This conversation came about the day of the Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure premiere. Cncgrad & I wondered what would happen if Vanessa AND Zac were both on hand for the premiere. What makes me grin right now is the fact that our thoughts are at least similar to the bits and pieces that are being released. Still, this chapter is completely FICTIONAL. It's all based on a conversation that we had BEFORE the actual event took place.
Yes, we are still KTZLF'ing. Deep in our hearts we can't let go. True love will find its way!
We own nothing of these actors & actresses except for trinkets, magazines, DVD's and a couple of autographs (thank you Papa Bear, again!). We respect them and love them and hope deep in our hearts that one day, their true love will find its way. xoxoxo
All of your reviews, pm's & e-mails are welcome and appreciated so, so much! Please keep them coming, feed our addictions and fuel our obsession - Zac and Vanessa, that includes you! :D
KTZLF! -adc & cnc
The entire building had a pink glow. Zac shook his head as he walked in the door and reluctantly took off his sunglasses. The red carpet was red but somehow it still cast a pink glow. He rolled his eyes and asked himself again why he had agreed to be at this event. After all, he had sworn years ago that he would never be 'Sharpayed' again.
Still here he was.
It was her fault. And by her, he didn't even mean the blonde who portrayed the evil yet lovable character. It was that young woman's best friend, his girlfriend – wait, his ex-girlfriend … no, she was still his … well, that was its own complicated part of his life. Suffice it to say, Zac's participation in this particular night was Vanessa's fault.
The worst part about this being Vanessa's fault? He wasn't even allowed to sit next to her during the movie. He couldn't even bring her a drink and whisper to her about the amount of work Ashley required on her hair. He couldn't stand beside her and let his hand rest in the most comfortable place possible on her small body.
Zac sighed. He would add those gripes to the others he planned to lodge against Vanessa later in the evening. He stared at the line of people already in the private viewing area that the club had set up. She would get to hear his complaints about this night. That he would make sure of.
As soon as he got to the penthouse and stepped off the elevator heads turned in his direction. Ashley was by his side in a heartbeat with arms wrapped around him and a huge smile on her face. She didn't know if Zac would show up or not. But both knew it meant a lot to her for him to be on hand for the movie that was focused solely on Ashley's high-strung character.
"Thank you." Ashley smiled up at his still-boyish face, even with the slight hint of a mustache and beard, and the short haircut he was now sporting.
Zac gave her a tight squeeze and a smile that told her he would only make an appearance for one of his dearest friends. "You owe me, big time." He grinned as the paparazzi surrounded them and began popping the flash bulbs.
Lucas stepped toward the two and joined them for a couple of shots before Zac caught the eye of the brunette who was standing away from the threesome. Vanessa had arrived earlier, purposefully, in order to leave the time just prior to the movie for the paps to pour over Zac…if he decided to show up.
When the crowd headed into the viewing area and the movie began rolling, two people remained outside the doors. With a quick last look around Zac and Vanessa approached each other without smiles on their faces.
"A t-shirt, really? Where's your pink tie?" Vanessa commented on Zac's attire.
"I'm just here to show my support for my best friend." He commented as the two stepped toward each other leaving mere inches in between them.
"Uh!" Vanessa huffed. "Ashley is my best friend."
Zac rolled his eyes. "I'm not fighting with you about that. There are far too many other things that I need to gripe at you about." He stared down into her brown eyes watching her place her hands on her hips.
"Such as?" Vanessa shook her head with a 'let's hear it' kind of look on her face.
"Let's start…with the tie." He pulled the previously mentioned pink tie from the pocket of his suit coat that slightly covered his blue tee and dark denim jeans. He wadded the silk up in his hand and pointed his index finger directly against the tip of Vanessa's nose.
As Zac held his position with a near scowl on his face, he saw Vanessa's lips begin to press together, then her nose twitched under his finger making that cute, scrunched up face that drove him absolutely crazy. Then she giggled.
Zac dropped the tie over her shoulder and rolled his head backwards in exasperation.
