✓ | Rewrite The Stars ── Zac Efron

( 12 | christmas eve )

It was Christmas Eve, and June was excited to spend it with her new favorite person (next to Zendaya, of course), Zac.

They had other things they had to attend to with their families, but since Zac's fairly new house was super close to June's LA apartment, they had arranged to meet up in the evening after they'd finish hanging out with distant relatives - and June would pick Zac over the distant relatives any day of the week.

They were going to meet at a coffee shop they knew for sure was open, then continue to take a stroll and look at all the Christmas lights.

So currently, a leather clad Zac was sitting across from a girl wrapped in a scarf too big for her small body, and man, did she look beautiful.

"Please stop silently judging the scarf,"

"I'm silently judging you for deciding to wear it,"

"Efron, it's freezing outside,"

"It's Los Angeles,"

"Yeah, it never gets this cold here. My precious body can't take it!"

He chuckled as he watched her pick up her hot chocolate in her hands, her favorite golden ring made a low clanking noise when her middle finger hit the cup. She smiled at him, and it was like a scene in slow motion. The lights hanging behind her flickered, she batted her eyelashes, and quietly drank her drink.

He decided this was his happy place. And he didn't want to leave.

They continued conversations, she asked him about touring for his new movie, he asked her about filming. It was great. They took another hot chocolate to go and began walking outside, that huge scarf of June's almost suffocating her. They even FaceTimed Hugh to say hi and wish him a merry Christmas

"Hey, Hugh," Zac chuckled when Hugh's face came on the screen. "Efron!" he laughed. Then he narrowed his eyes. June laughed quietly. "June! Hello!" Hugh's smile took up the majority of the screen.

"Hi Hugh, Merry Christmas!" she cheerfully smiled, and Zac smiled at her. Hugh wiggled his eyebrows, knowing the thoughts running through Zac's head, but didn't say anything. June didn't even notice what was going on. The girl was looking across the street at an old couple walking their dog.  They chatted with Hugh for a while as they strolled down the street.

Zac was used to keeping the phone close to his face, but June was with him and she was so much shorter so she was constantly jumping, trying to in the boys' conversation. Zac laughed at her, then lowered the phone so they could both be in the frame. Eventually, they stopped walking and sat down on a bench, and stayed chatting with Hugh longer. They talked about the movie, which June loved, and so much more. When it came time to hang up, June got closer to the screen and blew a kiss to Hugh, Zac watching her with love in his eyes. Hugh again noticed this but didn't say anything.

"I can't believe you actually taught Hugh how to FaceTime," June smiled at the brunette boy sitting next to her. He laughed, looking down. "Yeah, it was really fun. He likes it," Zac smiled thinking about all the hours that went into technology lessons with his father figure.

June nodded. "I can really tell. He seems really happy and proud of your movie, and I heard about the golden globe nominations, I hope you win them all," she sincerely told him.

He just looked at her for a good minute before saying anything. "You know I think that's the first full sentence I've heard you say with real words with real meaning and didn't mix them up," he grinned. June rolled her eyes. "Please stop teasing me," she pleaded, taking one of the final sips of her hot chocolate. He stayed looking at her even when she looked away.

She was admiring the lights, the couples walking around in love, and here he was, admiring her, his love.

"You are absolutely beautiful,"

She scoffed. "I told you to stop teasing me,"

He blinked. She turned to face him when he didn't laugh. "I'm serious," he raised his eyebrows. "You shine more than the stars in the night sky,"

Her voice caught in her throat. She was waiting for him to give up the act, to point and laugh, to say it was all a prank. 'Ah, you should've seen your face June! It looked like you really believed in love for a second there!' she waited for him to say. But the moment never came. So she sat there still, trying to reel herself into reality; but reality was so good it seemed like a dream.

He couldn't take it any longer. He didn't try to act like he didn't want her. At first it was a casual friendship with a dash of friendly flirting, but then he started hanging out more and more with the Martin girl and he started falling more and more in love with her.

They had so much in common, and so much to discuss. It's like they were reading the same book and were currently on the same page.

So he leaned in, and she didn't stop him. Finally there was little to no space left between them,
and his hot breath made her nervous, sending goosebumps down her skin.

"You know I want you," he whispered. He waited for her to say no, to shake her head and push him away, but she didn't. Zac had waited for this moment for a while now, and it felt right. He was on fire, and he wanted to engulf her in his smoke and warmth.

She nodded slowly, and leaned in a little herself. Her eyes flickered shut as she felt his lips carve into hers.

It was perfect. Two souls connecting in the midst of the night, their bodies illuminated by the moonlight and soft golden bulbs from a ice cream store on the corner of the street adding a glow above them.

Until there was more than those lights. Flashing ones.

Coming from every which direction. June broke the kiss, blinking her eyes rapidly. Zac stared at her confused for a brief moment, until he noticed the lights too.

Paparazzi.

He stood up and turned to them, people sticking out of cars, people popping out of bushes, even people in the ice cream shop. He threw his hands up, clearly angry.

But Zac dealt with this often. He knew how to handle these situations. June didn't. So she panicked, picking the nearest exit, and ran.

She skipped to the sidewalk, since the bench was in the grass off the sidewalk. There was trash can near, so she skipped by it and dumped her now empty cocoa cup in it.

"June!" he called after her, but only more flashes occurred. People were now starting to gather and bunch up, taking notice of what was going on.

June wanted Zac, and it wasn't a secret she exactly tried to hide, but something in her told her she couldn't have him.

—
long chapter to make
up for not updating
ily guys thank you ❤️