All I hear are screams and multiple pairs of arms wrapping around me. "BANDY! We missed you so much." Matt practically yells in my ear. The rest of my band chorus in agreement, and I'm too tongue-tied from shock to answer.

"What are you? When did you get here? How?" I barely manage to stutter the words out. "Screw that, I'm so glad you guys are here! Only thing is, I can't really breathe."

"Sorry, Andy. We're just so excited to see you again." Damon laughs as he wraps his arm around my shoulder. "To answer your question, you might want to ask your boyfriend how we got here." My friends all chuckle as I look to him in shock.

"Luke?" I shout, and get two replies. One from my boyfriend, the other from my best friend. "Sorry, Hemmings. How did you manage this? Is this that big surprise you all kept hinting at?"

He just looks at me with a smirk and nods. "I may have asked them to come out as a little surprise for your birthday. Plus, I figured it would great for you to have some people from back home around." I walk over to him with a smile, completely ignoring the awful sound that my boot makes against the floor.

"Have I told you you're an amazing boyfriend?" He just nods and shrugs with a smug look on his face. I give him a quick kiss before I'm pulled away by the four idiots I call my best friends. "Can I not thank my boyfriend for one second?"

"No, Andy, you cannot." Skylar sasses as we all sit around the living room, with the rest of the guys trickling in after us. "So, tell us everything we've missed since you left."

"But that's so much stuff. Why can't we just have a band night?" I whine as I lean back on the couch.

"Are you thinking what I am?" Luke asks practically jumping out of his seat. Then we say it in sync, "Band-fire night?"

"Yes. It's been forever since we had one of those." Matt cheers and runs out of the room.

"What is a band-fire night?" Ashton asks as we all scramble to get everything together.

"You'll see, but trust me when I say: it's epic." Damon says with a smile as he asks Michael to help him grab stuff.

"It's basically a bonfire, but with a band bonding add-on. Imagine a band night, meets high school bonfire, music, friends, and everything you want." I explain to Ashton and the rest of the guys. "Hey, Luke, can you help me grab my guitar and some blankets? Mason and Ashton grab some snacks. Calum and Michael, can you see if anyone else needs help."

A couple hours later, the group of us are crowded around a bonfire on the pool's lounge chairs. I share a seat with Luke, with his arms wrapped around my waist and his head resting on my shoulder. "So wait, let me get this straight. You two were locked out on a balcony when he asked you out, and when you finally went on your date, you guys got stuck in the rain?"

"Only after the waitress was hitting on him." I clarify with a laugh. "Okay, enough about my summer adventures. Let's get to the music."

"Sounds good to me. How about we let the guests start off with one of their new songs?" Skywalker suggests, as she hands Ashton the acoustic drum. I smile at the group and pick up my guitar. "Start us off, Bandy?" I motion to Skylar, who beams as she starts the count, and the rest of Tidal Wave quickly follows the beat. I strum the chords that I've come to know by heart as I sing out.

"A full moon's light on the subject,

Don't tell anyone what I know.

I've seen the truth, I've heard the lie.

If we forget, we'll get out alive.
Run, run away-- from all that you are.

Run, run away--forget what you saw.

"In the light of day, we can hide away--

(hide away)

But inside, this night--

I know I saw truth.

What would you give to forget?

The pain, the fire, and the flames

Of our love--

I could watch it burn for days."

I look around at my band, brother, and friends with a wide smile. We are all caught up in the music, which binds us all together in a strange way. I even hear Luke quietly humming along with the melody when the chorus hits. Ashton and Michael both nods their head to the beat of Skylar's drumming, and Mason and Calum are both jamming out in their own unique way.

"Of smoke and mirrors

And well played melodies

And lies that feel alright

And set a fever in my eyes.

If we pretend, how can this end?

If we believe, what could it be?

"In the light of day, we melt away--

(melt away)

But inside this light--

I know I saw truth.

What would you give to forget?

The pain, the fire, and the flames

Of our love--

I could watch it burn for days."

The last hook of the song ends with a flourish, which passes over us. I lean back into Luke's chest and smile as he places a kiss on my cheek. He keeps his voice in a low whisper, "You never fail to impress me, Andy."

"How come you sound so much cooler in person?" Michael asks with a slack jaw as his gaze alternates to each of us.

"It's a secret potion we make and drink in bulk." Matt teases in his usual manner.

"So, do you have anything else we haven't heard yet?" Ashton asks with a wide, hopeful smile, which leads us to playing music all night. Although, after a couple hours, the guys all wimp out for the night by claiming 'it's too cold out.'

"Night, guys. We'll see you in the morning." I call after them before turning back to my friends with a sigh. "I can't even begin to explain how happy I am you're here."

"What's bothering you?" Damon questions with a critical gaze.

"How did you know?"

"We realized it the moment we saw you." Matt explains. "We've known you for way too long to not know when something is up."

"So spill." Skylar pressures as she sets her stuff aside and leans forward.

"Fine. I needed to tell you about it anyway." I sigh as I run a hand through my faded blue hair and focus on my fidgeting hands. "John--he--he apologized for this summer at least. He also offered us the deal."

"Okay. I can understand you being upset, but tell us what's really bothering you." Luke asks as he watches my every move intently.

"What's bothering me is, I can't tell if it's genuine. Does he want to actually mend our relationship? Or is it an act to get us to take the deal? IF we take the deal, what happens then? Will we be stuck in a crummy contract, or will it put a strain on the possible mending relationship between John and I?" I pause for a moment to take a breath mid-ramble. "Plus, what happens if we don't get any other offers?"

My best friends all look at each other in silence as if passing along a silent agreement or opinion. "Andy, don't worry about other record deals. I think I speak for everyone when I say that doesn't matter to us." Damon starts and takes the seat next to me as he continues. "What does matter, is you."

"We just need you to be happy, Andy." Matt continues where Damon left off. "Screw John's label and anything else that brings us down. We're here for the music."

"As for the answer to his offer, it's up to you, but I think you already made your decision." Luke finishes, and I nod. He's right. My mind and heart seem to have known the answer the moment John made the offer, but maybe I needed my friends to help me realize it.

"You're right." I tell them with a smile. "So, what would you say to going to John's office tomorrow and giving him our answer?" We all smile knowingly at each other, and we figure out our plan for tomorrow.

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

A/N

Okay, so I know I told you guys it would be more regular updates, but things didn't go as I had hoped. I'm not going to sit here and list out all the reasons this is so late. Instead, I'm going to apologize. These next few chapters were difficult for me to plan out. Part of the reason is, I'm unsure of how I want to end this story, and because I've been writing it for so long it all seems strange to end it.

Still, I decided to push through and finish at least one chapter now. Especially because tomorrow marks one year since I had the chance to see 5 Seconds of Summer live, and it would be weird not to acknowledge that somehow.

Anyway, sorry for the wait. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to comment to me what you think or any stories you want me to read!

Stay beautiful, friends.

Xx