Chapter 14 part 1
FINALLY. THE CHAPTER YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! ENJOYYYYYYYYYY.
The night of the Oscars proved to be a catalyst for rekindling Zac and Vanessa's friendship. In the following weeks, they had been constantly texting back and forth. After Zac reached out to Vanessa for her number, she responded tentatively, but gradually eased into a natural rhythm when Zac shared pictures of Dylan's dog Booey and his little siblings. She reciprocated with pictures of her own dog, Darla as well as anecdotes of Kai and the conversation went from there.
Zac put her at complete ease. Initially, both were unsure how to navigate the renewed connection, but after their long conversation it felt as though a dark cloud had lifted from their relationship. There were no longer heavy discussions looming, and they could proceed without any hindrance.
After some time, the undertone of their texts underwent a subtle transformation, shifting from funny anecdotes and movie suggestions to something more. The friendly teasing escalated into a more playful and flirtatious exchange. Never one to shy away from a bold question, one night Vanessa asked him,
"Are you flirting with me, Efron?"
It only took him a few seconds to respond.
"All week, actually. Thanks for noticing…"
She was slightly taken aback by his candid answer but then also found herself smiling at his confession. Did she want him to be flirting with him? She knew one thing - she hadn't been this excited to check her phone for new messages in a long time.
Zac felt the same way too. Dylan had noticed how he was particularly keen on checking his phone at all times - even when working out and how Zac was often grinning to himself only to snap out of it when called out by his friends.
As the mammoth trip approached, both of them found themselves counting down the days to their reunion. This time more excited than nervous to run into one another.
The crisp mountain air in Mammoth carried a hint of excitement as Zac and Vanessa stood at the base of the ski resort, their eyes scanning the bustling crowd for each other. They had both arrived at the resort earlier in the morning and decided to spend the day catching up before the press storm and festival activities consumed them the next day. The snow-covered landscape sparkled under the bright winter sun, mirroring the anticipation building within them.
Zac, bundled up in a navy stylish ski jacket, nervously adjusted his beanie as he glanced at his phone. "She said she'd be near the ski rental area," he mumbled to himself, scanning the surroundings.
Meanwhile, Vanessa, wearing a purple snowsuit, tapped her foot as her eyes darted from one face to another. She chuckled at a text from Zac that read, "Look for the guy with the beanie, trying not to freeze."
Their eyes finally met, and a wave of recognition and excitement swept over them. Zac approached with a smile that illuminated his face, and Vanessa couldn't help but grin in response.
"Hey, stranger," Zac said, his voice warm and familiar. "Long time no see." He wrapped her up in a giant bear hug.
Vanessa laughed, "Yeah, too long. You clean up pretty well for a guy who spends most of his time in sweaty gym clothes." She was referring to Dylan's Instagram stories where he and Zac were currently doing a 30 day gym challenge.
"Hey, I cold plunge and shower right after. I'm squeaky clean. Besides, I figured I should make a good impression because -"
"If you're looking to impress me you're already-" Vanessa started at the same time.
"I'm promoting my new film. Jeez get over yourself, Hudgens," he nudged her playfully with his elbow.
"No! That's NOT where I was going with that sentence. Ugh," she nudged him back.
"Alright, alright. Ready to hit the slopes?"
"Absolutely."
As they head out to the ski rental shop, their conversation seamlessly transitioned from text to reality. But Vanessa couldn't help but wonder if their playful banter had been short lived. Were they slipping back to just friends territory or was there something more? Zac hadn't made any effort to get physically closer to her or tease her in a flirtatious way as he respectfully guided her to the ski lift and kept the topics of conversation neutral and geared towards her work, skiing and her festival commitments.
Sitting side by side in the ski lift, Zac asked Vanessa about her stunt work.
"So I know you've filmed in the snow but would you ever do an action sequence IN the snow? I feel like that'd be kinda crazy. Maybe jump off a ski lift or something. You can audition right now, I'll give you a push." He pretended to push her off the seat.
"Hey!" She swatted his hand away as she laughed. "I'm NOT Tom Cruise haha. But you know what, I've actually really thought about this. When I was doing Bad Boys my personal trainer and coach used to give me all these scenarios to think about and he told me about his own experience in different climates and conditions. He talked about how the numbness from the snow can be so scary but also if you tap into your adrenaline at the right time you feel invincible. Honestly it's so interesting! I'm always up for a challenge."
Zac zoned out as she answered, staring at her, enraptured by her enthusiasm. He leaned over and gave her a lingering kiss on her cheek.
"You're cute when you're passionate about something," he whispered in a husky voice.
"Huh?" for a minute she was slightly disoriented at the sudden action. Maybe she hadn't imagined anything between them at all. There definitely was something more than friendship…
"Yeah, your eyes get all big and wide and you start making all these hand gestures like you're conducting an orchestra. It's really cute."
"Haha, thanks," she blushed.
He leaned in closer and the warmth of his breath caressed her cold cheeks. "Pretty hot too…" he whispered in a low voice.
