More than a Crush

Scene 8 : Red Carpet Dreams

The ride to the premiere felt like a dream, the hum of the limo engine blending into the background as Zac and I sat beside each other. He hadn't let go of my hand since we left his house. Every now and then, I would catch him glancing at me, his eyes full of disbelief and happiness.

"I still can't believe you're here," he said, his voice low and full of awe. "You actually came to surprise me."

I smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "It wasn't easy, trust me. I got help from Dylan. I actually crashed at his apartment before coming to you so I could change and look somewhat beautiful next to you. I didn't want to feel like trash," I added with a laugh, trying to downplay how much effort had gone into tonight.

Zac chuckled, his smile softening as he looked at me. "I'll have to thank my little brother later for making all of this happen. You look stunning, Nora. And for the record, you always do."

His words made my heart flutter, and I found myself staring out the window for a moment, trying to contain the rush of emotions. I glanced back at him, still in awe of the fact that we were here, together. "I still can't believe we're finally a couple," I admitted softly, my voice filled with wonder. "You have no idea how many times I wished for this to happen. The little girl inside me is literally jumping out of joy right now."

Zac laughed, a deep, genuine sound that filled the car with warmth. "I'm right there with you," he said, his eyes twinkling with affection. "It's crazy, isn't it? But it feels right. Like this was always supposed to happen."

We continued to talk and laugh, the nerves slowly fading as we lost ourselves in the conversation. By the time we arrived at the red carpet, the butterflies in my stomach had morphed into excitement.

The limo pulled up, and Zac was the first to step out, the flash of cameras immediately illuminating the scene. He turned back toward me, holding out his hand with that charming smile of his. I took it, stepping out of the car carefully, my nerves bubbling up again as the sea of paparazzi and reporters turned their attention to us.

Zac placed my hand on his arm, leading me down the carpet as the cameras continued to flash. I could hear gasps of surprise, compliments being thrown our way, and the unmistakable murmur of reporters buzzing with excitement over Zac's unexpected date. Despite the attention, it felt oddly natural to walk beside him, his arm providing a steady anchor in the chaos.

As we posed for the cameras, Zac's hand found its place around my waist, pulling me gently closer to him. The flashes were almost blinding, but I barely noticed them as I focused on Zac, who leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear.

He whispered something playful and unexpected, a comment only I could hear, something so funny it immediately dissolved any lingering nerves. I couldn't help but laugh, the sound bubbling out of me as I placed my hand on his chest, steadying myself while grinning up at him.

In that moment, everything felt light and effortless—like we were in our own little world, sharing a private joke amidst the frenzy of the red carpet.

When we reached a group of reporters, they immediately began asking questions. The first was directed at Zac, and I could feel the weight of their curiosity hanging in the air.

"So, Zac," one of them asked, "who is this lovely lady beside you?"

Zac glanced at me, as if silently asking for permission. I gave him a small nod, and he smiled before turning back to the reporter. "This is Nora," he said, his voice proud and sure. "She's my girlfriend."

The words hit me like a wave, the reality of the moment settling in. Zac had just called me his girlfriend in front of the world.

The reporters buzzed with excitement, and another one quickly asked, "How did you two meet?"

Zac and I exchanged a quick look before I took a step closer to the microphone. "I wrote a play about Zac," I began, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. "I begged his agent to invite him to the premiere, and—well—Zac surprised me by showing up that night. We started talking after the show, and everything just kind of fell into place."

Zac nodded in agreement, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. "What she said," he added with a grin. "I had no idea she was coming tonight either. She completely surprised me by showing up at my door just before we left."

The reporters chuckled, clearly enchanted by our story. More questions followed—about the movie, about us, and about what it felt like to walk the red carpet together. Zac answered them with ease, his confidence making me feel safe in the spotlight.

Finally, as the last of the interviews wrapped up, Zac leaned in, whispering in my ear. "You're doing amazing." His words sent a rush of emotion through me, and as we pulled back just a few inches, our eyes locked in a moment of shared understanding. The world around us seemed to blur, the flashing lights and buzzing reporters fading into the background. All I could see was him.

Without a second thought, we both leaned in, our lips meeting in a kiss that felt like the perfect culmination of everything we had been through. The softness of the moment, the tenderness of his touch—it was like the rest of the world disappeared. I could feel the cameras capturing our intimate moment, but for the first time, I didn't care.

In that kiss, everything felt right. I was with the man I loved, and he loved me back. Nothing else mattered. I smiled once we pulled apart out of breath, feeling a warmth spread through me as we turned toward the entrance of the venue. Hand in hand, we stepped inside, leaving the bright lights of the red carpet behind, ready to face whatever came next together.