"Alright, guys. Katelynne and I will be asking the AP questions first, than we'll go on with the fan questions from Twitter," Vic's eyes lit up as he looked at Katelynne. I rolled my eyes and continued, "We're gonna tape this because it's easier for me to listen and type this up when it comes down to the actual printing part."

"But, we'll be recording you guys on this tape recorder as well." Katelynne added shooting Vic a smile. I looked at them two and couldn't help but smile. There goes Vic, always trying to get the girl.

"Are you all ready?" I questioned with a smile. All four boys nodded and said, "Yes!" I turned to my left and gave the camera man, Dave, 'the look' we always gave him when we were ready to start recording. He nodded and began to record.

"When you first started touring for Collide With the Sky, when you did you realize that this album was making a difference when it came to the fans, shows, etc.?" I asked looking at Vic, whom was ready to answer.

"For me, it was when we were on Warped and we would play 'King For A Day'. I felt like something big was about to happen. The energy was just go different when it came to that song in particular." Vic explained looking to the other guys if they wanted to add anything on.

Mike spoke up, "I think it was when we headlined the Collide With The Sky Tour. That tour sold out in every city, that's never happened before. And then when we would run out on stage, and the screams and cheers we would get from them," He paused and a smile pulled on each end of his lips. "It was incredible to see how stoked the fans were about this album."

I gave him a smile and he returned it, his eyes still bright from imagining each show from last year. I nodded and went on to the next questions.

---

After the Alt. Press questions, I told the guys that we could take a fifteen then finish up with the fan questions. We were doing the photo shoot tomorrow morning and then I was off to began the process of writing it and sending it to Marc.

Katelynne had left and went to go to Starbucks, go figure. She handed me my drink and I sat down, looking over the remaining questions. The guys walked over to where I was sitting, making me feel their smirks.

I looked up, "Yes?"

Mike sat down on a chair next to me, the rest of them stood before me. Vic smiled, "I missed you, Lucy."

"I missed you too, dude. I missed all of you."

"What are you doing tonight?" Jaime questioned, fiddling with his iPhone, almost dropping it.

"Well, Brandon wanted to hang out tonight. We were gonna go out to dinner with everyone and Lynda Rose to celebrate her birthday." I explained, smiling. I missed Lynda so much, I hadn't seen her in so long. We talked everyday, but I needed to see that pretty little face of hers.

"Aw, really?" Mike asked, his face lighting up.

I smiled as I looked over at him, "Yeah, you should come. I'm sure she misses you."

"Dude, yes! I miss her. I haven't seen her since when I came back from that tour that I left Target for."

"Oh, no way?" I asked, shocked that he hasn't seen her, but even more shocked that he went back to Target. "When did you go back to the store?"

He chewed on his bottom lip, nervously. I looked over at Vic, Jaime, and Tony and they had big eyes and small smirks on their faces. "Well, I had gone back when I went home, you know to say what's up to Brandon and Shannon."

I nodded, "Oh, that's cool. But yeah, you should come. We're going to BJ's, that bar and grille."

"Which one?"

"Um, I'm not sure. Brandon was actually gonna pick me up from my grandma's."

"How about you just tell me the time, and I'll go meet you at your grandma's?"

I smiled, "That sounds perfect."

He grinned at me, then looked at the guys whom we didn't even notice were still standing there. They all had googly eyes and made kissing sounds. I rolled my eyes and got up, "Okay Katelynne, are you ready?" I asked, her looking up from some papers and nodding happily.

We continued on with the interview, earning laughs from the guys at some of the fan questions. Katelynne and I picked some humorous ones to keep the interview light. Throughout the interview, Mike kept dropping glances at me, smirking here and there. I didn't think anything of it other than something friendly, but Katelynne thought otherwise.

After the interview, Kate and I were on our way to her aunt's house, where she was staying for the time we were here. We were at a red light and I was lost in my thoughts, wondering why I invited Mike to the dinner. I mean, it just came out. I want him there, though.

"Hey, can I tell you something?" She questioned, flipping through the folder that held the interview questions.

