Vanessa woke up and realized her face was buried in a pillow smelling like her boyfriend. She looked around, realizing she was in his bed but he wasn't. She looked up when she heard him coming out of the bathroom.

He curled back up to her and kissed her softly.

"Good morning, beautiful."

"Good morning," she said softly as she yawned.

"Want to tell me what had you so scared that you drove over here and snuck into my bed and held me all night like someone was going to take me away?"

She looked up at him. His heart broke when he saw the sadness in her eyes. "Baby, what happened?"

She explained to him her dream and how real it felt. He felt his pound at the amount of love he felt for her as she explained her fear of losing him.

He hugged her tightly. "I'm not going anywhere, Hudgens. I promise, babe." She smiled and kissed him. She looked up and saw what time it was. "Shit! I've got to meet Stella for yoga! I'm going to be late!" She grabbed her phone and keys before jumping out of bed and running out of his room. He sat up and just stared at his door in confusion.

He smiled when she ran back in before jumping onto his bed, pushing him down and kissing him passionately. She pulled back smiling, "Love you. Call me later?"

He nodded, chuckling as she ran out of the house. Zac grabbed a quick shower and was getting dressed when his phone rang. "Hello?"

"Zac, what's up man?!"

"Bubba Lewis, what's up bro? Long time, no talk."

"Well that's because I've been in Georgia while you've been making it big time, Mr. A-lister," Bubba joked.

Zac laughed. "Shut up dude. Are you in LA?"

"Yeah man, I heard you were too so I was calling to see if you wanted to grab some lunch in like twenty minutes."

"Yeah! I'll meet you at Paty's in twenty."

"Awesome, bye Zac."

"Later, bro." Zac slid his phone into his back pocket as started looking for his plaid button up shirt. After searching his laundry room, he pulled out his phone, dialing speed dial number one.

"Helllllooooo?" answered a sweet voice.

"Vanessa Anne, where is my red plaid shirt?"

"Um…..I don't know, honey. Maybe in the laundry room?" she said cutely.

Zac chuckled as he pulled out a different shirt from his closet. "Yeah, maybe your laundry room."

She giggled, "Okay, fine. I have it. I'm sorry. I guess you'll have to walk around shirtless."

"As much as every paparazzi would love that, I'm going to meet Bubba for lunch in twenty so I can't exactly be shirtless."

"I've gotta go babe, the yoga instructor is about to start. Tell Bubba I say hi and have a good lunch!"

"Okay, love you." Zac hung up when she replied with an I love you and pulled on a beanie. He grabbed his keys and headed out into the garage. After pulling out of the driveway, he was relieved that no paparazzi were around.

Zac's phone rang through the Bluetooth system in his Audi and he pressed the button on his steering wheel, answering the call. "Jason, what's up, man?"

"Hey dude, just got a call from Ryan Seacrest and he wants to do a phone interview with you real quick. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, I'm driving, but it's cool. Awesome, I'll put you through."

"I'm Ryan Seacrest and we have Mr. Zac Efron on the line with us. Zac, what's up man?"

"Hey Ryan, nothing much, just going to meet a buddy of mine for lunch. You?"

"Just chilling here in the studio. Buddy of yours? It wouldn't happen to be the beautiful Vanessa Hudgens, would it?"

Zac chuckled, not surprised that this was already being asked. "Nah man, it's a buddy of mine from a movie I did a long time ago called Miracle Run."

"I hear ya, dude. Awesome. So we hear you have an album coming out?"

"Yeah, but not for a few more months. It's an acoustic album that Vanessa and I have been working on. We can't wait for everyone to listen."

"So obviously, everyone and their momma knows that you two have gotten back together over the past couple of months. You seem to be just as strong as before you broke up, but we all know things change, especially people, over three years. Are you just trying to start over at the awkward dating stage or are you just picking up where you left off?"

"Well honestly dude, we have always been great friends and I think we let other people and the stress of Hollywood and starting careers come between us. We were so strong at such a young age. We obviously met doing High School Musical, but when that went as big as it did, we really needed someone who knew how it felt and that we could trust and our relationship grew as we became that person for each other. Our careers have come a long way in the three years that we weren't together, but when we hung out for the first time a couple months ago, it was obvious that the connection was still there. We may not have talked over those years, but I knew that if I really needed her, she would be there for me and vice versa."

"So you are serious about it and not just trying to see where it goes?"

"Nah man, we're serious. She's one of the most important people in my life and that hasn't changed."

"That's great to hear, man. I'm happy for you guys. I'm sure all of the fans that grew up with you and died a little inside were overjoyed that Zanessa is back together."

