Stars Aligned

Chapter 5: New Beginnings

The hum of the airplane engines was a soothing backdrop as I settled back into my seat, lost in thoughts of the incredible night at the Met Gala. The memory of dancing with Zac, our shared laughter, and the look in his eyes kept replaying in my mind. It felt like a dream, one that I didn't want to wake up from. But as the plane began its descent into Paris, reality began to set in.

Once the plane landed, I quickly gathered my belongings and made my way through the bustling airport. I hailed a taxi and directed the driver to Niall's house. He had been eager to talk to me about my next big step: making my first album. The excitement of the Met Gala had brought with it an unexpected rush of opportunities, and I couldn't wait to hear what Niall had to say.

As I arrived at Niall's place, he greeted me with a broad smile and a tight hug. "Nora! You were amazing at the Met Gala. Everyone's talking about your performance," he exclaimed, leading me inside.

"Thanks, Niall. I still can't believe it happened," I replied, feeling a mix of pride and disbelief.

Niall ushered me into his living room, where a spread of snacks and drinks awaited. "We have a lot to discuss. First off, there are several labels interested in working with you. But there's one in particular that stands out: Sony Music Studios. They want to produce the music video for 'Dream Come True' and promote your debut album."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Sony Music Studios? That's incredible!"

Niall nodded, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "They loved your performance and think you have huge potential. They even proposed some collaborations with big names like Shawn Mendes, Florida Georgia Line, Alesso, DNCE, and Machine Gun Kelly."

I sat down, trying to process everything. "This is all happening so fast. But if we're doing the music video, I want it to be special. I want to shoot it in Paris and Marrakesh. And... I want Zac Efron to be in it."

Niall grinned. "I thought you might say that. Let's make a conference call with Sony and let them know."

We quickly set up the call, and soon enough, we were speaking with the representatives from Sony Music Studios. I explained my vision for the music video, and they were enthusiastic about it. They agreed to shoot in Paris and Marrakesh and promised to reach out to Zac's team to see if he would be interested.

After the call, Niall and I celebrated with a toast. "To new beginnings," he said, clinking his glass against mine.

"To new beginnings," I echoed, feeling a surge of excitement for what was to come.

Back at home, I shared the news with my family. They were ecstatic and couldn't stop congratulating me. I then retreated to my room and called Sabrina and Leila to tell them about the call with Sony.

"This is amazing, Nora! You're going to be a star!" Sabrina exclaimed.

Leila added, "And with Zac in the music video? It's going to be perfect!"

"Thanks, guys. I couldn't have done it without your support," I replied, feeling grateful for my friends.

After the call, I decided to text Zac. I needed to talk to him about the music video and see if he would be interested in being a part of it.

"Hey Zac, can you FaceTime when you get a chance? I have something important to ask you," I typed, my heart racing as I hit send.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Zac. I quickly answered, and his familiar face appeared on the screen, along with two adorable children who I recognized as his half-siblings, Olivia and Henry.

"Hi, Zac! Hi, Olivia! Hi, Henry!" I greeted them with a smile.

"Hi, Nora!" Olivia and Henry chorused before running off to play, leaving Zac and me to talk.

"Sorry about that," Zac said with a chuckle. "They're a handful."

"They're adorable," I replied. "I actually wanted to talk to you about something important. Sony Music Studios wants to produce the music video for 'Dream Come True,' and I want to shoot it in Paris and Marrakesh, my two hometowns. But... I also want you to be in it. Since the song is about you, it just feels right."

Zac's expression softened, and he smiled. "I'd be honored, Nora. Let's do it."

My heart soared with joy. "Thank you, Zac! This means so much to me. They said they'll contact your team to work out the details. Oh, and one more thing, Sony also wants to produce my first album. This is really happening, Zac. My dream is coming true."

Zac's smile grew even wider. "That's fantastic news, Nora. I'm so happy for you."

Just then, Olivia returned, looking up at the screen with curious eyes. "Nora, are you my brother's girlfriend?" she asked innocently.

Zac blushed, looking slightly embarrassed by his sister's question. I chuckled and responded, "Well, that's not really up to me, Olivia."

Olivia tilted her head, clearly puzzled by my answer. "But you like him, right? And he likes you?"

"Olivia!" Zac interrupted, laughing nervously. "Nora and I are friends. Very good friends."

"Okay," Olivia said, looking somewhat satisfied before scampering off again.

Zac shook his head, still smiling. "Kids, huh?"

"They're brutally honest," I replied, laughing. "But she's adorable."

"I'll make sure to tell her you said that," Zac said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I told him more about my plans for the album and how excited I was about the upcoming projects. We chatted about our favorite music, shared some funny anecdotes, and I found myself feeling even more connected to him.

"I can't wait to see how everything unfolds," Zac said. "You're going to do amazing things, Nora. I can feel it."

"Thanks, Zac. Your support means the world to me," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me.

We continued talking for a while longer, sharing our hopes and dreams for the future. It felt like we had known each other forever, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. Eventually, we had to say our goodbyes, but Zac promised to keep in touch and help with anything I needed.

As the call ended, I sat back with a smile, feeling a sense of contentment and excitement for the future. This was just the beginning, and I was ready to embrace whatever came next.

Olivia and Henry with their big brother