"Yeah, what's up?" I pushed my sunglasses to the rim of my nose, then eyed her.

"I don't know if it was just me, but did you see Mike looking at you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I should rephrase that. Not looking at you, but the way he looked at you. He gave you the look."

"The look?" I asked, knowing very well what look she was talking about, but hearing it from an outsider for the first time in years was shocking to me.

"Yeah, the look. The look. I don't know how to explain it without sounding like a dumb 22 year old. But, it's just the way he kept looking at you. Like you meant everything to him; that you were the one thing he didn't have in his life. He looked at you like he was in love with you." A gasp almost escaped her mouth as she talked, not looking at me once. Her eyes stayed on the scene in front of her and her hands gestured as she spoke. Her eyes twinkled, and then a smile lifted onto her lips. "I've always wanted somebody to look at me like that." She added, lost in thought; probably thinking about the man that she'll meet one day that'll take her breath away, the guy that will sweep her off of her feet. She was a romantic, it was obvious. But had she ever been in love? I never asked.

I stayed quiet, just nodding at what she was saying. I refused to believe that he gave me the look that every person we knew pointed out back in the day. That was so long ago. As much as I still secretly loved him, I couldn't let myself even think of that look from him again.

---

After my nice, warm shower. I wrapped my hair in a towel, and put on a robe once I picked out a matching set of panties and a bra and put them on. I walked into the kitchen where my grandma was sitting, drinking a cup of hot tea. Celina was sitting with her, also drinking some hot tea; it was chamomile, I smelt it. "Mmm, chamomile. My favorite." I smiled, grabbing myself a mug and pouring some in it. The steam rose up and twisted itself into small designs. I sat with them at the table and they both smiled at me.

"What time is Brandon coming?" My grandma asked, taking a careful sip of her tea.

"Around 7. Mike is actually meeting us here so we might have to wait on him if he isn't here by then." I answered like it was nothing, like it was the most casual thing.

Both of their eyes popped open, "Mike?!" Celina shouted, practically spitting out her beverage.

"Yeah, what's the big deal?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"You're seeing him again?" My grandma's eyes lit up.

I shook my head, "No, no. It's not like that. We're just friends. I interviewed the band today, and tomorrow we're doing the photo shoot for their spread this month."

"When did this happen?" Celina questioned, her eyes still wide, filled with hope it seemed.

"A couple of weeks ago. They stepped into my office for a meeting; I didn't know they were coming in though. I was out the day the band was announced, so it was a surprise to me, and them."

"Oh my god, es el destino." My grandma spoke her nonsense.

"Well, that's my cue to leave once she starts talking about that destiny crap." I got up, grabbing onto my mug and taking it into the bedroom.

"It is destiny, Luce!" Celina shouted out to me, agreeing with my grandma. They were crazy. They missed Mike, they always seemed to talk about that. My grandma was sad when I broke up with him, she thought I could have stuck it out. She didn't see it the way I did, though. She didn't realize until later that I needed to get my life together, and he did too. Celina was sad also, because it seemed her and Mike got closer and then boom - we broke up. She was upset also.

It was weird for me, though. My grandma didn't like any boyfriend except Joseph, and that's that him and Celina had known each other forever before they got together. She loved Mike, and she always said that him and I would find our way back to each other, and when we did, it was fate. She said that happened between her and my grandpa. When they were younger, they were together and happy, but something happened and they broke up. One day, years later, in a different city, with my grandma's brown hair now a reddish color, they met again. She said it was then when she realized that they were meant to be. They parted, dated others just to be left unhappy and unsatisfied, but all that fulfilled the second they bumped into each other at the San Diego Zoo.

I sat at the vanity, smiling as I remembered the story as I made my brown, ombre hair into a side fishtail braid. I did my makeup, making a smokey eye that was perfect tonight. I was happy that my liquid eyeliner wasn't a long process today, because that shit was too frustrating on a daily basis. Once I was done, I picked out my attire for the night. I grabbed my sunglasses, as it was still sunny outside, and got my boots and leather jacket, deciding not to put them on until Brandon got here. I had the tv on E!, Keeping Up With The Kardashians on. It was always on but I always seemed to watch it religiously. I didn't even notice the doorbell ring, which Celina and my grandma obviously opened for Brandon because he was standing in my doorway.

