More than a Crush

Scene 12 : A New Beginning

The moment had finally arrived. I stood in front of Zac's door, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. In my hands were two suitcases—the physical representation of the decision I had made. After weeks of long-distance, I wanted to surprise him, to show him how serious I was about our future. I took a deep breath and knocked.

When Zac opened the door, his eyes went wide with disbelief. "Nora?" He looked from me to the suitcases in my hands, trying to process what was happening.

I smiled softly, stepping closer. "Surprise! I'm moving in."

Zac's face broke into a radiant smile as he pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in a hug that said everything words couldn't. "You're really here? For good?"

"For good," I nodded, laughing as his joy became contagious.

He stepped back slightly to look at me, shaking his head as if still in awe. "I can't believe it. You don't know how happy this makes me."

We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms for a long moment, before he took one of my suitcases and led me inside. It felt surreal knowing that this place—his home—was now our home.

A few days later, I found myself walking into an office I had only ever dreamed of entering—Kenny Ortega's office. It was the first time I was meeting him face to face, and despite everything that had happened recently, I still couldn't quite believe it. Kenny Ortega, the legendary director and choreographer, wanted to work with me.

When I entered the room, Kenny stood to greet me, his energy warm and welcoming. He was just as I had imagined—kind, full of life, and immediately reassuring. "Nora, it's so great to finally meet you in person," he said, shaking my hand. "Zac's told me a lot about you."

"It's such an honor to meet you," I replied, feeling a mixture of awe and excitement. "I've admired your work for as long as I can remember."

Kenny smiled, motioning for me to sit down. "Well, the admiration is mutual. Zac showed me your play, and I have to say, I was really impressed. You captured the essence of High School Musical in a way that felt fresh but still respectful to the original."

Hearing those words from the man behind the franchise was surreal. "Thank you so much. That means the world to me. Actually... I couldn't help myself but write a script based on your previous work. I've always been inspired by how you bring emotion to the screen, so I thought, 'Why not create something in that spirit?'"

Kenny's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? I'd love to see that."

I handed him the draft I'd been working on for the past week, trying to stay calm as he flipped through the pages. He read in silence for a few moments, nodding here and there, his expression thoughtful. When he finally looked up, he smiled. "This is excellent, Nora. You've captured a lot of heart in these scenes. It's clear you understand the storytelling that connects with an audience."

I exhaled in relief. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you. I tried to take inspiration from your previous movies and shows, but also to make it something new."

He nodded. "I can see that. The emotional depth, the character arcs—everything feels very authentic. I think this is something we can really build on."

We dove into a detailed discussion about the characters and story, refining some elements and talking about the vision for the film. The more we talked, the more I realized just how collaborative and brilliant Kenny was. He had a way of seeing right to the heart of a project, pulling out its strengths and guiding it in the right direction.

As our conversation shifted toward casting, I took a deep breath, knowing this was the moment I needed to share my thoughts. "There's one more thing I wanted to mention," I began. "For my character's love interest, I was thinking of Zac for the role. Not just because of our personal connection, but because I think it would amplify our chemistry on screen. It would show the depth of our real connection to the audience."

Kenny smiled, looking intrigued. "That's an interesting idea. You're saying that your real-life bond would translate well to the characters?"

I nodded, feeling more confident. "Exactly. Zac and I already have a strong emotional connection, and I think it would enhance the story. The audience would feel the authenticity in our performances."

Kenny leaned back, considering my words. "I think you're onto something. If Zac's interested, I don't see why not. That kind of genuine chemistry can be rare, and it could really make the film stand out."

I couldn't help but smile, feeling a wave of excitement. The meeting ended on a high note, with Kenny giving me feedback on the script and setting up a timeline for the next steps. As I left his office, I felt lighter, like everything was falling into place.

When I returned home, Zac was waiting for me, his face lighting up the moment I walked in. "How did it go?" he asked, pulling me into a hug.

"It was amazing," I said, grinning up at him. "Kenny is incredible, and we went through so many ideas. He's a creative genius! He understood the vision immediately, and working with him was so inspiring."

Zac smiled, a glint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yeah, I know the feeling. Kenny has this way of pulling the best out of people. I'll be forever grateful to him for giving me my start. And now, he's working with you. I know you're going to do great things, just like he does."

I felt my heart swell at Zac's words. The way he believed in me made everything feel even more possible. "Thank you," I whispered, hugging him tighter. "I hope so. And... I may have pitched you as my love interest in the movie."

Zac raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "You did, huh? And what did he say?"

"He's all for it," I replied, unable to contain my excitement. "He thinks our connection will translate well on screen."

Zac chuckled, pulling me closer. "You just want an excuse to kiss me on camera."

I laughed, swatting him lightly. "Maybe, but it's also because I believe in us. I believe we can make something incredible together."

His playful expression softened, and he kissed my forehead. "I believe that too. I'm so proud of you, Nora. You're going to do amazing things."

That night, we sat down for dinner, sharing stories and laughing, our hands occasionally brushing as we reached for the same dish. When the meal was over and we were getting ready for bed, Zac pulled me into his arms, whispering, "I love you," as we drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the warmth of our new beginning.

Kenny Ortega is Kenny Ortega