"You told me to pick out a tie." Vanessa whispered with raised eyebrows as she looked up at him. "I was just doing what you asked, Sweetheart."
Zac shook his head. "Keep your distance from me tonight Babe. Otherwise you just might find this tie wrapped around your neck."
Vanessa's lips pulled up to the right as she smirked at his threat, rising up on her tiptoes due to the flat sandals she had chosen to wear. "Is that a threat, or a promise?"
Zac debated answering her before he opened the door to let Vanessa walk into the darkened theater-like area. "I'm sure you'd be happy with either." He spoke as she swept her body past him. He grabbed the tie off Vanessa's shoulder and stuffed it back into his pocket. He glared as she made her way into the darkness, with one more thought of the pink accessory that he could now envision covering the colorful butterfly tattoo that was strategically placed on – where else – Vanessa's neck.
He waited several beats before following behind her and making his way to a seat on the opposite side of the room. He pursed his lips and let out a breath. Great. Now the thought of Vanessa wearing the pink tie was going to overshadow much of Ashley's entire movie.
KTZLF-TLFIW
Zac and Vanessa both planned to make a quick exit following the movie. It was Ashley's night and since Lucas made an appearance in the movie he should get second or third billing. The fact that each of them was there supporting their friends really shouldn't matter. But, all things considered, everyone knew their attendance had to be acknowledged.
For that reason alone the p.r. gurus stopped the actor and actress before they could get too far away from the viewing area. "Could we get just a couple of shots of the HSM group together? Sort of a Troy and Gabriella still supporting Sharpay and Ryan?"
Zac looked at Ashley and shook his head. Ashley looked at Vanessa who just rolled her eyes and sighed. Lucas looked at all of them and then back at the photographers on hand.
"What the hey guys? How often do you get the four of us in one room these days?" He took Ashley by the arm and pulled her toward the cameramen. "Can you guys photoshop Corbin and Monique into these pictures?" The blond man put on a cheese-filled smile as he rested his chin on Ashley's shoulder and then looked at their other former co-stars.
Vanessa wandered toward the on-screen brother and sister team. Lucas tucked Vanessa behind him and then motioned for Zac to join them. "Suck it up Efron, come on. It's a picture for God's sake."
Zac rolled his tongue around in his mouth, put his hands in his jean pockets and then made his way to stand behind Ashley. Lucas turned around to see the obvious space between his two good friends on the back row.
"Did Troy go after Gabriella and then just stand there? At least put your arm around her. You can pretend that you like each other for one picture, can't you?" he shook his hat-adorned head and turned a smiling face back towards the camera.
Zac and Vanessa put on unimpressed, nearly nervous faces as they each stepped closer to the other. Zac made a point of sliding his arm around Vanessa's shoulders and then looked down at her.
"Ooo that feels so comfy and loving." Vanessa commented sarcastically in a hushed voice.
"It's. Safe." Zac answered in a stressed tone.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Fine." Zac moved his arm lower, letting it rest around her waist.
"Will you two give it a rest?" Ashley glared back at them and then noticed where Zac's hand was inching.
Before the next wave of clicks began his fingers had hold of a very familiar spot on Vanessa's body, her butt, cleverly hidden behind Ashley and Ryan. The thing was, Ashley noticed quickly, Vanessa wasn't arguing.
Instead the 22 year old had looked back up into the blue of Zac's eyes that were watching for her reaction.
"Better" she mouthed in his direction.
Ashley read Vanessa's lips when she spoke to Zac. She could also read the looks that were being passed between the supposedly, somewhat estranged couple.
If this is them broken up, then them together would be X-rated right now. Ashley thought. Her out-loud comment to her friends was a quiet, "Geez…now you need to get a room. Make up your minds!"
The familiar line from Ashley's mouth was enough to catch Vanessa's attention. She did her best not to draw attention to Zac's hand placement during that pose and then once the cameras stopped flashing she grabbed Ashley and Lucas and pulled them backwards to form the four of them into a straight line with arms intertwined.
