"Who Better To Love" ch. 7
Who Better To Love: Chapter 7
In Your Arms is Where I Want to Be
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people in this story, as they are real people and that would just be wrong. But, I do really wish that I owned Zac and Nikki!
Rating: PG
Please see links to the first six chapters "under the cut"
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to everyone on the Zac/Nikki thread on Fan Forum. Congratulations on 300 threads, everyone!!!
For those of you who haven't read the previous chapters, please do!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
She made it. She made it through seeing him for the first time in weeks. For the first time since angry words and hurried sex against his car and choking tears and a good-bye that left her empty and full at the same time. She made it through seeing him again in front of everyone. She made it through the formal kiss on the cheek and hollow laughs and small-talk with averted eyes and hoping that no one knew and thinking that everyone did. She made it through the rehearsal and the memories of the first time he sang “Ladies Choice” to her and him touching her face and giving him those looks of want. And she would make it through it all again tomorrow in front of Oprah Winfrey and a live studio audience and millions of viewers around the world.
She made it through the phone call from Bryan, checking in on her, both concern and jealousy evident in his voice. They had been seeing each other regularly since she returned from Vegas. She told him very little about Zac, and maintained that they were just friends, but he wasn’t convinced.
She made it through watching “Say OK” for the hundredth time, the images and words burning in her mind, her resolve only strengthened with each viewing of the video that possessed her TV screen.
But, she didn’t know if she could make it through the next minute.
Zac had called her room. He had to see her, talk to her. He asked for one minute. She agreed. And now the knot in her stomach was twisting her inside-out and spinning her around the room and all she could see were streaks of gray and all she could feel were the bricks pressing down on her chest and all she could hear were the cries of NO MORE from inside of her. And she knew that it would never be just one minute.
And then he knocked on her door again. She stood and turned off the TV, blackening the images of him and her and the mouse in the corner of her screen, tossing the remote onto the armchair.
“One minute,” she said, abruptly, as she pulled the door open in her Tweety Bird pajamas. He was taken aback at her tone, and she quickly stammered out an apology. “I’m sorry. God, I didn’t mean to sound like such a bi-“
“It’s okay,” he interrupted. “I said one minute.” He looked into her eyes, searching for something that wasn’t there, something that was hidden beyond his reach and replaced by this unrecognizable resolve. Exhaling slowly, he continued. “I just needed to see you, see if you were alright after today.”
“I’m fine.” She almost convinced herself.
“Oh.” It was like he didn’t know what to say next. Never had he been at a loss for words with Nikki. But, he also had never felt like such a shit before, either. In the last three weeks he had done very little besides think about Nikki and Vanessa and himself. What he had done and what had gone wrong and what he really wanted and what he could do next, and he was no closer to being able to make a choice on his own than he was that night outside his Alero.
And so, her choice stood. For now.
“Nice pajamas. Very sexy!” he attempted to joke.
“I hope not.” The bite in her tone was sharp.
“I’ve been a jackass, Nik. An all-around jackass.” This got her attention. “I know I said one minute, but, can I come in? I’ll keep my distance, I promise.” She paused reflectively for a brief moment then pulled the door open wide and stepped back.
Zac looked around the room, identical to his own but three floors higher and on the view-side of the building. He stepped over to the window, looking out over the bright lights of Chicago, and got lost in it’s brilliance. His mind wandered to the views he had shared with her before. Toronto. That night she went to him on his balcony and he made up his mind. Las Vegas. That night he went to her at the window and she made up her mind. This time, Nikki stayed firmly planted by the door, waiting expectantly for him to speak from across the room.
“I can’t say that anything has changed, Nik,” he spoke, still facing the window. “I’ve been over it so many times and I haven’t gotten anywhere.” He turned to face Nikki, who was leaning against the door, her arms crossed. She looked down and closed her mouth tightly. He crossed his arms, mirroring her, and leaned against the wall. They stood like that for several minutes, unsure of what to do and what to say. Finally, Zac uncrossed his arms and took a few steps towards her. His arms hung loosely at his sides. Nikki uncrossed her arms and took a hesitant step towards him.
