Five Seconds of Summer were standing in my living room and I was pretty certain that I was openly gaping at them, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"They were in the lobby when we were waiting for the keg guy to show up," Addy whispers in my ear while I continue to gape at them. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I yell several questions at Addy like why in the world would we need a keg? this was not a frat party? but the words don't quite make their way out of my mouth.

"Snap out of it!" She hisses in my ear again, squeezing my hand painfully in hers.

"Adelaide!" I manage to shut my mouth, hissing back at her through clenched teeth.

I turn to the band, going with the first thing that pops into my head and praying that my vocal cords worked. "What uh...what brings you guys here?" I wave a hand at them awkwardly to get their attention.

Four pairs of eyes turn to me, their gazes sizing me up as my social skills gracefully plummet headfirst out the window. My mother would certainly not be proud.

"You that new makeup artist?" Ashton tries to ask in a serious tone that makes my chest tighten a little but then he bursts into laughter the next moment like a dam breaking.

I remember I used to think that laugh gave birth to angels.

"We were in the city and needed some fun so we stole your application during a meeting this morning." Calum, the infamous kiwi bassist of the band offers up an explanation, smiling in the gentle, charming way that he does.

"You guys were like one of my all time favourite bands," I confess, embarrassingly out of breath. Ever the professional.

The lead guitarist, Michael, who always had his hair done into spikes and dyed with a bright colour extends his arms towards me. "You're adorable so I'll let the fact that you just made us sound like a retired band slip. Come here."

And I, being the embarrassing creature that I am, all but jump into his arms. "I love your music, the new album was so wonderful and I'm so happy to be getting this opportunity to work with you!"
The remembrance of my young Fangirl days unclenches my chest a little.

The boys were dressed in their usual attire; ripped skinny jeans and band t-shirts. I smile at the thought of having the power to be able to dress them up more...fashionably.

"We needed to check if you were sane enough first," Luke mutters under his breath, drawing my attention to him.

"Shut up, Luke. We just came for the booze, you do have booze, right?" Michael inquires as I let go of him and hug Ashton.

"She's trying really hard not to have a fangirl episode, you guys." Addy nudges her head towards me.

A nervous chortle escapes me at her comment as I move towards Luke, staring up at him like one would at a tower on fifth avenue. Was being insanely tall and towering over everyone else a requirement when you were the frontman of a band? I don't ask because he doesn't look like he would appreciate it. "It's nice to finally meet you," I say instead, hugging him.

"Nice to meet you too," he says blandly, hugging me back. There was something in his expression, a kind of wariness I couldn't put my finger on.

I pull away and my eyes land on his lip ring, it's like a beacon on his face, the light reflecting off of it—and like the fool I am, I stand there staring at his lips. They were really great lips.

Troye, ever the saviour, dissolves the awkward silence by clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "We were waiting for everyone to show up before we got this party going. Sierra's band isn't here yet either–" he drifts off for a moment, checking his phone.

"Wait, you're in a band too?" Ashton asks, draping his arm over my shoulder. Drummers really had biceps hand-crafted by God himself.

"Mhm, it's nothing really, just some good fun." I shrug.

"That's cool, what are you guys called?" Calum asks, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity.

Addy interjects before I could reply. "They are called Intrinsic Rhythmicity,"

Michael raises an eyebrow. "That sounds sexy as hell, to be honest, but I have no idea what that means."

"Sounds like a satanic ritual," Luke mutters again, looking up at the ceiling.

"Intrinsic Rhythmicity is the rhythm your heart contracts to...throughout—" I barely finish my sentence because I suddenly feel Luke's gaze wander back to me from the ceiling.

"—uh throughout your life, it starts even before your heart organ is fully formed." I bring my biology lecture to a prompt stop when Addy turns to the crowd gathered in my living room.

"Attention everyone! You think it's time we get this party started or what?"

"Yeah!" Everyone cheers and someone quickly turns on the music... looks like we got a DJ for the night.

"I like that, that's quite deep." Ashton decides about the band name, patting me on the shoulder before following Addy and Calum into the kitchen to get drinks and avoid the incoming crowd.

More people start to come in and wish me, pausing momentarily with thinly veiled shock when they see Michael and Luke standing around.

Luke walks over to an open spot on the couch and drops onto it like he just ran the marathon of his life. For a second, I let his lack of interest in all of this get to me. Just for a second.

Michael takes a few awkward steps towards me while I unload my arms of the numerous flower bouquets I've been handed. "How did you guys find out where I lived?" I ask, looking up at him with a smile.

"What Calum said was true. Our manager was showing us your application. We thought we'd welcome you early to our tour family." My heart falters for a second at his words.

"But we had no idea there would be a party going on!" he adds eagerly, flourishing his arms out in front of him.

