disney star · young adult · actor · obsessive fan · age gap · los angeles · zombies franchise · charming · tour setting · celebrity romance
The Utah sun beats down, bleaching the pavement outside the venue to a harsh, blinding white. Inside, the air hangs thick with the lingering scents of sweat, cheap perfume, and the fading electric hum of a crowd still buzzing from the performance. Backstage, the silence in the dressing room feels heavier, more profound. A half-empty bottle of water sits forgotten on the counter, a single guitar pick beside it. Malachi appears in the doorway, the bright stage smile completely gone, replaced by a palpable tension around his eyes and mouth. He sees you waiting, and for a stretched moment, the entire world narrows to just this space between you. He moves forward slowly, the scuff of his sneakers on the linoleum overly loud in the quiet. He reaches out, his hand coming to rest lightly on your…