Stars Aligned

Chapter 6: Planning and Surprises

With Zac's enthusiastic acceptance to be part of the music video, my excitement for the project reached new heights. A couple of days later, Niall arranged a meeting at his place with the Sony team to discuss the plans. I still lived with my parents, so meeting at Niall's provided a bit more privacy and a professional setting.

I arrived at Niall's place, greeted by his warm smile. "Ready for this, Nora?" he asked, opening the door wider for me to step in.

"Absolutely," I replied, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The Sony team was already there, seated around Niall's spacious living room. After exchanging pleasantries, we dove right into the meeting.

"I've been thinking a lot about the music video for 'Dream Come True,'" I began. "Here's my vision: It starts in Marrakesh, in a bedroom filled with posters of Zac everywhere. The video opens with me kissing a picture of Zac before falling asleep. Then, it's like we enter my dream. The scene shifts to Paris, where Zac and I are dating. We're at iconic locations like the Eiffel Tower, dancing in the gardens of the Versailles castle, and hugging on top of the Arc de Triomphe. Finally, we return to Marrakesh, where I wake up from the dream. When I open the door of my house, Zac is standing there. Just as we lean in for a kiss, I look at the camera, wink, and put my hand on the lens. That's where the video ends."

The room buzzed with excitement as I finished explaining my concept. The Sony representatives exchanged impressed glances.

"That's a fantastic vision, Nora," one of them said. "We can arrange all the equipment and logistics for the shoot in both locations. Your ideas are fresh and captivating."

Feeling elated, we moved on to discuss the album. I handed them a list of songs and potential artists I wanted to collaborate with. The list included Shawn Mendes, Florida Georgia Line, Alesso, DNCE, and Machine Gun Kelly. The Sony team was enthusiastic and supportive, promising to reach out to these artists and set things in motion.

As the meeting concluded, Niall gave me a reassuring nod. "You've got this, Nora. This album is going to be amazing."

"Thanks, Niall," I replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

I left Niall's place and headed back home. When I arrived, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked in the alley. Curiosity piqued, I walked inside the house and was immediately greeted by a familiar laugh coming from the living room.

As I entered, I was surprised to find Zac laughing with my parents. "Zac! What are you doing here?" I exclaimed, unable to hide my surprise and delight.

Zac stood up, smiling broadly. "I wanted to surprise you and also to discuss the music video. Plus, I figured it was about time I met your family, considering I'll be shooting in your hometown."

My parents beamed at Zac. "We invited him to stay for dinner," my mother said. "Why don't you show him around the house while we prepare the meal?"

I agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Sure, come on, Zac. Let me show you around."

We started with the common areas, moving from the cozy living room to the kitchen, where delicious aromas wafted from the stove. Zac commented on the warmth and charm of the house, making me feel proud of my family home.

Finally, we reached my bedroom. The walls were painted a soft blue, and on the wall above my desk was a large painting of Zac that I had done myself. Surrounding it were pictures of him from every movie and TV show he'd been in. I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me.

Zac noticed the painting immediately. "Wow, you did this?" he asked, clearly impressed.

I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Yeah, whenever I'm lacking inspiration, I just look up at you, and it comes back."

Zac smiled, touched by my words. "That's incredibly sweet, Nora. You're really talented."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a bit more at ease. "It's a bit embarrassing, though, having all these pictures of you."

"Don't be embarrassed," Zac replied, looking around at the photos. "It's flattering. And it's amazing to see how much my work has inspired you."

As we continued talking, I shared an anecdote about the first time I watched Zac in "New Year's Eve."

"I remember watching 'New Year's Eve' and just being completely mesmerized," I began, laughing a little at the memory. "I had a huge crush on you back then, and I was so excited to see you in that movie. I even made my whole family watch it with me."

Zac chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Really? That's so sweet. What did your family think?"

"They thought it was cute, but they were mostly amused by how much I gushed about you," I admitted, feeling a bit sheepish. "I even reenacted some of your scenes."

Zac laughed warmly. "That's amazing. It's always great to hear stories like that."

We talked more about the music video and my vision for the album. Zac shared stories from his own experiences in the industry, offering advice and encouragement. He told me about the early days of filming "High School Musical" and how he never expected it to become such a phenomenon.

"Back then, we were just a bunch of kids having fun," Zac reminisced, his eyes lighting up. "We had no idea it would become so huge."

"I can imagine," I said, captivated by his stories. "It must have been surreal."

"It was," Zac agreed. "But it was also a lot of hard work. We put in long hours, but it was worth it. Those were some of the best times of my life."

As we continued talking, Zac opened up about his family. He spoke fondly of his mother, Starla, and his younger brother, Dylan. He even shared some amusing anecdotes about his very young half-siblings, Henry and Olivia.

"Henry and Olivia are adorable," Zac said with a chuckle. "They're full of energy and always keep me on my toes."

"They sound like a handful," I replied, smiling.

"They are, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Zac said warmly. "Family means everything to me."

We headed back downstairs for dinner. The meal was filled with laughter and stories, my parents thoroughly enjoying Zac's company. By the end of the night, it felt like he was already part of the family.

As I walked Zac to the door and stood at the doorway, the evening breeze gently brushing past us, Zac and I exchanged a fond farewell. Instead of a hug, he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, close to my lips. I felt my cheeks warm with a blush as I smiled gratefully at him.

"Thank you for coming by, Zac," I said softly, feeling a mixture of happiness and a tinge of shyness.

"Of course, Nora," he replied warmly, his gaze lingering for a moment longer before he straightened up. "I had a great time. See you soon?"

"Definitely," I nodded, trying to steady my voice. "Take care."

With one last smile, Zac turned and made his way to his car. I watched him drive off, feeling a flutter of excitement and anticipation for what was yet to come.