Zac noticed, but didn't protest, when Ashley was pulled between him and Vanessa, dislodging his hold on the younger actress. Ashley went along with the rearrangement knowing there was something more going on between two of her best friends…and whatever it was, it didn't involve a break or a break-up.
KTZLF-TLFIW
Two more rounds of 'just one more shot' went by before Ashley finally made the call.
"Ok, ok, enough of the four of us. Back to me and Austin and Boi. I love my friends, but Austin is a new part of this craziness. You need to initiate him as well." She joked.
The four veterans separated and even as she posed with her new co-star, Ashley watched Zac and Vanessa move carefully to opposite ends of the room. She was a bit startled that neither of them made a bee-line for the elevators to leave. That only made her more suspicious of what was really going on between them.
Zac found a bottle of water on the refreshment table, grabbed it and moved to an empty spot in a quiet corner. He took a few sips of the drink and then sat it down and pulled out his phone.
He looked around the room until he spotted Vanessa in a similar area, an opposite corner. She was watching various people as they passed by and acknowledged just a few of them. When she felt his gaze it only took a moment for her to connect their eyes.
Zac raised his iPhone in her direction, a silent signal to expect a message from him very soon.
"So why did you pull Ash in between us?" the first text simply asked her. Vanessa looked over top of her phone and lowered her eyebrows as she thought of a response.
She began her answer with an emoticon that she hoped he would understand as a 'sarcastic' look. "Because I'd really love to see more pix of us with your hand squeezing my butt right now, Doofus. Duh, Zac!"
Vanessa watched as he received the electronic message, read it and looked back at her. His eyes were wide making her shake her head and shrug her shoulders. She was sure he could feel her eyes rolling, even if he couldn't see them.
"But I like squeezing your butt." Vanessa read and felt yet again that he was, in all honesty, a typical man.
"I'm quite fond of that too, but we can't do that right now, Boo, unless you wanna give away our not-so-little secret." She sent back with a poignant tap of her fingernail.
She noticed Zac's eyes widen just as the message disappeared from her screen. It hadn't had time to be received yet. And then the voice from behind her caused her to understand.
"What secret?"
Vanessa turned quickly to face Ashley who had obviously seen part of her last message over her shoulder.
Before answering her female friend Vanessa sent another quick text across the room. "I think we're busted."
The brunette looked back at her dark-haired girlfriend and tried to smile. "That…was…um…Stella. We've, uh, been talking about Mom and Dad's anniversary and what we want to do for them. We're trying to keep it a secret so it doesn't get back to them." She attempted to explain and cover their tracks.
Ashley watched Vanessa jerk slightly as her phone buzzed again in her hands.
"You mean by Ash? Does she know ANYTHING?" Vanessa read Zac's questions, trying to keep the phone hidden from their friend.
Vanessa looked at Ashley for just a moment. "Hang on, let me just tell her one more thing." She continued the charade as she began typing a message only to be interrupted by another incoming text.
"Not yet, but I have a feeling she's getting close." Vanessa sent back before opening his other thought.
"Do I need to come over there so we can talk to her together, or to try and do some damage control?" he wondered.
"Just stop texting for a minute. I'm trying to cover… :-/" Vanessa attempted to instruct him before giving her attention back to Ashley.
"Spill it Hudgens." Ashley began with one raised eyebrow. " Greg and Gina's anniversary was last month. Those messages are from Zac, not Stella, and he's right there across the room. I'm not Sharpay-blonde you know."
Vanessa stepped closer to Ashley to try and keep their conversation just between the two of them. "Look, I'm just trying to get him to leave me alone. He wants me to come over there and talk to him, or to go somewhere else with him so we can talk."
It was an answer she had given a few times so it at least sounded valid to Vanessa. Ashley didn't completely buy it but was still unsure of her friends' situation and circumstances.
