Chapter 21 part 4

Hi cuties! Cheers to another chapter! Have a beautiful day XO

The morning after the festival, Zac and Vanessa woke up snuggled together in bed. As sunlight filtered through the curtains, Vanessa stirred first, feeling the grainy texture beneath her skin. She sat up slightly and looked around, realizing there was sand scattered across the sheets.

Zac opened his eyes, blinking away sleep, and noticed Vanessa's puzzled expression. He grinned and said, "I thought you were trying out a new lotion." His playful tone made her laugh, and she shook her head.

"Looks like we brought half the desert back with us," she replied, brushing some sand off the pillow.

Zac chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. They lay there for a few more moments, savoring the warmth of each other's embrace and the memories of the night before.

"Hey, lovebirds, come and have breakfast. Hope you're hungry," Ryan called out from the kitchen, his voice carrying the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Zac stretched languidly, a playful grin on his face. "Mmm… why didn't I get everyone else a separate house?"

"Because you love our friends and wanted us all to spend time together," Vanessa teased, brushing a stray hair from his forehead.

"So dumb," he grumbled into her neck. She laughed, her eyes twinkling with affection as he rolled her over with him, making her yelp.

"Come on, hot stuff, we need to get up," she said, playfully nudging him. "It's day two!"

They finally rose, hand in hand, and made their way to the kitchen. The open-plan space was filled with the cheerful chaos of breakfast preparation. Ryan stood at the stove, expertly flipping pancakes, while Laura checked on the eggs baking in the oven, their golden yolks peeking through.

"Nice of you guys to join us," Ryan grinned, his eyes twinkling as he flipped another pancake onto a growing stack.

Zac hugged Vanessa from behind as they approached the big island kitchen, their friends bustling around them. The table was laid out with colorful fruit, stacks of pancakes, and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice, the bright colors reflecting the vibrant mood of the morning.

The gang ate together, sharing stories and laughter from the previous night. The room was filled with the sound of clinking cutlery, animated chatter, and the occasional burst of laughter as they recounted their favorite festival moments.

Laura glanced at the time and announced, "Time for glam!" Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she playfully dragged Vanessa away from Zac's lap, ignoring his mock pout.

"I'll bring her back soon, don't worry," Laura assured him with a wink, her arm linked with Vanessa's as they headed toward the makeshift vanity.

"Alright, hurry," Zac said, leaning over to give Vanessa a quick kiss. His eyes lingered on hers, filled with affection and anticipation for the day ahead.

Vanessa smiled back at him.

Zac noticed that Laura and the other girls had finished getting ready, but Vanessa was still inside, taking her time. As he exchanged a look with Laura, silently asking what was holding Vanessa up, Laura smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "I think she needs you," she said softly.

"Baby, you okay?" Zac called out, stepping inside. He found Vanessa standing in front of a full-length mirror, her natural hair cascading around her shoulders. She looked stunning in a multicolored, mermaid-inspired micro top and a low-rise matching skirt that shimmered with every movement. But he noticed she was struggling with a silk scarf, trying to wrap it around her stomach.

"Hey, you okay?" Zac asked again, sensing her frustration.

"Yeah... just trying to cover up," Vanessa replied, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

"You look beautiful, babe. Why do you wanna cover up?" he asked gently, noticing her gaze lingering on a few faint stretch marks. Vanessa was the most confident person he knew, but he understood how insecurities could creep up on anyone.

"Hey, look at me," he said, softly pushing up her chin to meet his eyes through the mirror. "You. Are. Stunning." He punctuated each word with a kiss on her cheek and neck, his touch reassuring and warm. He placed his hands over hers on her stretch marks. "Now, repeat after me," he said. "I am beautiful."

"I am beautiful," she repeated weakly at first, then smiled at him through the mirror.

"I can't hear you," he teased.

"I am beautiful," she stated more confidently.

"And I'm a badass mother."

"I'm a badass mother," she affirmed, her voice growing stronger.

"Good, now that that's clear." He leaned down and kissed her stretch marks on her stomach, gently releasing her hold on the scarf. "Shall we leave this here?" he asked, meeting her eyes with a reassuring smile.

She nodded, feeling the weight of her insecurities lift as he leaned up and said, "Come on, let's go."

"Now, how do I look?" Vanessa watched as Zac gave her a playful twirl, showing off his outfit. His white denim shorts and matching jacket were paired with a white bucket hat.

"Handsome as always," she replied, admiration in her eyes.

"Aww, thanks, baby," Zac said, flashing a charming smile as he took her hand, ready to face the day together.

There was a seismic shift in the atmosphere that afternoon. People gathered in clusters, staring at them and whispering excitedly. Phones were out, capturing images and videos. The sudden attention felt like a spotlight on them, and Vanessa tensed slightly, glancing at Zac for reassurance. Zac instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "It's okay," he whispered, offering a gentle smile. He took his hat off his head and placed it on hers, tugging it down to shield her face from prying eyes.