“Do you mind if I sit down?” he asked, as he gestured towards the armchair close to where she was now standing, and slowly continued to walk across the room. She shook her head, and walked towards the bed. Their arms grazed as they passed each other, both startled by the palpable electricity between them. Nikki took a deep breath as she focused her eyes on the edge of the bed, and moved to sit down. Zac ran his fingers through his hair and gripped the back of his neck before taking a seat in the armchair.
“So, the rehearsal went well, don’t you think?” he asked, after several minutes of mutual silence, where he crossed and uncrossed his legs. Nikki nodded, glancing at his probing eyes, before looking down again. “I think it’ll go really well tomorrow, don’t you?” he asked. She nodded again. “Dinner was good, huh?... Elijah’s parents are pretty cool…. And those stories Adam told us about Jennifer Lopez were pretty funny. I can’t believe the thing with the imported water!...” He kept asking questions and making inconsequential comments, all to no response from Nikki except a nodding or shaking head, a shrug of the shoulders, and brief seconds of eye contact. She was biting her lower lip, and gripping the comforter in tense fists.
“Dammit Nikki!” he shouted, standing up. “Say something, for Christ’s sake! Call me an asshole, or tell me to get lost, or that you hate my fucking guts! Something! Just, don’t patronize me like this! Don’t try to ignore me!”
If only he knew that it took every ounce of strength she had to keep herself upright, and that any word she would try to speak would come out choked and cracking.
She stared up at him with burning eyes and flared nostrils, her heart racing, trying desperately to swallow the lump in her throat.
Zac waited for her to say something, exasperation becoming evident on his face, then turned away from her and took a step towards the door. Finally, she shouted at him, “Yes! You are an asshole!” He turned back around. “And, sometimes, I so badly want to hate your guts, and tell you to get lost and leave me alone! But I can’t! I can’t because, I…” and she stopped herself from even thinking what was about to come into her mind. “Because, I’ve been just as much of an asshole.” He looked at her questioningly. “Whatever you did, I did, too. We should never have started anything. I just, I wanted so badly, I wanted-“ she stammered, the tears welling in her eyes. “I wanted what I couldn’t have. I can’t have someone like you. Maybe in the pretend world we made, but not in the real world. In the real world, only girls like her can have guys like you. I know that. I knew it before, but you made me think it could be different. But I was wrong. I accept that now. I didn’t want to before, but I do now. Not only how you look, but everything about you. You’re so smart and funny and kind and how you treat people, and how hard you work. It’s like you’re perfect. I let myself imagine what it would be like, having you in my life the way I wanted, and it was everything I ever dreamed of. But, it was just a dream. You could never be with me, because I’m not someone like her.” The words were pouring from her now. Zac’s eyes were opened wide and his heartbeat was quickening and his hands hung helplessly at his sides as he listened to her. “And you got caught up in that dream world, too. God knows why, but you did. You and her, you’re picture perfect. You’re everything that a fairytale should be. She’s everything boys want. I’ll never know what you see in me, or saw in me. I’ll never-“
“Nikki! Stop this! Fuck!” He knelt before her and took her hands. “It is real. The way I feel about you. What we have between us. Nikki, I lo-“
“NO! Don’t say that!” she interrupted. “God, don’t say that now, when you can’t do anything about it. I wanted to hear that for so long, but, right now, it’s the last thing I can take!” She was crying hard now, and pulled her hands away from his to cover her face.
“I do love you. I don’t think I ever said that to you before. I don’t think I said it to myself, either. But I do.” He looked up at her, tears running down his cheeks. “I love you, Nikki. I love your confidence, your energy, your courage. I love how talented you are, more than you even know you are. How you never think about giving up. I love how kind you are, and that you never judge anyone. I love how you make me laugh. I love your eyes when you look at me. I love-“ and his eyes scanned down her body, “every bit of you.”
He reached his arms around her shaking body and buried his head in her soft flannel-covered lap. He mumbled, more to himself than to her, “Do you think it’s possible to love two people at the same time? So much that it hurts? Because, I think I do. I can’t think of any other word for how I feel.”
