac's heart was breaking, not because of the split, he knew it was the right thing to do, but because of the way Lauren was behaving. This wasn't the Lauren he knew. Whenever they showed clips of her, it was always one of her and her new 'best friend' Harley. He had grabbed her backside and was groping her for all to see. Zac wanted to be sick.

It wasn't until 2 days ago that she'd broken free of them. She'd finally returned to her flat and had hired hairstylists, make-up artists etc. When she eventually made a public appearance, she looked just as she had before she went off the rails.

This time it was to promote her 2 new singles. Zac had turned the news on and was watching the interview.

'So, Lauren, what made you realise that you had to change your ways?'

'Billie, my brother, I was walking down the street and he was coming up it with a gang of friends, I called out to him but he just blanked me. It hurt because we'd always been close.'

'You're here to promote not one but 2 new singles'

'That's right, Rebellion is my favourite'

'Is there any connection between them and your break up with teenage heart-throb Zac Efron?'

'Yes'

Zac sat up straight, he was listening intently now.

'Would you mind telling us?'

'You mainly just have to listen to the lines of the songs, they really mean something.'

'Is there one in particular?'

'Not a girl, not yet a woman mostly, Rebellion is mainly based on me going off the rails and realising what I was doing to myself. I just want people to know that that wasn't the real me, only one person knows the true real me, but even so, that wasn't it.'

'Who's that?'

'I'd rather keep that private'

'I see, thank you for talking to us, we're glad to see you back to your old self, here are the videos of Lauren Hadley's 2 new singles, keep watching'

First up was Rebellion, Zac listened carefully.

Be wary of others
The ones closest to you (oh)
The poison they feed you
And the voodoo that they do