"Has he been drinking tonight?" Ashley asked with concern. "I can ask him to leave if you want me to Vanessa. Do you need me to say something to him?" she placed a comforting hand on Vanessa's shoulder to offer her support if this was the case.
"No." Vanessa insisted. "Nothing like that. I was just afraid something like this would happen tonight with both of us in the same place and all." She glanced up with a slightly sad look on her face as she looked back toward Zac.
Ashley squeezed Vanessa's shoulder gently to get her attention and then smiled at her. "Are you sure you don't want me to get in the middle of it? I'm good at that you know."
Her smile garnered at least a small one from Vanessa in return.
"No, we're fine, really." Vanessa said with more surety.
The two women hugged before Ashley walked away and Vanessa again began pecking on her phone. Ashley moved gracefully through the crowd until she came to her other previous co-star. She stopped beside Lucas and grasped his upper arm with more than an easy force.
The young man pulled away from her trying to free his arm and then noticed the determined look in Ashley's eyes. She tugged on his bicep again until Lucas leaned in to hear what she was saying.
She motioned toward the two sides of the room until she was sure he could see the people she was referring to. "Keep an eye on those two. They're up to something."
Lucas gave her an unbelieving look. The line was something straight from one of their movies, he was sure. Was he experiencing déjà vu, or was she really ordering him to watch Zac and Vanessa.
"What do I look like, Sharpay's poodle?" he asked jokingly. "I thought I left that part of Ryan at Lava Springs a few years ago!" It only took a split second for him to realize Ashley was serious.
"Lucas, something's going on with them. Without Monique or Corbin here I'm depending on you. I don't know what it is, but there is definitely something happening with those two."
Ashley's demanding tone caused Lucas to look back and forth several times between Vanessa and Zac. He noticed the odd form of communication going on and decided perhaps Ashley was correct. That made him find his own corner of the room where he could hone his detective skills by keeping an eye on the former couple.
It only took a few minutes for Lucas to realize that they were indeed texting each other. He began to feel a bit intrigued as he watched one of them typing and then he would see the other look at their phone and grin. Moments later the reverse action would happen resulting in a similar reaction from the other recipient.
The soft smiles, concentrating tongues between their lips and gently bit lower lips were more than tell-tale signs. The conversation they were holding across the room wasn't unwanted by either of them. In fact, Lucas guessed, it seemed to be more than welcomed. And, if he would pull from his memory banks, he knew it was a conversation that neither Zac nor Vanessa wanted to have interrupted. But in this public place… Lucas smiled to himself.
Seeing the two of them interacting again was a delight. And after a half hour of watching them Lucas made his way back to Ashley to give his report.
He stood behind her and grinned as he thought of his leading line. "Golden Throat, this is Jazz Square." He waited as Ashley turned and looked at him with a curiously weird stare. "I think," he used his head to point in the opposing directions, "you are a lot smarter than people give you credit for. I honestly believe Muscle Man and Blondie are not just texting from across the room; they are sexting. And, I highly recommend that we get them both outta here before they reach…ahem…well, you know what I mean." He raised his eyebrows as Ashley began to understand what he was telling her.
With wide eyes her wisdom seemed to grow. "They are still together. I knew it. I freakin' knew it!" she worked hard to keep her voice low. And I am gonna kill them both right after I figure out where they are staying."
Lucas backed up a step and looked at her unbelievingly. "You think they are sharing a room somewhere? Here? In this building…in L.A… in California even? How do you think they would pull that off? The paps would be all over them."
Ashley shook her head. "Ninjas Runnin' Wild, Lucas." She mumbled the name of Zac's production company before looking back at her cohort. "They have their ways and their resources. Their asses better hope I don't go ninja on them!"
Lucas watched as she pointed toward Zac and began formulating a plan to find out exactly what she wanted to know. "You just go over to Mr. Muscles and tell him that Blondie wants to meet him upstairs…N-O-W!"
Lucas looked at her with bewildered eyes. "What? N-O-W?" Ashley's eyes dimmed as she willed him to understand what she was trying to do. Shaking her head in a 'come on, you can get this' fashion, she waited.