Zac’s arms fell down along Nikki’s sides, to the bed. He twisted around and slumped back against the bed, stretching his legs out in front of him. Nikki slid down to the mattress and wrapped her arms around a pillow, crying deeply into it. Zac sat back against the bed for several minutes, the tears running down his cheeks, silently. It was like he was stunned by his own realization. Frozen. Numb, for a moment. Until the sound of Nikki’s crying snapped him back to reality and he rose from the floor to lay with her on the bed. He climbed behind her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, letting her cry in his arms. She let go of her grasp on the pillow and rolled over to face him, and he pulled her tighter into his arms. He rubbed her back and whispered, “Shhh,” until her crying softened. Until they fell asleep.
Hours later, Zac woke up with Nikki’s soft breath upon his chest. He pulled his arm out from under her and guided her back to the pillow. Rolling to the side of the bed, he stood up and walked to the closet. He pulled a blanket down from the shelf, and gently pulled it over her. He tucked it around her, and brushed a curl from her forehead. Standing back, he looked at her sleeping form before walking over to the window. He stood there with his arms crossed looking over the view for a long while, unable to leave her room. Nikki had become restless in her sleep, muttering softly, her legs and head moving slightly. Zac walked across to the arm chair he had sat in earlier, and collapsed into it. He sat back and watched her through his tired eyes.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the silver dollar she had given him on their last day together in Toronto. He leaned forward and stroked his thumb over the familiar metal. Her grandmother’s silver dollar that had protected her, that she promised would protect Zac. “I have this to protect me, Nikki. What do you have now?” Zac asked, to himself. “What do you have, besides a lot more courage than me?” He sat back in the armchair and watched her until he fell asleep.
Zac soon awoke when her muttering became louder and he could discern words like, “No!” and “Stop!” and “Can’t!” Through hazy eyes he saw her body thrashing around on the bed. The blanket was twisted around her kicking legs. He jumped up and ran across the room to her, sitting on the bed and pulling her up into his arms.
“Nikki! Baby, wake up! Nikki!” He held her and rocked her and ran his gentle hand along her hair until she woke up in his arms. Her eyes opened and looked up at him, confused and red.
“Zac?”
“Yeah, Baby, it’s me. I’m here!” His voice was tender, and full of concern. “You were having a nightmare. Shhh, it’s okay now. It’s all over.” He held her tightly, rocking her like a child in his arms. “Was it the same one again?”
She nodded her head, and buried her face against his neck. Nikki had woken up a few times before in Zac’s arms when she had had this nightmare. She had been having it for years, whenever she was especially tired or upset. It was never clear, but the feelings were terrifying. It was dark and cold and wet, and something was pushing her away, further into the dark. There were taunting voices, girls’ voices. In the dream, she couldn’t get away, she could only be pushed into the dark, where it was colder and where she would be alone. Her body felt like it was made of lead, so heavy, like an anchor keeping her in place. The vague grey figures pushed and pushed her into the dark, their voices becoming shriller and louder.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here. You aren’t alone.” He pulled the blanket up over her again. “It’s warm here, Nikki.” He reached over and turned on the small lamp beside the bed. “It isn’t dark here, honey. They can’t push you anymore because you got away. You got away from them.” Zac held her tightly and rocked her still, running his hands up and down her back. He felt the shaking subside, her breathing slow, and he began to relax himself.
When Nikki came back from the bathroom a few minutes later, she saw that Zac had pulled the covers down on the bed. There was something in his eyes that made her feel better. Zac walked to meet her and led her to the bed. He tucked her in and sat on the bed beside her. Leaning down to kiss her cheek, he whispered, “I’m staying, Nik. I’ll sleep in the chair, but I’m not leaving you tonight.”
“You don’t have to. I’m fine now. You need to get some sleep.”
“Nikki, I’m not going.” They both knew now that, whatever had happened between them, whatever might happen in the future, they loved each other and they were friends, and that would never change.
Zac rose and started walking towards the chair.
“Zac?”
“Yes?” he turned towards her.
“Thank-you.”
He smiled sweetly at her, and winked, before taking another step.
“Zac?”
He stopped and turned around again.
“Don’t sleep in the chair. You can sleep here.” Her voice was raspy and tired. “I promise I’ll keep my distance,” she smirked, before yawning. He nodded, and walked the few steps back to the bed. He pulled his shoes off and climbed in from the other side. Nikki rolled into his arms, barely nestling her head into his chest before they had both fallen asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A cell phone rang from the bedside table, and Zac, half-asleep, reached out instinctively to open it. Nikki took it from him just before he said “Hello.”