"Yeah man, probably. It's great to know that our fans support us no matter what. I truly have the best fans in the world."

"So we know that there were stories of you having little flings with Lily Collins and Ashley Tisdale after you guys broke up last time and there was the incident of you dropping condoms on the red carpet and you seemed to be playing the field, while she took a more serious approach and dated Austin Butler for almost 2 years. Does that make it harder for you to move on? Was their any truth about the affair rumors between you two?"

"The Lily Collins thing was blown out of proportion. I guess, as bad as it sounds, it was a little fling or something. It just didn't work out. I wasn't looking for a relationship and neither was she. As far as Ash, people have always started a rumor that we were dating which is totally ridiculous. She is seriously like my big sister. I think the rumor got worse after Vanessa and I had broken up—"

"I mean, you were seen on the beach with her like kissing her neck and stuff, bro."

"Ryan, you can't call me out like that, man! It wasn't that kind of kissing, it was like just joking around. We are both very flirtatious people, not in cheating or serious kind of way though. We were just goofing off. It was her birthday, but we have never had feelings for each other. The condom thing…yeah, man, I don't even want to go there. Needless to say, I always triple check my pockets now. My publicist wasn't too thrilled me, neither were my parents. I wasn't like playing the field or anything. Ya know, I was just being a normal 24 or 25 year old guy. As far as Austin, I can't really speak about that or the decisions she made."

"Come on man, it had to have made you mad though. You went to the Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Premiere and that was the only time you both were at an event together in the three years you were separated and we didn't see any pictures of you two together, then next thing we know she is dating Ashley's co-star from a spin-off of High School Musical. It had to have made you mad, bro."

"I mean….at the time…yeah, sure I was pretty ticked about it, but as long as she was happy, so was I. I busied myself with work, doing movie after movie after movie, but she busied herself with friends and through that Ash introduced them and that's really all I know."

"Are you guys cool with each other? We know he was there when you guys had the HSM reunion a few months ago."

"Honestly Ryan, we had never really talked before and that didn't change, nor do I see it ever changing."

"Dang man, we've never known you to not talk to someone. Every person we have ever talked to that knows you says you are one of the nicest, coolest guys."

"What can I say, bro? I guess there is a first time for everything."

"Well dude, you know I've always been a huge fan of yours and supporter of you two as actors, people, and as a couple. So tell us, is he as big of an ass as he seems?"

"I don't know, man. Like I said, I've never really talked to him and I've never worked with him."

"So all is well in the Zanessa relationship? Because rumors were flying about babies and heart attacks and crazy stuff when Vanessa was in the hospital last month."

"I don't know where people get these stories from, dude. It's insane. I heard one recently that said I had my leg bitten off by a shark. I mean when I look down I see two legs still there, so I don't know. But yeah, we're both healthy and fine, bro."

"Great to hear. Well I'll let you go, but thanks for chatting with me dude and I hope to see both of you soon."

"Thanks Ryan, no problem."

Zac took a deep breath and dialed his manager's phone number. "What the hell, Jason?!"

"I'm sorry, Zac! I didn't know he was going to interrogate you like that, but it's to be expected. You guys are one of the biggest couples in Hollywood. I'm sure a lot of interviews will be like that from now on."

"Alright, well I'm going to go. Bye Jason." He said as he hung up, frustrated. He turned his radio up as thoughts started going through his head. He hoped Vanessa wouldn't be upset with anything he said, but Ryan had kept pushing and pushing the issue. He turned the radio off and called the only person who knew exactly how he felt about the past.

The phone rang a couple times before someone answered.

"Hey bro, what's up?"

"Hey Dyl, what are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just left my final exam for the semester. About to head home. What's up with you?"

"I'm driving to meet Bubba for lunch, but I just got off this phone interview with Ryan Seacrest."

"I know, bro, I heard. You okay?"

"Yeah, just a little ticked off. I didn't expect him to bring up the past and Austin and all that shit."

"I know, bro. What did Jason say about it?"

"He just apologized, there's nothing more he can do. It just sucks. I forgot what it was like to be constantly hounded about a relationship."

"Then break up with her. She's not worth it."

"WHAT?! Dylan what the fuck?! How could you even say that? You know how much she means to me and that I would do ANYTHING for her!"

"Exactly. Point proven. Don't bitch about the paps and press. As long as you two are happy, it doesn't matter."

Zac smiled as he realized the trick his brother just played on him. "You're the best, Dyl. Hey, do you wanna come down for the night? Go to the Lakers game or something?"

"Hell yeah! Can we grab a beer or something after though? I've had a hell week."

Zac chuckled, "Sure bro. You gonna head down now?"