"Ohhhh…we're going to lure the two of them up to their room…if they have one here…right?" Lucas couldn't believe he was going along with what Ashley wanted to do.
With a single nod of her head Ashley turned her back and headed in Vanessa's direction. If she could just stay between Vanessa and Zac until Lucas convinced him to leave then the plan would work swimmingly.
Instead of trying a sneak attack on her friend Ashley took the direct approach. She stood right in front of Vanessa who was completely engrossed in the text message she was reading at the moment.
"Alright Blondie, come with me." Ashley directed.
Vanessa quickly tapped a button to clear the screen and then looked up into Ashley's eyes. "Excuse me?"
"Enough texting with your sister." Ashley raised her brows and lowered her chin. "The two of you have been chatting for the past 45 minutes. Your face is flushed and if I had to place bets I'd say the rest of your body is as well, young lady."
Vanessa's eyes widened in near horror as she listened to her observant bff.
"There will be no sexual escapades at the premiere of my G-rated movie tonight!" Ashley snarled in a low-pitched directive.
"Excuse ME?" Vanessa repeated with mouth agape and throat going dry.
Ashley continued with lips barely moving as she began to pull Vanessa out of the corner toward the doors of the room. "Don't deny it Hudgens. I've had eyes on you for the past half hour and it's been all you and Mr. Feather Tattoo can do to keep your clothes on. When I told you to get a room earlier I didn't realize you already had one! Where is it?"
Vanessa looked away from Ashley as they walked toward the exit of the private club. She realized the curtains were about to close on this act. "I…I…I have no idea what you're talking about." Vanessa stumbled unconvincingly.
Ashley pulled her toward the elevators and then stood with arms folded across her chest. "We are getting on that elevator and you are going to push a number. Do I make myself clear? And it won't just be a random number. If my suspicions are correct your hunky b-f will be in a room on that very floor waiting for you."
"Ash…" Vanessa began to regain her sense of composure.
Ashley looked back at her friend with a hurt expression and arms still folded in defense. "I don't like being used, or played, or whatever you want to call it Vanessa. You of all people should know and understand that."
The elevator door opened and a couple stepped off. After the man and woman walked past them Vanessa and Ashley stepped onto the transport. Ashley quickly hit the button to close the door, leaving them on the stationery elevator alone.
The two friends looked at each other without saying another word. Ashley waited for Vanessa to hit a button and Vanessa matched Ashley's stance, crossing her arms in resistance.
"I can stay here all night V." Ashley spoke stubbornly after a couple of minutes.
"As can I." Vanessa shot back. "They'll miss you before they miss me. It's your premiere night, not mine." She reminded.
They stared at each other for another moment each daring the other to make another move. As the look on Ashley's face wavered from hurt, to angry, to misunderstanding, Vanessa had to look away.
She hated not being able to share with Ashley. That's why she couldn't look her friend in the eye. Vanessa looked at each of the ads posted on the elevator walls. She looked up at the escape hatch door that was installed in the roof of the tiny room. Then she chanced looking back at an upset Ashley.
At the same time Vanessa's phone buzzed in her purse. Both women reacted with a start before Vanessa reached down quickly and hid the incoming message so only she could see who it was from.
"He's telling you he's busted. He's with Lucas. Go ahead, read the message or accept the call. That's what it's about." Ashley attempted to act nonchalant about her knowledge.
Vanessa returned the attitude, looked away from Ashley and shrugged her shoulders. "It's not even Zac." She lied.
Vanessa barely had time to notice the fire in Ashley's eyes as Ash grabbed the phone from her hands and looked at the incoming number. She turned the device around and pointed it into Vanessa's face.
"Ashley! Give me my phone!" Vanessa insisted, moving her head away from the screen that was staring back at her.
"I also don't like being lied to Vanessa. And I certainly don't expect that from YOU!"
With another thought Ashley grasped the iPhone in one hand and placed her index finger over the emergency call button on the elevator controls. She then looked back at Vanessa.
