[Oct. 18th, 2009] When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Boy Again - Z's 22nd B-Day

[itsbbv]

Vanessa's boyfriend, Zac, is old.

He turned 22 today and really, by any means, twenty-two is not old, in fact, some would say he's still living on the best years of his life. According to Lily Allen, when you are twenty-two, your future looks bright. (It's when you're nearly thirty that you're life is over, but whatever, she didn't take Lily Allen

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[zac_wtefruon]

Zac is happy, ridiculously happy. It has almost nothing to do with the couple glasses of wine he's already had, and everything to do with the people surrounding him tonight. Every time he meets anyone's eyes - whether it's his mom or Lucas or Charlie who is still trying to teach everyone about the difference between cross checking and boarding - he can feel his smile get wider. He's been smiling all day and he thinks if he keeps it up much longer he might be at serious risk for cramps, but he'll take that chance, because he looks across the room and frankly he doesn't know how he could not smile.

There's not even anything that special about this birthday, about this dinner, nothing wild and extraordinary and all that interesting for anyone else anyway, but he's always liked that a lot. Vanessa was right - he doesn't like stuff all that much, all he really cares about is that they're here with him and there's delicious Japanese food and amazing wine and they're all laughing and sharing stories and it just feels so - right, so normal.

[itsbbv]

She looks over at Zac's dad and grins. His father is the best, that David Efron. She remembers meeting him for the first time, being so nervous her palms were sweaty and her heart was falling out of her chest. He merely smiled at her and began talking to her like they were old friends. She hasn't been nervous around him since.

"Really?" she says, raising her eyebrows, "I guess now would be a good time to tell you how everyone secretly told me they didn't want to come. That they pitied me for being stuck with you. Did you know I had to beg Lucas and Autumn to come? And Charlie? I had to pay Charlie, and let me tell you, he doesn't come cheap."

She giggles then and leans over, pressing her lips to his cheek in an almost sloppy kiss. It's the most affection she'll show in front of his parents-he's sometimes a little more lenient; they are his parents after all-and yeah, people have seen her straddling him on the beach, but you know, manners.

"Happy birthday, Zac," she says as she pulls back.

[zac_wtefruon]

He chuckles at the feel of her kiss, and the hint of eyeroll he thinks he just saw Charlie give them (whatever, he's 12, what does he know). He brings the hand that's still intertwined with hers to her leg as he meets her eyes, and right now he's very tempted to kiss her fully on the lips. He's not going to, because they are at the restaurant with friends and family, but he really wants to. She can probably tell.

"Thank you, babe," he says as he presses a light, chaste kiss to her cheek instead. "And thank you for bribing all of them, it means a lot. It's not easy having a family that can't stand the sight of you." And one only has to look at the proud smile on Starla's lips when she looks at her son to see how true that is. "Next time, just don't bother with Charlie, he's brat," he says, loud enough for Charlie to hear, which earns him a sticking tongue which he returns shamelessly.

Before he knows what's happened the conversation has turned against him and they're discussing how much he was a brat when he was 12. This always

[itsbbv]

"I don't know, Zac," she says, her voice all fake saccharine sweet. "I mean, you did just insult Charlie, whom I'm paying to be here. Kind of making things difficult for me, don't you think?"

She smirks and reaches over for her own wine glass, but takes a decidedly smaller sip. She likes this being legal in Canada thing. Makes life (and dinner) more interesting.

"Besides, pretty sure when my parents were up for the weekend, you enjoyed a thorough conversation about my life as a thirteen year old girl and the many, many stupid arguments, crushes and hairstyles I had." She leans back in her chair and shares a look with Autumn.

"And it's not everyday you get to hear awesome, awesome stories about your boyfriend when he was young before you knew him," she says, putting her glass down. "No, I think I condone their conversation topic."