“Hi, Elijah,” she mumbled in her sleepy voice.
“Hey, Nikki! Sorry, did I wake you up?”
“Mmm… No… Yes…” she laughed.
“Sorry! Um, I just called to see if you could lend me some toothpaste.”
“Toothpaste? Yeah, let me get up, and I’ll bring it down to you.”
Nikki rolled out of bed and yawned her way into the bathroom. After brushing her teeth, she grabbed the tube and her key card and walked towards the door. She looked back at Zac, who had fallen back asleep, and whispered, “Good-bye,” before heading into the hallway.
“Good-bye,” Zac whispered back, after she closed the door.
“Thanks, Nikki. You’re a life saver!”
“No problem,” she replied, handing him the toothpaste.
“Nice pajamas! Very sexy!” he laughed.
“You’re the second person who’s said that-“ she replied, without thinking.
“So, um, have you talked to Zac this morning?” Nikki turned a deeper red, and shook her head. “Because I called him first, and knocked on his door, but he didn’t answer. You wouldn’t know where he is, do you?”
“No! Why would you think that? How would I know?”
“Nikki, is something going on with-“
“No!”
“Nikki-“ Elijah took her wrist.
“Elijah, nothing. Okay? Please?” He dropped her wrist and watched her run down the hall. He went into his bathroom and placed the tube of Colgate on the counter beside his own tube of Crest. He sighed deeply, shook his head, and pulled off his robe before stepping into the shower.
When Nikki got back to her room, Zac was gone.
She saw him across the studio later that morning. He was in a dark suit, his hair slicked back like Link. Her eyes caught his, and he smiled.
She walked towards him and held out her hand to shake his. “Hi, I’m Nikki Blonsky.”
Smiling, Zac replied, “Hi, I’m Zac Efron. Nice to meet you.”
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“Very beautiful,” he answered, looking into her eyes. He wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a light squeeze. It was a new day. It was a new day, and she knew that he was her friend. And that was enough. For now.
In Your Arms is Where I Want to Be
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people in this story, as they are real people and that would just be wrong. But, I do really wish that I owned Zac and Nikki!
Rating: PG
Please see links to the first six chapters "under the cut"
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to everyone on the Zac/Nikki thread on Fan Forum. Congratulations on 300 threads, everyone!!!
For those of you who haven't read the previous chapters, please do!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
She made it. She made it through seeing him for the first time in weeks. For the first time since angry words and hurried sex against his car and choking tears and a good-bye that left her empty and full at the same time. She made it through seeing him again in front of everyone. She made it through the formal kiss on the cheek and hollow laughs and small-talk with averted eyes and hoping that no one knew and thinking that everyone did. She made it through the rehearsal and the memories of the first time he sang “Ladies Choice” to her and him touching her face and giving him those looks of want. And she would make it through it all again tomorrow in front of Oprah Winfrey and a live studio audience and millions of viewers around the world.
She made it through the phone call from Bryan, checking in on her, both concern and jealousy evident in his voice. They had been seeing each other regularly since she returned from Vegas. She told him very little about Zac, and maintained that they were just friends, but he wasn’t convinced.
She made it through watching “Say OK” for the hundredth time, the images and words burning in her mind, her resolve only strengthened with each viewing of the video that possessed her TV screen.
But, she didn’t know if she could make it through the next minute.
Zac had called her room. He had to see her, talk to her. He asked for one minute. She agreed. And now the knot in her stomach was twisting her inside-out and spinning her around the room and all she could see were streaks of gray and all she could feel were the bricks pressing down on her chest and all she could hear were the cries of NO MORE from inside of her. And she knew that it would never be just one minute.
And then he knocked on her door again. She stood and turned off the TV, blackening the images of him and her and the mouse in the corner of her screen, tossing the remote onto the armchair.
