Vanessa woke up the next morning and rolled over to find an empty bed. She pulled the sheet around her tighter, the absence of a warm body making her cold. She reached over to find a hand written note on the bedside table.
"Good morning, beautiful. I didn't want to wake you. You just looked too damn cute sleeping. I went out for a quick run down on the beach. I have my phone if you need me. Our clothes arrived this morning; they are hanging in the closet. –xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Zac"
She smiled at the sweetness of the note, but giggled when she saw how many x's and o's he put. She knew he had probably laughed to himself while writing it, but that he sincerely meant every hug and kiss.
She placed the note back down and saw that it was only 8:07 am. She grabbed his pillow, wrapping her arms around it and inhaling the scent of him on it. She easily fell back to sleep.
Zac got down from the play set at the little park on Pismo Beach after doing 100 chin ups. He checked his phone to make sure no one had called and began running back home. He threw on the tank top that he was now carrying when he came to the bagel shop a block away from his neighborhood. He hoped no one recognized him as he walked inside, very sweaty.
Of course, everyone recognized and stared at him for a moment. He signed a couple of autographs for little girls that got really excited and with encouragement from their mom went up and shyly asked him.
He walked up to the counter and recognized the guy behind the counter as a boy that Dylan played soccer with in high school and was still really good friends with.
"Hey, Carlos, what's up man?" Zac asked.
"Hey Zac, nothing much. Just exhausted. Traded my afternoon shift to this morning so I could be with Dyl today."
Zac smiled. "Thanks bro. I'm sure that means a lot to him."
Carlos smiled and nodded. "What can I get ya?"
"Umm, one sesame seed bagel with low fat strawberry cream cheese, one blueberry bagel with regular cream cheese, one plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese, one chocolate milk and two low fat lattes."
"That'll be $16.67, man."
Zac pulled out his wallet and handed him his debit card. Carlos swiped it and handed it to him with a receipt and pen.
Zac signed the bill and handed it back to him. Carlos joked with him, "I could so sell this on eBay and make an ass load of money." Zac laughed and rolled his eyes. "If you were going to do that, you would have already stolen something from my old room and sold it," Zac said as Carlos handed him his order.
Carlos laughed and punched Zac's shoulder playfully. "I'll see you later, dude."
Zac nodded and walked out of the store, making his way back home. He noticed his parents were no longer home and figured they were with his grandma already. He walked inside and placed the bag and drinks on the counter. He heard Dylan in the shower so he just quickly walked downstairs and filled a bowl with ice.
He returned upstairs and silently opened the door before throwing the bowl of ice water into the shower. Dylan screamed in shock before glaring at Zac. "I'm going to kill you!" Zac was laughing so hard he was doubled over. "You screamed like a little girl!"
Dylan glared at him. Zac finally stopped laughing and smirked. "I got you a bagel and chocolate milk. It's downstairs."
Dylan nodded as he brother began to leave. "Alright, thanks bro." Dylan smiled as Zac closed the door. Sure, Dylan hated having freezing water thrown on him in the shower, but if it meant he got to spend time with his brother, he didn't really care. They had always played that prank on each other when they were younger and he was glad that hadn't changed.
Zac closed the door and made his way to his childhood bedroom. He quietly opened it to see Vanessa still sleeping, wrapped around his pillow. He leaned down and kissed her forehead softly before making his way to take a really quick shower.
Five minutes later, he reemerged with a towel around his waist. He slid on a pair of black Calvin Klein boxer briefs and walked over to the bed, pulling the pillow from her arms and sliding into them instead. He smiled as her face went from a look of confusion to a soft smile. She started to wake up when she felt two arms wrap around her. She buried her nose in his neck and sighed contently.
"You're back," she whispered.
"I am. And I brought bagels and coffee," he replied quietly as he gently scratched her back, which he knew she loved.
She pulled back and placed a kiss on his stubbly jaw. "You're amazing."
He smiled and leaned down slightly, connecting their lips in a kiss full of love and compassion. "I love you," he said as he pushed a curl out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.
