There are less than four days until Gypsy gets onstage with 5sos and performs at MGM Grand.

"Heard someone could use some sugar in her life."

Gypsy snorts, sliding onto the stool in the kitchen. "Where'd you hear that?"

Katy shrugs. "A little birdie told me," she replies with a wink. "Whose name may and or may not rhyme with 'Red.'"

Gypsy laughs despite herself. It's nearly 11:30 that night. Gypsy has just raced from band practice to come home.

"Want me to walk you home?" Asked Luke.

"No," she replied. "Nope, no, nope. I'm fine," she'd said. "Really," and she forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I can make it on my own. I've done it before, right?"

Despite the good advice she'd received from Justin and Matty and everyone else who'd offered their two cents toward her relationships, she was far from ready to confront the elephant in the room.

"I think I should just be single," she admits to Katy as the older woman digs around and finds pots and pans in the kitchen.

"Hm," she replies, before holding up baking sheets and muffin pans. "Cookies or cupcakes?"

"Cupcakes."

"Sweet," Katy nods. "And yeah," she snorts. "Good luck with that."

"What?" Gypsy exclaims. "I really think that's a good idea, you know? Like, just be by myself for a while. That way, everyone's happy, right? No one's got to choose and no one gets hurt."

Katy shrugs. "And that still doesn't sound like a good idea, but," she shrugs, "that's honestly none of my business."

"C'mon, Katy! I'm just being practical."

"Should I make some tea for us both to sip, or just me?"

Gypsy sighs, flicking flour. "You're being so extra."

Katy shrugs, singing over her shoulder, "Sounds like someone is afraid..."

"Afraid?!" Gypsy laughs. "What am I afraid of?"

"You can't be afraid of losing one of them," she says. "If they hate you after you've chosen, then they hate you and you move on," she shrugs. "That's life, and if someone's going to be spiteful after all this, then you shouldn't be giving them the time of day, anyway."

She pauses. "Chocolate, or vanilla?"

"Chocolate," Gypsy mutters.

All of this good advice is making her sick.

There are less than three days until Gypsy gets onstage with 5sos and performs at MGM Grand.

"Gypsy, cher...What happened?"

Gypsy has two hours before she's got to head out and practice with the boys.

She winces, pushing herself from bed as her grandmother holds up the ruined cashmere sweater they'd bought together in The Venetian.

Sissie holds out the creme fabric, eyebrows pinched together. "What did you do, Gyps?"

"Grandma, it's Luke's fault," she replies. "Blame him."

"Luke?" She places her hands on her hips. "Not my Luke."

"He pushed me into the pool a few days ago," she says. "Sweater included."

"Luke," she mutters, tossing the sweater upon Gypsy's desk and dumping the laundry she's just washed and dried upon her bed. "You know, he's lucky he's my favorite or else," and she wags a finger towards her granddaughter. "And you best tell him I said that, too."

Gypsy laughs. "I will, Grandma," and she rolls her eyes. "And really? Who isn't one of your favorites?"

"Your favorites are mine, cher," Sissie replies, and with a final grimace towards the sweater, she sighs, "And right now, our favorite owes me some money."

Gypsy laughs, crawling on top of the bed to help her grandmother fold the laundry.

She picks at one of her favorite band tees and realizes it's actually Calum's when...

"So, your mom called."

Gypsy looks up.

"That's random, Grandma."

Sissie flicks her with another shirt. "Thought you should know, Gyps."

"Oh yeah?"

Sissie nods, as she continues to fold the clothes on Gypsy's bed.

Gypsy looks up. "What? What'd she say?"

"She'll be home a little later than she expected," Sissie says. "Something about her trip being prolonged, or something."

Gypsy rolls her eyes. "Great."

"She'll be home before your first day of school," Sissie adds. "So, that's good," she smiles. "Right?"

"Yeah," Gypsy nods, "it is great, isn't it? I just love how she told you, too, and didn't, oh, I dunno," she shrugs, "think it was important to let her daughter know since she only has one. Yeah," she shoots a thumbs up. "Real great."

"I know, cher," Sissie frowns. "But, she didn't want to make this harder on you than - "

"What? It already is?" Gypsy nods, snatching at clothes to fold them. "Sounds just like Mom."

There are less than two days until Gypsy gets onstage with 5sos and performs at MGM Grand.

"Are you ready? Are. You. Readay?"

"Stop, Harry," Gypsy laughs. "God, you're embarrassing."

"What?" He grins. "I'm excited. I'm so excited for you," and he grins cheekily as he leans over the desk at Charming and watches Gypsy pretend to fill out applications. "I'll be there, front row."

"Front row? Sounds like you really are excited."

He grins. "So, I was thinking..."

Gypsy pauses, placing her chin atop her wrists. "You were thinking..."

