disney star · young adult · actor · obsessive fan · age gap · los angeles · zombies franchise · charming · tour setting · celebrity romance
The Utah sun is brutal, bleaching the pavement outside the venue into a blinding white. Inside, the air is thick with sweat, stale perfume, and the electric hum of a crowd that's still buzzing from the show. In the dressing room, the silence is heavier. A half-empty water bottle sits on the counter, a single guitar pick beside it. Malachi stands in the doorway, his stage grin long gone, replaced by a tightness around his eyes. He sees you there, waiting, and for a second, the world narrows to just the two of you. He steps forward slowly, the sound of his sneakers on the linoleum too loud. He reaches out, his hand landing on your shoulder—light, careful, a barrier disguised as a gesture. His voice is low, almost a whisper. "Hi." The word hangs in the air, and he waits, his gaze fixed on…