"Yeah. See ya soon. Tell Bubba hey for me."

"Will do. Drive safe."

"Okay Dad," Dylan joked as he hung up. Zac smiled as he pulled into the restaurant. He was happy that him and Dylan were as close as they were. He knew that no matter what happened, he could always count on Dylan.

He turned off his Audi to see paparazzi running towards him. He looked around his car, looking for sunglasses and reached in, grabbing Vanessa's aviators. They often shared sunglasses, which he was thankful for.

He slid them on and got out of his car as cameras surrounded him.

He spotted Bubba's white Audi parked outside and quickly walked into the restaurant, leaving the paps outside shouting for him. He looked around for his friend and smiled when he saw him waving from across the restaurant. Bubba stood up and gave him a hug before they both sat down in the booth.

"Hey man, how have you been?" Zac asked as the waitress sat his mug of black coffee in front of him.

"Good! Just chilling in Georgia with the family and stuff. I just landed here last night for a new project. I heard shit has been crazy with you these past couple of years."

"Yeah man, I don't know where to start." Bubba was one of the first people Zac met when he moved to Los Angeles. They instantly became best friends and they were roommates when they both moved to LA, Zac from San Luis Obispo, and Bubba from Georgia, when they seventeen. Bubba was one of the few people who knew Zac from the beginning and they always had a very close friendship. They hadn't seen each other in a few years, but they still kept in contact as much as they could.

"Start from the beginning. I have plenty of time. Last time I saw you was my 21st birthday party you and V threw. And then at the Charlie St. Cloud premiere, but we didn't get to catch up then."

Zac took a deep breath and took a sip of his coffee. He began speaking after placing his order. "So let's see. Dylan graduated that May and for his graduation present, I took him with me to Hawaii when I had to go for a film festival and we spent the whole week there, ya know, just brother bonding time. After that, I did a huge press tour for Charlie St. Cloud. At that point, I had a lot of offers coming in for upcoming movies roles and so did Van."

Bubba nodded, following along with the story.

"So then I had the premiere and after that, Ness had the RENT performances. When all of that was done, I headed down to New Orleans to start on The Lucky One and she went to Hawaii to start filming Journey 2. This is when things started to get a little rocky. I was having to gain 30 pounds of muscle. I had the strictest routine and diet and I ended up not being able to fly out for Stella's birthday. She flew down to spend my birthday with me, which was the first time we had seen each other in almost two months. Then she wasn't able to leave Hawaii for Thanksgiving and I didn't want her to spend it alone, so I flew out there and spent the week with her. Towards the end of the vacation, we sat down to figure out our schedules for the rest of the year and the next year and we had so much going on, we started stressing out about whether we would see each other or not."

Bubba nodded and thanked the waitress as she dropped off her food. "But you guys were still together at that point, right?"

Zac nodded before continuing. "So then we came home and everything was fine for a week or two until we both realized that we wouldn't see each other for Christmas or New Years. We wouldn't have seen each other until about February. So one day I told her that I didn't want to break up, but asked what we should do. We came to a mutual decision to take a step back. We both loved each other tremendously, but neither of us wanted marriage or anything in the near future, so we didn't think it would be a problem. I figured that at the end of the year or something when both of us had finished working for a while that we would go back to "officially" dating. So that happened like a few days before her birthday. I returned to New Orleans the next day because of my strict filming schedule. So at that point, we would still talk as often as we could. I felt home again for Christmas and New Years and went over to her place a couple days after New Years and we exchanged the presents we had already bought. Well…we ended up hooking up, but I once again I had to leave the next morning and fly back. She started filming shortly after, so we really lost touch. It got too hard for us to talk and not say "I love you" and stuff like that. We probably lost most contact around March of 2011. Then in April, Ashley calls me begging me to come to the Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure premiere. I happened to have that weekend off, so I flew home and went to the premiere. Well I walked in and Vanessa was standing there with Ashley and I instantly thought I was going to puke. Things were extremely awkward and it just wasn't what I expected. I had found out the previous week that Vanessa had been dating Josh Hutcherson for the previous month and I guess it pissed me off."

Bubba nodded once again, encouraging him to go on.