"What?" before she could register what he said, the ski lift came to a halt and Zac jumped off, but not without looking back and giving her a quick wink.
As they made their way to the ski trail, they were met with a mix of new and old faces. Nina, Ryan and other mutual friends had made it to mammoth too. As Zac and Vanessa approached the group, they walked into a discussion about teams.
"What are you guys up to? What teams are you making?" asked Zac.
"Just some friendly competition on the slopes…" answered Ryan.
"I'm sorry but we have an Olympic snowboarder in our midst. How does that work?" Zac asked amusedly, looking at Shaun, Nina's boyfriend.
"Hey, hey, I'm sitting this one out. I'm the judge," clarified Shaun.
"So…Vanessa, Zac are you guys in?" asked Ryan looking around.
"Sure," they both agreed.
"Awesome so teams of two. Nina and I will team up. Who's next?"
"I'm with Van!" Zac clasped his hands on her shoulders.
Vanessa looked up at him with wide eyes. "You sure? I'm pretty rusty."
"Of course I am. We're gonna smoke 'em," Zac said confidently.
"You wish!" yelled Ryan from the corner.
As the group sorted out their pairings, the challenge was set. All teams were to make it down one of the trails and back but they had to do it together. Whichever team finished first, won. As they made their way to the makeshift starting line, Zac stood behind Vanessa and leaned down to whisper in her ear. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.
"We make a great team. Always have. Let's show 'em how it's done, yeah?" She felt an electric chill all the way down her spine and butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded while looking up at him.
With Vanessa's heart racing from Zac's whispered encouragement, she couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. As they geared up, Vanessa noticed Zac checking their equipment meticulously, ensuring everything was snug and secure. His attention to detail reassured her, and she couldn't help but admire his focus.
With their boards strapped on and goggles in place, Zac flashed her a grin before they took off down the slope. Vanessa felt a rush of adrenaline as they glided effortlessly through the snow, Zac leading the way with skill and finesse.
Halfway down the trail, they encountered a tricky section filled with moguls and icy patches. Vanessa's nerves started to creep in, her legs feeling wobbly beneath her. But before panic could set in, Zac slowed down, matching her pace, and offered a reassuring smile.
"Hey, trust me. We got this," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
Drawing strength from his confidence, Vanessa nodded determinedly. With Zac's guidance, they navigated the challenging terrain together, their movements synchronized as they weaved through the obstacles with precision.
As they neared the finish line, Vanessa felt a surge of pride. Despite her initial doubts, they had tackled the course together as a team, each supporting the other every step of the way.
Crossing the finish line in a flurry of snow, Vanessa couldn't contain her grin as she looked over at Zac. Their victory was not just about winning the race but about the bond they shared, the trust and support that had carried them through.
As the rest of the crew joined them, Ryan couldn't resist interjecting with his trademark wit.
"Ah, come on! You two definitely took a shortcut somewhere," Ryan teased, a playful grin spreading across his face.
Zac scoffed, feigning offense. "We just happened to find the fastest route down, that's all."
Nina, standing beside Ryan, joined in the banter. "Yeah, sure you did! I bet you had a secret tunnel dug out just for this occasion."
Vanessa laughed, shaking her head at their friends' playful accusations. "You guys are just jealous because you didn't think of it first."
Shaun, ever the peacekeeper, chimed in with a chuckle. "Alright, alright, let's not get carried away. The important thing is we all had fun, right?"
But Ryan wasn't ready to let it go just yet. "Fun, yes. Fair? Debatable," he quipped, earning a round of laughter from the group.
"Alright, so what's our prize?" Zac asked as he slung an arm around Vanessa's shoulders.
"Winners buy the hot chocolate for everyone else!" Ryan declared, still wearing a mischievous grin.
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" asked Vanessa incredulously.
Zac chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Deal, but only if you admit defeat gracefully."
Ryan pretended to consider for a moment before dramatically throwing his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll concede this one, but just you wait until the next challenge. I'll be back with a vengeance!"
The group erupted into laughter, their spirits high as they made their way off the slopes and towards the nearest lodge for some well-deserved hot chocolate.
As everyone headed out, Zac slowly reached out his hand toward Vanessa. It was a tentative but a sweet gesture. As his fingers brushed hers, he intertwined their glove-clad hands together.
"Shall we?" he asked.
"Lead the way," she smiled as he gently tugged on their connected hands.
As they settled in with steaming mugs in hand, Vanessa couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. Surrounded by laughter and warmth, she knew that moments like these were what made life so special. She also couldn't help shake the feeling that there was one person in particular who made this moment even more special. Looking over at Zac who was laughing and joking with the others, she felt old and new feelings bubble to the surface. She found herself admiring him the same way she had when she was sixteen. But this time it wasn't just his looks that she saw - she admired the way he carried himself, the way he joked with his friends, the way he made sure everyone was okay, the way he made sure to double check he got everyone's orders right for even something as trivial as hot chocolate. It was all the small things that made him Zac. Not Zac Efron - international superstar and heartthrob, but goofy, lovable, sincere and kind Zac.
