More than a Crush

Scene 11 : New beginnings and big decisions

Two days after the dinner with Zac's family, the bittersweet day finally arrived: it was time for me to return to France. The excitement of the last few weeks had been a whirlwind, but now, standing at the airport with Zac by my side, the reality of our time apart began to sink in. As we stood by the departure gate, Zac's arms were wrapped around me, and neither of us wanted to let go.

"Why does it feel like this gets harder every time?" I said softly, my face buried against his chest. His scent—comforting and familiar—made the thought of leaving even more difficult.

Zac kissed the top of my head gently. "Because it does. But it's worth it, right? We're worth it." He pulled back to look into my eyes, his thumb brushing a stray tear off my cheek.

I smiled up at him, trying to stay strong. "Of course, we are. I'll see you soon." I gave him one last kiss, my lips lingering on his. He held me close, his arms tightening for just a moment before he released me.

"I'll call you as soon as I land," I promised, taking a deep breath as I turned to walk away. I glanced back one last time, catching his eyes—those familiar, warm eyes that made leaving even harder. But I knew we'd make it through this, like we always did.

When my plane touched down in Paris, the familiar city lights greeted me with a sense of comfort, though my heart still felt heavy from the goodbye. I was exhausted from the long flight and the emotional departure, so I went straight back to my apartment. After a quick shower, I curled up in my bed for a nap. Despite my tiredness, my mind kept replaying the moments with Zac—his smile, his laugh, the way he held me.

A few hours later, feeling more refreshed, I headed to my parents' house for a family lunch. My three younger sisters were already there, and it surprised me how much they had grown. It was as though I had blinked, and suddenly they weren't little anymore. As I stepped into the dining room, my family greeted me with excitement.

"Nora! You're finally home!" My mother pulled me into a tight hug, and my sisters circled around, asking about my trip.

We sat down for lunch, and not long into the meal, my father, who was smiling knowingly, said, "We've heard some interesting things, Nora. Lena told us everything."

I blushed, realizing that Lena had filled them in on all the details of my relationship with Zac. "I guess she couldn't help herself," I said with a laugh.

"She's excited for you, and so are we," my mother said, beaming with pride. "You've come so far, Nora. We're all incredibly proud of what you've accomplished."

Their words touched my heart. It meant the world to me that my family was proud of the woman I was becoming, and of the work I had done. We continued eating, sharing stories and laughter, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the support surrounding me.

Later that afternoon, I was sitting on my couch, still reflecting on the day, when my phone rang. The screen flashed an unfamiliar U.S. number, and I hesitated before answering. "Hello?"

"Nora, hi! This is Kenny Ortega." My heart skipped a beat at the name, and I sat up straighter. "Zac told me about you, and I've got to say, I'm impressed. I've been following your work, and I'd love for you to write my next big movie. Not only that, but I think you'd be perfect for the leading role as well."

For a moment, I was speechless. This was Kenny Ortega—the legendary director behind some of the biggest films and shows of the past two decades. My mind raced, trying to process what he was saying. "Oh my gosh, Kenny, this is an incredible opportunity. I don't even know what to say. Thank you so much!" I stammered, my voice shaking with excitement.

"Take your time to think it over," he said kindly. "I don't want to rush you into a decision. Call me back in a few hours and let me know what you think."

After thanking him profusely, I hung up, my hands trembling with excitement and disbelief. The moment felt surreal. I had to talk to someone, and fast. I immediately texted Lena :

Me: Lena, you won't believe what just happened!!

Lena: What?? Tell me!

Me: I can't explain everything over text—it's HUGE. Meet me at our café ASAP, please!

Lena: OMG, I'm on my way! Be there in 10!

When I arrived at the café, Lena was already there, her face filled with curiosity. "What's going on?" she asked, not even bothering with pleasantries.

I sat down across from her, still buzzing from the phone call. "You are not going to believe what just happened," I began, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Kenny Ortega just called me. Kenny Ortega, Lena! He said Zac told him about me, and he wants me to write his next big movie and star in it!"

Lena's eyes widened in disbelief, and before I could finish, she let out a scream of joy, causing a few heads in the café to turn our way. "Are you serious? That's huge, Nora! I can't believe it! This is the break you've been waiting for!"

I nodded, still in shock. "And it's all because Zac told him about me. I can't believe he did that."

Lena grinned. "He really wants you to succeed, doesn't he? He's rooting for you in every possible way. You've got to call him and thank him!"

"I know, I know," I said, biting my lip. "But he's on set today. I don't want to interrupt him while he's working."

Lena waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, please. He'll want to hear from you. Call him!"

Relenting, I pulled out my phone and dialed Zac's number. He picked up after the first ring. "Hey, beautiful!" His voice came through warmly, filling me with instant comfort.

"Hey honey, I don't even know how to thank you enough for what you did," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "Kenny just called me, and... well, you didn't have to do that."

"I know I didn't have to," Zac replied, his voice soft and sincere. "But I wanted to. You deserve it. So, did you accept the offer?"

"Not yet," I admitted, "but I think I will. It's an amazing opportunity... and it's also a perfect excuse to be closer to you."

Zac chuckled. "That's definitely a perk."

We talked for a few more minutes before saying our goodbyes, and as I hung up, I turned to Lena. "I'm terrified, Lena. What if I can't do it? What if I let down Kenny, or Zac, or you, or my family?"

Lena reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Nora, you've been through so much already. You're stronger than you realize. You won't let anyone down—you've got this."

Later that evening, back in my apartment, I sat on my bed, phone in hand, heart racing. It was time to make the decision. Taking a deep breath, I called Kenny back.

"Kenny, I've thought it over," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'd be honored to accept the offer."

Kenny's excitement was palpable. "That's fantastic! I'm so glad to hear that. I'll schedule a meeting for us next week to discuss all the details, and we'll get things rolling. Oh, and one more thing—you'll need to move to the US. Don't worry about the plane ticket, though. I've got that covered."

As soon as I hung up, I couldn't contain my excitement. I screamed in joy, and Lena, who had been sitting nearby, joined in. We jumped around my apartment, celebrating the news, knowing that this was just the beginning of something incredible.