More than a Crush

Scene 17 : A day of healing and family

The morning after the altercation with Peter, I woke up next to Zac, feeling emotionally drained but grateful for his warmth beside me. As sunlight filtered through the curtains, Zac stirred and gave me a gentle smile.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered, kissing my forehead.

"Morning," I replied, though my voice lacked its usual energy.

As we got out of bed and made our way to the kitchen for breakfast, the thoughts swirling in my head became heavier. Zac prepared some coffee, and we sat down at the table together. After a few minutes of silence, I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.

"Zac, I think I need a few days in Paris with my family," I confessed. "Just to recharge and clear my head. Everything with Peter... it's been overwhelming."

Zac's brows furrowed, concern clear on his face, but he nodded. "I understand. You've been through a lot. But if it's okay with you, I want to come with you. I want to meet your parents and be there for you."

His response caught me off guard, but the idea of having him there made my heart feel lighter. I smiled and nodded. "I'd really like that."

After breakfast, Zac mentioned, "We're invited to lunch at my mom's today. It'll be nice before we go to Paris tomorrow."

Lunch at Starla's house was filled with the sounds of Olivia and Henry's laughter. They were always so animated, their joy infectious, but I found myself quieter than usual. Even as I played along and smiled, my mind was still stuck on everything that had happened the day before.

After we finished eating, Olivia excitedly grabbed my hand. "Come see my room! I want to show you my new toys!" Henry followed behind her, eager to share in the fun.

Zac smiled at me. "Go ahead, I'll catch up later," he said as I left with the kids.

Downstairs, however, Starla noticed something was off with me. "Is she okay?" she asked Zac, her voice full of concern.

Zac took a deep breath and leaned forward, running a hand through his hair. "Mom, something happened yesterday when we got back to LA. We ran into Peter—her ex," he started, his voice low. "He attacked me, but more than that, he's the one who... he's the ex who raped her. He manipulated her for over a year, forced her to do everything he wanted, and broke her down. She's been holding it all in, and I just don't know how to help her heal. I feel powerless."

Starla's expression softened with understanding. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Zac," she said softly. "I had no idea she'd gone through something so awful. But listen to me, you are helping her just by being there. She loves you, I can see it in her eyes. She just needs time, and with you by her side, she'll get through this."

Zac nodded, though his voice was still tight with emotion. "I hope so, Mom. I don't ever want to lose her."

Starla gave him a reassuring smile, pulling him into a hug. "You won't lose her. And... if you're serious about spending your life with her, I know you'll help her find peace."

Zac pulled back slightly, hesitating before revealing, "I'm going to ask her father for his blessing when we're in Paris. I want to propose to her, but... I just want to make sure everything's right."

Starla's eyes lit up with pride. "That's wonderful, Zac. I know she'll say yes. You've been so good for each other."

Zac hugged his mom once more before excusing himself to check on me and the kids.

Upstairs, I was in the middle of a pillow fight with Olivia and Henry. Their laughter was contagious, and for a moment, I felt the tension melt away. Just as I swung a pillow, it accidentally flew across the room and hit Zac square in the face as he walked in.

"Oh no!" I gasped, laughing.

Zac grinned, pretending to be shocked. "You're going to regret that!" he said, joining in the fun. Olivia immediately teamed up with me, while Henry partnered with his big brother. We all continued the playful battle until we were out of breath, collapsing onto the bed in fits of laughter.

After a few minutes, I suggested, "Who wants to watch a movie with everyone downstairs?"

Olivia and Henry immediately jumped up, shouting, "Me!" in unison.

We gathered everyone in the living room, with Zac and I sitting close together on the couch. His arm was wrapped protectively around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the comfort of his presence. It was one of those moments when words weren't necessary, and the weight of the last few days seemed to ease slightly with him next to me.

As we settled in, Starla smiled warmly and turned to Olivia and Henry. "Alright, kiddos, what do you want to watch tonight?" she asked.

Olivia's eyes lit up with excitement. "High School Musical!" she exclaimed immediately. Henry nodded eagerly in agreement.

Zac chuckled softly and shook his head. "Still can't escape it, huh?"

I giggled at his reaction. "I guess it's a classic," I teased.

Starla started the movie, and as the familiar opening notes filled the room, Olivia snuggled up to my left side, and Henry cuddled up next to Starla. The room was bathed in the glow of the screen, filled with the warmth of family, and for the first time in days, I felt a sense of calm and belonging.

As the first musical number began, I glanced at Zac, catching the nostalgia in his eyes. It was surreal to be sitting there, watching High School Musical with him—the star of the movie itself. A smile crept across my face as I watched Olivia mouthing every word to the songs.

Without realizing it, I started to hum along, softly singing under my breath. It was instinctive, like muscle memory from the countless times I'd watched the film growing up. Zac noticed and smiled warmly, his hand giving mine a gentle squeeze.

During one of the songs, he quietly joined in with me, his voice blending perfectly with mine. I smiled up at him, feeling a mixture of love and disbelief that I was here, singing these songs with him by my side. Olivia noticed and giggled, clearly delighted that Zac was joining in on the fun.

At one point, he leaned down and whispered in my ear, "We should do more duets together."

I laughed lightly and whispered back, "We'd make a pretty good team."

As the movie continued, Zac and I would occasionally sing softly together, sharing little smiles and glances as we did. It felt like a private moment in the middle of the bustling family evening, just the two of us reliving something from our past in a way that felt new and intimate.

The warmth and joy of the evening made it easier to relax. Olivia rested her head against me, completely immersed in the movie, while Zac's arm remained protectively around my shoulders. His presence was comforting, and every now and then, he'd give my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Toward the end of the movie, Zac leaned down and whispered, "We'll be okay. I'm here with you, always."

His words sent a warmth through me, and I felt something shift inside. For the first time since the incident with Peter, I believed him. I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we'd face them together, hand in hand.

As the final credits rolled, Olivia and Henry were already dozing off, their small forms nestled against us and Starla. I smiled softly to myself, feeling a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in days. With Zac, I wasn't alone, and in that moment, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.