“One minute,” she said, abruptly, as she pulled the door open in her Tweety Bird pajamas. He was taken aback at her tone, and she quickly stammered out an apology. “I’m sorry. God, I didn’t mean to sound like such a bi-“
“It’s okay,” he interrupted. “I said one minute.” He looked into her eyes, searching for something that wasn’t there, something that was hidden beyond his reach and replaced by this unrecognizable resolve. Exhaling slowly, he continued. “I just needed to see you, see if you were alright after today.”
“I’m fine.” She almost convinced herself.
“Oh.” It was like he didn’t know what to say next. Never had he been at a loss for words with Nikki. But, he also had never felt like such a shit before, either. In the last three weeks he had done very little besides think about Nikki and Vanessa and himself. What he had done and what had gone wrong and what he really wanted and what he could do next, and he was no closer to being able to make a choice on his own than he was that night outside his Alero.
And so, her choice stood. For now.
“Nice pajamas. Very sexy!” he attempted to joke.
“I hope not.” The bite in her tone was sharp.
“I’ve been a jackass, Nik. An all-around jackass.” This got her attention. “I know I said one minute, but, can I come in? I’ll keep my distance, I promise.” She paused reflectively for a brief moment then pulled the door open wide and stepped back.
Zac looked around the room, identical to his own but three floors higher and on the view-side of the building. He stepped over to the window, looking out over the bright lights of Chicago, and got lost in it’s brilliance. His mind wandered to the views he had shared with her before. Toronto. That night she went to him on his balcony and he made up his mind. Las Vegas. That night he went to her at the window and she made up her mind. This time, Nikki stayed firmly planted by the door, waiting expectantly for him to speak from across the room.
“I can’t say that anything has changed, Nik,” he spoke, still facing the window. “I’ve been over it so many times and I haven’t gotten anywhere.” He turned to face Nikki, who was leaning against the door, her arms crossed. She looked down and closed her mouth tightly. He crossed his arms, mirroring her, and leaned against the wall. They stood like that for several minutes, unsure of what to do and what to say. Finally, Zac uncrossed his arms and took a few steps towards her. His arms hung loosely at his sides. Nikki uncrossed her arms and took a hesitant step towards him.
“Do you mind if I sit down?” he asked, as he gestured towards the armchair close to where she was now standing, and slowly continued to walk across the room. She shook her head, and walked towards the bed. Their arms grazed as they passed each other, both startled by the palpable electricity between them. Nikki took a deep breath as she focused her eyes on the edge of the bed, and moved to sit down. Zac ran his fingers through his hair and gripped the back of his neck before taking a seat in the armchair.
“So, the rehearsal went well, don’t you think?” he asked, after several minutes of mutual silence, where he crossed and uncrossed his legs. Nikki nodded, glancing at his probing eyes, before looking down again. “I think it’ll go really well tomorrow, don’t you?” he asked. She nodded again. “Dinner was good, huh?... Elijah’s parents are pretty cool…. And those stories Adam told us about Jennifer Lopez were pretty funny. I can’t believe the thing with the imported water!...” He kept asking questions and making inconsequential comments, all to no response from Nikki except a nodding or shaking head, a shrug of the shoulders, and brief seconds of eye contact. She was biting her lower lip, and gripping the comforter in tense fists.
“Dammit Nikki!” he shouted, standing up. “Say something, for Christ’s sake! Call me an asshole, or tell me to get lost, or that you hate my fucking guts! Something! Just, don’t patronize me like this! Don’t try to ignore me!”
If only he knew that it took every ounce of strength she had to keep herself upright, and that any word she would try to speak would come out choked and cracking.
She stared up at him with burning eyes and flared nostrils, her heart racing, trying desperately to swallow the lump in her throat.