"That we should do something after you win, yeah? Have a celebration or something, wherever you'd like."

"You mean, if I win?"

"Oh, c'mon, Gypsy," he says with rolled eyes. "You do know that there's no way you won't win, right?"

"You do know that there are plenty of other people who can sing, right?" She grins. "And there are people who've been seriouslysinging way longer than me: the girl who possibly might hum to songs in the shower."

Harry laughs throatily, his dimple deepening as he bites on the inside of his lip. "You do know that we're celebrating after you win, right?"

She sighs. "And what if I don't?"

"You do know that there's going to be a celebration anyway, right?"

Gypsy grins, rolling her eyes. "At least now I've got something to look forward to."

"You're gonna love it, Gyps."

"You think?"

"I'm pretty positive, in fact."

"Then, I will," she beams. "I can't wait to see what you've planned, Harry."

Harry.

Harry who loves her.

And she likes him.

She likes him so much.

But, love?

It scares her because as much as she wants to be with him, Matty's question just a few nights ago in Overhead continues to ring in her head.

Can you say that you love him without any hesitation, eh? Can you say it?

No.

Could one day she say it? Yes.

Absolutely, yes.

One day Gypsy could see herself telling Harry that she is as in love with him as he is her, and it hurts.

It hurts, because for Harry, the answer right now, is 'no.'

And it sucks, because for Calum, the answer right now, is 'yes.'

After nearly four years of friendship and two failed attempts at a relationship, she still loves him.

God, she loves him like, a lot.

It really fucking sucks.

She loves Calum, she does. With everything in her, she knows that for the rest of her life, she'll probably always love him. She loves him so much that it hurts to think that they tried not once, but twice and they couldn't last.

And that's why, deep down she knows that she can't be with him.

So, what does that mean? is the question that's wracking her brain. Does she choose the boy she could have a future with, or the one with the past she'll never seem to be able to forget?

Then, there's Luke.

Luke.

What the hell does she even say about Luke?

Gypsy is done with boys.

It's midnight on the night before Gyspy gets onstage with 5sos and performs at MGM Grand.

It's midnight, as she stands against the railing on the balcony.

It's midnight, as she stares out at the cars passing her on the streets.

It's midnight.

There is less than one day until Gypsy gets onstage with 5sos and performs at MGM Grand.

It's just after midnight when her phone buzzes in her pocket.

Haiiiiiii :)

I see you

Gypsy stares over the railing and catches sight of a tall blonde waving to her from the street.

It's late, so Gypsy decides not to scream down towards the street and types on her phone, instead.

What the hell are you doing here???

She watches as Luke receives this text, responding quickly.

Seeing you obviously

And Gypsy rolls her eyes before another text buzzes in on her phone.

And I've got candy so you might as well let me up

YOu know you want itttttt

"Damn it, my weakness," she mutters.

Fine, she types. I guess you can come

She can see Luke's grin from the street.

It's not like she wasn't going to let him up, anyway, but seeing him is still a surprise.

And Gypsy watches as he walks towards the stairs, taking them two at a time.

"Figured I should come to you," he projects, "since you've been ignoring me this week."

"I haven't been ignoring you!"

"Liar," he exclaims. "You're such a shitty liar."

"I'm not lying!"

"You come to practice, you leave," he says. "You never just leave. You don't even hang out," he pouts. "So, try again."

He's got on skinny jeans with a hole in the knee and a long-sleeved black tee-shirt that Gypsy can't quite understand how he could possibly be wearing.

"I don't want to talk," she frowns as he takes the last few steps on the staircase and meets her on the second floor.

His eyebrows raise. "To me?"

Kind of.

Mostly, "To Calum," she replies. "I need to talk to him and I haven't wanted to," and before Luke can respond to that, she looks him up and down and asks, "Aren't you hot?"

He lifts his brows again. "Are you calling me hot?"

"Yeah," she laughs, "as in extra warm since you've got on long sleeves and it's got to be in the nineties out here, tonight."

"Oh," he shakes his head, grinning as he comes to stand beside her, propping his elbows on the railing. "I liked you better when you thought I was hot."

Gypsy laughs aloud. "You live a pretty rough life, Luke Hemmings."

"Sucks sometimes," he shrugs, "but someone's got to do it."

And he offers her a giant lollipop from his pockets.

"Yum," she grins, because Blow Pops are her absolute favorites. "I love these."

He unwraps one of his own, nodding. "I know."

Gypsy pops the candy into her mouth, clapping happily. "Haven't had one of these in ages," she admits, cheek full. "So, thanks. You nailed it with the snacks."

He laughs. "Thought I might."

And silence descends upon the balcony. Gypsy stares at the bight colors of the wrapper in her hand, turning the paper over and over between her fingers.

