Stars Aligned

Chapter 4: A night to remember

As the gala continued, I still felt like I was in a dream, sitting next to Zac Efron. I took a deep breath and decided to ask him about his family. "So, Zac, how's your mom, Starla? I know you're very close to her."

Zac smiled warmly. "She's doing great, thanks for asking. She's always been my rock, you know?"

I nodded. "That's wonderful to hear. And how's Dylan? Your brother?"

"Dylan's good," Zac replied. "He's been working on some projects of his own. Actually, he's on the third season of 'The Traitors' now."

"Really? That's amazing!" I said, genuinely impressed. "I bet he's having a blast."

"He is," Zac said with a grin. "He loves the challenge and the excitement."

"And what about your younger half-siblings, Henry and Olivia?" I asked. "I know you try to keep them out of the spotlight."

Zac's expression softened. "Yeah, they're great. Growing up so fast. I really want them to have a normal childhood, away from all the craziness of fame."

"That's really admirable," I said sincerely. "It's important to protect them from all the unwanted attention."

As we continued our conversation, the orchestra began to play the instrumentals of "Can I Have This Dance." Zac stood up from his chair, held out his hand to me, and asked, "Can I have this dance, Ms. Zaouit?"

I chuckled, feeling my cheeks flush. "It would be my pleasure, Mr. Efron," I replied, taking his hand.

We made our way to the dance floor, and as we started dancing, I couldn't help but share an anecdote from my younger days. "You know, when I was younger, I tried to copy the choreography of 'Bet On It' in my living room. I must have watched that scene a hundred times."

Zac laughed. "That's awesome. You know, that choreography was actually improvised. We shot the whole song in like three hours."

"Really?" I said, surprised. "That's incredible. It looked so well-rehearsed."

"Sometimes the best things are spontaneous," Zac replied with a wink.

As we continued to dance, we found ourselves humming the lyrics while looking into each other's eyes. I felt a new, exciting sensation blooming within me. Zac's eyes held a warmth and sincerity that made me feel special.

Zac seemed to feel it too. He looked at me with an intensity that made my heart race. It was a look I had only dreamed of seeing. He was thinking that he hadn't felt this way since Vanessa Hudgens.

I squeezed his hand gently, feeling a connection that words couldn't quite capture. "I'm glad we met tonight, Zac."

"Me too," he replied softly.

The song ended, and we made our way back to our seats. Just as we were settling in, Zendaya and Tom Holland approached us. "Hey, Nora," Zendaya said with a smile. "That performance was amazing!"

"Thank you so much," I replied, beaming.

Tom nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you were fantastic."

Zendaya glanced at Zac and then back at me. "I see you've already met Zac. It was nice meeting you, Nora. I hope we can work on something together in the future."

"That would be incredible," I said, feeling both honored and excited.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the gala, Zac turned to me and asked, "Would you like to join me on the rooftop garden? I could use some fresh air."

"Sure," I said, smiling.

We made our way to the rooftop garden, the cool evening breeze offering a refreshing contrast to the warmth inside. The view of the city was breathtaking, the lights twinkling like stars. Zac leaned on the railing next to me. "Honestly, I've had the best night of my life. I'm really glad I met you today, Nora."

I felt a warmth in my chest at his words. "Me too, Zac. This has been incredible."

"I hope we can keep in touch," he said, his tone earnest.

"Definitely," I replied, feeling a shiver as the breeze picked up.

Zac noticed and immediately offered me his jacket. "Here, take this. I don't want you to get cold."

"Thank you," I said, slipping into his jacket. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine," Zac assured me with a smile.

After a while, we decided to head back inside. Zac went to say goodbye to a few people, while I made my way over to Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky. "Thank you so much for hosting such an amazing event," I said to Chris.

"It was our pleasure," Chris replied warmly. "You were fantastic tonight."

"I'm a huge Marvel fan," I admitted, turning to Elsa. "And I was sad to hear you quit the Fast and Furious saga."

Elsa smiled. "Thank you. It was a tough decision, but it was the right one for me."

I nodded, understanding. "Well, it was great meeting you both."

"You too," Chris said. "Take care, Nora."

I found Zac at the exit, and he turned to me with a hopeful look. "Can I drive you back to your hotel?"

"My chauffeur is waiting for me," I said, "but I can drive you to your hotel if you'd like."

Zac shook his head gently. "That's sweet of you, but I'll be fine. Here," he handed me a note with his number on it, "don't hesitate to text me."

"I will," I promised.

Zac took my hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss. "Goodnight, Nora."

"Goodnight, Zac," I said, feeling a flutter in my heart as we parted ways.

As I stepped into the limo, I looked at the note in my hand and couldn't help but smile. This night had been beyond my wildest dreams, and it felt like the beginning of something truly magical.

Zendaya and Tom Holland

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky