The premiere night of Nora's show, "More Than a Crush," has finally arrived. The theater buzzes with excitement, the atmosphere electric as the audience finds their seats, anticipation hanging in the air. Inside, the stage is a vision of creativity, adorned with intricate props and costumes inspired by Zac Efron's films.
Backstage, I adjust my costume for what feels like the hundredth time, my heart pounding with a mixture of nerves and exhilaration. This is the night I've been dreaming of, the culmination of all my hard work.
"You can do this, Nora," I whisper to myself, taking a deep breath to steady my thoughts. "Just breathe."
As the lights dim and the audience's murmurs fade into a hush, I step onto the stage, my pulse quickening. The spotlight finds me in the center, bathing me in its warm glow.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I begin, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. "Thank you all for being here tonight. I am beyond thrilled to present to you my latest creation, More Than a Crush."
The applause washes over me like a wave, filling me with a rush of adrenaline. For a brief moment, I let myself revel in the energy of the room.
"Before we start," I continue, a smile tugging at my lips, "I have a special surprise for you all."
I gesture toward the screen, and the lights dim again as a video begins to play. It's an interview of me, talking about my love for Zac Efron and the inspiration behind the show.
On the screen, my recorded self smiles warmly at the camera. My voice is clear, filled with sincerity.
"I've always been fascinated by the power of cinema to transport us to different worlds, to make us laugh, cry, fear and feel. And there's one actor who has always inspired me with his talent and charisma. Zachary David Alexander Efron, also known as Zac Efron, Mr. Troy Bolton himself, is my role model."
Clips of Zac's iconic roles—Troy Bolton, Phillip Carlyle, Link Larkin—play in the background as I continue speaking.
"Thanks to him, I made my dreams come true. I'm literally living my dreams—I direct my own shows, and I get to play them. It's not only his talent that inspires me, it's his personality. I'm not talking about Zac Efron, the actor. I'm talking about Zachary David Alexander Efron, the man. It might be the same person, but there's a difference—there's the actor, and there's the man who is a brother, an uncle, a son, a man who still has dreams."
The screen shifts to a more intimate clip of Zac interacting with fans and doing interviews, emphasizing the personal side of his life.
"I fell in love with the man, not the actor. The fame is just a plus for me. Everyone knows him as Troy Bolton, or Link Larkin, or Teddy Sanders, but I know him as Zachary David Alexander Efron."
There's a brief pause, and then I appear on the screen again, a smile touching my lips.
"This new show I've created, More Than a Crush, isn't just about my passion and admiration for him. It's to show people to never give up on their dreams. If you've dreamt it once, you can realize it—and you should dream big."
I take a deep breath on the screen before finishing.
"So Zac, if you're watching this, I just want to say... Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat."
The video ends, and the lights come back up to a wave of applause from the audience. I slip backstage quickly to change into my first costume, feeling the rush of excitement coursing through me. As I hurriedly adjust my outfit, I have no idea that when the video started, Zac himself quietly slipped into his reserved seat in the front row—right next to Lena.
YOU ARE READING
More than a Crush
Romance"More than a Crush" tells the story of Nora, a 26-year-old Franco-Moroccan actress and playwright living in Paris, who has idolized Zac Efron for twenty years. Determined to make her mark, she creates a tribute show featuring scenes from Zac's films...