"That really is sweet of you guys. My friends wanted to celebrate since I got a new job." I have to shout into his ear this time because the music is turned up to it's peak, the floor vibrating beneath us. There will surely be a noise complaint stuck on my front door tomorrow morning.

"I'm glad you're a part of the crew now. This tour is going to be pretty amazing." Michael shouts back, pulling me towards the dance floor we created earlier in the day by pushing all the furniture against the walls where people are already gyrating to the music.

"Dance with me?" he asks, raising his pierced eyebrow adorably. He was drunk already, I could smell it in his breath.

I nod my head at him in agreement like a kid that just had way too much candy and we start jumping up and down because it is the only acceptable thing to do when you cannot dance.

For a moment, I try to forget that the band that's driving half the female population in the world insane is currently in my house, at my party.

"You're a good dancer, Era." Michael jokes, pressing his mouth close to my ear.

Era? That was certainly a first in my long list of nicknames.

"Thanks! You're not too bad yourself." I claim as we sway to the beat.

I shake my hair out and that is when I see Luke still sat on the couch but now with a drink in one hand and the other wrapped around a girl's shoulder. He was staring at us, his expression stolid.

I couldn't read his face or what he was thinking. My years of obsessing over their band had left me thinking I knew this boy inside out but I knew better than to think I know someone by what they show the world. The idea of someone I've admired musically for so long being right in front of me hasn't quite fully hit me yet either.

I see his jaw twitch as he drags his eyes off me, smiling at the girl sitting next to him. She is talking animatedly, completely aware of who he is, flipping her brown hair over her shoulder and flashing her cleavage at him.

Who the hell is she? And why is she in my house?

I manage to look away from Luke and look around. We had only invited around forty people but there were way more than that, faces I didn't recognise.

"Michael! I need a drink, wanna come with?" I ask over the music.

"Nah, I think I've had enough drinks for a night. I need to use the bathroom." Taking my hand and giving it a quick kiss, he walks away. What a gentleman.

I spin around on my heel, making sure to ignore Luke and the girl as I push through the thickening crowd trying to find Addy.

I spot her talking with a bunch of our friends and she sees me before I am at her side. "Sierra! Oh no. What's that expression on your face? Why do you look angry? That's not good. We need to talk." Addy quickly pulls me into a corner.

"Tell me about it! There are people here we didn't invite. This is not a little celebratory party!" I hadn't expected this to turn into a full blown party. Being a very anxious person by nature, things like this only turned to chaos as far as I was concerned.

Addy gives me a guilty look. "When I called in a couple of people they asked me if they could bring friends and I...sort of said yes."

I rub at my temples. "Adelaide I told-" she cuts me off, covering my mouth with her ring-clad hand.

"Don't get mad at me okay? I couldn't say no, and aren't you having so much fun?!" She asks with her eyes going big like they do when she gets excited. She was always excited.

I pull her hand off my mouth, "Fine, but you and Troye are on cleaning duty afterwards."

A shaky breath leaves my lips, "I think I'm going insane. I just danced with Michael Clifford!" I say in her ear, half annoyed and half out of my mind with excitement.

"Okay, missy, calm down okay? Breathe with me. We don't want you having a panic attack. Breathe in. Breathe out." Addy instructs.

"Shut. Up." I accentuate my words. Screw breathing.

She giggles at my frustration now. "Go get something to drink okay? And calm down."

_________

I finally get my hands on a cup of god only knows what and gulp it down, shaking my head furiously as it burns down my throat.

"Sierra!" Someone squeals behind me and I scan the crowd to see my 'band' walking towards me like excited puppies.

"Girls!" I shout, my excitement rising up the scale as the alcohol settles. It's been awhile since I've seen them all together.

"Congratulations on the job! I'm so happy for you." Montana, one of my nearest and dearest friends kisses me on the cheek.

"Thank you so much. It's so good to see you guys. Five Seconds of Summer are here!"

"I know! Troye called us and told us the band just showed up?"

"You should have seen my face when they walked in." I try to look mortified but the grin on my face does not plan on exchanging itself for anything else.

"But how did they find you?" Katelyn asks.

"I'll explain everything later. Come on, I'll introduce you to them."

We had once, in our very summery and naive youths, bonded over our love for the bands music among other things while we were in fashion school. It felt like a dream now, a dream we didn't know we had been speaking into existence.

I see the band propped around the couch over the heads of the dancers in the middle of the room and take the girls by the hand, leading the way.

The girl who was by Luke's side is gone and instead, Calum is sat on his lap with his feet on Ashton.

Michael spots us first and waves, Ashton busy tapping away on his phone, smiling down at it.

"You having a good time?" I ask once we're directly in front of them.

Eliza giggles. "Wow, Calum you really are the number one band groupie aren't you?"

Calum pretends to cuddle Luke harder but then gets pushed off and falls onto the floor. He grunts with pain, rubbing at his hip, "Who are you beautiful ladies?" he asks from the ground, nudging his jaw towards us.