Zac waited for her to say something, exasperation becoming evident on his face, then turned away from her and took a step towards the door. Finally, she shouted at him, “Yes! You are an asshole!” He turned back around. “And, sometimes, I so badly want to hate your guts, and tell you to get lost and leave me alone! But I can’t! I can’t because, I…” and she stopped herself from even thinking what was about to come into her mind. “Because, I’ve been just as much of an asshole.” He looked at her questioningly. “Whatever you did, I did, too. We should never have started anything. I just, I wanted so badly, I wanted-“ she stammered, the tears welling in her eyes. “I wanted what I couldn’t have. I can’t have someone like you. Maybe in the pretend world we made, but not in the real world. In the real world, only girls like her can have guys like you. I know that. I knew it before, but you made me think it could be different. But I was wrong. I accept that now. I didn’t want to before, but I do now. Not only how you look, but everything about you. You’re so smart and funny and kind and how you treat people, and how hard you work. It’s like you’re perfect. I let myself imagine what it would be like, having you in my life the way I wanted, and it was everything I ever dreamed of. But, it was just a dream. You could never be with me, because I’m not someone like her.” The words were pouring from her now. Zac’s eyes were opened wide and his heartbeat was quickening and his hands hung helplessly at his sides as he listened to her. “And you got caught up in that dream world, too. God knows why, but you did. You and her, you’re picture perfect. You’re everything that a fairytale should be. She’s everything boys want. I’ll never know what you see in me, or saw in me. I’ll never-“
“Nikki! Stop this! Fuck!” He knelt before her and took her hands. “It is real. The way I feel about you. What we have between us. Nikki, I lo-“
“NO! Don’t say that!” she interrupted. “God, don’t say that now, when you can’t do anything about it. I wanted to hear that for so long, but, right now, it’s the last thing I can take!” She was crying hard now, and pulled her hands away from his to cover her face.
“I do love you. I don’t think I ever said that to you before. I don’t think I said it to myself, either. But I do.” He looked up at her, tears running down his cheeks. “I love you, Nikki. I love your confidence, your energy, your courage. I love how talented you are, more than you even know you are. How you never think about giving up. I love how kind you are, and that you never judge anyone. I love how you make me laugh. I love your eyes when you look at me. I love-“ and his eyes scanned down her body, “every bit of you.”
He reached his arms around her shaking body and buried his head in her soft flannel-covered lap. He mumbled, more to himself than to her, “Do you think it’s possible to love two people at the same time? So much that it hurts? Because, I think I do. I can’t think of any other word for how I feel.”
Zac’s arms fell down along Nikki’s sides, to the bed. He twisted around and slumped back against the bed, stretching his legs out in front of him. Nikki slid down to the mattress and wrapped her arms around a pillow, crying deeply into it. Zac sat back against the bed for several minutes, the tears running down his cheeks, silently. It was like he was stunned by his own realization. Frozen. Numb, for a moment. Until the sound of Nikki’s crying snapped him back to reality and he rose from the floor to lay with her on the bed. He climbed behind her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, letting her cry in his arms. She let go of her grasp on the pillow and rolled over to face him, and he pulled her tighter into his arms. He rubbed her back and whispered, “Shhh,” until her crying softened. Until they fell asleep.
Hours later, Zac woke up with Nikki’s soft breath upon his chest. He pulled his arm out from under her and guided her back to the pillow. Rolling to the side of the bed, he stood up and walked to the closet. He pulled a blanket down from the shelf, and gently pulled it over her. He tucked it around her, and brushed a curl from her forehead. Standing back, he looked at her sleeping form before walking over to the window. He stood there with his arms crossed looking over the view for a long while, unable to leave her room. Nikki had become restless in her sleep, muttering softly, her legs and head moving slightly. Zac walked across to the arm chair he had sat in earlier, and collapsed into it. He sat back and watched her through his tired eyes.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the silver dollar she had given him on their last day together in Toronto. He leaned forward and stroked his thumb over the familiar metal. Her grandmother’s silver dollar that had protected her, that she promised would protect Zac. “I have this to protect me, Nikki. What do you have now?” Zac asked, to himself. “What do you have, besides a lot more courage than me?” He sat back in the armchair and watched her until he fell asleep.
Zac soon awoke when her muttering became louder and he could discern words like, “No!” and “Stop!” and “Can’t!” Through hazy eyes he saw her body thrashing around on the bed. The blanket was twisted around her kicking legs. He jumped up and ran across the room to her, sitting on the bed and pulling her up into his arms.
“Nikki! Baby, wake up! Nikki!” He held her and rocked her and ran his gentle hand along her hair until she woke up in his arms. Her eyes opened and looked up at him, confused and red.
“Zac?”
“Yeah, Baby, it’s me. I’m here!” His voice was tender, and full of concern. “You were having a nightmare. Shhh, it’s okay now. It’s all over.” He held her tightly, rocking her like a child in his arms. “Was it the same one again?”
