More than a Crush

Scene 13 : New Beginning and new friendships

A week after the meeting with Kenny, the morning sunlight peeked through the curtains as I stirred awake, feeling Zac's arms wrapped around me. His warmth was the perfect way to start the day. As I shifted slightly, he kissed my forehead softly, and I opened my eyes to meet his gaze.

"Good morning," he whispered with a smile.

"Morning," I replied, my voice still groggy from sleep.

Zac brushed a strand of hair from my face and asked, "How are you feeling about today? It's a big one."

I exhaled deeply. "I'm nervous," I admitted. "Meeting the entire cast and crew, going over the script... it's all so real now."

He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You'll be great. You've worked so hard on this, and you know the story inside out. Plus, some of the people in the cast are really great to work with. There's no need to be nervous—they'll love you."

I smiled, feeling a little more at ease. He always had a way of calming my nerves.

The morning passed quickly, and before we knew it, we were heading to the studio for the big meeting. My heart raced a bit faster as we arrived, but Zac's comforting presence kept me grounded.

As soon as we entered, Kenny Ortega greeted us with his usual warm smile. "There she is!" he said as he approached me with open arms. "Ready to meet the team?"

I nodded, trying to keep my nerves in check. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Kenny led us into the room where the rest of the cast and crew were gathered. He gestured for everyone's attention before speaking. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to someone very special. This is our director and screenwriter for the film, and she also happens to be Zac's girlfriend."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks as a ripple of applause went through the room. The cast, seated in chairs around a long table, smiled and greeted me warmly. I recognized a few familiar faces and exchanged friendly nods.

"Let's get to work!" Kenny said as we all settled down to begin the discussion.

We spent the next hour or so diving into the script, reviewing every detail, and getting feedback from the cast. It was an exhilarating process, but also a bit overwhelming. Still, the excitement in the room was contagious, and soon enough, I found my nerves fading away.

After the script review, Kenny stood up. "So, we've all agreed we'll start shooting in a month. Our first location will be in beautiful Honolulu, so everyone has plenty of time to get ready, pack, and make arrangements."

A buzz of excitement went around the room at the mention of the Hawaiian location, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought of spending time there with Zac.

Once the meeting wrapped up, Zac and I approached some familiar faces in the cast—Dave Franco, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Archie Renaux, Joey King, Keala Settle, and James Marsden. It felt surreal to be standing among such talented people, but they all welcomed me with open arms.

"We're all going out tonight to celebrate," Dave said with a grin. "You guys in?"

Zac glanced at me with a grin, already knowing my answer. "Definitely," he said, and we made plans to meet up later.

Back at home, we both changed into something more casual but stylish for the night out. Zac effortlessly pulled off a simple shirt and jeans, while I chose an outfit that was chic yet comfortable.

Later that evening, we arrived at the restaurant, and the energy was already buzzing. Zac was seated on my right, his hand gently resting on mine on the table, while Priyanka Chopra-Jonas sat on my left. James Marsden took the seat next to Zac, and everyone else filled in the seats across from us. The conversation flowed easily, laughter punctuating the night as we all celebrated the beginning of this exciting project.