"Guess what?" She asks, not looking up.

"What?"

"My mom's still in China."

He frowns. "Doesn't she come back next week?"

"She was supposed to," Gypsy replies. "But, just like usual, she's staying longer. Apparently," Gypsy sniffs disdainfully, "she'll be here 'before school starts,' or something."

"You're upset."

"Thank you Luke, for stating the obvious."

"Well, no need to be rude."

"Sorry," she sighs. "I'm just," she shakes her head, "I'm just pissed. Like, remember when she didn't want me to visit you? God - I'm just so pissed and I shouldn't be 'cause this is typical, right? She's off and leaving and I'm stuck here and just when I think she'll finally come back when she says, she goes and pulls this same, typical shit."

And Luke grins. "Holy shit, Gyps," he exclaims.

She frowns. "What?"

"You! Look! Fuck, you're being honest for once! You're like, actually expressing some real emotion and feelings-What?"

Gypsy shakes her head, a soft chuckle bubbling between her lips. "I'm always honest with you."

"Yeah, after I've got to force you to be," he mutters. He sends her a lopsided grin. "This is good," he nods. "This is a good thing."

"Right. Okay."

"It is," he nods. "I'm so fucking proud of you."

She sticks her tongue in her cheek, shaking her head. "Thanks, Luke. Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome," he replies brightly. "And maybe it's a good thing she's not coming back early, y'know?"

Gypsy faces him.

"Y'know, 'cause now," he continues, "you get to have more freedom and you get to spend more time with us and you get to stay in Charming longer, right? Like, at home with your mom it'd just be the two of you and here," he shrugs. "I dunno, Gyps. It seems like you like it here."

Gypsy stares out towards the passing cars on the street.

"I do," she nods, and she smiles because Luke's words have made her warm inside. "I do like it here."

"See?" He grins, teeth grazing his pierced bottom lip. "I'm the greatest."

She laughs. "You're the greatest, Luke."

"I knew you'd get it someday," he says, smile growing at Gypsy's rolled eyes. He nudges her gently, "Are you excited?"

"For tomorrow?"

He laughs, nodding. "Y'know, aside from the 'mom' thing."

"Honestly," she peers upwards, jaw clenching as she chews upon the stick in her mouth. "I'm nervous as hell."

"What? Why? You're going to be great."

"Says you," Gypsy laughs.

"Why's that got to be a bad thing?" He exclaims.

"It's like hearing things from my grandma or my grandpa," she grins. "You've got to be nice; you like me."

"I kinda like, really like you, actually," Luke mutters. "But that doesn't mean that you're not gonna rock," he says quickly. "You know, 'cause, we've been practicing and we sound really fucking good and your voice has been perfect, you know, so - "

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Gypsy interjects. She shakes her head. "What did you say?"

"We've been practicing and you sound great?"

"No," Gypsy says. "Rewind. Before that, Luke."

"That you're gonna rock?"

"Okay," she laughs, pushing herself from the railing. "Whatever. Forget I even asked."

She stands with a stretch. "I should probably get some sleep, anyway," she says, deciding that if Luke isn't going to talk about his feelings then he doesn't have to, especially when she's been running from her own for the past week. She sighs, "It's late."

"Yeah," he nods.

And Gypsy holds out her arms to him. "Night, Luke."

He stands upright. "Night, Gyps."

"See you tomorrow," she says, and he wraps his arms around her waist. And he holds on but says nothing.

She laughs, "See you tomorrow, yeah?" She repeats.

Again, she's met by silence.

"Um..." Gypsy begins, not knowing whether to laugh or ask what's wrong. "What's going on?" Is what she asks instead, giggling a bit because the feel of Luke's stubble against her neck is tickling her. She wriggles in his arms, attempting to meet the face of his that's tucked in the crook of her shoulder. "Are you alright? Is everything okay? Do we need to talk about somethin-"

"I really like you, Gypsy. A lot. Or, more than a lot, and I always have. I've always liked you, a lot. Or, more than a lot, really," come the words that cause Gypsy to freeze. "And, yeah," he continues, voice muted against her neck since now, he's started and can't stop, "I know you're trying to figure out what you're doing with Calum but...But, I don't think I could live with myself if I never told you that...that-"

"That what, Luke?"

"That I want you to be happy," he says, and he finally stands upright, meeting her gaze with his wide, crystal blue eyes. "But, I...y'see I'd never forgive myself if I didn't tell you that I want you to be happy with me."

-~*~-

Welp.

Turn up for Luke because HE FINALLY DID IT.

Guess who is excited for this next chapter?

I AM.

LITERALLY SO EXCITED.

THIS STORY IS ALMOST OVER WHAT.

Also, I wrote a #leigharry one shot, so if you have time I would lovex1000 your feedback on it.