She nodded her head, and buried her face against his neck. Nikki had woken up a few times before in Zac’s arms when she had had this nightmare. She had been having it for years, whenever she was especially tired or upset. It was never clear, but the feelings were terrifying. It was dark and cold and wet, and something was pushing her away, further into the dark. There were taunting voices, girls’ voices. In the dream, she couldn’t get away, she could only be pushed into the dark, where it was colder and where she would be alone. Her body felt like it was made of lead, so heavy, like an anchor keeping her in place. The vague grey figures pushed and pushed her into the dark, their voices becoming shriller and louder.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here. You aren’t alone.” He pulled the blanket up over her again. “It’s warm here, Nikki.” He reached over and turned on the small lamp beside the bed. “It isn’t dark here, honey. They can’t push you anymore because you got away. You got away from them.” Zac held her tightly and rocked her still, running his hands up and down her back. He felt the shaking subside, her breathing slow, and he began to relax himself.
When Nikki came back from the bathroom a few minutes later, she saw that Zac had pulled the covers down on the bed. There was something in his eyes that made her feel better. Zac walked to meet her and led her to the bed. He tucked her in and sat on the bed beside her. Leaning down to kiss her cheek, he whispered, “I’m staying, Nik. I’ll sleep in the chair, but I’m not leaving you tonight.”
“You don’t have to. I’m fine now. You need to get some sleep.”
“Nikki, I’m not going.” They both knew now that, whatever had happened between them, whatever might happen in the future, they loved each other and they were friends, and that would never change.
Zac rose and started walking towards the chair.
“Zac?”
“Yes?” he turned towards her.
“Thank-you.”
He smiled sweetly at her, and winked, before taking another step.
“Zac?”
He stopped and turned around again.
“Don’t sleep in the chair. You can sleep here.” Her voice was raspy and tired. “I promise I’ll keep my distance,” she smirked, before yawning. He nodded, and walked the few steps back to the bed. He pulled his shoes off and climbed in from the other side. Nikki rolled into his arms, barely nestling her head into his chest before they had both fallen asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A cell phone rang from the bedside table, and Zac, half-asleep, reached out instinctively to open it. Nikki took it from him just before he said “Hello.”
“Hi, Elijah,” she mumbled in her sleepy voice.
“Hey, Nikki! Sorry, did I wake you up?”
“Mmm… No… Yes…” she laughed.
“Sorry! Um, I just called to see if you could lend me some toothpaste.”
“Toothpaste? Yeah, let me get up, and I’ll bring it down to you.”
Nikki rolled out of bed and yawned her way into the bathroom. After brushing her teeth, she grabbed the tube and her key card and walked towards the door. She looked back at Zac, who had fallen back asleep, and whispered, “Good-bye,” before heading into the hallway.
“Good-bye,” Zac whispered back, after she closed the door.
“Thanks, Nikki. You’re a life saver!”
“No problem,” she replied, handing him the toothpaste.
“Nice pajamas! Very sexy!” he laughed.
“You’re the second person who’s said that-“ she replied, without thinking.
“So, um, have you talked to Zac this morning?” Nikki turned a deeper red, and shook her head. “Because I called him first, and knocked on his door, but he didn’t answer. You wouldn’t know where he is, do you?”
“No! Why would you think that? How would I know?”
“Nikki, is something going on with-“
“No!”
“Nikki-“ Elijah took her wrist.
“Elijah, nothing. Okay? Please?” He dropped her wrist and watched her run down the hall. He went into his bathroom and placed the tube of Colgate on the counter beside his own tube of Crest. He sighed deeply, shook his head, and pulled off his robe before stepping into the shower.
When Nikki got back to her room, Zac was gone.
She saw him across the studio later that morning. He was in a dark suit, his hair slicked back like Link. Her eyes caught his, and he smiled.
She walked towards him and held out her hand to shake his. “Hi, I’m Nikki Blonsky.”
Smiling, Zac replied, “Hi, I’m Zac Efron. Nice to meet you.”
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“Very beautiful,” he answered, looking into her eyes. He wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a light squeeze. It was a new day. It was a new day, and she knew that he was her friend. And that was enough. For now.