"Pick your floor Vanessa or I'll have the paps swarming us in a heartbeat!" Ashley threatened.
Vanessa sighed heavily indicating that Ashley may just have won this round. The muscles in her face relaxed as she looked at her best friend.
"Ash, I can't tell you anything yet, ok?" Vanessa began with a hopeful heart. "Believe me, please believe me, I want to. I want to tell you everything…but I just can't. There's too much at stake. I want to tell a lot of people, but I just…can't."
Ashley looked at Vanessa with a hint of understanding and yet the curiosity still ran through her blood. "So there is something going on…there's still something between you and Zac, I mean." She nodded as she questioned.
Vanessa let out a long breath. "Ash, please? Please don't push. Just let it go for now, ok? You will know everything, just as soon as possible. But now…" Vanessa breathed in and out slowly. "Now just isn't the right time."
Vanessa's phone buzzed again with a reminder that she had a message waiting.
"Go ahead…" Ashley handed the phone back to Vanessa and pointed more calmly at the electronic.
Vanessa nodded her head as she read Zac's words, confirming what Ashley had told her. "How did Lucas know we have a room here? He conned me V. And I fell for it. Sorry! Still haven't told him anything else, but he knows WE have a room."
Vanessa put a hand on her forehead and read the message again. They had come this far, she was not going to let their work be in vain, and she knew Zac felt the same way.
She shook her head as she looked once more at Ashley who was reading the confusion, the struggle, and the love that was written all over her face. Their friend would accept whatever Vanessa chose to tell her. One night stand, standing date night, friends with benefits…for now Ashley would accept whatever Vanessa told her. All she had to do was concede this one fact, as Zac had done for Lucas, albeit unwillingly.
So, when the question came again, Vanessa decided to answer.
"What floor?" Ashley smiled slightly.
"Just between us? No one else knows, just us?" Vanessa watched as Ashley nodded and answered.
"Just between us…and Zac." She added with a questioning smirk forming.
Vanessa reached forward sucking in a breath and pushing the floor number. "Seven."
Ashley smiled at her friend and opened her arms to receive a hug.
"Don't read too much into this, ok?" Vanessa suggested as the two embraced. "And I'm not inviting you to my…our…room, so don't come knocking, we won't answer." She added.
Ashley stepped back hearing the small chime ring as they passed each floor. "If you guys plan to continue whatever you started from across the room up there, don't worry…I won't even get off the elevator."
Vanessa rolled her eyes. They waited until the elevator came to a standstill before looking back at each other.
"Lucky seven?" Ashley asked raising a single brow to confront her friend just one more time.
Vanessa sent back a soothing smile, with a tilt of her shaking head. "You won't quit will you?"
Ashley shrugged as the doors opened. "What can I say?" she pushed the 'door open' button and held it while Vanessa stepped out into the hallway. "I'm persistent, and stubborn, and I love you both."
Vanessa sighed. "We love you too." She stepped back and shared a kiss on the cheek with her friend. "Congratulations on the movie Ash, it was a Sharpay dream!"
"Thanks." Ashley called as Vanessa turned and walked down the hall. Ashley stood with her finger on the 'open' button watching as Vanessa found the correct door and lifted her hand to knock with just the knuckle of her middle finger.
After just a moment the door opened slightly. Vanessa whispered to the person on the other side and then dropped her gaze down to the floor as she pointed back toward the elevator. The room door opened wide enough for Ashley to see Zac looking back at her. Vanessa raised her head and also looked back at their friend. The couple smiled and offered small waves to Ashley who then let the door of the elevator close.
The last thing she saw was Zac placing his hand on Vanessa's lower back and ushering her into the room with him.
She smiled as the elevator began its ascent back to the penthouse level. Sharpay's adventure might be about Broadway, Ashley thought to herself. Theirs - and mine - is suddenly centered a lot closer to home.
KTZLF - True Love Finds Its Way – KTZLF