"Sup little bitch!" He shouted, walking to the bed.

"Hey, fucker." I grinned, hugging him tightly.

"Has Fuentes left his place yet?" He questioned, sitting down next to me on the mattress.

I nodded, my eyes re-gluing themselves to the tv screen. "He should be here soon, he left his place like ten minutes ago. I don't know how far he lives from here, now. Apparently, he moved a couple of years ago or something?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Brandon smirk. Here we go, he's gonna start a little speech now. "So, that means you two have been talking, huh?"

"He told me that last Friday when we were here. Stop making a big deal out of shit before I punch you in the dick." Brandon let out a loud laugh as he held his stomach. "Why is everyone so annoying about this whole Mike thing? It's nothing, we're just friends."

He raised an eyebrow then rolled his brown eyes, "Fine, you don't need to be an ass about it."

"I'm not being an ass, it's just everyone has an opinion and it's fucking annoying already. Okay, we get it, we are back into one another's lives, for now, but that doesn't mean anything. Him and I don't mean anything." I said the last part under my breath, not knowing how soft my voice had gotten. As soon as the last word I said was spat out, Brandon's eyes grew.

He lightly hit my arm and stood up saying softly, "You fucking love him. You still love him! Oh my god, I knew it. I fucking knew it! You're in love with him." He stopped in his tracks, and looked at me. My eyes met his and before I could even respond, there was a loud ring from the doorbell. My door was closed, but I heard my grandma open the door. It was impossible to not hear her loud voice swoon over Mike. I wanted to cry. I wanted to know if he still loved me but I wasn't going to ruin the friendship we just stabilized.

I closed my eyes and I felt them stinging. I was breathing heavier once I heard his voice telling Celina that he was so happy for her and him telling them both how much he missed them. Brandon kneeled on the ground to and rubbed my arms, "Hey, hey. Shh." He tried comforting me. "It's gonna be okay. I promise. I don't know what's going to happen, but he's in your life again, and that's what matters here, okay Luce?"

I nodded as he hugged me tightly, tears falling. Was this me finally coping? Was I coping six years too late? I couldn't fucking break down now. I had somewhere to be, so I would do what I do best and fake it. I stood up and dug into my makeup bag, touching up one more time and then making sure my hair was perfect. Brandon shot me a reassuring look then opened my door and walked out, letting me know he would be waiting for me. I grabbed my boots and put them on, then my leather moto jacket. I took my phone off of it's white charger, and stuffed it into my bag along with my keys. Before I opened my door, I took a deep breath and walked out, closing the door behind me. I met eyes with Mike and he smiled at me. I gave him one back and told my grandma and Celina bye, than we piled into Brandon's car, on the way to the restaurant.

---

The look on Lynda's face when she saw Mike and I was amazing. She ran up to me and hugged me so tight, crying. I tried not to, but I missed her! Tears were streaming from the both of us then we parted. She went onto Mike and they hugged for a long while. When we sat down, Mike sat on my left, Lynda on my right. Shannon and Cristian were arguing about what drink they should order. Brandon was staring at the menu bewildered, Lynda was texting Jesse, and Mike was sipping on Jack. This was it, we were finally all together again.

Mike leaned into me once I had received my drink, "You look really, really, beautiful tonight, Luce." His voice sent chills up my spine, signaling the butterflies to come flying out into my stomach, fluttering everywhere, with no remorse.

I smiled a him, "Thank you, Mikey."

He smiled, scrunching up his nose, then took another sip of his beverage. His eyes were kept on me in that moment, making me giggle. I couldn't help but feel happy around him. It didn't matter who was here, how I was feeling beforehand, it was in this moment, with him next to me that made me happy.