"I love you too," she smiled. She sat up in bed, not caring if the sheet no longer covered her bare chest. "Our coffee is going to get cold," she said as she jumped off the bed excitedly. He chuckled and got up, watching her get dressed quickly.
"You know, I wouldn't have minded if you didn't get dressed," Zac winked.
"Really? So you wouldn't care if Dylan saw? Or Mom?" she said with raised eye brows.
"Mom, not so much. Dylan, absolutely. Good thing you got dressed," he said as he slapped her butt slightly as they descended down the stairs.
They sat at the barstools at the kitchen bar and began eating breakfast. "So you still stick to that crazy workout routine from The Lucky One?"
He swallowed the food in his mouth. "For the most part. Since then, I had the three movies back to back so working out was my stress relief. It gave me time to think about stuff and let me take out any frustration I had. I've been working out about five times a week. It makes everything else in the day seem easier and it gave me a way to get away from paparazzi and the media throwing questions at me constantly. When we…broke up…I had to find a way to deal with it all and I did it through working out. It, in a way, calmed me."
Vanessa nodded. "I get it. Sort of. I did that through the way I looked. Every time I looked in the mirror and saw myself, I saw you. So I cut my hair, changed the color, and started dressing like a hippie and gypsy. It was like a different me, so I didn't have to think about you, but it didn't help."
Zac nodded in understanding. "So are you going to start dressing in the jeans and cute flowy tops that I think are beautiful on you again? Because I miss that Vanessa, but I don't want you to change because of me. You should never change to make someone happy."
"I changed to try to make myself happy, but it didn't work. The old me is the real me. I'm glad I can be myself again and only dress all gypsy for Coachella and stuff like that."
Zac smiled and kissed her hand. "Whatever makes you happy, baby. I honestly don't care how you look. You always look beautiful."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Cheesy, Efron."
He laughed and finished his bagel as Dylan came into the kitchen wearing a pair of boxer briefs as well.
"What is with you two just walking around in boxer briefs?" Vanessa joked with them. In actuality, she didn't mind at all. She always loved seeing Zac in his boxer briefs, and with Dylan, it was like looking at her baby brother.
"You know you love it, sis in law," Dylan joked as she sat on the other side of her, beginning to eat his bagel.
Vanessa leaned her head against Zac's shoulder as she sipped her latte. "Are you guys ready for today?" she asked softly. Dylan nodded and smiled slightly. "Ready as I'll ever be, I guess."
She leaned over and hugged him tightly. "It'll be okay, Dyl." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Thanks for being here, Ness. I don't think I could handle Zac if you weren't."
"I'm sitting right here, you guys!" Zac said jokingly.
Vanessa giggled and kissed Zac's shoulder. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I'm glad I can be here for both of you."
"Plus, you can't resist the Efron charm," Dylan winked as Vanessa laughed loudly.
"I disagree. Many girls would die to be sitting on this very barstool, but eh, it's no big deal," she joked as she shrugged her shoulders.
"PUH-LEASE! You are loving life right now!" Dylan responded, playfully.
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "It's not like you guys are hot or anything."
Zac gasped, playing along. "That hurt, babe." He gave Dylan a look and they both started tickling her at the same time.
She squealed loudly, trying to catch her breath and wriggle out of their hands. "AHHH! STOP! S-S-STOP!" The boys stopped after another minute or two when she admitted they were hot and the boys high-fived victoriously.
Vanessa glared at both of them. "Better be glad I like you two, otherwise I'd be very upset right now."
"You love us," Zac said as he kissed her cheek. He jumped up, throwing away their trash from breakfast.
That afternoon, Zac parked his Audi in the driveway of his parent's home after returning from the funeral service. Zac had said a lovely speech that hadn't left a dry eye in the church. The ride home had been mostly silent, with Zac holding Vanessa's hand the entire way. There were many cars lined up outside his house, where close friends and family were gathering.
Vanessa noticed the look on Zac's face and got out before going around to his side and taking his hand. "Come on," she smiled as she pulled him along.
"Where are we going?" he asked as he walked beside her. Thankfully, he was glad he didn't have to go inside right then.