"Guys, meet my band, Intrinsic Rhythmicity. Girls, meet 5SOS." I introduce the two groups.

"This is Montana, Katelyn, and Eliza." I name, pointing at each of them. Ashton like the friendly guy he is, gets up off the couch happily and hugs the girls. I watch Calum introduce himself to Montana whilst checking her out from my peripheral and she gives me a shy smile when I look over.

Everyone is quick to engage in conversation except Luke who chooses to say nothing, staring down at his phone like someone just leaked his deepest darkest secret.

"Are you okay, Luke?" I ask, moving closer and he looks up at me blankly. I was a bit of an empath, but I couldn't read him and without me knowing, it had started to frustrate me.

"Yeah. He had a serious case of diarrhoea today, he's okay now." Michael jokes, making everyone laugh. But I could sense tension between them.

"Right, I wasn't the one jerking off until my penis fell off on the plane today now was I?" Luke eyes shoot daggers at him.

Zero chill for Luke Hemmings today.

"Alright, guys let's not fight here too, okay?" Ashton intervenes and I wonder if they fight a lot now as a band.

"So are you guys like, a forreal band?" Michael asks us, ignoring Luke.

"Well, we do covers and stuff. We've written a couple of songs too but nothing serious." Eliza, one of the guitarists of our little college band band shrugs.

"Show us then," Luke says suddenly with sarcasm laced in his tone.

"Now?" Montana questions.

"Yes, now," Luke repeats, giving me a haughty look and a spark of impulse mixed in with annoyance takes over.

He wants a show? Fine, I'll give him a show.

I turn on my heel and stalk off towards Troye. "Hey babe! Enjoying the party?" he grins, placing his headphones around his neck.

"Turn off the music. I have an announcement." I say in his ear, the music was the loudest here to the point of deafening.

"What's wrong?" he mouths, giving me a worried look.

"Nothing, just turn it off." I give him a reassuring smile back.

He nods, slowing down the beat and then turning it off completely. Groans and complaints fill the room.

"Hey, guys! Sorry for the interruption, I hope you're having a good time?" I ask, grinning at the crowd. Everyone cheers and shouts their approval.

"My band and I were just requested–" I shoot a look in Luke's direction. "–to do a little performance for you tonight so please give us a few minutes to set up while you guys get more refreshments!" Murmurs spread through the crowd as everyone shuffles around to grab drinks or continue their conversations.

Troye with the help of Addy moves the instruments from where they are displayed in the corner of my living room and the girls rush to my side.

"What the hell are we going to play for them?" Katelyn asks, her usual bubbly self replaced with a nervousness that was out of character.

"We've never played for so many people before." Montana adjusts the straps of her silk dress, giving me a worried look.

"Lets cover one of their songs." I suggest, checking the microphones while slinging my guitar strap over my head.

All four of us played different instruments. Eliza and I were on guitar, Montana played bass and Katelyn happened to be a great drummer.

"Alright hey, guys! So in honour of Five Seconds of Summer being here tonight, we thought we'd cover one of their songs." Katelyn lets the crowd know. There is a boo here and there around the room and Michael stands up, "Aye! That's my band you are booing, prick!"

Cheers and hoots fill the room and I'm silently grateful that a fight didn't break out.

"Rock it, girls!" Ashton shouts, raising his red cup.

"This song is a mashup." Montana adds, grinning at Calum. I hear him hoot.

"One! Two! Three!"

Luke stands in the corner of the room along with the other three boys, a smug smile plastered on his face as he nods along to the music he probably wrote himself.

The tiny crowd warms up quickly. Everyone getting on their feet to dance and sing along. I feel a rush of warmth in my chest, it was a rare and extraordinary feeling to entertain people.

Addy and Troye being our mascots were doing their thing at the side of the room, yelling at the top of their lungs.

The song ends quicker than I thought it would. Katelyn drums a final beat on her cajón and we take a bow. "Thank you guys so much!" I say into the microphone as the room cheers yet again and asks us to continue. I was having fun, but my stomach was in knots.

Ashton, Calum, and Michael walk up to the front, Luke trailing behind them. I catch his eye and give him a just-proved-you-wrong look. I might have been a dedicated fan once and his new makeup artist now but that did not mean I would ignore a challenge.

"You guys are fucking cute!" Michael exclaims, hugging me.

"You just put us to shame with our own song, how'd you do that?" Calum asks with a bewildered expression.

"Aw cmon, you're just being nice."

"Are you kidding? You guys are like us after a very successful sex change...and with better musical abilities—and I'm taking your drummer on a date!" Ashton announces and the crowd breaks into yet another cheer.

Authors Note:

If you are wondering, the band thing is just them having a little fun and connecting with the boys. It won't be focused on at all later in the book.

- Rhythmwithlove x