Throughout the dinner, Lynda was telling us how Isaiah was doing. She went on to say how happy she was to see Mike. Mike had gone to the restroom and Lynda took it as an opportunity to tell me something that was stuck in her head for years. "I hadn't seen him since the day he came home from tour! I remember he came to visit the store and he was looking for you, Lucy. He went to Brandon, he went to Shannon, then to me. He didn't know you had left. You should've seen the look on his face, dude. It was the saddest thing I've ever seen. He looked so, I don't know, lost might be the word?" She looked over to Brandon for help.

He nodded, taking a bite out of his food, "Yeah, he was."

"How come you never told me?" I asked the both of them, not angry, not sad; more confused than anything.

"Why would we? You went off to live your life. I feel like he had to realize that you had dreams, too. And, he did." Shannon spoke up just as Mike walked back taking a seat.

He was looking for me. He wanted to know where I was. I don't know why that had meant so much to me, but it did. But, what meant even more was that Brandon, Shannon, and Lynda had my back. They knew I had to go out and do what I had to do.

Brandon looked at his watch, "What time did you wanna head out? You both have to be up early tomorrow, right?"

Mike and I looked at one another, then nodded, "Yeah, his photo shoot is tomorrow. I have to overlook it and make sure that him and the rest of the band look cute." Mike chuckled, chewing on the ice in his glass of whiskey. "Whenever you're ready, dude."

"I wish you came around more." Lynda frowned, resting her head on my shoulder.

"You guys need to come out to my place! Only Brandon and Shan have seen my house! We should get together for Brandon's birthday next month!" I had been begging everyone to come to LA since I moved out here.

"Even better, I could throw a party at my new place when I move in." Brandon winked.

"You're moving to LA?" Mike asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Yeah dude, that's where the job is at. My house is near the studio I'll be working from. Looks like you'll have more than one reason to drive out to LA." He winked at him, obviously meaning me. Mike blushed, looking down, a smile growing on his lips.

I shot Brandon a glare, then rolled my eyes. "Now's a good time to leave. It's already almost midnight."

He chuckled then stood up, along with Mike and I. We said bye to everyone and I gave Lynda the longest hug. I really did need to come down here more, I missed my best friends more than anything. I missed the company.

Brandon dropped Mike and I off at my grandma's and he walked me to the door. "I'm glad that you came out tonight." I said nervously looking up at him. The brightest light was coming from the full moon above us. It was extra amazing tonight.

"I'm glad I did, too. I really missed everyone. Shit hasn't been the same since - you know." He hinted at our breakup. "It seems better, though. Like, everyone is so happy and doing their own things. I love that. I love seeing everyone living their dreams."

"Me too. You kind of started that snowball, though." I admitted.

He laughed, shaking his head. "No I didn't. I've always done the same thing, I was just finally getting a break. You're the one that actually got up and had the willpower to do what you loved. I respect that." His licked his bottom lip and then looked back at the moon.

"Thanks, Mike. Well, I guess I better head to bed. We've got another long day, tomorrow."

A small chuckle came from his lips, "Yeah, we do. Don't forget to make sure I look good. Fuck the rest of the guys, make me look the best." He joked, causing a comfortable laugh to come from me.

"I'll be sure to do that. Goodnight Mikey."

"Night Luce." He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a tight hug, letting me know that he never wanted to let go. He placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then let go of the grip he had on me. He shot me a smile then walked down the steps and into his car, driving away.

I walked into the house and leaned against the front door. I was about to have a heart attack because of this guy. I literally just lost my breath out there. I turned around and there was Celina and my grandma, smirking as if something happened.

"What?" I asked, locking the front door.

"Nothing, goodnight Luce." My grandma winked, getting up to throw a tissue away. I rolled my eyes and walked to the guest room I was staying in, stripping my clothes off of me and throwing it into a hamper before changing into some grey shorts and an old Taking Back Sunday t-shirt I had.

My phone buzzed from my nightstand, I walked over and read it, my heart beating quickly.

From: Mike Fuentes

Goodnight, princess. I can't wait to see you tomorrow.


I needed to get a grip and fast before this dude completely had control over my emotions. It's safe to say that I wasn't gonna get any sleep tonight.

Notes

Here ya go, baaaaaaabies.

I'm getting excited for the upcoming chapters! You all will enjoy them ;)

Love all of you!

xo