The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

The Vanity Fair after party, adorned with flashing cameras and bustling with celebrities, set the stage for a night of celebration. Attendees, draped in elegant attire, mingled under the glittering lights, creating a dazzling spectacle. The air was filled with the clinking of glasses, laughter, and the occasional flash of a famous smile. The venue exuded sophistication, with its luxurious decor and a lively energy that resonated throughout the night, marking the perfect culmination of the prestigious Oscars ceremony.

Vanessa and Laura had slipped into shorter mid-thigh versions of their custom Moschino gowns, a playful twist on their red carpet attire. While conventionally, attendees leaned towards a makeup and outfit contrast to their Oscars ensemble, the two friends decided to extend the celebration of their friend Jeremy Scott's work throughout the night. The vibrant hues of red and gold from their outfits radiated brilliantly against the dazzling backdrop of the Vanity Fair party.

The VF red carpet proved to be slightly more uneventful than the Oscars red carpet. But as they stepped inside the main event, all eyes were on them.

Zac immediately sensed Vanessa's presence as she entered the room. She looked nothing short of spectacular, and he was certain that the entire room felt the same way. Vanessa exuded a magnetic energy, her aura larger than life. Every man aspired to be by her side, and every woman wished to be her best friend. Amidst the contemplation of whether to greet her, Zac found himself pulled aside by another guest.

Throughout the night, Vanessa and Laura reconnected with numerous friends and colleagues, dancing their way through the festivities. Meanwhile, Dylan, Ryan, and Zac also immersed themselves in the celebration, although the trio managed to navigate the lively crowd without crossing paths with the girls for the entirety of the night.

After some time, Zac extracted himself after a long spell on the dance floor, needing a moment to himself.

He ran into Vanessa in a quiet hallway as she was exiting the bathroom.

You again, they both thought.

"Hey!" said Vanessa, initiating the conversation this time.

"Hey! How's it going?"

"Good! How about yourself? Celebrating?"

"Yeah - it feels like a big night. Haha."

"I bet!"

"Yeah, someone I don't know at all just came up to me crying and telling me they were proud of me. Wild." Zac shakes his head in disbelief.

"Haha that's sweet. I mean they're proud of you. We're all proud of you."

"Thanks," Zac blushed, feeling uncomfortable with all the praise he had received tonight. "Well, either they're proud of me or everyone is just really drunk!"

"Haha, that's definitely a possibility."

"What about you? I saw you tearing up the dance floor. Congratulations on all your wins! I mean - I'm not surprised, Black Kaisar was amazing."

"Haha thanks. Wait, you've watched it?"

"Oh yeah! It was so sick."

"Thanks!" Vanessa was in shock, trying to process that information. While she knew what projects people in the industry had been a part of, including Zac's, she'd never really watched any of her exes work on purpose. She was grateful for his silent support and made her wonder if he'd been keeping up with her all these years.

"So, you gonna go all night?" Zac motioned to the after party festivities.

"I'm not sure. It's been a blast but I'm pretty hungry. I wonder what Laur is up to."

Just as she mentioned Laura, Laura appeared. "Nessie! I'm so sorry. I forgot to get your pizza."

Vanessa smiled at Laura's sincerity. Her grin widened as she noticed Laura's slightly inebriated state. She was glad her friend was having fun. "It's no problem! We should probably get something soon though, I'm starving."

Just then, Ryan also joined Zac's side. "Yooo, these party snacks are great but I need some real food. Who's with me?" The boys turned their gaze towards Laura and Vanessa as they extended the invitation.

"I could eat! Come on, Nessie, the night's still young."

"Sure, let's get some food."

"Sweet! Hey I think I saw Nina and Brit. I'll call them too," said Ryan as he tried to catch up with other friends.

"Where are you guys staying? We're at the Four Seasons," asked Zac.

"Us too. Do you want to regroup at the hotel?" asked Vanessa.

"Sure, we'll meet you there then."

As they all made their way back to the hotel, Zac and Vanessa made sure to cover their faces from photographers and walk separately. Even subconsciously, they were always finding ways to avoid the paparazzi and clickbait headlines. As soon as they arrived Vanessa found a smiling Dylan in the lobby.

"Hey, Van. Good to see you again," said Dylan.

"DYLAN!" Vanessa exclaimed and gave him a big bear hug. Growing up, he had been the younger brother she never had. It was incredible to see him after all these years. "You're ginormous! I can barely reach your shoulders."

"Haha. Well - I had to outdo my big bro in some way."

Ryan took this opportunity to greet Vanessa properly as well. "Long time no see buddy."

"Ryan! Where have you been? What have you been up to?"

"Oh you know, here and there. But, I'm a family man now and as cheesy as it sounds, that's my biggest accomplishment."

"That's amazing, Ryan. I'm so happy for you," Vanessa said sincerely.

"Alright, alright you're both suffocating her. Now, onto more important things - what are we eating?" asked Zac.

"Well, I thought we could go down to the pizza place around the corner and then I forgot that not only is my brother a movie star he's a freaking OSCAR winner and now I don't know if you'll ever be able to walk in public again," teased Dylan.

"HA. You're hilarious. No seriously. It's kinda insane out there. You wanna order something? We could all hang out in my room? It's a bit small if Brit, Nina and the others are coming but it'll do."

"We have the penthouse!" shared Laura.

"Ahh, so that's why it was booked. Bougie living, huh Hudgens?"

"We needed the space! Do you know how much space our dresses take up?" Vanessa defended.

"Not to mention the shoes!" chimed in Nina Dobrev and Brittany Snow as they walked in.

The girls exchanged hugs and greetings and introductions to Nina and Brittany's friends who had tagged along.

"We heard there was pizza?" grinned Brittany.

"We're working on it! But, you guys can head on up to our suite," said Vanessa as Laura guided everyone upstairs.

"I'll wait for the delivery guys," said Dylan as he stayed back.

"I'll help," both Vanessa and Zac chimed in. They shot each other a quick glance as they both refocused on Dylan.

"Thanks, guys."

While the trio lingered in the lobby, Vanessa and Dylan delved into a conversation about his recent travel adventures. Though she had always regarded him as a younger brother, learning more about his work and passions filled her with pride for the remarkable young man he had become. Dylan, equally enthused, eagerly shared his stories. In the past, Vanessa and Dylan had enjoyed a camaraderie beyond siblinghood, acting as friends and allies against pranking Zac. Despite the changes over time, as their conversation flowed effortlessly, it felt as if no time had passed.

Before long, Dylan's phone buzzed with a message confirming the delivery. He returned with a mountain of pizza boxes, exclaiming, "Oh crap - I forgot to tip him. Let me go catch him," and handed the boxes to Zac.

"Should we wait, or...?" Vanessa began, observing Zac's struggle with the pile of boxes. Seeing his predicament, she suggested they make their way upstairs immediately. Offering to help carry the boxes, Zac declined. "After you," he said as the elevator doors dinged open.

Vanessa entered, pressing the button for the penthouse suite, and Zac followed suit, propping the boxes against the elevator's side for a brief reprieve.

Silently, they rode the elevator. By the eighth floor, a repetitive and loud clanging sound disrupted the quiet. With confused expressions, they exchanged glances.

The fluorescent lights flickered above as the elevator came to a sudden halt, jolting both Vanessa and Zac out of their thoughts. The once audible hum of machinery now transformed into an eerie silence, enveloping the confined space. Vanessa's heart pounded against her chest, the unexpected interruption of their separate lives colliding in an unforeseen twist of fate.

In that moment, a realization dawned on both of them — they were stuck.