Vanessa ignored his question and continued to walk a few blocks until they reached the beach. It was around dusk, so no one was swimming in the water due to the increased chance of sharks. The beach had mostly cleared out and only a few people were left. Vanessa took off her heels, holding them in one hand as Zac did the same. They reconnected their empty hands and walked along the beach.
"Thank you. I wasn't ready to go in there." Zac smiled down at her softly.
"I could tell."
"Do you have any projects coming up?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"No, not for a while. I just finished doing everything for The Frozen Ground and Gimme Shelter. I have a couple scripts I am looking through for potential projects, but nothing for sure right now. You?"
"I have on coming out in January and one in March, but I'm in the same place you are. Looking through some scripts, talking to people. I have a couple meetings coming up for Ninjas Runnin' Wild, but other than that, I don't have anything."
"How is that doing? Producing?"
"It's good. It's very stressful, but it's cool to be able to pick through scripts and tweek a couple things and make a movie that potentially might not have been made before. I'm really enjoying it."
"I'm glad. I saw the Paperboy for the first time the other day. It was intense! But it was really good! It was weird to see John Cusack play that kind of a character, especially since I just worked with him and he played a totally different character."
"Yeah, John is awesome. The whole cast was. It was cool that each of them played a character totally different from what they've ever played before, ya know? Dylan was so excited when he went with me to the Cannes Film Festival to see it."
"He went with you? Oh boy, I bet he was excited! More excited than at the ESPY's?"
"Not even close! I had to promise to take him next time I go, but he thought Cannes was cool. So, Hudgens, The Lucky One and The Paperboy? What other movies of mine have you seen?" he asked with a smile playing on his face.
"Umm…all of them. But don't even act like you didn't see mine!"
"Fine, fine. You did really good in all of yours, Ness. I'm really proud of you."
"Thanks, babe. So did you. I can't wait to see the new ones."
Zac's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Zac answered the call. "Jason, what's up, man?"
"Zac, I'm really sorry to bother you today."
"It's fine man, what's going on?"
"Vanessa's manager just called me and we had a little chat. We both received offers this morning for you two to do a project together."
"Really? That's awesome! What is it?"
"Umm…an album."
"An album?! Dude, I haven't sang on an album in like 5 years!"
"I know, I know, but they want you and Vanessa to do an acoustic album together. She hasn't released an album in a while and you two don't have any upcoming projects. It would be really fun. Just think about it and talk it over and let me know, okay?"
"Alright, thanks man. Bye." Zac hung up the phone and looked at V. "We got an offer to do an acoustic album together."
"What?! That's awesome!"
"So you want to do it?"
Vanessa smiled. "If you want to, I think it would be awesome! Would we have to write the songs?"
Zac shook his head. "No, he said to pick some out that we like and he will contact the artists to see if we can use their songs and all of that."
"It's up to you, Zac. You wanted to focus on acting and be taken as a serious actor, so it's your call."
"I want to. I think I've established myself enough for everyone to know that acting is my main career, but we both a break and it will be fun. Plus, I miss singing with you."
Vanessa leaned up and kissed him softly. "Me too. Let's do it!"
Zac texted Jason to let him know that they want to do the project. "Jason says we need to start looking for songs asap and let him know."
Vanessa nodded. "I'm so excited."
"Me too," he said as they walked back towards the house. "I learned a couple songs on guitar. I can play them for you and you can tell me what you think and we can add your vocals in if you want to start that way."
"Perfect," she smiled.
The next day, Zac and Vanessa were sitting in the backyard of the Efrons', sitting by the pool in their bathing suits.
"Go grab your guitar, baby," Vanessa said as she sat down on the lounge chair.
Zac nodded and ran upstairs, grabbing his guitar before coming back downstairs.
"You ready?" he asked.
She nodded and smiled, sitting up on the edge of her lounge chair, facing him so their knees touched.
He cleared his throat and began to play as he looked into her eyes.
A still framed photograph of you and me together
Is all I have of you and me anymore
We were so in love and we thought it'd last forever.
But in the torn by the storm.
And I won't forget you
I cant forget you
And the hardest thing I've done is had to live without you
And I wonder why we both walked away
I'm lost without you, still crazy for you
Just turn around, come back
because your smile is overdue
And I miss you, I miss you.