"So I pretty much just hung out with Lucas and Oleysa during the premiere, but someone rounded us up to take a picture with Ashley and Vanessa. So I walked over and the girls were sitting on the couch. Lucas was sitting on the back of the couch, leaving me the option to sit on the arm beside Oleysa or Van. Everyone assumed I would sit by Vanessa, but I had seen her flirting with Austin earlier that night so I ignored her and sat beside Oleysa. After that, I left. I'm guessing around that time, Ashley hooked Van and Austin up, but I didn't know it until a few months later. So I finished filming around the end of June and Ashley invited me to come to her birthday party in Malibu. I made sure Vanessa wasn't going to be there and I went. We totally had a blast, but people started assuming we were dating, which as you know, is totally crazy. Anyways, a month later I left to go back to Florida and New Orleans to film The Paperboy. I found out that Vanessa started dating Austin in September and I guess held a little bit of a grudge against Ashley because of it. I pulled myself away from the situation and busied myself with work. Because of it, Vanessa became really close with a lot of our friends and I guess they kind of chose sides. I saw Ashley again at a movie premiere, but other than that I didn't see Brittany Snow or Sammy Droke or anyone. I was hurt because she obviously didn't want to get back with me like I thought we had intended and because she had moved on. I signed on for some movies so that I wouldn't have to go back to LA and be friendless, pretty much."

"Hold on, you weren't friendless. Sure they stood by her, but one it's because they are girls. It's how they are. If you would have been here, I'm sure it wouldn't have seemed that way. Plus, Ryan and Brittany broke up. You stayed friends with Ryan, so it only makes sense that V stay friends with her."

Zac nodded in agreement before Bubba motioned for him to continue. "I came home for Christmas and Dylan informed me that mom still kept in contact with Vanessa every now and then. Which totally made me angry, but glad in a certain way. I decided to call Ashley and see if they had plans for New Years. Ashley told me that she was going on vacation with her family, but that Vanessa and Austin were going to Miami for New Years. I guess that's when something clicked in my brain and I realized I had lost her for good. I did promo stuff for The Lorax, dropped condoms on the red carpet, did a huge worldwide press tour for The Lucky One. Ashley surprisingly showed up to the premiere of that, which I was thankful for. Then I went to Iowa and filmed At Any Price, after that I went to Texas and filmed Parkland, did some press for At Any Price, and then did filming for Are We Officially Dating? in NYC and Townies in LA. Then, I come back home after a vacation home and Ashley calls me wanting to get everyone together for a HSM movie reunion. I agree, thinking it would be at her house, but she calls me that morning telling me it would be at Vanessa's. Dylan had spent the week with me and I was supposed to drive him home that day, but when I found out it would be at V's, he agreed to go with me. We got there and it was awesome to see everyone again. Austin, of course, knowing who I was, didn't like me. And I didn't like him either. He was in the house Vanessa bought, thinking it would one day be ours, he had been driving the car I bought her, and it was a mutual dislike. But you know me, I try to be nice to everyone so I went to introduce myself and he walked off. I saw V for the first time that night in two and a half years and man when she hugged me….I felt numb. All the alcohol I consumed and all the work I did to make myself feel like I was over her..that one hug made it all go away. I realized that I loved her still, but that there was nothing I could do about it. Well you know how my brother lacks that filter between his mouth and brain and he started calling her sister-in-law and Shadow barked at Austin but cuddled up to me, and I guess the little stuff that happened that afternoon made me realize how much I still loved her. Anyways Dylan left after the first movie, not telling me why and Vanessa broke up with Austin right around there because apparently she still loved me. So during the second movie, Vanessa came and sat next to me for some reason and she started crying during "Gotta Go My Own Way." I don't really remember how we ended up sitting cuddled up together, but after the third movie she told me that Dylan had texted her saying my grandpa had a heart attack and we need to go to SLO. I don't really remember much except her driving us there and me kissing her somewhere along the way. When we got there, they took him off life support. We went to my house and uh…"reconnected" and we've been going out again ever since."

"Well I'm so glad you guys are back together. I love you both, but you know I have your back no matter what, dude. Wait, wasn't she in the hospital or something? I heard about it, but not the whole thing."

Zac bit the inside of his cheek and looked down, swallowing his food before he nodded. "She was pregnant."

"Was?"

"It was an ectopic pregnancy. She wouldn't have survived. She fainted coming down the stairs while we were at my parents for Thanksgiving and when we went to the hospital, we found out."

"Was it yours or Austin's?"

"Mine. Her and Austin hadn't had sex for a couple months up to that point because he was in NYC or something."

"That sucks, Zac. I'm sorry, dude."

"It's okay, man. We are dealing with it. We both weren't ready and still aren't and her health is most important, but it still sucks ya know?"

Bubba nodded. "I know, man. But she is fine now, right?"

Zac nodded, smiling. "She's good. Yo dude, Dyl is coming down like right now from Cal Poly to come grab some beers and go to a Lakers game tonight, wanna come?"

"Hell yeah, dude!"

Zac laughed, smiling, as he paid for their lunch. After finishing lunch, the old friends made their way outside before driving to Zac's house.