More than a Crush

Scene 6 : Planning the perfect surprise

In the days leading up to the premiere, I sit at my kitchen table, the hum of excitement and nervousness filling the room. My laptop is open, phone in hand, and my mind racing with the details of my plan. I want everything to be perfect for the night I surprise Zac at the premiere. Determined to do it right, I realize I need help—specifically, someone who knows Zac better than most. With a deep breath, I scroll through my contacts, stopping at a name that feels like my best shot: Dylan Efron. My fingers hover over the call button before I press it.

The phone rings, and my heart pounds. I'm not sure what to expect, but I know this call is key to pulling off my surprise. After a few rings, a warm voice answers.

"Hey there! This is Dylan. Who am I speaking to?"

For a moment, I hesitate, nerves fluttering in my stomach. "Hi, Dylan. It's Nora—Nora Zahaoui. I'm a friend of Zac's." I hope he remembers me, and there's a brief pause that feels like an eternity before his tone brightens with recognition.

"Nora! Of course, Zac's mentioned you before. What's up? How can I help?"

I take a deep breath, feeling my determination return. "I was hoping you could help me with a little surprise. Zac invited me to the A Family Affair premiere, but I haven't told him I'm coming. I wanted to show up in style, you know, match his outfit. Do you happen to know what he's wearing?"

Dylan laughs, clearly amused. "I do, actually. He's rocking an off-white suit with a double-breasted jacket, single-breasted pants, a striped white tank top, and—get this—purple patent tassel loafers. Pretty bold, right?"

"That sounds amazing!" I reply, excitement bubbling up. "I'll need a gown to match that vibe. I already booked my flight, but I'm still trying to figure out hotel arrangements."

Before I can say anything else, Dylan jumps in. "Wait, don't worry about a hotel. Why don't you stay at my apartment? There's plenty of room, and I can make sure everything runs smoothly. I'll have the designer deliver the gown straight here. Plus, it'll be easier for the chauffeur to pick you up from my place since he already knows the address."

I blink in surprise, caught off guard by his generosity. "Dylan, you really don't have to go to all this trouble. You've already done so much."

"Nora," he says, his voice warm and reassuring, "it's no trouble at all. Honestly, it's the least I can do to make my big brother happy. And trust me, you being there will make his night."

His words make my heart swell, and I can't help but smile, imagining Zac's reaction. "Thank you, Dylan. I can't even tell you how much this means to me."

"Don't mention it," he replies with a grin I can hear through the phone. "Let's make this surprise unforgettable."

As we hang up, a wave of relief and excitement washes over me. The plan is in motion, and everything is coming together perfectly. I immediately grab my phone and text Lena, asking her to come over and help me pick out the perfect gown. Within minutes, she replies with an enthusiastic, "On my way!"

When she arrives, we settle on the couch with my laptop in front of us, opening the Chanel website. "So," she starts, eyes gleaming with curiosity, "what's this all about? You sounded pretty excited."

I grin, barely able to contain my excitement. "You won't believe it. I just got off the phone with Dylan—Zac's brother—and he's helping me pull off the whole surprise. He even invited me to stay at his apartment in LA and arranged for a designer to send the gown directly to his place."

Lena's eyes widen in surprise and delight. "Wow! Look at you! That's amazing!" She nudges my shoulder playfully. "So, this is really happening. You're going to show up at the premiere, surprise Zac, and you'll look like a goddess doing it!"

I laugh, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. "It feels surreal, honestly. But I want to make sure everything's perfect. That's why I need your help with the dress." We start browsing through the collection, scrolling through sleek silhouettes, sparkling embellishments, and timeless designs, as Lena chimes in with her expert opinion on each option.

"Don't worry," she says, glancing over at me with a knowing smile. "We're going to find something that not only matches Zac's outfit but makes you feel confident enough to step into that spotlight."

After Lena and I spend some time scrolling through the Chanel website, my eyes land on a striking archival lycra dress, embroidered with red sequins and pearls. The gown is bold, elegant, and feels like the perfect statement piece to match Zac's off-white suit.

"This is the one," I say, showing Lena, who gasps in approval.

"You're going to look absolutely stunning," she agrees, nodding enthusiastically. "Zac won't know what hit him."

I smile, excitement buzzing in my chest as I finalize the order. "Thanks, Lena. I couldn't have done this without your help."

She grins, giving me a playful nudge. "Hey, you're the one pulling off this grand surprise. I'm just here to help you slay the fashion game."

After Lena leaves, I sit back, letting the reality sink in. The perfect gown, Dylan's help with the limo, and staying at his apartment—it's all happening. I can already picture the look on Zac's face when I walk up to him on the red carpet, totally unaware that I'm about to be by his side for the premiere.

Meanwhile, across town, Zac drops by his brother Dylan's apartment. As they settle in, Zac can't help but let his feelings slip. "I tried to invite Nora to the premiere," he begins, his voice soft with disappointment. "I was really hoping Nora would come, but she wasn't ready. I get it, though... the attention, the cameras. I just—" He pauses, clearly trying to keep his emotions in check. "I didn't want her to feel pressured, but I can't help feeling a little disappointed."

Dylan listens carefully, trying not to give away the surprise. He leans back in his chair, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Zac. But don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes things have a way of working out better than you expect. Just trust that if it's meant to be, it'll happen. And who knows? She might surprise you."

Zac chuckles softly, though the trace of disappointment lingers. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks, man. I just didn't want her to feel like I was pushing her into something she wasn't ready for."

Dylan nods, keeping his cool, knowing more than he's letting on. Without giving anything away about my call or the fact that I'm coming, he simply smiles. "Trust me, bro. I've got a feeling this premiere is going to be unforgettable." Without revealing our conversation or my plans, he leaves Zac with a sense of anticipation.

As Zac leaves, still unaware of the surprise waiting for him, Dylan watches with a knowing smile, excited for what's to come, knowing that the night is shaping up to be far more special than Zac could ever imagine.