If I'd only knew the words to say
that would make you turn around (turn around)
I would say those words to you more than a million times.
It's been forever but
that hasn't changed
what you mean to me.
Darling, can't you see?
That I won't forget you
I can't forget you
And the hardest thing I've done is had to live without you
And I wonder why we both walked away
I'm lost without you, still crazy for you
Just turn around, come back
because your smile is overdue
And I miss you, I miss you
I'm sorry for all i did,
what i said and things i hid
I'm finally over me
Is that too late for you?
I can't imagine where I'd be
If you had never rescued me
You showed me what love is, and now I see
I won't forget you
I can't forget you
And the hardest thing I've done is had to live without you.
And I wonder why we both walked away
I'm lost without you, still crazy for you
Just turn around, come back
because your smile is overdue
And I miss, I miss you
I won't forget you
I can't forget you
And the hardest thing I've done is had to live without you.
And I wonder why we both walked away
I'm lost without you, still crazy for you
Just turn around, come back
because your smile is overdue
And I miss, I miss you
Cause I'm lost without you, still crazy for you
Just turn around, come back
because your smile is overdue
And I miss, I miss you
Vanessa wiped the tears that were falling down her cheeks. "Who wrote that song? I love it." She whispered.
"I did." He said softly as he wiped her cheek.
She looked at him as she cried. "It's beautiful, Zac." She leaned over and kissed him softly.
"We don't have to use that one, I just wanted you to hear it. I haven't played it for anyone before."
"I think we should use it. But without my vocals. Just yours." She smiled.
He nodded and smiled. "What else ya got?"
He chuckled and resituated the guitar. "This is called The Other Side by Jason Derulo."
"That's one of my favorite songs!" she said excitedly.
"I knew you would like it when I first heard it." He began to play a slower, acoustic version. When she finished the song, she smiled big. "That was awesome!"
"This is the last one I can remember without the chords in front of me." Zac explained as he began to play.
Vanessa nodded and smiled. "It's called Lego House by Ed Sheeran."
"Lego House"
I'm gonna pick up the pieces,
And build a Lego house
If things go wrong we can knock it down
My three words have two meanings,
There's one thing on my mind
It's all for you
And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now, now
I'm gonna paint you by numbers
And colour you in
If things go right we can frame it and put you on a wall
And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
Now I'll surrender up my heart
And swap it for yours
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
Don't hold me down
I think my braces are breaking, and it's more than I can take
And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
[Album version ending:]
And out of all these things I've done I will love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I will love you better now
"Baby, you are SO good!" Vanessa praised him as he laid the guitar down. He smiled softly. "Thanks. I've been practicing. Taylor Swift taught me 'Pumped Up Kicks' and I've been learning new songs ever since."
"I know," she blushed, "I watched you on Ellen. Right after you dropped the condom on the red carpet the night before."
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and blushed as she looked at him with an amused look on his face. "Did that "We only hooked up once" shirt shrink too much?" she asked as he hid his face in his hands. (A/N: Reference to the Ellen Show interview with Zac and Taylor Swift in 2012)
He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "I wouldn't know. I don't need it now anyways," he winked. "I only need the 'lovers' shirt."
She giggled as he pulled her into his lap. "Good save, babe." She kissed his cheek. He stood up with a devious smirk on his face.
"Don't you dare! ZACHARY DAVID ALEXANDER EFRON PUT ME DOWN!" Vanessa yelled loudly as he jumped into the pool with her in his arms. She came back and crossed her arms, ignoring him as he swam to her. She slowly backed up under her back was against the wall.
"Don't be mad, baby."
"You know I hate getting my face wet!" she said to him, looking away, faking anger.
"Let me drive it off for you," he said as he started placing soft, light kisses all over her face before landing on her lips.
He smiled when she began to kiss back and wrapped her arms and legs around him under the water.
"I can't pretend to be mad at you when you kiss me like that," she said in defeat.
"That was the plan," he winked as she giggled and kissed him again.
The two newly reconnected lovers continued to frolic in the pool all afternoon, immensely enjoying being with each other once again.