Martin and Zoe took their seats in the audience; they had seven seats reserved in one of the balconies, so that when the band had finished they could sit up with their teachers and watch Natasha play.
The audience was of over a thousand, Martin reckoned. He couldn't spot an empty seat throughout the buzzing auditorium.
"You never gave me that kiss." Said Martin, sitting beside Zoe and looking at her, "I spoke to Cloda."
"Well we haven't heard her sing yet, let's not celebrate too soon." Zoë replied.
"She's going to be amazing." Promised Martin, taking Zoe's hands.
"I know she will, and I'm proud of you." She told him, smiling.
"I'm proud of them." He responded before the lights suddenly turned off and a spotlight focused on the empty stage.
"Fuck... my heart.." breathed Martin, "I've never heard it beat this fast."
Zoe clasped her fingers with Martin's, sitting on the edge of her seat.
"Oh god.. Ollie remember it's a G chord not a D chord.." Zoe Muttered before the stage went bright and the sound of a guitar chord filled the room, causing the audience to scream with anticipation.
Then, in came the drums, and Ollie and Ryan were lit up by a spotlight; and gradually Jemma and Lucy were illuminated before Cloda ran onto the stage. Her voice beaming and beautiful, causing huge screams in the audience.
Martin couldn't hold back his smiles, "Yes, Cloda!" He called, to Zoe's delight who was now cheering them on.

Jemma looked right into Ollie's eyes as they played, almost crying with the surreality of it all, It was so different from what they previously encountered before. Cloda looked around and sang, trying not to laugh as she turned around and looked at everyone, singing while they harmonised, the good's never felt this good, the bad's never felt so far away, locked in this world we should,
Stay together anyway..

The crowd began to light up the darkness with the flashlights on their phones, which is when Cloda, with shimmering eyes, looked up to where Martin and Zoe sat and mimed the words 'thank you'.

And just like that; it was all over. The final chord rumbled the whole arena and the audience were quaking with amazement as Missing Martha took their final bow. Laughing like children before the lights turned off and they left the stage while Martin and Zoe remained on their feet screaming their applause.
"Oh my god.." said Martin, looking over to Zoë and sitting down, "that was insane."
Zoe took a couple breaths before placing her thumb and index finger on Martin's chin and quickly closing her eyes and pressing her lips against his, they both immersed themselves, though trying to be subtle as they were in a crowded area.
"I love you.." she murmured, while spitting apart.
"I love you too." He responded, leaning back and stroking her cheek with his thumb, "Have I got lipstick on me?" He asked her,
"Surprisingly not- me?" Asked Zoe; "only where it's supposed to be." He responded, kissing her quickly again on the lips before they heard the rumbling of footsteps charging up the stairs towards the balcony where they were.
Zoe and Martin immediately stood up and ran towards the door where Cloda, within a few strides, was wrapped in his arms, with Ollie, Jemma, Ryan and Lucy close behind, evidently forming into a group hug.
"You did it, guys! You bloody did it!" Exclaimed Martin, trying to spread his arms around everyone.
"Did we sound okay?" Asked Ollie,
"You sounded incredible." Replied Zoë, beginning to hug them all individually.
Ryan placed his hands on Cloda's shoulders from behind her and briefly kissed her cheek, making her blush and smile, "you were stunning!" He remarked,
"You didn't miss a single beat my man!" Replied Cloda, giving him a satisfying high five.

As the lights dipped again, they resumed to their seats; Martin wrapped one arm around Zoe's neck as she leaned her head onto his shoulder, listening to Natasha's gripping voice echoing throughout the arena.
"They say to never meet your idols.." said Jemma, "but I'm so freaking glad we met her."
"This is the best night of my whole life." Added Cloda, from the row behind Martin and Cloda, who smiled as they eavesdropped.
"Guess we did something right?" Whispered Martin into Zoe's ear.
Zoe looked up at Martin, gazing straight into his eyes, and asking earnestly, "Are you happy, Martin?"
Martin looked back down at her and touched her cheek with his thumb again, "Yeah." he said, smiling, "Yeah I am." And, subtly, he leaned down again and kissed her slowly but briefly, however obviously causing attention as Ollie and Ryan began to hoot loudly.
"Don't let this be another false start." Begged Martin, quietly.
Zoe smiled so passionately and beautifully back at him; "I'll never let it end." She promised, holding his hands and fixing her gaze on his bright eyes, full of hope.

When, at last, Natasha had thanked and left her audience, the main lights came on and the band all turned around to face each other, but Martin and Zoe remained gazing at the empty stage, her head resting on his warm shoulder with his arm around her neck.
"Hey love birds! Wakey wakey! We gotta go!" Called Jemma, putting her hands on their shoulders from behind their seats.
"We're coming we're coming!" Replied Zoë, grabbing her handbag and standing up.
Martin took a couple breaths, letting the fact that he and Zoe had kissed again sink in.. this time  it felt right.. this time he knew that something had started.. it wasn't a passionate kiss because they were scared for their lives, or because they were drunk or sad.. they were both fine, and they were both ready, they harmonised each other like an orchestra of dreams. There was simply no one like her.
"Martin?" Called Zoe, undazzling him, "you coming?"
"Yep!" He assured, standing up at once and following her, placing his hand promptly on her back and, while the five teenagers looked the other way while descending backstage ahead of them, Martin put his hand on her shoulder and whispered her name into her ear, making her pause to look up at him.
"Thank you." He told her, "for this."
"I didn't do anything, this was all you and the kids." She replied,
"I didn't mean the show, I meant you." He told her.
Zoe smiled and pressed her lips against his cheek, "tonight." She whispered, stroking his chin before giggling and walking away, capturing Martin completely.