Together, they began to weave through the crowd, Zac's arm firmly around Vanessa's waist, guiding her through the throng of festival-goers. Despite the curious glances and flashes of cameras, they focused on each other, determined to enjoy the day ahead. The music thrummed in the background, blending with the laughter and chatter, and slowly, the initial discomfort faded, replaced by the familiar rhythm of the festival's vibrant spirit.

Meanwhile, a storm was brewing online.

DeuxMoi, the popular Instagram account known for celebrity gossip, stirred the pot with a tantalizing blind item hinting at a new celebrity romance brewing at Coachella. The item hinted at a well-known actress and heartthrob being seen in an intimate moment. Fans speculated wildly about the identities, with guesses ranging from Hollywood A-listers to nouveau indie risers.

The suspense ended when DeuxMoi posted a video captured by a fan, revealing none other than Zac and Vanessa passionately making out amidst the neon lights and pulsating beats of the festival. The clip, though grainy, clearly showed the couple lost in the moment, confirming the rumors in the blind item.

Twitter erupted with fans' reactions. Some expressed shock and excitement at the revelation:

"DeuxMoi delivers again! That video of Zac and Vanessa is everything! #CelebGossip"

"I am no longer a child of divorce. My parents are back together! #happiestdayofmylife"

"OMG, Zac and Vanessa at Coachella??????! #Coachella2024"

"I've waited 84 years for this moment! #ZanessaForever"

"I can die happy. #ZanessaatCoachella"

"I knew something happened at the Oscars! #Calledit"

"Is this the millennial version of Tomdaya? I ship them! #ZacVanessa"

The buzz continued with memes, GIFs, and fan theories flooding social media. Some fans dug up old interviews and photos, trying to piece together clues that might have hinted at the budding romance.

All the while, Zac and Vanessa were oblivious to the online frenzy. Heading back to the rental house for a break between sets, Vanessa wanted to check her messages but found she had no cell signal.

"Hey, babe, do you have the WiFi password? My data hasn't been working since yesterday," she called out, walking barefoot to the pool area to find Zac. Suddenly, something dashed past her, and she yelped in surprise.

"What the—" Zac appeared from behind, shouting, "Hey! Stop right there!" as he spotted the dark figure. The intruder sped across the yard, and the flash of a camera was seen.

"Call security," Zac shouted as he tried to chase the man. Vanessa dialed for help, but the intruder had already left the property, jumping over the fence before Zac could reach him.

Once security arrived, Zac reprimanded them, "Dude, Fred, what the hell? Where were you? She was out here all alone. She could've gotten hurt if that guy had been any closer. Not to mention he already violated our privacy."

Zac then went to check on Vanessa. "Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing her shoulders.

"Yeah," she replied, still shaken.

"What's been going on?" Zac mumbled to himself, thinking of all the weirdness surrounding the day.

"I don't know," Vanessa said, as they settled inside. She finally connected to the WiFi, and dozens of missed calls, messages, and social media notifications flooded her phone.

"What the hell?" she thought, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information. Several photos and videos of Zac and her flooded her feed. Oh man, she groaned internally. She sifted through the barrage of messages to find the ones most important to her.

There was one from her mother: "Van, saw some pictures at Coachella. You look beautiful and happy. Stay happy always. I love you. Give Zac a kiss from me." She smiled. Mama G was always the brightest star in her life and her biggest supporter.

"Okay," she collected herself. On to the tough ones.

She checked her manager Evan's messages. "Call me, kiddo." Okay, he probably wants to discuss the situation.

And the last message sent a chill through her spine. It was from her ex-husband. After scrolling through a bunch of photos and videos of Kai playing and being cute, there was only one text message: "Can we talk?"

At the other end of the house, Zac was going through the same turmoil. He had a slew of messages from friends and family. Everyone had seen the pictures.

His mother: "Are you okay, baby? I love you. Give Vanessa a kiss from me."

His dad: "Hey, buddy, you okay? Saw some pictures online. Those guys are vicious. Not cool. Give Vanessa our love."

His brother: "You okay, dude? How's Van? Call me if you need anything."

Melissa, his publicist: "Call me. Now."

"Shit," both Zac and Vanessa exhaled at the same time as they looked up from their phones across the house at each other. Whatever they were going through, at least they were going through it together.

"You okay, baby?" Vanessa asked, giving him a hug.

"Yeah…" Zac replied, wrapping his arms around her.

Just like that, their bubble was burst. And even though he knew this day was going to come and would be hard, for some reason, he felt at peace.

"We'll get through this," she said.

"Together," he confirmed, resting his forehead on hers.

She gave him a soft peck on the cheek. "From my mum," she smiled.

He returned the kiss to her cheek as well. "From mine." They knew in that moment that the people that truly cared about them were on their side and supportive of their new journey and that's all that mattered.