More than a Crush

Scene 14 : Dreams and Destinies

The moment Zac and I touched down in Honolulu, the excitement was palpable. The warm tropical air enveloped us as we stepped off the plane, and I couldn't help but glance at Zac, who seemed equally thrilled. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, and I smiled, a mixture of excitement and nervousness building inside me. We were finally here—this was the beginning of something huge.

We arrived at our hotel shortly after, with a stunning ocean view that took my breath away. Honolulu was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Checking in was a breeze, and soon we were in our room, tossing our suitcases onto the bed as we flopped down, exhausted but content.

"I still can't believe we're finally here," I said, gazing out at the ocean stretching beyond our window.

Zac smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "You made this happen. I'm so proud of you."

The rest of the afternoon passed in blissful relaxation. We took our time settling in, enjoying the luxury of the hotel and the tranquility of the island. That night, we were scheduled to meet the rest of the cast and crew for a celebratory dinner before filming began.

The dinner was held at a beautiful outdoor venue, surrounded by palm trees, tiki torches, and the mesmerizing sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore. The atmosphere was festive yet relaxed, with everyone buzzing about the upcoming shoot. As Zac and I entered, we were greeted warmly by familiar and new faces alike. I found myself sitting next to Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Joey King, and Keala Settle, three women I admired deeply.

Partway through the meal, Kenny Ortega stood up, tapping his glass gently with a fork to get everyone's attention. The hum of conversation quieted as all eyes turned toward him. He smiled broadly at the crowd, his energy contagious.

"I want to take a moment to say how thrilled I am to be here with all of you," he began, his voice full of warmth. "This project is something truly special, and I couldn't ask for a better group of people to make it happen. But," he paused, his eyes shifting toward me, "there's one special person here who truly brought this project to life and made it possible. Without her vision, her passion, her brilliance, dedication, and incredible talent, we wouldn't be here today, in this beautiful paradise, about to create something extraordinary and magical."

He raised his glass in my direction, and I felt the room's attention turn to me. My face flushed with both pride and embarrassment as the cast and crew erupted into applause. Zac beamed beside me, squeezing my hand on the table.

Kenny smiled as the clapping died down. "So, here's to Nora—the woman who made it all happen, our director, screenwriter, and leading lady. We're lucky to have you."

I lifted my glass, feeling a surge of gratitude as I nodded toward Kenny. "Thank you," I murmured, overwhelmed but determined to do everyone justice.

As the dinner continued, I found myself in conversation with Priyanka, Joey, and Keala, who all expressed their excitement for the project.

"So, how does it feel?" Priyanka asked, her eyes sparkling. "Directing and acting in your first big movie—it's got to be intense and it's no small feat."

Joey nodded eagerly. "Yeah, you're pulling double duty here. No pressure, right?"

I let out a small laugh. "It's a lot, but it's what I've always dreamed of. I'm more nervous than anything, to be honest."

Keala gave me a reassuring smile. "Nervous means you care. We've got your back. You're not in this alone."

That evening was full of support, laughter, and shared anticipation. I felt the bond between us growing, and I knew we were about to embark on something unforgettable.

The next day, filming officially began. We shot the first scenes at a breathtaking beach location. The crew had already set up, the cameras were in place, and the energy on set was electric. It was surreal to see months of hard work and planning finally come to life. I moved between my roles as director and actor seamlessly—though it wasn't easy. Jumping from behind the camera to in front of it felt like a delicate dance, but I trusted myself and leaned on the expertise of Kenny and the crew.

Zac was by my side for most of the day, offering words of encouragement and sharing moments of humor to keep things light. It was a long day, but by the time the sun began to set, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. We had done it—we were making it happen.

As the day came to a close, Zac and I walked hand in hand back to our hotel, the stars twinkling above us and the sound of the ocean providing a calming backdrop.

"That was intense," I said, glancing up at him as we made our way through the hotel's lobby.

Zac chuckled softly. "You did amazing. Everyone could feel the energy today. First day of many."

Back in our room, we ordered room service and sat on the bed, savoring the quiet after a hectic day. After we ate, I stepped out onto the balcony to call Lena. The cool night breeze was refreshing, and I needed to share the day's success with her.

"Hey, how's it going, superstar?" she teased when she picked up.

I laughed. "It's going incredible! The first day went better than I could've hoped. The cast is amazing—we've got Priyanka, Joey King, Keala Settle, and a few others I can't name for confidentiality reasons, but trust me, they're incredible."

Lena squealed with excitement on the other end. "That's amazing! I'm so proud of you. This is really happening!"

We talked for a few more minutes before saying our goodbyes, and I headed back inside to find Zac stretched out on the bed, waiting for me.

I climbed in beside him, resting my head on his chest. After a few moments of comfortable silence, I turned to look at him. "Can I ask you something?"

He shifted slightly, his eyes meeting mine. "Of course."

I hesitated, then took a deep breath. "What do you think about... marriage? And having children?"

Zac's expression softened, and he propped himself up on one elbow so he could look at me more clearly. There was no hesitation in his voice as he answered. "I think about it all the time."

My heart skipped a beat, and he continued, his voice sincere and full of warmth. "Being with you makes everything feel right. I've never been this happy before. I want a future with you—marriage, kids, all of it. But only when we're both ready."

I smiled, feeling a wave of emotion wash over me. "Being with you feels like I've found the missing piece I didn't even know I needed to be completely happy."

He leaned down and kissed me gently. "I feel the same way. I know we'll get there, whenever the time is right."

We lay together in comfortable silence, wrapped in each other's arms. The future stretched out before us, full of possibility and hope. Whatever came next, we would face it together.

"I love you," Zac whispered softly, his lips brushing my forehead.

"I love you too," I whispered back, feeling more secure in our future than ever before.

With those words, we drifted off to sleep, our hearts full of love and our minds filled with dreams of what was yet to come.