Zac caught her gaze on him as he turned back and gave her a quick wink. Surely, he was feeling the same way… there had been too many moments today to prove that. If only there was a clear sign.
Ryan and the others decided to venture over to the far end of the lodge while Zac stayed seated next to Vanessa on the bench.
"How's the hot chocolate?" asked Zac sliding closer to Vanessa.
"It's really good! I love how they made foam art in the shape of the Sundance logo too, haha. It was cute!"
"Better than Hatch family chocolates though?" questioned Zac as he wagged his eyebrows, referring to their famous Utah spot for hot chocolate when filming High School Musical.
"Aww, I can't believe you remember that! Nah, I gotta say nothing beats Hatch!" exclaimed Vanessa.
"Of course, it's the best. We gotta find some before we go."
"Definitely."
They slipped their hot chocolates in a comfortable silence, both secretly sneaking glances at the other when they weren't looking.
"Hey, you have a little something on your face," he gestured to the left side of her face.
"Oh!" She tried to extend her tongue and lick the spot away but no such luck. She then tried using her gloved hands but they were too bulky.
"Here," Zac's touch was gentle as he took off one glove and wiped the spot of hot chocolate away. "Yum," he whispered as he licked his finger clean, maintaining eye contact with her. The cool air did nothing to ease the heat from their scorching chemistry. His proximity ignited a rush of anticipation within Vanessa as her breath hitched. His eyes darted to her lips and back to her eyes. This was the moment she had been waiting for - a confirmation. Concealed in a corner with no prying eyes, this would be their chance to act on what they had both been feeling. Before their moment could fully blossom, the shrill ring of Vanessa's phone sliced through the air, halting their intimacy in its tracks.
"Oh, shoot it's Kai. I have to take this," Vanessa's voice was tinged with elation at the thought of speaking to her son but also disappointment as she answered the call, Zac's retreat a palpable ache in her heart.
Caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, Zac wrestled with his desires. The allure of kissing Vanessa was undeniable, yet the mention of Kai served as a sobering reminder of the complexities at play. Pulling back from every opportunity that presented itself felt like torture but there was too much at stake. As much as he wanted to… he didn't want to risk jeopardizing their rekindled friendship or complicate matters for Vanessa.
When Vanessa came back she noticed a shift in Zac's demeanor. He had tensed as he furrowed his brows and busied himself with his phone. As she approached him, he made a quick excuse to go check in with Ryan on something. The almost kiss long forgotten. So much for a clear sign, she thought.
As she got up to leave she saw Nina heading towards her. "Girl, aren't you warm with all those layers?"
Vanessa looked down at her outfit which matched Nina's. "What do you mean? The temperature is in the negatives! You're wearing the same thing, haha."
"Oh I know, just thought you might be hot from all the heat coming from between you and Zac…" she smirked into her drink.
"Ha, ha. Yeah, well, the only one who isn't feeling the heat is Zac it seems…" Vanessa trailed off.
"What do you mean? He hasn't taken his eyes off you the whole time. Half of us just bet you guys were going to ditch us and run off together. We're honestly surprised you're both still here."
Vanessa confided in Nina about how they had been flirting constantly but how Zac also pulled back from every opportunity to get closer to her. "I just don't understand… I thought we were on the same page."
"Hmm.. I think he's giving you the chance to really think this through. You know him, he's being a gentleman."
"A gentleman?"
"Yeah, he doesn't want to make the first move. He wants to give you the time and space to decide where you guys take whatever this is. He's not acting impulsively, he's trying to be respectful of you. I know it's frustrating but it's sweet. That's part of the reason why we all love him, right? After all, girl this is ONLY the second time you've seen each other in person in over 10 years. Give it a minute… or cut straight to it and tell him how you feel. I'm sure he's just waiting for the green light from you."
As Vanessa mulled over her friend's words, she drained her hot chocolate cup and headed out with Nina, arm in arm, as they made their way back to the group. As they approached the group, Nina went ahead. Suddenly, the serene atmosphere shattered as a skier crashed into Vanessa's side causing her to trip and fall on the ground.
The group's collective gasp echoed around her as Zac sprang into action, his instinctive concern propelling him to her side in an instant.
"Van, are you okay?!" His voice, laced with worry, rose to a panicked pitch as he knelt beside her, his hands hovering uncertainly.
She gave a feeble groan as she half sat up and rubbed her leg with one arm. Her foot had gotten trapped in a small hole and had twisted terribly.
"Can you put weight on your feet?" he asked.
"Let me try…" she said as Zac assisted her.
She tried to stand on both feet but her left foot gave out, making her wince in pain. "Only this one," she demonstrated putting her right foot down.
"Okay, come on, I think it's a sprain, let's get you back to your room."
Nina and the others gathered bid them goodbye with words of support and offered to call the doctor on call at the lodge.